Printing and Graphics Architecture Update

CONTENTS

Mac OS Unified Printing Architecture

GX Printer Drivers and GX Printing Extensions No Longer Supported

Beginning with Mac OS 8.0, Apple will be simplifying the user experience of printing by unifying the architecture and standardizing on the classic Printing Manager. We plan to deliver a system which incorporates QuickDraw GX graphics and typography only. For printing, classic Printing Manager printer drivers will be used when printing from GX applications (by using the GXCodec). GX printer drivers and GX printing extensions will not be supported in Mac OS 8.0 or in future Mac OS releases. Over time, we will continue to enhance Apple's classic printer drivers to interpret GX shapes; a future version of LaserWriter 8 will translate GX shapes to PostScript, but no further changes are required for the StyleWriter driver.

For applications which work in both the GX and classic printing environments, no changes to the classic printing code will be necessary. However, we recommend that developers check the GX Gestalt selectors since QuickDraw GX printing will no longer be installed.

For QuickDraw GX applications which depend on GX printing, minor changes will be necessary. A transition Technote will be available shortly at Apple's Developer World Wide Web site at the following URL:

<http://developer.apple.com/technotes/index.html>

Mac OS X Printing Architecture

We are currently investigating Mac OS X's printing architecture and we will communicate with you again as soon as more information is available.