escputil(1)

1ESCPUTIL(1)                 Gutenprint Manual Pages                ESCPUTIL(1)
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NAME

6       escputil - maintain Epson Stylus inkjet printers
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SYNOPSIS

9       escputil [ -P printer | -r device ] [ -m model ] [ -S ] [ -C ] [ -p ] [
10       -u ] [ -c | -n | -a | -i | -d | -o | -s | -l | -M | -h ] [ -q ]
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DESCRIPTION

13       escputil is a command line utility to perform various maintenance tasks
14       on  Epson  Stylus inkjet printers.  These tasks include head alignment,
15       head cleaning, nozzle check, printer identification, and  retrieval  of
16       ink level from the printer.
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OPTIONS

19       escputil accepts the following options:
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21       -P, --printer-name=printer
22              Specify  the  name of the printer to operate on.  The default is
23              the default system printer.
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25       -r, --raw-device=device
26              Specify the name of the device to write to directly rather  than
27              going  through  a  printer queue. You must use this (rather than
28              specifying a printer) when retrieving ink levels or  identifying
29              the  printer,  or  if you wish to perform head alignment without
30              specifying the printer model.
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32       -m, --model=model
33              Specify the precise printer model for head alignment.
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35       -u, --new
36              The printer is a new printer (Stylus Color 740 or newer).
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38       -S, --short-name
39              Print the short name of the printer with --identify.
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41       -C, --choices
42              Specify the number of pattern choices for alignment.
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44       -p, --patterns
45              Specify the number of sets of patterns for alignment.
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47       -c, --clean-head
48              Clean the print head.  This  can  also  be  performed  from  the
49              printer front panel.
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51       -n, --nozzle-check
52              Print a nozzle test pattern.  Dirty or clogged nozzles will show
53              as gaps in the pattern.  If you see any gaps, you should  run  a
54              head cleaning pass or two.
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56       -a, --align-head
57              Align the print head.  CAUTION: Misuse of this option may result
58              in poor print quality and/or damage to the  printer.   You  must
59              either  specify the printer model with the -m option, or use the
60              raw printer device to  allow  escputil  to  detect  the  printer
61              model.
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63       -i, --ink-level
64              Obtain the ink level from the printer.  This requires read/write
65              access to the raw printer device.
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67       -d, --identify
68              Query the printer for make and model information.  This requires
69              read/write access to the raw printer device.
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71       -o, --align-color
72              Align  the  color  print  head (used by Stylus Color 480 and 580
73              only).  CAUTION: Misuse of this option may result in poor  print
74              quality and/or damage to the printer.
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76       -s, --status
77              Retrieve printer status.
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79       -l, --license
80              Display the license/warranty terms of this program.
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82       -M, --list-models
83              List the supported printer models.
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85       -h, --help
86              Display a list of all command line options.
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88       -q, --quiet
89              Suppress the banner.
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BUGS

92       USB-connected printers sometimes fail to identify or return ink levels.
93       You may have to repeat the command.  This is probably a timing issue in
94       escputil, not a flaw in the printer.
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96       Anything  requiring bidirectional communication with the printer (iden‐
97       tify, ink levels, or head  alignment  without  specifying  the  printer
98       model)  requires  read/write  access  to  the printer port (for example
99       /dev/lp0).  This may require these operations to be performed as  root.
100       In  addition,  kernel  support is required for bidirectional communica‐
101       tion.   For  Linux  version  2.2,  CONFIG_PRINTER_READBACK  should   be
102       enabled; this is called CONFIG_PARPORT_1284 on 2.4 and later kernels.
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104       If  the  printer  is performing self-test or head cleaning on power up,
105       the identify and ink level commands will time out, although the printer
106       successfully  receives  the command.  The command will need to be reis‐
107       sued when the printer is quiescent.
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AUTHORS

110       Robert Krawitz.
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COPYRIGHT

113       Copyright ©  2000 Robert Krawitz (rlk@alum.mit.edu)
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115       This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
116       under  the  terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
117       Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at  your
118       option) any later version.
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OTHER INFORMATION

121       The homepage of the Gutenprint project from which this utility was con‐
122       tributed is located at http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/.
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