torek@horse.ee.lbl.gov (Chris Torek) (01/30/91)
The HP LaserJet II has a front panel. The PostScript interpreter can write to the front panel, but the method is secret. (Almost everything interesting is secret, e.g., the secret way to switch between hardware and software flow control---just add or subtract 4 to/from the last parameter to setscc{batch,interactive}---but that is just HP not documenting things.) Anyway, under the executive, to display `foo' in the front panel, type (note, PS> is the printer's prompt): PS>serverdict begin PS>$frontpaneldict begin PS>switchexec 0 get 29 get 13 get begin PS>/fpjobstate (foo) def PS>end end end In batch mode, the command sequence serverdict begin $frontpaneldict begin switchexec 0 get 29 get 13 get begin (hello) setdisplay 2000 pause end end end should put `hello' on the display for 2 seconds. (It then reverts to whatever is in fpjobstate, I think.) Note: use great caution here, as you have full control over the front panel buttons. You can make these execute arbitrary PostScript code. How do you find out more? Use a recursive dictionary displayer to march through `serverdict'. All sorts of goodies spill out. Many of the important dictionaries (such as the one containing fpjobstate and setdisplay) have no name and must be obtained with `get' sequences like the above. This is annoying, but there is not much you can do about it. -- In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Lawrence Berkeley Lab EE div (+1 415 xxx xxxx) Berkeley, CA Domain: torek@ee.lbl.gov