HELP!!! Printer filel

Thread View: comp.lang.postscript

3 messages

[T] Back to Threads [V] Tree View [G] Group Articles

3 total messages Started by bradshaw Mon, 02 Nov 1992 15:05

#117

Author: bradshaw
Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1992 15:05

57 lines
2639 bytes

We have a HP Laserjet IIIP mounted on our Sun SPARCStation
(on /dev/ttya), with postscript emulation provided via a
Pacific Page P.E. cartridge. Since the printer can only 
operate in PCL or Postscript but not both, we have sought
to incorporate a filter in our /etc/printcap which will
determine the document type, and send an escape sequence
to switch the printer into the appropriate mode. This we
have achieved .... except for an infuriating problem which
occurs when going from postscript to PCL. Our input filter
having determined the document type, executes one of the 
following shells:

PCL to Postscript:

#!/bin/sh

echo ["^[&l5257.1058J^M"]     # Send escape sequence
sleep 40                      # Wait for printer to reset
cat

Postscript to PCL:

#!/bin/sh

echo ["^[&l1057.32259J^M"]    # Send escape sequence
sleep 40                      # Wait for printer to reset
cat                           # Send print file to printer


The first of these shells works fine. It is the second one
which causes the problems. Upon sending the escape sequence
the shell sleeps for 40 seconds while the printer resets.
When the printer resets however, it seems to receive extra
characters, even though the shell is supposedly still 
inactive. When the 'sleep 40' finishes, and the document
itself is passed to the printer, the following error 
appears at the top of the first page:

%%[ Error: undefined; OffendingCommand: %%
[

In addition, if I remove the 'sleep 40' AND 'cat' lines
from the shell (i.e. only send the escape sequence) the
reset works fine, with no extra data being sent to the 
printer. 
Is the problem due to an open ttya line sending signals
even while the controlling process is "asleep". We've 
tried everything and can't solve the problem....which
is even more annoying becauses it is so close to actually
working! If anyone reading this has any ideas or suggestions
which might help I would be eternally grateful. Is there enen
even an alternative to the method we're using. Any and all
replies appreciated.....Thanks to all in advance. My E-Mail
addresses follow....

CBRADH89@IRLEARN.UCD.IE
BRADSHAW@CCVAX.UCD.IE

Re: HELP!!! Printer filel

#123

Author: Adam Garrett
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1992 14:50

28 lines
1915 bytes

In article <1992Nov2.150559.49811@ccvax.ucd.ie>, bradshaw@ccvax.ucd.ie writes:
> We have a HP Laserjet IIIP mounted on our Sun SPARCStation
> (on /dev/ttya), with postscript emulation provided via a
> Pacific Page P.E. cartridge. Since the printer can only 
> operate in PCL or Postscript but not both, we have sought
> to incorporate a filter in our /etc/printcap which will
> determine the document type, and send an escape sequence
> to switch the printer into the appropriate mode. This we
> have achieved .... except for an infuriating problem which
> occurs when going from postscript to PCL. Our input filter
> having determined the document type, executes one of the 
> CBRADH89@IRLEARN.UCD.IE> BRADSHAW@CCVAX.UCD.IE

Why don't you get Adobe's Transcript package?

     "The TRANSCRIPT package is a suite of UNIX programs that enable
UNIX systems to access state-of-the-art POSTSCRIPT printers.  The
TRANSCRIPT package transforms UNIX documents and graphics files into
POSTSCRIPT format."

I have the same printer and printer cartridge that you do, except I am running a DECstation 5000/200.

Note, its not freeware.  :-)

Adam R. Garrett
University of Washington Libraries     INTERNET: garrett@lib.washington.edu
352 Suzzallo Library, FM-25            PHONE:    (206) 543-8843
Seattle, WA  98195                     FAX:      (206) 685-8049

Re: HELP!!! Printer filel

#3967

Author: Vidiot
Date: Thu, 05 Nov 1992 01:40

34 lines
2319 bytes

In article <1992Nov3.145047.1646@u.washington.edu> garrett@lib.washington.edu (Adam Garrett) writes:
<In article <1992Nov2.150559.49811@ccvax.ucd.ie>, bradshaw@ccvax.ucd.ie writes:
<> We have a HP Laserjet IIIP mounted on our Sun SPARCStation
<> (on /dev/ttya), with postscript emulation provided via a
<> Pacific Page P.E. cartridge. Since the printer can only 
<> operate in PCL or Postscript but not both, we have sought
<> to incorporate a filter in our /etc/printcap which will
<> determine the document type, and send an escape sequence
<> to switch the printer into the appropriate mode. This we
<> have achieved .... except for an infuriating problem which
<> occurs when going from postscript to PCL. Our input filter
<> having determined the document type, executes one of the 
<> CBRADH89@IRLEARN.UCD.IE> BRADSHAW@CCVAX.UCD.IE
<
<Why don't you get Adobe's Transcript package?
<
<     "The TRANSCRIPT package is a suite of UNIX programs that enable
<UNIX systems to access state-of-the-art POSTSCRIPT printers.  The
<TRANSCRIPT package transforms UNIX documents and graphics files into
<POSTSCRIPT format."
<
<I have the same printer and printer cartridge that you do, except I am
<running a DECstation 5000/200.

I have a better cheaper idea, get NeWSprint.  It will even print PostScript
to the printer when it isn't using the PS cartridge (it rasterizes the Post-
Script to HPCL image mode).  NeWSprint is only $695 list, much cheaper than
the $1-2k that TranScript is, plus it works with HP printers without a PS
cartridge.
-- 
      harvard\                          spool.cs.wisc.edu!astroatc!vidiot!brown
Vidiot  ucbvax!uwvax..........!astroatc!vidiot!brown
      rutgers/            INTERNET:vidiot!brown%astroatc.UUCP@spool.cs.wisc.edu
                                   brown@wi.extrel.com

Thread Navigation

This is a paginated view of messages in the thread with full content displayed inline.

Messages are displayed in chronological order, with the original post highlighted in green.

Use pagination controls to navigate through all messages in large threads.

Back to All Threads