Psroff 2.0 is finally out of Alpha (Yeah!).

[Chris Lewis]

		    PSROFF 2.0 - What is it?
		    Chris Lewis (clewis at eci386)

Psroff is a software package that allows you to use CAT troff
(the version of troff that comes bundled with most versions of
UNIX) with a variety of different printers.  Namely, psroff can
generate HP PCL format (suitable for use with HP Laserjet
compatible printers), Postscript (suitable for use with any
Postscript printer), and ditroff-format (suitable for any of
a variety of different ditroff->printer converters, eg: xtroff
(X Windows), jetroff, psdit, xproof, tpscript etc).  It runs
on a number of varying platforms, eg: AT&T UNIX, Xenix, AIX, SUNOS,
BSD/Ultrix etc.

What does it do: Provided that you have the prerequisites, psroff
is capable of generating "perfect" typeset output, and comes with
a number of utilities to help you set things up properly.  Plus
gazillions of extra features to allow you to do all sorts of nifty
stuff.

What you need:
    - CAT Troff, *not* ditroff (aka DWB).  If "echo hello | troff -t"
      generates non-ascii characters on standard output, you have
      the version of troff that psroff needs.  A simple test:
      echo "hello there" | troff -t > /tmp/test ; file /tmp/test
      If it returns "data", you have CAT troff.
    - Printers:
	- If you have postscript printers, you need nothing else.
	  (You can even use a laserjet with postscript cartridge)
	- If you have a HP Laserjet compatible, you will need a source
	  of TeX PK, HP SFP, or Jetroff PK fonts at various sizes.
	  Psroff comes with software to automatically build and integrate
	  PK or SFP fonts for use on laserjets, and includes a complete
	  S font at all troff sizes.  Further documentation on
	  precisely what you need is in the psroff README.
	  You will also need Perl 2 (or better) to use the "smart"
	  PK font builder, but it can be done manually if you don't
	  have it.
	  Compatibility:  Laserjet+ (or clones) will work.
	  HPLJ II's (or clones) are better.
	- If you want to drive devices other than HP Laserjet or
	  Postscript compatible printers, chances are you can find
	  a ditroff driver for it on the net.  Eg: xtroff.  You will
	  need the ditroff driver plus anything else it needs.

What it doesn't do: CAT troff + psroff is *not* ditroff - it does not
support features that ditroff has, but CAT troff doesn't.  Specifically:
you cannot use PIC or GRAP or ditroff drawing primitives, \X passthrough
(eg: psfig) etc.  Eventually, I may get psroff to support these features
(and some already are in a limited fashion), but not in this version.

Differences between PSROFF 1.0 and 2.0:

	- Full support of HP Laserjet incremental downloading of SFP
	  or PK format fonts, which can be adapted to imperfect
	  Laserjet clones if necessary.
	- HP Font (SFP and PK) manipulation facilities.
	- HP S font in sizes 6 thru 36.
	- Better documentation.
	- Per-driver/printer configuration files.
	- A printer optimizer, which given good enough fonts can reduce
	  output size and printer overhead by a factor of 3 or more.
	- A configuration checker.
	- A TROUBLE file with hints on how to resolve any problems you
	  may encounter.
	- A LASERFONTS file with a description on how to build fonts for
	  HP Laserjets.
	- More fully automated install and reconfiguration.
	- Macro adapter libraries.
	- Lots of nifty extra features.  (eg: translation table
	  overrides, special functions, X & Y page shift options)
	- People with slow or non-existent FPU's will notice dramatic
	  performance improvements.  Factor of 10 or more sometimes.
	  (switched over to mostly integer arithmetic)

How to get it:

    - Psroff 1.0 was posted in comp.sources.unix in October 1989.
      (Volume 20.  Sorry, I don't have the archive index)
    - Psroff 2.0 will appear in comp.sources.unix shortly.
    - Psroff 2.0 is available for anonymous FTP from:
	- gatekeeper.dec.com (16.1.0.2) as anonymous,
	  file /pub/misc/psroff-2.0.tar.Z,
	  courtesy Paul Vixie (vixie at wrl.dec.com)
	- cs.toronto.edu as anonymous,
	  file ~ftp/pub/psroff.tar.Z,
	  courtesy Mark Moraes (moraes at cs.toronto.edu)

Please note that I cannot honour requests for individual copies
of psroff because of limited bandwidth on our network connections.
Because of the S fonts, psroff is rather big...

Finally, if you want to ask questions about psroff, please mail them
to psroff-request at eci386.  I'll be moving shortly (same company), and
this is an alias to where I'll be.
-- 
Chris Lewis, Elegant Communications Inc, {uunet!attcan,utzoo}!lsuc!eci386!clewis
Ferret mailing list: eci386!ferret-list, psroff mailing list: eci386!psroff-list
Psroff information/questions: psroff-request at eci386