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From: martinka@hpcupt1.cup.hp.com (Joe Martinka)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.apps
Subject: Re: Slow WP5.1 graphics to HP Deskjet
Message-ID: <67630002@hpcupt1.cup.hp.com>
Date: 19 Mar 91 18:18:03 GMT
References: <67630001@hpcupt1.cup.hp.com>
Organization: Hewlett Packard, Cupertino
Lines: 29

Thanks to those that responded.  Most complained of similar problems.  Some
suggested to use parallel ports instead of serial (I am), and to make sure
that the hardware handshaking is implemented correctly.

The Deskjet can print complex graphical images very efficiently if
graphics is not mixed with text.  I have witnessed that graphical
printing of spreadsheet graphs, drawing gallery files and indeed,
graphical mode on spreadsheets like Quattro can load entire swaths of
pixels (what, about 16 to 24 pixels?)  at once to be printed in one
sweep of the print head.  This yields satisfactory printing performance.

Speaking to Wordperfect support today, they acknowledge the slow Deskjet
graphics printing, claiming that the "poor printer buffer" or "limited
RAM Space" restricts their speed when graphics and text are to be
printed together.  I do not agree.  There could be smarter ways of
optimizing the printing IMHO.

THEIR WORKAROUND:  Print graphics and text separately on the same
page...once with the graphics mode as "DO NOT PRINT" and again with text
mode as "DO NOT PRINT" in the printer menu options.  I'll try that and
check if it helps.  I would gladly recycle the pages through the printer
if it knocks 13 minutes off of a 15 minute print per page.  The two
printer configurations could be set up as a WP macro...

They also volunteered to send me a 5.1 update which writes directly to the
printer's hardware port instead of through the BIOS routines.  I am not
sure that this will address the problem but accepted their offer.

-Joe