NetWare 4.1/9000 Print Services

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Setting Up and Servicing Printers
Printing with PostScript
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.