This document contains important information about your Apple LaserWriter Printer Software for Mac OS–based computers. You may want to print this document and keep it for future reference. The three main topics are:
• LaserWriter 8 Printer Driver Version 8.6
• Desktop Printer Utility Version 1.1
• Desktop PrintMonitor Version 2.1
LaserWriter 8 Printer Driver Version 8.6
This software includes version 8.6 of the LaserWriter 8 printer driver, which works with PostScript printers. This section contains information about LaserWriter 8 and how to use it with most PostScript printers. LaserWriter 8.6 is supported on Mac OS 7.6.1 or later. LaserWriter 8.6 is supported on all Macintosh computers with a 68040 or PowerPC processor installed.
What’s New in Version 8.6
• IrDA printing
IrDA printing was added to support the HP LaserJet 5MP, HP LaserJet 6MP, and 100% compatible IrDA Printers. This feature is only supported on the Macintosh PowerBook 2400, PowerBook 3400 and PowerBook G3 Series computers. The Macintosh PowerBook 1400, Macintosh PowerBook 5300 and older PowerBooks are not supported.
• ATSUI (Apple Type Services Unicode Imaging)
LaserWriter 8.6 offers direct to PostScript translation of the new Apple Type Services calls. These calls along with LaserWriter 8.6 offer precise placement of glyphs, large character set support using Unicode, and text transformations.
• Partial Font Downloading
LaserWriter 8.6 supports the ability to download partial fonts containing only the glyphs used within a document. This support is for ATSUI and Japanese 2-byte applications. It is currently provided for TrueType fonts only. Other font formats may be supported in the future, depending upon OFA scalers that are made available.
Partial font support is only provided for pure QuickDraw applications. Applications that create their own PostScript will not take advantage of this capability until they are modified.
Partial font downloading occurs only when background printing is enabled. LaserWriter 8 subsets the font when it prints instead of using incremental font downloading.
• Download Manager
This feature allows documents of supported formats to be directly printed without launching the application that created them. Today’s desktop printers are capable of downloading both PostScript and Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) files. This capability is an important feature which we have improved. In LaserWriter 8.6, when downloading a DSC conformant PostScript or EPS file, the new PostScript downloader will supply fonts used but not included in the document or available in the printer. LaserWriter 8.6 includes downloaders for the following file formats: PostScript, Encapsulated PostScript (EPS), PICT, and JPEG. In the future, other document types may be supported. An API has been provided to allow third parties to create plug-ins for other file formats.
If the Download Manager can not handle the file dropped on it, desktop printing will act as it does today; it will launch the application that created the document and ask it to print the document.
• Appearance Manager
In order for LaserWriter 8’s interface elements to better fit with Mac OS 8.x, LaserWriter 8.6 now supports the Mac OS 8.x look and feel (Apple Platinum Appearance). LaserWriter 8.6 now dynamically lays out the popups given the current system font and uses the system’s popup menus.
• ColorSync 2.5 Support
LaserWriter 8.6 uses the new profile iteration routines in ColorSync 2.5.
• Desktop Printing
LaserWriter 8.6 has better integration with the Finder’s desktop printing. LaserWriter 8.6 now spools its documents into the desktop printer folder (resolving aliases) instead of into the Print Monitor Documents folder.
• Navigation Services
LaserWriter 8.6 makes use of Navigation Services APIs for selection of PPDs in Mac OS 8.1 and later. This will improve the look and feel of the PPD selection process.
• PPD File Location
With the release of LaserWriter 8.6, the driver will use the new FindFolder selector ‘ppdf’ that was introduced in Mac OS 8.0. The driver will use this selector to install and find PPDs in the Printer Descriptions folder.
Note: The Printer Descriptions folder is located in different places for different versions of the Mac OS:
System S 7.x System Folder: Extensions: Printer Descriptions
Mac OS 8.0 and 8.1 System Folder: Printer Descriptions (LW 8 looks in
System Folder: Extensions: Printer Descriptions)
Mac OS 8.2 System Folder: Extensions: Printer Descriptions
• Euro Glyph
LaserWriter 8 has always maintained a set of glyphs which, when printed, are pulled from the Symbol font rather than from the font used on the Macintosh. LaserWriter 8.6 adds the new Euro glyph to this set. When an application prints using the Euro glyph in a given font, LaserWriter 8.6 switches to the Symbol font and prints the glyph in that font. PostScript 3 printers have the Euro glyph in the Symbol font and therefore present no special problems. Printers having interpreters prior to PostScript 3 do not contain the Euro glyph and to compensate, LaserWriter 8.6 downloads a Euro glyph character and maps it into the resident Symbol font.
• Transferable Preferences Files
Due to numerous requests from users, LaserWriter 8.6 allows the transfer of preferences files from machine to machine. This means is that you can now create desktop printers on one machine and copy them to other systems for easy system upgrades.
PPD Files
The LaserWriter 8 driver uses PostScript Printer Description (PPD) files to determine the characteristics of the printers it uses. PPD files contain information about individual PostScript printers. For example, PPD files describe the paper-handling capabilities of printers: the number of paper trays, their capacity, and the paper sizes they handle.
To take full advantage of your printer’s features, you need to go through a simple setup procedure. When selecting your printer for the first time, or after installing an additional option, click the Create/Setup button in the DTP Utility or in the Chooser . This procedure causes the LaserWriter driver to query the printer for its characteristics and associate a particular PPD file with the printer.
You can also change your printer's setup by highlighting your desktop printer icon and then selecting Change Setup from the Printing Menu.
If you get an error about the preferences file when you choose an option that is specific to your printer, you may have an outdated PPD file. You should contact the vendor of your printer for an update.
Using English Language Chooser 7.3
on Localized Mac OS Systems
LaserWriter 8 requires Chooser 7.3 or greater. If you have a localized Mac OS system with a Chooser earlier than version 7.3 and you install an English-language version of the printer software, an English-language Chooser 7.3 may be installed. Use Chooser 7.3 or greater to select your target printer.
Working with Language Kits
Before you install the LaserWriter 8.6 printer software onto a system with language kit(s), please check your “Language Kit Additions” folder (this may or may be exist depending on the language kit(s) you installed) in your Extensions folder. Please remove any files whose names contain “LaserWriter” or “PrintLib” in the “Language Kit Additions” folder.
After installing the LaserWriter 8.6 printer software, you may see some scrambled text in the Page Setup or Print dialog boxes. This is purely cosmetic and will not affect the printing functionality.
Creating EPS Files
You can create an encapsulated PostScript (EPS) file in many applications by selecting Save-As-File in the Print dialog box, then clicking Save. When you create an EPS file, note the following:
• Creating EPS files with the All option selected in the Font Inclusion pop-up menu in the EPS dialog box can result in very large files. If you include all fonts in an EPS file and save the file with the Unlimited Downloadable Fonts option selected, you may create an extremely large file.
• If you create an EPS file with no fonts included and open the document, fonts in the document appear on your screen, but Courier may be substituted when you print.
• When you create EPS files with preview information included, other programs that create their own PostScript code may not display the EPS file accurately on the screen.
Using the LaserWriter 8 Driver With the Kanji System
To print Japanese characters using KanjiTalk or the Japanese Language Kit, your system must have WorldScript II version 7.5.1 or later.
Using the LaserWriter 8 Driver With Applications
Some programs do not yet take advantage of the new features of the LaserWriter 8 driver or have small incompatibilities that result in printing problems. If you experience problems with an application, please contact the publisher of the program. In some cases a newer version of the program may be available.
The following section describes some special cases that you should be aware of when working with some applications. There may be other problems with these, or with other programs, not mentioned in this document.
• Foreground vs. Background Printing: LaserWriter 8.6 and greater offer both foreground and background printing. In foreground, the driver doesn't spool the file being printed. An application may fail when printing in the foreground if the application assumes the driver will make a spool file.
If you experience problems with foreground printing, change to background printing and try again.
• With many programs, you cannot use the Flip Horizontal, Flip Vertical, landscape page orientation, and Layout option in the Page Setup dialog box in combination.
• Some programs may print in color even when Black and White mode is selected.
• Tray Selection: Applications that don't utilize LaserWriter 8's capabilities have some limitations with tray selection when printing from the Finder. To work around these problems, print from within the application and contact the vendor of this application.
• Avoiding Conflicts with Application Print Options
Some applications provide their own printing options by adding checkboxes, buttons, or fields to dialog boxes. In the LaserWriter 8.6 printer software, these options are found in the application panes in the Page Setup and Print dialog boxes, accessible through the pop-up menus. A conflict can occur when these options are also provided by the LaserWriter 8.6 printer software. When the printer software and the application try to perform the same function, the results can be unexpected. If you are not getting the results you expected when setting certain options such as scaling or paper size, try setting the options in the application panes.
Desktop Printer Utility Version 1.1
Mac OS Systems Supported by Version 1.1
Desktop Printer Utility is a new way to make Desktop Printer icons. You can use Desktop Printer Utility on Mac OS 7.5 through Mac OS 7.6.1, OS 8.1 and beyond.
Unexpected Error on Launch
If you receive an "unexpected error" when launching the Desktop Printer Utility, please be sure the "Shared Library Manager" or "Shared Library Manager PPC" (for a Power PPC-based Macintosh) files are turned ON in the Extensions Manager and restart your computer before running the application.
Desktop PrintMonitor Version 2.1
New Features in Version 2.1
• Desktop PrintMonitor 2.1 adds support for the Desktop Printer Utility.
System Software Requirements for Desktop Printing
Desktop printing requires System 7.1.1 or later of the Mac OS. If you have System 7.0 or earlier and you want to use desktop printing, you can upgrade your Mac OS–based computer to use a later version of system software. Contact your Apple-authorized dealer.
Printing with Multiple Desktop Printers
To avoid AppleTalk errors, print to no more than five desktop printers simultaneously.
Using Desktop PrintMonitor on a Non-English System
If no desktop printer icon appears after you install the printer software, it may mean the Installer installed PrintMonitor 7.1.2 and did not install the Desktop PrintMonitor. This will depend on the version of system software in your computer.
PrintMonitor 7.1.2 is installed if you have an earlier version of the PrintMonitor. Later versions of the PrintMonitor are not replaced.
You have three options:
• Use PrintMonitor 7.1.2 (or a later version).
• Upgrade your system software to System 7.5.1 and install the printing software again.
An English language version of the Desktop PrintMonitor software is installed.
• Obtain a set of installation disks for the printer software in the language of your system software from your
Apple-authorized dealer and install it. (This software might not be available in all languages.)
Desktop Printer Icons Appear Inactive
When switching Mac OS systems, Desktop Printers may appear inactive when they should be active. This can be resolved by rebuilding the desktop printer database. The desktop printer database can be rebuilt by restarting your Macintosh with the Command and Option keys pressed down until the 'Rebuilding Desktop' progress dialog appears.
Using the Desktop Printer Menu and the Printer Selector Control Strip
The desktop printer menu extension can be installed using the Custom Install option.
The Desktop Printer menu appears on the right-hand side of your menu bar. This menu lists the names of all active desktop printers. A check mark is displayed next to the name of the default printer. Selecting the name of a printer from this list makes the printer the new default.
The Printer Selector control strip module is installed only on computers that already have control strip software installed. The Printer Selector adds an item to the control strip that provides functionality identical to the Desktop Printer menu.
Support and Compatibility Information
• Some third-party printers do not support desktop printing. If your printer is not an Apple product, and no desktop printer icon is created after you select your printer in the Chooser, it is likely that your printer does not support Desktop PrintMonitor. Please contact the vendor of your printer to see if there is a version of the driver that is compatible with Desktop PrintMonitor.
• When you choose Save or Open in your applications, you will see your desktop printers listed as if they were folders, but you should not save or open any documents in them. If you do, you will not be able to access your documents.
• Desktop PrintMonitor supports drag-and-drop printing for all files that cause the Print Command in the File menu to become enabled. Since clipping files do not enable the Print command, drag-and-drop printing is not supported for them.
• Apple’s Fax Sender software is not supported by Desktop PrintMonitor. Fax Sender is fully functional when Desktop PrintMonitor is installed. However, it does not get the benefit of Desktop PrintMonitor’s features. When you select Fax Sender in the Chooser you will not have a default desktop printer until you choose a printer icon and select “Set Default Printer” from the Printing menu.
• Spool files and desktop printers must use the same version of the LaserWriter 8 driver. You may encounter errors if you drag spool files that were created with one version of LaserWriter 8 to a desktop printer created with another version of the LaserWriter 8 driver.
Tips for Desktop Printing Troubleshooting
If No default desktop printer appears on your desktop
• Problem: After installing the LaserWriter software, you no longer have a default desktop printer. This situation may occur if you do a Easy Install followed by a Custom Install of the LaserWriter software.
Solution: To fix this problem, click on the desktop printer icon that you want to be the default desktop printer. Then, from the Printing menu, select Set Default Printer.
If Desktop printer cannot be found
• Problem: When you try to print, your spool files are moved to the Trash and an alert is displayed saying that the desktop printer could not be found.
• Solution: There are two likely solutions to this problem. First, it is possible that your desktop printer has somehow become damaged. To fix this, drag the desktop printer icon to the Trash and reselect the printer in the Chooser. A new desktop printer icon will be created.
Second, your printer software may not be using a file format that is completely compatible with Desktop PrintMonitor. If your printer software is not published by either Apple Computer or Adobe Systems, it is possible that it is not making proper and legitimate use of PrintMonitor. If this is the case, your printer software will not work properly with Desktop PrintMonitor. The only resolution to this problem is to disable Desktop PrintMonitor and use old PrintMonitor. To print the documents you were working on follow these steps:
1. Empty the Trash.
2. Go to the Chooser and turn off background printing.
3. Print documents again.
To correct desktop printing:
4. Drag the desktop printer to the Trash.
5. Go to the Chooser and turn background printing back on.
6. Create a new desktop printer.
If "Not enough memory" message appears when dragging files to desktop printer
• Problem: When you drag documents created by different software applications to your desktop printer icon, a message is displayed indicating that there is not enough memory to continue.
• Solution: You may not have enough memory available to launch all of the software applications corresponding to the documents you have selected. You can resolve this situation by printing your documents individually or in smaller groups.
If Options are dimmed in Printing menu
• Problem: “Get Printer Info” and “Change Setup” appear in your Printing menu, but can’t be selected.
• Solution: These are two new functions supported by LaserWriter v8.4 and greater. If these or other items in the menu appear dimmed and cannot be selected, it is because you are using a version of the LaserWriter 8 printing software that doesn’t support their respective functions.
