Linux: How to print PDF files from the command line

Sometimes you may want to print files from the command line, especially when you have lots of them.
You can use lp for that.

To print a single example.pdf file on your default printer, simply say:

lp example.pdf

lp accepts multiple filenames, so to print all PDF files in the current directory:

lp *.pdf

You can specify a printer via the -d switch:

lp -d YOUR_PRINTER_NAME *.pdf

Your printer's name is then one you defined on your system. You can check with your CUPS configuration by visiting http://localhost:631/printers. So, for example:

lp -d Brother-MFC-9840CDW *.pdf

Plain-text or PostScript files are also supported.

linux.die.net

Arne Hartherz

makandra.com

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Last edit

2017-11-30

Arne Hartherz

Keywords

ubuntu, line, printer

License

Source code in this card is licensed under the MIT License.

How to view Image Metadata on the Linux Command Line with ImageMagick

ImageMagick has a command line tool called identify which can read image metadata:

>identify -verbose DSC00136.JPG
Image: DSC00136.JPG
  Format: JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group JFIF format)
  Class: DirectClass
  Geometry: 5472x3648+...

Working on the Linux command line: How to bash `cd` with autocorrect

There is an option you can set so that when using the cd command, small typos are automatically corrected. Add the following to your ~/.bashrc:

# cd: autocorrect small typos and use best guess
shopt -s cdspell

Example:

cd P...

Working on the Linux command line: How to efficiently navigate up

With cd .. you can navigate one directory up from the one you are at now. If you use that a lot, consider some handy aliases.

Add the following lines to your ~/.bashrc:

alias ..="cd .."
alias ...="cd ../.."
alias ....="cd ../../.."
alias ...

Posted by Arne Hartherz to makandra dev (2014-04-17 08:10)

Linux: How to print PDF files from the command line

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