[comp.laser-printers] Handling of different paper sizes, types

lwv27@CAS.BITNET (Larry W. Virden ext. 2487) (04/22/91)

Folks under other operating systems have elaborate mechanisms in
place to manage print jobs so that output appears on the proper
forms (mailing labels, envelopes, etc) or proper paper type (legal,
8.5x11, duplex, simplex, hole punched, etc).

A similar mechanism does not seem to be available under Unix.
For instance, I share a printer with quite a large number of
other users.  To get a job to print out on letter head, currently
I have to do an lpq to see if the printer is available, run over and
get a paper tray ready with letter head and put it in, run back and
submit my job, and then hope that no one has started printing
a 20 program listing during the change.  After my job finishes, I
run back, change the paper tray, and everything is back to normal.

Amplify the above by 30 or so and you can see that things could get
pretty hairy.

Is there anyone out there using a Unix based print scheduler which
would allow printers to be managed, preferable by someone other
than root?

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