The most recent version is lpr-bash-0.9a.

lpr-bash needs a Linux/*nix/Posix-System. the following useful programs can be utilized by lpr-bash if necessary:

ghostscript AFPL/GNU recommended

PDF to PS conversion, PS to printer raster format conversion, PS preview (as a last resort). If your printer supports PS printing, you can use lpr-bash without ghostscript.

a2ps

anything to PS conversion. If you only want to print PostScript data, you can use lpr-bash without a2ps.

enscript

ASCII to PostScript conversion (optional)

gsview / gv / ghostview / kghostview / evince / xpdf

PostScript Preview (optional)

smbspool (samba)

Printing to Windows Netzwork Printer (optional); print server

There are no distribution packages at the moment. However, the installation is pretty straightforward:

  ./install

Warning! On other systems than gentoo, any older lpr(ng)/cups binaries will be overwritten without notice!

There are 2 configuration files: lpr.conf and printcap. While lpr.conf is self-documented, printcap uses a subset of the standard printcap format:

Comment lines beginning with a dash (#) are supported. Each printer configuration consists of 3 lines: name(s), device and driver

  ljet4|exampleprinter|laserjet
  :rw:lp=/dev/lp0
  :of=-sDEVICE=ljet4 -sPAPERSIZE=a4 -r300

The names are divided by "|". The device can be something of the following:

  :rw:lp=/dev/lp0 - local device
  :rw:file=filename.pdf - file output
  :rw:smb=//user:password@server/printer - Windows Network Printing Host

The Driver is specified by the options submitted to ghostscript for conversion to printer raster data. See either the ghostscript help or linuxprinting for further informations on this topic.

In order for samba to act as print server with lpr-bash, you need to set the following option in your smb.conf:

  printing = BSD

Otherwise samba will try to send the print files to port 631, expecting CUPS.