NAME¶
vtprintcap - database of terminal printer control codes
SYNOPSIS¶
/etc/vtprintcap
DESCRIPTION¶
vtprintcap is a simple flat file database containing a list of the names
of various terminals and the codes those terminals use to start and stop an
attached printer (media hard copy). This database is used by
vtprint(1)
and related programs.
Each entry is composed of three lines. The first line is a comma-delimited list
of names which may be used to reference this entry. The second line the
sequence of characters used by the terminal to turn on an attached hard copy
device and redirect output to that device. The third line contains the
sequence of characters used to turn the device off and restore normal output
to the screen.
An entry must have all three lines to be considered valid. Currently no comment
lines are permitted to exist between these lines: such lines would be
interpreted as the printer control codes themselves!
The rules for selecting a terminal name are simple: you must follow the same
rules as for /etc/
termcap(5) names. Terminal names should be entered in
/etc/vtprintcap with exactly the same names as are in
/etc/termcap.
The control code strings in the second and third lines of an entry are governed
as follows: ANSI C style escapes for character constants (e.g. \n for newline)
are permitted, constant strings are permitted, and quotes may be used to as
delimiters in the string. (This is useful if you wish you use a digit
immediately following a numeric escape. For example, ESC-5 should be
represented as \033"5" to avoid confusion in with \335. In general,
the rules outlined for ANSI constant escaping are enforced.
Additionally,
/etc/vtprintcap may contain comment lines, which are
indicated by placing a hash mark (#) in the first column of the line. Remember
however that entries must
not be broken up by comment lines!
EXAMPLE¶
Here is a sample entry common to DEC vt100 and vt102 terminals:
- # Sample vtprintcap entry for vt100 & vt102 terminals
vt100, vt102
\033[5i
\033[4i
This entry would be used whenever the user's TERM environment variable was set
to "vt102" or "vt100", using ESC [5i and ESC [4i as the
printer control codes to turn a printer on and off, respectively.
DISTRIBUTION¶
vtprintcap is part of the
vtprint package, which can be obtained
by anonymous ftp at ftp.sdsu.edu in the
/pub/vtprint directory. Please
read the
INDEX and
README files before downloading.
If you do not have ftp availability, then you can request a uuencoded copy of
vtprint be sent to you via e-mail from the author. The author is also
willing to make other arrangements as needed, within certain limitations.
FILES¶
/etc/termcap
/etc/vtprintcap
BUGS¶
vtprintcap handling code currently could get confused if a printer
control code is exactly the same as the name of a terminal, or contained the
name of a terminal delimited by commas. As this is very unlikely to every
occur, it shouldn't be a problem.
SEE ALSO¶
termcap(5) vtprint(1)