Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
PDF printer driver for MacOS 7.5ish?
1 view
Skip to first unread message
David Schmidt
May 1, 2013, 9:14:32 AM5/1/13
to
These days, I can get around the lack of a 'universal file format' by
having a PDF-producing printer driver. No matter what the program
produces, I can "print" it to a virtual PDF printer driver and get a PDF
file as output.
Age-old MacOS programs can sometimes be convinced to save-as, say, RTF
that is reasonably well supported in the modern world. But not all
programs can. Is there a similar concept in a virtual printer driver
for MacOS 7.5? I have a machine that I would really like to keep at
that level for some particularly far-reaching backwards compatibility
reasons, and the ability to fairly universally export visible results
would be great.
I do have such a setup in a MacOS 9.2 sandbox on a G4, but it's not the
same thing... Classic doesn't successfully run some of the oldest
software I have a need for.
having a PDF-producing printer driver. No matter what the program
produces, I can "print" it to a virtual PDF printer driver and get a PDF
file as output.
Age-old MacOS programs can sometimes be convinced to save-as, say, RTF
that is reasonably well supported in the modern world. But not all
programs can. Is there a similar concept in a virtual printer driver
for MacOS 7.5? I have a machine that I would really like to keep at
that level for some particularly far-reaching backwards compatibility
reasons, and the ability to fairly universally export visible results
would be great.
I do have such a setup in a MacOS 9.2 sandbox on a G4, but it's not the
same thing... Classic doesn't successfully run some of the oldest
software I have a need for.
Tester
May 1, 2013, 3:48:50 PM5/1/13
to
On Wed, 1 May 2013 14:14:32 +0100, David Schmidt wrote
(in article <klr49g$4gh$1...@dont-email.me>):
> These days, I can get around the lack of a 'universal file format' by
> having a PDF-producing printer driver. No matter what the program
> produces, I can "print" it to a virtual PDF printer driver and get a PDF
> file as output.
>
> Age-old MacOS programs can sometimes be convinced to save-as, say, RTF
> that is reasonably well supported in the modern world. But not all
> programs can. Is there a similar concept in a virtual printer driver
> for MacOS 7.5? I have a machine that I would really like to keep at
> that level for some particularly far-reaching backwards compatibility
> reasons, and the ability to fairly universally export visible results
> would be great.
Would PrintToPDF help?
http://www.jwwalker.com/pages/pdf.html
--
Nothing to see here
(in article <klr49g$4gh$1...@dont-email.me>):
> These days, I can get around the lack of a 'universal file format' by
> having a PDF-producing printer driver. No matter what the program
> produces, I can "print" it to a virtual PDF printer driver and get a PDF
> file as output.
>
> Age-old MacOS programs can sometimes be convinced to save-as, say, RTF
> that is reasonably well supported in the modern world. But not all
> programs can. Is there a similar concept in a virtual printer driver
> for MacOS 7.5? I have a machine that I would really like to keep at
> that level for some particularly far-reaching backwards compatibility
> reasons, and the ability to fairly universally export visible results
> would be great.
http://www.jwwalker.com/pages/pdf.html
--
Nothing to see here
Goetz Hoffart
May 1, 2013, 4:13:30 PM5/1/13
to
David Schmidt <schm...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> Age-old MacOS programs can sometimes be convinced to save-as, say, RTF
> that is reasonably well supported in the modern world. But not all
> programs can. Is there a similar concept in a virtual printer driver
> for MacOS 7.5?
Yes. Install a LaserWriter driver (if not already available). With that
> Age-old MacOS programs can sometimes be convinced to save-as, say, RTF
> that is reasonably well supported in the modern world. But not all
> programs can. Is there a similar concept in a virtual printer driver
> for MacOS 7.5?
you can save the print output in a Postscript file.
Use any Postscript-to-PDF converter (Adobe Acrobat, Preview of OS X,
whatever) to get a PDF from that.
Grüße
Götz
--
http://www.knubbelmac.de/
David Schmidt
May 1, 2013, 9:16:05 PM5/1/13
to
On 5/1/2013 3:48 PM, Tester wrote:
sure. Thanks!
> On Wed, 1 May 2013 14:14:32 +0100, David Schmidt wrote:
>> Age-old MacOS programs can sometimes be convinced to save-as, say, RTF
>> that is reasonably well supported in the modern world. But not all
>> programs can. Is there a similar concept in a virtual printer driver
>> for MacOS 7.5? I have a machine that I would really like to keep at
>> that level for some particularly far-reaching backwards compatibility
>> reasons, and the ability to fairly universally export visible results
>> would be great.
>
> Would PrintToPDF help?
>
> http://www.jwwalker.com/pages/pdf.html
Definitely - both that and the LaserWriter-to-PS idea will work for
>> Age-old MacOS programs can sometimes be convinced to save-as, say, RTF
>> that is reasonably well supported in the modern world. But not all
>> programs can. Is there a similar concept in a virtual printer driver
>> for MacOS 7.5? I have a machine that I would really like to keep at
>> that level for some particularly far-reaching backwards compatibility
>> reasons, and the ability to fairly universally export visible results
>> would be great.
>
> Would PrintToPDF help?
>
> http://www.jwwalker.com/pages/pdf.html
sure. Thanks!
isw
May 2, 2013, 2:07:59 AM5/2/13
to
In article <1l27pld.1jvbgxn1y40buuN%use...@hoffart.de>,
PostScript-capable printer, online, to make it happen. I think the file
is sent to the PostScript engine in the printer and the result is
returned to the Mac. So, no PS printer, no PS file.
Isaac
use...@hoffart.de (Goetz Hoffart) wrote:
> David Schmidt <schm...@my-deja.com> wrote:
>
> > Age-old MacOS programs can sometimes be convinced to save-as, say, RTF
> > that is reasonably well supported in the modern world. But not all
> > programs can. Is there a similar concept in a virtual printer driver
> > for MacOS 7.5?
>
> Yes. Install a LaserWriter driver (if not already available). With that
> you can save the print output in a Postscript file.
Based on what happens when you do that, I think it takes a
> David Schmidt <schm...@my-deja.com> wrote:
>
> > Age-old MacOS programs can sometimes be convinced to save-as, say, RTF
> > that is reasonably well supported in the modern world. But not all
> > programs can. Is there a similar concept in a virtual printer driver
> > for MacOS 7.5?
>
> Yes. Install a LaserWriter driver (if not already available). With that
> you can save the print output in a Postscript file.
PostScript-capable printer, online, to make it happen. I think the file
is sent to the PostScript engine in the printer and the result is
returned to the Mac. So, no PS printer, no PS file.
Isaac
Stephen Thomas Cole
May 2, 2013, 2:18:52 AM5/2/13
to
In article <isw-068FAD.23075901052013@[216.168.3.50]>, isw
I printed "to file" your post here, save it as a postscript file and all
was fine. I then unplugged the ADB cable and did same again, no problem.
So having a physical printer connected isn't the issue. The printer driver
icon was mounted on my desktop at all times, so I think that's the key.
--
-------------------
Stephen Thomas Cole
-------------------
<i...@witzend.com> wrote:
> Based on what happens when you do that, I think it takes a
> PostScript-capable printer, online, to make it happen. I think the file
> is sent to the PostScript engine in the printer and the result is
> returned to the Mac. So, no PS printer, no PS file.
I've just done a little unscientific test. With my LaserWriter plugged in,
> Based on what happens when you do that, I think it takes a
> PostScript-capable printer, online, to make it happen. I think the file
> is sent to the PostScript engine in the printer and the result is
> returned to the Mac. So, no PS printer, no PS file.
I printed "to file" your post here, save it as a postscript file and all
was fine. I then unplugged the ADB cable and did same again, no problem.
So having a physical printer connected isn't the issue. The printer driver
icon was mounted on my desktop at all times, so I think that's the key.
--
-------------------
Stephen Thomas Cole
-------------------
Goetz Hoffart
May 2, 2013, 3:24:12 AM5/2/13
to
isw <i...@witzend.com> wrote:
> Based on what happens when you do that, I think it takes a
> PostScript-capable printer, online, to make it happen. I think the file
> is sent to the PostScript engine in the printer and the result is
> returned to the Mac. So, no PS printer, no PS file.
Sorry, but wrong: Exporting Postscript works fine without even owning
> Based on what happens when you do that, I think it takes a
> PostScript-capable printer, online, to make it happen. I think the file
> is sent to the PostScript engine in the printer and the result is
> returned to the Mac. So, no PS printer, no PS file.
such a printer.
The Postscript engine in the printer does not generate Postscript, it
converts Postscript to raster images to be printed out.
Regards
Götz
--
http://www.knubbelmac.de/
D Finnigan
May 2, 2013, 7:35:46 PM5/2/13
to
The Postscript language was devised in the early 80s and the first
commercial Postscript printer was our very own Apple LaserWriter in 1985.
--
]DF$
Apple II Book: http://macgui.com/newa2guide/
Usenet: http://macgui.com/usenet/ <-- get posts by email!
Apple II Web & Blog hosting: http://a2hq.com/
0 new messages