9.4 Printer-Related Files

9.4.7.1.1 Changing the default paper size

Suppose that you need the page size to be A4 for some of your reports. On UNIX platforms, the printer driver is specified in uiprint.txt and the default page size is not necessarily set to A4. For example, hpljet41.ppd has LETTER as the default page size. Note that the default page size setting for each printer queue is taken from the corresponding PPD file.

To set A4 as the default page size, you would do the following:

1. Edit uiprint.txt to include a PostScript Printer Description file (extension is .ppd) that supports the A4 page size. For example, you might include hpljet41.ppd.

2. As a backup, make a copy of hpljet41.ppd.

3. Add an entry to uiprint.txt:

   Printer_name: PostScript:1: the printer on floor1:hpljet41.ppd
   

4. Edit hpljet41.ppd and change these settings as follows:

   DefaultPageSize: A4
   DefaultPageRegion: A4
   DefaultImageableArea: A4
   DefaultPaperDimension: A4
   

9.4.7.1.2 Changing the printer margin settings

To change the margins, you need to modify the ImageableArea section in the PPD file. ImageableArea provides the bounding box of the area in which the printer may print for the page size named mediaOption. There will be one statement for each named page size supported by the device. *DefaultImageableArea provides the mediaOption name of the default imageable area. Since there can be only one default page size, this value should be the same as the value of *DefaultPageSize, *DefaultPageRegion, and *DefaultPaperDimension.

The syntax for defining imageable area is as follows:

*ImageableArea mediaOption: "llx lly urx ury "
*DefaultImageableArea: mediaOption | Unknown

ll stands for lower left corner and ur for upper right corner. The bounding box value of *ImageableArea is given as four real numbers, representing the x and y coordinates of the lower left and upper right corners of the region, respectively, in the PostScript language default user space coordinate system. The x and y axes of a given page size correspond to the x and y axes of that page size in the *PaperDimension entry.

The imageable area is defined as the part of the page where the printer may actually make marks. On some printers, the imageable area of a given page size varies as a result of the current resolution, amount of memory, the direction of paper feed, and other factors. In PPD files where the imageable area of a given page size can vary, the imageable area recorded for that page size will be the intersection of all possible imageable areas for that page size. This formula ensures that the available imageable area is never smaller than that shown in the PPD file and all marks made within the imageable area will be visible. It does, however, also mean that the imageable area in the current configuration might actually be larger than the imageable area shown in the PPD file.

The following table contains the option keywords currently registered for mediaOption, which designates a given page size on a device:

Example

To change the margins of an A4 page in the default.ppd, you would perform the following steps:

1. Modify the default page from Letter to A4 in the following sections:

   *% Page definitions
   *DefaultPageSize: A4
   *PageSize A4: " "
   
   *% These entries set up the frame buffer. Usually used with manual feed.
   *DefaultPageRegion: A4
   *PageRegion A4: "A4"
   
   *% These provide the physical dimensions of the paper (by keyword)
   *DefaultPaperDimension: A4
   *PaperDimension A4: "595 842"  
   

2. Add the margin definition in the following sections:

   *% Imageable (writable) areas for each page size, in pixels
   *DefaultImageableArea: A4
   *ImageableArea A4: "2 2 593 840 "
   

   Note:

   All PPD entries are case sensitive.

9.4.7.1.3 Adding a new font entry to PPD files

On PostScript printers, Oracle Reports only enables you to use fonts known to be available on the printer. Since printers are rarely available for personal requests on multiprocess operating systems, Oracle Reports gets a complete list of fonts from the PPD file.

When a new font is installed on the printer, a corresponding font entry needs to be added to the printer's PPD file. The format for a font entry is:

*Font {fontname}: {encoding} "({version})" {charset}

where

{fontname} is the Adobe font face name as specified in PostScript.

{encoding} is the PostScript encoding name.

{version} is the FontInfo version number.

{charset} is the Adobe character set.

The encoding value has slightly different meanings depending on the font type. If the encoding cannot be determined, the value of encoding may be set to unknown. Fonts are usually re-encoded by applications to provide other encodings; the charset value for each font indicates which encodings are possible for that font. For more information, please refer to the PPD specification from Adobe.

When new fonts are added to the printer, the matching AFM files must also be added to the font metrics directory. Oracle Reports requires the AFM files to get the actual font attributes and properly place text on the printed page.

Example

Suppose you add a new font, CodedreineunBold, and need to edit the PPD file to include the new font.

1. In the PPD file, search for:

   *% Font Information
   

2. For the new font, append the following at the end of the paragraph:

   *Font CodedreineunBold: Standard "(00.1001)" Standard ROM
   

9.4.7.1.4 Overriding the printer tray setting

The PostScript output generated by Oracle Reports has the tray information embedded into it. The PPD file defines the default tray to be used and is followed by the definitions of valid trays for the printer. To print to a different tray, the DefaultInputSlot entry in the PPD file must be updated.

In the PPD file, you should find a section that lists the default tray and the valid input slots. The section typically starts with a line like this one:

*OpenUI *InputSlot:   <PickOne>

The default tray entry looks like the following:

*DefaultInputSlot: Lower

The defined slots typically follow the default entry and look like the following:

*InputSlot Upper/Multipurpose Tray: "
...
*InputSlot Lower/Paper Cassette: "

The section ends with a line like the following:

*CloseUI: *InputSlot

You can set DefaultInputSlot to be any of the values in the list of defined slots.

9.4.7.2.1 Changing the paper size

For example, to change the papersize to A4, add the following to the HPD file used:

<defaultpaper=A4>

9.4.7.2.2 Adding a new font entry

As with PostScript's AFM files, every HP font must have a TFM file in order for Oracle Reports to use it. The font vendor should provide TFM files. You should add new fonts to the HPD file when you install them.

You must specify the following settings in the HPD file for any new font:

FONT={fontname}        # {fontname} is a descriptive name for the font
/tfm={tfm-filename}    # {tfm-filename} is the base filename for TFM file