man
1 lpr
lpr(1) OpenPrinting lpr(1)
NAME
lpr - print files
SYNOPSIS
lpr [ -H server[:port] ] [ -E ] [ -U username ] [ -P destination[/in-
stance] ] [ -# num-copies [ -h ] [ -l ] [ -m ] [ -o option[=value] ] [
-p ] [ -q ] [ -r ] [ -C title ] [ -J title ] [ -T title ] [ file(s) ]
DESCRIPTION
lpr submits files for printing. Files named on the command line are
sent to the named printer or the default destination if no destination
is specified. If no files are listed on the command-line, lpr reads
the print file from the standard input.
THE DEFAULT DESTINATION
CUPS provides many ways to set the default destination. The LPDEST and
PRINTER environment variables are consulted first. If neither are set,
the current default set using the lpoptions(1) command is used, fol-
lowed by the default set using the lpadmin(8) command.
OPTIONS
The following options are recognized by lpr:
-E Forces encryption when connecting to the server.
-H server[:port]
Specifies an alternate server. Note: This option must occur be-
fore all others.
-C "name"
-J "name"
-T "name"
Sets the job name/title.
-P destination[/instance]
Prints files to the named printer.
-U username
Specifies an alternate username.
-# copies
Sets the number of copies to print.
-h Disables banner printing. This option is equivalent to -o
job-sheets=none.
-l Specifies that the print file is already formatted for the desti-
nation and should be sent without filtering. This option is
equivalent to -o raw.
-m Send an email on job completion.
-o option[=value]
Sets a job option. See "COMMON JOB OPTIONS" below.
-p Specifies that the print file should be formatted with a shaded
header with the date, time, job name, and page number. This op-
tion is equivalent to -o prettyprint and is only useful when
printing text files.
-q Hold job for printing.
-r Specifies that the named print files should be deleted after sub-
mitting them.
COMMON JOB OPTIONS
Aside from the printer-specific options reported by the lpoptions(1)
command, the following generic options are available:
-o job-sheets=name
Prints a cover page (banner) with the document. The "name" can be
"classified", "confidential", "secret", "standard", "topsecret",
or "unclassified".
-o media=size
Sets the page size to size. Most printers support at least the
size names "a4", "letter", and "legal".
-o number-up={2|4|6|9|16}
Prints 2, 4, 6, 9, or 16 document (input) pages on each output
page.
-o orientation-requested=4
Prints the job in landscape (rotated 90 degrees counter-clock-
wise).
-o orientation-requested=5
Prints the job in landscape (rotated 90 degrees clockwise).
-o orientation-requested=6
Prints the job in reverse portrait (rotated 180 degrees).
-o print-quality=3
-o print-quality=4
-o print-quality=5
Specifies the output quality - draft (3), normal (4), or best (5).
-o sides=one-sided
Prints on one side of the paper.
-o sides=two-sided-long-edge
Prints on both sides of the paper for portrait output.
-o sides=two-sided-short-edge
Prints on both sides of the paper for landscape output.
NOTES
The -c, -d, -f, -g, -i, -n, -t, -v, and -w options are not supported by
CUPS and produce a warning message if used.
EXAMPLES
Print two copies of a document to the default printer:
lpr -# 2 filename
Print a double-sided legal document to a printer called "foo":
lpr -P foo -o media=legal -o sides=two-sided-long-edge filename
Print a presentation document 2-up to a printer called "foo":
lpr -P foo -o number-up=2 filename
SEE ALSO
cancel(1), lp(1), lpadmin(8), lpoptions(1), lpq(1), lprm(1), lpstat(1),
CUPS Online Help (http://localhost:631/help)
COPYRIGHT
Copyright (C) 2007-2019 by Apple Inc.
2022-05-02 CUPS lpr(1)