GCG/helix FAQ: Printing

How do I print to my local (non-networked) printer?

Quick-&-dirty method: Use the mouse on your workstation to cut and paste from your helix window into a printable file (e.g. a word-processor file) on your own machine. Then print that file as you normally print from your desktop machine.
Try the 'pcprint' command on helix . (at the helix prompt, type 'pcprint filename'). If that doesn't work, you may not have the right configuration to use pcprint.
Download the file from helix to your workstation, and then print from there. You will need some file transfer utility like Fetch or FTP to bring the file to your machine. This can be a bother, so if you print fairly often, it's worth checking out a better method such as finding a networked printer.

How can I print to my network printer?

There's a printer in your lab which is networked, but you don't know how to get your GCG (graphics or text) files to print on it. One way is to download the GCG output file from helix to your desktop machine, using Fetch or FTP, and then print it from your desktop machine. A more efficient way is to print directly from helix to your printer, as described below:

First, check if the printer is already registered on helix by typing

helix% more /etc/printcap

This file (/etc/printcap) has a list of all printers that are registered on helix, and you may find yours listed there. (or you may see another printer in your building that you can use). If your printer isn't on the list, call the helix staff (4-DCRT) or send a ptr (type 'ptr' at the helix prompt and follow instructions) to get it registered on helix. You will need to know the printer type, IP address or AppleTalk name.

Once you know the helix-registered name, you can now set your printer to be the default printer for your helix session by typing:


helix% setenv PRINTER printer_name

at the beginning of your session. (If you want it always to be your default printer, you can put this line in your .cshrc file.) To print a file, you can now type

helix% lpr filename

If you don't have the PRINTER environment variable set, or if you want to use a different printer, you can type:


helix% lpr -Pprintername filename

If it's GCG graphics that you want to print, see How do I print GCG graphics to my postscript printer?

Can I print from helix to an AppleTalk printer?

If you expect to do a lot of printing, it is worth getting your printer registered on helix so that you can print to it directly from your helix account. If the printer is networked with AppleTalk, you can register it on helix by calling the helix staff at 4-DCRT, or by sending a ptr (type 'ptr' at the helix prompt and follow instructions). You will need to know the printer type and AppleTalk name.

You can now set your printer to be the default printer by typing:


helix% setenv PRINTER printer_name

at the beginning of your session. (If you want it always to be your default printer, you can put this line in your .cshrc file.) To print a file, you can now type


helix% lpr filename

If you don't have the PRINTER environment variable set, or if you want to use a different printer, you can type:


helix% lpr -Pprintername filename

Can I print from helix to a printer that is attached directly to my PC/Mac?

From helix, you can use 'pcprint' to print files directly to the printer that is attached to your PC or Mac. Pcprint is a C shell script that uses ANSI escape codes to start and end transparent printing. PCprint is known to work under the following configurations:

   Hardware         Operating System   Emulator
   IBM Compatible   DOS 3.3-6.2        MS-Kermit
   IBM Compatible   DOS 3.3-6.2        ProComm Plus
   IBM Compatible   DOS 3.3-6.2        PC/TCP tn, rlogin, etc.
   IBM Compatible   Windows 3.1        PC/TCP DOS Apps
   IBM Compatible   Windows 95         EWAN Telnet
   Macintosh        Systems 6&7        Versaterm Pro

For other desktop configurations, you are on your own -- try it and see if it works. At the helix prompt, type

% pcprint filename 	(to print the file)
or
% man pcprint		(for info about the pcprint command)

My printer's currently dead; where can I print?

Other local or networked printers.

A nearby lab may have a networked printer that you can access directly from helix, using the command 'lpr -Pprintername filename'.

IBM/370 printer at DCRT.

At the helix prompt, type

% print370 filename  	(to print the file)
or
% man print370		(for info about the print370 command)

The IBM/370 printer prints both text or postscript graphics. You need a box number, and your output will be placed in that box for you to pick up. If you don't have a box, call TASC at (301-59)4-DCRT or email them at 4dcrt@nih.gov for more information. The box is associated with an MVS account, for which you will need an account sponsor (usually your supervisor).)

Hint: If you type the line

helix% setenv PRINT_BOX box_number

the print370 command will automatically print to your box number for that session. You can also put this line in your .cshrc file so that it is set for every helix session.

DCRT's Scientific Computing Resource Center

has printers that are available to NIH users. Call them at (301) 594-DCRT or visit their web page for more information.

How do I print GCG graphics to my postscript printer

Two possible ways:

Send the GCG graphics output directly to the printer. If your printer is networked and registered on helix, you can tell GCG to send the graphics output directly to the printer. Follow the steps below to set this up. If your printer is not registered on helix, see Can I print from helix to an AppleTalk printer?.

helix% setenv PRINTER your_printer_name
helix% postscript
 
 Use Postscript graphics with what device:
 
  LaserWriter
  Lzr1200
  LN03-ScriptPrinter
  LPS20
  ColorScript-100
  EPSF (single page encapsulated postscript format)
  CEPSF (color EPSF)
 
 Please choose one ( * LASERWRITER * ) 
 
 To what port is your LASERWRITER connected (* term *) | lpr
 
 Plotting Configuration set to: 
 
       Language: psd 
         Device: LASERWRITER
  Port or Queue: | lpr

i.e. you told GCG to pipe its graphics to lpr, the Unix print command. lpr sends its output to the printer named in the setenv PRINTER command. If you want to use a different printer, you can type


 To what port is your LASERWRITER connected (* term *) | lpr -P printername

Send the GCG graphics output to a file, and print that. You can use either the GCG command 'postscript' (as in the example above) or the command 'setplot'. ('Setplot' is a simpler, menu-driven program that allows you to choose between the most common configurations, but 'postscript' gives you more options.) Print the output file to your networked postscript printer or the IBM/370 printer at DCRT. You can also download the file and print to your local non-networked printer. Sample session:
```
% postscript
 
 Use Postscript graphics with what device:
 
  LaserWriter
  Lzr1200
  LN03-ScriptPrinter
  LPS20
  ColorScript-100
  EPSF (single page encapsulated postscript format)
 
 Please choose one ( * LASERWRITER * ) 
 
 To what port is your LASERWRITER connected (* gcgplot.ps *) gcgplot.ps
 
 Plotting Configuration set to: 
 
       Language: psd 
         Device: LASERWRITER
  Port or Queue: gcgplot.ps

% mapplot

MapPlot displays restriction sites graphically.  If you don't have a
plotter, MapPlot can write a text file that approximates the graph. 

  Process set to plot with LASERWRITER attached to gcgplot.ps
  using the psd graphic interface.

 (Linear) MAPPLOT  of what sequence ?  w91934.gb_new

                  Begin (* 1 *) ?  
                End (*   631 *) ?  

 ***  I read your enzyme data file "enzyme.dat"!!  *** 

 Select the enzymes:  Type nothing or "*" to get all enzymes. Type "?"
 for help on which enzymes are available and how to select them. 

                                       Enzyme(* * *):  

 PostScript instructions for a LASERWRITER are now being sent to gcgplot.ps.

% lpr gcgplot.ps
(or to use another printer)
% lpr -Pprintername gcgplot.ps
```
How do I print GCG graphics to my HP plotter or printer?
You can get GCG to write its graphic output into a file suitable for HP plotters. You can use either the GCG command 'hpgl' or the command 'setplot' to set this up. ('Setplot' is a simpler, menu-driven program that allows you to choose between the most common configurations, but 'hpgl' gives you more options.) Note that the output file will be overwritten each time you run a graphics-producing GCG routine. If you want to save it, rename the file after it is produced!
Sample session:
```
helix% hpgl
 
 Use HPGL graphics with what device:
 
  HP7470
  HP7475
  HP7550
  HP7580
  ColorPro
  LaserJetIII
 
 Please choose one ( * HP7550 * ) 
 
 To what port is your HP7550 connected (* gcgplot.ps *) gcgplot.hp
 
 What page size:
 
 A3       (for 11 x 17 inch)
 A4       (for 8.5 x 11 inch)
 
 Please choose one (A3 or A4) (* A4 *) 
 
 Plotting Configuration set to: 
 
       Language: hpd 
         Device: HP7550
  Port or Queue: gcgplot.hp
 
 Using a paper size of A4.

% mapplot

MapPlot displays restriction sites graphically.  If you don't have a
plotter, MapPlot can write a text file that approximates the graph. 

  Process set to plot with HP7550 attached to gcgplot.hp
  using the hpd graphic interface.

 (Linear) MAPPLOT  of what sequence ?  w91934.gb_new

                  Begin (* 1 *) ?  
                End (*   631 *) ?  

 ***  I read your enzyme data file "enzyme.dat"!!  *** 

 Select the enzymes:  Type nothing or "*" to get all enzymes. Type "?"
 for help on which enzymes are available and how to select them. 

                                       Enzyme(* * *):  

 PostScript instructions for a HP7550 are now being sent to gcgplot.hp.
```
Use 'Fetch' or 'FTP' to bring the file gcgplot.hp to your own computer, and print.

What if my printer can't do postscript?
Do you have access to an HP plotter or printer? You can get your graphics output into a hpgl file.
Or you can print to DCRT's IBM/370 printer, which can handle postscript. Then walk over to Bldg 12 to pick up your output.
Or you can use one of the printers at CIT's Scientific Computing Resource Center. Call them at 4-DCRT or visit their web page for details.

My printer prints black-and-white but I need color output.
If you need color printouts on an occasional or irregular basis, you can use DCRT's Scientific Computing Resource Center. They have Macs, PC's, scanners, black-and-white and color printers available free to NIH personnel. Walk-in use is provided, but appointments are recommended. See their web page for details, or call them at (301) 594-DCRT.

How do I know what port my LaserWriter is connected to?
When you run the 'postscript' command in GCG, it asks
```
To what port is your LASERWRITER connected?
```
If you have your networked Laserwriter registered on helix (see Can I print from helix to an AppleTalk printer? , then you can get GCG to print directly to your printer. If the PRINTER environment variable is not set, type
```
 | lpr -Pprintername
```
in response to the question. This tells GCG to pipe the output to the Unix lpr command, and it should then go directly to your printer.
You can set the PRINTER environment variable by typing
helix% setenv PRINTER printername
(you can put this in your .cshrc file so you don't need to reset it for each session). If this is set, you can respond to the question with ' | lpr' only, since your helix session already knows what your default printer is.
You can also print to a file, if your printer is not networked or you want to use a different printer. In response to the question "To what port is your LASERWRITER connected?" type a filename. The graphics output will go to that file.

How do I print to my local (non-networked) printer?

How can I print to my network printer?

Can I print from helix to an AppleTalk printer?

Can I print from helix to a printer that is attached directly to my PC/Mac?

My printer's currently dead; where can I print?

How do I print GCG graphics to my postscript printer

How do I print GCG graphics to my HP plotter or printer?

What if my printer can't do postscript?

My printer prints black-and-white but I need color output.

How do I know what port my LaserWriter is connected to?