Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Path: utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!darth.UUCP!gary From: gary@darth.UUCP Newsgroups: mod.computers.laser-printers Subject: (none) Message-ID: <8609261604.AA09712@pitt> Date: Fri, 26-Sep-86 12:04:41 EDT Article-I.D.: pitt.8609261604.AA09712 Posted: Fri Sep 26 12:04:41 1986 Date-Received: Sat, 27-Sep-86 18:56:12 EDT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 73 Approved: laser-lovers@washington.arpa Subject: WordPerfect and PostScript solutions (I have noticed many postings about the creeping page problem with WordPerfect 4.1 and QMS PS-800. My experience is with the Apple LaserWriter---apologies for any solutions which are not transportable. This letter was sent directly to the inquirer. I thought it would be worth posting. Our LaserWriter DOES work properly with WordPerfect in 630 emulation mode---so if the following suggestions don't work for some reason, contact me.) In article <12239518486.10.D.BUERGER@SCU> D.Buerger%SCU%PANDA@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA (David John Buerger) writes: > >I've just purchased a QMS PS-800 and before diving into the mysteries of TeX >and Postscript, am trying to get WordPerfect (which does not yet support P.S. >but will in a future release) to work in its Diablo 630 emulation mode. The >printer is serial in a 9600 baud connection. My problem: in trying to print a >multiple-page document (38pg) with page lengths of 66 lines, and text lines set >at 58 lines per page, each successive page creeps higher and higher until the >top is running off the page. The program is set to the "form feed" setting. >Can anyone lend a hand on this problem? My WordPerfect version is 4.1. I just ran into the same problem using an Apple LaserWriter. I am not familiar with the PS-800, but it seems like the same problem. WordPerfect does not actually output a form feed between pages. Instead, it outputs the proper number of LINES necessary to reach the top of the next page. With the LaserWriter (and I assume the PS-800), printing 66 lines does not take you to the top of the next page, but slightly lower. This can be fixed by using the printer definition program (printer.exe) provided with WordPerfect. If you aren't confident at using this program, there is a document provided with WordPerfect that tells you of its use and eccentricities. There is a configuration option there called "Reset Printer at End of Page". It is in the printer initialization menu. If you include a form feed in the reset string, your pages will break at the correct place. A more interesting problem is trying to get WordPerfect to output PostScript instead of standard printer "escape" sequences. The printer definition program for WordPerfect is sufficiently flexible to allow the definition of PostScript printers. Although the resultant PostScript code is not always that pretty, it doesn't look too different from that generated by many TeX device drivers. I have successfully created a WordPerfect definition for the Apple LaserWriter. I believe it is pretty generic PostScript code, however. The LaserWriter does employ the concept of a job server. I wrote some PostScript procedures (only 6 or 7) which must be made permanently resident in the printer. On the Apple, there are a few server commands necessary to make these permanent changes. I don't know how that is done on the PS-800. Aside from server initialization, I would be glad to forward the PostScript procedures and WordPerfect definitions. I'm not sure how I would send the WordPerfect definitions, though, since they are stored in a special file format editable only by the "printer.exe" program. (I could at least recite them---there must be a way). Consider whether it is worth it or not. WordPerfect output on a PostScript printer looks rather awful compared to a page set nicely by TeX. Considering the amount of detail necessary to get WordPerfect to output PostScript (about two to three hours wading through menus in printer.exe), maybe the time would be better spent learning TeX or LaTeX. In any case, let me know if you want more information. Gary Wisniewski 5608 Ellsworth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15232 Phone: (412) 363-4685 Usenet: {allegra, bellcore, cadre}!pitt!darth!gary