UNIX onlyPrinter Interface Scripts

A number of printer interface scripts are provided on your UNIX system to interface the lp Spooler to printer device files. Each script is a filter program which processes a print job to prepare it for output to a particular printer. This includes preparing the UNIX banner page, configuring the I/O port and writing the data to the correct device. These scripts are located in the /usr/lib/lp/model directory.

Reality private printers are UNIX devices which are despooled directly by a PTR Despooler. Reality, therefore, needs to call up an interface script to drive a private printer. However, the interface scripts residing in /usr/lib/lp/model are not ideally suited for printing from Reality as they are designed to process UNIX Spooler output, adding a UNIX banner and appropriate form-feeds.

Printer interface scripts which have been customised for use with Reality private printers are provided in the $REALROOT/files/interfaces directory. Private printer interface scripts carry out processing which is tailored to the Reality environment. So, for example, a UNIX banner is not generated, as Reality provides its own banner.

Private printer interface scripts in $REALROOT/files/interfaces include:

realdumb
realsdqp10
real11130
real11131
real11161
real11170
real11180
real11190

The script used by a particular PTR Despooler is specified in DESPOOLER.CONTROL File Maintenance (DSM) Option 2 - Device Name.

Network Printers

You can create Interface scripts for network printers by using the Add Network Printer command in the UNIX-Connect netadmin utility. The scripts created are saved in $REALROOT/files/interfaces.