---
name: "checkpc"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "lprng"
version: "3.8.B-9"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/checkpc"
---

# checkpc(8)

check out the printcap database

## NAME

checkpc - check out the printcap database

## SYNOPSIS

**checkpc** \[ **-aflprsV** \] \[ **-A***age*\[**DHMS**\] \] \[ **-D*debugflags*** \] \[ **-P*printer*** \] \[ **-t** *size*\[**kM**\] \]

## DESCRIPTION

**Checkpc** is used to check for the existence and correct permissions of entries in the *printcap* database. It is useful when installing a new printcap database and cleaning up existing printer spoolers.

- **-a**

  Do not create accounting files (:af).

- **-f**

  The fix flag will cause the checkpc program create and fix various files and permissions. It does this in a simple minded manner, and the program may have to be run several times until all permissions are correct. It also reports in extremely verbose details its actions.

- **-l**

  Do not create log files (:lf).

- **-p**

  Print verbose printcap information. Useful if interested in the printcap values.

- **-r**

  remove junk or job files older than the age set by -A. You must set the age to a non-zero value otherwise no files are removed.

- **-s**

  Do not create filter status files (:ps).

- **-A *Age*\[DHMS\]**

  Report junk or job files older than age. The age time can have a suffix days (D) hours (H), minutes (M), or seconds (S); default is days.

- **-D** *debugflags*

  Run the program with debugging flags. See the LPRng HOWTO for details of the flags actions.

- **-V**

  Verbose mode.

- **-P** *printer*

  Process only the specified print queue.

- **-t *size*\[kM\]**

  Truncate log files (:lf) to the specified size in Kbytes or Mbytes (default is Mbytes).

- **-T** *serial-line*

  set process name and start feature test

## ANNOYING FEATURES

If the **-f**(fix) option is specified and you do not run this as root, it will complain, but attempt to carry out the operations. This will lead to a large number of failures reports if the ownership and/or permissions are incorrect.

## FILES

The files used by LPRng are set by values in the printer configuration file and by configuration options. The following are a commonly used set of default values.

```
/etc/lprng/lpd.conf	LPRng configuration file
${HOME}/.printcap	user printer description file
/etc/printcap	printer description file
/etc/lprng/lpd.perms	permissions
/var/run/lprng/lpd	lock file for queue control
/var/spool/lpd		spool directories
/var/spool/lpd/QUEUE/control	queue control
/var/spool/lpd/QUEUE/log	trace or debug log file
/var/spool/lpd/QUEUE/acct	accounting file
/var/spool/lpd/QUEUE/status	status file
```

## SEE ALSO

[**lpd.conf**(5)](/lpd.conf/5.md), [**lpc**(8)](/lpc/8.md), [**lpd**(8)](/lpd/8.md), [**lpr**(1)](/lpr/1.md), [**lpq**(1)](/lpq/1.md), [**lprm**(1)](/lprm/1.md), [**printcap**(5)](/printcap/5.md), [**lpd.perms**(5)](/lpd.perms/5.md), [**pr**(1)](/pr/1.md), [**lprng\_certs**(1)](/lprng_certs/1.md), [**lprng\_index\_certs**(1)](/lprng_index_certs/1.md).

## AUTHOR

Patrick Powell \<papowell@lprng.com\>.

## DIAGNOSTICS

Most of the diagnostics are self explanatory. If you are puzzled over the exact cause of failure, set the debugging level on (-D5) and run again.

The debugging information will help you to pinpoint the exact cause of failure.

## HISTORY

LPRng is a enhanced printer spooler system with functionality similar to the Berkeley LPR software. The LPRng developer mailing list is lprng-devel@lists.sourceforge.net; subscribe by visiting **https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/lprng-devel** or sending mail to **lprng-request@lists.sourceforge.net** with the word *subscribe* in the body.\
 The software is available via **http://lprng.sourceforge.net**