ShootThemLater
asked on
Printing PostScript files to a line printer
OK, I'm not trying to do this personally, but I'm being badgered by someone who is... User has a PostScript file of what is actually a pretty simple report (straight text, no graphics) and they want to print it out, under VMS, to a line printer.
PostScript printer not available (unless anyone knows of a PS line printer :-). Likewise, a plain text version of this report is also not available (due to a combination of limitations in the way the report writing software exports data and the fact that the MS Generic Text driver doesn't support Landscape mode).
I know it's not trivial to convert PS to text, so I'm guessing that the most likely answer to this is going to be "can't do it". If someone *does* know how to, I'll bump up the points appropriately...
Alternatively, does anyone know of a generic text only Windows printer driver that supports Landscape? An answer to either question will solve the problem...
PostScript printer not available (unless anyone knows of a PS line printer :-). Likewise, a plain text version of this report is also not available (due to a combination of limitations in the way the report writing software exports data and the fact that the MS Generic Text driver doesn't support Landscape mode).
I know it's not trivial to convert PS to text, so I'm guessing that the most likely answer to this is going to be "can't do it". If someone *does* know how to, I'll bump up the points appropriately...
Alternatively, does anyone know of a generic text only Windows printer driver that supports Landscape? An answer to either question will solve the problem...
ASKER
The bit about a PS line printer was a joke - hence the smiley. My question was whether there was any way of taking a PS file and outputting it in plain text, with rudimentary formatting (we're talking tab seperated columns and rows here).
As I noted, I'm aware that it's not trivial to extract a text representation of a PS file, but it's not impossible. I'll clarify my question: has anyone done this or come across it?
Using custom page dimensions is fine in theory - and was one of the first things tried - but the software being used to generate the output doesn't like this and can't be pursuaded to generate correct output in that case.
As I noted, I'm aware that it's not trivial to extract a text representation of a PS file, but it's not impossible. I'll clarify my question: has anyone done this or come across it?
Using custom page dimensions is fine in theory - and was one of the first things tried - but the software being used to generate the output doesn't like this and can't be pursuaded to generate correct output in that case.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Instead of trying to turn the page to LANDSCAPE, just diddle with the page dimensions and make the page 11" WIDE and only 8-1/2" high. This prints on a landscape page without requiring sending a "rotate to landscape" command.
M