Datenbank in PDF drucken

Set up a print queue for cups-pdf

A print queue must be set up so that user application programs can print, see Concepts printing. In this case a special print queue is set up which does not print to a real printer device but stores the printout as PDF file.

Any printer setup tool which works in compliance with CUPS can be used.

    Instead of a real printer device "Virtual PDF Printer (CUPS-PDF)" must be selected which uses the CUPS device URI "cups-pdf:/".
    The matching printer driver is "Generic CUPS-PDF Printer" (under the manufacturer "Generic") which uses the PPD file "/usr/share/cups/model/CUPS-PDF.ppd". 

As user root via lpadmin command it could be done as follows (see "How to set up a print queue in full compliance with CUPS" at SDB:CUPS in a Nutshell):

lpadmin -h localhost -p cups-pdf -v cups-pdf:/ -P /usr/share/cups/model/CUPS-PDF.ppd -E


Alternatively when you use for example the CUPS web frontend to set up the print queue, the procedure is like (depending on the CUPS version it could be different):

    Open the CUPS web frontend http://localhost:631 using a web browser like Firefox.
    Use the "root" username and password (or any username with CUPS admin rights) when prompted for authentication.
    Select the Administration tab and click "Find New Printers".
    You should see Virtual PDF Printer (CUPS-PDF), click "Add This Printer" and then "Continue".
    In the next screen "MAKE/MANUFACTURER FOR CUPS-PDF", select Generic and click "Continue". Then select Generic CUPS-PDF Printer and click "Add Printer".
    Optionally change the default page size to match the locality (i.e. A4 versus US Letter) under the PDF:General, Page Size setting.

echo "Test" |lpr -P cups-pdf

echo "Test" |lpr -P cups-pdf