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From: jww@sdcsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Generic Printer Driver Needed
Message-ID: <2775@sdcsvax.UCSD.EDU>
Date: Fri, 27-Feb-87 21:47:28 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcsvax.2775
Posted: Fri Feb 27 21:47:28 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 1-Mar-87 11:45:39 EST
References: <295@umbc3.UMD.EDU>
Organization: Western Software Technology, Vista, CA
Lines: 42
Keywords: dumb printers

In article <295@umbc3.UMD.EDU>, chris@umbc3.UMD.EDU (Chris Schanzle) writes:
> I would like to be able to hook up a serial printer to my Mac+.  It's
> a very dumb printer, so I don't want to worry about handshaking any more
> than XON/XOFF.  The biggie is to get the speed & data formats right.

The file 'Serial Printer' on MS-Word 3.0 does just this.
 
> The easy solution is to have a generic printer driver, selectable with
> CHOOSER (da) and to be able to select XON/XOFF, baud rates, parity, 
> number of data bits, etc.  DOES THIS EXIST?  If not, it sounds like
> a fairly simple programming project....(hint hint).

Pitch 10/12/15/PS, Baud 300,600,1200,2400,4800,9600   It has documents for 
formatting to drive it- typewriter, brother, diablo, NEC.

Small catch: it only works with MS-Word!

Maybe SoftStyle makes the generic driver you're looking for, since they 
sell a box (MacEnhancer) that supports parallel and serial, as well
as the most complete collection of printer drivers.

> Otherwise, is there an easy way to modify the ImageWriter file such that
> I can change the communications format (baud, parity, etc) using RESEDIT?
> Naturally I would rather be able to do it "on the fly" when needed, but
> having another copy of the ImageWriter file around doesn't bother me...

No way Jose.  If you could reverse engineer the code enough to change
the Serial Driver parameters, you would have done it already.  QED  :-)

As for a 'fairly simple programming project', you're out of your mind.  
Maybe two or three weeks for an experienced Mac programmer (read: expensive)
with adequate documentation on printer drivers, add 2-4 weeks without.

There currently isn't any documentation on writing printer drivers.
My article in 3/87 MacTutor is a start, but mainly looks at the
application side.  Writing the driver awaits two weeks of time to kill.


-- 
	Joel West	(c/o UC San Diego)
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