In System 7.5, when you drag a document to the desktop printer, it launches the application that created the document. This is because the only way to print a document is from within the application. There is, however, a special kind of print file that can be opened and displayed without needing the fonts or application with which it was created.
Portable Digital Documents (PDDs)
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This special print file is called a Portable Digital Document (PDD). A PDD file may be dragged to a desktop printer and printed directly, without the original application or "PDD application" having to be opened.
QuickDraw GX
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QuickDraw GX introduced a new type of printing from the Finder -- dragging files to a desktop printer. This feature was made backwards compatible witn non-QuickDraw GX aware applications, but they behave differently.
To avoid launching an application when printing to a desktop printer, save the files in a PDD file format. Create a PDD desktop printer then print to it, or save the file from the application in a PDD file format.
Article Change History:
06 Mar 1995 - Added keyword; updated GX explanation.
14 Feb 1995 - Updated keyword; reviewed for technical accuracy.
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