Actually, just printing to file is not _exactly_ the same as what a RIPer
(raster image processor) like ArcPress does. Printing to a file does create
a file in a page definition language that a printer can understand, but not
necessarily in the lowest level format like a RIPer can do (i.e., once the
printer receives the "print to file" file, it still often needs to process
it and turn it into a low-level file. The advantage of this low-level file
is that the printer does not need to receive the entire file into memory for
processing before it can start printing. In some versions, it can begin
printing as soon as it starts receiving data.
That said, there is a way in some printer drivers to get that "lowest level"
file just using the "print to file" feature. I know that drivers for the HP
DesignJet series of plotters have a "process in computer" option (the
default is "process in printer"), that, when selected, will give you a
low-level file. So, if your driver has a "process in computer" option, and
you select the "print to file" option, you can create a file that is the
same as a RIPer like ArcPress will create (although not as simply).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keith Miller
Principal Planner: GIS and Modeling
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, Inc.
One Newark Center, 17th floor
Newark, NJ 07102
973-639-8444
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of PERRY Chris
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2001 8:57 PM
To: 'Feinberg, Harold'; MapInfo-L (E-mail)
Subject: RE: MI-L Prepress software
Harold,
This is fairly easy to do using standard windows functionality.
1. Set up your printer to "print to file" rather than connected to a live
port. This is simple enough to do under Start > Settings > Printers. Choose
the printer, and modify the properties.
2. Print from MapInfo as per normal and save the file (the printer driver
will prompt for a file name). You now have your file which you can easily
transport to another computer which is connected to the appropriate printer,
or send the file to a bureau for printing.
3. Now you simply copy the file to your printer queue. For a local printer
this might be LPT1: . For a networked computer it might be the UNC network
path , eg. //Server1/Printer1_q . You need to open an MS-DOS (or Command for
NT users) window and type in the following:
COPY /b C:\MYFILE.PRN > LPT1:
if C:\MYFILE.PRN is the name of the file you created in step 2, and your
printer is connected to LPT1: .
We've created a simple batch file to do this, and associated it with all PRN
files. Now users just have to double-click on the PRN file in Windows
explorer and the file is automatically sent to the printer.
The batch file is just a text file with the following in it and saved with a
.BAT extension:
copy /b %1 lpt2:
(the %1 is basically any file selected).
Hope this helps,
Chris Perry
Corporate Systems CoOrdinator
Parks Victoria
Level 13 / 535 Bourke Street
Melbourne Vic 3000
Australia
Ph: 61 3 8627 4600
Fax: 61 3 9619 0700
-----Original Message-----
From: Feinberg, Harold [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Saturday, 23 June 2001 2:07
To: MapInfo-L (E-mail)
Subject: MI-L Prepress software
ESRI makes a tool called ArcPress for AV and AI that allows you to print to
file (not pdf) in the printer driver's language allowing one to preprint
their layout and then move the printer file to the print queue at a
convenient time or archive the file for future use. Does a similar tool
exist for MI?
Harold R. Feinberg
Research Analyst 1 GIS
Dept. of Conservation:
Division of Mines and Geology
(916) 445-2673
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