Newsgroups: comp.text.tex

> > > > Can PS printers directly handle PS files? I.e., is it ok to send a
> > > > PS file directly to a PS printers without any drivers/translators,
> > > > etc?
> > >
> > > Yes.
> >
> > Depending on the file and the printer, you may have to add a
> > Ctrl-D to the end of the file to get the last page ejected.
> > Otherwise you might have to hit the "form-feed" or
> > "on-line/off-line" to get it to spit out the last page.
>
> Oh, good. Last time, I didn't succeed doing so.
>
> I used to print from my Linux, to a network printer. Last time, when
> our network was down, I hooked up the printer directly to a laptop
> and issued the following command in pure DOS (no Windoze interfered):
>
> copy /B file.ps prn:
>
> The above command sends the PS file directly to the PS printers (HP5)
> without any drivers/filters. But I got garbages in output. Anybody
> know what's went wrong? Any tips if I have to do it again? thanks

IIRC, LJ5 printers can be set up to expect either PS or PCL. There is a PCL command to switch to PS mode (and vice-versa). If the printer is expecting PS, then it should work. If it's expecting PCL, then you've got to put a PCL command in front of the file that switches the printer into PS mode. I don't remember what that PCL command is.

Grant Edwards