Re: TCP/IP network printing idea for GS/OS

[Polymorph <polymorph69@hotmail.com>]

On Jan 12, 3:08 pm, Eric Rucker <bhtoo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I had an idea that should work great for network printing using
> Marinetti...
>
> The JetDirect "protocol" is basically a raw data stream. Open port
> 9100 on the print server, and dump data in... and as far as the
> printer's concerned, it was connected via a serial or parallel cable.
>
> So, one could write a GS/OS port driver to do this, and I suspect, if
> one knew how port drivers worked (I barely have the foggiest idea, but
> not having access to the TBRs, and not being all that good at
> programming means I'm utterly failing figuring it out,) a Marinetti
> port driver for the print manager could fairly easily be written.
>
> Anyone see any holes in my ideas here?

I don't see any holes as such, wouldn't you still have the limitation
that you would need a GS/OS printer driver for whatever your target
printer is? So writing a new port driver wouldn't open up printing to
any new printer models, but rather allow network printing to printers
already supported by GS/OS. Or have I misunderstood how JetDirect
works?

As most users probably don't have/want an older printer connected to
their network, writing such a port driver may have little practical
value. I could be very wrong however.

It sounds like an interesting idea nonetheless.  ;-)

Cheers,
Mike