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
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 main-
tenance 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.
-i, --ink-level
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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.
AUTHORS
Robert Krawitz.
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Gutenprint Manual Pages ESCPUTIL(1)
COPYRIGHT
Copyright (C) 2000 Robert Krawitz ([email protected])
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.source-
forge.net/.
ATTRIBUTES
See attributes(5) for descriptions of the following
attributes:
+---------------+-------------------------+
|ATTRIBUTE TYPE | ATTRIBUTE VALUE |
+---------------+-------------------------+
|Availability | print/filter/gutenprint |
+---------------+-------------------------+
|Stability | Volatile |
+---------------+-------------------------+
SEE ALSO
lp(4), tunelp(8).
NOTES
This software was built from source available at
https://java.net/projects/solaris-userland. The original
community source was downloaded from
http://voxel.dl.sourceforge.net/project/gimp-print/guten-
print-5.2/5.2.7/gutenprint-5.2.7.tar.bz2
Further information about this software can be found on the
open source community website at http://www.guten-
print.org/software/gutenprint/.
Version 5.2.7 Last change: 01 May 2011 3