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From: tbutler@wpi.wpi.edu (Tim Butler)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Generating standard postscript files from Mac?
Message-ID: <13286@wpi.wpi.edu>
Date: 6 Jun 90 05:33:50 GMT
References: <24647.266bc9ca@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Mass.
Lines: 68


In article <24647.266bc9ca@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> hemmat@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
 writes:
   In article <1990May14.215409.16644@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu>
   shimmin@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (John Shimmin) writes:

   >In article <21069@boulder.Colorado.EDU> 
   >huntert@tramp.Colorado.EDU (Tim Hunter) writes:

>	   I have tried holding down the "k" key after sending a file
>   to the laser-printer, and successfully generated a psc file. I then
>   tried to laser-print this file from an IBM PC, after transferring it
>   of course, using TOPS and was not successful at all. I have received
>   no error messages, no output, nothing what-so-ever. 

	>   Is the Mac's generated postscript different from standard 
>   postscript? and if it is, is there any way to convert one to another?
..etc..
>   M. Hemmat
>   --
>   Hemmat@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
>   Hemmat@ukanvax.bitnet


The postscript generated by the mac is different in that it uses some
macros that are defined in LaserPrep. LaserPrep is a system file that
should be in the system folder. Unless that mac is not used for laserprinting
and the owner keeps a minimum number of files in the system folder.

There is a program called "macps" that will add the postscript "dictionary"
contained in LaserPrep to your file. it has to run on a Unix machine though.
It is available through anonymous ftp at sumex-aim.stanford.edu in the
info-mac/unix/ directory.

But, there is also a program that does the same thing called
"add-lprep" also at sumex in the info-mac/util/ directory that does the
same thing. (and it is easier to use, but I have not tried that one, macps
I have used successfully).


I hope this helps.

One other note. I had posted a question about 2 months ago about the legality
of using the postscript output from LaserPrep with the program macps.
Apple's copyright license specifically prohibits using any part of apple
system software on any non-apple or multi-user computer.
  After getting referred to several people at apple and finally to the 
LaserPrep program director, I was told that it was ok to install the LaserPrep
output on a unix machine for the purpose of using macps. The woman 
I spoke to was a little vague but in effect she said that Apple did not
really consider the laserprep dictionary to be system software, that it was
more appropriately considered output. Especially since it would only be
combined with other postscript output and printed. But note that it does
have their copyright on it.
	But she did say that it could not be modified or further distributed.
	If anyone else has wondered this and needs the name of the contact at
apple so their sysop will install macps, e-mail to me and I
will see if I still have the e-mail address or the phone number.

If anyone at appIe that I have talked to thinks I have interpreted this
incorrectly, or misrepresented anything, feel free to correct me.


tim
Tim Butler	      (tbutler@wpi.wpi.edu)
Teaching Assistant    HL 103b  ext.5424      soon to be at:
Department of Mechanical Engineering	     Rensellaer Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute		     no Internet address yet