Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!cbnews!pfa
From: pfa@cbnews.att.com (Paul F. Albrecht)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript
Subject: problems connecting LaserWriter to DOS PC
Keywords: LaserWriter,DOS,PostScript,Apple
Message-ID: <1990Jun5.205048.28817@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 5 Jun 90 20:50:48 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 39

Here's a question for anyone with experience with an Apple LaserWriter NT
connected to a PC (AT&T 6386) running DOS.  Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated!

I've been using PageMaker and Corel Draw to generate create simple graphics
for over a year now and is usually works.  However, frequently the printer
will print nothing and PageMaker or Corel Draw will give an error message
saying:
		Couldn't print to COM1

If I have the PS error handler downloaded, I will get at error page saying

		ERROR: ioerror
		OFFENDING COMMAND: xxx

The offending command is often "--nostringval--" or some number.  It appears
to be random.  My first thought is I have a flow control problem, but I've
verified that both the LaserWriter and the PC are configured for:

    9600 baud, no parity, XON/XOFF handshaking, 7 data bits, 1 stop bit

The problems seem related to the complexity of the graphics, but not 
exclusively so.  I've had the same document generate an error once and
then print OK later.  I've switched cables and connectors with no apparent 
change.

Am I simply running out of memory in the printer?  Is there any way to
verify this.  Also, since I've upgraded to DOS 4.0.1, I can't use the
PRINT command to send PS files to my COM1 port - why? Is there a good DOS PS
print program I should get?  Also, I've been told that many DTP programs
like PageMaker generate inefficient postscript.  Is there a postscript
optimizer I could use to possibly simplify my postscript files?

For reference, I'm using DOS 4.0.1, and PS version 47.0.

Paul Albrecht
AT&T Bell Labs
pfa@cbdkc1.att.com
614-860-7710