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#use wml::tmpl::lbpage file=$(ROOT)/about.html
<page_title name="About Apsfilter">

<linkgroup name="Printing on Unix, 'black magic' or
  'commandline wizardry' ?">
<p>Unix Systems usually doesn't have printer support like Windows or
  Macintosh computers. It's often something like <i>black magic</i>,
  to get something printed on a plain Unix system.
<p>But even if you downloaded and installed every tool and filter
  script you need to convert your document type to something, your
  printer is capable to print, it's kind of <i>commandline wizardry</i>,
  to actually make it happen ;-)
<p>It starts usually reading the <i>friendly manual pages</i> and ends
  up drinking some more coffee then you are used to. Often you need
  to take some aspirin pills as well ;-)
</linkgroup>

<linkgroup name="Apsfilter simplifies printing under Unix">
<p>
  Printing of different file formats is strongly simplified.
<p>The following commandline shows, that the user doesn't have to know
  anymore, how different file formats have to be converted with different
  Unix utilities, to get printed onto your printer.
<code>user@unixhost $ lpr -C high:duplex:32bpp:present:glossy ascii-file.gz
  LaTeX.dvi.bz2 picture.gif xfig-file.fig.Z</code>
  So you can relax and simply concentrate on the simple fact, that
  you want to print something, not how to pipe data through different
  Unix utilities.
<p>From apsfilter version 5.2 up its even possible, to change print
  options on the command line using the -C option of the lpr command,
  the so called <i>Class</i> option.
<p>Starting from apsfilter 6.0.0 duplex printing is supported. If your
  printer or driver is not duplex capable, then you can choose apsfilters
  "pseudo duplex mode". You get an e-mail containing a command that restarts
  the print queue for printing the backside of the paper. A "magic cookie",
  makes sure, that only you can start the print job, so that nobody other
  prints in the meantime.
<p>
</linkgroup>

<linkgroup name="Supported Filetypes">
<p>
  <a href="$(ROOT)/filetypes.html">Click here</a> for a complete list of
  supported filetypes.
<p>
</linkgroup>

<linkgroup name="Supported Printing Types">
<p>
  <li>Locally connected serial, parallel or USB printer</li>
  <li>Unix remote printer (lpd protocol)</li>
  <li>HP JetDirect card (lpd protocol)</li>
  <li>Network remote printer (lpd protocol)</li>
  <li>Windows remote printer (smbprint, samba)</li>
  <li>Appletalk remote printer (pap, netatalk)</li>
<p>
</linkgroup>

<linkgroup name="Supported Printer">
<p>
  <li>All true Postscript printer</li>
  <li>All Printer Supported by the <gs> PS emulator</li>
  <li>A very good source of information is the
      <a href="http://www.linuxprinting.org/database.html"
         >Foomatic printer support database</a> at
      <a href="http://www.linuxprinting.org"
         >www.linuxprinting.org</a>.
<p>
</linkgroup>

<linkgroup name="Best note for apsfilter">
<p>
  <a href="http://www.linuxberg.com/">Linuxberg</a>, a resource for 1000's
  of the best Linux software and applications on the net, gave apsfilter
  the best note of "5 penguins" in the discipline
  <a href="http://www.linuxberg.com/conhtml/adm_printing.html">
  console - printing</a>.
<p>
</linkgroup>

<linkgroup name="Articles about apsfilter">
<p>
  <li>German Unix magazine iX, 06/98, S. 144, "Drucken unter Linux"
  <li>Unix Open, sorry, lost the source</li>
<p>
</linkgroup>

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