Re: Network printing from BASIC

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

Hoser <deh1@ark.com> wrote:

> I am an Apple II BASIC junkie.  I am running an Apple IIGS with ProDOS 8 and I
> am doing BASIC program only.  I have a Macintosh networked to an Apple
> Personal LaserWriter 320 via LocalTalk.  I'd like to network the IIGS to them
> so I can print to the laser printer directly from BASIC.

This is certainly possible, assuming your IIgs has enough memory.  Can
you provide more information about your system configuration,
particularly ROM version, type of drives available, and amount of RAM?

The key steps are:

- A hardware connection between the three devices.  If you are using a
direct serial cable between the Mac and printer at present, you will
need to replace this with either of the standard LocalTalk cabling
systems: Apple's one (expensive) or PhoneNet.  I use the latter.  In
either case you will need three drop boxes.

- You need to boot via the IIgs system software to get AppleTalk
support.  This means at least System 3.2, and preferably something more
recent.  You must have at least 768K of RAM (preferably 1MB) to be able
to get AppleTalk support.

- The system disk must have all the necessary software components
installed.

- To be able to print to the LaserWriter from ProDOS-8 programs, you
need to download the ImageWriter emulator to the printer.  This is done
with the LaserWriter driver under GS/OS (System 4.0 or later).  The
emulator will remain in the printer unless you turn it off, so you
should only need to do this once.

Once all this is done, you just print to the slot containing the
AppleTalk firmware (slot 7 for ROM 0 or ROM 1, probably slot 1 for ROM
3).  Any program that supports an ImageWriter II should be able to print
to the LaserWriter.

Another benefit of this connection is that you can turn on File Sharing
on the Mac and use it as a file server.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand