PostScript Printer Driver & Related Issues - Windows 2000

[Dov Isaacs <isaacs@xxxxxxxxx>]

PostScript Printer Driver & Related Issues - Windows 2000
=========================================================

The following information relates to support for PostScript printing
and related issues under Microsoft's recently released Windows 2000:

(1) There are no current plans for an AdobePS PostScript printer driver
version for Windows 2000. The AdobePS 5.x drivers do not install under 
Windows 2000.

(2) The PostScript printer driver that ships with Windows 2000 is the 
result of a joint project of Adobe and Microsoft. It is functionally 
equivalent to AdobePS 5.1.1+.

(3) There is an updated PostScript printer driver already posted on 
Microsoft's Windows 2000 update site. This update resolves a severe 
incompatibility problem between FrameMaker 5.5.x and the PostScript 
printer driver for generating Acrobat data and for separations printing.
This updated driver is functionally equivalent to AdobePS 5.1.2. The URL
to obtain this updated driver is:

<http://microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/recommended/q252891/default.asp>

(4) There is currently NO facility to create printer instances with the
PostScript printer driver using any general user-specified PPD as you 
currently may with the AdobePS PostScript printer drivers with Windows NT 4.
You must use the "Add Printer" wizard within the Printers window. The 
Microsoft-provided, abbreviated PPD files may or may not directly correspond 
to the PPD files you currently have and/or really need. And not all printer 
models may be included with the wizard. "Fixing" the wizard to correct this 
problem requires hacking around with .inf files. We recommend that you 
"don't try this at home!"

(5) To address the very severe shortcomings of (4) above, Adobe is currently
completing the testing of a comprehensive Windows PostScript printer driver 
installation package for ALL "current" versions of Windows (Windows'9x, 
Windows NT 4, and Windows 2000). Based upon the version of Windows detected, 
this installer installs the latest version of the driver (AdobePS 4.x for 
Windows'9x, AdobePS 5.x for Windows NT 4, or uses the system driver for 
Windows 2000), and provides the capability of creating new printer instances
based on user-specified PPD files.

(6) Installation of Acrobat 4.05a under Windows 2000 does automatically
create a printer instance for the Acrobat Distiller printer using the correct
Distiller PPD along with the system PostScript driver!

(7) For users upgrading a Windows NT 4 system to Windows 2000 ... Existing
driver instances using AdobePS 5.1.x actually continue to work under Window 
2000, albeit with a different user interface than the native Windows 2000 
driver. However, new printer instances using AdobePS 5.1.x cannot be created
once the system is upgraded to Windows 2000.

(8) Type 1 font support in terms of simple installation, screen display, and
driver integration is now provided natively by Windows 2000. ATM (Adobe Type 
Manager) now has only two functions under Window 2000:

	(a) The full version of ATM provides true font management functions
	in terms of activation, deactivation, etc. of fonts and sets of fonts.
	(These functions are NOT provided by the "lite" version of ATM!)

	(b) Multiple Masters font instances are NOT supported natively via
	Windows 2000. ATM continues to provide such support.

The existing current version of ATM for Windows NT 4, ATM 4.0, is reported
to work as a font manager under Windows 2000 although a new version of ATM,
specifically tested for Windows 2000, will be available in a few months.

(9) InDesign 1.0 for Windows does not support the native Windows 2000
PostScript driver. A version that does fully provide such support will be 
available within a few months.

	- Dov 


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