8.3 Canceling a Print Request

Use the cancel command to cancel a print request while it is in the queue or while it is printing. To cancel a request, you need to know its request id. The request id always includes the name of the printer, a dash, and the number of the print request. When you submit the print request, the request id is displayed. If you do not remember your request id, type lpstat and press Return. Only the user who submitted the request, or someone logged in as root or lp can cancel a print request.

8.3.1 Canceling a Print Request by ID Number

To cancel a print request, type the following:

$ cancel requestid

where requestid is the request id number of the desired print request.

A message is displayed telling you that the request is canceled. The next job in the queue begins printing.

In the following example two print requests are canceled:

$ cancel pinecone-3 pinecone4
request "pinecone-3" cancelled
request "pinecone-4" cancelled
$

8.3.2 Canceling a Print Request by Printer Name

You can also cancel just the job that is currently printing (if you submitted it) by typing the printer name in place of the request id as follows:

$ cancel printername

where printername is the name of the printer to which you sent the request.

A message is displayed telling you that the request is canceled. The next job in the queue begins printing

In the following example the currently printing request has been canceled:

$ cancel pinecone
request "pinecone-3" cancelled
$

Your system administrator can log in as root or lp and cancel the currently printing request using the printer name as the argument for the cancel command.