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 ] [ -u ] [ -c | -n | -a
10       | -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       -c, --clean-head
39              Clean the print head.  This  can  also  be  performed  from  the
40              printer front panel.
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42       -n, --nozzle-check
43              Print a nozzle test pattern.  Dirty or clogged nozzles will show
44              as gaps in the pattern.  If you see any gaps, you should  run  a
45              head cleaning pass or two.
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47       -a, --align-head
48              Align the print head.  CAUTION: Misuse of this option may result
49              in poor print quality and/or damage to the  printer.   You  must
50              either  specify the printer model with the -m option, or use the
51              raw printer device to  allow  escputil  to  detect  the  printer
52              model.
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54       -i, --ink-level
55              Obtain the ink level from the printer.  This requires read/write
56              access to the raw printer device.
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58       -d, --identify
59              Query the printer for make and model information.  This requires
60              read/write access to the raw printer device.
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62       -o, --align-color
63              Align  the  color  print  head (used by Stylus Color 480 and 580
64              only).  CAUTION: Misuse of this option may result in poor  print
65              quality and/or damage to the printer.
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67       -s, --status
68              Retrieve printer status.
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70       -l, --license
71              Display the license/warranty terms of this program.
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73       -M, --list-models
74              List the supported printer models.
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76       -h, --help
77              Display a list of all command line options.
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79       -q, --quiet
80              Suppress the banner.
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BUGS

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

101       Robert Krawitz.
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COPYRIGHT

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

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