Ref: 10710074
Title: Downloading softfonts to a LaserJet over the network
Date:  7/18/88

Copyright 3Com Corporation, 1991.  All rights reserved.

Note:  This problem applies only to fonts that are downloaded as
temporary.

Recently there have been a number of calls regarding problems with
applications that download fonts to an HP Laserjet and do not print
properly on a 3+ network.

In almost every case, there is a logical explanation, and an easy
solution.

Unless the software has been programmed specifically for a LAN (the
only one I know of that really handles this right is Microsoft Word 3.1
Network Version), it treats the downloading of fonts and the printing
of documents as separate operations. Problem is that the spool file is
closed in between the downloading of the fonts and the downloading of
the document(s).

In a single user situation, this would not be a problem, since the
Laserjet would receive nothing in the interim. On the network, however,
the server issues a reset sequence in between jobs that causes the HP
to assume it no longer needs the "temporary" fonts and it discards
them. When the document comes along, it calls fonts that no longer
exist and the results are unpredictable.

There are actually three solutions to this problem:

1.  The 3P Set Trick

    a. Before the application is started, issue the command:

            3P SET LPT1: /HOLD

    b. Upon exit from the application, issue the command:

            3P SET LPT1: /HOLD=OFF

The /HOLD option causes all subsequent output from the
user to be treated as one job - 3+ will not close and de-
spool the job until the /HOLD=OFF command is received.
Examination of the print queue with 3P QSTAT will show the job
in INTERCEPT status.

Of course the nicest thing to do is embed these commands in a
batch file that starts the application. 3+Menus also provides a
convenient method of turning HOLD on.


2.  The Reset Sequence Trick

You can also eliminate the reset sequence. This is NOT
recommended, since you thereby remove all protection
against users leaving the printer in an unknown state.

Also, a BUG was discovered in 3+ - you can change the
reset sequence back to NONE, the 3+I&C menus will say its NONE,
but there is actually still a reset sequence being sent.
The solution was to delete the .NSP file to correct for this.

Not a pleasant solution, as I suggested. It does have one
benefit, however, and that is that it doesn't require the user
to change the way they do things at all. Still, you have to
GAMBLE that someone ELSE's job won't just happen to de-spool
in between your fonts and your document. Like I said - stick
with number 1 above.


3.  The Permanent Font Trick

HP supports the downloading of soft fonts in two ways: temporary
and "permanent". Permanent fonts remain until the printer is
power-cycled - ordinary reset sequences will NOT remove this
information. The problem with this solution is that a) you have
to have an application that knows how to download fonts in
permanent mode (HP's own PCL-Pak knows how to do this), and b)
the application has to be able to know that the fonts are there
and DON'T have to be downloaded. I have successfully used PCL-
Pak and Ventura Publisher, which CAN be told which fonts are
permanent, to do this. The real advantage of downloading fonts
in "permanent" mode is that you don't have to wait for them to
be downloaded each time. The disadvantage is that you eat into
the LaserJet's available RAM.

Almost all of the applications that support the LaserJet will
support the permanantly downloaded softfonts.

Note that a handshaking problem (although rare in HP Laserjet systems)
could also cause such problems. Please ensure that the printer, server,
and printer cable all agree with each other (if it doesn't print without
doing the download, it won't print with it).