When you use the lpr command to send a text file to a printer, it is stored in the print queue (a storage area on the hard disk set aside especially for this purpose). To see where you job is in the queue (and how many jobs are in front of yours) you can view the status of the queue with the lpq command.

Command Format

lpq [options]

Use the -P option to view a specific print queue, if no option is specified then the default printer queue is displayed.

$lpq
printer5si chuck 502 Oct 10 02:30
on printer
upstairs chuck 103 Oct 10 02:45 filtered
$

$lpq -P upstairs
system default destination: printer5si
scheduler is running
upstairs-1 chuck 102 Oct 29 02:45 staffp
upstairs-2 sally 501 Oct 10 02:47
$