nec LC890 w/ Mac
7 messages in this thread
I have recently switched to a Mac and I have hooked up my LC890 wuth very nice
results. However, I can't seem to get the second bin choice. Is there some
third party LC890 driver that I need. I have patched LaserPrep with the
smoothie program from MacPro Forum.
Richard:
I've used the following code to switch my NEC 890 with good results:
statusdict begin 2 setpapertray legaltray (or lettertray, depending on
paper size) end
I just send it using PostHaste or PS-Send and I haven't had a problem. To
switch back, just change the 2 to a 1.
Good luck — Jon
Jon –
This works on a Mac? Where do you put the message in an MSW letter? IN the
header? IN the body? Does it matter if it's the first item in the file?
……..Best,
– Bill W.
Bill:
I usually send my commands to the 890 in a separate file before I run another
job, but they can be embedded into the Postscript code of any existing job. I
have stripped in hopper and paper size commands in Adobe Illustrator files and
also changed device-specific parameters, but I usually find its easier to just
send the commands down before I run the job.
Some 890 commands can't be embedded. For example, when I switch between my Mac
and IBM, I have the Mac change the 890's hardware connection from Appletalk to
Parallel. The change becomes effective with the next job run, so it would make
no sense putting that code into an actual job. (Unfortunately, since Adobe's
Parallel downloader DOESN'T WORK on my IBM clone, I still have to manually
change the 890 back to Appletalk when I'm through. Hopefully Adobe will issue
an update soon on the downloader).
There's a great new book out call "Real World Postscript" from Addison-Wesley
that has a chapter on writing device-independent coding which covers how
programs make calls to various Postscript printers. Interesting reading if
you're interested in more depth than I'm qualified to spout.
Would you consider uploading the LC890 command files you wrote? (Mac versions)
Jon –
Thanks for the notes, but more depth is exactly what I'm not interested in.
Nobody in this navel-sniffing industry seems to understand that they have sold
these things to people who want to make them work well and efficiently at a few
simple basic repetitive tasks.
I want SOMEBODY (no offense to you, a fellow user, by the way) to post or print
or mail instructions on how a non-designer who doesn't give a rat's ass about
postscript can tell his bloody printer to change paper trays and sheet length.
This is the most poorly tended and supported forum I participate in, and as far
as I'm concerned the NEC890 and PostScript are not executive/professional
business tools. They are tinkerers gadgets until somebody writes step-by-step
instructions and explains what software is needed to execute them.
Thanks again, but grrrrrr…..
……..Best,
– Bill W.
Bill,
I beg to disagree with you about whose responsibility it is to support how to
use printer-specific functions. If you're having problems with how to change
paper trays, it's your PRINTER MANUFACTURER'S responsibility to provide either
software or panel controls to make such changes. It can't be Adobe's. There are
now dozens of PostScript printers, with probably dozens more in various stages
of development. Each of them have different configurations of trays, paper
rolls, page sizes, resolutions, etc. (Similarly, would you expect Hewell
Packard to provide support for every printer which uses its printer control
language?) Unfortunately you seem to have found a company which is better at
marketing printers than supporting them. There are some companies making
PostScript printers which provide very good support–QMS is one of the best, in
my opinion.
While I would like more participation by Adobe staff, particularly regarding
questions regarding printers and PostScript technical questions, I think Lori
has done a very creditable job in her short time as sysop.
^Steve^