Joe Chung
Monmouth U. Homepage

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====== Shrinkprint script Q & A ======

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[[cs_370_projects?&#project_1_-_shrinkprint|<== Back to shrinkprint project]]

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  * Q: Does the shell script have to be designed so that it somehow takes ''textfile.txt'' and ''hh305'' as two parameters for use within the pipeline?
    * A: Yes, ''textfile.txt'' would be the first argument to the script, and ''hh305'' would be the second argument to the script.

  * Q: Does the text have to be printed in landscape or portrait format, or would either format be acceptable?
    * A: Output of ''shrinkprint'' will always be landscape. ''Enscript'' has options to set landscape or portrait orientation, but don't use those options when you call ''enscript'' within ''shrinkprint''.

  * Q: After running the script, a prompt appears where ''Ctrl+D'' exits the prompt and the file is then printed. What's up?
    * A: If you're left with a prompt after running the script, it usually means you have an unterminated single or double quote in the script.

  * Q: Does the line at the top containing the filename, the date/time, and the page number have to be removed somehow?
    * A: ''Enscript'' puts that ''filename-date-time-page-number'' information at the top of pages by default. Force ''enscript'' not to include that information.

  * Q: Must the code have the ability to find other printers (such as ''hh310''), or can it be assumed that the targeted printer is accessible.
    * A: Just assume that the targeted printer is accessible. If it's not, the script will just exit with an error from ''lpr'' and nothing will be printed. If you're working in HH 305, use ''hh305''. If you're working in HH 310, use ''hh310''.

  * Q: When I call ''shrinkprint'' it doesn't recognize it as a command. What's up?
    * A: You need to make the ''shrinkprint'' script executable once with //chmod +x shrinkprint//, then either copy it to your //~/bin// directory or run it with //./shrinkprint ...//

  * Q: ''Enscript'' has a //columns// option that can duplicate ''psnup's'' functionality for the purposes of the ''shrinkprint'' script. Should I use that option?
    * A: No, don't use that ''enscript'' option.

  * Q: When I run my script, the printer gives me 1 page of correct output and then one page of what looks like postscript code. Where's this page of postscript code coming from?
    * A: ''Enscript'' is sending its output directly to the printer, instead of piping output to ''psnup'' as required. At the same time, ''psnup'' is piping some of its output to ''lpr'', and ''lpr'' is printing that page of postscript code. So, the page of actual output you're getting at the printer is from ''enscript'', while the page of useless postscript you're getting is from ''psnup ... | lpr ...''. The fix is to make ''enscript'' send its postscript output to standard output, so that the postscript will actually be piped to ''psnup''.

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[[cs_370_projects?&#project_1_-_shrinkprint|<== Back to shrinkprint project]]

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