lpq

display print queue status (UNIX)

Syntax:

lpq [-l] [-P name] [-q] [-s seconds] [jobnumber...]
    [user...]

Options:

-l

("el") Loop. After displaying the queue, sleep for a period of time (default is 5 seconds), then redisplay the queue.

-P name

Use the named spooler and/or queue. If name begins with a slash, it is assumed to be a full name, where the last component is the name of a spool queue and the prefix is the name of the spooler (/spooler/queue). If name does not begin with a slash, it is assumed to be a queue name.

If a server is not specified, the utility will use the spooler identified in the LPSRVR environment variable, or /qnx/spooler if LPSRVR is not set.

If a queue is not specified, lp will use the queue identified in the LPDEST environment variable, or the first queue defined in the setup file of the spooler being used if LPDEST is not set.

For more detailed discussion, see Ch.9, "Print Spooling," in the QNX Installation & Configuration manual.

-q

Print a list of the available printers.

-s seconds

When looping, sleep for seconds rather than the default. Setting this value automatically sets looping mode.

jobnumber
user

Specifying either of these causes lpq to filter out only those jobs of interest.

Examples:

Display all current print jobs submitted by steve:

    lpq steve

Description:

The lpq utility reports on the status of jobs in a printer queue.

For each job, lpq reports the user's name, the job identifier, the ranking in the queue, and the names of files that make up the job.

If no filename is available, the name will be displayed as standard input.

When lpq is set for "looping," it will continue to redisplay the entries until no entries are left to display.

Exit status:

0

Jobs of interest were discovered.

1

No jobs of interest were discovered.

>1

An error occurred.

Environment variables:

LPSRVR

Use this spool server by default. (Will use /qnx/spooler if not set.)

LPDEST

Use this spool queue by default. (Will use first queue entry in the setup file of the located spooler if not set.)

PRINTER

Historical alternative to LPDEST. Ignored if LPDEST is set.

See also:

• lp utility (Send files to a printer)
• lpc utility (Line printer control)
• lprm utility (Remove jobs from printer queue)
• lpsrvr manager (Print server)
• QNX Installation & Configuration

Caveats:

Since lpq is based on polling, it's possible that very fast jobs will completely escape its notice.