Page Description Languages – PDL

Earlier on in history, printers viewed text as text, and graphics as graphics. A page was created from a combination of separate entities. The page images can be created by having raw text like, the word “Hello World”, combined with Escape codes and possibly embedded graphic pictures. Different programs have different file formats.

To overcome this problem, Page Description Language (PDL) is developed. PDL is a language to describe the graphical representation of ink and toner on sheets of paper (or other output devices, like monitors, photo typesetters, etc) in a higher level than an actual output bitmap.

Instead of sending raw text to the printer, a PDL output file is created and sent to the printer. Basically PDL instructs the printing device exactly how to handle text, graphics, and pictures in reproducing the page layout created by a computer user. The ‘page’ could be of any size, color, or resolution the printing device can handle.

By having PDL, an application programmer could concentrate on making his program to output result in a standard PDL – with description of his printable page. The printing device developers could focus on making their devices with related PDL literate.
Read the rest of this entry »

How to generate PS file in Windows environment

In order to create a Postscript (PS) file from Windows applications: simply print from the application, selecting a postscript printer and using the printing option “print to file”.

A dialog box will open, allowing you to choose the folder in which you wish to create the PostScript file. Choose a name for the file (a .prn extension will be appended to the filename). When you select Save, the printer driver will save the Postscript file in the location you select instead of actually sending the postscript file to the printer. You may need to change the file extension to .ps after file is generated.

However, very likely, using the printer driver for your own printer will result in files that are targeted at that printer, and hence not completely portable. To

achieve portability, you will need to install and use another printer driver. Also you may not have any postscript printer with you at the moment. The solution to this is to install a virtual postscript printer, i.e. install printer drivers without actually having the corresponding printer.
Read the rest of this entry »

How to uncompress pp_ file (compress form of PPD file)

The pp_ which is coming with printer driver is the compressed form of PPD (Postscript Printer Description) file.

PPD files are created by vendors to describe the entire set of features and capabilities available for their Postscript printers.

To uncompress it you, execute the following command:

Example: file.pp_

C:\expand file.pp_ file.ppd