[comp.os.vms] TTDRIVER differences and Apple LaserWriter differences

SYSRUTH@utorphys.BITNET ("Ruth Milner, Systems Manager x2746") (07/10/88)

Thanks to those of you (Len Schwer, Art Stine, and Mike Iglesias - so far)
who responded to my query with offers of PostScript driver programs.
     
We fixed the problem. It turned out that while the old program we were
using wanted the LaserWriter to be set up as an LQP02, the new program
would not work properly with that characteristic - probably because one
of the default settings for an LQP02 seems to be /passall. The device
type hadn't been cleared since we initially rebooted after the upgrade
(it is set from systartup.com) but once we set term/perm/dev=unkn the
printer started to work fine. I don't understand why there should be
such a fundamental difference in how the two behave (it could very
well be the 4.3 vs. 4.7 differences) but at least it is working now.
     
I am still interested in what basic changes were made that could have
this effect, though.
     
The LaserWriter has some very odd behaviour. The thing that caused our
problems at 4.4 and required the 4.3 TTDRIVER was that the printer often
sends a flood of XOFFs instead of just one. And according to the printer
manual, it occasionally doesn't send an XON when it's ready to go again,
which results in a timeout.
     
At any rate, thanks again, and to those of you whose responses I may not
have received yet. Much appreciated, as always.
     
Ruth Milner
Systems Manager
University of Toronto Physics

carl@CITHEX.CALTECH.EDU (Carl J Lydick) (07/12/88)

 > We fixed the problem. It turned out that while the old program we were
 > using wanted the LaserWriter to be set up as an LQP02, the new program
 > would not work properly with that characteristic - probably because one
 > of the default settings for an LQP02 seems to be /passall. The device
 > type hadn't been cleared since we initially rebooted after the upgrade
 > (it is set from systartup.com) but once we set term/perm/dev=unkn the
 > printer started to work fine. I don't understand why there should be
 > such a fundamental difference in how the two behave (it could very
 > well be the 4.3 vs. 4.7 differences) but at least it is working now.
 >      
 > I am still interested in what basic changes were made that could have
 > this effect, though.

That's odd.  I'm running VMS 4.7, and when I SET TERMINAL/DEVICE=LQP02 it
doesn't get set /PASSALL.  Your problem could be a change in the definition
of an LQP02 in SMGTERMS between the two versions (though the edit history
in that file indicates the most recent change to be in 1986).  Under 4.7 it's
defined as:

	NAME = "LQP02"		! Printer only

		BOOLEAN
		ansi_crt = 0,		backspace = 1,		dec_crt = 0,
		edit = 0,		lowercase = 1,		no_scroll = 1,
		physical_tabs = 0,	physical_ff = 1,	dec_crt_2 = 0,
		scope = 0

		NUMERIC
		columns = 132,		rows = 66

		STRING
		device_attributes = "$[?13;0c",
		begin_underscore = "$[4m",	end_underscore = "$[m",
		begin_autowrap_mode = "$[?7h", 	end_autowrap_mode = "$[?7l",
		begin_normal_rendition = "$[m", scroll_reverse = "$M",
		begin_bold = "$[1m",		end_bold = "$[m",
		scroll_forward = "$D",		next_line = "$E",
		set_tab = "$H",			clear_tab = "$[0g",
		width_narrow = "$[w",		width_wide = "$[4w",
		double_wide = "$[5w",		single_high = "$[w"

		END

Anybody out there running 4.3 or earlier who'd care to compare that entry?