PCL output sample?

Post #203,597 by broomberg 4/16/05 6:58:50 PM Reply	PCL output sample? It seems I will need to deal with creating my own PCL based forms, in code. So if possible, I want to setup a table driven form layout program that can drive the following: Trigger move from LANDSCAPE to PORTRAIT and back. absolute positioning. font selection. font sizing. graphics / logo insertion (jpeg?) line drawing for grids and boxes. So, anyone done this in Perl yet? Some other language? Buried in CPAN - very minimal PCL references there.
Post #203,600 by Another Scott 4/16/05 8:15:14 PM Reply	Maybe ifhp or a2ps? You have a program that outputs PCL and you want to print the result to a PostScript printer or PDF file, no? This problem must have been solved already. Maybe [link\|http://packages.debian.org/unstable/net/ifhp\|ifhp] will help: ifhp is a highly versatile print filter for BSD based print spoolers. It can be configured to handle text, PostScript, PJL, PCL, and raster printers, supports conversion from one format to another, and can be used as a stand-alone print utility. It is the primary supported print filter for the LPRng print spooler. It provides access to printer features like duplex printing, paper tray selection and strong accounting using the printer's internal page counter. It uses [link\|http://packages.debian.org/unstable/text/a2ps\|a2ps] which says: Historically, a2ps started as a text to PostScript converter, but thanks to powerful delegations it is able to let you use it for any kind of files, ie it can also digest manual pages, dvi files, texinfo, .... Presumably the man pages for these utilities will give more information about using them for PCL to PostScript or PDF conversion. HTH a bit. Note: I've not tried either one. Cheers, Scott.
Post #203,601 by broomberg 4/16/05 8:39:02 PM Reply	Thanks apt-gettED, reading docs now...
Post #203,603 by folkert 4/16/05 8:49:06 PM Reply	Since when did you Debianista? Last I remember you were pissed as you wouldn't want to answer the questions/ Not that I am complaining. -- [link\|mailto:greg@gregfolkert.net\|greg], [link\|http://www.iwethey.org/ed_curry\|REMEMBER ED CURRY!] @ *i_wethey* [image\|http://www.danasoft.com/vipersig.jpg\|\|\|\|]
Post #203,604 by Another Scott 4/16/05 9:16:47 PM Reply	He's had MEPIS for a while. E.g. #186541
Post #203,607 by broomberg 4/16/05 9:29:29 PM Reply	Been a while Note: I still see NO WAY of doing what you stated you are already doing, ie: getting PCL data and converting it to PDF. You've given me the CUPS-PDF piece, but that does not take PCL. How are you doing it????
Post #203,605 by broomberg 4/16/05 9:25:45 PM Reply	Grrr installed, nasty messages, ie: ifhp 21:13:39.506 [7480] Send_job: decoded job type 'PCL' ifhp 21:13:39.506 [7480] Send_job: job is PCL and PCL not supported Got the source, unpacked, got hit this out of the readme: \n2.3 - PCL Not Supported\n Good luck if you need PCL. You can try GhostPCL and see\nif it works for you: [link\|http://www.artifex.com/\|http://www.artifex.com/]\n Currently downloading GhostPCL
Post #203,609 by broomberg 4/16/05 9:36:51 PM Reply	GhostPCL works for viewing [link\|http://www.artifex.com/downloads/\|http://www.artifex.com/downloads/] At least I can stop wasting paper for every little change.
Post #203,612 by Another Scott 4/16/05 9:57:21 PM Reply	It's supposed to do conversions too. pcl6 -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -sOutputFile=mypcl.pdf mypcl.pcl Convert the pcl file mypcl.pcl to PDF with output written to mypcl.pdf. I was on my way to posting about this after some googling. Hope it works! Cheers, Scott.
Post #203,613 by broomberg 4/16/05 10:11:35 PM Reply	THANKYOU!!!!!! That did it!
Post #204,379 by johnburrows 4/21/05 8:39:02 PM 4/21/05 8:40:39 PM Reply	I cant get pdfwrite to be understood on WinXP I have just been trying to compile (using MSVC.NET) and run this on WinXP. The converter does not recognise -sDEVICE=pdfwrite pcl6 -dNOPAUSE -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -sOutputFile=test.pdf test.pcl It lists all the valid choices for -sDEVICE but pdfwrite is NOT among them. Without this option, the converter appears to run perfectly, but the output is actually another PCL file and not a PDF file as I wanted. Edited by johnburrows April 21, 2005, 08:40:39 PM EDT Expand All History
Post #204,528 by broomberg 4/22/05 6:52:37 PM 4/22/05 6:53:27 PM Reply	Probably needs ghostscript, which is built in to most Linux systems. And welcome. How'd you end up here? Edited by broomberg April 22, 2005, 06:53:27 PM EDT Expand All History

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