lp and pr command

Parag.Deshmukh · 08-05-2017, 12:47 AM

Please help me to understand the difference between lp and pr command. There is so much discussion about lp and lpr command. But I want to the difference mentioned in the captioned subject

hazel · 08-05-2017, 01:50 AM

pr doesn't actually print anything. It just adds some format codes to a plain text file. You specify which ones you want (default is just to add page headings), direct the output into a second file and then print that. Use man pr for further details.

TheEzekielProject · 08-05-2017, 01:51 AM

See

Code:

man ip

man

Code:

man pr

.

They are very different.

EDIT: My bad. I didn't recognize that as a lower case "L". I see where your confusion lies now. Do you see where mine did?

EDIT #2: Still, though. Man pages

AnanthaP · 08-05-2017, 02:06 AM

pr sort of formats the text file for printing.
lp requires the lp daemon to be running and manages printq queues and

For instance pr -l72 esql.out | lp formats text file output in esql.out to 12 inch paper set to 6 lines per inch (indian bulk fanfold stationary standard) which (in this case) prints on the default printer.

ok

sundialsvcs · 08-05-2017, 08:44 AM

Also note that in most cases the lp command spools a print-job to the CUPS subsystem which actually controls your printer. So, all printed output is handled the same way no matter how it is initiated.

In the very-old days, of course, your printer was connected by a very-thick cable to your computer's parallel port – which most computers don't even have, these days.

Both of these commands represent techniques that are no longer in common use.

frankbell · 08-06-2017, 07:43 PM

The CUPS website has an excellent page on the lp command: https://www.cups.org/doc/options.html