#LaserWriter PS version
4 messages in this thread
The Macintosh printing architecture doesn't allow you to _read_ anything from a
printer, only to write to it.
If you want to query a printer, you'll have to open a connection to the
printer, probably using PAP client software like you can license from Apple.
–Matt
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Matt:
Thanks for the LaserWriter feedback. I'm aware that the Macintosh Printing
architecture supports only write-only access. You mentioned PAP access which
seems to me to be what I'm wanting. Does PAP allow me to read the PostScript
version number from a PS laser printer, not nexessarily an Apple brand printer?
I'm hoping to get a short C or Pascal code fragment that shows how to do this
(I want to avoid having to learn a tremendous amount about AppleTalk, PAP etc
in order to solve this problem).
Thanks.
— DAVID T CRAIG
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PAP is the protocol used to talk to the printer over the network. You can
license a PAP client from Apple (with documentation that amplifies Inside
AppleTalk, 2nd Edition) or you can write your own if you're really into
networking stuff.
Anything the printer driver can do, you can do with PAP and enough development
time.
–Matt
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Matt:
Thanks again for the PAP feedback. I think I've found a solution to this
problem via a small PostScript program on CIS titled LW.REV. This program when
downloaded to a PostScript laser printer prints the printer's name and
PostScript version and revision numbers. I think I will send this program and
have them use Apple' LaserWriter Utility application to determine the
information I'm wanting.
Thanks again.
Another question on a totally different topic. Were you involved with the
Apple ][ division at Apple? Your name sounds familiar to me from copies of
Develop magazine and its Apple ][ Q&A section. If you were with the ][
division and are now with Macintosh, what is the status of the ][ at Apple?
You may be interested in a fascinating history of the ][ that a friend sent me
recently (the history is very detailed and exists as around 20 text files). If
you want a copy I can e-mail it to you.
— DAVID T CRAIG
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