[WinPrnDev] Re: Creating a Printer Driver
- From: Sam Elamin <hussam_88@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <winprndev@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2010 14:22:54 +0000
Hey All
Here is another question I have been pondering with for awhile, once a job is
printed and spooled, is there any way to change its job properties?
For example from colour to mono?
RegardsSam
> Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:02:58 +0100
> Subject: [WinPrnDev] Re: Creating a Printer Driver
> From: clinton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> To: winprndev@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Hi Sam,
>
> YUP, I would always agree on first using a generic approach to things. The
> Driver can always evolve to be more feature rich i.e 2-UP, Copies etc at a
> later stage. Creating a PDF file is pretty simple if you consider using
> some very successful tools out there i.e. GhostScript. At this stage
> unless commercial you don't want to, learning transformation techniques
> could take some time.
>
> RedMon which is a portmonitor/redirector was designed around GhostScript
> and so references are everywhere. Also, GhostScript have started
> developing an XPS to PDF if required BUT this is still early development
> and still much to do.
>
> Unfortunately, you have entered the "Dark Side", no documentation or very
> little... Searching every google thread to see if you can piece it all
> together. I suppose we have all done this over the years and only
> experience has allowed us to succeed. BUT once you get your head around
> it, there really isn't much else that can't be understood.
>
> Have Fun!
> Cheers
> Clinton
>
> >
> > Clinton
> > You raise some very interesting points, the major pro that has me bias to
> > XPS is that it is well documented and developing a driver for it will be
> > the path of least resistance.But thanks to the knowledgeable people of
> > this forum it sees the driver isnt uploading the document but in reality
> > its the port monitor that does this.
> > And exporting it to MAC/Linex is very important so since most printers
> > that handle Postscript can handle PCL, I am just tempted to go down the
> > PostScript path. Also if a site has no printers that handle Postscript I
> > can always just convert them to PDF.
> >
> > So maybe just write a PDF printer driver if I can but if its a steep
> > learning curve then a simple post script driver and let the port monitor
> > do the uploading for me.
> > I can start by supporting a generic HP PostScript driver as a first
> > stepping stone to get my head around the print driver world
> >
> > Does that seem reasonable ?
> > RegardsSam
> >> Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:09:03 +0100
> >> Subject: [WinPrnDev] Re: Creating a Printer Driver
> >> From: clinton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> To: winprndev@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>
> >> Hi Sam,
> >> Another good reference.
> >> http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/ps/index_specs.html
> >>
> >> Converting PostScript to PDF is a simple task you could make use of
> >> GhostScript. I did develop a PS to PDF and PDF to PS as commercially it
> >> was required so not sure on the performance, BUT do know it was a great
> >> reference for me in the past as to how things work in the world of
> >> PostScript and other graphical formats.
> >>
> >> As for PortMonitor I would suggest using REDMON if you don't plan to
> >> develop one. The concept of a monitor is actually quite simple and
> >> probably the easier part of things once you get your head around it.
> >>
> >> Now XPS and PostScript are two completely different things and both have
> >> their pros and cons. I don't want to start a which is best argument, BUT
> >> PostScript has already been ported and native to the world of
> >> LINUX,MAC,WINDOWS,UNIX. It is also very easy to convert to PDF and back
> >> again. XPS is new kid on the block and where I think it succeeds is
> >> providing a XML representation of data. BUT this is also its limitation.
> >> Describing Font outlines in XML is impossible so relies on either the
> >> font
> >> been native on the other side or embedding a large ammount of Font info
> >> and then it needs to be translated first before been handled by a RIP.
> >>
> >> What has been done though is the problem of how it works ( Printer
> >> Driver
> >> that is ), has been removed. But then you could quite easily just
> >> install
> >> a PostScript Driver.
> >>
> >> Hope it helps!
> >> Clinton
> >> >
> >> > Hey Clinton
> >> > Sorry for the late reply but Iw as rebuilding my PC with Windows 7
> >> because
> >> > I heard that it is better as a printer driver building enviroment.
> >> > I have read your email and have a few questions:
> >> > 1) Did you use WDK to develop your driver? Did you write your driver
> >> > yourself?
> >> > 2) How do I start devloping this PostScript parser? and since its
> >> > Postscript does it mean that I wont be ableto print to PCL drivers? Or
> >> > willconverting it to PDF do the trick?
> >> > 3) I have no idea what you mean by using Port monitors, is there any
> >> > reference I can go back to and learn from?
> >> > 4) I think for testing purposes we might have to assume no errors and
> >> get
> >> > the actual driver working before installing checks to look for errors
> >> > I just feel really lost and overwhelmed, where is the best place to
> >> start?
> >> > RegardsSam
> >> > From: clinton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> > To: winprndev@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> > Subject: [WinPrnDev] Re: Creating a Printer Driver
> >> > Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2010 10:32:58 +0100
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Hi
> >> > Sam,
> >> > I'm doing this off the
> >> > tail end of what seems like a long discussion.
> >> > Not sure if you have
> >> > your answer yet but might have a few design ideas for you.
> >> > What you are trying to
> >> > achieve has been done before and is possible.
> >> > Back in 2002 I was faced
> >> > with a similar issue. Getting a document off the client PC and sending
> >> it
> >> > round
> >> > the world to an unknown print server.
> >> > The solution is a
> >> > combination of technologies that each do their own part..
> >> >
> >> > 1.) I used a PostScript
> >> > print driver ( Generic PPD will do the job ) that pass the print
> >> stream
> >> > onto a
> >> > portmonitor ( this gives you the control to assign to random filename
> >> and
> >> > pass
> >> > onto the next module either WebService or in my case a socket service
> >> > client ).
> >> >
> >> > THINGS TO
> >> > REMEMBER:
> >> > If you are to allow for
> >> > duplex, orientation, colour etc, then you will need to gather this
> >> info
> >> > and
> >> > "drag" it along. I developed a PostScript parser that drives through
> >> the
> >> > spool
> >> > file ( PostScript ) extracts these bits and then passes this with the
> >> file
> >> > along
> >> > ( make use of network sockets and send as parameters or HASH index - a
> >> > WenService or Socket listener would need to manage these parameters ).
> >> OR
> >> > in the world of WebServices pass over an XML stream that can be
> >> > managed.
> >> >
> >> > On the "Server" side
> >> > either convert to a generic format i.e. PDF which then can be
> >> converted
> >> > over to
> >> > MOST printer specific languages
> >> >
> >> > 2.) Develop a
> >> > portmonitor that manages the spoolfile and controls calling the
> >> "service
> >> > client"
> >> > either webservice or sockets. Remember to remove the file and close
> >> > portinfo
> >> > thus removing the JOB off the print queue.
> >> >
> >> > 3.) The bigest problem
> >> > with transmitting data around is that we forget about the wonderful
> >> worl
> >> > of
> >> > TCP/IP packets and ERROR checking. What happens if network goes down
> >> > during
> >> > transmission, do I restart, fail, notify user or cycle through a
> >> number of
> >> > socket trying to establish connection.
> >> >
> >> > Hope this helps for
> >> > starters.
> >> > Clinton
> >> > Bessesen
> >> > check out www.pdqit.com
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > _________________________________________________________________
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> >>
> >>
> >> ---
> >> Questions? First check the UndocPrint pages at
> >> http://www.undocprint.org/winspool
> >>
> >> To unsubscribe, visit the List Server page at
> >> //www.freelists.org/list/winprndev
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Do you have a story that started on Hotmail? Tell us now
> > http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/195013117/direct/01/
>
>
> ---
> Questions? First check the UndocPrint pages at
> http://www.undocprint.org/winspool
>
> To unsubscribe, visit the List Server page at
> //www.freelists.org/list/winprndev
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