LaserWriter IINTX: Lots of Fonts on Hard Disk Slows Printing



I tried to set up my LaserWriter IINTX and a spare HD80 SC as a font cache.
I've downloaded more than 400 PostScript fonts onto the HD80 SC.

Instead of getting an increase in the system throughput, I'm now experiencing
delays approximately 5 to 6 times longer than before the hard disk was
commissioned.

The utilities are current, and I'm using LaserWriter Driver 5.2, running under
System 6.0.3. Do you have any suggestions as to why this problem has occurred?

According to the Addison-Wesley LaserWriter Reference Manual (ISBN
#0-201-19258-6), Chapter 2, page 46:

"When the PostScript interpreter encounters the input /Palatino findfont,
it first searches the FontDirectory (in memory), then searches the disk
file system for the file named fonts/Palatino. If that search succeeds,
PostScript executes the file, thereby loading it into virtual memory and
registering the name Palatino in the FontDirectory."

Therefore, whenever the LaserWriter must find a font to use, it must search ALL
available fonts -- starting from its own memory, then going to any attached
hard disks -- to locate the proper font. It then must download it, as if from
the system, for it to be available for use. With a directory of over 400
fonts, the search and download take a great deal of extra time.


Published Date: Feb 18, 2012