NAME
backend - cups 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 the standard input to a temporary file if required by the physical interface.
The command name (argv[0]) is set to the device URI of the destination printer. Starting with CUPS 1.1.22, any authentication information in argv[0] will be removed, so backend developers are urged to use the DEVICE_URI environment variable whenever authentication information is required.
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).
- CLASS
-
When a job is submitted to a printer class, contains the name of the destination printer class. Otherwise this environment variable will not be set.
- CONTENT_TYPE
-
The MIME type associated with the file (e.g. application/postscript).
- CUPS_DATADIR
-
The directory where data files can be found.
- CUPS_SERVERROOT
-
The root directory of the server.
- 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 and for backends that require any authentication information which is not included in argv[0].
- 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).
- SOFTWARE
-
The name and version number of the server (typically CUPS/1.1).
- TZ
-
The timezone of the server.
- USER
-
The user executing the backend, typically root; consult the cupsd.conf file for the current setting.
SEE ALSO
cupsd(8), filter(1) CUPS Interface Design Description, CUPS Software Administrators Manual, CUPS Software Programmers Manual, http://localhost:631/documentation.html
COPYRIGHT
Copyright 1993-2005 by Easy Software Products, All Rights Reserved.