$PRINTER environment variable in Unix

[Mark Dornfeld]

Is there a "standard" method for implementation of a $PRINTER
environment variable in a user's shell?  When several printers
are on a single system, it is usually desirable to have user
output appear on the printer closest to his/her work area
instead of on a printer six floors up and on the other side of
the building.

The $PRINTER variable should contain the destination of the
default printer for each user.  I suspect it would have to get
picked up by the spooler somehow so that the final command
line would look like this:

lp -d$PRINTER filename

If anyone has implemented such an environment, please reply via
Email.

Thanks in advance.

Mark T. Dornfeld
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens Park
Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
M5S 2C6

mark at utgpu!rom      - or -     romwa at utgpu