PostScript Printing

If the printer is PostScript capable, there is an easier way to create queues. A print queue can be configured with DECprint Supervisor (DCPS) to automatically convert various file formats (e.g., ASCII text, PCL 4, ReGIS, IBM Proprinter, and Tektronix) to PostScript before transmitting them to the printer. DCPS does not support TELNETSYM (as described in the previous section) or LPD (as described in the next section) but can be used with LAT, TCP/IP, and AppleTalk networked printers and servers. DCPS supports approximately 30 Digital, ^[4] 25 HP, 15 Lexmark, 8 Apple, and a variety of other printers.

The steps to set up a printer with DCPS are much simpler than those outlined previously, because everything is done with a single command. The system manager must create an execution queue for each PostScript printer to be serviced. There is a template for this operation in SYS$STARTUP:DCPS$STARTUP.TEMPLATE that is used to create DCPS$STARTUP.COM. For example, to create a queue for a PostScript printer, the following is included in DCPS$STARTUP.COM. This script would be called from SYSTARTUP_VMS when OpenVMS is booted:

      $ @SYS$STARTUP:DCPS$EXECUTION_QUEUE -      _$ LN15$BLDG9                       - ! P1 - Execution queue name      _$ "IP_RAWTCP/16.128.144.11:3001"   - ! P2 - protocol/address      _$ DCPS_LIB  - ! P3 - Logical name for your library search list      _$ "SIDES=2" - ! P4 - Defines a default queue parameter      _$ ""        - ! P5 - Value to override/add to default qualifiers      _$ " "       - ! P6 - Communication speed      _$ ""        - ! P7 - Set device qualifier      _$ ""          ! P8 - Verify on/off 

This operation is fully described in the Compaq DECprint Supervisor (DCPS) for OpenVMS System Manager's Guide. Unfortunately, this document is not available online and must be ordered from Compaq/HP. Forms and Device Control Libraries are fully supported and described in the following sections.

Management of DCPS queues uses the same commands as described in previous sections to view, hold, delete, and so on jobs in the queue and to change forms. The control library (the P3 parameter) is built as described in the following sections. Generic queues can be defined as well.

^[4]The DEC printer business was sold to Genicom in the early 1990s.