Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!peregrine!elroy!ames!ucsd!sdcc6!sdacs!wade
From: wade@sdacs.ucsd.EDU (Wade Blomgren)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: New (6.0.2) Laserwriter Postscript problems?
Summary: LaserPrep differences
Keywords: laser printer postscript 6.0.2
Message-ID: <59@sdacs.ucsd.EDU>
Date: 28 Nov 88 17:39:10 GMT
References: <1815@cadre.dsl.PITTSBURGH.EDU>
Organization: UCSD Academic Computing Services
Lines: 36

In article <1815@cadre.dsl.PITTSBURGH.EDU>, 
jas@cadre.dsl.PITTSBURGH.EDU (Jeffrey A. Sullivan) writes:

> I just upgraded my Mac II system to system 6.0.2.  I put the new
> laserwriter module (version 5.2, system 6.0.2 release). in, and printed
> ... I did my usual cmd-F in the print dialog, and got just a non-prepended 
> postscript file, which I then uploaded to my
> local vax, copied the mac.pro prefix file into the front and lasered
> it off... only to find it didn't work.  Kept getting an "offending
> command: get" message from the printer.
> 
> Is there a new mac prefix file for postscript to print on other laser
> printers?  If so, could someone tell me where it get it?

A particular "prefix" file, also known as "Laser Prep" or the Apple Postscript
Dictionary, is (potentially) tied directly to a particular version of the
LaserWriter Driver.  This is definitely true in the case of the 5.2 driver.
You need to have an appropriate "prefix" file available on your VAX in
order for printing to work properly.  The Dictionary which comes with the
5.2 drivers is titled "Appledict 68"...you probably have an older version
on your VAX.  Unfortunately you cannot just upload your LaserPrep file to
the VAX...it needs to be captured with cmd-K and then modified slightly so
that it does not try to "interact" with the laser printer and become semi-
permanent, but rather downloads itself temporarily just for use with your
document.   A program available on SUMEX called prepfix (part of something
called "MacPS") will automate the modification of Laser Prep files
captured with cmd-K.  You or your VAX administrator will need to install
the new Appledict...You may need to keep the old Appledict "prefix" file
around until all Macs at your location have been upgraded to the 5.2 driver.

Wade Blomgren
wade@sdacs.ucsd.edu

ps. Prepfix, by Edward Moy at Berkeley,  really does seem to work - If anybody 
is interested in seeing it (or the whole MacPS package) posted, let me know 
and I will submit it.