lpq(1)

NAME
     lpq - BSD print spool queue examination program

SYNOPSIS
     lpq [ -l ] [ -Pprinter ] [ job # ... ] [ user ... ]

DESCRIPTION
     lpq examines the spooling area used by lpd(1M) for printing files on the
     line printer, and reports the status of the specified jobs or all jobs
     associated with a user.  lpq invoked without any arguments reports on any
     jobs currently in the queue.  A -P flag may be used to specify a
     particular printer, otherwise the default line printer is used (or the
     value of the PRINTER variable in the environment). All other arguments
     supplied are interpreted as user names or job numbers to filter out only
     those jobs of interest.

     For each job submitted (i.e. invocation of lpr(1)) lpq reports the user's
     name, current rank in the queue, the names of files comprising the job,
     the job identifier (a number which may be supplied to lprm(1) for
     removing a specific job), and the total size in bytes.  The -l option
     causes information about each of the files comprising the job to be
     printed.  Normally, only as much information as will fit on one line is
     displayed.  Job ordering is dependent on the algorithm used to scan the
     spooling directory and is supposed to be FIFO (First in First Out).  File
     names comprising a job may be unavailable (when lpr(1) is used as a sink
     in a pipeline) in which case the file is indicated as ``(standard
     input)".

     If lpq warns that there is no daemon present (i.e. due to some
     malfunction), the lpc(1M) command can be used to restart the printer
     daemon.

FILES
     /etc/printcap           to determine printer characteristics
     /usr/spool/*            the spooling directory, as determined from printcap
     /usr/spool/*/cf*        control files specifying jobs
     /usr/spool/*/lock       the lock file to obtain the currently active job

SEE ALSO
     lpr(1), lprm(1), lpc(1M), lpd(1M)

BUGS
     Due to the dynamic nature of the information in the spooling directory
     lpq may report unreliably.  Output formatting is sensitive to the line
     length of the terminal; this can results in widely spaced columns.

DIAGNOSTICS
     Unable to open various files.  The lock file being malformed.  Garbage
     files when there is no daemon active, but files in the spooling
     directory.