On Sat, 31 Oct 1998, Mikkel L. Ellertson wrote:
> At 11:35 PM 10/31/98 MYT, you wrote:
> >
> >I am connected to a network, where win95 rules, and I am the only linux
> >user.. is it possible that I can print to a printer that is connected to
> >a win95 machine? Is it possible using the samba thing??
> Using smbclient from the Samba package will let you print to a
> printer attached to a windows machine. The only thing I am not
> sure of is how they would handle Postscript output if the printer
> driver doesn't handle it. (My printers handle it just fine.)
> Here is the printcap entry:
[...]
> I have attached the print filter to this message... (It is a
> standard RedHat print filter...)
(Didn't understand your filter - INPUT-to-ps didn't seem to be
resolved.)
No problem if you are printing plain text. If you _do_ need to
print PostScript:
See if you have a Macintosh computer (plus printer) in the workplace
- it will support PostScript.
Unix/Linux systems that don't have PostScript printers usually use
ghostscript (the gs command) to convert the document into native
printer codes. If you _must_ use a Microsoft computer, see if the
printers supported by gs (the selection is decided at compile time)
include the one you need to print on. E.g. if it is LaserJet
compatible you will have no problems here.
Once you have converted it to (let's call it) a *.prn file you can
take it to the Microsoft machine and use whatever command (PRINT?
TYPE?) will dump your file to the printer.
man gs
If the Microsoft computer has a PostScript printer attached you have
no problem, of course.
It is better to attach the printer to the Linux machine and use
Samba to provide printer shares to the Microsoft machines. Then you
have no problems printing from that or another Linux box and you
have no problems printing from the Micosoft boxes - a more generally
useful setup.
--Mike
