mkvirprt Command

Purpose

Makes a virtual printer.

Syntax

mkvirprt [ -A AttachmentType ] -d QueueDevice -n Device -q PrintQueue -s DataStream -t PrinterType -T

mkvirprt -A AttachmentType

Description

The mkvirprt command creates a virtual printer definition and assigns it to the specified print queue and queue device. A virtual printer definition is a set of attribute values that describe a particular data stream for a particular printer. Before a print job can be queued with the enq command, qprt command, lp command, or lpr command, a virtual printer definition must be created for the printer's print queue and queue device.

Printers that support only one printer data stream, such as the 4201-3 Proprinter III, need only one virtual printer defined. Printers that support multiple printer data streams, such as the IBM® 4216-31 Page Printer II, need a virtual printer defined for each data stream.

To create a virtual printer definition for a printer attached to an ASCII terminal, use the -T flag with the mkvirprt command.

After a virtual printer definition is created, its attribute values can be displayed with the lsvirprt command and changed with the chvirprt command.

The mkvirprt command becomes interactive if only the -A flag is specified with the command. Prompts are issued requesting the necessary parameter values. Prerequisite spooler queues and spooler queue devices are generated automatically, and all virtual printer definitions needed for the printer are defined with a single invocation of the mkvirprt command for the specified attachment type.

When the first prompt asks for a device name, if the device name entered is not that of a printer, or if an * (asterisk) precedes the device name, a list of printers is displayed. Otherwise, the printer type is assumed to be the same as that of the device.

Also, when a prompt asks for a print queue name, the queue name entered may optionally be followed by a colon and a queue device name. If no queue device name is provided, the queue device name is assumed to be the same as the device name.

Note: Queue and device names must begin with an alphabetic character.

You can use the Printer Queues application in Web-based System Manager (wsm) to change printer characteristics. You could also use the System Management Interface Tool (SMIT) smit mkvirprt fast path to run this command.

Flags

Item Description
-A AttachmentType Specifies the type of printer attachment. The most common values for the AttachmentType variable value are:
Attachment Type
Represents
local
Locally connected printers
remote
Remote print queues
ascii
Printers attached to an ASCII terminal
file
Print output redirected to a regular file.

This flag is optional, and if the -A flag is not specified the default attachment type is file. If the -A flag is the only flag specified on the command line, the mkvirprt command goes into interactive mode and executes steps specified in the corresponding .config file.
-d QueueDeviceName Specifies the name of an existing queue device to which the virtual printer is assigned.
-n DeviceName Specifies the name of the printer device. Device names include lp0 for printer 0, lp1 for printer 1, and so on.
-q PrintQueueName Specifies the special file name of an existing print queue to which the virtual printer is to be assigned. Note that you do not have to specify the path name to the file, such as the /dev/lp0 file, you just need to specify lp0.
-s DataStreamType Specifies the printer data stream type. Data stream types include:
Type
Description
asc
Extended ASCII
ps
PostScript
pcl
Hewlett-Packard PCL
630
Diablo 630
855
Texas Instruments 855
gl
Hewlett-Packard GL
kji
Kanji
-t PrinterType Specifies the printer type. Printer types include 4201-3, ti2115, and so on. For more information on available printer types, see Installing support for additional printers and Printer-specific information in AIX® Version 7.1 Printers and printing.
-T Specifies that the printer is attached to an ASCII terminal.

Examples

  1. To make a virtual printer for the asc printer data stream for the 4029 printer attached locally, enter: 
    mkvirprt -A local -d mypro -n lp0 -q proq -s asc -t 4019
  2. To make a virtual printer for a printer connected to an ENA 4033 network adapter, and to be prompted for the parameter values, enter: 
    mkvirprt -A ena

Files

Item Description
/usr/sbin/mkvirprt Contains the mkvirprt command.
/etc/qconfig Contains configuration files.
/usr/lib/lpd/pio/predef/* Contains predefined printer attribute files.
/var/spool/lpd/pio/@local/custom/* Contains customized virtual printer attribute files.
/usr/lib/lpd/pio/etc/*.attach Contains attachment type files.
/usr/lib/lpd/pio/etc/*.config Contains the configuration file for the printer.
/var/spool/lpd/pio/@local/ddi* Contains digested virtual printer attribute files.