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OS/2 Shareware BBS: 8 Other
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1988-05-23
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PSD.EXE --
PSD is a simple utility that wraps a PostScript envelope around
an ASCII file so that it can be printed on a PostScript printer,
such as the Apple LaserWriter. It is not intended to provide
elegant formatting. Rather, it serves as a simple method to
print ASCII files, such as program listings.
The .EXE file included here is a bound application. It will run
in either DOS 3.x or OS/2. The .CMD file contains the compile,
link, and bind commands for my system. Of course, the source
can be compiled and linked under either DOS or OS/2, if you prefer.
A predecessor program, LWP, included async I/O support and
XON/XOFF flow control, required by early LaserWriters. (The
PRINT spooler in DOS cannot handle XON/XOFF control.) Under
OS/2 the MODE command can invoke the XON/XOFF flow control (most
new LaserWriters don't need this, they use DTR flow control) and
output directed to a parallel printer port (LPTn) can be
redirected to a COM port through SPOOL.
I use this program when I need to print a group of files, either
in the DOS box or in OS/2. By starting PSD in OS/2 mode and
then switching screen groups the formatting and printing proceed
without intervention, while I go on with my work. In my system
I have SPOOL set up on LPT2, redirected to COM1. The PSD
program looks for an environment variable, PSD=, to tell it
where to send its output. Although the variable can define a
filename (it's simply inserted in an fopen() statement), I have
it defined as PSD=LPT2. Thus, the output, in either OS/2 or DOS
mode, is handed to the SPOOL.
The usage for PSD is reasonably straightforward for simple
printing: the program name is followed by a list of files to
print. The filename(s) may include wildcards. Options are
provided for limited format control. To get a list of the
options, run PSD without a filename parameter.
One little glitch: PSD inserts an EOD at the end of the print
data stream. The OS/2 SPOOL does not seem to pass this along to
the printer. Thus, the LaserWriter keeps looking for additional
input (the yellow "busy" light flashes) until it times out. If
the LaserWriter gets confused, then it may discard all incoming
data looking for an EOD signal. The result will be that the
print data will be lost. Presuming that you haven't erased it
yet (!!!), you can reprint it. Also, because SPOOL was designed
to support devices that don't talk back, such as parallel
printers, error messages from the LaserWriter are ignored. You
won't know when it's out of paper unless you look at it.
Compiled in MSC 5.1. Tested under IBM OS/2 1.0.
I hope that you find this little utility as useful as I do. If
you encounter any difficulties, please let me know.
May 23, 1988
Roger Loeb, MarTech, 3457 Iris Court, Boulder, CO 80302 (303) 447-0832
Compuserv: 74666,355
BIX: rogloeb