#Printer Driver Source
12 messages in this thread
Is there any good book or files to write a printer driver for the Amiga under
1.3 (or higher).
This place has several Tektronix printers (one in my desk) that are weird and
need a special driver. I wrote the one that drives the program we sell.
For those who are going to suggest the generic printer driver program, please
don't. I wish I could used one of those things but this printer does not
communicate in the typical 8 bit mode it uses a weird 2+6 bit communication
mode so those programs are out. In addition, the printer has no TTY
capability. That is it can not print ASCII text. Why? It has no character
definitions inside. This monster is a giant dot spitter.
And can print 12×18 using the solid ink (hey, it melts it before it spits it
out). And can print in any media (even paper towels, and YES I TRIED THAT
ALREADY). Which is why I want an Amiga driver. The program I work for is for
yellow pages and it is very hard to do anything nice on it. And I don't feel
like creating a Windows or OS/2 driver (cause I think it would be easier to do
in the Amiga).
Please help.
Eduard
Volt Information Sciences
Eduard,
You will want the developer disk set and the AMIGA ROM Kernal Reference
Manual: DEVICES, third edition. This should give you a good start.
73, Kelly
Kelly,
Thanks, I posted a copy of my message in the user area and they told me the
same thing. I just got the book. I still need to know what features are
mandatory in a printer. I know printer do not need to have graphics, but can't
they omit text?
It sounds weird but I am not kidding.
Eduard
VIS
Eduard,
>> can't they omit text?
Well, if you send plain text to a PostScript printer, all you get is
"Processing" in the LCD window. Then "Idle."
Unless the text is legitimate PostScript. 🙂
Malcolm
Malcolm,
I know but the fact still remains it will not print.
Eduard
Eduard,
I was reading the messages over in AmigaUser. If you can get a good
handle (and I mean real good!) on how to make the printer print
graphically, then make it a graphic only printer driver. You can then
print images (various methods), or use a DTP program or graphic printing
word processor (such as FinalWriter) to create what you want to print.
As Wolf has stated, you should try to find sample printer driver source
codes. They will help guide you. There was source for one printer that
spoke graphically only, but can not remember where I saw it, or for what
printer.
Here is a short bit of what is in include/devices/prtbase.h. It is here
where the values are stored (along with prtbase.i) for defining what your
printer driver and printer are capable of. This bit has the values for
text only, graphics only, both, and how color is done, if available.
/* Printer Class */
#define PPCB_GFX 0 /* graphics (bit position) */
#define PPCF_GFX 0x1 /* graphics (and/or flag) */
#define PPCB_COLOR 1 /* color (bit position) */
#define PPCF_COLOR 0x2 /* color (and/or flag) */
#define PPC_BWALPHA 0x00 /* black&white alphanumerics */
#define PPC_BWGFX 0x01 /* black&white graphics */
#define PPC_COLORALPHA 0x02 /* color alphanumerics */
#define PPC_COLORGFX 0x03 /* color graphics */
/* Color Class */
#define PCC_BW 0x01 /* black&white only */
#define PCC_YMC 0x02 /* yellow/magenta/cyan only */
#define PCC_YMC_BW 0x03 /* yellow/magenta/cyan or black&white */
#define PCC_YMCB 0x04 /* yellow/magenta/cyan/black */
#define PCC_4COLOR 0x04 /* a flag for YMCB and BGRW */
#define PCC_ADDITIVE 0x08 /* not ymcb but blue/green/red/white */
#define PCC_WB 0x09 /* black&white only, 0 == BLACK */
#define PCC_BGR 0x0A /* blue/green/red */
#define PCC_BGR_WB 0x0B /* blue/green/red or black&white */
#define PCC_BGRW 0x0C /* blue/green/red/white */
/*
The picture must be scanned once for each color component, as the
printer can only define one color at a time. ie. If 'PCC_YMC' then
first pass sends all 'Y' info to printer, second pass sends all 'M'
info, and third pass sends all C info to printer. The CalComp
PlotMaster is an example of this type of printer.
*/
#define PCC_MULTI_PASS 0x10 /* see explanation above */
Have fun!
73, Kelly
Kelly,
Were can I get the developer disk set?
Eduard
VIS
>>Where can I get the developer disk set?
Good question, Eduard. You might try contacting CBM UK, and keep your
fingers crossed.
73, Kelly
You can get the disks from Hirsch & Wolf (++49-2631-839931), the
distributor of CBM developer for Europe. The stuff is not distributed by
CBM in Europe since 2 years. Hirsch & Wolf does the job VERY well.
I (hopefully?) do have all the printer related developer material. That's
why I recommended you to get that Fish disk 34x with the RKM Companion.
You find the CBM source code on that Fish disk! There is really nothing
worth mentioning you get more as developer (a printertest program (mainl
text tests) and an VERY old additional driver source can be found on a
several year old DEVCON disk set. This is all that is available as far as
I can remember).
So, with the RKM and the companion disk from the Fish series, you should
have all the info you need. All the rest is up to you and your intuition.
There are differences between modern drivers and those sources… but they
should be of no concern to you now… just start making a driver.
Oh yes, also available is the Screen and IFF driver source here on CIS.
Might have a look at it too as these two drivers are a bit "different".
But handle with care… bugs everywhere 😉
— Wolf Faust, Am Dorfgarten 10, 60435 Frankfurt, Germany —
Wolf,
You missed Eduard, and sent the message to me. Hope he sees it.
73, Kelly
I allways thought the subject is enough and never thought people take
things personal here… so, I sometimes simply reply to the last message
received – even if the reply is not directy targeted at that person.
Am I wrong here? I never paid attention to it… so, if this is not
correct, I'll try to avoid it…
— Wolf Faust, Am Dorfgarten 10, 60435 Frankfurt, Germany —
Wolf,
Sending the message to me doesn't bother me one bit.
Just that sometimes there are people who do not read all the messages in
the message base, only those directed at themselves. There are several
places I visit on CIS where I only read messages marked for myself because
there is only so much time in the day to read stuff from CIS. It's a good
thing I have no internet connection!!!
73, Kelly