Postscript in define output

[Barry Wiseman]

Dennis Runolfson wrote:
> We have several forms that we create using pcl code in the output form. 
> Can this also be done using postscript programming?  If so how do you tell
> the printer to act on the instructions rather then print them?
> 
> I have not seen this as a subject in the filepro list so I suspect it is
> not commonly used.  Any comments on how to accomplish this as well a pros
> and cons would be appreciated.
> 
> We are running the Ubuntu version of Linux.
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> Dennis Runolfson
> Fashion Carpets

You don't say why you want to do this.  If, as Jim Asman guessed, you're trying to get to pdf, then his suggestion is a good one.  If you want to print to a postscript-only printer that does not speak pcl, proper configuration of the printer in CUPS should allow the spooler system to automatically convert pcl input for output to a postscript printer.  (In Red Hat, I always found that pcl print jobs had to begin with a reset code (Esc-E), followed immediately by any other escape code, in order for the system to recognize it as a pcl file.)

If you really want to generate postscript for reasons we haven't guessed, you might want to look into the linux 'enscript' tool.  This is a markup language for generating postscript output from text.  It is well suited for use in a filepro print code table.  Filepro output would be piped through the enscript program rather than sent directly to the spooler.  Nice features include the ability to set font and point size, and to generate rules, boxes and shading, and merge graphic files (e.g. letterhead) into the output stream.  Serious limitations include the absence of any positioning commands.