There is no need to set up a .printers file in your users'
home directories if the users don't need customized printer information. However,
the .printers file enables users to establish their own printer
aliases. You can use the _default alias to make a printer the default
printer. You can also set up a special _all alias to define a list
of printers affected when you cancel a print request or to check the status of printers.
The use of the .printers file by the LP print service is
controlled by the name service switch (/etc/nsswitch.conf). The
default configuration specifies that the print service checks a user's home directory
to locate printer configuration information before it checks the other name services.
So, you can tailor a user's printer configuration file to use custom printer information
rather than the shared information in the name service.
For more information about the .printers file, see the
printers
(
4
)
man page. For more information about
the name service switch, see the
nsswitch.conf
(
4
)
man
page.
How to Set Up a .printers File
Log in to the user's system as superuser or assume an equivalent role.
Start the file editor that you want to use to
create a .printers file in the user's home directory.
(Optional) Set up the _default alias to make a specific
printer the user's default printer. Use an entry that is similar to this entry.
_default printer-name
(Optional) Set up the _all alias
to define the printers affected when you cancel a print request or check the status
of printers. Use an entry similar to this entry.
_all printer1,printer2,printer3
Save the file as .printers.