How to "print to file" - print to ps file

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Level 4

1,346 points

How to "print to file" - print to ps file

I need to find out how to make a "printer" that will print to a ps file. I have done many searches and can find / have found CUPS-PDF which makes a printer that makes a pdf file on the desktop but I need the file before the pdf is made.

In sys 9 (long time ago my memory might be wrong ... !) - I could make a Virtual Printer - that would print to file but can't find an easy way to do it under CUPS and OSX.

And yes I am aware that in the print dialgue under pdf there is a pull down to create a ps file but I actually need a "printer" to do it so there's no manual intervention - ie: it might be partially scripted/automatored ...

Mitch

MacBook Pro 17" and 15" + 17" Intel iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.7), OS 10.5 - G5 Dual 2.3 GHz-4 Gb RAM

Posted on Jul 22, 2009 6:59 PM

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Answer 1

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Jul 22, 2009 7:09 PM in response to Mitch

CMD+P brings up the print dialog box. Under the PDF button is an option to save as PS. Print that.

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Answer 2

PAHU

Level 6

16,717 points

Jul 22, 2009 7:19 PM in response to Mitch

I made a copy of some instructions that were previously posted here or on the server forum with regards to printing to file. Apologies for not acknowledging the creator of this reply - I did not make a note of who they were...

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It is possible to do a print to file that incorporates all the specific printer settings. It is a bit technical and cumbersome. I should note that enabling print to file is considered somewhat of a security hole. I am sure that is one of the reasons it is not enabled by default.

To print to file, you must first enable the feature for the printing system. In the Terminal, enter:

cupsctl FileDevice=Yes

Then restart the printing system for the change to take effect.

sudo killall -HUP cupsd

Now you need to add a printer that will actually print to a file. This must be done via the Terminal. There is no graphical user interface for this. You will need to supply the name for the printer (printerName), the location where you want the file to be written (path2file), the actual file name (filename), and the location of the PPD for the printer (path2PPD).

lpadmin -p printerName -E -v file:path2fileLocation/filename -P path2PPD

Once you actually print to the file, you will probably want to change the ownership of the file. When the file is created, it is owned by the system. You will probably want to change it to be owned by yourself.

sudo chown yourUserName:staff path2File

You will also want to change the name of the file because every file that is printed to file will have the same name. Any file of the same name will be overwritten.

Message was edited by: PAHU

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Answer 3

Mitch Author

Level 4

1,346 points

Jul 22, 2009 7:27 PM in response to baltwo

Yep you're right- but my user wants to be able to tell a "printer" to print to a file like you would print to say a Xerox.

Say the printer is made and called - Print to ps - then all you'd need to do would be command p and enter and the file would be sitting in a folder ready for the next step of the process ... which he hasn't passed on to me as yet ... you know these workflow process people who streamline things and make people redundant ??? - Possibly me ...

Thanks baltwo - I've found something which might do it - http://code.google.com/p/i-v-p-cups/ ...

Any other suggestions - graciously accepted !

Mitch

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Answer 4

Mitch Author

Level 4

1,346 points

Jul 22, 2009 7:28 PM in response to PAHU

Thanks PAHU - I'll check that out now ...

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Answer 5

Mitch Author

Level 4

1,346 points

Jul 28, 2009 4:04 AM in response to Mitch

Hi guys, Any other suggestions ?

I tried PAHU's suggestion but it didn't give me what I needed ...

I'm surprised no-one needs this but I suppose seeing pdf is king ... Just jump over the intermediate step - which is the part I am needing ... Oh well ...

I'll continue looking ...

Mitch

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Answer 6

Jul 28, 2009 10:03 AM in response to Mitch

Any solution will take some programming. The two approaches that might pay off are starting with the CUPS-PDF source code, change the output to PS and building a driver, and using Automator. However, Automator may not be easier than using the button. You might be able to attach an action to the output folder for CUPS-PDF that would save any file in it to another folder as a PS file.

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Answer 7

Jul 29, 2009 11:01 AM in response to Mitch

Would a drag and drop application that converts the document to ps be of any help?

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Answer 8

Jul 29, 2009 5:19 PM in response to Mitch

Mitch wrote:
I tried PAHU's suggestion but it didn't give me what I needed ...

Could you elaborate on that? What PAHU's suggestion lack or add to what you need?

Almost all files sent to any printer in OS X begin as PDFs. There are exceptions for some or all Adobe applications where PostScript is sent to the printing system.

Matt

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Answer 9

Mitch Author

Level 4

1,346 points

Jul 29, 2009 8:11 PM in response to Bruce De Benedictis

Thanks Bruce !

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Answer 10

Mitch Author

Level 4

1,346 points

Jul 29, 2009 8:13 PM in response to Matt Broughton

And I think thats where the need is coming from. Could be indesign ... Im awaiting a better brief !

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Answer 11

Mitch Author

Level 4

1,346 points

Jul 29, 2009 8:14 PM in response to John Blanchard1

Possibly John, any additional suggestions are helpful !

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Answer 12

Jul 30, 2009 9:54 AM in response to Mitch

Mitch, there are scripts in /Library/Scripts/Printing Scripts/, and one of these is Convert To PostScript. You can save this as a droplet and convert documents by dragging them onto the droplet. I am not sure if this is what you are looking for, but it may help.

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