Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!exodus!appserv!angel.Eng.Sun.COM!henry
From: henry@angel.Eng.Sun.COM (Henry McGilton)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript
Subject: Re: How can I tell if a file is "postscript"
Summary: What, again?
Message-ID: <487@appserv.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: 7 Mar 91 01:00:35 GMT
References: <7647@uceng.UC.EDU> <1991Mar4.075212.12828@lth.se> <1448@vidiot.UUCP>
Sender: news@appserv.Eng.Sun.COM
Lines: 28

In article <1448@vidiot.UUCP>, brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot) writes:

    *  %! on the first line is required by LaserWriter printers and compatibles.
In my opinion, this statement is false.  The  %!  serves to identify
a file as PostScript to utilities such as the UNIX  file  command,
and for utility packages such as TranScript to do the Correct Thing
with the file.  To the very best of my knowledge,  %!  is a
PostScript comment that is ignored by the printer's PostScript
interpreter.  I am willing to admit I am wrong if somebody out there
can come up with a definitive test case to prove otherwise.

    *  It is NOT part of the definition for EPSF or EPSI.
From Encapsulated PostScript File Format--Version 3.0, section 2.1:

	    The two required DSC Header comments are:
		    %!PS-Adobe-3.0 EPSF-3.0
		    %%BoundingBox: llx lly urx ury

    *  If that special comment line is missing, the LaserWriter series
    *  printers will change to Diablo emulation mode and the PostScript
    *  program will print out as a source listing, i.e., the PostScript
    *  code will print as normal text and the program will not run.
TranScript software makes the decision to print a PostScript lacking
%!  as simple text via a program called pstext which sends the
contents of the text file to the printer in 11-point Courier.
TranScript DOES NOT switch the printer to Diablo emulation mode.

	........  Henry