DOS Printing to Apple Printers

This section describes the DOS print utilities used to send print jobs to a queue, and the NetWare v3.12 utilities used to create the required forms, printer definitions, and print job configurations for DOS users. These NetWare v3.12 utilities are described in Table 23.


Table 23. Utilities

Utility Name Functionality

PRINTDEF

PRINTDEF imports printer definitions (.PDF files) and forms to the network printer database (NET$PRN.DAT).

PRINTCON

PRINTCON creates print job configurations and adds them to a user's individual print job database (PRINTCON.DAT).


CAPTURE and NPRINT: DOS Printing

DOS users print to NetWare print queues by using the CAPTURE or NPRINT commands. These commands use print information stored in two databases on the server. When the user sends a print job to a NetWare queue, these commands access the print information dynamically and provide it as a header to the print job. The two databases are described in Table 24.


Table 24. DOS Print Services Databases

Database Name Database Description

NET$PRN.DAT

This database, located below SYS:SYSTEM, contains printer definitions (.PDF files) and at least one "print form." See PRINTDEF: Printer Definitions and Print Forms

PRINTCON.DAT

This database, located in each DOS user's MAIL directory, contains print job configurations for that user. PRINTCON: Creating Print Job Configurationsfor Apple Printers

In addition to using these databases, the DOS client must allocate memory for the CAPTURE command to store the header information obtained from these databases. To assign the required memory, add this line to the client's SHELL.CFG file:

PRINT HEADER = 255

When a DOS client loads the NetWare shell, it reads the SHELL.CFG file, which must be located in the same directory that contains the network software NETx.COM. If the client does not have a SHELL.CFG file, you must create one in the directory that is invoked from NETx.COM. Please refer to the NetWare v3.12 Installation manual for DOS client issues.


PRINTDEF: Printer Definitions and Print Forms

To enable users to print to both types of Apple printer (LaserWriters and ImageWriters), you need to import Apple printer definitions to the NET$PRN.DAT database. These printer definitions are ".PDF" files, which should be located in the SYS:\PUBLIC directory on each NetWare v3.11 file server.

NOTE:  If you have already created a form called Normal, you do not need to create special forms for the Apple printers. The only requirement is that at least one print form exist.

To import the required printer definitions and (if necessary) create a print form, log in to the particular server as a supervisor at a DOS workstation and follow these steps:

  1. Run PRINTDEF, choose Print Devices in the main menu, and then press <Enter>.

    To open PRINTDEF, type PRINTDEF at the DOS prompt.

    When PRINTDEF prompts you for the source directory containing the printer definition,

  2. Type SYS:PUBLIC at the prompt and press <Enter>.

    If you have printer definition updates from Novell, or printer definition files for non-Apple printers you wish to use with the ATPS module, type the location of those files and press <Enter>.

  3. Choose Import Print Definitions in the next menu.

    A list of .PDF files opens.

  4. Import the Apple printer definitions by selecting APPIMAGE.PDF, APPLASER.PDF, and PSTSCRPT.PDF, and pressing <Enter>.

  5. Press <Esc> as necessary to back out to the initial PRINTDEF menu.

    If you need to create the Normal print form, complete the rest of these steps; otherwise, press <Esc> again to exit PRINTDEF.

  6. Choose Forms in the main menu, and then press <Enter>.

  7. Press <Insert> to open the Forms Definition Form:


  8. Enter the values shown in Table 25 to create the Normal print form.


    Table 25. Normal Print Form Values

    Value Application

    Normal

    The Normal form is associated with all Macintosh print jobs.

    0

    If no other forms exist on this server, the default number is 0. Leave this number as is, or type another number less than or equal to 255.

    66

    This number specifies the number of lines on a standard page.

    80

    This number specifies the maximum number of characters on a line of a standard page.

  9. Press <Esc> to exit the Forms Definition Form, and answer "Yes" when PRINTDEF prompts you to save your changes.


PRINTCON: Creating Print Job Configurationsfor Apple Printers

Each DOS user has access to one or more print job configurations, which are stored in the PRINTCON.DAT database located in each user's MAIL directory. The queue specification in the print job configuration determines to which queue the user's print job(s) are sent. DOS users can invoke PRINTCON to modify the job configuration you install for them; for example, they can modify the job configuration to print to a different print queue.

For an Apple ImageWriter, the print job configuration must specify "characters-per-inch" (CPI). See Apple ImageWriter.

For an Apple LaserWriter, the print job configuration can specify PostScript, PostScript Binary Graphics (for applications that generate binary PostScript), Diablo 630 (for applications that don't support PostScript), or PostText (for printing ASCII text on a PostScript printer).

To create a print job configuration, log in as a supervisor from a DOS client and follow these steps:

  1. Open PRINTCON, choose Edit Print Job Configurations in the main menu, and then press <Enter>.

    To open PRINTCON, type PRINTCON at the DOS prompt.

    When you press <Enter>, a list of available configurations opens. If you have not defined any print job configurations, the window will be empty.

  2. To create a new print job configuration, press <Ins>.

    A dialog box displays, enabling you to enter a name for the new configuration. You should always name the job configuration so that it is easily identifiable.

    After you name a new print job configuration, the main dialog box appears, where you can enter the values pertinent to the print job you are creating. The fields in the main PRINTCON dialog box are explained in Table 26.


    Table 26. Fields in the PRINTCON Dialog

    Field Title Explanation

    Number of copies

    The value in this field defaults to 1. You can type a higher number here for DOS print jobs that require multiple copies. (Note that when a Macintosh user chooses to send multiple copies of a print job, the system considers it a single print job, so this number is always 1 for Macintosh print jobs.)

    File contents

    If set to "text," the AppleTalk print server will search out and expand tabs. PostScript jobs should use "byte stream."

    Tab size

    This field sets the number of spaces to use to expand tab characters if the file contents are set to "text."

    Suppress form feed

    ATPS ignores this field. Set this field to "Yes" for PostScript printers connected through PSERVER.

    Notify when done

    The value in this field defaults to No. You can type "Y" here if you wish DOS users to be notified when their print job has printed, when the printer is out of paper, or when the printer encounters errors in the print job.

    Local printer

    The value in this field defaults to 1, for LPT1. You can use this value with the DOS CAPTURE command to reroute command-line print directions, such as "dir > lpt1," to the ATPS queue.

    Auto endcap

    The value in this field defaults to No. You can type "Y" here if you wish the DOS CAPTURE command to automatically quit after sending a print job.

    File server

    The value in this field defaults to the server you are currently logged in to. The field must be set to the name of a file server that loads the ATPS module and supports a print queue serviced by the ATPS print server. If necessary, you can press <Enter> to select another file server.

    Print queue

    The value in this field must show the name of the print queue to which this job is being sent. Press <Enter> to display a list of queues on the current file server. Of course, you must configure the queue you select for the right type of printer (LaserWriter or ImageWriter) and choose the proper printer definition in the "Device" field described below.

    Print server

    The value in this field defaults to (Any). This field can be used to choose between the AppleTalk print server and other print servers.

    Device

    Press <Enter> to open the list of available printer types, and choose Apple LaserWriter, Apple ImageWriter, or PostScript printer.

    Mode

    Press <Enter> to open the Modes menu, and choose the appropriate mode for this print job configuration. For an Apple LaserWriter, the mode will always be PostScript, PostScript (Binary Graphics), Diablo 630, or PostText with a "CPI" (characters per inch) or Diablo 630 specification. For an Apple ImageWriter, the mode is a CPI specification.

    Form name

    ATPS ignores this field.

    Print banner

    The value in this field defaults to No. You can type "Y" here if you wish to print banner pages for DOS print jobs on AppleTalk printers. when printing to PSERVER-connected PostScript printers from DOS, leave the default "No."

    Name

    The value in this field defaults to the DOS user's login name. It is the name that appears in PCONSOLE, the NetWare DA, and on the banner page.

    Banner file

    If you enter a name here, the print server includes the name as a "tag" on each banner page to identify the job. By default, the "tag" name is the name of the file being printed.

    Timeout

    The value in this field defaults to No. If you type "Y" in this field, NetWare assumes a DOS CAPTURE print job is finished if it hasn't received any input for the specified number of seconds.

    Timeout count

    The value in this field specifies the number of seconds DOS CAPTURE waits if timeout is enabled.

Once you create a print job configuration, you can use PRINTCON to copy it to other DOS users (provided that you are logged in as supervisor or equivalent) by following these steps:

  1. Press <Esc> to return to the initial PRINTCON menu.

  2. Choose Copy Print Job Configurations, and press <Enter>.

    This action brings up a dialog box labeled "Source User."

  3. Type the name of the user whose print job configuration file you want to copy---for example, SUPERVISOR--- and press <Enter>.

    This action brings up a dialog box labeled "Target User."

  4. Type the name of the user for whom you are copying the print job configuration file and press <Enter>.

Repeat these steps for each user who needs a copy of the configuration file, and then exit PRINTCON by pressing <Esc>.

If you need to modify fields for an individual user, you must log in as that user and invoke PRINTCON. Alternatively, individual DOS users can create or modify their own print job configurations.

Please refer to NetWare v3.12 System Administration for more details about PRINTCON.


Apple LaserWriter in PostScript Mode

Figure 59 shows a sample print job configuration for an Apple LaserWriter in PostScript mode. DOS or Windows applications must support PostScript and a LaserWriter driver.

Figure 59
Example PRINTCON Window Showing LaserWriter Postscript Configuration

These are the required values for a queue whose print jobs are sent to a LaserWriter II NT:

Print server

(Any)

Device

Apple LaserWriter

Mode

PostScript


PostScript Binary Graphics Mode

"PostScript Binary Graphics" mode instructs the AppleTalk print server not to replace Control-D characters in the print job with Printer Access Protocol (PAP) EOFs. Use this mode for DOS or Windows applications that produce binary PostScript data. Please see DOS PostScript Applications for background information.

See Symptom: Printer Sends Multiple Error Messages for a description of what can happen if you select the wrong print mode for binary files.


Apple LaserWriter in PostText Mode

Figure 60 shows a sample print job configuration for an Apple LaserWriter in PostText mode. PostText mode allows applications to send ASCII text to a PostScript printer.

Figure 60
Example PRINTCON Window Showing LaserWriter PostText Configuration

The "Mode" field contains the only required value that must be different from the PostScript configuration shown in Figure 59. For the PostText configuration, the required values are these:

Print server

(Any)

Device

Apple LaserWriter

Mode

PostText Courier 10 CPI

Of course, you can choose a different "characters per inch" (CPI) specification from the Mode menu. CPI simply specifies the relative size of the characters: the higher the number of CPI, the smaller the character size.


Apple ImageWriter

An Apple ImageWriter (including the ImageWriter LQ) uses plain text mode to print jobs submitted from DOS. The jobs use the ImageWriter resident font, which produces output something like a line printer. Figure 61 shows a sample configuration for an Apple ImageWriter:

Figure 61
Example PRINTCON Window Showing ImageWriter Configuration

For the ImageWriter configuration, the required values are these:

Print server

(Any)

Device

Apple ImageWriter

Mode

12 CPI

Of course, you can choose a different "characters per inch" (CPI) specification from the Mode menu. CPI simply specifies the relative size of the characters: the higher the number of CPI, the smaller the character size.