Re: Print to File?

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

John Fenske <jfenske@MBnet.MB.CA> wrote:

> themaples@worldnet.att.net (Bruce Maples) writes:
> 
> >Is it possible to "print to file" on a GS?  That is, to use a specific
> >driver, but have the output captured to a file, which could then be
> >transported to the machine that was actually hooked up to the printer?
> 
> Actually there is a driver called "Capture Port Driver", written
> by David Empson and probably available at the ground site.

Note that I wrote this driver as a diagnostic tool for printer drivers.
It is not very user friendly, and requires a resource editor to change
the destination volume (it defaults to /RAM5, if I remember right).

It creates a binary file containing the exact data that the printer
driver would normally send out the serial or parallel port.  If the
printer driver or application creates multiple print jobs, then you will
end up with a file for each job (e.g. AppleWorks GS prints each page as
a separate job, so you will end up with lots of files).

> >And, can it be done from desktop programs, 8-bit programs, or both?
> 
> The Capture driver only works in GS/OS. Don't know of any 8 bit version
> that would do the same.

The reason that Capture works is that nearly all IIgs desktop programs
go through the standard Print Manager mechanism for outputting data to
the printer.  The Print Manager makes use of a printer driver for
translating the image into the appropriate set of printer commands, and
a port driver to send the data out the appropriate port.  Capture is a
port driver - it just uses the disk drive as its "port".

ProDOS-8 has no standard facility for printing.  All applications talk
directly to the serial/parallel interface card hardware or firmware
using built-in drivers.  The only way to redirect output to a file is if
the program already provides a facility to do this (e.g. AppleWorks), or
can be patched to do this.

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