Tip of the month from PRC
December 1996

Using Printer-files from Windows

Revised 1 December 1996:
Network printer problem solved
Info from Legend Communications, Inc.
Tip of the month is edited by Peter Ring, PRC (Peter Ring Consultants, Denmark)
- consultants on how to write user friendly manuals

Do you use a bookprinter using a photosetter?

Then - in most cases - the safest way is to send him printer-files, colour separated if you use colours. This is especially the case when he is to use using colour separations, either for 4-colour printing or for e.g. printing a logo colour.

You make a printer file by

  1. Install your printer's photosetter (or one which is compatible with it), setting the "port" to "FILE" instead of for example "LPT1:" (the parallel port).
  2. Select the printer as the photosetter to FILE, and print the document (or page(s)). The printer file should be given the extension ".PRN". Don't forget to note down or control the directory where the .PRN file is placed.
  3. You can now send the .PRN file to the bookprinter on a disk, Syquest, home-made CD-ROM, or as an e-mail attachment. They normally compress very well with ZIP or equivalent, typically 3 to 20 times compression.

Some programmes and platforms has special procedures to be considered when printing to a file. A list covering a large number of these is available from Legend Communications, Inc. (Makers of PostScript and Imposition Software) website on http://www.legendcomm.com/support/pdisk.htm . Thanks to Averil Strauss, Legend Communications, Inc. for this information.

How to check the printer files with a PostScript printer

1. Make a DOS scriptfile with the following content:

    @echo off
    COPY /B %1 LPT1:

and save it as e.g. PRN-PRT.BAT in a suitable directory, e.g. C:/DOS.
If your printer port is not LPT1: insert the correct printer port instead.

If it is a network PS printer, insert the name of the virtual drive for that printer, e.g. "LPT2:"
2. In the Windows 3.x File Manager, or the Window 95 Explorer, "attach" the PRN-PRT.BAT scriptfile to ".PRN" files.

With Windows 95, the DOS-window don't close automatically. Open the "Properties" box of the DOS window (if you have a full DOS screen, start with Alt-Space) and mark the "Close at termination" field.
3. When you want to check a .PRN file, either the final result, or just to see if the colour separations seems to work correctly:

    a. Print the document to file with the bookprinter's photosetter driver.
    b. In the Windows 3.x File Manager, or the Window 95 Explorer, doubleclick on the .PRN file you want to see.

A true copy of the colour separated films on your local PS printer. The only exception from true is very thin lines and image screen dots which will be reproduced best possible with your printer.

Note: The printer must be a PostScript printer, otherwise it will not work at all!

If you disagree with these ideas - or have other relevant points or ideas +/-, please e-mail me !
Ideas for new "Tip of the month" subjects are very welcome, too!

Go to last month's tip .
Go to a list of old tips .
Return to the User Friendly Manuals' homepage .