Commands Reference, Volume 4

pac Command

Purpose

Prepares printer/plotter accounting records.

Syntax

/usr/sbin/pac [ -c ] [ -m ] [ -pPrice ] [ -PPrinter ] [ -qFile ] [ -r ] [ -s ] [ Name ... ]

Description

The pac command prepares printer/plotter accounting records for each user of the selected printer or for the users specified by the Name parameter. For printer choices, see the -P flag.

The unit of measure is the number of pages, with the exception of raster devices, for which feet of paper is measured. Output is expressed both as the number of units used and the charge in dollars. For information on the charge (price) per unit, see the -p flag.

The accounting file specified in the /etc/qconfig file and the file created to contain the summary information must grant read and write permissions to the root user or printq group. The pac command generates the summary file name by appending _sum to the path name specified by the acctfile = clause in the /etc/qconfig file. For example, if the qconfig file reads:

acctfile = /var/adm/1p0acct

The pac command expects the summary file to be named /var/adm/1p0acct_sum.

Flags

-c	Sorts the output by price instead of alphabetically by user.
-m	Groups all the printing charges for a user, regardless of the host machine.
-pPrice	Specifies the price, in dollars, charged per unit of output. By default, the system charges $0.02 per unit.
-PPrinter	Specifies the printer for which accounting records are prepared. By default, the system selects the printer named by the PRINTER environment variable or the default value lp0. Note: When the LPDEST environment variable is set, it takes precedence over the PRINTER environment variable, which has an identical function. Any destination options issued from the command line override both the LPDEST and PRINTER environment variables.
-qFile	Specifies the queue configuration file. The default value is the /etc/qconfig file.
-r	Reverses the sorting order, so that records are sorted alphabetically from z to a, or in descending order by price.
-s	Summarizes the accounting information in a summary file. This flag is needed for busy systems.

Examples

To produce printer/plotter accounting information for all users of the lp0 printer, enter:
```
/usr/sbin/pac
```
The command displays the number of printed pages and the charge, sorted by user. This example assumes that there is no PRINTER environment variable.
To collect printer/plotter accounting records in a summary file, enter:
/usr/sbin/pac -s
To produce printer/plotter accounting information for smith, jones, and greene from the lp12 printer, enter:
/usr/sbin/pac -Plp12 smith jones greene

Note: Do not place a space between a flag and its variable; for example, the -pPrice, -PPrinter, and -qFile.

Files

/usr/sbin/pac	Contains the pac command.
/etc/qconfig	Specifies the path to the file.

Related Information

The acctcms command, acctcom command, acctcon1 or acctcon 2 command, acctmerg command, acctprc1, acctprc2, or accton command, runacct command.

The qconfig file.

Setting Up an Accounting System in AIX 5L Version 5.2 System Management Guide: Operating System and Devices.

Accounting Overview in AIX 5L Version 5.2 System Management Guide: Operating System and Devices.