---
name: "papstatus"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "netatalk"
version: "2.2.5-2+deb9u1"
release: "Debian 9 (Stretch)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pap"
---

# papstatus(1)

client interface to remote printers using Printer Access Protocol

Part of [pap(1)](/pap/1.md).

## NAME

pap - client interface to remote printers using Printer Access Protocol

## SYNOPSIS

**pap** \[-A *address*\] \[-c\] \[-d\] \[-e\] \[-E\] \[-p *nbpname*\] \[-s *statusfile*\] \[-w\] \[-W\] \[*FILES*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**pap** is used to connect and send files to an AppleTalk connected printer using the Apple Printer Access Protocol (PAP). When **pap** starts execution, it tries to open a session with the printer using PAP, and then downloads the *files* to the printer.

If no *files* are given on the command line, **pap** begins reading from standard input.

If no printer is specified on the command line, **pap** looks for a file called **.paprc** in the current working directory and reads it to obtain the *nbpname* of a printer. Blank lines and lines that begin with a \`**#**´ are ignored. *type* and *zone* default to **LaserWriter** and the zone of the local host, respectively.

Note that **pap** is designed to be useful as a communication filter for sending [**lpd**(8)](/lpd/8.md) spooled print jobs to AppleTalk connected printers. See [**psf**(8)](/psf/8.md) for hints on how to use it this way.

## OPTIONS

- **-A** *address*

  Connect to the printer with Appletalk address *address* and do not consult the **.paprc** file to find a printer name. See [**atalk\_aton**(3)](/atalk_aton/3.md) for the syntax of *address*.

- **-c**

  Take cuts. The PAP protocol specified a simple queuing procedure, such that the clients tell the printer how long they have been waiting to print. This option causes **pap** to lie about how long it has been waiting.

- **-d**

  Enable debug output.

- **-e**

  Send any message from the printer to stderr instead of stdout. [**psf**(8)](/psf/8.md) invokes **pap** with this option.

- **-E**

  Don´t wait for EOF from the printer. This option is useful for printers which don´t implement PAP correctly. In a correct implementation, the client side should wait for the printer to return EOF before closing the connection. Some clients don´t wait, and hence some printers have related bugs in their implementation.

- **-p** *nbpname*

  Connect to the printer named *nbpname* and do not consult the **.paprc** file to find a printer name. See [**nbp\_name**(3)](/nbp_name/3.md) for the syntax of *nbpname*.

- **-s** *statusfile*

  Update the file called *statusfile* to contain the most recent status message from the printer. **pap** gets the status from the printer when it is waiting for the printer to process input. The *statusfile* will contain a single line terminated with a newline. This is useful when **pap** is invoked by [**psf**(8)](/psf/8.md) within **lpd**´s spool directory.

- **-w**

  Wait for the printer status to contain the word "waiting" before sending the job. This is to defeat printer-side spool available on HP IV and V printers.

- **-W**

  Wait for the printer status to contain the word "idle" before sending the job. This is to defeat printer-side spool available on HP IV and V printers.

## FILES

**.paprc**

file read to obtain printer name if not specified on command line

## SEE ALSO

[**nbp\_name**(3)](/nbp_name/3.md), [**atalk\_aton**(3)](/atalk_aton/3.md), [**lpd**(8)](/lpd/8.md), [**psf**(8)](/psf/8.md).