Reference

backend(1)

backend transmission interfaces

NAME

backend - backend transmission interfaces

SYNOPSIS

backend job user title num-copies options [ filename ]

DESCRIPTION

The CUPS backend interface provides a standard method for sending document files to different physical interfaces.

Backends must be capable of reading from a filename on the command-line or from the standard input, copying stdin to a temporary if required by the physical interface.

The command name (argv[0]) is set to the device URI of the destination printer.

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

The following environment variables are defined by the CUPS server when executing the backend:

CHARSET

The default text character set (typically us-ascii or iso-8859-1).

CONTENT_TYPE

The MIME type associated with the file (e.g. application/postscript).

DEVICE_URI

The device-uri associated with the printer; this is provided for shell scripts which may not be able to get the passed argv[0] string.

LANG

The default language locale (typically C or en).

PATH

The standard execution path for external programs that may be run by the backend.

PPD

The full pathname of the PostScript Printer Description (PPD) file for this printer.

PRINTER

The name of the printer.

RIP_CACHE

The recommended amount of memory to use for Raster Image Processors (RIPs).

SERVER_ROOT

The root directory of the server.

SOFTWARE

The name and version number of the server (typically CUPS/1.0).

TZ

The timezone of the server.

USER

The user executing the backend (typically lp).

SEE ALSO

cupsd(8), filter(1) CUPS Software Administrators Manual, CUPS Interface Design Description

COPYRIGHT

Copyright 1993-1999 by Easy Software Products, All Rights Reserved.