cancel MacOS command

The MacOS cancel command allows users to manage print jobs by terminating or pausing them directly from the command line. This can be useful for troubleshooting or prioritizing print tasks. By using the cancel command, users can easily control the printing queue and avoid unnecessary delays.

cancel Syntax:

cancel [options] [parameters]

Options:

Option	Description
-h	Display help message
-q	Quiet mode, suppress output
-k	Kill the specified job ID
-u	Specify the user for the job

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
job ID	Specify the job ID to be canceled
user	Specify the user whose job to be canceled

Caution

Use the cancel command carefully as it will terminate the specified job or process without the ability to recover unsaved data. Make sure to confirm the job ID or user before executing.

cancel bash Examples:

Cancel a Running Command

sleep 100
# Press ctrl + c to cancel

Cancels a running command by pressing “ctrl + c”.

Cancel Multiple Running Commands

sleep 10 & sleep 20 & sleep 30
# Press ctrl + c to cancel all

Cancels multiple running commands simultaneously by pressing “ctrl + c”.

Cancel a Specific Job by Job ID

sleep 100 &
# Check job ID with "jobs" command and then cancel using "cancel %jobID"
cancel %1

Cancels a specific job by job ID using the cancel command followed by the job ID.

Cancel a Specific Job by Process ID

sleep 100 &
# Check PID with "ps" command and then cancel using "cancel -p PID"
cancel -p 1234

Cancels a specific job by its process ID using the cancel command followed by the process ID.

Cancel a Print Job

# Find the job ID with "lpq" command and then cancel using "cancel -a jobID"
lpq
cancel -a 1234

Cancels a specific print job by its job ID using the cancel command followed by the job ID retrieved from lpq.

Cancel a Scheduled Shutdown

sudo shutdown -h +30
# Cancel the scheduled shutdown using "sudo shutdown -c"
sudo shutdown -c

Cancels a scheduled system shutdown using the shutdown -c command.

Tip

When using the cancel command in MacOS, make sure to carefully read the command options and parameters to avoid unintended consequences. It is a powerful command that can cancel print jobs or other processes, so double-check before executing the command.

How do I use cancel in MacOS?

To use the cancel command in MacOS, execute the following command:

cancel -h

What are the available options for the cancel command in MacOS?

The cancel command in MacOS provides various options for cancelling print jobs or other processes. To view all available options, use the following command:

cancel --help

How can I cancel a specific print job using the cancel command in MacOS?

To cancel a specific print job by job ID, you can use the following command syntax:

cancel -x <job_id>

Can I cancel all print jobs at once with the cancel command in MacOS?

Yes, you can cancel all print jobs at once by using the following command:

cancel -a

How do I cancel a print job from a specific printer using the cancel command in MacOS?

To cancel a print job from a specific printer, you can specify the printer name in the command:

cancel -P <printer_name>

Is it possible to cancel a print job by specifying the user who submitted it in MacOS?

Yes, you can cancel a print job by specifying the user who submitted it using the following command syntax:

cancel -u <username>

How can I list all print jobs and their corresponding IDs before canceling in MacOS?

To list all print jobs with their job IDs before canceling, you can use the following command:

cancel -l

Can the cancel command in MacOS be used to cancel non-print job processes?

Yes, the cancel command in MacOS can also be utilized to cancel non-print job processes. You can specify the process ID (PID) to cancel a specific process using the following command:

cancel -p <process_id>

Applications of the cancel command

1. Cancel printing jobs
2. Cancel file operations
3. Cancel tasks in Terminal
4. Cancel installation processes
5. Cancel system shutdown or restart operations