How to Print at the BIC

(:#toc:) A quick glance at the print setup at the BIC.

Things To Know

  • What printer are you printing to? What is its name? ( try lpstat -a for a list or PrinterSetup)
  • What program are you printing from? ( this is either lp or lpr ( eg: acrobat reader uses lpr))

Common Printing Commands

  • Print a ps document from the command line to the printer queue webster3b: 
% lpr -P webster3b my_document.ps
% lp  -d webster3b my_document.ps
  • To print to queue webster3b while viewing a document with acroread, type this in the “Command” text box: 
lpr -P webster3b
  • A bunch more ways to print (set $PRINTER to a printer queue name): 
lp -d $PRINTER
lpr -P $PRINTER
a2ps  file.txt -P $PRINTER
a2ps -E file.htm -P $PRINTER (-E means use external rasterizer for .pdf or .htm only)

Other Printing Commands

  • If the default system printer is the one you are using, you don’t need to provide the -P option. Also, if you don’t want to provide the printer name everytime you print, set the PRINTER environment variable. For example, tcsh and bash users should use setenv PRINTER $PRINTER (tcsh user) or export PRINTER=$PRINTER for bash.
  • To get a list of all available printers, or the status on all printers, use lpstat -a.
  • List print queue with the command lpq or lpstat.
  • List jobs and jobs ids numbers in a print queue with lpq -P $PRINTER or lpstat -p $PRINTER.
  • To cancel an existing print job from a print queue, use lprm <job-id-number> or cancel <job-id-number>.

Environment Variables

  • Add this to your .cshrc: setenv PRINTER $PRINTER
  • Add this to your .bashrc or .bash_profile: export PRINTER=$PRINTER

Print Server

  • The host printhost is taking care of this.

Note: If you systems printers are giving you trouble, log into another system and try from there. Note to Mac users: Turn off printer sharing while on the BIC network.

McGill uPrint Service

  • McGill has now put in place printing service called uPrint. Read about it and how to use it at http://kb.mcgill.ca/it/easylink/article.html?id=2658.
  • Any Xeros photocopier owned by McGill can be used: the queue name are mcgill_mono and mcgill_color.
  • In order to use it you must have a valid McGill ID as well as a valid FOAPAL attached to it.
  • Go to the link above and check the 3 different categories of users: Students, Faculty and Staff and Guests.
  • You can print on the BIC Linux systems using a command like: lp –U [McGill Short Username] -d [printername] [filename].
  • You must first connect to McGill’s VPN in order to use the uPrint service if you are not connected to the McGill wireless or wired network.
  • To print from a mobile device send an email to uprint.mono@mcgill.ca (for black & white jobs) or uprint.colour@mcgill.ca (for colour jobs).
  • As of 20151112 there are still a few glitches with the later service: read https://www.mcgill.ca/it/channels/news/uprint-anywhere-email-issues-persist-256710.