[comp.sys.mac.system] Multispool doesn't work for me

dbert@mole.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Douglas Siebert) (03/31/91)

I just downloaded the multispool init/cdev from sumex hoping to be able to do
background printing on my Mac Plus w/Grappler 9-pin.  The Grappler, for those
that don't know, allows me to print on my Epson FX-80 (or many other 9-pin
dot matrix printers left over from the 80s :) ) using the Imagewriter driver
and making my Mac think it's talking to an Imagewriter.  But although I am
using Multifinder and Backgrounder (from 6.0.5, along with the 6.0.5 version
of the Imagewriter driver) I can't make multispool work.  Anyone else have
any suggestions for me?  Printing without the spooler works fine (although for
some stupid reason the Grappler's power supply seems to only work when plugged
in the wall outlet -- doesn't work when plugged in my power strip!) but when
I try printing with the spooler on, it spools the file but gives me a dialog
box saying "Print Error 0" when I try to actually print the file.  I sure
would love to be able to use this, since an FX-80 is every bit as slow as the
Imagewriter, and that's pretty damn slow!  Any suggestions?  I've tried
starting the printing with printing suspended and not suspended, but it seems
to always start suspended as far as I can tell.  It also (when I open the cdev
for multispool) has a message under the queue box saying "Background Printing:
not available"  I guess (from what I gather reading the System 6 System
Software Guide) that using PrintMonitor on a LaserWriter, you get a special
check box in the Chooser to turn Background capability on and off.  Do I need
to install this even though I'm not using a LaserWriter?  Any help will be
appreciated and rewarded handsomely if I ever hit it big in the lottery.

--
________________________________________________________________________
Doug Siebert                                     dbert@gnu.ai.mit.edu
MBA Student (2nd year)
The University of Iowa