[comp.laser-printers] Is there any way to clear VM in LaserWriter?

izumi@VIOLET.BERKELEY.EDU (09/04/87)

Hi! LaserWriter experts,

I am having a little problem with LaserWriter which is used as
a network printer.

We have two programs which send output to LaserWriter via PC Network.
(Specifically, Microsof Word, and DviLaser from Textset (now a different 
name? ))
Both store permanent changes into Virtual Memory which stay until
power-down or reset by;

 "systemdict begin quit"

The VM of the original LaserWriter (v2.0, PS version 38.0) is
too small for keeping the two simultaneously in memory without
causing 'VMerror'.

Because, during the reset cycle, LaserWriter loses characters
coming in from the standard input,  the print job queued immediately
after reset gets flushed, causing a lot of confusion to network
users.

So, I am wondering if there is any way to flush VM so that
LaserWriter can have the same state as that immediately after power-up, and
to do this without the above procedure (i.e., without losing control
of the RS232 serial port).

Thank you in advance

Izumi Ohzawa
izumi@violet.berkeley.edu
...ucbvax!violet!izumi

patwood@unirot.UUCP.UUCP (09/13/87)

Here's how you can "manage" your permanent VM:

First you put the following at the beginning of whatever it is you want
to "pop" at a later time:

serverdict begin 0 exitserver
/$$SAVESERVER save def

anything you want here...

CTRL-D

Now to "pop" what you've put into VM above, just do this:

serverdict begin 0 exitserver
$$SAVESERVER restore
CTRL-D

All the information loaded in after the previous save is tossed, recovering
your VM.  This is essentially what the job server does (perform a save and
restore) around a user's job.

Note that you should NOT do the $$SAVESERVER restore except after the
exitserver operation, as the interpreter will get quite confused when
the current job ends (and it can't find the save object it stored when
the job started) and will restart itself, doing just what you don't want
it to do.

Pat Wood
Editor, The PostScript Language Journal
bellcore!phw5!phw
flash.bellcore.com!phw5!phw