---
name: "chkprintcap"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/chkprintcap"
---

# chkprintcap(8)

check validity of entries in the print spooler database

## NAME

**chkprintcap** – check validity of entries in the print spooler database

## SYNOPSIS

**chkprintcap** \[**-d**\] \[**-f** *printcap*\]

## DEPRECATION NOTICE

This facility is scheduled for removal prior to the release of FreeBSD 16.0.

## DESCRIPTION

The **chkprintcap** utility scans a [printcap(5)](/printcap/5.md) database (named by the *printcap* argument, or by default */etc/printcap*), looking for entries which are invalid in one way or another. The following checks are currently implemented:

1. ‘tc=’ references were properly expanded

2. ‘tc=’ references did not form a loop

3. No two printers share the same spool directory ‘(sd=’ capability).

The **chkprintcap** utility exits with a status equal to the number of errors encountered before processing stopped. (In some cases, processing can stop before the entire file is scanned.)

If the **-d** flag is given, **chkprintcap** will attempt to create any missing spool directories, giving them ‘u=rwx,go=rx’ (0755) mode, group ‘daemon’, and the owner specified by the ‘du=’ capability in the database (default 1, which corresponds to user ‘daemon’).

## SEE ALSO

[lpr(1)](/lpr/1.md), [printcap(5)](/printcap/5.md), [lpd(8)](/lpd/8.md)

## AUTHORS

The **chkprintcap** utility was written by Garrett A. Wollman ⟨*wollman@lcs.mit.edu*⟩.

## BUGS

Not enough sanity-checking is done. At a minimum, the ownership and mode of the spool directories should also be checked. Other parameters whose value could cause [lpd(8)](/lpd/8.md) to fail should be diagnosed.