Printing with PostScript

PostScript is a page description language by Adobe Systems Incorporated. It is a popular way for applications to interface with high quality printers when sharp graphics and many printing fonts are required. It is interpreted by built-in hardware or an add-on cartridge or system board chip at the printer.

The PostScript language handles information differently than ordinary printing. You must be aware of PostScript's unique characteristics to avoid problems when using it.

The PostScript language is what the printer uses to guide the printing processes. Therefore, the printer must be capable of understanding the PostScript language. We refer to such printers as ``true PostScript printers''. An interesting feature of the PostScript printer is that it will flush the entire print job if there is anything about the print job that it does not understand, with no error messages whatsoever. The printer will blink as if everything were just fine and then it just stops. Because of this feature, it is very difficult to diagnose the problem.

Since the printer needs this language for its printing processes, it must have a driver that generates the code for each file that is sent to the printer. These drivers are provided by each application that supports PostScript printing. If the application does not provide this driver, it will be impossible to print in PostScript mode. Examples of two applications that support PostScript are WordPerfect^® and Ventura Publisher.

Most PostScript printers are capable of printing in PostScript mode or in regular text mode. This is done by the flip of a switch. Each printer will be different, so you will need to refer the user to your printer manual for instructions.

Here are some guidelines for PostScript printing on a network:

• Use the ``No Tabs'' (NT) parameter for all PostScript print jobs sent with CAPTURE or NPRINT.

  The ``No Tabs'' setting sends the file as a byte stream. This means that the control characters will not be interpreted by the server but will instead be sent directly to the printer to be interpreted.

• You should also use the ``No Form Feed'' (NFF) parameter in NPRINT and CAPTURE commands when sending jobs to PostScript printers.

• Some PostScript printing problems can be resolved by updating the PostScript drivers for applications (including MS Windows).

• Make sure that print jobs going to PostScript printers are properly configured for PostScript. You must use byte stream mode when sending PostScript jobs to the printer.

• Make sure there is enough buffer space, using NET.CFG to increase it if necessary.

• If using a PostScript cartridge on an HP LaserJet or similar printer, make sure that the cartridge is completely installed in the bay. There will be an audible click as the cartridge snaps tight. If the cartridge is not completely installed, PostScript is not available at the printer. This means the incoming PostScript code from the application is unintelligible and garbage will print.

• Some printers, such as the HP 3Si models, require a switch to be set to use PostScript. Check that the SYS SWITCH is ``on'' if PostScript printing is not working.

• A problem can occur when PRINTDEF is used to create PostScript PDFs (Printer Definition Files) which include modes that are larger than the default shell header buffer size of 64 bytes. This print header defines a space for printer setup codes once the job in completed.

  You can expand the print header buffer using the ``print header'' parameter in your workstation's NET.CFG file. The simple solution is to set its size to the maximum of 255 bytes. (This applies to CAPTURE, but not to NPRINT.)