Printer Type

The printer type is a generic name for a type of printer. It identifies the terminfo database entry that contains various control sequences for the printer. By convention, printer type is usually derived from the manufacturer's model name. For example, the printer type name for the DECwriter(TM) printer is decwriter. However, the common printer type PS does not follow this convention. PS is used as the printer type for many models of PostScript printers, such as LaserWriter\256I and LaserWriterII printers.

You can specify the printer type by using the lpadmin -T command or Admintool. With Admintool, you can specify the printer type only when you are installing a printer. If you want to change the type of an existing printer, you must delete the printer and reinstall it by using Admintool, otherwise change the printer type by using the lpadmin command.

Admintool lets you select a printer type from a menu or choose Other and specify any printer type in the terminfo database. This provides you as much capability as the lpadmin command.

Printer Names in the terminfo Database

Information about each printer type is stored in the terminfo database (/usr/share/lib/terminfo). This information includes the printer capabilities and initialization control data.The printer you install must correspond to an entry in the terminfo database.

$ pwd
/usr/share/lib/terminfo
$ ls
1   4   7   A   M   a   d   g   j   m   p   s   u   x
2   5   8   B   P   b   e   h   k   n   q   t   v   y
3   6   9   H   S   c   f   i   l   o   r   ti  w   z
$ 

Each subdirectory contains compiled database entries for terminals or printers. The entries are organized by the first letter of the printer or terminal type. For example, if you have an Epson\256 printer, look in /usr/share/lib/terminfo/e to find your particular model of Epson printer.

$ cd /usr/share/lib/terminfo/e
$ ls
emots        ep2500+high  ep48           ergo4000    exidy2500
env230       ep2500+low   epson250       esprit
envision230  ep40         epson2500-80   ethernet
ep2500+basic ep4000       epson2500-h    ex3000
ep2500+color ep4080       epson2500-hi8  exidy
$ 

The entries for Epson printers are included in the preceding example.

If you have a NEC\256 printer, look in the /usr/share/lib/terminfo/n directory for your NEC printer model.

$ cd /usr/share/lib/terminfo/n
$ ls
ncr7900        ncr7901        netty-Tabs     newhpkeyboard
ncr7900-na     nec            netty-vi       nuc
ncr7900i       net            network        nucterm
ncr7900i-na    netronics      netx
ncr7900iv      netty          newhp
$ 

The entry in this directory for NEC is included in the preceding example.