enscript and a2ps

[Kurt Pfeifle]

David Botsch <dwb7 at ccmr.cornell.edu> wrote (Thursday 24 August 2006 17:17):

> Whups, you're right.
> 
> I definitely meant enscript replacing texttops (for the purpose of
> converting text files to postscript).
> 
> Even then, though, I take it I would still need to write a wrapper script
> as you describe below for the a2ps case.

Right. The description if for both, a2ps or enscript replacing texttops
(or whatever external conversion program replacing whichever a native 
CUPS filter).

Cheers,
Kurt


> thanks for the pointers.
> 
> On Wed, 23 Aug 2006 20:30:03 -0400, Kurt Pfeifle wrote:
> 
>> David Botsch <dwb7 at ccmr.cornell.edu> wrote (Wednesday 23 August 2006
>> 23:29):
>> 
>>> Hi. Can enscript just be used as a drop in replacement for a2ps in the
>>> mime.conv file?
>> 
>> No.
>> 
>> (BTW, "a2ps" is *not* used by CUPS. CUPS ships its very own "texttops"
>> filter...)
>> 
>>> Or would there be some options that would need to be somehow specified
>>> to make enscript do what cups expects in terms of input and output?
>> 
>> Yes.
>> 
>> You'd need a wrapper script around enscript or a2ps, that behaves like
>> CUPS is expecting one of its filters to behave.
>> 
>>  1. enlist the wrapper in the mime.convs [or another *.convs] file
>>     (and the mime type(s) it handles in the mime.types [or another
>>     *.convs file])...
>> 
>>  2. make the wrapper use the 5 or 6 positional parameters like they
>>     are used by other filters too (run one of them with zero para-
>>     meters to see what they expect)...
>> 
>>  3. let the wrapper call a2ps or enscript to do the real work...
>> 
>> See "man filter" and/or the CUPS book by Mike for more details.
>> 
>> 
>>> Thanks a bunch!
>>> 
>>> -DWB
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> Kurt