Printing

[Andrew Mathews]

Joel Hammer wrote:
> As I recall, with redhat( 7.2 ?), out of the box, there was a big
> warning in printcap to make no changes in the printcap file, since it
> was generated fresh every time something started up, I think the system
> or the printing daemon. I think that the configuration program ran
> automatically. You weren't given a choice about it. I had to manually
> disable the thing.
> 
> That is the sort of messing around I just won't tolerate. It makes a
> linux distro incompatible with every other version of linux. It makes
> offering good, generic advice impossible. It makes life miserable for
> newbies. It frustrates experienced users, who are asked yet again to
> master some obscure but crucial details of an important but difficult
> subsystem like printing, one that they thought they had under control.
> 
> Just one reason why I stopped using Redhat.
> 
> Joel
> 
<snip>

Since I have a RH 7.2 box, here's what it says:

[root at email root]# more /etc/printcap
# /etc/printcap
#
# DO NOT EDIT! MANUAL CHANGES WILL BE LOST!
# This file is autogenerated by printconf-backend during lpd init.
#
# Hand edited changes can be put in /etc/printcap.local, and will be 
included.
LEX01:\
         :ml=0:\
         :mx=0:\
         :sd=/var/spool/lpd/LEX01:\
         :af=/var/spool/lpd/LEX01/LEX01.acct:\
         :sh:\
         :rm=10.10.108.60:\
         :rp=lp:\
         :lpd_bounce=true:\
         :if=/usr/share/printconf/util/mf_wrapper:

HP2200:\
         :ml=0:\
         :mx=0:\
         :sd=/var/spool/lpd/HP2200:\
         :af=/var/spool/lpd/HP2200/HP2200.acct:\
         :sh:\
         :lp=|/usr/share/printconf/util/jetdirectprint:\
         :lpd_bounce=true:\
         :if=/usr/share/printconf/util/mf_wrapper:
###############################################################################
## Everything below here is included verbatim from /etc/printcap.local 
      ##
###############################################################################
# printcap.local
#
# This file is included by printconf's generated printcap,
# and can be used to specify custom hand edited printers.

While it does warn you against making manual changes, it also says where 
to make them so they won't be lost. If one is proficient enough to be 
editing their own printcap file, surely they're proficient enough to be 
able to read this information. Far from rocket science, obscure syntax, 
or BSD vs. SVR4 init scripts.
-- 
Andrew Mathews
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As you grow older, you will still do foolish things, but you will do them
with much more enthusiasm.
		-- The Cowboy
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