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From: tj@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu (Terry Jones)
Date: Wed, 16-Dec-87 14:18:57 EST
Message-ID: <1987Dec16.141857.8828@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu>
Organization: University of Toronto Computing Services
Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript
Subject: Re: Problem with printing large PostScript files
Summary: exitserver users can corrupt!!!
References: <3203@vdsvax.steinmetz.UUCP>
Reply-To: tj@gpu.utcs.UUCP (Terry Jones)
Distribution: na
Keywords: PoscScript LaserWriter exitserver

If a program uses the exitserver then it most certainly can gobble up
printer ram and cause other applications to fail.

In fact, the one application that you mention (Microsoft Word) DOES
use exitserver to permanently leave its preamble code in there. The
preamble stays around from job to job. 

Micrcomputer applications code writers are very selfish people that 
assume that when they are printing to the printer THEY ARE THE ONE AND
ONLY USER of that printer.

Now I am about to slam Microsoft a bit, but don't get me wrong. Their stuff
does some things very well.

Their PostScript code preamble is only sent the first time you print
to the device. Fine as long as it stays around. If you power off the
printer (then on again!!!) and print WITHOUT exiting Word (direct attached
PostScript device) then Word thinks the device KNOWS the preamble so
it doesn't send it. The output fails. The printer sees junk cause the
preamble is missing.

Their preamble doesn't follow even the minimum of the comment conventions.

WordPerfect is the worst. They send extended ASCII codes. Bitch to send across
a network. Also the printer has to be changed from factory settings of parity
ignored to parity none. This recently cause 35MM express to fail cause they
(stupidly) send stuff out at even parity. Would have worked at factory
settings (parity bit ignored) but because we set the printer to work with
WordPerfect the parity bit is assumed as a real character and is
seen as an unimplimented command and causes a PostScript Error.

Well, you get the drift and if anyone wants more horror stories then
call me.

P.S. A long letter to WordPerfect about their crummy code got me nothing!!!

Their reply was in the form (verbal) of fixed in the next release for a
couple of simple things and future consideration for most and will not
do for others.

Until we complain they will do nothing. Write the vendor.
tj
.