markw@airgun.wg.waii.com (Mark Whetzel) (11/02/89)
I have been working with my IBM SE to find out why I can't support in at least some functions the 4208-001 printer that I ordered with my RT. At the time I ordered my RT this 24 pin printer was IBM's premier proprinter. It has since been made obslete by later models of the 4208 line. I have been using the printer by defining it with devices as a 4201 proprinter. For normal 10 pitch draft mode, this is fine. BUT... for any other mode of printing with the print command I.E. print -elite or -cdp (condensed print) or non-10 pitch printing, this printer has a complete screw up. Margins are reset improperly, page breaks are at wrong places, ignores any requests for condensed or elite settings, ect.. Investigation on IBMLINK shows that an APAR (IX05432) is pending for AIX on the PS2 for exactly what I want.. backend and devices command support for 4208 printers. Guess what... IBM won't accept an apar for adding this support to AIX 2.2.1 for the RT!! They closed my problem as doc with suggestion for future supprort!!! They say that the code being developed for AIX on PS2 won't work for AIX on the RT!! IBM's take is that the original announcement letter for the 4208-001 printer indicates that it is supported in '4201 compatibility mode only' Well... The 4201 has condensed print and elite print and nlq modes!! And they won't make it work for the RT! IBM support indicates that the 4201 printer escape codes are incompatable for the 4208! If so, how come the announcement letter indicates that the printer is supported 'in 4201 proprinter only' functions? Documenting a pile of $#!+ does not make it smell any better! Well... enough of my shouting, has anybody written a backend (that is all I believe that is needed, screw the devices command!) for the 4208 printer? I don't want much, just elite, condensed, and LQ modes by command parameters. Is this too much? Is any thing like this available? Thanks in advance for any assitance that you netlanders may be for my problem. Mark Whetzel -- Mark Whetzel My comments are my own, not my company's. Western Geophysical - A division of Western Atlas International, A Litton/Dresser Company DOMAIN addr: markw@airgun.wg.waii.com ...!texbell!moray!airgun!markw UUNET address: uunet!airgun!markw