seltzer@cadnetix.UUCP (05/07/87)
Excuse me if this has been discussed before, but I haven't been reading news for a while... I'd like to be able to share a LaserWriter (actually a PSJet+) between a unix system and *one* Mac. I'm tired of disabling the unix printer spooler and flipping the switch on the printer to switch from async. comm to AppleTalk. I know that the printer (when in async comm mode) can use *both* the 9-pin and the 25-pin ports and alternates between them, sending XOFF to the port that has to wait. But how can I convince the Mac to use async comm instead of AppleTalk to the printer via async? I know about the Apple-F key to generate a local PostScript file (sans PostScript macros...). That may be one way, although I'd prefer to make the change from AppleTalk to be more transparent and painless. Any ideas? ------------------- Wayne Seltzer Cadnetix Corp. Boulder, CO 80301 hao!ico!cadnetix!seltzer (uucp)
magorian@umd5.umd.edu (Dan Magorian) (05/08/87)
Re: Trying to get Laserwriter to work on both serial and Appletalk We have the same problem here. Ideally, you would be able to leave the LW hooked up to both an RS-232 connection (say, thru a campus network) and the Rs-422 connection on Appletalk. Unfortunately, currently you have to both change connectors and turn the switch. This is a pain with remote printers, and creates silly/nasty political decisions as to which is the default. The PC Tops card works OK from single PCs, but isn't an option from Unix hosts running document spoolers. SOftware-only switching would be a great help here (anyone from Apple listening, say on the new Laserwriters?) On another note, does anyone know of a Postscript emulation of a HP Laserjet? A lot of software doesn't create PS output, or does an incomplete job (like WordPerfect). On the other hand, the HP is well supported for text only. Wouldn't be too hard to write, but why reinvent the wheel?