Book: LPI Linux Certification in a Nutshell Section: Chapter 16. Text-Editing, Processing, and Printing (Topic 1.7)
### 16.3 Objective 3: Print Files The lpr command ("line print") is used to send jobs to the lpd daemon for printing.
lpr |
#### Syntax
    lpr [options] [ files]
#### Description Send files or standard input to a print queue. A copy of the input source is placed in the spool directory under /var/spool/lpr until the print job is complete. #### Frequently used options -#count Send count copies of the print job to the printer. -P name Specify the print queue name. In the absence of -P, the default printer is queried. -s Instead of copying a file to the print spooling area, make a symbolic link to the file instead, thereby eliminating transfer time and storage requirements in /var/spool/lpr for very large files. #### Example 1 Print the file /etc/lilo.conf on the default print queue:
    # lpr /etc/lilo.conf
#### Example 2 Print a manpage by piping to lpr's standard input:
    # man -t 5 printcap | lpr
#### Example 3 Disable a print queue:
    # lpc disable lp
Then attempt to print three copies of a file to the disabled queue as superuser:
    # lpr -#3 /etc/lilo.conf
Success, despite the disabled printer queue. Now try as a regular user:
    $ lpr -#3 ~/resume.txt
    lpr: Printer queue is disabled
As expected, normal users can't print to the disabled queue.
| Objective 3 suggests that examinees should be familiar with the conversion of plain text (ASCII) files to PostScript format. One popular way to accomplish this is using the a2ps software package available from http://www.gnu.org/directory/a2ps.html. While not specifically required for Exam 102, a2ps can be helpful for creating formatted hardcopy of text and other files.
## On the Exam You must be familiar with lpr and its use with both files and standard input. Also remember that lpr doesn't send data to the printer, but to lpd, which handles sending it to the printer.