LASER is a user-written print symbiont that is tailored specifically to the
Apple LaserWriter family and other PostScript printers.

The symbiont as distributed is configured to print normal text files in
a variety of formats on the laser printer.  Support is also included for
printing PostScript files, MacPaint files, and Zeta plot files.  See
LASER.C for additional capabilities of the symbiont.

This distribution consists of the following files:

File		Destination		Purpose
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
AAAREADME.DOC				This file
LASER.EXE	SYS$SYSTEM:LASER.EXE	The symbiont executable.
*.PS		SYS$LIBRARY:LASER.TLB	Library of PostScript header files.
LASER.C					Symbiont sources.
LASER_ERR.MSG				Error message source.
QUIDEF.H				Source header files.
SMBDEF.H
LBRDEF.H
LASER.OPT				Link options file.
LASER.HLP	SYS$HELP:HELPLIB.HLB	Description of forms supported.
SYST.COM	SYS$MANAGER:SYSTARTUP.COM Queue startup commands.

Installation.

Installation of the files can be accomplished with the following set of
commands:

$ LIBRARY/CREATE/TEXT LASER *.PS
$ COPY LASER.EXE SYS$SYSTEM:/PROT=W:RE
$ COPY LASER.TLB SYS$LIBRARY:/PROT=W:RE
$ LIBRARY /HELP SYS$HELP:HELPLIB LASER		! Optional

Select a terminal port to attach the printer to, and edit SYST.COM to
reflect your change.  SYST.COM may be invoked by your system startup
procedures.  The printer may be connected with a cable that has only
transmit, receive and ground pins connected.  Transmit and receive
should (I think) be swapped. The switch on the LaserWriter should be
switched to the "9600" position.  If you are sharing your LaserWriter
with a Macintosh connected via AppleTalk, use the following procedure
when switching the printer:

To switch the printer to the VAX:
1. Insure that no AppleTalk jobs are in progress.
2. Disconnect the appletalk connector from the laserwriter.
3. Switch switch on LaserWriter to "9600".
4. $START/QUEUE ALW

To switch the printer to the MAC:
1. $STOP/QUEUE/NEXT ALW
2. Allow any jobs in progress to complete.
3. Switch switch on LaserWriter to "AppleTalk".
4. Connect the appletalk connector to the laserwriter.

$ CREATE SYS$SYSDEVICE:[LASER].  This area is used for LASER log files
for spooled files, or when the laser log cannot be created in the user's
directory.  The location and name of the directory may be changed by 
changing the definition for LASER$LOG in SYST.COM.  Log files are only
created when there is an error in the job, or when the job sends back
information (i.e. using the PostScript PRINT command).

To build the symbiont from the sources:

$ CC LASER
$ MESSAGE LASER_ERR
$ LINK LASER.OPT/OPT

PostScript is a trademark of Adobe Inc.
LaserWriter and MacPaint are trademarks of Apple Computer.