, will modify your existing geoLaser & geoPubLaser files to allow them to save PostScript files to disk, which can then be dumped to an Apple LaserWriter.
Once the programs are patched, they will no longer be able to send the files directly to the LaserWriter - they will ALWAYS save to disk, so I recommend you don't run this on your original copies. Also, tacking a ".ps" onto the end of the filename would be a good idea so you know which version is the original and which will save the PS files. (PS=PostScript)
The new versions of geoPubLaser/geoLaser will now work with any combination of disk drives. They can be run from either drive 8 or 9, and the drive it saves to can be a RAM disk if you like. You can now run this with a 1-drive setup. MANY THANKS to Bill Coleman whose Single Byte Disk Interface routine (available on his BlasterPak 1 disk, for $10.95 from Bill, a great disk!) made it all possible. It now uses all GEOS routines, unlike the first version which used Commodore DOS routines.
To use this, run the PS.Patch program. To patch the files, select the "patch" menu. Then select either geoPubLaser or geoLaser. After you select one, you will see another menu with "PS on Drive 8" and "PS on Drive 9". This lets you select which drive geoPubLaser/geoLaser will save the PostScript files to. If you have a one drive system, select Drive 8. This info actually goes right in the patched programs, so it's permanent. (Unless you re-patch them of course!)
Note that the files will be saved MUCH faster if they are saved to the same drive they're being printed from. If using both drives, it has to keep swapping the BAM in and out. It stores the temporary BAM in the Video Color Matrix, so the screen will change colors if you're using both drives. (Don't worry, it will be reset it's done!) Also, the border will not flash at all in this new version - you'll see the drive light flickering to let you know it's working. (Or if you're using a RAM disk, turn up the volume on your monitor and you might hear the DMA's!) Sorry about that, but it was a tight fit getting everything in!
The files created will be in the form "PS.xxxxx" where xxxxx is the name of the file you're printing. (i.e. if you printed "hi there", the PS file would be "PS.hi there".) If a file already exists on the disk, ANOTHER version will be created with the same filename! You can delete the old one from deskTop.
Guess that's about it. Watch out for those PS files - they can get VERY BIG. After they're written, you can either dump them over a modem, or convert them to MS-DOS format, whatever you want. Just dump them straight out to a LaserWriter, DON'T run them through a word-processor - it's NOT word-processor data! And DON'T CONVERT THE FILES!!! They're already True ASCII format - just convert them STRAIGHT.
This program is shareware. If you like it, please send a donation ($5-$10, whatever) to:
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