Mac OS 8.6: What‘s New - LaserWriter 8.6.5

LaserWriter 8.6.5 provides support for secure printing using AppleShare IP 6.1 and works with USB-connected PostScript printers. The LaserWriter 8.6.5 print dialog box allows you to create a Job/Font log to view a history of your printing jobs and fonts used. You can also choose TrueType over Type 1 fonts and force all fonts to be downloaded to the printer.

When you select Print from the File menu of any application, you get the print dialog box shown here. The different menu options appear in the Print Options pop-up menu. The Print Options pop-up menu is under the word "Printer." Selecting Font Settings from the print options menu provides the window shown here:

Font Settings options

• Select the Annotate Font Keys checkbox to annotate font keys in the PostScript output. This will include information regarding the QuickDraw font (which the driver has translated into a font for the printer, either a PostScript Type 1 or TrueType font). The information may be used by a very sophisticated user (such as a prepress user) to debug a troublesome print job.

• Select either Type 1 or TrueType radio buttons in order to select which font type is preferred.

• Select the Always download needed fonts option to ignore fonts in the printer's ROM or memory.

• Select Never generate Type 42 format to prevent Type 42 fonts. A type 42 font is a TrueType font. Some high end printers do not work with TrueType fonts. This option provides a way to force the driver not to generate TrueType fonts at all. If one is needed, the TrueType font is converted into an unhinted Type 1 font. (This is not the best font, but it will print.)

Note: The vast majority of users and print jobs do not need to change (or benefit from changing) the Font Downloading options. If you have changed these options from their defaults and you are experiencing printing difficulties, try restoring the options to their defaults by clicking the Use Defaults button (see above).

Selecting Job Logging from the print options menu provides the window shown in here:

Job Logging options

PostScript error reporting is sometimes useful in determining why a print job has failed when the printer fails to print.

• Select No special reporting to prevent reporting of any PostScript errors during printing.

• Select Summarize on screen to receive a summary of any PostScript errors encountered during printing.

• Select Print detailed report to print a detailed description of any PostScript errors encountered during printing.

• Select the Generate Job Copy and/or Generate Job Log options to see PostScript error reporting information in the job log.

• Click the Change button to select a destination folder for font logs and job copies.

To receive explanations of each of the settings in the LaserWriter 8.6.5 print dialog, select "Show Balloons" from the Help menu before selecting the Print command. Help balloons appear as you move the pointer over each setting.