unix-print

Unix-print

A utility for Unix-like operating systems to print files from Node.js and Electron.

• Understands different types of files, such as PDF, text, PostScript, and image files.
• Supports label printers such as Rollo and Zebra.

Table of Contents

• Unix-print
  • Basic Usage
  • Installation
  • API
    • print(pdf, printer, options) => Promise<{stdout, stderr}>
    • isPrintComplete(printResponse) => Promise<boolean>
    • getPrinters() => Promise<Printer[]>
    • getDefaultPrinter() => Promise<Printer | null>
  • License

Basic Usage

Print a PDF file to the default printer:

import { print } from "unix-print";

print("assets/file.pdf").then(console.log);

Installation

Install using Yarn:

yarn add unix-print

Or using npm:

npm install --save unix-print

API

print(pdf, printer, options) => Promise<void>

A function to print a file to a printer.

Arguments

Argument	Type	Optional	Description
file	string	Required	A file to print.
printer	string	Optional	Print a file to the specific printer.
options	string[]	Optional	Any option from this list.

Returns

Promise<{stdout: string | null, stderr: string | null}>.

To print a file to the default printer:

import { print } from "unix-print";

print("assets/file.pdf").then(console.log);

To print a file to a specific printer:

import { print } from "unix-print";

const fileToPrint = "assets/file.pdf";
const printer = "Zebra";

print(fileToPrint, printer).then(console.log);

With some printer-specific options:

import { print } from "unix-print";

const fileToPrint = "assets/file.jpg";
const printer = undefined;
const options = ["-o landscape", "-o fit-to-page", "-o media=A4"];

print("assets/file.jpg", printer, options).then(console.log);

isPrintComplete(printResponse) => Promise<boolean>

Arguments

Argument	Type	Optional	Description
printResponse	{stdout: string | null}	Required	Resolved promise returned from print.

Returns

Promise<boolean>: False if the job is on the queue or stdout is null, true otherwise.

Examples

import { isPrintComplete } from 'unix-print';

const fileToPrint = 'assets/file.pdf';
const printJob = await print(fileToPrint);

async function waitForPrintCompletion(printJob) {
  while (!await isPrintComplete(printJob)) {
    // Wait a bit before checking again (to avoid constant checks)
    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1000)); // Wait for 1 second
  }
  console.log('Job complete');
}

await waitForPrintCompletion(printJob);

getPrinters() => Promise<Printer[]>

Returns

Promise<Printer[]>: List of available printers.

Examples

import { getPrinters } from "unix-print";

getPrinters().then(console.log);

getDefaultPrinter() => Promise<Printer | null>

Returns

Promise<Printer | null>: System default printer or null.

Examples

import { getPrinters } from "unix-print";

getDefaultPrinter().then(console.log);

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE.md for details.

Changelog

1.3.2 (2023-11-24)

Bug Fixes

• parsing for non-english systems, part 2 (#26) (c8965ce)