Working with Print Device Definitions

If your application does not have the print driver for your printer, NetWare supplies print device definitions for many common printers.


Purpose of Print Device Definitions

Print device definitions are sets of functions and modes found in files with .PDF extensions that correspond to printers, plotters, and other peripherals.

The major functions of these definitions is to ensure that the job is printed properly and that the printer is left in a known state after completing a print job.

Printer functions (also referred to as control sequences, escape sequences or printer commands ) give instructions to the printer. Print device definitions contain the necessary control sequences for such items as boldface type, underlining, rest, and other printer controls.

To define a printer's functions, you enter control sequences or printer commands into the print device database. To do this, you need the technical reference manual that came with your printer.

Print device definitions do not necessarily represent the full functionality of the printer. A print device definition can be modified to change the functions the machine will actually perform.

NOTE:  Print device definitions are used by print job configurations. You must create and use a print job configuration to specify a print device mode for print jobs. See Working with Print Job Configurations

To see the print device definitions included in NetWare, change to the SYS:PUBLIC directory and type

NDIR *.pdf <Enter>


Creating Print Device Definitions

If your printers are not included among the definitions provided with your application or with NetWare, you need to create your own definitions consisting of functions and modes for each printer you will be using.

You can use the Print Devices page for the Organization or Organizational Unit dialog to create a new print device definition. The correct escape sequences are normally found in your printer's documentation.


Procedure

  1. From the browser's Object menu for the Organization or Organizational unit, choose Details.

    2.

  2. At the Object dialog, select the Print Devices page.

    The Print Devices page appears.

    3.

  3. Choose Create.

    The Create New Device window appears similar to the following figure.

    Figure 26
    Create New Device Window

    4.

  4. Enter a device name in the Name field.

    You can use up to 32 characters. The name must begin with alphabetic character. Spaces are allowed in the name.

    5.

  5. Choose OK.

    The name of the print device you entered is added to the list. You will need to use Modify to define functions and modes for this print device before using it.

    6.

Viewing or Modifying Print Device Definitions

The following procedure is used to modify an existing print device definition that was previously created. You can add, change, or delete the existing functions and modes that are defined for this print device.

You can also change the name of the print device, and the name of any of the print device's functions or modes.

A function is an action that the printer can perform, such as creating bold text or using proportional spacing.

A mode is a combination of functions that you define to prepare the printer for specific printing needs. For example, you might define a print mode called Title that includes functions for bold, double-wide, and letter-quality printing.


Procedure

  1. From the browser's Object menu for the Organization or Organizational unit, choose Details.

    2.

  2. At the Object dialog, select the Print Devices page.

    The Print Devices page appears. A list of existing print device definitions is displayed in the Name field.

    3.

  3. Highlight the print device definition you want to modify.

    4.

  4. Select Modify.

    The Modify Existing Device page appears similar to the following figure.

    Figure 27
    Modify Existing Device Page

    5.

  5. Complete the fields and options as needed:

    • Name Shows the name of this print device.

      •

    • Functions Shows the functions that have been entered for this print device. These include all of the capabilities of this print device, such as compressed or letter-quality printing.

      •

    • Modes Shows the modes that have been entered for this print device. A mode is a combination of functions that you define to serve a specific printing need.

      •

    • Create Function Allows you to add a function to the Functions list. See Creating or Modifying Print Device Functions in the next section.

      •

    • Create Mode Allows you to define a new mode and add it to the Modes list.

      •

    • Modify Allows you to change the selected mode or function by adding or removing functions or control sequences, respectively, from its definition.

      •

    • Delete Deletes the selected mode or function. The functions that were a part of a selected mode are not affected; they are still part of the print device definition.

      •

  6. Make the desired changes and select OK.

    7.

Creating or Modifying Print Device Functions

This feature allows you to enter a name and the necessary control sequences to define or modify a print device function. The necessary control sequences (also called control codes or escape sequences) are described in the operator's manual of your printer.

A function is an action that the print device can perform, such as bold text or proportional spacing. You cause the print device to perform the function by sending control codes to the print device.

When you select the Create Function page of the Modify Print Device dialog, the name of the print device is at the top of the page.


Procedure

  1. Enter a name for the function you wish to modify or create in the Function Name field.

    You can use any name that you want to, but you should choose names that represent the printer's actions. Function names must be unique (no two names can be the same) and no longer than 32 characters. Function names are not case sensitive. You can use both letters and numbers.

    For detailed information on naming and defining print device functions, use onlineHelp.

    2.

  2. Enter the characters used by this printer as a control sequence to engage this function.

    If a character in the control sequence has an ASCII value less than 33 or equal to 127, the character is displayed as a delimited acronym, as listed below. If the character's ASCII value is greater than 127, it is displayed as a delimited ASCII value. The value is a decimal number.

    The space character can be entered as a space or as a delimited token. A space is displayed as a delimited token.

    Except for delimited tokens, characters in a function follow the used as is rule. This means that the characters you see displayed are the actual characters that make up the function.

    Detailed information on creating and modifying functions can be found in Help.

    3.

  3. Choose OK.

    You return to the Modify Existing Device dialog. The function that you entered is listed in the Functions list.

    4.

Importing Print Device Definitions

The print device definition Import feature allows you to import a definition for a new print device into the device database so that can be used by objects in this container. A definition consists of a name, functions, and modes.

With NetWare, Novell ships a set of commonly used .PDF files, which are found in the SYS:PUBLIC directory. In order to use these definitions in your job configurations, they must be imported.

Import allows you to use an existing definition without re-entering all of the functions and modes. You may import a definition that was provided with NetWare or that was created for another container.

You can import a print device definition by using the following procedure.


Procedure

  1. From the browser's Object menu for the Organization or Organizational unit, choose Details.

    2.

  2. At the Object dialog, select the Print Devices page.

    The Print Devices page appears, similar to the following figure.

    Figure 28
    Print Devices Page

    3.

  3. Choose Import.

    The print device definition File Open dialog, similar to the following figure, appears with a list of print device definitions (.PDF files) available in your current directory.

    Figure 29
    File Open Dialog

    4.

  4. Use the Files selection list to locate the file for the print device definition that you want to import.

    The file extension .PDF is used for print device definition files.

    5.

  5. Select the filename that corresponds to the printer you want to import into the device database, and then press OK.

    The print device definition is added to the Print Devices list box, and the definition contained in the file can now be used by objects in this container.

    6.

Exporting Print Device Definitions

This feature allows you to export a definition for a print device from a database in one container so that it can be imported for use in databases in other containers without re-entering all functions and modes.

Use the following procedure to export a print device definition.


Procedure

  1. Select a print device definition from the Print Devices window.

    2.

  2. Choose Export.

    The File Save As window appears.

    3.

  3. Find the directory where you want to create a file containing this print device definition.

    The file extension .PDF is used for print device definition files.

    The name of the print device is used as the filename when you export a definition. All spaces are removed and the first eight characters of the print device are used.

    4.

  4. Choose OK.

    The print device definition is saved with the same filename as the definition that is listed. All functions and modes are included in the definition.

The definition can now be imported to a database in another container.



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