Integrating Print Distributor and GhostScript

One of the restrictions with the standard version of Print Distributor is the requirement for all the printers you use to have a common printer driver available. This article shows you how to use the open source tool GhostScript as a potential work around to this problem. GhostScript is an interpreter for a language called PostScript which is a common format for larger laser printers. We will use a PostScript driver to create an interim file format then call GhostScript for each printer we need to print to.

To call GhostScript we will use the Run Program action which requires Print Distributor version 3.1 or later.

The first stage is to install a PostScript printer driver, Windows comes with many standard PostScript drivers and you may be able to use one of these but our preference is to install the generic PostScript driver from Adobe, you can download it from here.

Next you need to download and install GhostScript, we ran our tests with version 8.50, look for the file gs###w32.exe where ### is the version number here.

Finally we can add a new printer using the wizard in Print Distributor using the PostScript driver. When you get to the list of actions we need to add a Run Program action for each printer which doesn't support PostScript. Use the Browse button to select the gswin32c.exe program in the folder you installed GhostScript to and add the following parameters:

You will need to replace the text HP LaserJet 1100 with your output printer name. You should end up with a dialog like this:

Repeat this for every non PostScript printer, for the printers which do support PostScript you can use the normal Reprint action.