Conference 7.286::atarist

I don't know of any, but I could easily write a few things for you -
what do you want?

1 - A program to print ordinary text files on the PostScript printer?

It wouldn't be hard to whip up something that put up a file selector and
then dumped ASCII.PS (from REGENT::POSTSCRIPT conference) followed by
the text file of your choice.  I'd be happy enough to do this for you.

2 - A desk accessory to print-portion-of-screen to the PostScript printer?

This is a little harder, but I have most of the pieces.  I'd only do
this if you were desperate for it.

3 - A program to send a PostScript file to the printer?

You've got this already, although you might want a variation on (1) that
sent ^D's before each file.

    There is already a program that will take an ASCII text file to
    Postscript.  If noone has a copy on the net I can upload it.  I
    don't know of any screen dump programs, but as Jeff has said, it
    wouldn't be difficult.  A back issue of Start Magazine had Tom Hudon's
    print driver builder and it seems like there was a utility to install
    one of these driver's in the system.
    
    							-Dave

    Hi Jeff,
    
    	YES, I was hoping that a utility already existed that would
    allow the screen to be dumped directly.  You mentioned that you
    had some pieces though...
    
    	I figure you'd have to divide the page into pixel-sized pieces,
    and draw/fill rectangles accordingly.  I can't think of any other
    way, is there one?
    
    	ASCII.PS would definitely be the way to go for text, I agree...
    
    _John_

    Hello John,
    
    I have two utilties to output POstscript from a) First word Plus,
    and B) any  *.gem files.
    
    They can be found in UKCSSE::DISK$CSSE01:[KEANE.ST.ARC]1stW2PS_V2.arc
    and MFPS.arc 
    
    HAVE FUN !!!
    
    PAt KEANE
    
    
    
    

There's a screendump utility in the A.B.A.C.U.S. library that writes 
a compressed bitmap file.  A companion C program reads that file and 
outputs it in PostScript.  

UTILITY.013   Utilities & Tools
************************************************************************
\SNAPSHOT\   10K Saves screen to a compressed file, then can convert it
             to a Postscript file
************************************************************************

REGENT::USER$C:[LOMICKA.PUBLIC.ST]SNAPSHOT.ARC 

PostScript has an IMAGE operator.  You set up a few trasformation
matricies to get the scale factors set, and then throw the bitmap at it
as a bunch of HEX characters.  If you do this right, it will even
convert your color information into appropriate NTSC equivalent
grey-scale values which it will simulate with halftones.  Automatically.

Pretty neat stuff.  Someday (when Publisher's Clearinghouse finally
picks my name) I'll get one.  Then I'll build an interface for it that
uses the bidirectional nature of the Atari's parallel port to interface
it, so that I can keep the serial port for the modem.

(I bet a could make a few bucks on THAT device, no?)

    I'll buy one!
    
    Also, a previous note mentioned .GEM files?  I thought I knew
    'everything', What's a .GEM file?
    
    

    HI, Re -.1
     WHAT YOU GET OUT OF EASYDRAW 2 when you save your work.  
    
    E.g. House.Gem  Ship.Gem

    Re: .8
    
    .GEM files are GEM metafiles.  Any program that FULLY supports GDOS
    will allow you to write out a metafile.  One problem with this is
    that a lot of programs don't support other programs metafiles due
    to various inconsistencies.  EasyDraw is one program that outputs
    .GEM metafiles.  Now all one needs are converters for GEM <-> DDIF.
    
    Re: previous
    
    I wasn't aware of the GEM to PS converter, thanks!
    
    						-Dave

    I tried using the SNAPSHOT program the other day.  I was able to
    capture (and later display) a screen, but the conversion
    to POSTSCRIPT .C program wouldn't compile. 
    
    Does anyone have the .PRG version of the converter?
    
    Many thanks in advance,
    
    _John_

    If you want to upload your images captured by snapshot to the VAX
    you can copy:  LEDDEV::DISK$USER9:[WALLACE.PUBLIC.ST]CBW2PS.EXE
    and run it on the VAX.
    
    This is the conversion program found in SNAPSHOT.ARC but I compiled
    it with VAXC. I have NOT tried it to see if it works but it looks
    like it should.
    
    What compiler did you use to compile it with, MWC? What were the
    errors you got when you compiled it? I had no trouble compiling
    it with VAX C.
    
    I did add two command line switches, -h and -?, either one will
    give you a help/useage message (just the comments from the C source).
    
    	Ray

    I just copied CW2PS.EXE to my VAX.  I'll give it a try over the
    weekend, as I don't have a file to try it with now...
    
    Thanks for your help, I'll let you know how it goes...
    
    _John_

    I've been successful using the SNAPSHOT utility, but as I'm primarily
    a "color system" user, I was wondering if anyone had a utility that
    allows a color dump of the screen to be output to a b/w PostScript
    printer...
    
    What I'm *REALLY* in need of is:
    
    	1) A manner of copying the screen (medium/low resolution) to .PS
    
    	2) The ability to translate .NEO (or parts of one) to .PS
    		(I don't have any other drawing programs, and Neo seems
    		 suitable enough for my uses)
    
    _John_
    
    

I could use one of those two.  I have some of the pieces if you want to
help put it all together.

    Hi Jeff,
    i am also very interesting!
    Rolf
    

    Sure Jeff, I'll take the pieces, put'em together, and make it
    available to the readers of this conference...
    
    It seems I can't get a X windows system at home (from DEC anyway,
    perhaps I'll sell my car and buy an Atari TT!), and I want to be
    able to create X bitmaps at home to support my efforts at work.
    
    I hope to use NEOchrome to assist in the development of a design
    document, and a "rough draft" of a Motif User Interface...
    
    Thanks in advance,
    
    _John_