Hi

Can someone advise me how can i print to a printer port by dumping files directly ?


In Windows, i can do it in cmd "copy file.txt lpt1"
similar, how can i do it in linux?


I use Mandriva 10.1,
2.6 kernel,


pls advise....it will be good if you can inform me on dumping via USB/LAN/COM1 parameters.
thanks so much...!

I don't think a regular user can write directly to a hardware port. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. But you can use the lpr command to achieve the same result:

lpr file.txt

will "copy" your file to the default printer.

lpr -P printer_name file.txt

will "copy" your file to the named printer. I'm not sure of the format for the printer name. Try using /dev/lp0. The man page implies that it is the name assigned in cups. If you want raw, unformatted data sent to the printer, use the -l option instead.

This information is available on your system with the man lpr command. Your version of lpr may differ from mine, so you are better off checking your local documentation to verify what I'm telling you.

You may check the printer name by issuing 'lpq' that gives the status of the queues for each known printer.

I'm no expert here, but since no-one else answers...
<edit>ooops, during this short time some (and better) anwers</edit>
is my guess .

Now, what it does is catalogueing (=printing) the file to the device lp0 (you can test it by simply typing and see the file on the screen.

It needs the device lp0 though and that depends from how you set up the printing system on your box, whether the printer is on the parallel port or USB etc...

If this doesn't work, /dev/ is browsable you can search there for your printer...

HI
thanks all your replies,
:>

LIke in WIndows, using "copy filename.txt lpt1" will
skip driver & spooler to send data to lpt port,


so if i don't want to setup a printer/driver in linux but
i want to send file directly to which ever device lp0's at?


Will try with "cat filename > /dev/lp0" to see if it works...

thanks guys!

Okay. Come back and tell us your solution .

HI;

Thanks...indeed the command is $ cat filename.txt > /dev/lp0

:>