pcl to pdf-file

[hjl]

How could I make pdf file from a pcl stream on a Fedora core 3?

with regards

Hans

[mot]

Did you ever found out how to do this, or does anybody else have an answer ?

Thank you

[hjl]

No, I am waiting and hope.

[erroneus]

I think you may be asking the right question in the wrong way.

The PCL (printer control language as used by HP printers?) stream originates from where? I suspect it does't matter.

As you may know, Linux uses a postscript printing method (as opposed to windows's GDI basis). PDF is essentially a packaged form of postscript... that trivia is somewhat irrelevant but it's good to know.

What I think you may need to look at is CUPS-PDF. It creates a PDF based on printer output. To that end, you may need to pipe the PCL stream to an HP printer configuration, and from there to your PDF creation engine.

My guess is you're trying to create a PDF distiller machine?

[mot]

Thank you for replying.

I have an application that creates an output stream with PCL, and the application cannot be modified . I want to create pdf files from this output (now the output is sent directly to a printer).

Could you provide more information on how to create this setup that you are suggesting, pcl --> hp printer --> pdf creator ?

[wdgiles]

Here is the site's projet page on freshmeat. That should get you started.

[erroneus]

Tell me more about this application. Can this stream be sent out ti a file?

From your description, this will not be a trivial matter. Typically, Linux prints postscript and translates to PCL or whatever is required for specific types of printers... but it all starts at postscript.

This application that cannot be modified -- is it Windows? Is it running on the same machine?

I really want to help, but GIVE DETAILS. It's quite impossible to help without enough information.

[mot]

It is a custom application that runs on Linux and Unix. It basicly creates reports, that are sent to the output stream. For now, we sent it to an lp command to print it, but it could also be sent to a script or to a file. The application is running on the same machine that should create the pdf documents.
The output stream consists of normal text, with some pcl code in it, for layout (among other things). If you need any more details, i will happily provide them.

[erroneus]

so can you then select which printer it goes to by any means? Can you print to just about any printer? I think it would be worth experimenting with installing CUPS-PDF and setting it up as default printer. It just might do the trick.

I think it is a little unusual for a Linux app to print they way you describe, but then again, perhaps it's by design and they want you to buy extra capabilities such as postscript printing or PDF support.

[mot]

Ok, thank you for the responses.
I will try the CUPS-PDF printer. I hope it will solve my problem

[mickza]

I've just been tackling the same issue - PCL pre-formatted print jobs which I can save as files and then want to convert to PDF for email purposes.

I seem to have found the solution with Ghostscript GhostPCL

http://www.ghostscript.com/awki/GhostPCL

I downloaded version ghostpcl_1.41p1.tar.bz2 (problems experienced with the latest version on FC5). The README was a little confusing and I finished up running:

make clean
make
make install

then tested with:
pcl6 -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -sOutputFile=laser.pdf laser.pcl

laser.pdf opens fine with acroread but I seem to have a minor issue with paper size (I use A4 as my standard size & pcl6 seems to use US Letter as the default). Still, early days yet and I am very impressed with the results so far!