PostScript Languange Printer Commands 1-1

Chapter 1

PostScript Languange Printer Commands

Overview

Printer commands for Adobe PostScript 3 prov ide a way fo r you to co mmun icate wi th
the printer to perform certain tasks.
This document provides programmi ng information about Adobe PostScript 3 and
contains most of the PostScript commands. It is written for people who are familiar
with the command structure of the PostScript language. Most software applications do
not require you to enter printer commands. However, if needed, you should refer to
your software documentation for information about how to enter printer commands.
This document also describes the particular PostScript interpreter parameters and
resources implemented for the printer. The printer has features and capabilities that
might not be present in other PostScript printers and that are not documented
elsewhere.
The following documents are generally relevant to the operation and programming of
PostScript printers.
PostScript Language Reference Manual, Third Edition (Addison-Wesley),
(hereafter referred to as the Reference Manual), describes the programming
language used to tell printers what and how to print. It describes features of the
language available in all PostScript interpreters.
The PostScript Language Reference Manual Lev el 3 Version 3010 and 3011
Supplement (Adobe), (hereafter referred to as the Supp lement), provides an up-to-
date catalog of standard page device, user, system, and device parameters. It
includes parameters that have changed since their original description in the
PostScript Language Reference Manual, Third Edition.
PostScript Language Tutori al and Cookbook (Addison-Wesley) contains
explanatory and tutorial material to improve users’ understanding of the
PostScript page description language. It introduces the PostScript language a t a
basic level.
PostScript Language Program Des i gn (Addison-Wesley) teaches programming
principles unique to the PostScript language with many usable samples. It is for
programmers interested in the effective and efficient design of PostScript
language programs and printer drivers.
PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification (Adobe) describes the
PostScript Printer Description (or PPD) file format which provides information in
a machine-readable form about printer-specific features and about the fonts built
into the printer.
PostScript Printer Description File for the Printer, available from the Adobe
Developers Association, provides a device-independent way of in voking
device-dependent features. It is needed by some drivers to offer complete device
functionality to the user.