Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!ucbvax!QUCDN.QUEENSU.CA!HEISZJ
From: HEISZJ@QUCDN.QUEENSU.CA
Newsgroups: comp.laser-printers
Subject: Re: Counting PostScript Pages
Message-ID: <9103221849.AA11822@crayola.cs.UMD.EDU>
Date: 21 Mar 91 16:32:47 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: Queen's University at Kingston
Lines: 28
Approved: laser-lovers@brillig.umd.edu


  Sometime ago I wrote a package for doing PostScript accounting for
our local network of SUN workstations.  It is a somewhat (?)
intelligent PostScript parser, which attempts to keep track of
redefinitions of the showpage command, and the counts the number
of occurences of page ejections.  It can be defeated by someone
who is knowledgeable in PostScript and knows how the program parses
its input, but for most of the outputs we tested here it appeared to
work properly.  There is also a rudimentary accounting package
designed to mail usage summaries to individual users and the machine
root.  I'll dig it up and make it available by anonymous ftp ate
sparky.phy.queensu.ca.

   It does have one notorious bug. It doesn't know whether the
laserprinter actually printed the pages or not.  We now use the
laser program (available from titan.rice.edu, I believe) which
queries our Laserwriter for the exact number of pages printed.  If
your printer can do this you might want to check it out.

   If you wish to get in touch with me, please use the address below
as I only use this account occasionally to read news.

                                        Jeff Heisz

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff Heisz                   |Internet: heisz@sparky.phy.queensu.ca
Department of Physics        |
Queen's University, Kingston, Canada