How to Add a PPD File to a System by Using the ppdmgr Utility

This procedure describes how to use the ppdmgr utility to add a new PPD file to the system. You can also specify a PPD file label, PPD repository, or the source path of the PPD file, by using the appropriate arguments with the ppdmgr -a command. Note that when you add a PPD file to the system by using the ppdmgr command, the file is copied to the label and repository that you specify and then compressed.

1. Become superuser or assume an equivalent role.

   Roles contain authorizations and privileged commands. For more information about roles, see Configuring RBAC (Task Map) in System Administration Guide: Security Services.

2. Add the PPD file to the system.

   # ppdmgr -a ppd-file-path [ -L label ] [ -R repository ] [-w]

   -a

   Copies the PPD file that is specified in ppd-file-path to the PPD repository, then updates the information in the cache file to reflect the change.

   If the -L option is not specified, the default label that is assigned to the PPD file is user.

   If the -R option is not specified, the default repository that is assigned to the PPD file is user.

   ppd-file-path

   Specifies the source path to the PPD file and the name of that file. This file is used with the -a option to add a copy of ppd-file-path to the specified label within the specified repository with the specified label. The ppdmgr utility accepts a valid PPD file that has either a .ppd or .ppd.gz extension.

   -L label

   Specifies a PPD file label. The default label is user. Label names must contain characters that are in the portable file name character set. Label names must not begin with a hyphen (-) or contain a semicolon (:). Label names cannot be a reserved label name.

   The following label names are reserved and cannot be used with the -a option:

   • caches

   • ppdcache

   • manufaliases

   • all

   -R repository

   Specifies the name of a PPD file repository that represents one of the PPD file installation locations. When using this option, one of the following PPD file repositories can be specified:

   • user (default)

   • admin

   -w

   Displays the full path where the PPD file was copied. The -w option is only valid if it is used with the -a option. Otherwise, this option is ignored.

3. Verify that the PPD file was added by using one of the following methods:

   • Check that the file is displayed in Solaris Print Manager:

     1. Launch Solaris Printer Manager. See How to Start Solaris Print Manager.

     2. Select Modify Printer Attributes (attached or network).

     3. Select the printer for which you added the PPD file.

        If the PPD file that you specified was added successfully, the information is displayed in the Printer Driver field. See Description of the Printer Driver Field in Solaris Print Manager.

Example 9–1 Adding a PPD File to a System by Using the ppdmgr utility

This example shows how to add a PPD file, myHPprinter.ppd, to the system.

Note that in this example and the examples that follow the path that is specified varies.

# ppdmgr -a /net/somesystem/myHPprinter.ppd

The path to where the copy of the PPD file can be found on the system is /var/lp/ppd/user/HP/myHPprinter.ppd.gz.

Using this command, with the -a option, copies the file to the user label within the user repository.

Example 9–2 Adding a PPD File to a System With a Specified Label by Using the ppdmgr utility

This example shows how to add the PPD file myHPprinter.ppd, with the specified label, Photos, to the system.

# ppdmgr -a /net/somesystem/myHPprinter.ppd -L Photos

The path to where the copy of the PPD file can be found on the system is /var/lp/ppd/Photos/HP/myHPprinter.ppd.gz.

Using this command, with the -a and the -L options, copies the PPD file to the Photos label within the user repository.

Example 9–3 Adding a PPD File to a System to a Specified Repository by Using the ppdmgr Utility

This example shows how to add a PPD file, myHPprinter.ppd, to the admin repository on a system.

# ppdmgr -a /net/somesystem/myHPprinter.ppd -R admin

The path to where the copy of the PPD file can be found on the system is /usr/local/share/ppd/user/HP/myHPprinter.ppd.gz.

Using this command with the -a and -R options, copies the file to the user label directory within the admin repository.

Example 9–4 Adding a PPD File to a System With a Specified Label to a Specified Repository by Using the ppdmgr Utility

This example shows how to add a PPD file, myHPprinter.ppd, to a system, specifying the Photos label and the admin repository.

# ppdmgr -a /net/somesystem/myHPprinter.ppd -L Photos -R admin

The path to where the copy of the PPD file can be found on the system is /usr/local/share/ppd/Photos/HP/myHPprinter.ppd.gz.

Using this command with the -a, -L and -R options copies the file to the Photos label within the admin repository.

Example 9–5 Adding a PPD File to a System and Displaying the Full Path to Where the File Was Copied by Using the ppdmgr Utility

This example shows how to add a PPD file, myHPprinter.ppd, to a system, displaying the destination path of the PPD file. Use the ppdmgr command with this option to determine where on the system the PPD file was copied.

# ppdmgr -a /net/somesystem/myHPprinter.ppd -w

The path to where the copy of the PPD file can be found on the system is /var/lp/ppd/user/HP/myHPprinter.ppd.gz.

Using this command with the -a and -w options copies the specified file to the user label within the user repository.

The -w option is only valid when used in combination with the -a option. Otherwise, this option is ignored.

See Also

For a detailed description of the ppdmgr command-line options and for guidelines on adding PPD files, see Description of the Command-Line Options for the ppdmgr Utility.