Re: Connecting a LaserWriter to a IIgs via AppleTalk

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

In article <368lnj$2s4@kaiwan.kaiwan.com>,
Mark Miller <markm@kaiwan.com> wrote:
> 
> I am considering the connection of an Apple Personal LaserWriter 620
> to my Apple IIgs.  The only interface to the LaserWriter is via
> LocalTalk.  Since I have never used the AppleTalk interface on the GS,
> I would like to learn more about it.  I have several GS reference
> manuals, but none provide very much detail in the system function of
> the AppleTalk protocol.

The actual protocols are documented fully in "Inside AppleTalk", one
of the Addison-Wesley manuals.  The Apple IIe/IIgs implementation
details (including how to call AppleTalk protocols yourself, etc.) are
in the "AppleShare Programmers Guide for the Apple II Family", which
is an APDA product available from Byte Works.

> The Installer added several new files to my System folder after
> installing the Networked LaserWriter.  What are the functions of the
> following files:
> 
> */System/Drivers/AppleTalk

Print Manager port driver for the AppleTalk network (using the AppleTalk
Printer Access Protocol).  It is similar in function to the Printer
and Modem drivers.

> 		/ATalk

GS/OS drivers for AppleTalk, including the AppleTalk Main Driver,
Remote Print Manager driver, and AppleTalk Filing Protocol device
drivers (used by the AppleShare FST).

> 		/ATP1.ATROM

Patch file to replace some parts of the AppleTalk code in ROM, and
supplement it, particularly protocols which are only partially
implemented in the ROM 1.

> 		/ATP2.ATRAM

Higher level AppleTalk protocols that aren't in ROM.

> 		/LaserWriter

Print Manager printer driver for the LaserWriter.

> 		/SCC.Manager

GS/OS Supervisory Driver for the SCC chip, required by the ATalk driver.

> 
> */System/System.Setup/ATInit

Data file containing AppleTalk configuration - your user name,
selected network printer, and some flags.

> 		     /ATResponder

An INIT which prompts for data to go in the ATINIT file, and provides
various AppleTalk services, including a responder for the Macintosh
"Inter.Poll" utility, used to identify devices on the network.  This
INIT probably has lots of other functions - it is a random grab-bag of
application-level AppleTalk setup.  I disassembled it once, but can't
remember much about it now.

> If anyone else has connected a LaserWriter to their GS, I would
> enjoy hearing what kind of results you've encountered.

Not a LaserWriter, but I did connect an HP LaserJet 4ML last week.
Very few problems, except for font selection, and the fact that the
ImageWriter emulator didn't work (probably due to differences in the
PostScript implementation in the HP 4ML and Apple's printers).

> What are the pros and cons of using a LaserWriter on a GS?

Pros: it is faster and higher quality than an ImageWriter.  It can be
networked and shared by multiple computers (Mac, IIgs and IIe with
workstation card) - the same goes for an ImageWriter with a LocalTalk
option card.

Cons: not as well supported on a IIgs as it is on a Mac, font
difficulties.

> Can TrueType fonts (Pointless) be used for printing documents to a
> LaserWriter?

Unknown.  I had problems with this.  If you use fonts that are already
provided in the printer, or Postscript fonts (Type 1) downloaded to
it, there should be no problem.  I couldn't get any Truetype fonts to
print on the HP LJ 4ML.  It may work better on an Apple Laserwriter.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand