---
name: "foomatic-compiledb"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "foomatic-db-engine"
version: "5:20200131-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/foomatic-compiledb"
---

# foomatic-compiledb(1)

Compile the Foomatic printer/driver database

## NAME

foomatic-compiledb - Compile the Foomatic printer/driver database

## SYNOPSIS

**foomatic-compiledb** ***\[*** **-t** *type* **\]** ***\[*** **-f** ***\] \[*** **-j** *n* **\]** ***\[**  driver* **...  \]**

## DESCRIPTION

**foomatic-compiledb** generates all PPD files or Foomatic combo XML files for all possible printer/driver combos, or only for a selected range of drivers.  It generally should not be necessary except for people who want to generate a set of Foomatic data files for distribution. For configuring single printers **[foomatic-ppdfile(1)](/foomatic-ppdfile/1.md)** and especially **[foomatic-configure(1)](/foomatic-configure/1.md)** will automagically compute just what they need.

### Options

- **-t** *type*

  Output file type, either ppd or xml.

- **-f**

  Force: Write into the destination directory even if it already exists.

- **-j** *n*

  n = number of work processes to run

- *driver ...*

  only generate data files for these driver(s)

## SEE ALSO

[*foomatic-ppdfile*(1)](/foomatic-ppdfile/1.md),[*foomatic-configure*(1)](/foomatic-configure/1.md)

## EXIT STATUS

**foomatic-compiledb** returns 0 unless something unexpected happens.

## AUTHORS

Manfred Wassmann \<*manolo@NCC-1701.B.Shuttle.de*\> and Till Kamppeter \<*till.kamppeter@gmail.com*\> for the foomatic project using output from the associated binary.

## BUGS

Existing files are always conserved instead of older files being overwritten. So deleting the destination directory (rm -rf dir) and calling foomatic-compiledb without the -f option is recommended.

Please post bug reports on

http://lists.freestandards.org/mailman/listinfo/printing-foomatic