From 4aed2c8219774f5d797760606b8489a92ddc5163 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: toma Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:56:58 +0000 Subject: Copy the KDE 3.5 branch to branches/trinity for new KDE 3.5 features. BUG:215923 git-svn-id: svn://anonsvn.kde.org/home/kde/branches/trinity/kdebase@1054174 283d02a7-25f6-0310-bc7c-ecb5cbfe19da --- doc/glossary/Makefile.am | 2 + doc/glossary/checkxrefs | 10 + doc/glossary/index.docbook | 296 +++++++ doc/glossary/kdeprintingglossary.docbook | 1387 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 4 files changed, 1695 insertions(+) create mode 100644 doc/glossary/Makefile.am create mode 100755 doc/glossary/checkxrefs create mode 100644 doc/glossary/index.docbook create mode 100644 doc/glossary/kdeprintingglossary.docbook (limited to 'doc/glossary') diff --git a/doc/glossary/Makefile.am b/doc/glossary/Makefile.am new file mode 100644 index 000000000..e79a46842 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/glossary/Makefile.am @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +KDE_LANG = en +KDE_DOCS = khelpcenter/glossary diff --git a/doc/glossary/checkxrefs b/doc/glossary/checkxrefs new file mode 100755 index 000000000..6da64c184 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/glossary/checkxrefs @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +#!/bin/sh +DEFINED_ENTRIES=`sed -ne "s^.*.*^\1^p" *.docbook` +REFERENCED_ENTRIES=`sed -ne "s^.*.*^\1^p" *.docbook | unique` + +# Check for entries which are referenced but not defined. +for ENTRY in $REFERENCED_ENTRIES; do + if ! echo $DEFINED_ENTRIES | grep $ENTRY - > /dev/null 2>&1; then + echo "'$ENTRY' referenced but not defined!" + fi +done diff --git a/doc/glossary/index.docbook b/doc/glossary/index.docbook new file mode 100644 index 000000000..4aba44c53 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/glossary/index.docbook @@ -0,0 +1,296 @@ + + + + + + +]> + + + + +&glossary-kdeprinting; + + + Technologies + + IO Slave + IO Slaves enable &kde; applications to + access remote resources as easily as local resources (making them + network transparent). Remote resources (⪚ files) might + be stored on SMB shares or similar. + SMB + &kde; + + + + KIO + The &kde; Input/Output system which makes use of so-called + IO Slaves. + IO +Slave + &kde; + + + + KParts + KParts is an embedding technology which allows &kde; + applications to embed other &kde; applications. For example, the text + view used by &konqueror; is a KPart. + &konqueror; + + + + KSycoca + KSycoca (&kde; System + Configuration Cache) is a + configuration cache which, for example, guarantees fast access to the menu + entries. + KBuildSycoca + + + + + + XFree86 + + Antialiasing + If mentioned in context with &kde;, antialiasing often means + the smoothing of the fonts visible on the screen. &Qt; version 2.3.0 + or higher used together with XFree86 4.x makes this possible under &kde; + as well. + &kde; + &Qt; + + + + &X-Server; + The &X-Server; represents a basic layer upon which the + various &GUI;s like &kde; are built. It manages the + basic mouse and keyboard input (from the local host as well as from + remote hosts) and provides elementary graphic routines to draw + rectangles and other primitives. + &kde; + &GUI; + + + + + + Applications + + KBuildSycoca + KBuildSycoca is a command line +program and regenerates the + so-called KSycoca. This is useful, for example, if some +or all modules in + &kcontrol; are missing. + KSycoca + &kcontrol; + + + + &kcontrol; + This is the project and filename of the &kde; control + center. &kcontrol; allows you to customize virtually + every configuration option of &kde;. + &kde; + + + + &kicker; + &kicker; is the nickname as well as project name of the + &kde; panel. + &kde; + Panel + + + + &konqueror; + &konqueror; is a filemanager, web browser, picture viewer + and more, and a core part of the &kde; project. You can + find more information about &konqueror; at www.konqueror.org. + &kde; + + + + &ksirc; + &ksirc; is the default IRC client, + which is shipped with &kde;. You can use &ksirc; to chat with anyone on + an IRC network. + IRC + + + + + + Desktop Terminology + + Drag and Drop + This concept tries to replace many actions like copying + files from one place to another by a certain mouse movement, ⪚ + clicking on an icon in a &konqueror; window, moving the mouse to another + window while keeping the mouse button pressed, and releasing the mouse + button (dropping the object) copies files. + &konqueror; + + + + &GUI; + Abbreviation for Graphical + User Interface. Every desktop + environment (like &kde;) is a &GUI;. Most + &GUI;s feature mouse support and/or windows to manage + the programs. + &kde; + + + + &kde; + Abbreviation for K Desktop Environment, a + leading &GUI; for &UNIX;-based systems. You can find more + detailled information at www.kde.org. + &GUI; + + + + GNOME + + GNU Network Object + Model Environment, one of the + leading &UNIX; &GUI;s. + &GUI; + + + + Panel + Refers to the panel (also known as + &kicker;) which often resides at the bottom of the + screen. + &kde; + &kicker; + + + + ripping + The process of reading audio data from a &cdrom; and + storing it on the hard disk. + + + + + + &kde; Development + + &Qt; + The &GUI; of &kde; is built on top of + the &Qt; toolkit, which provides many graphical elements (so-called + Widgets) which are used to construct the desktop. You + can find more information about &Qt; at www.trolltech.com. + &kde; + &GUI; + Widget + + + + i18n + Abbreviation for internationalization. &kde; + supports many different languages, and several i18n techniques make it + easy to translate the &GUI; as well as the accompanying + documents of &kde; into all these languages. More information about the + i18n process is available at i18n.kde.org. + &kde; + &GUI; + + + + l10n + Abbreviation for localization, the process + of adapting a program to the local environment. This includes ⪚ the + currency used for monetary values or the time format. + i18n + + + + Widget + Graphical elements like scrollbars, buttons or input + fields which are used by &kde; to construct the &GUI;. + + &kde; + &GUI; + + + + CVS + + Concurrent Version +System. + The CVS is a very elegant way of managing file +versions that allow more than one developer + to easily work on the same project. You can find a description of how to +get the latest (developer) version of the + &kde; sources via anonymous CVS on + http://www.kde.org/anoncvs.html. + More about CVS is available at www.cvshome.org. + + + + + + + + Miscellaneous + + RFC + Request For + Comment. A common way to publish new protocol + ideas or procedures for evaluation of the Internet community. Though + RFCs are not mandatory, many applications try to + adhere to them, once they have been approved by the community. More + information about RFCs can be found at the + RFC Homepage. + + + + + + Various protocols + + SMB + Server Message + Block. A network protocol used in &Microsoft; &Windows; + networks to access the filesystems of other computers. + IO +Slave + + + + IRC + Internet Relay + Chat. A protocol defined in RFC + 1459, which handles the specification to enable real time text chat. + RFC + + + + host + This can either be a name from your + /etc/hosts file + (mycomputer), + an Internet name (www.kde.org) or an IP-Address + (192.168.0.10). + + + + + diff --git a/doc/glossary/kdeprintingglossary.docbook b/doc/glossary/kdeprintingglossary.docbook new file mode 100644 index 000000000..7a9311c73 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/glossary/kdeprintingglossary.docbook @@ -0,0 +1,1387 @@ + + + + Printing + + + + ACLs + Abbreviation for Access + Control Lists; + ACLs are used to check for the access by a given + (authenticated) user. A first rough support for ACLs + for printing is available from ∪︀; this will be refined + in future versions. + Authentication + + + + + AppSocket Protocol + AppSocket is a protocol for the transfer of + print data, also frequently called "Direct TCP/IP Printing". + &Hewlett-Packard; have taken AppSocket, added a few minor + extensions around it and been very successful in renaming + and marketing it under the brand "&HP; JetDirect"... + &HP; JetDirect Protocol + Direct TCP/IP Printing + + + + + APSfilter + APSfilter is used mainly in the context of "classical" + &UNIX; printing (BSD-style LPD). It is a sophisticated shell script, + disguised as an "all-in-one" filtering program. In reality, + APSfilter calls "real filters" to do the jobs needed. It sends + printjobs automatically through these other filters, based on an + initial file-type analysis of the printfile. + It is written and maintained by Andreas Klemm. + + It is + similar to Magicfilter and mostly uses Ghostscript for file conversions. + Some Linux Distributions (like &SuSE;) use APSfilter, others + Magicfilter (like &RedHat;), some have both for preference selection + (like *BSD). + + ∪︀ has no need for APSfilter, + as it runs its own file type recognition (based on &MIME; types) + and applies its own filtering logic. + Ghostscript + Magicfilter + &MIME;-Types + printcap + + + + + Authentication + Proving the identity of a certain person (maybe via username/password + or by means of a certificate) is often called authentication. Once you are + authenticated, you may or may not get access to a requested ressource, + possibly based on ACLs. + ACLs + + + + + Bi-directional communication + In the context of printing, a server or a host may receive additional + information sent back from the printer (status messages &etc;), either + upon a query or unrequested. AppSocket ( = &HP; JetDirect), ∪︀ and IPP + support bi-directional communication, LPR/LPD and BSD-style printing + do not... + AppSocket Protocol + ∪︀ + Direct TCP/IP Printing + &HP; JetDirect + IPP + LPR/LPD + + + + + BSD-style Printing + Generic term for different variants of the traditional &UNIX; + printing method. Its first version appeared in the early 70s on + BSD &UNIX; and was formally described in RFC 1179 only as late + as 1990. + + At the time when BSD "remote" printing was first designed, printers + were serially or otherwise directly connected devices to a host + (with the Internet hardly consisting of more than 100 nodes!); printers + used hole-punched, continuous paper, fed through by a tractor + mechanism, with simple rows of ASCII text mechanically hammered on to + the medium, drawn from a cardboard box beneath the table. It came out + like a zig-zag folded paper "snake". Remote printing consisted of a + neighboring host in the next room sending a file + asking for printout. + + How technology has changed! Printers generally use cut-sheet media, they have + built-in intelligence to compute the raster images of pages after pages + that are sent to them using one of the powerful page description + languages (PDL). Many are network nodes in their own right, + with CPU, RAM, a hard disk and their own Operation System, and + are hooked to a net with potentially millions of users... + + It is a vast proof of the flexible &UNIX; concept for doing things, + that it made "Line Printing" reliably work even under these modern + conditions. But time has finally come now to go for something new + -- the IPP. + + It is strong proof of the flexibility of &UNIX;; that "Line Printing" works + reliably, even under these modern conditions. But time has finally come now + to go for something new -- the IPP. + + + IPP + ∪︀ + LPR/LPD printing + + + + + ∪︀ + Abbreviation for Common + UNIX Printing + System; ∪︀ is the most modern &UNIX; and Linux + printing system, also providing cross-platform print services + to &Microsoft; &Windows; and Apple &MacOS; clients. Based on IPP, it does + away with all the pitfalls of old-style BSD printing, + providing authentication, encryption and ACLs, plus many more + features. At the same time it is backward-compatible enough + to serve all legacy clients that are not yet up to IPP, via + LPR/LPD (BSD-style). + + ∪︀ is able to control any &PostScript; printer by + utilizing the vendor-supplied PPD (PostScript Printer + Description file), targeted originally for &Microsoft; Windows NT + printing only. &kde; Printing is most powerful if based on + ∪︀. + ACLs + Authentication + BSD-style printing + IPP + KDEPrint + LPR/LPD + PPD + + + + + + ∪︀-FAQ + Currently only available in German (translation is on the way), + the ∪︀-FAQ + is a valuable resource to answer many questions that anyone new to + ∪︀ printing might have at first. + + KDEPrint Handbook + + + + + + ∪︀-O-Matic + ∪︀-O-Matic was the first "Third Party" plugin for + the ∪︀ printing software. It is available on the Linuxprinting.org + website to provide an online PPD-generating service. + + + Together with the companion cupsomatic Perl-Script, + that needs to be installed as an additional ∪︀ backend, + it redirects output from the native pstops filter into + a chain of suitable Ghostscript filters. Upon completion, it + passes the resulting data back to a ∪︀ "backend" for sending + to the printer. + + In this way, ∪︀-O-Matic enables support for any printer known to + have worked previously in a "classical" Ghostscript environment. + If no native ∪︀ support for that printer is in sight... ∪︀-O-Matic + is now replaced by the more capable PPD-O-Matic. + cupsomatic + PPD-O-Matic + Foomatic + + + + + + cupsomatic + The Perl script cupsomatic (plus a working Perl installation + on your system) is needed to make any ∪︀-O-Matic (or PPD-O-Matic) + generated PPD work with ∪︀. It was written by Grant Taylor, author of + the Linux Printing HOWTO and Maintainer of the printer + database at the Linuxprinting.org website. + ∪︀-O-Matic + Foomatic + cupsomatic + + + + + Daemon + Abbreviation for Disk + and execution + monitor; Daemons are present + on all &UNIX; systems to perform tasks independent of user + intervention. Readers more familiar with &Microsoft; &Windows; might + want to compare daemons and the tasks they are responsible + with "services". + + One example of a daemon present on most + legacy &UNIX; systems is the LPD (Line Printer Daemon); ∪︀ is + widely seen as the successor to LPD in the &UNIX; world and + it also operates through a daemon. + SPOOLing + + + + + Database, Linuxprinting.org + Already years ago, when Linux printing was still really difficult + (only command line printing was known to most Linux users, no device + specific print options were available for doing the jobs), Grant Taylor, + author of the "Linux Printing HOWTO", collected most of the available + information about printers, drivers and filters in his database. + + With the emerging + ∪︀ concept, extending the use of PPDs even to non-PostScript printers, + he realized the potential of this database: if one puts the different + datablobs (with content that could be described along the lines + "Which device prints with which Ghostscript or other + filter?", "How well?", and "What command line switches are available?") into + PPD-compatible files, he could have all the power of ∪︀ on top of + the traditional printer "drivers". + + This has now developed into a broader + concept, known as "Foomatic". Foomatic extends the capabilities + of spoolers other than ∪︀ (LPR/LPD, LPRng, PDQ, PPR) to a certain + degree ("stealing" some concepts from ∪︀). The Linuxprinting + Database is not a Linux-only stop -- people running other &UNIX; + based OSes (like *BSD or &MacOS; X) will also find valuable information + and software there. + + Foomatic + Linuxprinting database + + + + + Direct TCP/IP Printing + This is a method that often uses TCP/IP port 9100 to connect + to the printer. It works with many modern network printers and has + a few advantages over LPR/LPD, as it is faster and provides some + "backchannel feedback data" from the printer to the host sending + the job. + AppSocket Protocol + &HP; JetDirect Protocol + + + + + + Drivers, Printer Drivers + The term "printer drivers", used in the same sense + as on the &Microsoft; &Windows; platform, is not entirely applicable + to a Linux or &UNIX; platform. A "driver" functionality + is supplied on &UNIX; by different modular components working + together. At the core of the printer drivers are "filters". Filters convert + print files from a given input format to another format that is acceptable + to the target printer. In many cases filters may be connected to a whole + filter "chain", where only the result of the last conversion is sent to the + printer. The actual transfer of the print data to the device is performed by + a "backend". + + Filter + PPDs + + + + + Easy Software Products + Mike Sweet's company, which has contributed a few substantial + software products towards the Free Software community; amongst + them the initial version of Gimp-Print, the EPM software packaging tool + and HTMLDOC + (used by the "Linux Documentation Project" to build the PDF versions + of the HOWTOs) -- but most importantly: ∪︀ (the 'Common &UNIX; Printing + System'). + + ESP finance themselves by selling a commercial version + of ∪︀, called ESP PrintPro, + that includes some professional enhancements. + + ∪︀ + ESP PrintPro + ESP + Gimp-Print + + + + + Encryption + Encryption of confidential data is an all-important issue if + you transfer it over the Internet or even within intranets. + + Printing + via traditional protocols is not encrypted at all -- it is very easy + to tap and eavesdrop ⪚ into &PostScript; or PCL data transfered + over the wire. + + Therefore, in the design of IPP, provision was made for the easy + plugin of encryption mechanisms (which can be provided by the same + means as the encryption standards for HTTP traffic: SSL and TLS). + Authentication + ∪︀ + IPP + SSL + TLS + + + + + + Epson + Epson inkjets are among the best supported models by Free software + drivers, as the company was not necessarily as secretive about their + devices and handed technical specification documents to developers. + The excellent print quality achieved by Gimp-Print on the Stylus + series of printers can be attributed to this openness. + + They have also + contracted Easy Software Products to maintain an enhanced version + of Ghostscript ("ESP GhostScript") for improved support of their + printer portfolio. + + ESP Ghostscript + + + + + + Escape Sequences + The first ever printers printed ASCII data only. To + initiate a new line, or eject a page, they included special + command sequences, often carrying a leading [ESC]-character. + &HP; evolved this concept through its series of PCL language + editions until today, having now developed a full-blown + Page Description Language (PDL) from these humble beginnings. + + PCL + PDL + + + + + ESC/P + Abbreviation for Epson + Standard Codes for + Printers. Besides &PostScript; and PCL, Epson's ESC/P + printer language is one of the best known. + PCL + &PostScript; + hpgl + + + + + ESP + Abbreviation for Easy + Software Products; + the company that developed ∪︀ (the "Common &UNIX; Printing System"). + + Easy Software Products + ∪︀ + ESP PrintPro + + + + + + ESP Ghostscript + A Ghostscript version that is maintained by Easy Software + Products. It includes pre-compiled Gimp-Print drivers for + many inkjets (plus some other goodies). ESP Ghostscript + will produce photographic quality prints in many cases, especially + with the Epson Stylus model series. ESP Ghostscript is GPL-software. + + Easy Software Products + ∪︀ + ESP PrintPro + + + + + ESP PrintPro + This professional enhancement to ∪︀ (the "Common &UNIX; + Printing System") is sold by the developers + of ∪︀ complete with more than 2,300 printer drivers for several commercial + &UNIX; platforms. ESP PrintPro + is supposed to work "out of the box" with little or no configuration + for users or admins. ESP also sell support contracts for + ∪︀ and PrintPro. These sales help to feed the programmers who + develop the Free version of ∪︀. + + ∪︀ + + + + + Filter + Filters, in general, are programs that take some input + data, work on it and pass it on as their output data. Filters + may or may not change the data. + + Filters in the context of printing, are programs that convert + a given file (destined for printing, but not suitable in the + format it is presently) into a printable format. Sometimes + whole "filter chains" have to be constructed to achieve the + goal, piping the output of one filter as the input to the next. + + Ghostscript + RIP + + + + + Foomatic + Foomatic started out as the wrapper name for a set of + different tools available from Linuxprinting.org + These tools aimed to make the usage of traditional + Ghostscript and other print filters easier for users and + extend the filters' capabilities by adding more command line + switches or explain the driver's execution data. + + Foomatic's different incarnations are ∪︀-O-Matic, PPD-O-Matic, + PDQ-O-Matic, LPD-O-Matic, PPR-O-Matic, MF-O-Matic and + Direct-O-Matic. All of these allow the generation + of appropriate printer configuration files online, by simply + selection the suitable model and suggested (or alternate) driver + for that machine. + + More recently, Foomatic gravitated towards becoming a "meta-spooling" + system, that allows configuration of the underlying print subsystem + through a unified set of commands (however, this is much more + complicated than KDEPrint's &GUI; interface, which performs a similar + task with regards to different print subsystems). + ∪︀-O-Matic + PPD-O-Matic + cupsomatic + + + + + Ghostscript + Ghostscript is a &PostScript; Raster Image Processor (RIP) in software, originally + developed by L. Peter Deutsch. There is always a GPL version + of Ghostscript available for free usage and distribution + (mostly 1 year old) while + the current version is commercially sold under another license. + + Ghostscript is widely used inside the Linux and &UNIX; world + for transforming &PostScript; into raster data suitable + for sending to non-&PostScript; devices. + &PostScript; + RIP + + + + + Gimp-Print + Contrary to its name, Gimp-Print is no longer + just the plugin to be used for printing from the popular + Gimp program -- its codebase can also serve to be compiled + into... + + *...a set of PPDs and associated filters that integrate seamlessly + into ∪︀, supporting around 130 different printer models, providing + photographic output quality in many cases; + + + *...a Ghostscript filter that can be used with any other + program that needs a software-RIP; + + + *...a library that can be used by other software applications + in need of rasterization functions. + + + + + Lexmark Drivers + RIP + Ghostscript + + + + + &HP; + Abbreviation for Hewlett-Packard; + one of the first companies to distribute their own Linux printer + drivers. -- More recently, the Company has released their + "HPIJS" package of drivers, including source code and a Free license. + This is the first printer manufacturer to do so. HPIJS supports most + current models of HP Ink- and DeskJets. + + + + + + + &HP;/GL + Abbreviation for &HP; + Graphical Language; + a &HP; printer language mainly used for plotters; many CAD + (Computer Aided Design) software programs output &HP;/GL files for + printing. + ESC/P + PCL + &PostScript; + + + + + &HP; JetDirect Protocol + A term branded by &HP; to describe their implementation + of print data transfer to the printer via an otherwise "AppSocket" or + "Direct TCP/IP Printing" named protocol. + AppSocket Protocol + Direct TCP/IP Printing + + + + + IETF + Abbreviation for Internet + Engineering Task + Force; an assembly of Internet, software + and hardware experts that discuss + new networking technologies and very often arrive at + conclusions that are regarded by many as standards. "TCP/IP" + is the most famous example. + + + IETF standards, as well as + drafts, discussions, ideas and useful tutorials, are + put in writing in the famous series of "RFCs", which + are available to the public and included in most Linux and + BSD distributions. + IPP + PWG + RFC + + + + + IPP + Abbreviation for Internet + Printing Protocol; + defined in a series of RFCs accepted by the IETF with + status "proposed standard"; was designed + by the PWG. -- IPP is a completely new design for network printing, + but it utilizes a very well-known and proven method for the + actual data transfer: HTTP 1.1! By not "re-inventing the wheel", + and basing itself on an existing and robust Internet standard, + IPP is able to relatively easily bolt other HTTP-compatible standard + mechanisms into its framework: + + * Basic, Digest or Certificate authentication + mechanisms; + + * SSL or TLS for encryption of transferred + data; + + * LDAP for directory services (to publish + data on printers, device-options, drivers, costs or + also to the network; or to check for passwords while + performing authentication). + + + + + + ∪︀ + PWG + IETF + RFC + TLS + + + + + KDEPrint + The new printing functionality of &kde; since version 2.2 + consists of several modules that translate the features and settings + of different available print subsystems (∪︀, BSD-style LPR/LPD, RLPR...) + into nice &kde; desktop &GUI; windows and dialogs to ease their + usage. + + Most important for day-to-day usage is "kprinter", the new + &GUI; print command. -- Note: KDEPrint does not implement its own + spooling mechanism or its own &PostScript; processing; for this it + relies on the selected print subsystem + -- however it does add some functionality of its own on top of this + foundation... + + BSD-style printing + ∪︀ + kprinter + KDEPrint Handbook + + + + + + KDEPrint Handbook... + ...is the name of the reference document that describes KDEPrint + functions to users and administrators. You can load it into Konqueror by + typing "help:/kdeprint" into the address field. The KDEPrint website + is the resource for updates to this documentation, as well as PDF + versions suitable for printing it. It is authored and maintained by Kurt + Pfeifle. + + ∪︀-FAQ + + + + + kprinter + kprinter is the new powerful + print utility that is natively used by all &kde; applications. + + Contrary to some common misconceptions, + kprinter is not a ∪︀-only tool, + but supports different print subsystems. You can even switch + to a different print subsystem "on the fly", in between two jobs, + without re-configuration. Of course, due to the powerful + features of ∪︀, kprinter is + best suited for use with a ∪︀ frontend. + + kprinter is the successor + to "qtcups", which is no longer being actively maintained. It has + inherited all the best features of qtcups and added several new ones. + + + MOST IMPORTANT: you can use kprinter + with all its features in all non-&kde; applications that allow + a customized print command, like gv, Acrobat Reader, Netscape, + Mozilla, Galeon, StarOffice, OpenOffice and all GNOME programs. + + kprinter can act as a "standalone" + utility, started from an X-Terminal or a "Mini-CLI" to + print many different files, from different folders, with different + formats, in one job and simultaneously, without the need to first open the + files in the applications! (File formats supported this way are &PostScript;, + PDF, International and ASCII Text, as well as many different popular graphic + formats, such as PNG, TIFF, JPEG, PNM, Sun RASTER, &etc;) + + QtCUPS + + + + + Lexmark + was one of the first companies to distribute their own Linux printer + drivers for some of their models. However, those drivers are binary only + (no source code available), and therefore cannot be used to integrate into + other Free printing software projects. + + + + + + Linuxprinting.org + Linuxprinting.org = not just for Linux; all &UNIX;-like OS-es, + like *BSD and commercial Unices may find useful printing + information on this site. This web site is the home for the interesting + Foomatic project, that strives to develop the "Meta Print Spool and Driver + Configuration Toolset" (being able to configure, through one common + interface, different print subsystems and their required drivers) with the + ability to transfer all queues, printers and configuration files seamlessly + to another spooler without new configuration effort. -- Also, they maintain + the Printing Database; a collection of driver and device information that + enables everybody to find the most current information about printer models, + and also generate online the configuration files for any + spooler/driver/device combo known to work with one of the common Linux or + &UNIX; print subsystems. + + Linuxprinting database + + + + + + Linuxprinting.org Database + ....Database containing printers and drivers that are suitable + for them... ...a lot of information and documentation to be found... ...it + is now also providing some tools and utilities for easing the integration + of those drivers into a given system... ...the "Foomatic" family + of utilities; being the toolset to make use of the database + for most of the commonly used print subsystems, for generating "on the fly" + working configurations for your printer model. + + Foomatic + + + + + LPR/LPD printing + LPR == some people translate Line + Printing Request, others: + Line Printer + Remote. + BSD-style printing + + + + + Magicfilter + Similarly to the APSfilter program, Magicfilter + provides automatic file type recognition functions and, base + on that, automatic file conversion to a printable format, + depending on the target printer. + APSfilter + + + + + &MIME;-Types + Abbreviation for Multipurpose (or + Multimedia) Internet Mail + Extensions; &MIME;-Types were first used to allow + the transport of binary data (like mail attachments containing + graphics) over mail connections that were normally only transmitting + ASCII characters: the data had to be encoded into an ASCII representation. + + Later this concept was extended to describe a data format in + a platform independent, but at the same time non-ambiguous, way. + From &Windows; everybody knows the .doc extensions for &Microsoft; Word files. + This is handled ambiguously on the &Windows; platform: .doc extensions are also + used for simple text files or for Adobe Framemaker files. And if a real + Word file is renamed with a different extension, it can no longer be + opened by the program. + + &MIME; typed files carry a recognition string with them, describing + their file format based on main_category/sub_category. + Inside IPP, print files are also described using the &MIME; type scheme. + &MIME; types are registered with the IANA (Internet Assigning Numbers + Association) to keep them unambiguous. + + ∪︀ has some &MIME; types of its own registered, like + application/vnd.cups-raster (for the ∪︀-internal + raster image format). + + + ∪︀ + Easy Software Products + ESP PrintPro + Gimp-Print + + + + + PCL + Abbreviation for Printer + Control Language; + developed by &HP;. PCL started off in version 1 as a simple + command set for ASCII printing; now, + in its versions PCL6 and PCL-X, it is capable of printing graphics + and color -- but outside the &Microsoft; &Windows; realm and &HP-UX; + (&HP;'s own brand of &UNIX;), it is not commonly used... + ESC/P + &HP;/GL + PDL + &PostScript; + + + + + PDL + Abbreviation for Page + Description Language; + PDLs describe, in an abstract way, the graphical representation + of a page. - Before it is actually transferred into + toner or ink laid down on to paper, a PDL needs to be + "interpreted" first. In &UNIX;, the most important PDL + is &PostScript;. + + ESC/P + &HP;/GL + PCL + &PostScript; + + + + + Pixel + Abbreviation for Picture + Element; this term describes the smallest + part of a raster picture (either as printed on paper + or as displayed on a monitor by cathode rays or LCD elements). As + any graphical or image representation on those types of output + devices is composed of pixels, the values of "ppi" (pixel per inch) + and &dpi; (dots per inch) are one important parameter for the + overall quality and resolution of an image. + Filter + Ghostscript + &PostScript; + Raster + + + + + PJL + Abbreviation for Print + Job Language; + developed by &HP; to control and influence default and per-job + settings of a printer. It may not only be used + for &HP;'s own (PCL-)printers; also many &PostScript; + and other printers understand PJL commands sent to them + inside a print job, or in a separate signal. + PCL + + + + + &PostScript; + &PostScript; (often shortened to "PS") is the de-facto + standard in the &UNIX; world for printing files. It was + developed by Adobe and licensed to printer manufacturers + and software companies. + + As the &PostScript; specifications were + published by Adobe, there are also "Third Party" implementations + of &PostScript; generating and &PostScript; interpreting software + available (one of the best-known in the Free software world + being Ghostscript, a powerful PS-interpreter). + + ESC/P + &HP;/GL + PCL + PPD + + + + + PPD + Abbreviation for PostScript + Printer Description; + PPDs are ASCII files storing all information about the special + capabilities of a printer, plus definitions of the (PostScript- + or PJL-) commands to call on a certain capability (like print + duplexing). + + + As the explanation of the acronym reveals, PPDs were originally + only used for &PostScript; printers. ∪︀ has extended the + PPD concept to all types of printers. + + + PPDs for &PostScript; printers are provided by the printer + vendors. They can be used with ∪︀ and KDEPrint to have access + to the full features of any &PostScript; printer. The KDEPrint Team + recommends using a PPD originally intended for use with + &Microsoft; Windows NT. + + + PPDs for non-PostScript printers need a + companion "filter" to process the &PostScript; print files into + a format digestible for the non-PostScript target device. Those + PPD/filter combos are not (yet) available from the vendors. After + the initiative by the ∪︀ developers to utilize PPDs, the Free + Software community was creative enough to quickly come up with + support for most of the currently used printer models, through + PPDs and classical Ghostscript filters. But note: the printout + quality varies from "hi-quality photographic output" (using + Gimp-Print with most Epson inkjets) to "hardly readable" (using + Foomatic-enabled Ghostscript filters for models rated as + "paperweight" in the Linuxprinting.org database). + + ∪︀ + Linuxprinting.org + &PostScript; + + + + + PPD-O-Matic + PPD-O-Matic is a set of Perl scripts that run on the Linuxprinting.org + web server and can be used online to generate PPDs for any printer that is known + to print with Ghostscript. + + + These PPDs can be hooked up to ∪︀/KDEPrint, as well as + used inside PPD-aware applications like StarOffice to determine all different + parameters of your printjobs. It is now recommended, in most cases, to + use "PPD-O-Matic" instead of the older ∪︀-O-Matic. + + + To generate a PPD, go to the printer + database, select your printer model, follow + the link to show the available Ghostscript filters for that printer, select + one, click "generate" and finally save the file to your local system. + Be sure to read the instructions. Make sure that your local system + does indeed have Ghostscript and the filter, which you chose + before generating the PPD, installed. + + &PostScript; + ∪︀-O-Matic + Linuxprinting.org + Foomatic + + + + + printcap + In BSD-style print systems, the "printcap" file holds + the configuration information; the printing daemon reads this file + to determine which printers are available, what filters are to be + user for each, where the spooling folder is located, + if there are banner pages to be used, and so on... + Some applications also depend on read access to the printcap + file, to obtain the names of available printers. + BSD-style printing + + + + + + Printer-MIB + Abbreviation for + Printer-Management + Information Base; the + Printer-MIB defines a set of parameters that are to be + stored inside the printer for access + through the network. This is useful if many (in some cases, literally + thousands) network printers are managed centrally + with the help of SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). + PWG + SNMP + + + + + PWG + Abbreviation for + Printer Working + Group; the PWG is a loose grouping of + representatives of the printer industry that has, in the past + years, developed different standards + in relation to network printing. These were later accepted by the + IETF as RFC standards, like the "Printer-MIB" and the IPP. + &PostScript; + IPP + Printer-MIB + SNMP + + + + + print:/ KIO Slave + You can use a syntax of "print:/..." to get quick access + to KDEPrint resources. Typing "print:/manager" as a Konqueror URL + address gives administrative access to KDEPrint. Konqueror uses &kde;'s + famous "KParts" technology to achieve that. + IO Slave + KParts + + + + + + Printer Database + . + Linuxprinting Database + + + + + Qt∪︀ + Qt∪︀ and KUPS were the predecessors of KDEPrint; they are now + deprecated and no longer maintained. What was good in qtcups is all inherited + by "kprinter", the new KDE print dialog (which is much improved over qtcups); + what you liked about kups is now all in the KDEPrint Manager (accessible + via the KDE Control Center or via the URL "print:/manager" from Konqueror) -- + with more functionality and less bugs... Its former developer, Michael Goffioul, is now + the developer of KDEPrint -- a very nice and productive guy and quick bug fixer... + + kprinter + + + + + Raster Image + Every picture on a physical medium + is composed of a pattern of discrete dots in different colors and (maybe) + sizes. This is called a "raster image". + + + This is as opposed to a "vector image" + where the graphic is described in terms of continuous curves, shades, + forms and filled areas, represented by mathematical formula. Vector images + normally have a smaller file size and may be scaled in size + without any loss of information and quality --- but they cannot be + output directly, but always have to be "rendered" or "rasterized" + first to the given resolution that the output device is capable of... + + + + The rasterization is done by a Raster Image Processor (RIP, + often the Ghostscript software) or some other filtering + instance. + Pixel + Ghostscript + &PostScript; + Filter + RIP + + + + + RIP + Abbreviation for + Raster Image + Process(or); if used in the context of + printing, "RIP" means a hardware or software + instance that converts &PostScript; (or other print formats + that are represented in one of the non-Raster PDLs) into a + raster image format in such a way that it is acceptable + for the "marking engine" of the printer. + + + &PostScript; printers + contain their own PostScript-RIPs. A RIP may or may not be located + inside a printer. + + + For many &UNIX; systems, Ghostscript is the package that provides + a "RIP in software", running on the host computer, and pre-digesting + the &PostScript; or other data to become ready to be sent to the + printing device (hence you may perceive a "grain of truth" in the + slogan "Ghostscript turns your printer into a &PostScript; + machine", which of course is not correct in the true sense of the + meaning). + Filter + Ghostscript + &PostScript; + PDL + Raster + + + + + + RLPR (Remote LPR) + Abbreviation for Remote + Line Printing + Request; this is a BSD-style printing system, + that needs no root privileges to be installed, and no "printcap" to + work: all parameters may be specified on the command + line. + + + RLPR comes in handy for many laptop users who are + working in frequently changing environments. This is because it + may be installed concurrently with every other printing + sub system, and allows a very flexible and quick + way to install a printer for direct access via LPR/LPD. + + + KDEPrint + has an "Add Printer Wizard" to make RLPR usage even easier. + The kprinter command allows switching to RLPR "on + the fly" at any time. + KDEPrint + kprinter + printcap + + + + + + SNMP + Abbreviation for Simple + Network Management + Protocol; SNMP is widely used to control + all types of network node (Hosts, Routers, Switches, Gateways, + Printers...) remotely. + PWG + Printer-MIB + + + + + SSL(3) encryption + Abbreviation for Secure + Socket Layer; + SSL is a proprietary encryption method for data + transfer over HTTP that was developed by Netscape. It is now being + replaced by an IETF standard named TLS. + + TLS + + + + + + SPOOLing + Abbreviation for Synchronous + Peripheral Operations + OnLine; + SPOOLing enables printing applications + (and users) to continue their work + as the job is being taken care of by a system daemon, + which stores the file at a temporary location until the printer is ready + to print. + Daemon + + + + + + TLS encryption + Abbreviation for Transport + Layer Security; + TLS is an encryption standard for + data transfered over HTTP 1.1; it is defined in RFC 2246; + although based on the former SSL development + (from Netscape) it is not fully compatible with it. + + SSL(3) + + + + + + System V-style printing + This is the second flavor of traditional &UNIX; + printing (as opposed to BSD-style printing). It uses + a different command set (lp, lpadmin,...) to BSD, + but is not fundamentally different from it. However, the + gap between the two is big enough to make the two + incompatible, so that a BSD-client cannot simply print + to a System V style print server without additional + tweaking... IPP is supposed to resolve this weakness + and more. + + BSD-style printing + IPP + + + + + TurboPrint + Shareware software providing photo quality printing for many + inkjet printers. It is useful if you are unable to find a driver for your + printer and may be hooked into either a traditional Ghostscript system + or a modern ∪︀ system. + Gimp-Print + + + + + XPP + Abbreviation for X + Printing Panel; + XPP was the first Free + graphical print command for ∪︀, written by Till Kamppeter, + and in some ways a model for the "kprinter" utility in &kde;. + + + + + + + -- cgit v1.2.1