XSL-FO -> PCL dynamically selecting printer paper bins / drawers / trays

[Mark Wheadon]

Hello,

We have a 'standard letters' type app that can produce the letter as an XSL-FO document. We have used FOP to produce PDFs and are quite impressed. We also need to be able to print the letter and also choose paper from different printer bins. This is mostly so that headed paper can be used for the first page and continuation for the rest.

Does anyone know if it is possible to define this with XSL-FO and if FOP, RenderX or anything else can actually make it happen.

Thanks vary much.
Mark Wheadon.

 

[Nikolai Grigoriev]

Hi,

We have a 'standard letters' type app that can produce the letter as an XSL-FO document. We have used FOP to produce PDFs and are quite impressed. We also need to be able to print the letter and also choose paper from different printer bins. This is mostly so that headed paper can be used for the first page and continuation for the rest.

Does anyone know if it is possible to define this with XSL-FO and if FOP, RenderX or anything else can actually make it happen.

RenderX XEP can ascribe arbitrary PostScript page device settings to individual page masters: this gives a chance to switch trays, trigger manual feed etc. This feature only works for PostScript output:
PDF format does not let you store printer-specific instructions in the document.

Regards,
Nikolai Grigoriev
RenderX

 

[Mark Wheadon]

Hi,

RenderX XEP can ascribe arbitrary PostScript page device settings to individual page masters: this gives a chance to switch trays, trigger manual feed etc. This feature only works for PostScript output:
PDF format does not let you store printer-specific instructions in the document.

Regards,
Nikolai Grigoriev
RenderX

Thanks Nik, is there any chance that you could give me a quick example. I downloaded the XEP trial (I know it doesn't do PS) and have had a look through the documentation briefly but can't see how I might do what you suggest.

Thanks again. MAW.

 

[Nikolai Grigoriev]

Hi Mark,

Thanks Nik, is there any chance that you could give me a quick example. I downloaded the XEP trial (I know it doesn't do PS) and have had a look through the documentation briefly but can't see how I might do what you suggest.

Here's the relative specs:

http://xep.xattic.com/xep/doc/spec.html#Page_Device http://xep.xattic.com/xep/doc/spec.pdf#Page_Device

Essentially, we have a very general processing instruction that inserts arbitrary PostScript code as a value for an entry in page device dictionary. This value my be set for the whole document (in which case the PI should be located at top level, before <fo:root>), or for an individual page (in this case, the PI is placed inside <fo:simple-page-master> for that page). Some examples:

<?xep-postscript-page-device /Duplex true?>
<fo:root xmlns:fo=....>
....

sets duplex mode for the document (and reverts back to the original mode in the document trailer);

<fo:simple-page-master master-name="first-page">
<?xep-postscript-page-device /MediaColor (yellow)?>
<?xep-postscript-page-device /MediaType (coversheet)?>
<fo:region-body margin="1.5in 1in"/>
....
sets /MediaColor and /MediaType entries for padedevice
for pages _produced with this page-master_ (and reverts them back to original values in the page trailer);

<?xep-postscript-page-device
/InputAttributes
<< 0 << /PageSize [612 1008] >>
1 << /PageSize [612 792]
/MediaType (letterhead)
/MatchAll true?>

specifies a whole /InputAttributes dictionary to tweak media selection policies for the document.

A necessary admonition: the mechanism is extremely powerful but requires care to use. Incorrect PostScript code in the PI may ruin the whole output file. Allowed entries for setpagedevice and currentpagedevice are printer-specific; please consult your printer manual for a list of page device options and their values. Please also note that the resulting code may not be portable across printers.

Regards,
Nikolai Grigoriev
RenderX