jdd composed on 2015-05-26 14:48 (UTC+0200):
Felix Miata composed:
jdd composed on 2015-05-26 09:16 (UTC+0200):
Felix Miata composed:
Is this a pipe dream?
I'm not sure to understand fully what you want.
Linux was always printing through ps based engine, so if what you want is printing from linux,
Printing "from Linux" was not the question, beyond the possibility of using my DOS program "in Linux", whether from DOSEmu, DOSBox or whatever.
I still don't understand from what computer/system you want to print. Obviously you have to run your program on some machine to be able to print?
I'm not being picky about how. I just want stuff in existing DOS spreadsheets appropriately dumped onto paper, as much like as was possible when they were created over two decades ago, when most printers connected via parallel ports, and Win95's PNP and USB hadn't yet been loosed on the public. That could mean booting DOS, but in order to reach a USB or network printer it may need to be the DOS app running in DOS emulated under something else, preferably Linux. Possibly it could mean FreeDOS under Linux, or FreeDOS on hardware.
you should be able to print to file as ps or pdf.
QPro DOS was released around 20 years ago. It has no print to PS or PDF option. It can only print to a supported "installed" (in the app) printer. The codes embedded in my spreadsheets are for printers that support an Epson printer language, which is nothing like PS or HP.
gs was perfectly able to print to epson needle printer (I did so). If you can run your program (QPro?) in any emulator, it should print also in any linux compatible printer
Only if the printers and/or CUPS and/or Gutenprint are able to translate the text mode output. The Epson printer controls are embedded in the spreadsheet content for printing in text mode, seconds per page, vs. the several minutes per page had they been designed for graphical mode.
fact is time ago any printer was sold with a manual giving the printer's codes and it's no more the case now AFAIK.
I'm not interested in rewriting a whole library of spreadsheets with a new printer language.
no need to do so
How remains to be discovered.
I'm too old to try learning another, or figuring out how to
translate what's in them to something else.
you may also subscribe to the gutenprint mailing list and ask there, the printers experts are there
Is http://www.openprinting.org/driver/gutenprint/ what you mean? It seems to exclude all printer models that I can remember to be compatible with ancient DOS apps that support Epson FX/LX/LQ dialects. https://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/supDetail.jsp?UseCookie=yes&infoType=FAQ&oid=14294&prodoid=8191&foid=49714
and this?
There's hope there, but no mailing list. :-( The bigger reason for the thread is the issue of choosing a new MF printer, preferably one natively handling Epson FX/LX/LQ printer control languages. Right now I have no FAX, no copier, and no ability to print anything from Linux. -- "The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive." Proverbs 16:21 (New Living Translation) Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks! Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse+owner@opensuse.org