LaserWriter Landscape through AUTOEXEC.BAT


This article describes how to use the AUTOEXEC.BAT file make it possible
for you to choose whether to print landscape or portrait. It assumes you
are using a LocalTalk PC card, LaserWriter software, and AppleShare PC
(1.1) print drivers, so you can access the printer directly from Lotus 123
and Microsoft Word.

Here is a typical AUTOEXEC.BAT prepared for use with AppleShare:

atalk /mem=7K
\\ashare
\\aprint
\\minses
\\redir
\\anet auto
\\MOUSE1\\mouse
\\MOUSE\\cpanel
@echo off
path=c:\\;c:\\dos;c:\\lwdir;c:\\ashare;c:G0
prompt $P$G
lwprint -a postscrp.ini
PATH C:\\WINDOWS;c:\\;c:\\dos;c:\\lwdir;c:\\ashare;c:G0

The confusing part about printing Landscape is that it is not a mode.
Drivers take the information going to the LaserWriter and massage everything
necessary to rotate it on the printed page. The printer never gets set to a
Landscape "mode".

To be able to flip between Portrait and Landscape, remove the line that
begins with "lwprint" from the .BAT file. Then, use the DA pop-up
application that is provided with AppleShare PC to set up the printer.

Using this method, you must print the desired file to a text file. At this
point, you have two choices:

- If you choose to print to the LaserWriter through the Epson emulator (in
the DA application), you need Sideways or an equivalent program to
rotate the output.

- If you have chosen not to use the emulator, you must use the
LWASC-R <filename> command in a batch file. This command is described
on page 102 of the "AppleTalk PC Card Manual".


Published Date: Feb 18, 2012