Ubuntu Manpage: escputil - maintain Epson Stylus inkjet printers

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.

-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, 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 quiescent.

AUTHORS

       Robert Krawitz.

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright ©  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 Gutenprint project from which this utility was contributed is located
       at http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/.