[mod.computers.laser-printers] Documentation on DIA/DCA and PostScript for developers

shull@WHARTON-10.ARPA.UUCP (07/11/86)

I am looking for documentation that describes Adobe Systems' PostScript
and IBM's DIA/DCA standards from the professional software developer's
perspective.   I would like to know specific titles, authors, publishers,
prices, and addresses to which I (or a company) can send a purchase order.

Some questions:

  1. While the DIA/DCA standard is just a file format, does software
     using it need to handle error conditions, not so much upon
     writing a file, as upon reading one?

  2. If so, does the DIA/DCA standard indicate how these conditions
     are dealt with?

  3. If I want to write a driver for an Apple LaserWriter, do I need
     any documents from Apple?  If so, what, and where can I get one?

  4. Is a PostScript printer a PostScript printer a PostScript printer?
     Or, in other words, will a driver for an Apple LaserWriter drive
     a QMS printer, a DataProducts printer and a Allied Lynotype
     typesetter without modification, or are the modifications merely
     minimized?

I will summarize any responses to Laser-Lovers after a couple of weeks.

Thanks in advance!

-Chris

Christopher E. Shull
Decision Sciences Department
The Wharton School                      Shull@Wharton-10.ARPA
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA  19104-6366            215/898-5930
------