LaserWriter: Printing Non-PostScript Files from a PC



Some customers report problems printing to a PostScript LaserWriter from
MS-DOS PCs equipped with LocalTalk PC Cards. From the PC, the printer
appears in the Chooser and can be selected -- but it won't print such files
as AUTOEXEC.BAT.

The problem may be that the LaserWriter was connected for use with
PostScript files instead of plain text files. When AppleShare PC connects
to a LaserWriter for PostScript use, it sends the raw data directly to the
LaserWriter without modification. This doesn't work for typical DOS text
files because they aren't in PostScript format.

The Epson emulation mode accepts standard text files and converts them to
PostScript format before sending them to the LaserWriter. This is the mode
you should use for printing AUTOEXEC.BAT and other non-PostScript files
created by applications that support PostScript printing.

For most users, the best way to set up AppleShare PC is to make two
connections to the LaserWriter: one for PostScript and the other for plain
text. For instance, use LPT2 as the Epson connection and LPT3 as the
PostScript connection. This uses slightly more conventional memory, but it
allows you to print either type of document without altering configurations.


Published Date: Feb 18, 2012