PrintPDF

[Mike]

Hi, after a bit of a battle I have !PrintPDF running on a Raspbery Pi with Risc OS 5. I am trying to make PDF's from Draw files. Sometimes the result is squashed vertically, but at least sometimes it is normal. The main issue however, it the result is alway in grey scale. The original Draw files being in colour.

Other info - !PrintPDF (1.13) - !Printers (1.81 with the PDF setting) - RiscOS (5.21). Running on a Raspbery Pi.

Thankfully I still have a running RiscPC, which still does this job fine, but I would like to make PDF's from Draw on the Pi. Can anyone help or offer any thoughts. Thanyou.

Mike (in New Zealand)

[Martin]

In article <53eb92d7-5fe9-42eb...@googlegroups.com>,

Presumably you are also using a PS driver - either the original PS one
or the much better PS3 driver? Check the config for it in Printers. Is
the Colour option selected?

--
Martin Avison
Note that unfortunately this email address will become invalid
without notice if (when) any spam is received.

[Martin Wuerthner]

Mike <mike....@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi, after a bit of a battle I have !PrintPDF running on a Raspbery Pi with
> Risc OS 5. I am trying to make PDF's from Draw files. Sometimes the result
> is squashed vertically, but at least sometimes it is normal. The main
> issue however, it the result is alway in grey scale. The original Draw
> files being in colour.

Output from PrintPDF is sensitive to the settings of the PostScript printer
driver that is used. Hold down Ctrl and click on the PDF printer icon on the
icon bar. This opens the "PostScript printer configuration" window, which
has a "Colour" option. Is this ticked? If not, tick it, click on OK and do
not forget to choose "Save choices" from the menu over the printer icon to
make this change permanent.

--
Martin Wuerthner MW Software http://www.mw-software.com/

------- RISC OS Software for Design, Printing and Publishing --------

[Chris Hughes]

In message <53eb92d7-5fe9-42eb...@googlegroups.com>

Mike <mike....@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi, after a bit of a battle I have !PrintPDF running on a Raspbery Pi with
> Risc OS 5. I am trying to make PDF's from Draw files. Sometimes the result
> is squashed vertically, but at least sometimes it is normal. The main
> issue however, it the result is alway in grey scale. The original Draw
> files being in colour.

Have you remembered to ensure "Colour" is selected in the Printer Driver?

Are you using the Postscript 2 or much better Postscript 3 driver?

Could the squashing of the Draw file be due to trying to fit on a A4
Portrait page rather then landscape?

> Other info - !PrintPDF (1.13) - !Printers (1.81 with the PDF setting) -
> RiscOS (5.21). Running on a Raspbery Pi.

The version of !PrintPDF is current, but you are using a rther old version
of !Printers current version is 1.90

That is also a rather old version of RISCOS, we are current on stable
version 5.28 and nightly build version 5.29




--
Chris Hughes
Don't miss this years Wakefield Show 21st May 2022 - we have moved to
Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford
Check the latest information at www.wakefieldshow.org.uk

[Mike]

Hi, Thanks Martin and Chris.

Have done some serious updates and found the settings in Printers. Yes the colour box was unticked. Making sure the paper size in PrintPDF was set to ISO A4 also helped.

However new mystery - The colour PDF has some Draw colour fills as outlines only. No colour inside the fill. This seems to be random.
Not sure what version of Postscript I have however. Can someone tell me how the check that?
Thanks again
Mike

[Mike]

Fully solved, it was an outdated !GhostScr. All working now. Thanks
Mike

[Chris Newman]

In article <486249c6-c29d-42e0...@googlegroups.com>,

Mike <mike....@gmail.com> wrote:
> Fully solved, it was an outdated !GhostScr. All working now. Thanks
> Mike

Mine appears to be GPL Ghostscript 8.71 (04-Apr-17)

Is that the latest?

--
Chris Newman

[Chris Hughes]

In message <59d606af...@waitrose.com>

Chris Newman <cvj...@waitrose.com> wrote:

> In article <486249c6-c29d-42e0...@googlegroups.com>,
> Mike <mike....@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Fully solved, it was an outdated !GhostScr. All working now. Thanks
>> Mike

> Mine appears to be GPL Ghostscript 8.71 (04-Apr-17)

Depends on which version of OS its used on I think.

> Is that the latest?

I am using 9.26

--
Chris Hughes
Don't miss this years Wakefield Show 21st May 2022 - we have move to
Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford
check the latest information at www.wakefieldshow.org.uk

[Chris Newman]

In article <ffed07d6...@mytarbis.plus.com>,

Chris Hughes <new...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <59d606af...@waitrose.com>
> Chris Newman <cvj...@waitrose.com> wrote:

> > In article <486249c6-c29d-42e0...@googlegroups.com>,
> > Mike <mike....@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Fully solved, it was an outdated !GhostScr. All working now. Thanks
> >> Mike

> > Mine appears to be GPL Ghostscript 8.71 (04-Apr-17)

> Depends on which version of OS its used on I think.

> > Is that the latest?

> I am using 9.26

My Ghostscript help file has the link...


"This RISC OS version was created by the GCCSDK Autobuilder

See the "8_71.doc" subdirectory for more documentation or the official
ghostscript website at http://www.ghostscript.com"

However, there is also a Windows version of Ghostscript I seem to recall.
Is the above site for RISC OS? Hard to tell.

--
Chris Newman

[Chris Hughes]

In message <59d61029...@waitrose.com>

Chris Newman <cvj...@waitrose.com> wrote:

> In article <ffed07d6...@mytarbis.plus.com>,
> Chris Hughes <new...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
>> In message <59d606af...@waitrose.com>
>> Chris Newman <cvj...@waitrose.com> wrote:

>>> In article <486249c6-c29d-42e0...@googlegroups.com>,
>>> Mike <mike....@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Fully solved, it was an outdated !GhostScr. All working now. Thanks
>>>> Mike

>>> Mine appears to be GPL Ghostscript 8.71 (04-Apr-17)

>> Depends on which version of OS its used on I think.

>>> Is that the latest?

>> I am using 9.26

> My Ghostscript help file has the link...

9.26 comes from Chris Gransden website and is only suitable per its help
file for RISC OS 5.2x onwards as its uses more memory then 8.71 version

https://www.riscosports.co.uk/downloads.html Look for the entry for Ghostscript 9.26

Both the 8.71 and the 9.27 VFP versions are now available via !Packman -
The package manager.

[Dave]

In article <133d1cd6...@mytarbis.plus.com>,

Chris Hughes <new...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:

> Both the 8.71 and the 9.27 VFP versions are now available via !Packman -
> The package manager.

Eh! Packman...

I remember trying that thing some years ago, more trouble than it was
worth.

I guess in the intervening years someone might have done some work on it.

Has it improved?

Thanks
Dave

From whence might an improved version be obtained?
Assuming of course it has improved.

D.

--

Dave Triffid

[John Rickman]

In message <59d659f...@triffid.co.uk>
Dave <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

> Has it improved?

can't say but it it has not casused any trouble for me and I would not
wish to be without it. Python would be a nightmare.

> From whence might an improved version be obtained?

version 0.9.7 Beta is available from guess where?

John

--
John Rickman

[Chris Hughes]

In message <59d659f...@triffid.co.uk>
Dave <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

> In article <133d1cd6...@mytarbis.plus.com>,
> Chris Hughes <new...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:

>> Both the 8.71 and the 9.27 VFP versions are now available via !Packman -
>> The package manager.

> Eh! Packman...

Dave, I know you use RO 6.20 neither of the above will work with it you
still need the 8.54 version of Ghostscript from MW software site for the
older OS.

> I remember trying that thing some years ago, more trouble than it was
> worth.

Its has had a fair few improvements since the early days and is still
being developed and supported.

> I guess in the intervening years someone might have done some work on it.

They have based on User feedback from both users and developers.

> Has it improved?

Yes, you can now download the Various RISC OS 5 hard disc components
without having to download the whole Harddisc4 image now as an example.

> From whence might an improved version be obtained?
> Assuming of course it has improved.

http://www.riscos.info/packages/arm/Administration/packman_0.9.7-1_arm.zip

Some people love it and some hate it and some can't make their mind up.

There is a useful helpfile available from the icon bar menu. once
installed.

[Dave]

In article <3d8f64d6...@mytarbis.plus.com>,

Chris Hughes <new...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <59d659f...@triffid.co.uk>
> Dave <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

> > In article <133d1cd6...@mytarbis.plus.com>,
> > Chris Hughes <new...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:

> >> Both the 8.71 and the 9.27 VFP versions are now available via !Packman -
> >> The package manager.

> > Eh! Packman...

> Dave, I know you use RO 6.20 neither of the above will work with it you
> still need the 8.54 version of Ghostscript from MW software site for the
> older OS.

Yes indeed, I remember a while ago trying a later version with my 6.20
install and it wouldn't work, so I reverted to the 8.54 again.

[Snip]

http://www.riscos.info/packages/arm/Administration/packman_0.9.7-1_arm.zip

> Some people love it and some hate it and some can't make their mind up.

> There is a useful helpfile available from the icon bar menu. once
> installed.

Now downloaded, and I'll have a play tomorrow whn I have time.

Thanks for the info Chris, appreciated. :-)

Dave

--

Dave Triffid

[Theo]

You might find the installation instructions useful:
https://sites.google.com/site/alansriscosstuff/packman

Theo

[Dave]

In article <OJg*Z5...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,

Thanks, I'll have a looksee.

Dave

--

Dave Triffid

[Dave]

In article <OJg*Z5...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,
Theo <theom...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Naa! had a play for a while, it just throws up too many errors.

I've now dumped it again...

Dave

--

Dave Triffid

[Chris Hughes]

In message <59d7995...@triffid.co.uk>

Dave <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

> In article <OJg*Z5...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,
> Theo <theom...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
>> Dave <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:
>>> In article <3d8f64d6...@mytarbis.plus.com>, Chris Hughes
>>> <new...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
>>> http://www.riscos.info/packages/arm/Administration/packman_0.9.7-1_arm.zip
>>>
>>>> Some people love it and some hate it and some can't make their mind
>>>> up.
>>>
>>>> There is a useful helpfile available from the icon bar menu. once
>>>> installed.
>>>
>>> Now downloaded, and I'll have a play tomorrow whn I have time.

>> You might find the installation instructions useful:
>> https://sites.google.com/site/alansriscosstuff/packman

>> Theo


> Naa! had a play for a while, it just throws up too many errors.

Dave if you let us know what the errors were the developer can investigate
and see if they are bugs etc.

[Dave]

In article <d34da0d7...@mytarbis.plus.com>,

Chris Hughes <new...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <59d7995...@triffid.co.uk>
> Dave <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

> > In article <OJg*Z5...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,
> > Theo <theom...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
> >> Dave <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:
> >>> In article <3d8f64d6...@mytarbis.plus.com>, Chris Hughes
> >>> <new...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
> >>> http://www.riscos.info/packages/arm/Administration/packman_0.9.7-1_arm.zip
> >>>
> >>>> Some people love it and some hate it and some can't make their mind
> >>>> up.
> >>>
> >>>> There is a useful helpfile available from the icon bar menu. once
> >>>> installed.
> >>>
> >>> Now downloaded, and I'll have a play tomorrow whn I have time.

> >> You might find the installation instructions useful:
> >> https://sites.google.com/site/alansriscosstuff/packman

> >> Theo


> > Naa! had a play for a while, it just throws up too many errors.

> Dave if you let us know what the errors were the developer can
> investigate and see if they are bugs etc.

Sorry no can do, I've now removed it completely.

I'll maybe have another go at it sometime...

One particular message that arrived...

"00005 Failed to unpack the packages, error:
'HostFS::HardDisc4.$.Apps.Emulation.!Fuse.roms.~RiscPkg++.Makefile/in' not
found (SWI 29) r0=19. replace file
HostFS::HardDisc4.$.Apps.Emulation.!Fuse.roms.Makefile/in"

FWIW. "HostFS::HardDisc4.$.Apps.Emulation.!Fuse.roms.~RiscPkg++.Makefile"
exists.
Along with a few other directories that suddenly appeared in my Apps
directory...

Dave

--

Dave Triffid

[Matthew Phillips]

In message <d34da0d7...@mytarbis.plus.com>

on 11 Apr 2022 Chris Hughes wrote:

> In message <59d7995...@triffid.co.uk>
> Dave <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > In article <OJg*Z5...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,
> > Theo <theom...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
> >> Dave <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:
> >>> In article <3d8f64d6...@mytarbis.plus.com>, Chris Hughes
> >>> <new...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
> >>> http://www.riscos.info/packages/arm/Administration/packman_0.9.7-1_arm.zip
> >>>
> >>>> Some people love it and some hate it and some can't make their mind
> >>>> up.
> >>>
> >>>> There is a useful helpfile available from the icon bar menu. once
> >>>> installed.
> >>>
> >>> Now downloaded, and I'll have a play tomorrow whn I have time.
>
> >> You might find the installation instructions useful:
> >> https://sites.google.com/site/alansriscosstuff/packman
>
> >> Theo
>
>
> > Naa! had a play for a while, it just throws up too many errors.
>
> Dave if you let us know what the errors were the developer can investigate
> and see if they are bugs etc.

Agreed - or if they are not bugs then the instructions and help might need
improving.

I first tried PackMan many years ago, and found it annoying that it insisted
on placing applications in particular places inside Apps, when I already had
my own way of organising them. But that restrictions was removed several
years ago.

Setting up a machine for my parents recently, I installed everything I could
via PackMan, because I realised it was going to be the easiest way to keep
them up to date with new software. The great advantage over !Store as a
method of software distribution is that once you've decided where to install
the software initially, updates can flow in without anything more than a
click of a button.

I've not yet set up PackMan properly on our existing machines. This would
entail reinstalling via PackMan software that was already installed. I had
to do a bit of this with the new machine, as it had been supplied with some
packaged software installed manually, and some via PackMan. It's not that
hard to do.

RISC OS Open have made it easy for third party free software producers to add
their own software to the package list, so I intend to do this for the free
Sine Nomine Software applications. I'm pondering whether we should set up a
PackMan source for our non-free products. It will be a bit of extra work for
us to rewrite instructions and package the software differently, but it
should make it easier for users to keep up to date.

--
Matthew Phillips
Durham

[Chris Hughes]

In message <59d7de7...@triffid.co.uk>

Interesting, I will pass it on to Andy who does the work on developing the
packman.

I have just installed and used !Fuse on my computer without issue, I dared
I put a Sinclair emulator on my computer :-)

I also removed it without any issue.

I wonder if the issue is to do with you using VRPC and 6.20. I will test
on one of my VRPC.

[Chris Hughes]

In message <a452e3d75...@sinenomine.co.uk>

That was my experience as well, but have started using it a bit more for
some things. The most annoying thing I found with the older version was it
habit of putting everything in folders inside Apps and you could not see
the folder using the Apps Icon. Now we can place most of the stuff where
we want its much improved.

> Setting up a machine for my parents recently, I installed everything I could
> via PackMan, because I realised it was going to be the easiest way to keep
> them up to date with new software. The great advantage over !Store as a
> method of software distribution is that once you've decided where to install
> the software initially, updates can flow in without anything more than a
> click of a button.

Yes for a new users its a useful tool, and now that the individual
HardDisc4 software is available to be downloaded and installed via
Packman, you do not have to download the full HardDisc4 image from the
ROOL certainly for RO5 users anyway.

> I've not yet set up PackMan properly on our existing machines. This would
> entail reinstalling via PackMan software that was already installed. I had
> to do a bit of this with the new machine, as it had been supplied with some
> packaged software installed manually, and some via PackMan. It's not that
> hard to do.

Agreed

> RISC OS Open have made it easy for third party free software producers to add
> their own software to the package list, so I intend to do this for the free
> Sine Nomine Software applications. I'm pondering whether we should set up a
> PackMan source for our non-free products. It will be a bit of extra work for
> us to rewrite instructions and package the software differently, but it
> should make it easier for users to keep up to date.

Interesting.

[Theo]

Chris Hughes <new...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
> Interesting, I will pass it on to Andy who does the work on developing the
> packman.
>
> I have just installed and used !Fuse on my computer without issue, I dared
> I put a Sinclair emulator on my computer :-)
>
> I also removed it without any issue.
>
> I wonder if the issue is to do with you using VRPC and 6.20. I will test
> on one of my VRPC.

That would be useful - Alan's contact details are in the help.

PackMan takes pains to make sure its installs either succeed or fail - and
if they fail it clears up after itself rather than leaving debris around
your system. That makes it a bit different from doing regular file copies.
It is possible the way it does this has exercised an issue in VRPC HostFS,
which I suspect is not a system (m)any people will have tested it against.

Theo

[Dave]

In article <OJg*0I...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,

Mnnn! It left debris in my App dir... ;-)

Dave

--

Dave Triffid

[Chris Hughes]

In message <59d7de7...@triffid.co.uk>

Not sure what you were doing Dave, but spent some time this morning on my
RO 6.20 VRPC and using Packman and installed and removed !Fuse without any
errors or issues at all

Process Launched Packman, ensure it updated the package list. Then
selected the Fuse program to be installed by double clicking on the entry
and then simply clicked on Install, An install bar showed the progress in
downloading and unpacking and installing the application.

Then went to where !Fuse had been installed and ran it, it started up
fine. Closed the program

Then went back to Packman found the Fuse entry again which now had a green
tick on the line to indicated it was installed and on current version,
double clicked on it entry and then clicked on the Remove button to
uninstall it

[Dave]

In article <fd3306da...@mytarbis.plus.com>,
Chris Hughes <new...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <59d7de7...@triffid.co.uk>
> Dave <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

[Snip]

> > Sorry no can do, I've now removed it completely.

> > I'll maybe have another go at it sometime...

> > One particular message that arrived...

> > "00005 Failed to unpack the packages, error:
> > 'HostFS::HardDisc4.$.Apps.Emulation.!Fuse.roms.~RiscPkg++.Makefile/in'
> > not found (SWI 29) r0=19. replace file
> > HostFS::HardDisc4.$.Apps.Emulation.!Fuse.roms.Makefile/in"

> > FWIW.
> > "HostFS::HardDisc4.$.Apps.Emulation.!Fuse.roms.~RiscPkg++.Makefile"
> > exists. Along with a few other directories that suddenly appeared in
> > my Apps directory...

> Not sure what you were doing Dave, but spent some time this morning on
> my RO 6.20 VRPC and using Packman and installed and removed !Fuse
> without any errors or issues at all

> Process Launched Packman, ensure it updated the package list. Then
> selected the Fuse program to be installed by double clicking on the
> entry and then simply clicked on Install, An install bar showed the
> progress in downloading and unpacking and installing the application.

> Then went to where !Fuse had been installed and ran it, it started up
> fine. Closed the program

> Then went back to Packman found the Fuse entry again which now had a
> green tick on the line to indicated it was installed and on current
> version, double clicked on it entry and then clicked on the Remove
> button to uninstall it

From what I remember... I didn't ask it to do anything with !Fuse, I don't
even know what that is.

Dave

--

Dave Triffid

[Dave]

In article <59dae79...@triffid.co.uk>,
Dave <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:
[Snippy]

> From what I remember... I didn't ask it to do anything with !Fuse, I
> don't even know what that is.

> Dave

Right... I've installed the "Thing" again and I have a couple of questions.

As this is not a PrintPDF thing anymore... I'll start a new ..misc Subject
called "PackMan" and ask the questions there.

Thanks
Dave

--

Dave Triffid

[Chris Hughes]

In message <59dae79...@triffid.co.uk>

If you look at the error messages you quoted above it says you were trying
to install !Fuse. Its a Spectrum emulator.