QuickDraw GX and Desktop Printing Issue (1/97)

I have installed both standard Desktop Printing and QuickDraw GX. After I restart my computer, it is not clear which is running since I see the GX desktop printers as well as the non-GX desktop printers. There is a Desktop Printers menu item in the Apple menu as well. Is it possible for both GX and non-GX desktop printers to be installed, and are they compatible? Also, the Desktop Printer menu item in the Apple menu does not display my GX desktop printers.

One last question, are the printer icons in the menu bar (next to the Balloon Help icon) and the Control Strip related to GX or non-GX Desktop Printing?


QuickDraw GX desktop printing and non-GX Desktop Printing are NOT compatible. If both are installed and enabled when the system starts, QuickDraw GX desktop printing takes precedence over the non-GX Desktop Printing software. Non-GX Desktop Printing is automatically disabled along with its desktop printers -- an "X" mark will appear through each non-GX desktop printer.

The "Desktop Printer" menu item (if present) in the Apple menu is associated with non-GX Desktop Printing. It will still be displayed even with QuickDraw GX running, but will be non-functional until QuickDraw GX is disabled in the Extensions Manager. As the menu item is in no way associated with QuickDraw GX, GX desktop printers will NOT show up in this menu.

NOTE: The Desktop Printer menu is only installed with printer software and stand-alone Desktop Printer installs. It does not get installed as part of regular system installations. Future versions beyond Desktop Printing v2.0.x will no longer install this menu item.

The printer icons in the menu bar and Control Strip are both part of non-GX Desktop Printing and will only show non-GX desktop printers.


Article Change History:
24 Jan 1997 - Changed title to better reflect article subject.


Published Date: Feb 18, 2012