Homepage: https://www.emacswiki.org/cgi-bin/wiki/ViniciusJoseLatorre
Author: Vinicius Jose Latorre
Printing utilities
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Introduction ------------ With `printing' you can preview or print a PostScript file. You can also print a text file using PostScript, and preview or print buffers that use certain special modes like mh-folder-mode, rmail-summary-mode, gnus-summary-mode, etc. This package also includes a PostScript/text printer database. There are two user interfaces: * Menu interface: The `printing' menu replaces the usual print options in the menu bar. This is the default user interface. * Buffer interface: You can use a buffer interface instead of menus. It looks like a customization buffer. Basically, it has the same options found in the menu and some extra options, all this on a buffer. `printing' is prepared to run on GNU, Unix and NT systems. On GNU or Unix system, `printing' depends on gs and gv utilities. On NT system, `printing' depends on gstools (gswin32.exe and gsview32.exe). To obtain ghostscript, ghostview and GSview see the URL `https://www.gnu.org/software/ghostscript/ghostscript.html'. `printing' depends on ps-print package to generate PostScript files, to spool and to despool PostScript buffer. So, `printing' provides an interface to ps-print package and it also provides some extra stuff. `printing' was inspired by: print-nt.el Frederic CorneSpecial printing functions for Windows NT mh-e-init.el Tom Vogels PS-print for mail messages win32-ps-print.el Matthew O. Persico PostScript printing with ghostscript ps-print-interface.el Volker Franz Graphical front end for ps-print and previewing Log Messages ------------ The buffer *Printing Command Output* is where the `printing' log messages are inserted. All program called by `printing' has a log entry in the buffer *Printing Command Output*. A log entry has the following form: PROGRAM (ARG...) MESSAGE Exit status: CODE Where PROGRAM is the program activated by `printing', ARG is an argument passed to PROGRAM (it can have more than one argument), MESSAGE is an error message returned by PROGRAM (it can have no message, if PROGRAM is successful), and CODE is a numeric exit status or a signal description string. For example, after previewing a PostScript file, *Printing Command Output* will have the following entry: /usr/bin/gv ("/home/user/example/file.ps") Exit status: 0 In the example above, the previewing was successful. If during previewing, you quit gv execution (by typing C-g during Emacs session), the log entry would be: /usr/bin/gv ("/home/user/example/file.ps") Exit status: Quit So, if something goes wrong, a good place to take a look is the buffer *Printing Command Output*. Don't forget to see also the buffer *Messages*, it can help. Novices (First Users) --------------------- First of all, see printing documentation only to get an idea of what `printing' is capable. Then try to set the variables: `pr-ps-name', `pr-ps-printer-alist', `pr-txt-name', `pr-txt-printer-alist' and `pr-path-alist'. These variables are the main variables for printing processing. Now, please, see these variables documentation deeper. You can do this by typing C-h v pr-ps-name RET (for example) if you already loaded printing package, or by browsing printing.el source file. If the documentation isn't clear or if you find a way to improve the documentation, please, send an email to maintainer. All printing users will thank you. One way to set variables is by calling `pr-customize', customize all variables and save the customization by future sessions (see Options section). Other way is by adding code to your init file; see below for a first setting template that it should be inserted on your init file: * Example of setting for Windows system: (require 'printing) ; load printing package (setq pr-path-alist '((windows "c:/applications/executables" PATH ghostview mpage) (ghostview "c:/gs/gsview-dir") (mpage "c:/mpage-dir") )) (setq pr-txt-name 'prt_06a) (setq pr-txt-printer-alist '((prt_06a "print" nil "/D:\\\\printers\\prt_06a") (prt_07c nil nil "/D:\\\\printers\\prt_07c") (PRN "" nil "PRN") (standard "redpr.exe" nil "") )) (setq pr-ps-name 'lps_06b) (setq pr-ps-printer-alist '((lps_06a "print" nil "/D:" "\\\\printers\\lps_06a") (lps_06b "print" nil nil "\\\\printers\\lps_06b") (lps_07c "print" nil "" "/D:\\\\printers\\lps_07c") (lps_08c nil nil nil "\\\\printers\\lps_08c") (LPT1 "" nil "" "LPT1:") (PRN "" nil "" "PRN") (standard "redpr.exe" nil "" "") )) (pr-update-menus t) ; update now printer and utility menus * Example of setting for GNU or Unix system: (require 'printing) ; load printing package (setq pr-path-alist '((unix "." "~/bin" ghostview mpage PATH) (ghostview "$HOME/bin/gsview-dir") (mpage "$HOME/bin/mpage-dir") )) (setq pr-txt-name 'prt_06a) (setq pr-txt-printer-alist '((prt_06a "lpr" nil "prt_06a") (prt_07c nil nil "prt_07c") )) (setq pr-ps-name 'lps_06b) (setq pr-ps-printer-alist '((lps_06b "lpr" nil "-P" "lps_06b") (lps_07c "lpr" nil nil "lps_07c") (lps_08c nil nil nil "lps_08c") )) (pr-update-menus t) ; update now printer and utility menus NOTE 1: Don't forget to download and install ghostscript utilities (see Utilities section). NOTE 2: The `printer-name' and `ps-printer-name' variables don't need to be set, as they are implicit set by `pr-ps-printer-alist' and `pr-txt-printer-alist'. NOTE 3: The duplex feature will only work on PostScript printers that support this feature. You can check if your PostScript printer supports duplex feature by checking the printer manual. Or you can try these steps: 1. Open a buffer (or use the *scratch* buffer). 2. Type: First line (on first page) ^L Second line (on second page) 3. Print this buffer with duplex turned on. If it's printed 2 (two) sheets of paper, then your PostScript printer doesn't have duplex feature; otherwise, it's ok, your printer does have duplex feature. NOTE 4: See Tips section. Tips ---- 1. If you have a local printer, that is, a printer which is connected directly to your computer, don't forget to connect the printer to your computer before printing. 2. If you try to print a file and it seems that the file was printed, but there is no paper in the printer, then try to set `pr-delete-temp-file' to nil. Probably `printing' is deleting the temporary file before your local system can get it to send to the printer. 3. Don't try to print a dynamic buffer, that is, a buffer which is modifying while `printing' tries to print. Eventually you got an error message. Instead, save the dynamic buffer to a file or copy it in another buffer and, then, print the file or the new static buffer. An example of dynamic buffer is the *Messages* buffer. 4. When running Emacs on Windows (with or without cygwin), check if your printer is a text printer or not by typing in a DOS window: print /D:\\host\printer somefile.txt Where, `host' is the machine where the printer is directly connected, `printer' is the printer name and `somefile.txt' is a text file. If the printer `\\host\printer' doesn't print the content of `somefile.txt' or, instead, it returns the following message: PostScript Error Handler Offending Command = CCC Stack = Where `CCC' is whatever is at the beginning of the text to be printed. Therefore, the printer `\\host\printer' is not a text printer, but a PostScript printer. So, please, don't include this printer in `pr-txt-printer-alist' (which see). 5. You can use gsprint instead of ghostscript to print monochrome PostScript files in Windows. The gsprint utility documentation says that it is more efficient than ghostscript to print monochrome PostScript. To print non-monochrome PostScript file, the efficiency of ghostscript is similar to gsprint. Also the gsprint utility comes together with gsview distribution. For more information about gsprint see `https://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/gsview/gsprint.htm'. As an example of gsprint declaration: (setq pr-ps-printer-alist '((A "gsprint" ("-all" "-twoup") "-printer " "my-b/w-printer-name") (B "gsprint" ("-all" "-twoup") nil "-printer my-b/w-printer-name") ;; some other printer declaration )) The example above declares that printer A prints all pages (-all) and two pages per sheet (-twoup). The printer B declaration does the same as the printer A declaration, the only difference is the printer name selection. There are other command line options like: -mono Render in monochrome as 1bit/pixel (only black and white). -grey Render in greyscale as 8bits/pixel. -color Render in color as 24bits/pixel. The default is `-mono'. So, printer A and B in the example above are using implicitly the `-mono' option. Note that in `-mono' no gray tone or color is printed, this includes the zebra stripes, that is, in `-mono' the zebra stripes are not printed. See also documentation for `pr-ps-printer-alist'. Using `printing' ---------------- To use `printing' insert in your init file: (require 'printing) ;; ...some user settings... (pr-update-menus t) During `pr-update-menus' evaluation: * On Emacs 20: it replaces the Tools/Print menu by Tools/Printing menu. * On Emacs 21: it replaces the File/Print* menu entries by File/Print menu. Please, see section Menu Layout below for menu explanation. To use `printing' utilities you can use the Printing menu options, type M-x followed by one of the commands below, or type a key associated with the command you want (if there is a key binding). `printing' has the following commands: pr-interface pr-ps-directory-preview pr-ps-directory-using-ghostscript pr-ps-directory-print pr-ps-directory-ps-print pr-ps-buffer-preview pr-ps-buffer-using-ghostscript pr-ps-buffer-print pr-ps-buffer-ps-print pr-ps-region-preview pr-ps-region-using-ghostscript pr-ps-region-print pr-ps-region-ps-print pr-ps-mode-preview pr-ps-mode-using-ghostscript pr-ps-mode-print pr-ps-mode-ps-print pr-ps-file-preview pr-ps-file-up-preview pr-ps-file-using-ghostscript pr-ps-file-print pr-ps-file-ps-print pr-ps-file-up-ps-print pr-ps-fast-fire pr-despool-preview pr-despool-using-ghostscript pr-despool-print pr-despool-ps-print pr-printify-directory pr-printify-buffer pr-printify-region pr-txt-directory pr-txt-buffer pr-txt-region pr-txt-mode pr-txt-fast-fire pr-toggle-file-duplex pr-toggle-file-tumble pr-toggle-file-landscape pr-toggle-ghostscript pr-toggle-faces pr-toggle-spool pr-toggle-duplex pr-toggle-tumble pr-toggle-landscape pr-toggle-upside-down pr-toggle-line pr-toggle-zebra pr-toggle-header pr-toggle-lock pr-toggle-region pr-toggle-mode pr-customize lpr-customize pr-help pr-ps-name pr-txt-name pr-ps-utility pr-show-ps-setup pr-show-pr-setup pr-show-lpr-setup The general meanings of above commands are: PREFIX: `pr-interface' buffer interface for printing package. `pr-help' help for printing package. `pr-ps-name' interactively select a PostScript printer. `pr-txt-name' interactively select a text printer. `pr-ps-utility' interactively select a PostScript utility. `pr-show-*-setup' show current settings. `pr-ps-*' deal with PostScript code generation. `pr-txt-*' deal with text generation. `pr-toggle-*' toggle on/off some boolean variable. `pr-despool-*' despool the PostScript spooling buffer. `pr-printify-*' replace nonprintable ASCII by printable ASCII representation. SUFFIX: `*-customize' customization. `*-preview' preview a PostScript file. `*-using-ghostscript' use ghostscript to print. `*-fast-fire' fast fire command (see it for documentation). `*-print' send PostScript directly to printer. `*-ps-print' send PostScript directly to printer or use ghostscript to print. It depends on `pr-print-using-ghostscript' option. INFIX/SUFFIX: `*-directory*' process a directory. `*-buffer*' process a buffer. `*-region*' process a region. `*-mode*' process a major mode (see explanation below). `*-file-*' process a PostScript file. `*-file-up-*' process a PostScript file using a filter utility. Here are some examples: `pr-ps-buffer-using-ghostscript' Use ghostscript to print a buffer. `pr-ps-file-print' Print a PostScript file. `pr-toggle-spool' Toggle spooling buffer. So you can preview through ghostview, use ghostscript to print (if you don't have a PostScript printer) or send directly to printer a PostScript code generated by `ps-print' package. Besides operating one buffer or region each time, you also can postpone previewing or printing by saving the PostScript code generated in a temporary Emacs buffer. This way you can save banner pages between successive printing. You can toggle on/off spooling by invoking `pr-toggle-spool' interactively or through menu bar. If you type, for example: C-u M-x pr-ps-buffer-print RET The `pr-ps-buffer-print' command prompts you for a n-up printing number and a file name, and save the PostScript code generated to the file name instead of sending to printer. This behavior is similar with the commands that deal with PostScript code generation, that is, with `pr-ps-*' and `pr-despool-*' commands. If spooling is on, only `pr-despool-*' commands prompt for a file name and save the PostScript code spooled in this file. Besides the behavior described above, the `*-directory*' commands also prompt for a directory and a file name regexp. So, it's possible to process all or certain files on a directory at once (see also documentation for `pr-list-directory'). `printing' has also a special way to handle some major mode through `*-mode*' commands. So it's possible to customize a major mode printing, it's only needed to declare the customization in `pr-mode-alist' (see section Options) and invoke some of `*-mode*' commands. An example for major mode usage is when you're using gnus (or mh, or rmail, etc.) and you're in the *Summary* buffer, if you forget to switch to the *Article* buffer before printing, you'll get a nicely formatted list of article subjects shows up at the printer. With major mode printing you don't need to switch from gnus *Summary* buffer first. Current global keyboard mapping is: (global-set-key [print] 'pr-ps-fast-fire) (global-set-key [M-print] 'pr-ps-mode-using-ghostscript) (global-set-key [S-print] 'pr-ps-mode-using-ghostscript) (global-set-key [C-print] 'pr-txt-fast-fire) (global-set-key [C-M-print] 'pr-txt-fast-fire) As a suggestion of global keyboard mapping for some `printing' commands: (global-set-key "\C-ci" 'pr-interface) (global-set-key "\C-cbp" 'pr-ps-buffer-print) (global-set-key "\C-cbx" 'pr-ps-buffer-preview) (global-set-key "\C-cbb" 'pr-ps-buffer-using-ghostscript) (global-set-key "\C-crp" 'pr-ps-region-print) (global-set-key "\C-crx" 'pr-ps-region-preview) (global-set-key "\C-crr" 'pr-ps-region-using-ghostscript) Options ------- Below it's shown a brief description of `printing' options, please, see the options declaration in the code for a long documentation. `pr-filename-style' Specify which filename style to use for external commands. `pr-path-alist' Specify an alist for command paths. `pr-txt-name' Specify a printer for printing a text file. `pr-txt-printer-alist' Specify an alist of all text printers. `pr-ps-name' Specify a printer for printing a PostScript file. `pr-ps-printer-alist' Specify an alist for all PostScript printers. `pr-temp-dir' Specify a directory for temporary files during printing. `pr-ps-temp-file' Specify PostScript temporary file name prefix. `pr-file-modes' Specify the file permission bits for newly created files. `pr-gv-command' Specify path and name of the gsview/gv utility. `pr-gs-command' Specify path and name of the ghostscript utility. `pr-gs-switches' Specify ghostscript switches. `pr-gs-device' Specify ghostscript device switch value. `pr-gs-resolution' Specify ghostscript resolution switch value. `pr-print-using-ghostscript' Non-nil means print using ghostscript. `pr-faces-p' Non-nil means print with face attributes. `pr-spool-p' Non-nil means spool printing in a buffer. `pr-file-landscape' Non-nil means print PostScript file in landscape orientation. `pr-file-duplex' Non-nil means print PostScript file in duplex mode. `pr-file-tumble' Non-nil means print PostScript file in tumble mode. `pr-auto-region' Non-nil means region is automagically detected. `pr-auto-mode' Non-nil means major-mode specific printing is preferred over normal printing. `pr-mode-alist' Specify an alist for a major-mode and printing function. `pr-ps-utility' Specify PostScript utility processing. `pr-ps-utility-alist' Specify an alist for PostScript utility processing. `pr-menu-lock' Non-nil means menu is locked while selecting toggle options. `pr-menu-char-height' Specify menu char height in pixels. `pr-menu-char-width' Specify menu char width in pixels. `pr-setting-database' Specify an alist for settings in general. `pr-visible-entry-list' Specify a list of Printing menu visible entries. `pr-delete-temp-file' Non-nil means delete temporary files. `pr-list-directory' Non-nil means list directory when processing a directory. `pr-buffer-name' Specify the name of the buffer interface for printing package. `pr-buffer-name-ignore' Specify a regexp list for buffer names to be ignored in interface buffer. `pr-buffer-verbose' Non-nil means to be verbose when editing a field in interface buffer. To set the above options you may: a) insert the code in your ~/.emacs, like: (setq pr-faces-p t) This way always keep your default settings when you enter a new Emacs session. b) or use `set-variable' in your Emacs session, like: M-x set-variable RET pr-faces-p RET t RET This way keep your settings only during the current Emacs session. c) or use customization, for example: click on menu-bar *Help* option, then click on *Customize*, then click on *Browse Customization Groups*, expand *PostScript* group, expand *Printing* group and then customize `printing' options. Through this way, you may choose if the settings are kept or not when you leave out the current Emacs session. d) or see the option value: C-h v pr-faces-p RET and click the *customize* hypertext button. Through this way, you may choose if the settings are kept or not when you leave out the current Emacs session. e) or invoke: M-x pr-customize RET and then customize `printing' options. Through this way, you may choose if the settings are kept or not when you leave out the current Emacs session. f) or use menu bar, for example: click on menu-bar *File* option, then click on *Printing*, then click on *Customize*, then click on *printing* and then customize `printing' options. Through this way, you may choose if the settings are kept or not when you leave out the current Emacs session. Menu Layout ----------- The `printing' menu (Tools/Printing or File/Print) has the following layout: +-----------------------------+ A 0 | Printing Interface | +-----------------------------+ +-A---------+ +-B------+ I 1 | PostScript Preview >|-------|Directory >|-----|1-up | 2 | PostScript Print >|---- A |Buffer >|-- B |2-up | 3 | PostScript Printer: name >|---- C |Region >|-- B |4-up | +-----------------------------+ |Mode >|-- B |Other...| II 4 | Printify >|-----\ |File >|--\ +--------+ 5 | Print >|---\ | |Despool... | | 6 | Text Printer: name >|-\ | | +-----------+ | +-----------------------------+ | | | +---------+ +------------+ III 7 |[ ]Landscape | | | \-|Directory| | No Prep... | Ia 8 |[ ]Print Header | | | |Buffer | +------------+ Ib 9 |[ ]Print Header Frame | | | |Region | | name >|- C 10 |[ ]Line Number | | | +---------+ +------------+ 11 |[ ]Zebra Stripes | | | +---------+ | 1-up... | Ic 12 |[ ]Duplex | | \---|Directory| | 2-up... | 13 |[ ]Tumble | \--\ |Buffer | | 4-up... | 14 |[ ]Upside-Down | | |Region | | Other... | 15 | Print All Pages >|--\ | |Mode | +------------+ +-----------------------------+ | | +---------+ |[ ]Landscape| Id IV 16 |[ ]Spool Buffer | | | +-C-------+ |[ ]Duplex | Ie 17 |[ ]Print with faces | | \--|( )name A| |[ ]Tumble | If 18 |[ ]Print via Ghostscript | | |( )name B| +------------+ +-----------------------------+ | |... | V 19 |[ ]Auto Region | | |(*)name | 20 |[ ]Auto Mode | | |... | 21 |[ ]Menu Lock | | +---------+ +--------------+ +-----------------------------+ \------------------|(*)All Pages | VI 22 | Customize >|--- D +-D------+ |( )Even Pages | 23 | Show Settings >|-------|printing| |( )Odd Pages | 24 | Help | |ps-print| |( )Even Sheets| +-----------------------------+ |lpr | |( )Odd Sheets | +--------+ +--------------+ See `pr-visible-entry-list' for hiding some parts of the menu. The menu has the following sections: A. Interface: 0. You can use a buffer interface instead of menus. It looks like the customization buffer. Basically, it has the same options found in the menu and some extra options, all this on a buffer. I. PostScript printing: 1. You can generate a PostScript file (if you type C-u before activating menu) or PostScript temporary file for a directory, a buffer, a region or a major mode, choosing 1-up, 2-up, 4-up or any other n-up printing; after file generation, ghostview is activated using the file generated as argument. This option is disabled if spooling is on (option 16). Also, if you already have a PostScript file you can preview it. Instead of previewing each buffer, region or major mode at once, you can save temporarily the PostScript code generated in a buffer and preview it later. The option `Despool...' despools the PostScript spooling buffer in a temporary file and uses ghostview to preview it. If you type C-u before choosing this option, the PostScript code generated is saved in a file instead of saving in a temporary file. To spool the PostScript code generated you need to turn on the option 16. The option `Despool...' is enabled if spooling is on (option 16). NOTE 1: It's possible to customize a major mode printing, just declare the customization in `pr-mode-alist' and invoke some of `*-mode*' commands or select Mode option in Printing menu. An example for major mode usage is when you're using gnus (or mh, or rmail, etc.) and you're in the *Summary* buffer, if you forget to switch to the *Article* buffer before printing, you'll get a nicely formatted list of article subjects shows up at the printer. With major mode printing you don't need to switch from gnus *Summary* buffer first. NOTE 2: There are the following options for PostScript file processing: Ia. Print the file *No Preprocessing*, that is, send it directly to PostScript printer. Ib. PostScript utility processing selection. See `pr-ps-utility-alist' and `pr-setting-database' for documentation. Ic. Do n-up processing before printing. Id. Toggle on/off landscape for PostScript file processing. Ie. Toggle on/off duplex for PostScript file processing. If. Toggle on/off tumble for PostScript file processing. NOTE 3: Don't forget to download and install the utilities declared on `pr-ps-utility-alist'. 2. Operate the same way as option 1, but it sends directly the PostScript code (or put in a file, if you've typed C-u) or it uses ghostscript to print the PostScript file generated. It depends on option 18, if it's turned on, it uses ghostscript; otherwise, it sends directly to printer. If spooling is on (option 16), the PostScript code is saved temporarily in a buffer instead of printing it or saving it in a file. Also, if you already have a PostScript file you can print it. Instead of printing each buffer, region or major mode at once, you can save temporarily the PostScript code generated in a buffer and print it later. The option `Despool...' despools the PostScript spooling buffer directly on a printer. If you type C-u before choosing this option, the PostScript code generated is saved in a file instead of sending to printer. To spool the PostScript code generated you need to turn on the option 16. This option is enabled if spooling is on (option 16). See also the NOTE 1, NOTE 2 and NOTE 3 on option 1. 3. You can select a new PostScript printer to send PostScript code generated. For selection it's used all PostScript printers defined in `pr-ps-printer-alist' variable (see it for documentation). See also `pr-setting-database'. II. Text printing: 4. If you have control characters (character code from \000 to \037) in a buffer and you want to print them in a text printer, select this option. All control characters in your buffer or region will be replaced by a printable representation. The printable representations use ^ (for ASCII control characters) or hex. The characters tab, linefeed, space, return and formfeed are not affected. You don't need to select this option if you use any option of section I, the PostScript engine treats control characters properly. 5. If you want to print a directory, buffer, region or major mode in a text printer, select this option. See also the NOTE 1 on option 1. 6. You can select a new text printer to send text generated. For selection it's used all text printers defined in `pr-txt-printer-alist' variable (see it for documentation). See also `pr-setting-database'. III. PostScript page toggle options: 7. If you want a PostScript landscape printing, turn on this option. 8. If you want to have a header in each page in your PostScript code, turn on this option. 9. If you want to draw a gaudy frame around the header, turn on this option. This option is enabled if print header is on (option 8). 10. If you want that the line number is printed in your PostScript code, turn on this option. 11. If you want background zebra stripes in your PostScript code, turn on this option. 12. If you want a duplex printing and your PostScript printer has this feature, turn on this option. 13. If you turned on duplex printing, you can choose if you want to have a printing suitable for binding on the left or right (tumble off), or to have a printing suitable for binding at top or bottom (tumble on). This option is enabled if duplex is on (option 12). 14. If you want a PostScript upside-down printing, turn on this option. 15. With this option, you can choose if you want to print all pages, odd pages, even pages, odd sheets or even sheets. See also `ps-even-or-odd-pages'. IV. PostScript processing toggle options: 16. If you want to spool the PostScript code generated, turn on this option. To spool the PostScript code generated use option 2. You can despool later by choosing option 1 or 2, sub-option `Despool...'. 17. If you use colors in your buffers and want to see these colors on your PostScript code generated, turn on this option. If you have a black/white PostScript printer, these colors are displayed in gray scale by PostScript printer interpreter. 18. If you don't have a PostScript printer to send PostScript files, turn on this option. When this option is on, the ghostscript is used to print PostScript files. In GNU or Unix system, if ghostscript is set as a PostScript filter, you don't need to turn on this option. V. Printing customization: 19. If you want that region is automagically detected, turn on this option. Note that this will only work if you're using transient mark mode. When this option is on, the `*-buffer*' commands will behave like `*-region*' commands, that is, `*-buffer*' commands will print only the region marked instead of all buffer. 20. Turn this option on if you want that when current major-mode is declared in `pr-mode-alist', the `*-buffer*' and `*-region*' commands behave like `*-mode*' commands. 21. If you want that Printing menu stays open while you are setting toggle options, turn on this option. The variables `pr-menu-char-height' and `pr-menu-char-width' are used to guess the menu position, so don't forget to adjust these variables if menu position is not ok. VI. Customization: 22. Besides all options in section III, IV and V, you can customize much more PostScript options in `ps-print' option. Or you can customize some `lpr' options for text printing. Or customize `printing' options. 23. Show current settings for `printing', `ps-print' or `lpr'. 24. Quick help for printing menu layout. Option Settings --------------- Below it's shown only the main options that affect all `printing' package. Check all the settings below *BEFORE* running `printing' commands. * Example of setting for GNU or Unix system: (require 'printing) (setq pr-path-alist '((unix "." "~/bin" ghostview mpage PATH) (ghostview "$HOME/bin/gsview-dir") (mpage "$HOME/bin/mpage-dir") )) (setq pr-txt-name 'prt_06a) (setq pr-txt-printer-alist '((prt_06a "lpr" nil "prt_06a") (prt_07c nil nil "prt_07c") )) (setq pr-ps-name 'lps_06b) (setq pr-ps-printer-alist '((lps_06b "lpr" nil "-P" "lps_06b") (lps_07c "lpr" nil nil "lps_07c") (lps_08c nil nil nil "lps_08c") )) (setq pr-temp-dir "/tmp/") (setq pr-gv-command "gv") (setq pr-gs-command "gs") (setq pr-gs-switches '("-q -dNOPAUSE -I/usr/share/ghostscript/5.10")) (setq pr-gs-device "uniprint") (setq pr-gs-resolution 300) (setq pr-ps-utility 'mpage) (setq pr-ps-utility-alist '((mpage "mpage" nil "-b%s" "-%d" "-l" "-t" "-T" ">" nil) (psnup "psnup" ("-q") "-P%s" "-%d" "-l" nil nil " " nil (inherits-from: . no-duplex)) )) (setq pr-setting-database '((no-duplex nil nil nil (pr-file-duplex . nil) (pr-file-tumble . nil)) )) (pr-update-menus t) ; update now printer and utility menus * Example of setting for Windows system: (require 'printing) (setq pr-path-alist '((windows "c:/applications/executables" PATH ghostview mpage) (ghostview "c:/gs/gsview-dir") (mpage "c:/mpage-dir") )) (setq pr-txt-name 'prt_06a) (setq pr-txt-printer-alist '((prt_06a "print" nil "/D:\\\\printers\\prt_06a") (prt_07c nil nil "/D:\\\\printers\\prt_07c") (PRN "" nil "PRN") (standard "redpr.exe" nil "") )) (setq pr-ps-name 'lps_06b) (setq pr-ps-printer-alist '((lps_06a "print" nil "/D:" "\\\\printers\\lps_06a") (lps_06b "print" nil nil "\\\\printers\\lps_06b") (lps_07c "print" nil "" "/D:\\\\printers\\lps_07c") (lps_08c nil nil nil "\\\\printers\\lps_08c") (b/w "gsprint" ("-all" "-twoup") "-printer " "b/w-pr-name") (LPT1 "" nil "" "LPT1:") (PRN "" nil "" "PRN") (standard "redpr.exe" nil "" "") )) (setq pr-temp-dir "C:/WINDOWS/TEMP/") (setq pr-gv-command "c:/gs/gsview/gsview32.exe") (setq pr-gs-command "c:/gs/gswin32.exe") (setq pr-gs-switches '("-q -dNOPAUSE -Ic:/gs/gs5.50;c:/gs/gs5.50/fonts")) (setq pr-gs-device "mswinpr2") (setq pr-gs-resolution 300) (setq pr-ps-utility 'psnup) (setq pr-ps-utility-alist '((psnup "c:/psutils/psnup" ("-q") "-P%s" "-%d" "-l" nil nil " " nil (inherits-from: . no-duplex)) )) (setq pr-setting-database '((no-duplex nil nil nil (pr-file-duplex . nil) (pr-file-tumble . nil)) )) (pr-update-menus t) ; update now printer and utility menus NOTE: Don't forget to download and install the utilities declared on `pr-ps-utility-alist'. Utilities --------- `printing' package has the following utilities: `pr-setup' Return the current `printing' setup. `lpr-setup' Return the current `lpr' setup. `pr-update-menus' Update utility, PostScript and text printer menus. `pr-menu-bind' Install `printing' menu in the menubar. Below are some URL where you can find good utilities. * For GNU or Unix system: gs, gv `https://www.gnu.org/software/ghostscript/ghostscript.html' enscript `https://people.ssh.fi/mtr/genscript/' psnup `http://www.knackered.org/angus/psutils/' mpage `https://www.mesa.nl/pub/mpage/' * For Windows system: gswin32, gsview32 `https://www.gnu.org/software/ghostscript/ghostscript.html' gsprint `https://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/gsview/gsprint.htm'. enscript `https://people.ssh.fi/mtr/genscript/' psnup `https://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/psutils.htm' redmon `http://www.ghostgum.com.au/software/redmon.htm' Acknowledgments --------------- Thanks to Stefan Monnier for GNU Emacs and XEmacs printing menu (in `pr-menu-spec') merging suggestion. Thanks to Lennart Borgman for gsprint suggestion (see tip 5 in section Tips). Thanks to Drew Adams for suggestions: - directory processing. - `pr-path-alist' variable. - doc fix. - a lot of tests on Windows. Thanks to Fred Labrosse for XEmacs tests. Thanks to Klaus Berndl for invaluable help/debugging and for suggestions: - even/odd pages printing. - ghostscript parameters for `pr-ps-printer-alist'. - default printer name. - completion functions. - automagic region detection. - menu entry hiding. - fast fire PostScript printing command. - `pr-filename-style' variable. Thanks to Kim F. Storm for beta-test and for suggestions: - PostScript Print and PostScript Print Preview merge. - Tools/Printing menu. - replace *-using-preview by *-using-ghostscript. - printer selection. - extra parameters for `pr-ps-printer-alist'. Thanks to: Frederic Corne print-nt.el Tom Vogels mh-e-init.el Matthew O. Persico win32-ps-print.el Volker Franz ps-print-interface.el And to all people who contributed with them. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;