1*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<HTML> 2*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<!-- SECTION: Getting Started --> 3*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<HEAD> 4*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker <TITLE>Overview of CUPS</TITLE> 5*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker <LINK REL="STYLESHEET" TYPE="text/css" HREF="../cups-printable.css"> 6*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker</HEAD> 7*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<BODY> 8*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker 9*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<H1 CLASS="title">Overview of CUPS</H1> 10*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker 11*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<P>CUPS is the software you use to print from applications like the web browser 12*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workeryou are using to read this page. It converts the <em>page descriptions</em> 13*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerproduced by your application (put a paragraph here, draw a line there, and so 14*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerforth) into something your printer can understand and then sends the information 15*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerto the printer for printing.</P> 16*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker 17*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<P>Now, since every printer manufacturer does things differently, printing can 18*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerbe very complicated. CUPS does its best to hide this from you and your 19*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerapplication so that you can concentrate on printing and less on <em>how</em> to 20*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerprint. Generally, the only time you need to know anything about your printer is 21*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerwhen you use it for the first time, and even then CUPS can often figure things 22*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerout on its own.</P> 23*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker 24*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<H2 CLASS="title"><A NAME="WORK">How Does It Work?</A></H2> 25*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker 26*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<P>The first time you print to a printer, CUPS creates a <em>queue</em> to keep 27*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workertrack of the current status of the printer (everything OK, out of paper, etc.) 28*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerand any pages you have printed. Most of the time the queue points to a printer 29*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerconnected directly to your computer via a USB port, however it can 30*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workeralso point to a printer on your network, a printer on the Internet, or multiple 31*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerprinters depending on the configuration. Regardless of <em>where</em> the queue 32*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerpoints, it will look like any other printer to you and your applications.</P> 33*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker 34*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<P>Every time you print something, CUPS creates a <em>job</em> which contains 35*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerthe queue you are sending the print to, the name of the document you are 36*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerprinting, and the page descriptions. Job are numbered (queue-1, queue-2, and so 37*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerforth) so you can monitor the job as it is printed or cancel it if you see a 38*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workermistake. When CUPS gets a job for printing, it determines the best programs 39*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker(<em>filters</em>, <em>printer drivers</em>, <em>port monitors</em>, and 40*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<em>backends</em>) to convert the pages into a printable format and then runs 41*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerthem to actually print the job.</P> 42*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker 43*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<P>When the print job is completely printed, CUPS removes the job from the queue 44*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerand moves on to any other jobs you have submitted. You can also be notified when 45*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerthe job is finished, or if there are any errors during printing, in several 46*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerdifferent ways.</P> 47*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker 48*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<H2 CLASS="title"><A NAME="BEGIN">Where Do I Begin?</A></H2> 49*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker 50*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<P>Click on the <var>Administration</var> tab. Click on the <var>Add Printer</var> button and follow the prompts.</P> 51*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker 52*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<BLOCKQUOTE>When you are asked for a username and password, enter your login username and password or the "root" username and password. On macOS<sup>®</sup>, the login username (or "short name") is typically your first and last name in lowercase.</BLOCKQUOTE> 53*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker 54*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<P>After the printer is added, CUPS will ask you to set the default printer 55*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workeroptions (paper size, output mode, etc.) for the printer. Make any changes as 56*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerneeded and then click on the <VAR>Set Default Options</VAR> button to save 57*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workerthem. Some printers also support auto-configuration - click on the <VAR>Query 58*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard WorkerPrinter for Default Options</VAR> button to update the options automatically.</P> 59*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker 60*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker<P>Once you have added the printer, you can print to it from any application. 61*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard WorkerYou can also choose <VAR>Print Test Page</VAR> from the maintenance menu to print 62*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Workera simple test page and verify that everything is working properly.</P> 63*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker 64*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker</BODY> 65*5e7646d2SAndroid Build Coastguard Worker</HTML> 66