In QuickDraw GX, a desktop printer takes the form of an icon on the desktop to represent an available printer. When you select a printer with the Chooser, QuickDraw GX displays the desktop printer icon on the desktop. To print a document through a desktop printer, you can simply click a document and drag its icon on top of a desktop printer icon.
You can create multiple desktop printers, one of which represents the default output printer. The last desktop printer that you create automatically becomes the default output printer.
To distinguish the default desktop printer from the other desktop printers on the screen, the icon that represents the default desktop printer appears with a bold outline. When you double-click on a desktop printer, QuickDraw GX displays the desktop printer window.
A desktop printer window shows all print jobs queued for a particular printer. This includes other users' print jobs when the desktop printer is set up to be shared.
You can set up a desktop printer to be shared. For example, you may choose to share a printer, such as the Apple StyleWriter, which is otherwise a non-networkable printer. You can create a shareable desktop printer by choosing the Share Printer command from the Printer menu. QuickDraw GX adds the Printer menu item to the menu bar (to the right of the Special menu) when you click on a printer icon. You can also set up a desktop printer for sharing just like you set up a file for sharing -- by choosing the Sharing command from the File menu.
You are notified of errors through desktop printers. For example, if a printer runs out of paper, its printer driver sends this status to the desktop printer. If the Finder is in the foreground, the desktop printer displays the Out of Paper alert box on your screen. If the Finder is in the background, the Notification Manager displays a blinking Finder icon over the Application menu. When you click on the Finder icon, QuickDraw GX displays the Out of Paper alert box on the screen.
Article Change History:
23 Mar 1995 - Made minor updates.
15 Feb 1995 - Reviewed for technical accuracy, revised System 7.5 keyword.
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