cups-backend(d)       Easy Software Products      cups-backend(d)



NAME
       cups-backend - cups backend transmission interfaces

SYNOPSIS
       backend job user title num-copies options [ filename ]

DESCRIPTION
       The  CUPS backend interface provides a standard method for
       sending document files to different physical interfaces.

       Backends must be capable of reading from a filename on the
       command-line or from the standard input, copying the stan-
       dard input to a temporary file if required by the physical
       interface.

       The command name (argv[0]) is set to the device URI of the
       destination printer.

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
       The following environment variables  are  defined  by  the
       CUPS server when executing the backend:

       CHARSET
            The default text character set (typically us-ascii or
            iso-8859-1).

       CONTENT_TYPE
            The MIME type associated with the file (e.g. applica-
            tion/postscript).

       CUPS_DATADIR
            The directory where data files can be found.

       CUPS_SERVERROOT
            The root directory of the server.

       DEVICE_URI
            The  device-uri  associated with the printer; this is
            provided for shell scripts which may not be  able  to
            get the passed argv[0] string.

       LANG
            The default language locale (typically C or en).

       PATH
            The  standard  execution  path  for external programs
            that may be run by the backend.

       PPD
            The full pathname of the PostScript Printer  Descrip-
            tion (PPD) file for this printer.

       PRINTER
            The name of the printer.

       RIP_CACHE
            The  recommended  amount  of memory to use for Raster
            Image Processors (RIPs).

       SOFTWARE
            The name and version number of the server  (typically
            CUPS/1.1).

       TZ
            The timezone of the server.

       USER
            The user executing the backend (typically lp).

SEE ALSO
       cupsd(d),  cups-filter(r)  CUPS  Interface Design Descrip-
       tion, CUPS Software Administrators Manual,  CUPS  Software
       Programmers     Manual,    http://localhost:631/documenta-
       tion.html

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright 1993-2002 by Easy Software Products, All  Rights
       Reserved.



22 June 2000       Common UNIX Printing System    cups-backend(d)