Manual Pages for UNIX Operating System command usage for man escputil

Gutenprint Manual Pages                               ESCPUTIL(1)



NAME
     escputil - maintain Epson Stylus inkjet printers

SYNOPSIS
     escputil [ -P printer | -r device ] [ -m model ] [ -u ] [ -c
     | -n | -a | -i | -d | -o | -s | -l | -M | -h ] [ -q ]

DESCRIPTION
     escputil is  a  command  line  utility  to  perform  various
     maintenance  tasks  on  Epson Stylus inkjet printers.  These
     tasks include head alignment, head cleaning,  nozzle  check,
     printer  identification, and retrieval of ink level from the
     printer.

OPTIONS
     escputil accepts the following options:

     -P, --printer-name=printer
          Specify the name of the printer  to  operate  on.   The
          default is the default system printer.

     -r, --raw-device=device
          Specify the name of the device  to  write  to  directly
          rather than going through a printer queue. You must use
          this (rather than specifying a printer) when retrieving
          ink  levels  or identifying the printer, or if you wish
          to  perform  head  alignment  without  specifying   the
          printer model.

     -m, --model=model
          Specify the precise printer model for head alignment.

     -u, --new
          The printer is a  new  printer  (Stylus  Color  740  or
          newer).

     -c, --clean-head
          Clean the print head.  This can also be performed  from
          the printer front panel.

     -n, --nozzle-check
          Print a nozzle test pattern.  Dirty or clogged  nozzles
          will show as gaps in the pattern.  If you see any gaps,
          you should run a head cleaning pass or two.

     -a, --align-head
          Align the print head.  CAUTION: Misuse of  this  option
          may  result  in poor print quality and/or damage to the
          printer.  You must either  specify  the  printer  model
          with  the  -m  option, or use the raw printer device to
          allow escputil to detect the printer model.




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Gutenprint Manual Pages                               ESCPUTIL(1)



     -i, --ink-level
          Obtain the ink level from the printer.   This  requires
          read/write access to the raw printer device.

     -d, --identify
          Query the printer for make and model information.  This
          requires read/write access to the raw printer device.

     -o, --align-color
          Align the color print head (used by  Stylus  Color  480
          and  580  only).   CAUTION:   Misuse of this option may
          result in poor  print  quality  and/or  damage  to  the
          printer.

     -s, --status
          Retrieve printer status.

     -l, --license
          Display the license/warranty terms of this program.

     -M, --list-models
          List the supported printer models.

     -h, --help
          Display a list of all command line options.

     -q, --quiet
          Suppress the banner.

BUGS
     USB-connected printers sometimes fail to identify or  return
     ink  levels.   You  may have to repeat the command.  This is
     probably a timing issue in  escputil,  not  a  flaw  in  the
     printer.

     Anything  requiring  bidirectional  communication  with  the
     printer  (identify,  ink  levels,  or head alignment without
     specifying the printer model) requires read/write access  to
     the  printer  port (for example /dev/lp0).  This may require
     these operations to be performed as root.  In addition, ker-
     nel  support  is  required  for bidirectional communication.
     For Linux version  2.2,  CONFIG_PRINTER_READBACK  should  be
     enabled; this is called CONFIG_PARPORT_1284 on 2.4 and later
     kernels.

     If the printer is performing self-test or head  cleaning  on
     power up, the identify and ink level commands will time out,
     although the printer successfully receives the command.  The
     command  will need to be reissued when the printer is quies-
     cent.





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Gutenprint Manual Pages                               ESCPUTIL(1)



AUTHORS
     Robert Krawitz.

COPYRIGHT
     Copyright cO  2000 Robert Krawitz (rlk@alum.mit.edu)

     This program is  free  software;  you  can  redistribute  it
     and/or  modify  it under the terms of the GNU General Public
     License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
     version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later ver-
     sion.

OTHER INFORMATION
     The homepage of the Gutenprint project from which this util-
     ity       was       contributed      is      located      at
     http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/.

SEE ALSO
     lp(4), tunelp(8).




































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