initial add of to-print app

README.md

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+# Print Queue Manager
+
+A simple command-line tool to store things you want to print when you're away from your home network, then print them all at once when you're back.
+
+## Features
+
+- Store file paths and URLs in a print queue
+- **Watch folder**: Drop files into `~/to-print` and they'll be printed automatically
+- Print all pending items with a single command
+- Track what's been printed and what's still pending
+- Works with your default macOS printer
+
+## Requirements
+
+- Python 3.6+
+- macOS (uses `lp` command for printing)
+- `curl` (for downloading URLs)
+
+## Usage
+
+### Two ways to queue items
+
+**Method 1: Manually add items to the queue**
+
+Add a local file:
+```bash
+./print_queue.py add /path/to/document.pdf
+./print_queue.py add ~/Downloads/invoice.pdf --name "Monthly Invoice"
+```
+
+Add a URL:
+```bash
+./print_queue.py add https://example.com/article.html
+./print_queue.py add https://example.com/page.html --name "Important Article"
+```
+
+**Method 2: Use the watch folder (simpler!)**
+
+Just drop files into `~/to-print`:
+```bash
+cp ~/Downloads/document.pdf ~/to-print/
+mv ~/Desktop/receipt.pdf ~/to-print/
+```
+
+The watch folder accepts: PDF, TXT, JPG, PNG, GIF, DOC, DOCX, HTML, and PS files.
+
+### List items in the queue
+
+Show pending items:
+```bash
+./print_queue.py list
+```
+
+Show all items (including already printed):
+```bash
+./print_queue.py list --all
+```
+
+### Print all pending items
+
+Print everything in the queue:
+```bash
+./print_queue.py print
+```
+
+Preview what would be printed (dry run):
+```bash
+./print_queue.py print --dry-run
+```
+
+### Remove items from queue
+
+Remove a specific item by ID:
+```bash
+./print_queue.py remove 3
+```
+
+Clear all printed items from the queue:
+```bash
+./print_queue.py clear
+```
+
+## How it works
+
+**Manual queue:**
+1. When you're away from your home network, use `add` to store items in the queue
+2. The queue is stored in `queue.json` in this directory
+3. When you're back on your home network, run `print` to print everything
+4. Items are marked as printed but stay in the queue
+5. Use `clear` to remove printed items when you're done
+
+**Watch folder:**
+1. Drop any files into `~/to-print` whenever you want
+2. When you run `print`, all files in the folder are printed
+3. After printing, files are moved to `~/to-print/printed/` to avoid reprinting
+4. You can delete or keep the printed files - they won't be reprinted
+
+## Examples
+
+**Using the watch folder (easiest):**
+```bash
+# Away from home - just drop files in the folder
+cp ~/Downloads/receipt.pdf ~/to-print/
+cp ~/Desktop/ticket.pdf ~/to-print/
+
+# Back home - check what's ready
+./print_queue.py list
+
+# Print everything
+./print_queue.py print
+```
+
+**Using manual queue (for URLs or tracking):**
+```bash
+# Away from home - add items to queue
+./print_queue.py add ~/Downloads/receipt.pdf
+./print_queue.py add https://github.com/user/repo/blob/main/README.md --name "GitHub README"
+
+# Back home - check what's queued
+./print_queue.py list
+
+# Print everything
+./print_queue.py print
+
+# Later, clean up printed items
+./print_queue.py clear
+```
+
+**Mix both methods:**
+```bash
+# Add URLs to queue
+./print_queue.py add https://example.com/article.html
+
+# Drop files in folder
+cp ~/Downloads/*.pdf ~/to-print/
+
+# Print everything at once (queue + folder)
+./print_queue.py print
+```
+
+## Tips
+
+- **Watch folder is the easiest**: Just drop files into `~/to-print` - no commands needed until you're ready to print
+- File paths are converted to absolute paths, so they'll work even if you change directories
+- URLs are downloaded and sent directly to the printer
+- For better web page printing, consider saving the page as PDF first, then dropping it in the watch folder
+- Use `--name` to give items friendly names instead of long file paths or URLs
+- Printed files from the folder are moved to `~/to-print/printed/` - check there if you need to reprint something
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+**"File not found" error**: Make sure the file path is correct and the file exists
+
+**Printing fails**:
+- Check that your printer is set up and `lpstat -p -d` shows your default printer
+- Make sure you're connected to the network where your printer is available
+- For URLs, ensure you have internet connectivity
+
+**Permission denied**: Make sure the script is executable with `chmod +x print_queue.py`