Linux Lite Forums - How to install "lpr"-command > simply use "lp"-command instead

Hi guys!

I'm new to LinuxLite, installed it on a rather old PC that became quite slow with LinuxMint... So far the experience is really good (a lot snappier!!), but a couple of things are different obviously... Thanks for your kind help:

This old PC is being used in a small shop as a cash desk, so it uses an EPSON thermal receipt printer, which I was able to install right away without problem.

But we do use a script to automatically print the receipts and it uses the "lpr"-command which does not seem to be installed in LinuxLite. All my attempts to install it did not work, so I ran out of ideas but it is probably a simple issue... here is the responses:

Code:
nina@nina-LIFEBOOK-C-linuxLite ~/Downloads $ lpr -P BonDrucker BE00175.pdf

Das Programm »lpr« ist in folgenden Paketen enthalten:

 * cups-bsd

 * lpr

 * lprng

Versuchen Sie: sudo apt install <ausgewähltes Paket>

nina@nina-LIFEBOOK-C-linuxLite ~/Downloads $ sudo apt install lpr

[sudo] Passwort für nina:

Paketlisten werden gelesen... Fertig

Abhängigkeitsbaum wird aufgebaut.       

Statusinformationen werden eingelesen.... Fertig

Paket lpr ist nicht verfügbar, wird aber von einem anderen Paket

referenziert. Das kann heißen, dass das Paket fehlt, dass es abgelöst

wurde oder nur aus einer anderen Quelle verfügbar ist.

E: Für Paket »lpr« existiert kein Installationskandidat.

So first it tells me that "lpr" is contained in those three packages (and I guess that means that it ain't installed yet), but if I try to install any of these three suggested packages, the answer is that "lpr" is not available, but referenced by another package and that there is not any "installation candidate" existing... (Sorry for my code translation from German...)

I googled a lot and tried a couple of other things but to no avail so far.

Thanks a lot for your help with making the "lpr" command usable for printing!

Best regards
laex

Hi [member=7215]laex2[/member]
I know nothing about "lpr", but I google for it and found this https://www.computerhope.com/unix/ulpr.htm
Basically it states that you should do the following:
1. Manually install CUPS, and lpr itself

Code:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install cups cups-client lpr

This command will install the Common Unix Printing System on your system. You should now be able to set up CUPS by directing any web browser to the address: http://localhost:631 doing so will open a web-based CUPS configuration screen.

2. From the command line, add your user to the group lpadmin with the command:

Code:
sudo adduser <yourusername> lpadmin

This command will add you to the group of users allowed to administer printers on your system. Now go back to the CUPS web administration panel, and under the administration tab, select "Add Printer." You will be prompted for your username and password, and you should be able to set up a new printer.

I don't know if you already tried that, in any case you could simply read the article for yourself and see if there's something else you can use from it.
EDIT: I also found this post which seems it might be of some help, I just tried what it says and I saw a lpr option in the cups configuration page. Again, I don't know if you tried/did this.
I also searched at the Ubuntu package site for /usr/bin/lpr as suggested in this post and found these three packages available for download: [color=rgb(221, 72, 20)]cups-bsd[/color], [color=rgb(221, 72, 20)]lpr[/color], [color=rgb(221, 72, 20)]lprng[/color].
Hope this helps! Smile

Hi Moltke,

Thanks for your help!

I've seen your links already but still couldn't really make it work... But it made me look into the CUPS-settings again and under http://localhost:631/help/options.html I found that the "lpr" command is quite similar to the "lp" command that I didn't know of yet!

And this "lp" command works perfectly fine for me now (LinuxLite 3.6)!

So thanks again for pointing me into the right direction!

Best regards
laex

(11-24-2017, 01:21 PM)laex2 link Wrote: [ -> ]Hi Moltke,

Thanks for your help!

I've seen your links already but still couldn't really make it work... But it made me look into the CUPS-settings again and under http://localhost:631/help/options.html I found that the "lpr" command is quite similar to the "lp" command that I didn't know of yet!

And this "lp" command works perfectly fine for me now (LinuxLite 3.6)!

So thanks again for pointing me into the right direction!

Best regards
laex

Hi [member=7215]laex2[/member]
No problem. Glad you sorted it out! Smile