#Ghostscript for me??
30 messages in this thread
I have been looking over the document files in the Ghostscript archive and
I really can't make heads nor tails on how to proceed installing and
running this program. Just for the heck of it I tried to run it from the
cli (there was no icon so I assume this is the only way to run it) and was
told that I needed the IXEMUL.LIBRARY, which didn't seem to come with the
file.
Is this program ment only for those that already have an understanding of
the postcript language? I get the impression that setting this up and
using it to print postscript files on my laser printer is a bit over my
head. The documents make reference to other platforms, but not the amiga,
did I miss something?
=Rick=
Are you certain that ixemul.library is not in the libs directory of the
archive? I downloaded Ghostscript just check for validity of the upload,
and I still have the library hanging around in my libs: directory.
No, in the archive I downloaded there is not an ixemul.library anywhere in
the archive. There is a libs drawer, but it doesn't contain any files,
just more drawers.
There is a drawer called "gs261", this seems to have "source" files, and
something called "makefile", which I guess is an install type program, or
creates certain files needed???? I don't know, this archive is over my
head without some hand holding <G>.
=Rick=
Rick;
That library should not be included in the archive. It should be here on
CIS (it is somewhat like the arplibraries in that regard). I have gs261
but on a Unix machine (which does not use that library) and I doubtoff
that
the source for the library is included also.
It really is not all that hard to use as long as the build includes
drivers that the Ami understands. Once you get it running a "gs -h"
should give you a bit of an idea of how to select drivers.
basically the command for gs is something like:
gs -sDEVICE=pcx -sOutputFile=myfile.pcx purty.ps
Where the "-sDEVICE=" entry is only needed if you do not want the default
device and the "-sOutputFile=" is obviously needed if what you are
creating is something that you would like to manipulate in some other
program (though piping works).
There are some other options such as for resolution settings.
-bill
Thanks,
I found Ixemul.library in the AmigaTech section, hopefully it will be the
required version <G>.
If I have any other questions about Ghostscript I now know who to bother
<GG>. I use an epson action laser 1500 and have wanted to see what the
difference with Postscript printing would be for my uses, but have been
hesitant to pay $450.00 for the postscript card that can be installed in
my printer for something I know little about.
=Rick=
PMFBI Richard
Where in AmigaTech did you find ixemul.lib & what is it called? I have to
pay long distance to browse libs so I use my AP catalog which is up to
date for Libraries. I just looked & can't find ixemul.lib.
Yoou're not kidding, GhostScript is a tough program! Just formatting &
printing docs should take all day ;^}.
Thanks
Gracia Taking off on AutoPilot from Cooleemee NC
ixemul.library is in LIB 13 of AmigaTech…
IXEMUL.LZH/Bin Bytes: 79852
Title : ixemul library
Keywords: IXEMUL.LIBRARY IXEMUL
This is the ixemul.library. It is required for use with some
programs, notably one version of the MPEG player program.
————-
Just for future reference, the fastest way to find something like this is with
the BRO command at the LIB prompt.
BRO IXEMUL
BRO IXE*
The above would find it if you were at the prompt for the LIB they are in.
BRO IXEMUL LIB:ALL
BRO IXE* LIB:ALL
The above can find it no matter which LIB you are 'in'.
Similarly, with keywords…
BRO KEY:IXEMUL.LIBRARY LIB:ALL
BRO KEY:IXE* LIB:ALL
-larry
Download the IXEMUL.lzh archive, its probably in the "libraries" file
section.
=Rick=
Rick;
Ghostscript might be a bit of overkill for your purposes. I would suggest
that you take a look at POST as well.
Ghostscript is more of a converter/modifier that can be set to do just
"plain" interpretation of PostScript whereas POST is just intended to
print PostScript files.
-bill
Do you know If I should be trying Post 1.7 or 1.8??? I seem to remember
some talk awhile back that there where some problems with 1.7, but since I
wasn't interested at the time I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to the
message thread.
=Rick=
I use 1.7 with no problems.
Is a version of Post available for the IBM world, do you know? That might
solve my problem of wanting to distribute a postscript file to a series of
DOS users to print out.
Barbara
Barbara,
Yes, there are postscript interpreters for dos machines… 'Freedom Of The
Press' comes to mind. You might want to check the IBMFF and/or the DTP
Forum.
as far as i know "freedom od press" is not PD or Shareware but a cartridge
available only for some printers.
… over the ocean
Jochen, Stuttgart, Germany with AutoPilot
Barbara,
according to the doc file with GhostScript, there is a version out
there for most machines, especially DOS and Windows.
Brian
bjbart@watserv.ucr.edu
Post 1.8 has a modified front end which is a bit nicer, 2.0 ready and
doesn't require the arp.library, otherwise its pretty much the same..
Does anybody know if Ghostscript is PostScript Level 2 compatible?
It seems unlikely, but…
Yes, ghostscript is PostScript Level 2 compatible but not yet 100%.
-bill
I use post 1.7, because 1.8 had some 'features' I did not like at all, and a
few problems as well, though I can't remember details.
-larry
Rick;
I see that there are replies to you message (with I the answer I hope). I
don't use Post and never have as I have always had a Postscript printer
and the original source file for the PS stuff that I needed to mess with
(until very recently).
-bill
Bill —
PMFJI, but I wonder whether Ghostscript would solve a problem for me.
I didn't see the beginning of this thread, but I assume that this utility
would allow you to print a postscript file on a non-postscript printer.
What I have to do is create a file from a Professional Page document that
anyone could print. Gold Disk has suggested I use the CMD command to
write to a file. But that would create a file that uses whatever printer
driver specified in Preferences at the time. That means I would have to
determine a list of commonly-used printers and create a file specific to
each. Not very elegant.
Would using Ghostscript allow me a more generic approach? The client wants
to distribute this document on disk to a bunch of their clients. So we're
looking at creating a DOS disk, and heaven only knows what type of
printers they use.
Any suggestions gratefully entertained.
Barbara
Barbara,
You might want to try something like this…
Print out the document to a PostScript file.
Then use POST to run the postscript file and output to an IFF file. Then
use AdPro, ImageMaster or Image F/X to convert the IFF file to a PCX
and/or BMP file.
Include both the poscript file and the PCX/BMP file on your distribution
disk, amybe even along with a PCX/BMP viewer.
Well, I would spread the Postscript file as it offers some kind of
standard everybody knows. People without PostScript printers can use
GhostScript or Post to convert the PS file to anything they want.
Also, PostScript offers all readers the best output on their output
device, while spreading bitmap files requires lot's of computer RAM and
disk space to handle the bitmap files.
I just got myself the latest SigGraph Proceedings with a nice CD
containing all the papers as Acrobat, PS and text files. Really nice, to
print the PostScript files on my BJC600 and LJ4M.
— Wolf Faust, Am Dorfgarten 10, 60435 Frankfurt, Germany —
Michael,
That sounds like a great idea for those who just want to view the document
on screen. If they tried to print it out, though, wouldn't it come out as
a bitmap with lots of jaggies?
Perhaps I could really carried away and include a printable file and a
viewable file.
Are there any PCX/BMP viewers on CIS?
Thanks for your help.
Barbara
>>If they tried to print it out, though, wouldn't it come out as
a bitmap with lots of jaggies?<<
Barbara,
Yup. <g> But that's why, as Wolf pointed out, a postscript file should
also be included, because that would print out in the highest respolution
of the postscript device to which it is sent.
>>Are there any PCX/BMP viewers on CIS?<<
I use a program called PICEM. It will load and present PCX and GIF files
and even present them in a slideshow… auto-adjusting to fit the display.
I often will set up friends PC's so that on booting, an image, or series
of images are presented to the screen and their system will wait for a
<press any key> before continuing to boot.
Forum Name: GRAPHSUP Library: GIF Viewers (3)
Accesses: 12830 Size: 95885
File: PICEM.ZIP Submitted: [75300,2137] 14-Oct-93
PICK'M Image viewer, for GIF, PIC/CLP, PCX and Targa 16 & 24. Supports
virtually all SVGA cards in all modes including 360×480 256 color mode (on
any VGA). Adjusts brightness & contrast, saves images in PIC, PCX or GIF.
Many slideshow features such as control over image position, timing,
screen clearing and palette setting. Uses EMS/XMS and Disk swapping to
give a crisp snap up of each image and fast scrolling. Will autoconvert
across HiColor modes and scale to screen size.
Barbara;
I am presuming that you are implying that PostScript is not a sufficiently
universal format for your purposes (ie: some of the clients can not
handle PostScript files)?
Yes, ghostscript may be just exactly what you need but getting it set up
for the task is probably not trivial.
You will need to find out exactly what printers all of your clients can
handle. Reduce that list to the lowest possible common denominators.
Either:
Recompile ghostscript with all of the required drivers included and create
a "command file" that instructs ghostscript to convert the input file to
each of the needed output files.
OR:
Recompile ghostscript for each of the client's as necessary and supply
them with the ghostscript. Again, it would be a good idea to create
"command" and batch files to automate the operations.
-bill
Bill,
you presume correctly, not all endusers of this file have postscript
printers.
It sounds like I would have to go through a similar process to create a
printable file using Ghostscript as I would in using the CMD command and
print to dot matrix within Professional Page. It all boils down to an
issue of printer drivers and creating files for each printer in a base set
of printers.
I had hoped I could create a generic file that could be printed using the
printer driver on the machine that's actually printing it. But it seems
not.
I think I'll have a go just using CMD to create a file and see how I get
on with that before getting into another piece of software.
Thanks for your help.
Barbara
Barbara;
You would have to "go through" all of that to create the first set but
since ghostscript is a Unix style program, it is designed to be run from
scripts. Thus, once you know the devices that need to be used to create
the various output files you can write a script that accomplishes that
automagically.
You might be a whole lot better off to just use PostScript files and your
end and require (or supply) programs for each of the end users that have
to process your files.
-bill
Bill,
yes, it sounds like it would be best to use post files and include
something for people to view them with.
I guess I'll have a look at Ghostscript and start the learning process.
Thanks for your help,
Barbara
Barbara;
You are welcome. If there is anything that I might be able to help with,
let me know. I have contact with some folks that are pretty sharp on both
PostScript and ghostscript.
-bill
Include a postscript version with pretty formatting, and a plain ASCII
version for those who don't have a PS printer.. they can use whatever word
processor they have to print it.