"Print to file" in print-dialogue

[Peter2]

Please add the option "print to file" to print dialogue. This is a standard-feature of nearly all software-products.

Thanks.

Peter

[Peter2]

I want to refresh this topic for further development.

Peter

[Peter2]

Again ..

I want to refresh this topic for further development.

Peter

[Larry_of_Troy]

I'll second this. Makes it much easier converting documentation produced in .tif format to something usable [.ps to .pdf for example].

[GhostOrchid]

work around:
install PDFCreator from sf.net
it's free and allow all application to print to pdf

[xnview]

Please add the option "print to file" to print dialogue. This is a standard-feature of nearly all software-products.

But why do you want this feature? Print a picture in a file, i don't see any benefit

[XnTriq]

Normally this whole process of creating the PRN file is transparent, you print a document in your favourite application and the paper starts feeding through the printer. There can however be some uses for intercepting and capturing a PRN file before it gets to the printer. Having the PRN file allows you to reprint the document without running or even having the original application that created the file, for instance if you run a print shop with a wide format plotter and your customers use AutoCAD to produce plots you can have them send a raw PRN file and output using that without needing AutoCAD.

Some service bureaus accept drawings in .CDR format whereas others will request a .PRN (print file) or a .PDF (Adobe Portable Document Format). The benefit of using a .PRN file is that it is a self-contained file which can be copied to an output device even if CorelDRAW is not installed on the computer to which the device is attached.

• Frogmore Computer Services: What is a PRN file?
• Productivity Portfolio: PRN Files Fill the Gaps
• Queensland Government Web Centre: Creating PDFs
• WebXealot @ Xara Xone: Creating a Printer (PRN) File
• Four Point Printing: Creating a PRN file for Four Point Printing
• Peter Lerup: PrintFile
• Russ Wright: PrnPrint
• Lee Tet Woo: PRNter
• Oleg Kovalenko: NT EMF Spool, PCL5-6, HP-GL/2, ZjStream plugin for XnView

[Peter2]

...Print a picture in a file, i don't see any benefit

Yeah, at the first glance, a print-file is a picture of a picture

But generally:

• It is a file which is full-defined in colours, resolution, rotation, size, footmarks, borders.
• You don't need a software to handle the files (e.g. XnView for pictures); at least you need a DOS-command to print the files (copy *.prn lpt1) - or one of the useful helpers listed above.
• You can separate the process of file handling: Department A (technics, design) produces print files with specialised software, Department B (repro, copy shop) produces the paper.
• You can separate the schedule of file handling: during the day you produce the print-files, in the evening you start a batch-job which prints hundreds of sheets without jamming the printer of your colleagues.
• You can use different software (graphics, CAD, Office, ...) to produce one single type of output. And PDF is not always the best way of "single type of output".

Personally we use CAD and XnView for handling different file types, but the repro needs one single type of output. And we use HPGL2 / HP-RTL files as print files / plot files, because many large format printers and different software can handle this files.

Regards

Peter

PS: more plot- and print- and pdf-tools on http://www.noliturbare.com/index.php

[xnview]

Oh ok as a PRN file. I'll search how to write in PRN format...

[Peter2]

Oh ok as a PRN file. ...

Fine

...search how to write in PRN format...

PRN (or PLT) is not a "defined file-format"; it is the stored datastream produced of the different, user-selected printer-drivers. You will get PRN/PLT files with different contents: PS / RPCS / PCL / HPGL - HP-RTL / ...

Peter

[xnview]

...search how to write in PRN format...

PRN (or PLT) is not a "defined file-format"; it is the stored datastream produced of the different, user-selected printer-drivers. You will get PRN/PLT files with different contents: PS / RPCS / PCL / HPGL - HP-RTL / ...

So you would like the 'print to file' in windows print dialog?

[XnTriq]

Workaround:

• Gallicrow Software: Printing FAQ » How can I “Print to file” if the program that I'm using doesn't have that option?

[Peter2]

So you would like the 'print to file' in windows print dialog?

Yes - and partially "Not only" ..

I wrote about this in some other postings, related to that suggestion.
The "print to file" would be the first and a standard-step - it enables the user to make single print-files. The standard-problem of this standard-feature is the annoying dialogue-box which asks for the file-name.

A next step (and a really useful one) would be a batch-function for print files: the software does not ask for every file-name, it takes the file-name of the picture ("mytest.jpg") and makes a print-file: mytest.prn or mytest_jpg.prn or mytest_jpg.plt.

Peter

[XnTriq]

I wrote about this in some other postings, related to that suggestion.

Batch-print to plotfile?

[Peter2]

I wrote about this in some other postings, related to that suggestion.

Batch-print to plotfile?

Exactly

Peter