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From: casseres@apple.com (David Casseres)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Page Rectangles
Message-ID: <10603@goofy.Apple.COM>
Date: 8 Oct 90 17:11:22 GMT
Sender: usenet@Apple.COM
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.
Lines: 52
References:<10585@goofy.Apple.COM> <52424@brunix.UUCP>

In article <52424@brunix.UUCP> omh@cs.brown.edu (Owen M. Hartnett) writes:

> 1) Microsoft products can write to areas which are within the "minimum 
margins."

Yes.  Some applications, for their own reasons, restrict imaging to a 
rectangle smaller than the Print Manager's page rect (which is the 
rectangle defined by the minimum margins of the current device), but most 
applications allow drawing into the entire page rect.

> Thus, we can infer that the minimum margins give an area which can be 
imaged
> given any possible image configuration, or at least, any *reasonable*
> imaging configuration.  (by image configuration, I mean any of a set of 
all
> possible quickdraw or postscript calls that cause imaging only inside 
said
> margins.)  I.E. we will probably never encounter errors given that we 
confine
> our output to said areas.

I'm not sure what you mean by "errors."  Your statement is true in the 
sense that anything drawn within the page rect will be printed (assuming 
the application does not prevent this by setting a smaller clip rect, or 
something), and anything drawn outside the page rect will not be printed.

> 2) Given a scenario where the programmer has a desired output which will
> remain consistent regardless of the actions of the user, (i.e. a form) 
> thus the programmer is able to test the output for correctness using the
> lowest common denominator of printing power (say, an original LaserWriter
> and a LaserWriter SC), are there any other pitfalls said programmer
> should be mindful of when he directs output which falls outside of the
> minimum margins as depicted by the Print Manager (and/or output device)?

Drawing outside the page rect is clipped by QuickDraw and therefore does 
not print or affect any bitmap.  However, just as in any other case of 
clipping by QuickDraw, the pen position moves; and if a polygon or region 
is open, it is affected.

But please note that you must be very careful with the concept of a 
"lowest common denominator of printing power."  Your examples of a 
LaserWriter or LaserWriter SC are capable of printing a wider rectangle 
than an ImageWriter!  And what if next week someone hits the market with a 
printer that only allows a 7.5" width but is otherwise so wonderful that 
everybody buys it?  The program might then join the ignominious company of 
early programs that assumed "the printer is always an ImageWriter," or 
later ones that assumed "If it isn't an ImageWriter, it's Postscript."  A 
well-designed program needs to look at the page rectangle defined by the 
Print Manager at print time, and behave accordingly.

David Casseres
     Exclaimer:  Hey!