Help to make Postscript files

This document is mainly for users of Microsoft-Windows environments. It contains some help to make Postscript format files from any application. Other users in UNIX-like environments (for example: GNU/Linux) usually already have all the necesary tools in their systems.

Users in other environments like Apple Macintosh, IBM OS/2, MS-DOS, etc. also could find some usefull information for their systems from the Ghostscript web pages.

How to create or export compatible Postscript files

The users of Microsoft Windows systems can generate (or export) to a Postscript file any document that they can send to print from any application.

Previously, they need to install the driver for a Generic Postscript printer in their system (only the driver, a real printer is not needed).

To install the driver you can alternativelly:
- Access the icon "install/configure new printer" inside the configuration menu, and then select the "Generic Postscript printer" driver. After the introduction of the required disk/CDROM from the Windows installation system, the program will ask to set the "port" to which connect the printer. At this point the option "to file" must be selected.
- or, if you don't have the Windows installation disks at hand, download the appropriated installer program from Adobe (search in the section "Support" or "other dowloads" to find "Printer Drivers" for your platform) and install it in your system, connecting your printer to the "port" of type "FILE".
After the installation is done, you need to configure the new printer in your system:
1. It is very important that, for this printer, the "printing options" (or "Postscrip options") are set for "maximum compatibility" (or "portability optimization") and that the option "send job control codes" is disabled.
2. Also it would be better to select the option "Level 1 language" (or maybe "Level 2", because the upper levels does not bring any usefull feature and they could cause compatibility problems). It is acceptable to configure the resolution to 600 dpi.

Note: the exact description of the necesary steps may vary depending on the Windows version. If you are not sure, it is advisable to ask the local administrator or expert for help.

Once you have the generic Postscript printer installed, you can send any document to that printer from any application and you will obtain a Postscript file (usually it have the .PRN extension but you can change it to .PS without any problem from your file manager). Probably, you will need to access some "page configuration menu" or similar depending on the application.

This help page was written by José Ramón Álvarez Sánchez. All corrections are more than welcome. (last update 2003-01-15).