TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: preparing Word files for docutech production From:Geri Lou Ciotoli <GCIOTOLI -at- ECS-INC -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 5 Jan 1999 08:36:33 -0500
Lynda,
I send .prn files to a Printer who uses Docutech. It is the best way to go.
When I send the Word doc, the fonts change!
As far as "printing" draft copies using their driver and your printer, I
believe it is impossible.. Here is what I do..
I use the postscript driver they told me to use which is the HP Laserwriter
II NTX.. this must vary from printer to printer. Now in order to see
EXACTLY what you will get from the docutech, preview your document with the
driver enabled in Print Preview format. This gives you the page layout
exactly. I make sure my pages are all correctly laid out. Then, I print it
to my HP Laserjet 4V for proofreading. I do not change any pagination based
on this printout! Then before going to final print I preview it again in
Print Preview with the appropriate Doctech printdriver and print to .prn
files.
My printer, Indexx, Inc. in Greenville SC, gave me a software called LAUNCH
which enables me to electronically send them the .prn files very quickly.
By the way, I work remotely in Florida.
Hope this helps. I'm on Digest so email me directly if you have questions.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Geri Lou Ciotoli
Dataline8000 Technical Communicator
Enterprise Computer Systems, Inc.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lynda Baxter [SMTP:lbaxter -at- COMPUSENSE -dot- COM]
> Sent: Monday, January 04, 1999 11:04 AM
> Subject: preparing Word files for docutech production
>
> Do any of you produce hard copy manuals using the Xerox docutech? I'm
> trying
> to establish a workable process with a local printer and have run into
> some
> problems. I'm composing in Word 98, and printing draft copies to an HP
> Laserjet 4si.
>
> First, I installed the printer driver they supplied (AdobePS 4.2 Adobe
> PostScript Printer Driver), and then printed to file to create the .prn
> files. The docutech output from these files was much too light
> (particularly
> the screen captures!), and page formatting and kerning changed from my
> original Word doc files.
>
> Next, I sent the printer the original Word doc file. They printed to the
> docutech directly from their Word software. The output was much better,
> and
> the original formatting was retained.
>
> However, it's my understanding that it's supposed to be better to send the
> postscript file rather than the Word doc. That way the printer doesn't
> need
> the authoring software. How do you get around the problem, though, with
> the
> document reformatting when the postscript file is produced? How can I
> print
> and proof draft copies on our inhouse HP, and then confidently proceed to
> creating a postscript file that won't reformat?
>
> Any expertise would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
> _______________
> Lynda Baxter
> Technical Writer
> Compusense Inc.
