An enhanced mp(1) print filter is available in the Solaris 9 environment that can print various input file formats including flat text files written in UTF-8. It uses TrueType and Type 1 scalable fonts and X11 bitmap fonts available on the Solaris system. It can also make use of printer resident fonts and can act as an X print server client.
The output from the utility is standard PostScript and can be sent to any PostScript printer. mp(1) can also output any page description language when working as an X Print server client, mp is supported by the print server.
To use the utility, type the following:
system% mp filename | lp
You can also use the utility as a filter, since the utility accepts stdin stream
system% cat filename | mp | lp:
You can set the utility as a printing filter for a line printer. For example, the following command sequence tells the printer service LP that the printer lp1 accepts only mp format files. This command also installs the printer lp1 on port /dev/ttya. See the lpadmin(1M) man page for more details.
system# lpadmin -p lp1 -v /dev/ttya -I MP system# accept lp1 system# enable lp1
Using lpfilter(1M), you can add the utility for a filter as follows:
system# lpfilter -f lp1 -F pathname
The command tells LP that a converter (in this case, mp) is available through the filter description file named pathname. pathname contains the following:
Input types: simple Output types: MP Command: /usr/bin/mp
The filter converts the default type file input to PostScript output using /usr/bin/mp.
To print a UTF-8 text file, use the following command
system% lp -T MP UTF-8-file
Refer to the mp man page for more detail.