The original enquiry was:-
***********************************************************************
I asked Digital the following question :-
"If one has a disabled Unix queue with a number of jobs waiting for the queue
to be enabled so that they can print, is it possible to enable the queue such
that only one job is printed before the queue is disabled again? (In effect
an equivalent to STOP/QUE/NEXT on VMS.)
It is required to use a queue with different stationery, but the times at
which jobs are to be submitted to the queue are unknown."
Digital replied that this degree of queue control was not possible and the only
solution if there is a number of jobs in a queue is to remove all jobs other
than the one which is about to print or rename the cfxxx and dfxxx files
in /var/spool until the printer is ready.
Does anyone know of alternative methods of job control to make such a situation
more manageable?
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My thanks to all those who replied:-
--------------------------------------------------------------
[1.]
sanghi_at_proto.wilm.ge.com arun sanghvi
steve_at_avalon.dartmouth.edu Stephen Campbell
Both suggested using lpc stop printer (after lpc start printer).
This would probably work but would seem to be dependent on being able to
type the command quick enough.
---------------------------------------------------------------
[2.]
tardell_at_msia02.msi.se Simon Tardell
Suggested ppr, the mailing list for which is listproc_at_mouse.trincoll.edu.
This is a Unix print spooler for operating Postscript printers.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[3.]
grosen_at_dilbert.cc.ndsu.nodak.edu John Grosen
Suggested the following print spoolers:-
LPRng available from dickory.sdsu.edu:/pub/LPRng
or PLP available from ftp.iona.ie:/pub/plp
(PLP is no longer under active development)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
[4.]
swatson_at_ultrix6.cs.csubak.edu Sean Watson
a) obtain original lpd/lpr BSD sources and modify
b) write scripts for printers using multiple-paper sources
c) write a sudo script that enables a user to, via a print filter,
start a job when appropriate
d) have multiple queues pointing at the same device, each queue set up
with a filter for the stationery required; a sudo script allows
users to start/stop queues as required
---------------------------------------------------------------------
[5.]
SYSTEM_SF_at_unode2.nswc.navy.mil Sheila Franklin
Pipe jobs to VMS queues. We use UCX which (unless someone wishes to
contradict me) gives a user name of UCX_LPD at the remote VMS node
where the printing would occur.
Sheila uses Wollongong's Pathway and Process Software's TCPWARE which
provide the username of the job sent from the remote node.
The jobs remain on VMS until the forms are applied.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
[6.]
dwl_at_cs.strath.ac.uk David W Lloyd
Have multiple queues pointing at the same device. He provided a script
which monitor the queues and allow printing when the device is ready
plus a script which informs the operator of jobs waiting in the queue.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The difference between responses from those listed above and Digital
would seem to be an indicator of the value of this newsgroup.
Thanks again.
******************************************************************************
--------------
| | David Clapperton
__ -------------- __ __ Systems Programmer
|__|__ |__| |__| |__| |__| |__| Information Resource Services
|__| __ __ __ __ __ University of Westminster
|__| |__| |__| |__| |__| 115 New Cavendish Street
__ __ __ London
\/ \/ \/ E-mail: davidc_at_westminster.ac.uk
******************************************************************************
Received on Wed Mar 06 1996 - 13:47:04 NZDT