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Sindi Keesan wrote:
>
> I tried to set up a user account (installed shadow.tgz 
> and did useradd but I could not figure out the right way 
> to specify my password) 

passwd

> Steven said to type:
> 
> deskjet.filter < filename.ps > /dev/lp0
> 
> IT PRINTED (one page).  I then looked closely at deskjet.filter 
> and it looked just like the line I use to print files with DOS 

Would you please post a copy of that filter file.  The only
working filter file I have is for a dotmatrix printer.  Ron
has a deskjet (I think) and seems to be having trouble making 
a valid filter file.

> Is there some easier way to use the command line without 
> having to go to the location of deskjet.filter, which is 
> not on the path?  

It's the same as DOS, you either put it in the path or use
the full pathname.  Of course, if you use lpd/lpr, this is
handled automatically.

I suppose you could create a little script for this:
------------------------------
deskjet.filter < $1 > /dev/lp0
------------------------------

Or if you wanted to be fancy, you could design the script
to check whether lp is up and, if not, install the print 
modules.  Something like this:
--------------------------------------
if grep -qs lp /proc/parport/0/devices  
  then :; else
    insmod parport 
    insmod parport_pc 
    insmod lp
  fi
deskjet.filter < $1 > /dev/lp0
--------------------------------------

> Please tell me again how I can print files from the command 
> line by sending them to /dev/lp0 without using wp when they 
> are plain text files.
>
> document > /dev/lp0
> Permission denied.

cat document > /dev/lp0

> lpr document
> Jobs queued, but cannot start demon.

lpd not running.

> Lpq shows me that the document file is indeed queued.

Then it might print when you start lpd.

> I presume I could just use a different .filter file for 
> each printer

Yes.  And you could put an entry in /etc/printcap for each
of those (using the -P parameter in lpr to select which to
use).

> How would you need to modify printcap to print pdf files, 
> add a section changing the ps|PS to pdf|PDF?  

I don't think it is necessary to change anything.  All
printcap does is direct the file to the specified filter.
It doesn't care whether the file ends in .ps or .pdf or
whatever.
 
> The old slackware book says to add users not with useradd 
> (which was rather cryptic) but with adduser.

Both work.  adduser is just an interactive script that 
provides a frontend to useradd.

> I tried first loading lpd after logging in as a user.   
> lpd
> Command not found.

As I said before, lpd must be run as root.

> I will keep trying to get this working (not that I need it 
> since I don't use Abiword).

It also enables you to print from Netscape/Mozilla/Opera.

Cheers,
Steven