This directory provides Device Description INI files and thus, forms a database about installed/supported printer devices. For each printer device one of such file exists (if the suitable printer driver is installed).

Each INI file provides information about the supported printer device to enable CAPS to identify the suitable printer driver for it.

Each printer driver installs here its own set of Device Description INI files for all printer devices it supports.

It's not possible to share Device Description INI files, each of it is unique and describes exactly one printer device.

But it is possible to have more than one printer driver supporting a specific printer device. In this case more than one INI file exists, matching the same printer device, but refers to different printer drivers. For example, a printer device able to work with a vendor specific data protocol or PCL can be run with its native printer driver or the generic PCL printer driver. In this case the first printer device match always wins.

All INI files in this directory should be owned by root.

Refer Setup the CAPS Driver Database Directory as well.