Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript
Path: utzoo!utgpu!tj
From: tj@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Terry Jones)
Subject: Re: problems connecting LaserWriter to DOS PC
Message-ID: <1990Jun11.021320.1298@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca>
Keywords: LaserWriter,DOS,PostScript,Apple
Organization: UTCS Public Access
References: <1990Jun5.205048.28817@cbnews.att.com> <1317@chinacat.Unicom.COM>
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 90 02:13:20 GMT

>> I've been using PageMaker and Corel Draw to generate create simple graphics
>> verified that both the LaserWriter and the PC are configured for:
>>     9600 baud, no parity, XON/XOFF handshaking, 7 data bits, 1 stop bit
 
>First of all, the PC does not support XON/XOFF handshaking unless you have
>a special printer driver such as superspool installed.  You need to either
>use a spooler that can handle XON/XOFF such as superspool, or else use
>DTR/DSR handshaking.  If your printer can handle paralell, use that.

While the first and last part of this paragraph are true, PC DOS does not
support Xon/Xoff handshake protocol and if your printer has parallel
then use it, You do NOT need to use the spoolers Woody mentions.
Windows (Which is what you ARE using if you are using Corel OR PageMaker)
does support Xon/Xoff protocol quite reliably. I offered the person
a few suggestions but I do NOT think any further software is needed 
here.  If further software were needed I would recommend a public 
domain program called LPTCOM1 which redirects data sent to LPT ports out 
a serial port and handles Xon/Xoff properly. It isn't perfect 
but it is also free.

Also, check YOUR DOS MANUAL carefully. Many versions of DOS, eg Compac, 
DO support Xon/Xoff directly.

>Secondly, for pity's sake, TRASH DOS 4.XX  NONE of the versions that
>I have seen are bug free.  DON'T LET DOS 4.XX anywhere NEAR a machine.
>likely your problems will flat vanish if you drop back to DOS 3.x
>
>There are many and varied problems with DOS 4.0.  Many of my coworkers
>have tried it, and invariable have had to go back to dos 3.x.
>
>Cheers
>Woody

While Woody has often provided little gems of information I do not believe
this is one of them. First off I suspect that DOS 4 is being called buggy
mostly because many programs that are poorly written had problems when
run under DOS 4. There are also some VERY good reasons to use DOS 4 like
having a 300 meg drive called C: instead of C: D: E: F: G: H: I: J: K: L:!!!

I personally have beenrunning DOS 4.00 until last friday when I went to
4.01 because I found my first program that failed under dos 4.00 (and worked
fine under 4.01 BTW!) The major programs such as COrel and PageMaker (ie
Windows Apps) work fine as do most of the other programs like 123, dBase,
Harvard, etc.

For god sake if every time we got a piece of software with a bug in it we
put it back in the package we MIGHT have made it as far as CPM by now!
(But I really doubt even that!)

Lets try offering some helpful information instead of just bashing.

tj