PC Compatibility Card: HP PostScript Printer Issue W/Win95 12/96

I have a PC Compatibility Card running Windows 95 in my Macintosh computer. I also have a Hewlett-Packard PostScript printer connected to my computer. When I print from the Mac OS, it prints correctly. When I print from Windows 95, I get several pages of odd-looking text. I am using a PostScript version of the printer driver for my HP printer.


This occurs with some Hewlett Packard printers that support both PCL and PostScript, including the following printers:

* LaserJet 6 Series w/ PostScript
* LaserJet 5 Series w/ PostScript
* LaserJet 4 Series w/ PostScript
* DeskJet 1600C/CM
* DeskJet 1200C/PS

The Windows 95 printer drivers for these printers include non-PostScript information called a PJL (Printer Job Language) header that causes the PC Compatibility Card to incorrectly print the PostScript code.


Identification
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If the first line of every print job contains the letters "PJL", you are experiencing this issue.

Workaround
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Configure the printer driver to not send a PJL header with each print job by setting the printer driver to "archive format". Follow these steps to set the driver to archive format:

Step 1
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Open the Properties window for the HP printer driver.

Step 2
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Select the PostScript tab.

Step 3
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Change the 'PostScript output format' option to 'Archive format'.

Step 4
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Click 'OK'.


This article appeared in the 10 December 1996 issue of the Information Alley.
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012