NetWare 4.1/9000 Print Services

C-13

Optimizing Network Printing Performance

Application and Driver Software

Generating print data is often the most time-consuming stage of the printing

process. In the simplest situations, such as printing directly from DOS, data

generation is essentially instantaneous. However, word processors may take

from several seconds to several minutes per page to generate data, with

delays increasing with the addition of graphics and complex fonts or

formatting. Generating graphical data using AutoCAD software or other

types of visualization applications may take from several seconds to many

hours per page.

Using different drivers can result in dramatic differences in both the speed at

which data is generated and the quality of the data generated. While

sometimes these differences are a trade-off between speed and quality, there

are other cases where one driver will supply both better quality and faster

performance than another.

For example, AutoCAD output using an HPGL driver is usually several

times faster than output using a PCL driver. If the target printer can use

either driver, using the HPGL driver will increase data generation speed

while providing output of equal or superior quality.

Be sure to match application and driver for best performance. When

possible, choose application software and print drivers that are efﬁcient for

the tasks to be performed.

• Install the applications that take the most time and are used the most often on the

fastest workstations available.

• Investigate the driver/application options available for a particular task. Be sure

to consider drivers produced by third-party manufacturers.

• Test the efficiency of each option with one or two representative tasks.

Select the best possible combination from your tests.