How to set default printer in Linux or Unix

If you are using terminal setup in Unix systems like Linux, you can configure your default printer by:

1. csh shell version (by editing ~/.cshrc or ~/.tcshrc configuration files)

setenv PRINTER your-printer-name

2. bash shell version (by editing ~/.bashrc configuration file)

export PRINTER=your-printer-name

If CUPS is available in your system, you may issue the following command to have this change:

lpoptions -d printer-name

The ‘d’ option sets the default printer.

In the case of Ubuntu Linux, you can just go System->Administration->Printing to set up a printer as the default printer. Just click the Make default button on the Settings tab.

How to restart CUPS in Linux

Simply execute the following command will restart CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) service in Linux like Ubuntu:

#/etc/init.d/cupsys restart

By the way, CUPS is the standards-based, open source printing system developed by Apple Inc. for Mac OS X and other UNIX-like operating systems.

How to uncompress pp_ file (compress form of PPD file)

The pp_ which is coming with printer driver is the compressed form of PPD (Postscript Printer Description) file.

PPD files are created by vendors to describe the entire set of features and capabilities available for their Postscript printers.

To uncompress it you, execute the following command:

Example: file.pp_

C:\expand file.pp_ file.ppd