backend(1)

NAME

       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 docu-
       ment 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 standard 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).

       CLASS
            When  a  job is submitted to a printer class, contains the name of
            the destination printer class. Otherwise this environment variable
            will not be set.

       CONTENT_TYPE
            The  MIME  type  associated  with the file (e.g. application/post-
            script).

       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 Description (PPD) file
            for this printer.

       PRINTER
            The name of the printer.

       RIP_CACHE
            The recommended amount of memory to use for Raster  Image  Proces-
            sors (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  root;  consult the
            cupsd.conf file for the current setting.

SEE ALSO

       cupsd(8), filter(1) CUPS Interface Design  Description,  CUPS  Software
       Administrators  Manual, CUPS Software Programmers Manual, http://local-
       host:631/documentation.html

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright 1993-2004 by Easy Software Products, All Rights Reserved.

22 June 2000              Common UNIX Printing System               backend(1)