In cleaning up my desk, I ran across a sheet of old notes that somewhat answers my own question. 'defoma-psfont-installer' is the command I was trying to recall that requested PPD files. Still not sure what this is all about, however.
Paul ->>In response to your message<<- --received from Paul Yeatman-- > > ->>In response to your message<<- > --received from [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > On Tue, 16 Mar 2004, Paul Yeatman wrote: > > > > > I'm trying to figure out exactly what the PPD file thing is about. > > > > Hi Paul, > > > > These files define the capabilities of a printer. You can download the > > appropriate ppd file from linuxprinting.org or (sometimes) from the > > vendor's site. They are just plain text files, so if you want to know > > what's in them just fire up vim and take a look. One of the packages > > using ppd files is cups, might that be the one you're thinking about? > > > > Grx HdV > > Yes, I've definitely noticed the correlation between CUPS and PPD > files but I don't have CUPS installed on any of my machines. > > Thanks for the explanation of PPD files yet I should have been more > explicit. I realize a PPD file provides information regarding > Postscript commands/capabilities? of a particular printer but, I > guess, my question is more . . . how, when and why would one use it? > And what package could it have been that encouraged me to provide PPD > files (knowing I don't have CUPS installed I'm assuming it is a common > Debian package)? > > I currently use lprng with the ifhp package (hp print filters) for > printing. I noticed recently when trying to get a PCL only > printer working that the foomatic config script put a line > ":ppdfile=<path>" in the printcap. Is there any advantage with using > this with my "ordinary" entries (or is this essentially what the > ifhp filter is doing through another means)? > > Yesterday, I found a package called "hp-ppd". I installed this (not > knowing exactly what it was getting me) and apparently it provides PPD > files for HP printers. But then what . . . unless you use the > "ppdfile=" entry in printcap but . . . what does that get you? I also > noticed a package called "lpr-ppd". How does this compare with lprng > and when/why would one choose to use this for his print spooler? This > is more along the line of my inquiry(ies). > > Paul > > -- > Paul Yeatman (858) 534-9896 [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ================================== > ==Proudly brought to you by Mutt== > ================================== > > > -- > To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] > -- Paul Yeatman (858) 534-9896 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ================================== ==Proudly brought to you by Mutt== ================================== -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]