ESCPUTIL(1) Gimp-Print Manual Pages ESCPUTIL(1)NAMEescputil - maintain Epson Stylus inkjet printers
SYNOPSISescputil [ -P printer | -r device ] [ -m model ] [ -u ] [
-c | -n | -a | -i | -d | -o | -s | -l | -M | -h ] [ -q ]
DESCRIPTIONescputil 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.
OPTIONSescputil 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 align-
ment.
-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 noz-
zles 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 dam-
age 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.
-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, kernel support is required for bidirectional
communication. For Linux version 2.2, CON-
FIG_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 com-
mand. The command will need to be reissued when the
printer is quiescent.
AUTHORS
Robert Krawitz.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright (C) 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 version.
OTHER INFORMATION
The homepage of the gimp-print project from which this
utility was contributed is located at http://gimp-
print.sourceforge.net/.
SEE ALSOlp(4), tunelp(8).
Version 4.2.5 24 Jan 2003 ESCPUTIL(1)
