POSTSCRI PT

So ft w ar e Fro m Ado b e

PostScript Printer
Description File Format
Specification
Adobe Developer Support

Version 4.3

9 February 1996

Adobe Systems Incorporated

Adobe Developer Technologies
345 Park Avenue
San Jose, CA 95110
http://partners.adobe.com/

PN LPS5003

Copyright 1987-1996 by Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form
or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior
written consent of the publisher. Any software referred to herein is furnished under license and may
only be used or copied in accordance with the terms of such license.
PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated. All instances of the name
PostScript in the text are references to the PostScript language as defined by Adobe Systems
Incorporated unless otherwise stated. The name PostScript also is used as a product trademark for
Adobe Systems implementation of the PostScript language interpreter.
Any references to a PostScript printer, a PostScript file, or a PostScript driver refer to printers,
files, and driver programs (respectively) which are written in or support the PostScript language.
The sentences in this book that use PostScript language as an adjective phrase are so constructed to
reinforce that the name refers to the standard language definition as set forth by Adobe Systems
Incorporated.
PostScript, the PostScript logo, Display PostScript, Adobe, and the Adobe logo are trademarks of
Adobe Systems Incorporated which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. Apple, AppleTalk,
LaserWriter, and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Other brand or product
names are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
This publication and the information herein is furnished AS IS, is subject to change without notice,
and should not be construed as a commitment by Adobe Systems Incorporated. Adobe Systems
Incorporated assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies, makes no warranty
of any kind (express, implied or statutory) with respect to this publication, and expressly disclaims any
and all warranties of merchantability, fitness for particular purposes and noninfringement of third
party rights.

Contents

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

1

Introduction
1.1
1.2

Building a User Interface for Printing 6

Inserting Print-Time Features 7
Post-Processing 8
Error Handling 9
Order Dependencies 10
Local Customization of PPD Files 11
15

General Parsing Summary 15

Main Keywords 15
Option Keywords 17
Syntax of Values 20
Translation String Syntax 25
Human-Readable Comments 28
PostScript Language Sequences 28
PPD File Structure 31

Syntax of Specification
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5

ASCII Code Chart 2

Definition of Terms 3

Format
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8

Using PPD Files

2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6

32

General Syntax 32
Sample Keyword Statements 34
Elementary Types 36
Standard Option Values for Main Keywords 38
Summary of Rules for *Default Keywords 40

Keywords
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7

41

Creating Your Own Keywords 41

Structure Keywords 42
General Information Keywords 56
Installable Options 65
Basic Device Capabilities 68
System Management 72
Emulations and Protocols 78

iii

5.8
5.9
5.10
5.11
5.12
5.13
5.14
5.15
5.16
5.17
5.18
5.19
5.20
5.21
5.22
5.23
6

Sample PPD File Structure

6.1
6.2
6.3

Features Accessible Only Through Job Control Language

Resolution and Appearance Control 84
Gray Levels and Halftoning 87
Color Adjustment 91
Introduction to Media Handling 95
Media Option Keywords 96
Media Selection 96
Information About Media Sizes 102
Custom Page Sizes 106
Media Handling Features 119
Finishing Features 123
Imagesetter Features 133
Font Related Keywords 136
Printer Messages 143
Color Separation Keywords 146
Symbolic References to Data 149

7.1

153

Level 2 Color Printer 153

Level 2 Imagesetter 160
Examples of Custom Page Size Code

PPD File Summary

166

176

PPD Files for Kanji Products

Appendix A: Keyword Categories

A.1
A.2

UI Keywords 181
Repeated Keywords

179

181

182

Appendix B: Registered mediaOption Keywords

B.1
B.2

Components of mediaOption Keywords

mediaOption Name Tables 186

Appendix C: Character Encodings

C.1
C.2
C.3
C.4

183
184

199

All Encodings Indexed By Byte Code 200

Conversions from WindowsANSI Encoding 202
Conversions from MacStandard Encoding 204
Conversions from ISOLatin1 Encoding 206

Appendix D: Manufacturers Prefix List and *Manufacturer Strings

Appendix E: Changes Since Earlier Versions
E.1
E.2
E.3
E.4
Index

iv

Contents

81

209

213

Changes since Version 4.2, March 29, 1994 213

Changes since Version 4.1, April 9, 1993 219
Changes since Version 4.0, October 14, 1992 220
Changes since Version 3.0, dated March 8, 1989 221
229

(9 Feb 1996)

PostScript Printer Description File

Format Specification

Introduction
PostScript printer description files (PPD files) are text files that provide a
uniform approach to using the diverse features of devices that contain PostScript interpreters. Such features include different page sizes, different methods of paper and film handling, memory size, font availability, and finishing
features such as duplex printing and stapling. All devices do not have the
same set of features, and even devices with the same features do not necessarily invoke those features in the same way. PPD files provide applications with
the necessary information about a devices features, including the feature
options, the default settings, how to request the current settings, how to
change the settings, and other information that might be used for scheduling
jobs.
In this specification, the term device means any output device containing a
PostScript interpreter, such as a printer, imagesetter, or film recorder. Each
device has a PPD file associated with it. The PPD files for all devices that are
accessible to a given host computer are stored on that host computer. Applications on the host computer can then parse PPD files to discover the list of
features available on a device. PPD files contain structures that allow blind
parsing of a list of features. Applications can parse for these structures without understanding the features they contain. Applications can then build a
user interface from the list of features found in the PPD file for the selected
device.
The PPD file also contains the PostScript language code to invoke each feature. In this specification, the term output file refers to the file containing the
PostScript language description of the document composed by the user.
When a user selects a feature from the user interface, such as manual feed or
duplex printing, the code for each selected feature is extracted from the PPD
file and included in the appropriate place in the output file before the output
file is sent to the device.
Local customizations to a PPD file can be added at the user site to accommodate changes to the printer, such as the addition of fonts or memory, or to
configure a device a certain way (for example, to always print in duplex).

There is a close relationship between PPD files and the Adobe Systems document structuring conventions (also known as DSC). These comment conventions can be used in an output file to identify the code that invokes devicespecific features. This allows the output file to be redirected from one device
to another by a spooler or other post-processing software. As an output file is
routed across a network, a spooler can extract device-specific code by parsing
for the associated DSC comments. The spooler can then parse the PPD file
for the new device, extract new device-specific code, and insert that code into
the output file before routing the file to the new device.
Every piece of code that is extracted from a PPD file and inserted into an
output file should be enclosed by the appropriate DSC comments. Version 3.0
of the Document Structuring Conventions specification is documented in
Appendix G of the PostScript Language Reference Manual, Second Edition.
Any later versions of this specification can be obtained from the Adobe
Developers Association.
1.1

ASCII Code Chart

The following ASCII characters are referenced repeatedly in this document:

asterisk, * (decimal 42)
caret, ^ (decimal 94)
colon, : (decimal 58)
double quote, " (decimal 34)
newline any combination of carriage return (decimal 13) and line feed
(decimal 10)
period, . (decimal 46)
question mark, ? (decimal 63)
slash, / (decimal 47)
space (decimal 32)
tab (horizontal) (decimal 9)
open angle bracket, < (decimal 60)
closing angle bracket, > (decimal 62)

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

(9 Feb 1996)

1.2

Definition of Terms

This section defines many of the terms used throughout this specification.
There are two basic types of keywords in a PPD file: main keywords and
option keywords. Main keywords denote a device feature, such as the set of
available page sizes (*PageSize) or input slots (*InputSlot).
Option keywords, which modify main keywords, describe the list of available
options for a feature. For example, the option keywords for the main keyword
*PageSize describe the available page sizes, such as Letter, Legal, A4, Tabloid, and
so on. The option keywords for the main keyword *InputSlot describe the available input slots, such as Upper, Lower, and so on.
Two subsets of the main keyword class are default keywords and query keywords. Default keywords provide information about the default state of the
device as shipped from the factory. Default keywords share the root name of a
main keyword, as in *DefaultPageSize and *PageSize. When discussed as a class
of keywords, default keywords are also referred to as *Default keywords,
because *Default is always their prefix. A stand-alone default keyword is one
that appears in the PPD file without its related main keyword (for example,
*DefaultResolution without *Resolution).
A query keyword provides a code sequence, which, when downloaded to the
device, returns information about the current state of the device. This can be
used by applications to determine the state of a device and perhaps request
operator intervention (for example, if the appropriate media tray is not
present). Note that queries can only be used when the physical interface to
the device permits feedback from the device. Also, queries must be emitted in
a query job that immediately precedes the print job. Among other things,
this allows spoolers to process queries without processing the actual print job.
(See the DSC specification for a description of query jobs.)
Not every main keyword has an associated query keyword. Query keywords
have been defined only if they are possible and useful, and are completely
optional.
A statement is a single instance of a main keyword, option keyword (if any),
and value. There are seven formats for statements:
1. *MainKey
2. *MainKey: StringValue
3. *MainKey: "QuotedValue"
4. *MainKey: ^SymbolValue

1 Introduction

5. *MainKey OptionKey: StringValue

6. *MainKey OptionKey: "InvocationValue"
7. *MainKey OptionKey: ^SymbolValue
Each statement in a PPD file falls into one of these formats. The value types
are defined in section 3.4.
An entry describes a group of statements that logically belong together. An
entry usually includes a *Default keyword, several instances of a main keyword
with different option keywords and values, and a query keyword. An entry
often also has surrounding structure keywords, which are discussed in section
5.2.
There are two general classes of main keywords: informational and UI (for
User Interface). Informational main keywords provide information about a
feature, such as how much memory is available or which fonts are resident.
Such information is usually only useful to an application and does not appear
in the user interface. UI keywords represent features that would commonly
appear in a user interface (UI). They provide the code to invoke a user-selectable feature within the context of a print job; for example, the selection of an
input tray or manual feed. The entries of UI keywords are surrounded by the
structure keywords *OpenUI/*CloseUI or *JCLOpenUI/*JCLCloseUI (see section 5.2).
The line length of any line in a PPD file must be less than or equal to 255
characters, including line termination characters. Line termination in PPD
files can consist of any combination of the ASCII characters carriage return
(decimal 13) and line feed (decimal 10). In this specification, the set of line
termination characters is referred to as newline.
White space is defined as any combination of the ASCI characters space and
tab. Newline characters should not be treated the same as white space characters, because the newline character (or pair of characters) signals termination
of a statement (exceptions to this rule are noted on a case-by-case basis).
The following 8-bit byte codes are allowed in a PPD file: decimal 32 through
decimal 255 inclusive, plus decimal 9 (ASCII horizontal tab), decimal 10
(ASCII line feed), and decimal 13 (ASCII carriage return). However, most
data types further restrict the allowable byte code range. Characters that fall
within the allowable range for a particular data type are called in-range byte
codes. Characters that fall outside the allowable range for a particular data
type are called out-of-range byte codes.
Printable 7-bit ASCII is the set of byte codes that fall within the range of decimal 32 through decimal 126 inclusive, plus decimal 9 (ASCII horizontal
tab), decimal 10 (ASCII line feed), and decimal 13 (ASCII carriage return).

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

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A hexadecimal substring is used to represent out-of-range byte codes in certain data types (see section 3.5). A hexadecimal substring consists of a
sequence of zero or more pairs of hexadecimal digits, preceded by the < (less
than) character (decimal ASCII 60) and followed by the > (greater than) character (decimal ASCII 62). Hexadecimal digits consist of the characters 0
through 9, a through f, and A through F (case is insignificant). Spaces and
tabs can be intermixed with the hexadecimal digits and should be ignored.
Newlines may occur and should be ignored, except in translation strings,
where they are illegal. See section 3.5 for the treatment of newlines in translation strings. All other characters should be considered an error. An odd
number of hexadecimal digits is also an error.

Using PPD Files

PPD files can be used during several phases of document production. First,
during printer installation or setup, the user selects an output device and,
implicitly or explicitly, a PPD file. The association of the PPD file with the
printer can be handled by an application, or the user may select the PPD file
explicitly. An application can then parse the PPD file for a list of optional
accessories, and display a configuration panel that asks the user which accessories are installed. This information can be used later by a printing application to determine which options to display to the user at print time.
Some device features require additional memory or other hardware before
they can be invoked. For example, a device might need more than the minimum amount of memory to print a legal-size page, or to do color separations,
or it might need an external device to fold paper. The PPD file will contain
information for all features that are supported by the device hardware and the
PostScript interpreter. It is up to the user to install the correct peripherals and
memory needed to make these features accessible, and to tell the printing
application that they are available.

Note

This specification does not address the uses of PPD files at document composition time. For information about using a PPD file at document composition
time, see Technical Note #5117, Supporting Device Features.
At print time, the selected PPD file can be used to construct a user interface
that displays the available features of the requested device, such as duplex
printing or manual feeding. The default values for those features can be
obtained from the PPD file. Where applicable, there is also code that can be
used to determine the current settings of features (known as querying the
device). After the user selects various printing features, the code to invoke
those features can be extracted from the PPD file and inserted into the output
file.

2 Using PPD Files

Finally, PPD files for other devices can be used by a post-processor, such as a
spooler, to insert new device-specific code into the output file and route the
file to a different device. More detail on the use of PPD files in each phase of
document production is provided in the next few sub-sections.
In this specification, the application that parses the PPD file for device features and provides the print panel function is referred to as a print manager.
Often, it is the same piece of software that converts an applications internal
representation of a document to the PostScript language representation of the
same document. The function of the print manager might be provided by a
system-level driver, by a separate piece of software, or it might be part of an
application.
Among its other duties, the print manager
takes input from the user via some user interface, such as a print panel or
command line,
extracts from the PPD file the corresponding code sequences to invoke the
requested features,
inserts the code sequences into the appropriate setup section of the output
file, and
surrounds the code sequences with the appropriate DSC comments.
2.1

Building a User Interface for Printing

At print time, a user must be able to select various device features, such as
paper size or manual feed, through a user interface such as a print panel or a
command line. The features offered to the user by a print panel can be constructed by parsing the PPD file for the selected device, discovering the available features, and displaying them to the user for selection. For example, the
PPD file contains a list of paper sizes supported by the device. A user interface can display that list to the user and allow the user to select a paper size
from the list.
The PPD file also contains information about the default state of the device as
it is shipped from the factory. The default state of the device can be used as a
starting point for setting the initial state of the user interface. For example,
the default state of optional accessories can be used to indicate whether or not
those accessories are installed, and, therefore, whether or not to display them
to the user.
Second, the default state of individual features can be used to determine how
they are initially displayed. For example, if the default state of the device is to
print on letter-size paper with manual feed turned off, the user interface could
initially appear with letter-size paper selected and manual feed not selected.

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

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This tells the users that if they change nothing, their documents will be
printed on letter-size paper and the paper will be drawn from a tray other than
the manual feed tray. The PPD file can thus be used to tell users both what
they can do and what will happen if they do nothing.
It is important to realize that the defaults in the PPD file do not necessarily
reflect the current state of the device, as a system manager or a previous job
could have changed the state of the device. It is also important to realize that
a print manager is not required to use the PPD defaults as an initial starting
point for display. Some print managers save the users previous job settings
and use those as initial settings, rather than using the devices default settings.
2.2

Inserting Print-Time Features

When the user has finished selecting features, the print manager can consult
the PPD file for additional information, such as
whether this is a Level 1 or a Level 2 device, so the print manager knows if
it can generate code that uses Level 2 features
if it is a Level 1 device, which extensions to the PostScript language are
supported, if any
the code sequences that invoke the features the user has selected via the
user interface
any additional information that the author of the print manager thinks
would be useful in generating an efficient output file.
Armed with information, the print manager converts the internal representation of the document into the PostScript language representation of the document. It includes the device-specific code for the features requested by the
user, and surrounds these feature requests with DSC comments for possible
later parsing by other applications.
The following example shows a PostScript language output file that describes
a very small document. The output file does not yet contain DSC comments
or device-specific code. Throughout this section, this output file will grow as
DSC comments and device-specific code are added.
/sp /showpage load def
100 100 translate
20 50 moveto
20 100 lineto
stroke
sp

2 Using PPD Files

In the next example, assume that the user requested letter-size paper via some
user interface. The print manager extracts from the PPD file the device-specific code to invoke letter-size paper, inserts the code into the output file,
inserts the appropriate DSC comments, and sends the output file to the output
device.The following is the example with the DSC comments and the devicespecific code added.
%!PS-Adobe-3.0
%%Title: test.ps
%%EndComments
/sp /showpage load def
%%EndProlog
%%BeginSetup
%%BeginFeature: *PageSize Letter
statusdict /lettertray get exec
%%EndFeature
%%EndSetup
%%Page: one 1
100 100 translate
20 50 moveto
20 100 lineto
stroke
sp
%%EOF

When the output file is sent to the output device, the interpreter ignores the
comments and executes the PostScript language commands, including the
code sequence that sets up the letter-size input tray.
For most user-selectable features of a device, there is no clear inverse operation. That is, unsetting, for example, a ledger-size paper tray will typically
mean establishing a different paper tray as the current paper tray. Explicitly
setting the device back to its default condition has the same effect; it will
undo the effects of having previously set a given feature. Unless there is a
specific reason to do so, it is not necessary to reverse the effects of invoking
device-specific features for any particular print job, since the job server
should provide that service, returning device features to their default settings
at the end of each job.
2.3

Post-Processing

In some environments, there might be a post-processor, such as a spooler,

which also acts as a print manager. In this context, the requested device might
be unavailable, and the print manager/spooler might need to redirect an
output file from one device to another. If an output file is to be redirected, the
print manager parses the DSC comments in the output file, and strips out the
original device-specific code. It then parses the PPD file of the newly selected
device, extracts from the new PPD file the device-specific code requested by
the DSC comments, inserts the device-specific code from the new PPD file
into the output file, and sends the output file to the new device.

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

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The following is the example file as it is sent to the new device (note that the
device-specific code is different):
%!PS-Adobe-3.0
%%Title: test.ps
%%LanguageLevel: 2
%%EndComments
/sp /showpage load def
%%EndProlog
%%BeginSetup
%%BeginFeature: *PageSize Letter
(<<) cvx exec /PageSize [612 792] (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice
%%EndFeature
%%EndSetup
%%Page: one 1
100 100 translate
20 50 moveto
20 100 lineto
stroke
sp
%%EOF

2.4

Error Handling

Print managers should include a reasonable level of error-handling, both

when parsing PPD files and when downloading code from PPD files to a
device. Examples of possible errors in a PPD file are dangling symbolic references (section 5.23) missing information about page sizes (section 5.12,
section 5.14, and section 5.15), and missing required keywords (beginning of
section 5).
When querying a device, solicited and unsolicited status messages from the
device may interrupt the transmission of the query return value. On some
communication channels, this may cause buffer overflow when the maximum
number of characters retrievable by the host is exceeded. In such an environment, the print manager can alleviate the problem by limiting the number of
queries sent at one time, waiting some period of time (such as 100 milliseconds) between queries, and by flushing the communication channel between
queries.
When inserting invocation code from a PPD file into a job stream, print managers are encouraged to execute such code in a stopped context to catch any
errors, and to surround the code with mark and cleartomark to ensure that the
operand stack is cleaned up if an error occurs while executing the code.

2 Using PPD Files

Here is an example of error-handling code, using the same sample document

shown in previous examples:
%!PS-Adobe-3.0
%%Title: test.ps
%%LanguageLevel: 2
%%EndComments
/sp /showpage load def
%%EndProlog
%%BeginSetup
countdictstack[{
%%BeginFeature: *PageSize Letter
(<<) cvx exec /PageSize [612 792] (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice
%%EndFeature
}stopped
cleartomark
countdictstack exch sub dup 0 gt
{
{ end } repeat
}{
pop
}ifelse
%%EndSetup
%%Page: one 1
100 100 translate
20 50 moveto
20 100 lineto
stroke
sp
%%EOF

In this example, it is important that this line of code

countdictstack[{

appears before the %%BeginFeature: comment line, and that this line
}stopped

and the lines following it appear after the %%EndFeature line. Otherwise, these
lines of code could be removed by a print manager replacing the code
between the %%BeginFeature and %%EndFeature comments.
2.5

Order Dependencies

When a print manager is inserting device-specific code into an output file, the
order of certain operators with respect to each other is important and must be
considered. The keywords *OrderDependency and *NonUIOrderDependency,
described in section 5.2, provide information about the appropriate setup section (described in the DSC) and relative ordering of each PostScript invocation. If a print manager is not coded to read the *OrderDependency and
*NonUIOrderDependency statements in a PPD file, it must take care of the proper
ordering of the code fragments by itself.

10

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

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Specifically, the following guidelines for ordering should be applied:

Any resolution invocation (available only on devices where the user can
change the resolution of the device via software) must occur before any
media tray or media size selection. This is important because, on many
devices, the resolution is not set until the tray or size selection occurs, so
the tray or size selection must occur after the resolution invocation.
If both a specific media tray invocation (for example, Upper) and a specific page region invocation (for example, Letter) occur, the media tray
invocation should precede the imageable region invocation. Otherwise, the
tray invocation might override the imageable region invocation.
The following items should occur after media size selection:
job control requests such as duplex, automatic tray switching, signaturing,
output bin selection, and finishing features such as folding, binding, and
stapling
halftone invocations (including halftone screen setup, transfer functions,
and accurate screens). This is because the media size invocation will set
the halftone screen settings to their default settings. Modifications to the
halftone screens are not confined to the setup sections; they can occur anywhere on a page in the output file.
2.6

Local Customization of PPD Files

A PPD file is a static representation of the features available on a device. It

contains information on the features available on a device as it is shipped
from the factory. In general, this will be the minimum amount of memory
available for that device, the minimum font set, and the maximum list of
optional accessories, such as paper trays, so that all the necessary invocation
code is present in the PPD file, even if the accessories are not installed when
shipped from the factory. Optional accessories will be marked as optional in
the PPD file and their treatment is discussed in section 5.4.
Once a device is installed, features such as additional memory, paper trays,
and fonts might be added to the device. In this specification, the term system
administrator is used to mean the person who adds such features and is
responsible for the maintenance of the device. In a single-user, single-printer
environment, the role of system administrator is typically played by the user.
The task of managing a device is a dynamic issue that requires keeping track
of fonts downloaded to disk, error handlers, RAM-based fonts and procedure
sets, default device setup, and so forth. This kind of device management is
beyond the scope of PPD files. However, there are some provisions for customizing the information contained in PPD files to adapt them to local
instances of devices or to specific applications when necessary.

2 Using PPD Files

11

One approach to system management is for a print manager to parse all of the
PPD files available on a host system and store the data into a database. The
print manager (or other utilities) can then query the user or the device or
watch for system changes and update the database dynamically to reflect
additional memory, fonts, available trays, and other changeable printer features.
A less dynamic approach is provided in this specification by local customization files, which contain only the changed or added items and a reference to
the primary PPD file. In a given computing environment, there is usually one
PPD file for each type or model of device in use. For example, there may be
seven Acme FunPrinters in the system, but there is usually only one Acme
FunPrinter PPD file, which is shared by or copied onto each host computer in
the system. However, if applications or users want to add to or modify the
contents of a PPD file, they can create a local customization file for a specific
instance of a device or for use by a particular application.
For example, a computing environment might contain a primary PPD file that
describes a generic Acme FunPrinter. If the FunPrinter in Room 13 has additional memory, and if the system does not provide utilities for querying the
user or watching the state of the printer, then the system administrator might
want to create a local customization file for the FunPrinter in Room 13 that
reflects the presence of additional memory. (This is better accomplished by
the use of *InstalledMemory in the primary PPD file, if the print manager supports it.) Or, if an application developer wants to add application-specific
entries to a PPD file for a particular printer model, he would do so by creating
a local customization file that would be used only by that application. For
example, a color-intensive application might want to parse a PPD file for
halftone information and add complementary halftone screens to a local customization file.
The local customization file should generally contain only entries only for
items that are changed or added. However, to be understood by applications
parsing PPD files, the local customization file must conform to the PPD specification, so in a sense, the local customization file is a minimal PPD file. The
minimal set of required keywords listed in section 3.8 must be included at the
beginning of the file, so print managers can recognize it as a PPD file. Other
keywords that are marked Required in this specification, such as *PageSize, are
not required in the local customization file, unless they are being customized.
The customization file should be given a unique name that represents a particular device (for example, MyPrntr.PPD). The .PPD extension should be
preserved, with case irrelevant, in case applications or print managers are
searching for files with that extension. Application developers can also create
customization files with different extensions, which are read only by their
application.

12

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The local customization file must contain a reference to the primary PPD file
in this format:
*Include: "filename"

where filename is the name of the primary PPD file. This referencing allows a
system administrator to later replace the primary PPD file without forcing
users to edit their local customization files. If the new primary PPD file has
the same name as the old one, it will automatically be referenced by the local
customization file.
Before creating a local customization file, a system administrator should
make sure that computing environment provides support for the concept.
Some print managers might not process the *Include statement, or the system
might not provide a way to install both the primary PPD file and the local
customization file.
When a primary PPD file is included by a local customization file, the parsing details change somewhat. In particular, there might be several instances
of the same keyword in the composite file. In this case, the first instance
of a given keyword (or, if the keyword takes an option, of a keywordoption pair) is correct. This enables a parser to ignore subsequent versions
of the same statement, possibly reducing the parsing time.
Because the first instance of a keyword is the correct instance, all keywords
in a local customization file should occur before the *Include statement that
references the primary PPD file.For example, assuming the primary PPD file
is called TIMICRO1.PPD, a local customization file might look like this
*% Local Customization File for TI microLaser
*FreeVM: "1907408"
*Include: "TIMICRO1.PPD"
*% end of local customization file

The local customization file might be named TICUSTOM.PPD. A parser

reading this file would record the value of *FreeVM as shown above, and would
ignore subsequent occurrences of that keyword in the included PPD file,
TIMICRO1.PPD.
Note

To application developers: The situation in the example above would be

better handled through proper parsing of the *InstalledMemory keyword, eliminating the need for a local customization file. This example is intended for
use with parsers that dont process *InstalledMemory but do process local customization files.
If a UI keyword (see section 1.2) occurs in a local customization file, that
keywords entire entry must be present, to avoid confusing a print manager
with partial entries. For example, to change the value of *DefaultManualFeed, the
entire *ManualFeed entry must appear, including main keywords, options,

2 Using PPD Files

13

query, and the *OpenUI/*CloseUI bracketing. It should also include any

*OpenGroup/*CloseGroup bracketing, if the *ManualFeed entry is surrounded by
*OpenGroup/*CloseGroup in the primary PPD file. (See section 5.2 for details on
the *OpenUI/*CloseUI and *OpenGroup/*CloseGroup keywords.) This means that a
print manager, when parsing the PPD file, must be prepared to find (and subsequently ignore) multiple instances of a given *OpenUI/*CloseUI entry in the
combination of the primary PPD file and any local customization files.
Note

The concept of first instance is correct does not apply to certain keywords
that normally have multiple instances in a PPD file, and which do not have
option keywords to distinguish those instances. For example, *UIConstraints and
*PrinterError occur multiple times in a PPD file, with different values, but with
no option keyword to distinguish one instance from another. In these cases,
all instances must be parsed and recorded. This implies that a parser must
either know the semantics of PPD keywords when parsing, or it must save all
instances in some form for a later, smarter processor to decide which are
rightfully multiple instances. See Appendix A for a list of optionless keywords
that might occur multiple times in a file.
Using and Changing Default Settings

When building a user interface from a PPD file, a print manager can use the
*Default keywords to choose defaults for the features displayed to the user. For
example, if the PPD file for the selected device contains this statement:
*DefaultManualFeed: False

then the print manager can indicate in the user interface that manual feeding
of the media is, by default, turned off, and provide a way for the user to turn
on manual feeding.
The defaults listed in the original PPD file reflect the state of the device when
it is shipped from the factory. If the system administrator wants to set up the
device differently, the new defaults should be included in the local customization files. For example, if the device in the previous example was set up to
always feed from the manual feed slot, then the local customization file
should contain the entire *ManualFeed entry, copied from the original PPD file,
with the value of *DefaultManualFeed changed from False to True:
*OpenUI *ManualFeed: Boolean
*OrderDependency: 20 AnySetup *ManualFeed
*DefaultManualFeed: True
*ManualFeed True: code
*ManualFeed False: code
*?ManualFeed: query code
*CloseUI: *ManualFeed

This allows the print manager to indicate in the user interface that manual
feeding of the media on this device is, by default, turned on.

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Format
The syntax of PPD files is a simple line-oriented format where the options,
defaults, and invocation strings (PostScript language code sequences that
change a feature setting) are made available through a regular set of keywords.

3.1

General Parsing Summary

The following are parsing rules that apply to the PPD file as a whole:
Any line that exceeds 255 characters in length is an error.
Any byte code that is not in the following list is an error: decimal 32
through decimal 255 inclusive, plus decimal 9 (ASCII horizontal tab), decimal 10 (ASCII line feed), and decimal 13 (ASCII carriage return).
3.2

Main Keywords

All main keywords start with the leading special character * (decimal 42).
This makes recognition of keywords easier, and reduces the possibility of
keywords being confused with PostScript language identifiers in code
sequences.
Query keywords start with the leading characters *?, differentiated from other
main keywords by the presence of the ? character (decimal 63).
Default keywords start with the prefix *Default, as in *DefaultPageSize. Where
applicable, there is a relationship between the three kinds of main keywords,
as in *PageSize, *DefaultPageSize, and *?PageSize. However, there is no requirement for a *Default keyword to have corresponding main and query keywords
in a PPD file. A *Default keyword may appear alone if it makes sense.
There is also a relationship between keywords that start with the prefix
*Param, as in *ParamCustomPageSize, and the associated root keyword
(*CustomPageSize, in this case). The prefix *Param signifies that this keyword
documents parameters needed by the root keyword. See *CustomPageSize and
*ParamCustomPageSize for more explanation.
No single keyword is wholly contained as a substring in another keyword, so
that line-oriented searching programs such as grep can be used to parse for
complete keywords, including the * as part of the keyword name. For example, there will not be similar keywords such as *Paper and *PaperSize. However,
*PageSize and *CustomPageSize are legal, because *PageSize is not a substring of
*CustomPageSize.

3 Format

15

Since the format is line-oriented, all statements will start at the beginning of a
line. The * (asterisk) character that begins the main keyword in the statement
must be in the first column.
Main keywords can contain any printable ASCII characters within the range
of decimal 33 to decimal 126 inclusive, except for the characters colon and
slash, which serve as keyword delimiters. Note that space, tab, and newline
are outside this range. There is no escape mechanism for this prohibition,
such as using double quotes to surround illegal characters (for example,
*Quoted Keyword is not legal, because of the space in the keyword name).
The basic format of an entry looks like this
*Default<main keyword>: <optionn>
*<main keyword> <option1>: "PostScript language code"
*<main keyword> <optionn>: "some other PostScript language code"
*?<query keyword>: "PostScript language query code"

An example entry
*DefaultPageSize: Letter
*PageSize Letter: "lettertray"
*PageSize Legal: "legaltray"
*?PageSize: "save [(Letter)(Legal)] papertray get = flush restore"

The information is represented as tuples. They will typically either be

2-tuples (keyword/value pairs) or 3-tuples (keyword/option/value triplets).
Where simple information is supplied, such as the name of the device, a
simple keyword/value pair is used. Where there are optional parameters,
3-tuples are used (as in the example above) to provide information about a
specific option.
The format conveys the possibilities for a feature: the default setting for this
feature, the current setting, and how to invoke each of the options. By convention, all lines that start with the same keyword will be contiguous in the
PPD file, to make it easier to parse them. However, there is no mandatory
order to the lines in an entry; for example, the query could appear above the
default.
Parsing Summary for Main Keywords

When parsing main keywords, remember

The absence of a main keyword means that the feature does not exist (or
does not make sense) on that particular device.
Certain keywords are required to be present; see the beginning of section 5
for a list. For parsing, a chain of local customization files and included
PPD files are considered one file, so most required keywords can appear

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anywhere in the chain of files and do not have to be repeated in each file in
the chain. (See section 2.6 for exceptions.) The absence of any of these
keywords might be considered an error, or the parser might have backup
strategies for handling their absence.
If a main keyword is not recognized, the entire statement (including multiline code segments) should be skipped. However, read section 5.2 and
keep in mind that the point of the *OpenUI/*CloseUI structures is to allow new
main keywords to appear without a print manager explicitly recognizing
them. The most functionality will be provided to the user if a print manager handles all main keywords that occur within the *OpenUI/*CloseUI structure, displaying them and invoking their associated code to the best of its
ability. Unrecognized main keywords that occur outside of the *OpenUI/*CloseUI structure should be skipped.
A * in the first column denotes the beginning of a main keyword. Any text
or white space before the * should be considered an error.
The case of main keywords is significant. For example, *PageSize is distinct
from *Pagesize. The proliferation of keywords that are the same textually
except for case is strongly discouraged.
40 characters is the maximum length for main keywords.
Main keywords can contain any printable ASCII characters within the
range of decimal 33 to decimal 126 inclusive, excluding colon and slash.
Delimiters for main keywords are space, tab, colon, or newline. After the
initial * symbol is recognized, all characters through (but not including) the
next space, tab, colon, or newline character are considered part of the main
keyword.
If a main keyword is not terminated with a colon or newline, an option
keyword can be expected. See section 3.3 for information on option keywords.
3.3

Option Keywords

Option keywords are provided whenever there are several choices for a particular feature. For example, there might be many different media sizes listed
in the *PageSize section. These choices are specified using option keywords.
The option keyword immediately follows the main keyword, separated from
it by one or more spaces. For example, in the following statement, the string
Letter is the option keyword:
*PaperDimension Letter: 612 792

3 Format

17

The list of option keywords is completely extensible by the person building

the PPD file. This enables a PPD file to be generated for a device, using
names specified by the device manufacturer, without making constant
updates to the PPD specification. See section 5.1 for information on keyword
creation.
The option keywords currently known for each main keyword are described
in this specification. As new option keywords are added, updates will be generated. It should be clear, however, that the list of option keywords is never
complete. That is, a new option keyword can be created at any time. Documenting the option keywords is done to prevent redundancy in naming; it is
not meant to restrict the list of option keywords available.
Option keywords may contain any printable ASCII characters within the
range of decimal 33 to decimal 126 inclusive, except for the characters slash
and colon, which serve as keyword delimiters. Note that space, tab, and newline are outside this range.
An option keyword can be the name of a main keyword or of a symbol. The
following examples all contain valid option keywords in the second field:
*InputSlot Letter: "code"
*OpenUI *InputSlot: PickOne
*SymbolValue ^MySymbol: "code"

An option keyword is terminated by a colon or a slash if there is a translation

string (see section 3.5 for information on translation strings). There is no
escape mechanism for the forbidden characters listed above.
Option keywords can have extensions called qualifiers. Qualifiers are
appended to option keywords with the . (period) character (decimal
ASCII 46) as a separator. Any number of these qualifiers can be appended to
an option keyword, as appropriate. For example:
*PageSize Letter
*PageSize Letter.Transverse
*PageSize Letter.2

In this example, qualifiers are used to differentiate between several instances

of a particular media type that differ only slightly. For example, the .Transverse
qualifier signifies that Letter differs from Letter.Transverse only in the direction
that the media is fed into the device.
The numeric qualifier .2 in Letter.2 is called a serialization qualifier. A serialization qualifier is an integer appended to an option keyword to distinguish it
from an otherwise identical option keyword (for example, a device with two
letter trays might refer to them as Letter.1 and Letter.2). Qualifiers will be registered when appropriate, with the exception of serialization qualifiers, which
make no sense to register.

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Parsing Summary for Option Keywords

For print managers, the rapid extensibility of option keywords implies that a
print manager should not parse for specific option keywords for two reasons:
There might be option keywords in the PPD file that are not in this specification. New option keywords can be added to PPD files at build time when
necessary. If a parser only recognizes the option keywords registered in
this specification, it might limit the feature set that can be offered to the
user.
Certain option keywords might not be present in the PPD file for a given
device. Manufacturers will inevitably call features by different names and
use different option keywords to describe those features, so parsing for
*PageSize Ledger is futile if the PPD file being parsed describes that particular feature as *PageSize 17x11. Again, this can limit the feature set offered to
the user, and might cause an error if the parser cannot find a specific
option keyword.
Rather than parsing for specific option keywords, a print manager should
parse for main keywords and display all available option keywords found. To
facilitate easier parsing, all option keywords of a given main keyword (that is
conceivably part of a user interface) are bracketed by the *OpenUI/*CloseUI keywords (see section 5.2).
Other things to remember about parsing option keywords:
An option keyword begins with the first character after white space after a
main keyword. In other words, if a main keyword is not terminated by a
colon, but is followed by white space instead, an option keyword will be
the next non-white-space text encountered.
The case of option keywords is significant. For example, letter is distinct
from Letter.
40 characters is the maximum length for option keywords, including any
extensions or qualifiers separated by dots.
Option keywords can contain any printable ASCII characters within the
range of decimal 33 to decimal 126 inclusive, except for the characters
colon and slash, which serve as keyword delimiters. Once the option keyword is encountered, and before it is properly terminated, a space, tab, or
newline character should be regarded as an error.

3 Format

19

 The option keyword is terminated by either a colon or a slash. A slash

indicates the presence of a translation string. If a translation string is
present, it is terminated by a colon. White space and slashes are allowed in
the translation string. A newline encountered before the colon should be
considered an error.
3.4

Syntax of Values

The : (colon) character (decimal 58) is used to separate keywords (and

options, if any) from values. Any number of tabs and spaces are permitted
after the colon and before the value.
A simple key/value pair looks like this
*MainKeyword:

value

and a 3-tuple typically looks like this:

*MainKeyword option:

value

There are five basic types of values:

InvocationValue
QuotedValue
SymbolValue
StringValue
NoValue
InvocationValue

An InvocationValue contains a syntactically correct PostScript language fragment that is usable by the PostScript interpreter. This allows an
InvocationValue to be extracted from the PPD file and placed directly into the
output file.
An InvocationValue meets the following conditions:
Occurs only in statements where there is an option keyword present.
Starts and ends with the double quote character " (decimal 67).

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 Everything between the double quotes is treated as literal; that is, newlines
and hexadecimal substrings are allowed and are placed in the output file to
be passed on to the interpreter. Note that, unlike other values, a newline
does not terminate an InvocationValue and a slash does not mark the
beginning of a translation string.
The following characters are forbidden between the starting and ending
double quote characters:
- byte codes outside the range of printable 7-bit ASCII (see section 1.2)
- double quote character " (decimal 67)
There is no escape mechanism or alternate way to represent forbidden
characters.
QuotedValue

A QuotedValue meets the following conditions:

Occurs only in statements without an option keyword, with one exception: *JCL keywords, which may have both an option keyword and a
QuotedValue. See section 5.8 for information on *JCL keywords.
Starts and ends with a double quote character " (decimal 67).
Between the double quote characters, a QuotedValue consists of a
sequence of literal and/or hexadecimal substrings (defined in section 1.2).
A literal substring is a sequence of 8-bit byte codes, as defined in section
1.2, with the following characters forbidden:
- double quote character " (decimal 67)
- open angle bracket < (decimal 60) because this character marks the
beginning of a hexadecimal substring
- closing angle bracket > (decimal 62) because this character marks the
end of a hexadecimal substring
Note that a QuotedValue is the only type of value in a PPD file that can contain byte codes outside the range of printable 7-bit ASCII. Also, unlike an
InvocationValue, forbidden literal substring characters in a QuotedValue can
be represented as hexadecimal substrings, bounded by opening and closing
angle brackets < (decimal 60) and > (decimal 62) as defined in section 1.2.
Note

To builders of PPD files: If you are concerned about the portability of a PPD
file across different platforms (for example, Windows and Macintosh), you
should also use hexadecimal substrings to represent any byte code that is out-

3 Format

21

side the range of printable 7-bit ASCII. Most PPD files are initially built in
English, using only printable 7-bit ASCII, but when a PPD file is translated
to another natural language, 8-bit byte codes may be needed. Such byte codes
are often specific to the platform and to the natural language environment. If
the file is being translated for a specific platform, the use of 8-bit byte codes
will probably not be a problem for that platforms print managers, but if the
PPD file is supposed to remain portable across platforms, the use of 8-bit
byte codes may hinder portability.
A print manager parsing a QuotedValue is responsible for converting a hexadecimal substring into a sequence of bytes before using them.
The < and > characters must be represented as hexadecimal substrings if
they occur in the value as anything other than hexadecimal substring
delimiters.
The value can be intermixed literal and hexadecimal substrings. For example, the following statements both have valid QuotedValues:
*MainKeyword: "Hi there <ABCDEF> everybody"
*MainKeyword: "<ABCDEF>"

Note

To builders of PPD files: PostScript language code should not appear in a

QuotedValue, but rather in an InvocationValue. If older parsers expecting literal substrings encounter a hexadecimal substring, which is new as of the 4.0
specification, errors will probably result.

Note

To application developers: 8-bit byte codes were not allowed in PPD files
prior to the 4.3 specification, but this rule was widely violated when PPD
files were translated to other natural languages. Most parsers simply pass the
8-bit byte codes along without rejecting them or attempting to translate them,
but any parsers that expect only printable 7-bit ASCII may have problems
with 8-bit byte codes in translated and newer PPD files.
SymbolValue

A SymbolValue is used as pointer to a body of PostScript language code (an

InvocationValue). A SymbolValue can occur in a statement whether or not
there is an option keyword present.
A SymbolValue is a value that meets the following conditions:
Starts with a caret ^ (decimal 94)
Contains only printable 7-bit ASCII byte codes and is terminated by a
newline. No white space is allowed.

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 The actual text of the SymbolValue is further constrained by the requirements documented in section .
StringValue

A StringValue can occur in a statement whether or not there is an option keyword present. A value of the form StringValue meets the following conditions:
The value is not surrounded by the double quote character.
The first character of the value cannot be a double quote character, to
avoid a parser confusing a StringValue with a QuotedValue or an
InvocationValue.
The first character of the value cannot be a caret ^ (decimal 94), to avoid
confusing a StringValue with a SymbolValue.
The value is composed of printable 7-bit ASCII byte codes, possibly separated by spaces and tabs into multiple components. It is terminated by a
newline, or by a slash, in the case of a translation string.
There is no escape mechanism for forbidden characters.
NoValue

A value of type NoValue meets the following conditions:

There is no option keyword present.
There is no value present.
The main keyword stands alone.
Parsing Summary for Values

When parsing values, be aware of the following:

If there is an option keyword in a statement, and the first non-white-space
character after the colon is a double quote, " (decimal 67), the value is an
InvocationValue. The exception to this rule is that if the main keyword
starts with the string *JCL, the value should be treated like a QuotedValue.
See section 5.8 for a description of the *JCL keywords.
If there is an option keyword in a statement, and the first non-white-space
character after the colon is a caret, ^ (decimal 94), the value is a
SymbolValue.

3 Format

23

 If there is an option keyword in a statement, and the first non-white-space

character after the colon is neither a double quote, " (decimal 67) nor a
caret, ^ (decimal 94), the value is a StringValue.
If there is no option keyword, and the first non-white-space character after
the colon is a double quote, " (decimal 67), the value is a QuotedValue.
If there is no option keyword, and the first non-white-space character after
the colon is a caret, ^ (decimal 94), the value is a SymbolValue.
If there is no option keyword, and the first non-white-space character after
the colon is neither a double quote, " (decimal 67) nor a caret, ^ (decimal
94), the value is a StringValue.
The value of a query keyword (one that starts with the characters *?),
although formatted as a QuotedValue, should be treated as an InvocationValue.
The value of a *Default keyword statement must be a StringValue.
If a *Default keyword is not stand-alone (defined in section 1.2), the value
must be a string matching a valid option keyword in the surrounding entry,
or it may be Unknown. If the *Default keyword is stand-alone, the value must
be one of the values registered in this specification for the main keyword
that it would normally accompany, and the value may not be Unknown, as
that provides no useful information.
StringValues can contain spaces and tabs, because there might be multiple
components of a value.
An InvocationValue or a QuotedValue is terminated by the closing double
quote, and can be followed by a translation string, indicated by a slash
after the closing double quote and before the newline. If the value has a
translation string, the translation string is terminated by a newline.
A SymbolValue, StringValue, or NoValue is terminated by a newline.
When parsing an InvocationValue or a QuotedValue, parsing should continue until the matching closing double quote is found, even if it crosses a
line boundary. Line boundaries are considered significant white space
within an InvocationValue or QuotedValue. That is, lines will not be
broken in the middle of PostScript language tokens. An InvocationValue
or QuotedValue is considered a single token when parsing PPD files.
If an InvocationValue or QuotedValue breaks across a line, the *End keyword should occur as the next statement in the PPD file after the closing
double quote delimiter. If it is not found, this is considered a parse error
with a missing closing delimiter. The *End keyword appears only where an

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InvocationValue or QuotedValue extends across a line boundary. Care

should be taken to preserve the line breaks in InvocationValues and
QuotedValues. This will ensure that comments within code segments will
end where they were intended to end.
All characters inside an InvocationValue are treated as literals and are
placed directly in the output file. Particularly: a slash appearing within the
double quotes is not treated as a marker for the beginning of the translation
string, newlines do not terminate the statement, and hexadecimal substrings should not be specially interpreted by the parser.
When parsing a QuotedValue, an open angle bracket signifies the beginning of a hexadecimal substring, which is terminated by a closing angle
bracket. Everything between the angle brackets should be converted to
byte codes before being used. Any non-hex data between the angle brackets is considered an error, as is an odd number of hex digits. White space
and newlines between the angle brackets should be ignored.
A file referenced by the *Include keyword should be treated as though it
were in-line in the including (local customization) file. Be prepared for
nested includes. See section 2.6 for discussion on the semantics of
repeated statements and keywords.
3.5

Translation String Syntax

There are many entries in a PPD file that can be encountered at the user level,
including main keywords and option keywords displayed as selectable
choices in a user interface, and messages from the device. Sometimes these
keywords and device messages can be cryptically worded and must be
reworded for clarity, or they might need to be translated into another language for the user to understand them.
If keywords and messages changed with each translation of the PPD file to a
new language, a parsing program would have to be written to recognize the
keywords in each new language, which would greatly expand the size of the
parser and the amount of work involved in writing it. Instead, a syntax is provided for the optional use of translation strings, which are appended to the
original keywords and messages. Thus, normal keyword searches can be carried out, and the translation strings can optionally be presented to users
instead of (or in addition to) the keywords.
If a PPD file is translated into several languages, there will be one PPD file
for each language. In various language versions of a PPD file, only the translation strings, certain QuotedValues that are used to identify the device, and
possibly the comments, will differ. All other information, including main
keywords and option keywords, will remain the same.

3 Format

25

Note

To builders of PPD files: The values of the following keywords may be translated directly, without using a translation string: *Include, *ModelName,
*NickName, *PCFileName, and *ShortNickName. Because these are QuotedValues,
they may include 8-bit byte codes.
A translation string can occur after any option keyword or after any type of
value except a SymbolValue. The value of a *Default keyword may have a
translation string only if it appears as a stand-alone keyword (see section 1.2),
such as *DefaultColorSep, or *DefaultResolution without a corresponding *Resolution
keyword. If the *Default keyword is not stand-alone (if it appears with an associated main keyword and option keywords), it does not need a translation
string and should not have one, because such translation strings, if any,
should occur with the option keywords, to avoid confusing parsers. See section 2.6, section 3.2, and section 4.5 for more information on *Default keywords.
With closely related statements, such as *PageSize and *PageRegion, it is impossible to predict which statement a print manager will read to get the translation string for an option keyword. For continuity of results, if a given option
keyword has a translation string, and that option keyword is used with multiple main keywords and has the same semantics across those keywords, then
the translation string should be on every occurrence of the option keyword
and should be identical across occurrences. For example, if the *PageSize
statement for Letter uses a translation string Portrait Letter, the *PageRegion,
*PaperDimension, and *ImageableArea statements for Letter should all use the same
translation string.
A translation string is detected by the presence of a slash (/) character (decimal 47), and continues until a colon (if the translation string is on an option
keyword) or a newline (if the translation string is on a value) is encountered.
The following is an example of the translation string syntax showing both the
translation from English into French of an option keyword (Ledger) and a
value (the message out of paper):
*LanguageVersion: French
*PageSize Ledger/Papier Ledger: "statusdict /ledgertray get exec"
*PrinterError: "out of paper"/Il ny en a plus de papier.

This example shows the translation of two cryptic values into strings that are
more meaningful to the user (a translation into English):
*LanguageVersion: English
*DefaultColorSep: ProcessBlack.90lpi.1200dpi/90 lpi / 1200 dpi
*PrinterError: "CVR OPN"/cover open

Translation strings in a PPD file are optional. If translation strings are

present, the translation strings should be used for display to the user, rather
than displaying the option keywords or messages themselves. If there are no

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translation strings, the option keywords and values must be displayed directly
as appropriate. A parser must be especially careful not to confuse a translation string following an option keyword with the PostScript language
sequence that follows in the value field, after the colon.
To unambiguously relate natural-language characters to byte codes, an
encoding is specified for each natural language (such as English or French)
that can be used in a PPD file. These encodings are described by the keywords *LanguageVersion and *LanguageEncoding, documented in section 5.3.
Translation strings may include 8-bit byte codes, such as characters with
accents. See section 1.2 for the range of byte codes allowed in PPD files. If
the builder of the PPD file is concerned about file portability across platforms, the byte code range in translation strings should be limited to printable
7-bit ASCII, with out-of-range byte codes represented by hexadecimal substrings (defined in section 1.2). A translation string can be represented partially or wholly as a hexadecimal substring. A print manager must convert the
hexadecimal substring to the appropriate sequence of byte codes before displaying the translation string to the user.
The following example shows the Swedish translation string for the printer
error message cover open, using a hexadecimal substring to represent the
single eight-bit ISOLatin1 character Odieresissmall.
*LanguageVersion: Swedish
*PrinterError: "cover open"/lucka <F6>ppen

Here is the same message, with the Swedish translation displayed entirely as
a hexadecimal substring:
*PrinterError: "cover open"/<6C75636B61 20 F67070656E>

The following characters must be represented as hexadecimal substrings:

All byte codes outside the valid range, as described in section 1.2.
The character colon : (decimal 58, if the translation string is on an option
keyword.
The characters < and > (decimal 60 and 62), if they are part of the actual
text of the translation string.
Parsing Summary for Translation Strings

When parsing option keywords and values, remember:

The translation string is optional. All parsers should be written to permit
them without requiring them. If present, translation strings should be used
for display to the user.

3 Format

27

 If present, the translation string consists of a sequence of literal and/or

hexadecimal substrings.
A literal substring is a sequence of in-range byte codes (defined in section
1.2), except that it cannot contain the following characters: newline, <
(decimal 60) and > (decimal 62). Additionally, a colon is forbidden when
the translation string is on an option keyword, because an option keyword
is terminated by a colon.
A hexadecimal substring is as defined in section 1.2 except that in a translation string, a newline in a hexadecimal string is illegal, since a newline
terminates the translation string.
The translation string begins with the first character immediately after the
slash, even if it is white space. Note that the slash and white space characters are permitted in a literal substring.
If the translation string occurs before a colon (that is, on an option keyword), it is terminated by a colon (:) or a newline. However, a newline
encountered after an option keyword and before the colon will violate the
syntax of option keywords.
If the translation string occurs after a colon (that is, on a value), it is terminated by a newline.
Out-of-range byte codes should be considered an error.
3.6

Human-Readable Comments

Comments are supported in the PPD files using the main keyword *%. Anything following this main keyword (through the end of the line on which it
appears) should be ignored by a parsing program. The * character is the same
introductory symbol used for all main keywords, and the % character is borrowed from PostScript language syntax as its comment character. These comments will begin only in column one, for simplicity.
There can also be comments in any PostScript language code, using the standard syntax of starting the comment with a %. Comments in code should be
kept to a minimum, however, to reduce transmission time.
3.7

PostScript Language Sequences

The PostScript language sequences supplied for invoking device features are
usually represented as InvocationValues. Sometimes they are represented as
QuotedValues, for example, when they contain binary data.

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For multiple-line InvocationValues or QuotedValues, the main keyword *End

is used as an extra delimiter to help line-extraction programs (such as grep or
awk in UNIX). The keyword *End also makes the PPD file more easily readable by humans, because the double quote delimiter is sometimes difficult to
see at the end of a long string of code.
*End is used only when the code requires more than one line in the PPD file.
In the following two examples, the *PageSize statement fits on one line and
does not require *End. The *?Smoothing statement is an extended code
sequence that does require *End:
*PageSize Legal: "serverdict begin legaltray end"
*?Smoothing: "save
[(None)(Light)(Medium)(Dark)]
statusdict /doret {get exec}
stopped { pop pop (Unknown)} if
= flush restore"
*End

The PostScript language sequences supplied in the PPD files are guaranteed
to work only on the device for which the file was prepared. The sequences
assume the default state of the interpreter. Only userdict and systemdict (and
globaldict on Level 2 devices) are assumed to be on the dictionary stack. There
will be no memory use (save and restore are used where appropriate) except as
in setting frame buffers, where memory use is necessary.
Adobe recommends that the following syntax be used when building PPD
files
<dict> /foo get exec

rather than
<dict> begin foo end

This will prevent errors caused by a print manager not cleaning up the dictionary stack properly after catching an error in a stopped context.
Level 2 PostScript language sequences

Sometimes a PostScript language file generated using a PPD file for a given
device is redirected to another, different device. This can happen if the file is
stored for later printing and the original device is not available at print time,
or if files are exchanged between users with different printers, or if an intelligent spooler redirects the file to a more appropriate printing device. Although
there is absolutely no guarantee that a PostScript language file created for a

3 Format

29

specific device will work on another device, there is a reasonable chance that
it will, if the file contains few or no calls to special device features. One or
more of the following may happen:
The file causes the PostScript language interpreter in the device to abnormally terminate execution, possibly requiring the device to be reset.
The file fails to print any pages.
Features requested by the file, such as duplex or a certain size of paper, are
not available, so these feature requests are ignored and the file prints on
the devices default paper with default feature settings.
Some requested features exist but their settings have different meanings on
the current device, so the file prints but the results are unexpected. For
example, the printing might be darker, or the image might be oriented
sideways on the paper.
The file prints correctly because all the feature requests are available and
the settings have the same semantics, or because there are no feature
requests and the default page size and default feature settings are acceptable.
A print manager can guard against the first two cases by executing each feature request in a stopped context. Thus, a request for a feature that does not
exist on the current device will effectively be ignored. (See section 2.4 for
more information on error handling by print managers.)
In the next two cases, the printed effect may not be exactly what the user
requested, but at least they'll get something. For example, a file requesting
duplex printing may be sent to a simplex printer, and depending on the print
manager, it may print, but only on one side of each page.
To further the aim of printing whenever possible, even when Level 2 code is
sent to a Level 1 device, the following recommendations should be followed
when building a PPD file.
Do not use the Level 2 dictionary syntax symbols << and >> directly in
invocation code when constructing dictionaries. Doing so will cause a
syntaxerror if this code is re-directed to a Level 1 device. Such a syntaxerror
cannot be trapped in a stopped context by a print manager. The two alternatives are to use the more verbose Level 1 method:
N dict
dup /name1 value1 put
dup /name2 value2 put
...
dup /nameN valueN put

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or to put the more efficient Level 2 method into an executable string:

(<<) cvx exec /name1 value1 /name2 value2
...
/nameN valueN (>>) cvx exec

This second method will avoid the syntaxerror described above. It will consume a tiny amount of VM, which will be restored by automatic garbage collection on a Level 2 device.
3.8

PPD File Structure

To enable parsing, there is some minimal structure to a PPD file.

The first line of a PPD file must be
*PPD-Adobe: "nnn"

where the value nnn is a real number that designates conformance to a version of the PPD specification. (See section 5.2 for details on *PPD-Adobe.)
Files conforming to this version of the specification would have the following
statement:
*PPD-Adobe: "4.3"

This line is generally followed by comment lines containing copyright and

licensing restrictions.
Certain keywords are required in a PPD file. Required keywords are marked
as Required in their individual descriptions in this document, and are listed at
the beginning of section 5. By convention, the following subset of required
keywords generally appears immediately after the copyright, in any order,
except that *ShortNickname must occur before *NickName. This general information is often needed by print managers, and parsing the PPD file may be faster
if the following information is included near the beginning of the file:
*PPD-Adobe
*Product
*FormatVersion
*FileVersion

*NickName
*PSVersion
*LanguageEncoding
*Manufacturer

*ModelName
*PCFileName
*LanguageVersion
*ShortNickName

The number of bytes in a PPD file is not limited by this specification. However, certain print managers impose limits on some aspects of a PPD file.
Builders of PPD files should be aware of the following restrictions:
In the Windows environment, both PScript 4.x and AdobePS 4.x limit the
combined total of all invocation code, query code, keywords, options, and
translation strings in a PPD file to less than or equal to 64KB. Also, the
number of *OpenUI and *JCLOpenUI entries must be less than 100.

3 Format

31

 In the Macintosh environment, both LaserWriter 8.x and PSPrinter 8.x

limit the size of each invocation code fragment to less than or equal to
32KB.
In the Windows 95 environment, the Image Color Matching (ICM) system
places additional restrictions on the content of *ModelName, *ShortNickName,
and *Manufacturer in PPD files for color printers. See the descriptions of
those keywords for details.

Syntax of Specification
Throughout this specification, certain syntactical conventions are followed to
make things clearer for the reader.

4.1

General Syntax

The following notation is used to describe keywords.

Main keywords, option keywords, and actual values always appear in sans
serif type: *MainKeyword:, True, Null.
Placeholder items (which will be replaced by an actual value in the PPD)
appear in sans italic type: mediaOption, invocation.
Boldface type in prose denotes a PostScript language operator or dictionary key, such as the setpagedevice key PageSize.
The vertical bar ( | ) character is used to mean or, where or is an exclusive or. For example, this statement in the PPD file specification
*DefaultManualFeed: True | False

means that this statement in the PPD file will read either
*DefaultManualFeed: True

or
*DefaultManualFeed: False

but True and False cannot both appear in this statement.

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 The ellipsis ( ... ) means that more than one instance of a token can appear,
separated by white space. For example, this statement in the PPD file specification
*Extensions: extension...

means that this main keyword has several possible values, indicating
which language extensions are supported by the device. Because a device
can support several language extensions, this keyword can have multiple
values, separated by white space.
For example, both of these PPD file statements are valid
*Extensions: FileSystem
*Extensions: CMYK FileSystem Composite

U
UII

Main keywords that are commonly bracketed with the *OpenUI/*CloseUI keywords in PPD files are marked in this specification with this symbol (UI for
user interface) next to the keyword definition. This does not mean that the
main keyword must be bracketed by *OpenUI/*CloseUI; it only informs builders
of PPD files that this keyword is commonly considered to be a UI keyword.
See section 5.2 for details on *OpenUI/*CloseUI.
A few of the main keywords may require starting an unencapsulated job (formerly known as exiting the server loop) for correct execution. These have
been flagged by a dagger in the left margin as shown here. If handling such a
keyword, the print manager must perform the following tasks:
declare an unencapsulated job using the DSC comment:
%!PS-Adobe-3.0 ExitServer

obtain a password from the user, from system software, or from the keyword *Password in the PPD file, and put the password on the operand stack
emit the code from the daggered keyword
end the job and use the DSC comment %%EOF
Builders of PPD files must ensure that the code contained in the value of a
daggered keyword does the following:
checks for the existence and validity of a password on the operand stack
begins an unencapsulated job by using exitserver (Level 1) or startjob (Level
2)
performs the function of the daggered keyword (for example, changes the
resolution or fixes a bug)

4 Syntax of Specification

33

The code to perform the first two functions can usually be copied from the
value of the *ExitServer keyword in the PPD file.
4.2

Sample Keyword Statements

The format of section 5, which documents the individual keywords, shows

the main keyword, the possible option keywords, and a pseudo-code syntax
to illustrate its value. A main keyword can have either a restricted option keyword list (option keywords are restricted to those listed), an unlimited option
keyword list (option keywords can be added at any time), or no option keywords at all.
The value type of each keyword (InvocationValue, QuotedValue,
SymbolValue, StringValue) is recorded in the description of the keyword,
with the following exceptions:
Query keywords, which are always of type QuotedValue
*Default keywords, which are always of type StringValue
Here are examples of what each type of keyword looks like in this specification:

*MainKeyword

Option1 | Option2: invocation

This indicates that for the main keyword *MainKeyword, there is a restricted
option keyword list consisting of two legal option keywords (Option1 and
Option2), and the appropriate syntax for the value is a PostScript language
invocation string enclosed in double quotes. In the PPD file, there would be
one statement for each main keyword-option keyword pair:
*MainKeyword Option1: "invocation"
*MainKeyword Option2: "different invocation"

A typical example of a restricted option list would be a keyword whose only

options are True and False:
*Collate True: "(<<) cvx exec /Collate true
(>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End
*Collate False: "(<<) cvx exec /Collate false
(>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End

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*MainKeyword

optiontype: invocation

This indicates that for the keyword *MainKeyword, there can be many legal
option keywords. The currently known option keywords will be listed in this
specification with the main keyword, but others can be added at any time. As
above, the appropriate syntax for the value of the tuple is a PostScript language invocation string enclosed in double quotes. Again, in the PPD file,
there would be one statement for each main keyword-option keyword pair:
*DifferentKeyword Option1: "invocation"
...
*DifferentKeyword Optionn: "invocation"

For example, the list of page sizes offered by a device is an extensible list:
*OpenUI *PageSize: PickOne
*DefaultPageSize: Letter
*OrderDependency: 30 AnySetup *PageSize
*PageSize Letter: "(<<) cvx exec
/PageSize [612 792] (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize Legal: "(<<) cvx exec
/PageSize [612 1008] (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize Ledger: "(<<) cvx exec
/PageSize [1224 792] (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End
*?PageSize: query code to get current /PageSize
*CloseUI: *PageSize

*MainKeyword:

int

This main keyword has no option keywords, and the appropriate syntax for
the value of the tuple is an integer enclosed in double quotes. For example
*FreeVM: "110980"

*?MainKeyword:

query

(returns: keywordOption | Unknown)

This is a query keyword, evidenced by the *? prefix. Its value is a query, as

defined in section 4.3. The valid return values for this query are documented
in this specification to the right of the sample query statement; they are not
part of the statement itself. That is, the PPD file would contain:
*?MainKeyword: code to perform query

4 Syntax of Specification

35

*MainKeyword
*DefaultMainKeyword:
*?MainKeyword:

option: invocation
keywordOption | Unknown
query

(returns: keywordOption | Unknown)

Where it makes sense, the main keyword, default keyword, and query keyword are documented in a block together, as shown here. The valid return
values for the query keyword are documented to the right of the sample query
statement.
4.3

Elementary Types

The PPD specification employs various elementary types of expressions.

These types are defined in this section.
filename
A filename is a QuotedValue and is subject to the rules of QuotedValues. Currently, filename is used only by the *Include keyword. It can be the name of the

file itself, or it might be a path to the file. The following are all examples of
legal filenames:
*Include:
*Include:
*Include:
*Include:

"MyDevice.PPD"
"/home/adobe/PPDfiles/myfile.ppd"
"My<3C>test<3C>file.ppd"
"C:\lib\MyDevice.PPD"

In the third example, the filename contains the double quote character, represented as a hex string. The encoding of a filename is system-dependent and is
not necessarily portable to other systems. At minimum, the filename or pathname might have to be edited when porting.
fontname
A fontname is a special case of a string, which is defined in this section. A fontname is delimited by blanks. Examples of standard fontnames can be found in

Standard Character Sets and Encoding Vectors, in Appendix E of the PostScript Language Reference Manual, Second Edition, and some are listed
here:
Times-Roman
Helvetica-Bold
NewCenturySchoolbook-Italic

Notice that fontname does not start with a slash character (/) as it does in the
PostScript language when the font name is specified as a literal.
int

An integer, as used in this specification, is a non-fractional number that has no

sign. There are practical limitations for an integers maximum value, but as a
default it should range between 0 and 4.295 x 109 (32 bits).

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invocation
An invocation is a sequence of valid PostScript language commands. An invocation is generally used to perform some manipulation of the device. It can be

represented either as a QuotedValue or an InvocationValue, depending on the

keyword described.
JCL
JCL is an arbitrary sequence of valid job control language commands. This

code is generally used to perform some manipulation of the device outside of

the control of the PostScript interpreter. It is represented as a QuotedValue
because it may contain 8-bit byte codes.
option

An option keyword, or simply option, is a string subject to the rules defined in

section 3.1 and section 3.3. In this specification, the placeholders for option
keywords are generally preceded by a descriptive qualifier, as in mediaOption
or trayOption.
query
A query is a sequence of valid PostScript language commands that requests

information from the device and returns a string, terminated by a newline, to

the host via the reverse channel of the device. Translation strings are not
allowed on the values returned from queries. Valid return values for a query
are determined as follows:
If the associated main keyword is a UI keyword (defined in section 1.2),
the query must return one of the option keywords listed in the PPD file for
that main keyword, or it can return the string Unknown. For example, if
*PageSize is a UI keyword, then the *?PageSize query can only return valid
page size options (such as Letter and Legal, without translation strings) that
are listed under *PageSize, or it can return Unknown, terminated by a newline.
If the associated main keyword is not a UI keyword, then the valid return
values for the query keyword are documented in this specification. For
examples, see *?FontQuery, *?FontList, *?ImageableArea, *?InsertSheet, and
*?FileSystem. The return value must be terminated by a newline.
Note

To builders of PPD files: Because of its format, the value of a query is a

QuotedValue, but you should follow the rules for InvocationValues when writing queries, as the query must be a valid PostScript code fragment.
real
A real number is a fractional number that can be signed or unsigned. There are
practical limitations on the maximum size of a real, but as a default it should
range between 3.4 10-38 to 3.4 10+38. A real in a PPD file will not include

scientific or exponential notation. That is, the following are all valid:
1.4 -4.2273 .165 0.165

4 Syntax of Specification

37

but the following are not valid:

1.4e-4 -1.45E7 -1.45E+7

string
A string is comprised of any printable characters, but is delimited by white
space. The length of a string is limited by the 255 characters-per-line limit

described in section 3.1.

text
A text string may contain any characters that are legal in the value type. For
example, text in a QuotedValue may contain any character that is legal in a

QuotedValue, including spaces, hexadecimal substrings, and 8-bit byte codes.

Individual keywords may further restrict the allowable characters in a text
string, so text strings cannot be treated uniformly by a print manager. The
length of a text string is limited by the 255 characters-per-line limit described
in section 3.1.
4.4

Standard Option Values for Main Keywords

The following option keywords are used with many different main keywords
and have universal meaning throughout a PPD file.
True
True is used in a PPD file in two ways. When used as the value of a *Default
keyword, True means that the default state of that particular feature is on.

For example, the following statement means that this device will feed media
from the manual feed slot unless explicitly told to do otherwise.
*DefaultManualFeed: True

When used as an option to a main keyword, True means that the value of that
option of the keyword is the PostScript language code required to turn on
or invoke the feature. For example, the following statement contains the code
to enable the manual feed slot:
*ManualFeed True: "statusdict /manualfeed true put"

False

Like True, False is used throughout a PPD file in two ways. When used as the
value of a *Default keyword whose value is a boolean True or False, False means
that the default state of that particular feature is off. For example, the following statement means that this device will not feed media from the manual
feed slot unless explicitly told to do so.
*DefaultManualFeed: False

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When used as an option to a main keyword, False means that the value of that
option of the keyword is the PostScript language code required to turn off
or deselect the feature. For example, the following statement contains the
code to deselect the manual feed slot.
*ManualFeed False: "statusdict /manualfeed false put"

None

Like False, None is used to indicate that a certain feature is deselected (off) by
default, and also to indicate how to deselect (turn off) a feature. False is used
with boolean features; None is used for features with more than two states. For
example:
*DefaultFoldType: None
*FoldType None: "code to turn off folding"
*FoldType Saddle: "code to invoke a saddle fold"
*FoldType ZFold: "code to invoke a z-gate fold"

Code associated with a None option will explicitly turn off the feature. In the
example above, the None option would contain code to invoke no folding.
Note

None is never used to indicate the absence of a feature. If a feature is absent,

the features keywords will be omitted from the PPD file. For example, if a
device does not support manual feed, the manualfeed keywords are omitted
entirely and *DefaultManualFeed: None is invalid.
Unknown

This string is returned from queries if the correct information can not be
determined, or none of the valid keywords can be returned. It is also used as a
value for *Default keywords, to denote that there is no specific default state (for
example, *DefaultPageSize: Unknown on a device whose page size is not set until
the user requests a page size). However, a stand-alone *Default keyword should
never have a value of Unknown, as that provides no useful information for a
print manager.
Note

Like None, Unknown is not used to indicate complete absence of a feature; if a

feature is absent, the features keywords will be completely omitted from the
PPD file.

4 Syntax of Specification

39

4.5

Summary of Rules for *Default Keywords

Because information about *Default keywords is distributed throughout the

preceding part of this document, this section summarizes the rules for *Default
keywords, both for print manager authors and for builders of PPD files.
A *Default keyword may appear as part of an entry or by itself. A *Default
keyword appearing by itself is referred to as a stand-alone *Default keyword
(see section 1.2). Some *Default keywords are always stand-alone.
The value of a *Default keyword must be a StringValue (no quotes).
If a *Default keyword is part of an entry, its value must be one of the options
of the main keyword in the entry, or it may be Unknown.
If a *Default keyword is stand-alone, its value must be one of the options
registered in this specification for the main keyword that it would normally accompany, or the *Default keyword must have its own set of valid
values documented in this specification and the value must be one of
those. A stand-alone *Default keyword may not appear with the value of
Unknown, as that provides no useful information to a print manager.
A stand-alone *Default keyword may have a translation string on its value.
A *Default keyword that is part of an entry may not have a translation string
on its value, because it is likely that translation strings will occur on the
option keywords of the main keyword in the entry, and a print manager
would not know which translation string to use.

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Keywords
This section contains a description of how builders of PPD files can define
their own main keywords, followed by documentation of the currently
defined keywords and a description of their uses. The keywords are grouped
according to their functionality. Where appropriate, registered option keywords are documented along with the keywords with which they are associated. This is to prevent a given combination of main keyword and option
keyword from having multiple meanings across multiple PPD files.
All keywords are optional in a PPD file, unless noted as Required in the keyword description. The following keywords are currently required:
*DefaultImageableArea
*DefaultPaperDimension
*ImageableArea
*Manufacturer
*PageRegion
*PCFileName
*PSVersion

Note

*DefaultPageRegion
*FileVersion
*LanguageEncoding
*ModelName
*PageSize
*PPD-Adobe
*ShortNickName

*DefaultPageSize*
*FormatVersion
*LanguageVersion
*NickName
*PaperDimension
*Product

*Manufacturer is new as of the 4.3 version of this specification. *ShortNickName is

newly required in the 4.3 version; it was not required in previous versions.
Every feature of the device that can be described by a PPD keyword should
be included in the PPD file. Inclusion of all relevant keywords in the PPD file
produces the most complete picture of the device for the print manager and
user. Builders of PPD files should consider all non-required keywords to be
recommended for inclusion in the PPD file if they are relevant to the device.
On the other hand, if a feature is not supported by a device, that features
default, invocation, and query keywords must be omitted from the PPD file.
To a print manager, absence of a feature in the PPD implies lack of device
support for that feature.
5.1

Creating Your Own Keywords

Device manufacturers and other builders of PPD files may create their own
main keywords by following the rules in this specification. For tracking purposes, such keywords must be named with a prefix unique to the creator. For
example, Acme Printer Co. might use the prefix "*AC", and their keywords
would have names like *ACHalftone. The same prefix must be used on all keywords created by one company. For ease of tracking and guaranteed prefix
uniqueness, Adobe recommends using the same two-letter prefix already in
use by the creator for their PPD file names (and *PCFileName). The list of
assigned prefixes can be found in Appendix D: Manufacturers Prefix List
and *Manufacturer Strings, and updates can be obtained from the address on
the front cover.

5 Keywords

41

Keywords created outside of Adobe must not conflict with or duplicate the
definition of keywords already existing in this specification. To avoid unnecessary proliferation of keywords, builders of PPD files should make every
effort to see if their devices feature can be defined by an existing keyword,
before creating a new keyword.
Print managers cannot be expected to know how to deal with an unknown
keyword, unless the keyword is enclosed by the *OpenUI/*CloseUI construction
and follows all the rules associated with that construction. See section 5.2 for
information about *OpenUI and *CloseUI.
Builders of PPD files may also create their own option keywords if necessary.
No unique prefix is necessary for option keywords, but all rules pertaining to
option keywords must be followed. Again, every effort should be made to use
an existing option keyword before defining a new option keyword. See section 3.3 for rules pertaining to option keywords. In addition, although it is not
required, option keywords usually have the first letter capitalized, for better
readability of the user interface created by a print manager.
5.2

Structure Keywords

The keywords in this section do not invoke any device features. Instead, they
provide structure to a PPD file and are intended to aid in parsing the PPD file
and building a user interface.

*PPD-Adobe:

4.3

Required. This keyword must be the first line in a valid PPD file. The QuotedValue of 4.3 signifies that this file conforms to the 4.3 version of this specification. Conformance to a later version of this specification would be
indicated by a higher number. A parser can assume that a changed digit to the
right of the decimal indicates a minor revision to the specification, and the
file can be safely parsed by older parsers. A change in the digit to the left of
the decimal indicates a more significant change in the specification, and a file
that conforms to the newer version of the specification may be incompatible
with older parsers.

*OpenUI
*CloseUI:

mainKeyword: PickOne | PickMany | Boolean

mainKeyword

These keywords allow a parser to differentiate between UI keywords, which

would typically be displayed in the user interface, and informational keywords, which would typically not be displayed. *OpenUI and *CloseUI are used
to bracket all the information about a UI keyword, if that keyword describes
device features that can be selected by the user.

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For example, the list of page size options offered by the *PageSize keyword
will be bracketed with *OpenUI/*CloseUI, because the device supports the user
selection of a page size, but the keyword *Throughput, which describes the
rated printing capacity of the device, would not be bracketed by *OpenUI/
*CloseUI, because the throughput is not selectable by the user. Query keywords, *Default keywords, and any other associated keywords, such as *Paramkeywords and *OrderDependency, are included in the *OpenUI/*CloseUI bracketing
for convenience and readability. (Adobe strongly recommends that every
*OpenUI/*CloseUI entry contain an appropriate *OrderDependency statement, so
that the print manager knows where to emit the code in the output file.)
The StringValue values PickOne, PickMany, and Boolean denote the type of
option list for this feature.
PickOne means that, for this feature, the device supports only one choice at
a time from the list of available options. The print manager can use this
information when building a user interface, so that when a user selects any
single choice from the list, the other choices are deselected. An example of
a PickOne type of list is *PageSize, which displays the list of available page
sizes. A page must always have a size, and it cannot be two sizes at once.
The option None has special meaning. Code associated with None explicitly
deselects the other options in the list. For example, a list of stapling
options might include None, meaning do not staple. If the user selects
None, the print manager should send the code supplied to disable stapling,
in case the device is set up to staple by default.
PickMany means that, for this feature, the device supports one or more
choices at a time from the list of available options. For example, a device
might allow two kinds of folding to occur at once. The print manager can
use this information when building a user interface, so that when a user
selects any single choice, the other choices in the list are not disabled or
deselected.
In a PickMany type of option list, one of the options must be None. The code
associated with None explicitly deselects all other options in the list. This is
an exception to the general PickMany rule of allowing more than one choice
at a time. In a user interface, if a user selects None, all other options for that
feature should be deselected by the print manager. If a user selects any
option other than None, then None should be deselected.
Boolean means that there are only two choices, True and False. This tells a
print manager that this feature could be displayed as a check box or radio
buttons, rather than as a menu list.

5 Keywords

43

The parameter mainKeyword, which is both the option of the *OpenUI statement
and the StringValue of *CloseUI, is the keyword whose options are listed
within the *OpenUI/*CloseUI pair. The value may optionally have a translation
string to show the manufacturers preferred name for the feature.
Here is a sample entry:
*OpenUI *Smoothing/Smooth Characters: Boolean
*DefaultSmoothing: False
*OrderDependency: 40 AnySetup *Smoothing
*Smoothing True: "invocation code"
*Smoothing False: "invocation code"
*?Smoothing: query code
*CloseUI: *Smoothing

Given this entry in a PPD file, the print manager could use this information to
display a menu, checkbox, or radio buttons labeled Smooth Characters
with two options, True and False.
The *OpenUI/*CloseUI structure provides several benefits:
It allows a print manager to build a user interface automatically and uniformly. The user-selectable options bracketed by *OpenUI/*CloseUI follow a
certain form. Each entry contains one or more statements consisting of a
main keyword, option keyword, and a value, which is a code sequence.
The print manager can display the options, record the users selection of
an option, extract the code for that option, and send the code to the device,
all without having any semantic knowledge of the feature and its options.
New options can be added to a main keyword without the print manager
having to be rewritten to parse for them. Assuming that a print manager
simply displays the options and executes the associated code, the print
manager does not need to recognize the option or know anything about the
code it is sending to the output file.
New main keywords can be parsed, if they are of the proper form that can
be enclosed in *OpenUI/*CloseUI. A print manager that parses *OpenUI/*CloseUI
properly should not parse for a specific main keyword, and should not care
if a new main keyword is added. Not all new main keywords fall into the
*OpenUI/*CloseUI category, but if they do, a print manager should read them,
display their options, and execute the associated code.
U
UII

44

Main keywords that are commonly bracketed with *OpenUI/*CloseUI are marked
in this specification with the UI symbol (shown here) next to the keyword
definition. Some features that appear in the user interface require extra work
from the print manager, such as opening a communication channel or
requesting information from a user. These more complex features are not

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amenable to the simplistic syntax of *OpenUI/*CloseUI, so their entries will not

be bracketed with *OpenUI/*CloseUI, even though they might appear in the user
interface via special handling by the print manager.
The keywords *JCLOpenUI and *JCLCloseUI provide the same structure for JCL
keywords. See section 5.8 for their description.
*OpenUI/*CloseUI is provided as a supplementary service designed to assist in
building a user interface. It is not intended to constrain a print manager or
other application in any way. If a print manager does not want to display to
the user a feature marked with *OpenUI/*CloseUI, the print manager can parse
for that features keyword and not display the feature. Likewise, if a print
manager wants to display additional features not marked by *OpenUI/*CloseUI,
the print manager can parse for that features keyword and display the feature
to the user.

The *OpenUI/*CloseUI provides most of what typically constitutes a user interface, so that a dumb parser could construct a reasonable user interface
simply by reading all the features marked by *OpenUI/*CloseUI and displaying
them. It is not meant to be a complete user interface design tool.

*OpenGroup:

string

*CloseGroup:

string

Like *OpenUI/*CloseUI, this pair of keywords is provided to assist in building a

user interface. Because of the limited physical space of some displays, print
manager writers often need a way to group certain features behind one button or menu item. A selection of features can be grouped by placing a
*OpenGroup/*CloseGroup pair around the feature set. If nested groups are needed
(groups within groups), *OpenSubGroup and *CloseSubGroup must be used.
*OpenGroup/*CloseGroup may not appear inside the bracketing of another
*OpenGroup/*CloseGroup pair.
Features in a group are not mutually exclusive; several features can be chosen
from a group. For example, a group of finishing features might contain stapling, folding, binding, and other features that do not exclude each other.
The StringValue value of both *OpenGroup and *CloseGroup is a descriptive
string that represents the name of the group. It is provided for the print manager to display to the user. The group name string must conform to the rules
for the elementary type string (see section 4.3) and it must be unique; there can
be only one group or sub-group with a given name.

5 Keywords

45

The example below groups all of the finishing features of the device (the
invocation code is omitted to save space, and the blank lines are only for
readability):
*OpenGroup: Finishing
*OpenUI *FoldType: PickOne
*DefaultFoldType: None
*FoldType Saddle: " "
*FoldType None: " "
*CloseUI: *FoldType
*OpenUI *Collate: Boolean
*DefaultCollate: True
*Collate True: " "
*Collate False: " "
*CloseUI: *Collate
*CloseGroup: Finishing

The sample PPD file in section 6.2 shows imagesetter features in a group.
Another logical group is finishing features. By parsing for the keywords
*OpenGroup/*CloseGroup, a print manager can display Finishing and Imagesetting to
the user as buttons or menu items, and all the finishing features and imagesetting features can be hidden from the user until they are needed.
This syntax, like the syntax of *OpenUI/*CloseUI, allows features to be added to
a group without the print manager needing to know about them. New *OpenUI/
*CloseUI features can be added within an *OpenGroup/*CloseGroup grouping, and
a print manager that parses for *OpenUI/*CloseUI correctly should be able to
parse for the new features in the same manner. This enables a print manager
to add new items to the user interface without the print manager itself having
to be rewritten.

*OpenSubGroup:

string

*CloseSubGroup:

string

These keywords are used to designated groups within groups. They can only
appear within a *OpenGroup/*CloseGroup bracketing keyword pair. Groups may
be nested to any level with *OpenSubGroup/*CloseSubGroup. The group name
string must conform to the rules for the elementary type string (see section
4.3) and it must be unique; there can be only one group or sub-group with a
given name. See the description of *OpenGroup/*CloseGroup in this section.

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Here is an example of the syntax of these keywords (be aware that the
*OpenUI/*CloseUI entries are not syntactically complete in this example):
*OpenGroup: ProductionPrinting
*OpenSubGroup: MediaSelection
*OpenUI *PageSize ...
...
*CloseUI: *PageSize
*OpenUI *MediaType ...
...
*CloseUI: *MediaType
*CloseSubGroup: MediaSelection
*OpenSubGroup: Administration
*OpenUI ...
...
*CloseUI
*OpenSubGroup: TopSecret
...may include several *OpenUI/*CloseUI entries
*CloseSubGroup: TopSecret
*OpenUI ...
...
*CloseUI
*CloseSubGroup: Administration
*CloseGroup: ProductionPrinting

The sub-group TopSecret is nested within the sub-group Administration, which is

nested within the group ProductionPrinting. Note that the Administration group contains a mix of *OpenSubGroup and *OpenUI entries at the same level.
The result of this might be that the print manager would display a panel with
a button or menu item labeled ProductionPrinting. Selecting ProductionPrinting
would produce a menu or a button panel advertising MediaSelection and
Administration. Selecting MediaSelection would display two *OpenUI choices
*PageSize and *MediaType for the user. Selecting Administration would display two
*OpenUI choices and a button or menu item labeled TopSecret, which, when
selected, would display more buttons or menu items.

5 Keywords

47

*OrderDependency:

real section mainKeyword optionKeyword

*NonUIOrderDependency:

real section mainKeyword optionKeyword

These keywords provide a partial ordering of the fragments of device-specific

code in a PPD file. This allows a print manager to output the code in the correct order, so that later fragments will not undo the effects of earlier fragments. See section 2.5 for information about why order dependencies exist.
*OrderDependency is used only with UI keywords (keywords surrounded by the
*OpenUI/*CloseUI or *JCLOpenUI/*JCLCloseUI keywords). *OrderDependency must
occur inside the *OpenUI/*CloseUI or *JCLOpenUI/*JCLCloseUI bracketing for that

keyword.
*NonUIOrderDependency is used only with the few non-UI keywords that emit
code. For example, *CustomPageSize is not a UI keyword because it requires
user input, which is not accommodated by the *OpenUI choices of PickOne,
PickMany, and Boolean. Yet *CustomPageSize typically would appear in a user

interface specially built by a print manager, and when selected by the user,
*CustomPageSize emits code fragments. A print manager needs to know the
order in which these code fragments should be emitted, relative to all other
code fragments. *NonUIOrderDependency provides that information for non-UI
keywords.
Although *OrderDependency and *NonUIOrderDependency are not required keywords, to ensure correct results during printing, Adobe strongly recommends
that every *OpenUI/*CloseUI entry and every *JCLOpenUI/*JCLCloseUI entry contain a *OrderDependency statement and that all non-UI keywords that emit code
have an associated *NonUIOrderDependency statement.
The value is a StringValue with multiple components separated by white
space. Each component is defined identically for both keywords. The value of
real specifies the relative order in which this code should be emitted. It defines
the ordering across all device-specific code fragments within a section
(defined later). The absolute values of the order numbers are not important,
only their values relative to other order numbers within the same section.
Within a section, code assigned a lower number should be emitted before code
assigned a higher number. Multiple code fragments in a single section can be
assigned the same order number. If the order numbers assigned to two code
fragments are equal, the code fragments can be emitted in either order. Code
fragments that do not have an *OrderDependency or *NonUIOrderDependency statement should be emitted after all fragments that do have ordering numbers.

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The value of section describes where in the job the code fragment can be emitted. The possible values for section correspond to the sections of a document
file, as defined by the Adobe Document Structuring Conventions, version 3.0.
Valid values for section are as follows:
ExitServerThis code makes a change to the device that will take effect at
the start of the next job. This code should be sent as a separate job, before
the job it will affect. The correct password (the value of *Password) must be
supplied before this invocation.
PrologThis code supplies resources that must be in the Prolog section of
a document.
DocumentSetupThis code must be emitted in the Document Setup section,
after the %%BeginSetup comment
PageSetupThis code must be emitted in the Page Setup section after the
%%BeginPageSetup comment and before the page level save.
JCLSetupThis code provides job level control for devices that support a
job control language. This code must be emitted after the code emitted by
*JCLBegin and before the code emitted by *JCLToPSInterpreter.
AnySetupThis code must be emitted in either the Document Setup or
Page Setup section and must follow the rules defined for the values
DocumentSetup or PageSetup accordingly.
Note

To builders of PPD files: Use AnySetup as the section name if there is no specific reason to specify PageSetup or DocumentSetup. This lets a print manager
make the most efficient decision about where to emit the code fragment. However, to be labeled AnySetup, the code fragment must work correctly when
emitted in either section,
The values of mainKeyword and optionKeyword specify a statement in the PPD file
that emits device-specific code, which must be emitted in the order defined
by section and order. The parameter optionKeyword will be omitted if mainKeyword
has no option keyword. The optionKeyword may be omitted if the code fragments for all option keywords for the given feature have the same classification and ordering (this is the common case).

5 Keywords

49

The following example specifies that the code to change the resolution must
be emitted before the code to change the input slot (these entries are not syntactically complete):
*OpenUI *Resolution: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 10 AnySetup *Resolution
*DefaultResolution: 1200dpi
*Resolution 2504dpi: "..."
*Resolution 1200dpi: "..."
*?Resolution:"..."
*CloseUI: *Resolution
*OpenUI *InputSlot: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 20 AnySetup *InputSlot
*DefaultInputSlot: Upper
*InputSlot Upper: "..."
*InputSlot Lower: "..."
*?InputSlot: ...
*CloseUI: *InputSlot

Note

Builders of PPD files for Level 2 devices can facilitate optimized performance by assigning the same *OrderDependency section and order number to as
many keywords as possible. A print manager can then bundle all of the code
fragments that have the same values for section and order into one setpagedevice
call, by redefining setpagedevice to collect the key-value pairs into a single
dictionary that is then executed with a single real setpagedevice call. Very few
keywords require a different order number on Level 2 devices, so keywords
should be assigned the same order number unless there is some reason to
assign a different order number. If a given code fragment would cause different results when executed alone than it would when bundled with other
parameters (in any order) into a single setpagedevice call, that code fragment
should be assigned a separate order number. For example, if the code fragments for *ManualFeed and *Duplex are both emitted in the AnySetup section, and
the result of emitting the code fragments separately, like this:
<</ManualFeed true>> setpagedevice
<</Duplex true>> setpagedevice

produces the same result as emitting the code fragments together, like this:
<</ManualFeed true /Duplex true>> setpagedevice

or in a different order, like this:

<</Duplex true /ManualFeed true>> setpagedevice

then *ManualFeed and *Duplex can be given the same order number. Otherwise,
if any one of these methods gives a different result than the other methods,
*ManualFeed and *Duplex should be assigned different (and appropriate) order
numbers.

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Code fragments ordered by either *NonUIOrderDependency or *OrderDependency

should be considered to be a single set; that is, their order numbers within a
section are relative to each other. For example, a code fragment with a
*NonUIOrderDependency order number of 20 and a section of PageSetup would be
emitted before a code fragment with a *OrderDependency order number of 30
and a section of PageSetup.

*QueryOrderDependency:

real mainKeyword optionKeyword

If there are device queries accompanying a print job, all such queries must be
emitted in a query job, which immediately precedes the print job. Among
other things, this allows spoolers to process the queries without processing
the actual print job. (See the DSC for a description of query jobs.) In some
cases, the query job must also contain the invocation code from certain main
keywords, emitted before certain queries, in order for the query response to
be accurate. For example, changing the resolution of the device can affect the
amount of free VM, so to obtain a more accurate estimate of free VM, the
device resolution code should be emitted in the query job before querying for
free VM.
*QueryOrderDependency identifies main keywords whose invocation code needs
to be emitted in the query job, before any queries, in order for the query
response to be accurate. If a print manager queries for any of the following
items: free VM, device resolution, available fonts (and there may be others),
any invocation code referenced by *QueryOrderDependency should be emitted in
the query job before any of these queries are emitted.

The structure of *QueryOrderDependency is very similar to the structure of

*OrderDependency, although there is no section parameter because the entire
query job is considered to be a single section. The value is a StringValue with
multiple components separated by white space. The parameter real specifies
the relative order in which this invocation code should be emitted within the
query job. Code with a lower order number should be emitted before code
with a higher order number. If two main keywords have the same
*QueryOrderDependency order number, their code fragments may be emitted in
either order relative to each other. All invocation code from main keywords
flagged by *QueryOrderDependency should be emitted before any queries are
emitted.
The parameter mainKeyword will be a valid UI keyword (defined in section 1.2)
or a valid non-UI keyword can be constrained by *NonUIConstraints (see the
description of *NonUIConstraints for a list of legal keywords). The parameter
optionKeyword will be a valid option for that main keyword. If the main keyword has no options, the parameter optionKeyword will be omitted. The parameter optionKeyword may be omitted if all of the options for the main keyword

5 Keywords

51

would otherwise have the same order number (this is usually the case). The
*QueryOrderDependency statement for a given UI keyword should be within the
*OpenUI/*CloseUI bracketing for that keyword. For example:
*OpenUI *Resolution: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 10 AnySetup *Resolution
*QueryOrderDependency: 10 *Resolution
*Resolution 600dpi: "..."
*Resolution 1200dpi: "..."
*?Resolution: "..."
*CloseUI: *Resolution

This tells the print manager that the invocation code for the resolution chosen
by the user should be emitted in the query job, before any queries, and then
emitted again in the print job. There is no relationship between the order
numbers of *OrderDependency and *QueryOrderDependency.

*UIConstraints:

keyword1 option1 keyword2 option2

This keyword, whose value is a StringValue with multiple components separated by white space, denotes exclusionary relationships between pairs of
device features. It tells a print manager which device features cannot be supported together, allowing the print manager to prevent the selection of both
features at once in the user interface. For example, a device might forbid
duplex printing when feeding from the envelope tray, or perhaps A4 size
paper can only be fed from the upper slot, which would be expressed as a
constraint between the A4 page size and all input slots other than the upper
slot.
*UIConstraints can also be used to express the relationship between an optional

hardware component and the user-selectable features it enables. For example,

the presence of an envelope feeder would enable printing on envelopes, or the
presence of an extra memory board might enable higher resolution settings,
but the absence of these optional components would prevent the display and
use of their associated features. See section 5.4 for a description of the
InstallableOptions group and how it interacts with *UIConstraints.
A print manager can use the information found in a *UIConstraints statement to
make constrained choices unavailable to the user, either by graying out or
removing these items from the print panel, or by some other method appropriate to the user interface. To obtain consistent behavior from print managers, *UIConstraints may only be used between pairs of UI main keywords
(keywords whose entries are surrounded by the *OpenUI/*CloseUI or *JCLOpenUI/
*JCLCloseUI keyword pairs). Since all UI keywords are presented to the user as
choices in a user interface, their behavior is consistent; when they are constrained, that choice should not be offered to the user. For information on

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constraining non-UI keywords, see the description of *NonUIConstraints in this

section. If either of the keywords in the constraint pair is a non-UI keyword,
you must use *NonUIConstraints.
The syntax of *UIConstraints is that the first keyword-option pair invalidates the
second keyword-option pair. That is, if the first keyword-option pair is
invoked, the device will not allow the second keyword-option pair to be
invoked.
Constraints on UI features are reciprocal, so there will be two statements for
each pair of features. One statement tells you that FeatureA-Option1 constrains FeatureB-Option5, and the other statement tells you that
FeatureB-Option5 constrains FeatureA-Option1. The PPD file builder must
ensure that both statements appear, for the benefit of print managers that do
not enforce automatic reciprocity. If one of the reciprocal statements is missing, a print manager should operate as if it were present.
For example, a device might not allow transparencies to be output into the
upper output bin, because transparency stock is too stiff to go through the
convoluted paper path leading to the upper output bin. The *UIConstraints entry
would look like this:
*UIConstraints: *MediaType Transparent *OutputBin Upper
*UIConstraints: *OutputBin Upper *MediaType Transparent

The semantics of this in a user interface might be as follows: When the media
type Transparent has been selected, the output bin labeled Upper is not available.
The reverse is also true; when the output bin labeled Upper has been selected,
the media type Transparent is not available.
Each feature or both features may also be specified without any options. For
example, a constraint might take this form:
*UIConstraints: *FeatureA *FeatureB Option1

If no option is specified for Feature A, then Feature B is unconstrained until

some option of the first feature, other than None or False, is selected. At that
point, Option 1 of Feature B becomes constrained. For example:
*UIConstraints: *StapleWhen *MediaType Transparent

The semantics of this are as follows: If any option for *StapleWhen, other than
None or False, is selected, transparent media cannot be selected.
Likewise, this format is legal:
*UIConstraints: *FeatureA Option1 *FeatureB

5 Keywords

53

If no option is specified for Feature B, and Option 1 of Feature A is selected,

the constraint forces the selection of the None or False option of Feature B. For
example:
*UIConstraints: *MediaType Transparent *Staple

If transparent media is selected, no *Staple options can be selected, except for

None or False.
Finally, it is legal to omit options for both Feature A and Feature B. This
means that if the option selected for Feature A is None or False, Feature B is
unconstrained, but if any other option of Feature A is selected, the only valid
options for Feature B are None or False.
It is illegal to omit an option for Feature B if it is a PickOne style without a
None option, because that effectively disables all options of Feature B. It is
also illegal to omit an option for Feature A if it is a style without a None style,
because it effectively disables the specified option of Feature B for all cases.
Print managers must be careful to avoid permanently excluding the selection
of a feature that is constrained by other features. For example, if selecting a
page size of A4 disables the selection of the Lower input slot, how will the
user select the Lower input slot when they want to switch to a different page
size? The user could try selecting each page size, hoping to find one that
works with the Lower slot. A better choice would be for the print manager to
allow the selection of constrained items, but to automatically modify the
other component(s) of the constraint (and inform the user), or to warn the
user of the conflict and ask the user to resolve it.
Note

*NonUIConstraints:

To builders of PPD file: *UIConstraints is used only between pairs of main keywords. Do not write constraints between the various options of a single main
keyword. For example, do not write a constraint between *PageSize Letter and
*PageSize Legal. Options are already constrained against each other by their
PickOne or Boolean type, so additional constraints are unnecessary and illegal.

keyword1 option1 keyword2 option2

This keyword works exactly like *UIConstraints except that it is used with nonUI keywords (keywords not surrounded by *OpenUI/*CloseUI or *JCLOpenUI/
*JCLCloseUI). Please see the description of *UIConstraints for the complete syntax
and semantics of *NonUIConstraints. All of the rules specified for *UIConstraints
apply to *NonUIConstraints, except where noted in this description.

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*NonUIConstraints must be used if either the constraining or constrained key-

word is a non-UI keyword. For example, here is a UI keyword constraining a

non-UI keyword:
*NonUIConstraints: *InputSlot Upper *CustomPageSize True

This indicates that if the user has chosen the Upper input tray, a custom page
size cannot be requested.
The semantics of *NonUIConstraints are that a constrained feature is not available. Because non-UI keywords are not consistent in behavior, the exact
action taken is up to the print manager. Advice to the print manager encountering a constrained non-UI keyword might be dont do what you would normally do. For example, for keywords such as *CustomPageSize and *InsertSheet,
which require a print manager to display a specialized user interface, that
interface should not be displayed or should be grayed out.
The following keywords are the only non-UI keywords that can appear in a
*NonUIConstraints statement: *CustomPageSize, *LeadingEdge, *UseHWMargins,
*InsertSheet, *FaxSupport, and *SetResolution. More keywords may be added to this
list in future versions of this specification, after an analysis to determine the
impact on existing applications.
Note

To application developers: In a future edition of this specification, *Font will

be added to the list of keywords which can be constrained by *NonUIConstraints.
See the description of *Font for a discussion of how application authors
should handle this pending change.
*NonUIConstraints are not automatically reciprocal. If the reciprocal constraint

makes sense, it will be included in the PPD file, and a print manager should
honor it, but if a reciprocal constraint is missing, a print manager should not
attempt to create and enforce such a constraint.

*Include:

filename

This allows the explicit inclusion of another PPD file (or partial file) into the
current PPD file. The QuotedValue filename is the name of the file to be
included. See section 4.3 for details on the syntax of filename and section 2.6
for details on including one PPD file within another.

*End

This keyword is used to close multiple-line InvocationValues and

QuotedValues. The double quotes are still used to delimit the code sequence,
but as an extra parsing check and for added human readability, the *End keyword is included after the closing double quote of a multiple-line PostScript
language sequence. The keyword itself is of type NoValue.

5 Keywords

55

5.3

General Information Keywords

The keywords in this section provide general information about the PPD file
and the device it describes. The keywords in this section do not invoke any
device features.

*FileVersion:

string

Required. This keyword identifies the version number of the PPD file itself. It
is used only to distinguish between releases of the same file, not to distinguish one file from another.
The value, a QuotedValue, is a string of the form 1.0. A standard version
numbering scheme is employed. For major changes to the device and the
PPD file, including upgrading the PPD file to match a new version of the
PPD File Format Specification, the entire number will be incremented to the
next whole number (for example, from 1.0 to 2.0). For minor fixes to the PPD
file (including typographical errors), the integer to the right of the decimal
will be incremented (for example, from 1.0 to 1.1 and from 1.9 to 1.10). This
permits the various versions of a PPD file to be identical in most ways
(including file name) but still be distinguished from one another. All released
PPD files will initially have the string 1.0 in this field.

*FormatVersion:

string

Required. This provides the version number of the PPD file format specification to which the PPD file conforms. It is retained primarily for backward
compatibility, as the newer keyword *PPD-Adobe provides both the information
that this file is a PPD file and the specification version to which the file conforms.
The value, a QuotedValue, is a string of the form 1.0. For a PPD file to conform to the version of the specification detailed in this document, the value of
*FormatVersion must be 4.3. If a PPD file is updated to reflect changes in the
PPD File Format Specification, this statement should be changed to match
the new specification version number.

*LanguageEncoding:

encodingOption

Required. This keyword complements and partially supersedes the older

*LanguageVersion keyword. *LanguageEncoding identifies the encoding (mapping
from natural language characters to byte codes) used in the human-readable
comments, translation strings, and certain QuotedValues such as the value of
*NickName. The encoding of any part of the PPD file other than these strings is
system-dependent.

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*LanguageEncoding does not identify the natural language of the PPD file; that is
the role of the *LanguageVersion keyword. In most cases, a parser needs only to
parse the *LanguageEncoding keyword, and *LanguageVersion can be ignored. The
value of *LanguageEncoding contains the information needed to allow a parser

to convert text strings from the encoding used in the PPD file to the encoding
used on the host system.
If *LanguageEncoding is present, its value overrides the default encoding
implied by the *LanguageVersion keyword.
The values of encodingOption, a StringValue, are as follows:
ISOLatin1Uses the ISOLatin1 encoding
ISOLatin2Uses the ISOLatin2 encoding
ISOLatin5Uses the ISOLatin5 encoding
JIS83-RKSJUses the RKSJ (informally known as Shift JIS) encoding
and the JIS X0208-1983 character set
MacStandardUses Macintosh standard encoding
WindowsANSIUses Windows ANSI encoding, as defined by Microsoft
for use in the Windows operating system
NoneThe encoding is not specified.
Appendix C provides tables to convert between the ISOLatin1, MacStandard, and
WindowsANSI encodings. See section 3.5 for details on translation string syntax.
Note

*LanguageVersion:

To builders of PPD files: If the initial PPD file is built in English, the value of
*LanguageEncoding is ISOLatin1. If you are building the file in another language,
or if you are translating the file to another language, change the values of
*LanguageVersion and *LanguageEncoding to reflect that language.

languageOption

Required. This identifies the natural language used in the PPD file. For simplicity, the valid values of languageOption are the English words for the natural
languages. The value of languageOption (for instance, French or German) affects
only the human-readable comments, translation strings, and certain QuotedValues such as the value of *NickName. The encoding (mapping from natural
language characters to byte codes) of any part of the PPD file other than these
strings is system-dependent.

5 Keywords

57

The *LanguageEncoding keyword specifies the encoding for the strings mentioned above. If *LanguageEncoding is absent, the encoding of these strings can
be deduced from the value of *LanguageVersion. The currently registered values
for languageOption, which is a StringValue, and their corresponding encodings
(defined under *LanguageEncoding) are:
Table 1 Values for languageOption and their encodings

*Manufacturer:

languageOption

encoding

English

ISOLatin1

Chinese

None

Danish

ISOLatin1

Dutch

ISOLatin1

Finnish

ISOLatin1

French

ISOLatin1

German

ISOLatin1

Italian

ISOLatin1

Japanese

JIS83-RKSJ

Norwegian

ISOLatin1

Portuguese

ISOLatin1

Russian

None

Spanish

ISOLatin1

Swedish

ISOLatin1

Turkish

varies; check value of *LanguageEncoding

"text"

Required. This QuotedValue provides the name of the company that manufactured the device. If a device is OEM'ed from one manufacturer to another,
this name will be the name of the manufacturer who is marketing the device
under their own name. A given manufacturer must use the same name string
in each of their PPD files. For example, the name must not be "Acme Printer
Co." in one PPD file and just "Acme" in another. Also, the string must be
unique among manufacturers; two or more manufacturers may not use the
same string. Appendix D provides the current list of known manufacturer
strings.
This keyword gives print managers a way to group together several devices
provided by one manufacturer. Given a set of PPD files, a print manager can
provide a list of manufacturers for the user to choose from, and then provide a
list of PPD files available from the chosen manufacturer.

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Note

To builders of PPD files: For ease of sorting and display by a print manager,
we recommend leaving out unnecessary words like Incorporated, Company, Ltd., and Corporation when creating this string. The purpose of
this keyword is for a print manager and a user to be able to distinguish one
manufacturer from another, not to provide a complete account of the manufacturer's full legal name.

Note

To builders of PPD files: In order for the Windows 95 Image Color Matching
(ICM) system to match InterColor Consortium (ICC) color characterization
profiles to devices and drivers, the first 4 characters (or until a space or
hyphen is found, whichever comes first) of *Manufacturer must be a unique
string, which must match the value of the icHeader.manufacturer tag in the ICC
profile. Practically speaking, this means that in addition to the entire string
being unique among manufacturers, the first 4 characters of *Manufacturer must
also be unique, at least for color printers that have ICC profiles in the Windows 95 system. See the Microsoft document Image Color Matching and
Printer Drivers in Windows 95 for details on how color profiles are matched
to devices and drivers. See Appendix D for a list of currently known
icHeader.manufacturer profile tags.

*ModelName:

text

Required. This value, a QuotedValue, is a string created by the builder of the

PPD file that represents the common name of the device. It must be unique
for a given model of device. Because *Product is not always unique or descriptive, *ModelName is used by print managers to identify a PPD file for a specific
device model. For example:
*Product: "(LaserPrinter)"
*ModelName: "Acme SuperPrinter Turbo v2011.108"

Because *ModelName is used as a base for the PPD file name in some environments, certain punctuation characters are illegal. The value of *ModelName can
contain only the following characters, whose decimal values are defined here
or in section 1.1: alphanumeric characters, space, period, slash, hyphen (decimal 45), and plus (decimal 43). No other punctuation characters are allowed.
Because *ModelName describes a unique printer model, and because it may be
used as a filename in some environments, there should be only one
*ModelName statement per PPD file. If a PPD file describes two or more models, that fact should be reflected in the value of *ModelName. For example:
*ModelName: Acme FunPrinter or NiftyPrinter

If the product is a PostScript language cartridge or other external add-on

device, include that fact in the name. For example, Acme PostScript Cartridge for
FunPrinter III.

5 Keywords

59

Note

*NickName:

To builders of PPD files: As a guideline, *ModelName should contain the manufacturers name followed by the devices name. In order for the Windows 95
Image Color Matching (ICM) system to match InterColor Consortium (ICC)
color characterization profiles to devices, the *ModelName string must exactly
match the string used to generate the value of the icHeader.model tag in the ICC
profile. In addition, under certain circumstances some print managers
assume that the first 4 characters (or until a space or hyphen is found) of
*ModelName will be the name of the manufacturer and will match the
icHeader.manufacturer tag in the ICC profile. Practically speaking, this means
that the first 4 characters of *ModelName must match the first 4 characters of
*Manufacturer, at least for color printers that have ICC profiles in the Windows
95 system. Finally, because some print managers use *ShortNickName instead of
*ModelName for ICC profile matching, and the builder of the PPD file doesnt
know which print manager will be used, *ModelName should match
*ShortNickName to ensure consistent ICC profile matching. See the Microsoft
document Image Color Matching and Printer Drivers in Windows 95 for
details on how color profiles are matched to devices and drivers and how the
ic.model profile tag is generated.

text

Required. This QuotedValue is the local name for the device. It is unique for
an instance of a device model. It is used primarily at the user interface level
when selecting a device or to distinguish between two otherwise indistinguishable devices (for example, if a single controller is used to drive more
than one type of marking engine).
There may be only one *NickName in a PPD file. If the PPD file is valid for
more than one product, that fact must be reflected in the *NickName value, as in
*ModelName. Initially, the value of *NickName is usually the same as the value of
*ModelName, but it can be edited in a local customization file if necessary,
whereas *ModelName should not be changed. Alternatively, the value may have
a translation string for localization.
Note that the value of *NickName, as a QuotedValue, can include hexadecimal
substrings. These substrings should be translated to natural language characters according to the values of *LanguageEncoding and/or *LanguageVersion.
The length of the value of *NickName is unrestricted, except for line length. For
situations where the length of the nickname must be restricted, see the
description of *ShortNickName.

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*PCFileName:

string

Required. This value, a QuotedValue, provides the name of the PPD file as it
would appear in a PC environment. This name must be eight characters followed by a dot and a three character suffix. It is provided in the PPD file so
that a PPD file with a longer name, transferred from another platform, can be
renamed to a unique PPD filename appropriate to the PC environment.
The file naming scheme employed by Adobe Systems for these PPD files is
an attempt at a mnemonic name as constricted by the DOS operating system.
The naming scheme is partially algorithmic. Filenames and the keyword
*PCFileName are constructed as follows:
The first 2 characters designate the manufacturer. A list of manufacturer
prefixes is kept by Adobe Systems to ensure uniqueness of names. Please
refer to Appendix D: Manufacturers Prefix List and *Manufacturer
Strings for the current prefix list.
The next 6 characters consist of a string that uniquely identifies the device
model.
The suffix of the file is .PPD.
For consistent readability and to minimize confusion of letters with numbers, only capital (uppercase) letters are used.
Note

To builders of PPD files: If a released PPD file is changed, but the product
itself has not changed, the PPD file name (and *PCFileName) will not change.
Examples of this type of change to a PPD file include, but are not limited to,
fixing a typographical error in the PPD file, fixing an incorrect value for
*FreeVM, fixing feature code that was not tested properly and has been found
to be incorrect, adding or changing translation strings, changing the names
of option keywords, removing a keyword that was never supported by the
device, and fixing incorrect information in a *Font statement.
If a released PPD file is changed because the product itself has changed, the
upgraded product must be issued a new PPD file with a new name. Any new
features must be thoroughly tested. If the "old" and "upgraded" products are
substantially the same product, marketed under similar names, Adobe recommends keeping the filenames substantially the same, but using the 8th character of the new filename as a version number for the file. For example, if the
Acme SpiffyPrinter is upgraded with more memory, you might change
ACSPIFFY.PPD to ACSPIFF2.PPD. Using the 8th character as a version
number is a recommendation of common practice, but is not a requirement of
this specification. If the "old" and "upgraded" products are substantially different, or marketed under different names, you should give the new PPD file a
unique name that corresponds as closely as possible to the name under which
the product is marketed.

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61

Examples of filenames constructed according to the naming scheme:

APLWIIG1.PPD

Apple LaserWriter IIg v2011.113

DPLZ9601.PPD

Dataproducts LZR 960 v2010.105

OKOL8701.PPD

Okidata OL870 v2013.108

TKPHZR21.PPD

Tektronix Phaser II PXi v2010.116

TKPHZR22.PPD

Tektronix Phaser II PXi v2011.108

XR_88121.PPD

Xerox 8812 v2012.016

When a PPD file is translated into another language, Adobe recommends that
you keep the same file name, but isolate the different language-version files
from each other through directory structures or other physical isolation techniques. Different language versions of PPD files are essentially interchangeable at the software level, but need to be organized separately at the user
level.

*Product:

(text)

Required. This QuotedValue corresponds exactly to the product string of the

device. On Level 1 devices, it is the value returned by the code sequence
statusdict /product get exec == flush end

and on Level 2 devices, the value is returned by this code sequence

product == flush

There can be more than one instance of the *Product keyword if the PPD file is
valid for more than one product. For example, if two devices have identical
PPD files, they can be combined into a single PPD file with the following two
statements
*Product: "(LaserPrinter)"
*Product: "(LaserPrinterII)"

and *ModelName, *NickName, and *ShortNickName would reflect the fact that the
PPD file is valid for two products, like this:
*ModelName: Acme LaserPrinter or LaserPrinterII

*PSVersion:

(string) int

Required. This QuotedValue is composed of two parts. The string in parentheses is the version number of the PostScript interpreter, as returned by the
code sequence
version == flush

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The integer following the parentheses is the interpreters revision number. On

Level 2 devices, this number is returned by the code sequence
revision == flush

On Level 1 devices, the revision number is returned by the code sequence

statusdict /revision get exec == flush

The values are presented in PostScript language form so that they can be
compared with the actual values in the device to determine whether or not the
PPD file matches the device.
There can be more than one instance of the *PSVersion keyword if the PPD file
is valid for more than one version (and revision) of the interpreter. For example, if, for a given device, the PPD files for interpreter version 2011 revision
108 and interpreter version 2011 revision 120 are identical, they can be combined into one PPD file with the following statements:
*PSVersion: "(2011) 108"
*PSVersion: "(2011) 120"

Matching a PPD file to a device request

*PSVersion can be used by a print manager to match a particular version of a
PPD file to a request for that file. However, in general, a PPD file for an older
version of an interpreter can be safely used with a newer version of the interpreter, and vice versa. Interpreter upgrades are often based on performance
and bug fixes that dont affect the PPD file. Likewise, a match between the
version number in the PPD file and the version number of the interpreter is
not necessarily significant. For example, a manufacturer might use a single
controller to drive several different marking engines. In this case, separate
PPD files should be built to describe each controller-engine combination.
However, the product name, version, and revision number all describe only
the controller, and thus would be the same in each PPD file.

For example, imagine a controller called SuperRIP, which can drive two different engines called the S2500 and the S7000. The SuperRIP controller contains interpreter version 2012, and the product name is always SuperRIP,
regardless of which engine is attached to the controller. In this case, there
would be two PPD files: one for the combination of SuperRIP and the S2500
engine, and one for the combination of SuperRIP and the S7000 engine.
These PPD files might be called, respectively, SU2500_1.PPD and
SU7000_1.PPD.

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63

The relevant statements in SU2500_1.PPD would look like this:

*PSVersion: (2012) 1
*Product: "(SuperRIP)"
*NickName: "SuperRIP with S2500 v.2012"

and the relevant statements in SU7000_1.PPD would look like this

*PSVersion: (2012) 1
*Product: "(SuperRIP)"
*NickName: "SuperRIP with S7000 v.2012"

These two PPD files, while matching in *Product and *PSVersion, are differentiated by their *NickName statements and their filenames. A print manager trying
to choose the correct PPD file for a device must take all these things into
account, or it can simply ask the user to select the correct file.

*ShortNickName:

text

Required. This keyword is identical to the semantics and syntax of the

*NickName keyword, but the length of the string value is limited to 31 or fewer
characters. Common practice is to make it the same as *NickName, but without
the PostScript interpreter version number. This keyword is provided to overcome certain string length restrictions in some host environments. The value,
a QuotedValue describing the device, must be unique within the set of PPD
files on the local system. That is, there should not be two different PPD files
with the same value for *ShortNickName. There may be only one instance of
*ShortNickName per PPD file. Due to limitations in certain print managers,
*ShortNickName must appear in the PPD file before *NickName.
Note

*ShortNickName was not required in previous versions of this specification. It is

required in files that conform to the 4.3 specification.

Note

64

To builders of PPD files: As a guideline, *ShortNickName should contain the

manufacturers name followed by the devices name. In order for the Windows 95 Image Color Matching (ICM) system to match InterColor Consortium (ICC) color characterization profiles to devices, the PScript 4.x print
manager requires that the *ShortNickName string exactly match the string used
to generate the value of the icHeader.model tag in the ICC profile. In addition,
under certain circumstances some print managers assume that the first 4
characters (or until a space or hyphen is found) of *ShortNickName will be the
name of the manufacturer and will match the icHeader.manufacturer tag in the
ICC profile. Practically speaking, this means that the first 4 characters of
*ShortNickName must match the first 4 characters of *Manufacturer, at least for
color printers that have ICC profiles in the Windows 95 system. Finally,
because some print managers use *ModelName instead of *ShortNickName for
ICC profile matching, and the builder of the PPD file doesnt know which
print manager will be used, *ModelName should match *ShortNickName to ensure

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

(9 Feb 1996)

consistent ICC profile matching. See the Microsoft document Image Color
Matching and Printer Drivers in Windows 95 for details on how color profiles are matched to devices and drivers and how the ic.model profile tag is
generated.
5.4

Installable Options

Most printers ship in some standard, minimal configuration but accept

optional features or accessories, usually sold separately. These installable
options can be paper trays, envelope feeders, memory modules, and so on.
The PPD specification provides a way to describe these accessories, to label
them as optional and initially not installed, and a way to install them later.
Thus an application can list the installable options in its user interface, but
can display them in some special way (for instance, grayed out) to indicate
that the basic configuration does not support them.
Additionally, a customization file can be created to reflect a specific printer,
and within that customization file, certain accessories can be marked as
installed, so that applications can then allow them to be selected from the
user interface. The PPD specification also offers a way for an application to
query the user for this configuration information, which can be used to
update an applications internal database.
Without this information, an application might display all installable options,
whether they are installed or not, and risk having the user select an option that
is not installed and get errors or unexpected results.
Syntax and Use

The *OpenGroup structure keyword (described in section 5.2) is used to denote

the beginning of the installable options group. The option keyword
InstallableOptions describes this special group. InstallableOptions is a registered
option keyword that should not be used as an option for any other group in a
PPD file. Like other values, it can have a translation string attached for clarity.
For example:
*OpenGroup: InstallableOptions/Options Installed

The InstallableOptions group contains one entry for each optional accessory that
the printer can accept. Each entry consists of an *OpenUI/*CloseUI keyword pair,
which surrounds the choices for the accessory. Within the entry, the *Default
keyword initially denotes the state of the accessory in the minimal configuration; that is, whether it is installed or not when the device leaves the factory.
If the state of the accessory can be determined by querying the PostScript

5 Keywords

65

interpreter, there may also be query code, which a print manager operating in
a bidirectional environment could use to update its information about the
devices configuration.
Because there is no need for them to have meaningful names, the main keywords used within the *OpenUI/*CloseUI entries consist of the generic string
*Option followed by an integer; for example, *Option1, *Option2. Each installable
option (each *OpenUI entry) must have a unique main keyword name. The
*UIConstraints section then maps the generic *Option keywords to the actual PPD
feature entries. For example:
*OpenGroup: InstallableOptions/Options Installed
*OpenUI *Option1/Envelope Feeder: Boolean
*DefaultOption1: False
*Option1 True/Installed: ""
*Option1 False/Not Installed: ""
*CloseUI: *Option1
*CloseGroup: InstallableOptions
*UIConstraints: *Option1 False *InputSlot Envelope

The *UIConstraints statement tells a print manager that if *Option1 is False (the
envelope feeder is not installed), then the Envelope option of the *InputSlot key-

word is not available for selection by the user.

It is also legal to have a named keyword within the InstallableOptions group.
This might be done for a keyword whose effect is important enough or complex enough that a print manager might want to generate a separate configuration panel for that keyword. A named keyword might also be used where
that keyword needs to be matched to other keywords by some method other
than *UIConstraints. In either case, the print manager needs to be able to recognize that keyword. For an example, see the discussion of *InstalledMemory in
section 5.6 and later in this section. In general, the use of the generic keywords is recommended, to discourage special casing by print managers, keyword proliferation, and additional documentation.
A print manager can use the InstallableOptions group in at least two ways. First,
at printer installation or configuration time, a print manager can create a configuration panel based on the information found in the InstallableOptions group.
On this configuration panel the print manager posts the optional accessories
listed, using the PickOne and Boolean values of the *OpenUI entries to determine
whether an accessory requires a menu of choices or a boolean check box that
denotes whether or not an accessory is installed. The user then informs the
print manager which printer accessories are installed by selecting from the
menus or checking the check boxes for each optional accessory. The print
manager then stores this information in an internal database and later uses it
to decide which options to offer the user at print time.

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Second, a user or application might permanently configure the print manager

by providing a local customization file that contains *Default settings that
reflect the installation of accessories.
For example, a local customization file might contain the following:
*OpenUI *Option1/Envelope Feeder: Boolean
*DefaultOption1: True
*CloseUI: *Option1

From this entry, a print manager can record that the value of *Option1 is currently True and use that information, in conjunction with the *UIConstraints
entry in the base PPD file, to later decide which other options to offer to the
user at print time. If the author of the print manager does not want to offer a
configuration panel that interacts with the user, the print manager can be
coded so that it looks at the *Default setting and treats it as if it were a selection
from the user. Instead of querying the user for configuration information, the
print manager relies on the *Default settings to be correct. This method is perhaps simpler to implement, but is less flexible for the user and requires that
the user or some application edit a local customization file to record the configuration information.
Most *OpenUI entries in the InstallableOptions group are Boolean choices, as
shown in the previous examples, but PickOne entries are equally legal. For
example, the following entry provides a short list of mutually exclusive
choices (the user can install 2MB or 4MB of memory, but not both at once).
This is also an example of using a named keyword instead of a generic main
keyword:
*OpenGroup: InstallableOptions
*OpenUI *InstalledMemory/Memory Configuration: PickOne
*DefaultInstalledMemory: None
*InstalledMemory None/Basic Memory: ""
*InstalledMemory 2Meg/2Meg Memory Upgrade: ""
*InstalledMemory 4Meg/4Meg Memory Upgrade: ""
*CloseUI: *InstalledMemory
*CloseGroup: InstallableOptions
*UIConstraints: *InstalledMemory None *Smoothing Medium
*UIConstraints: *InstalledMemory None *Smoothing Dark
*UIConstraints: *InstalledMemory 2Meg *Smoothing Dark

This *UIConstraints entry tells a print manager that if None has been selected for
*InstalledMemory, then neither the Medium nor Dark options of the *Smoothing keyword are available, and if 2Meg has been selected for *InstalledMemory, then only
the Dark option of *Smoothing is not available. This provides a way for the print
manager to present various options to the user based on the amount of
memory installed in the printer.

5 Keywords

67

The InvocationValues of the main keywords are typically null quotes because
no code is invoked during configuration; the print manager is simply recording information either from the user or from the *Default statements. However,
in some cases, there may be actual PostScript code between the quotes, perhaps to perform some type of job setup related to the devices configuration.
In that case, the *OpenUI entry must also contain an *OrderDependency statement,
so that the print manager knows where to insert the code in the job stream.
5.5

Basic Device Capabilities

The keywords in this section provide information about the devices basic
capabilities.

*ColorDevice:

True | False

This keyword indicates whether or not the device physically outputs color.
See *Extensions for information about black and white devices that support the
color extensions to the PostScript language. The value is of type StringValue.

*DefaultColorSpace:

colorspaceOption

This keyword indicates the default native color space of the device. The
native color space is the color space that all colors are converted into before
rendering. The currently registered values for colorspaceOption (a StringValue)
are
CMYThis device uses the cyan-magenta-yellow color space as its native
color space.
CMYKThis device uses the cyan-magenta-yellow-black color space as its
native color space.
RGBThis device uses the red-green-blue color space as its native color
space.
GrayThis device uses a gray-scale native color space.

*Extensions:

extensionOption ...

This keyword indicates that this device supports the PostScript language
extensions listed. One or more extensions may be listed, separated by white
space. Operators specific to each extension are documented in Appendix A of
the PostScript Language Reference Manual, Second Edition.

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The currently registered values for extensionOption (a StringValue) are

DPSThis device contains a PostScript Level 1 implementation that also
supports the Display PostScript Extensions.
CMYKThis device contains a PostScript Level 1 implementation that also
supports the Color Extensions
CompositeThis device contains a PostScript Level 1 implementation that
also supports the Composite Font Extensions
FileSystemThis device contains a PostScript Level 1 implementation that
also supports the File System Extensions

*FaxSupport:

faxOption...

If the device can act as a facsimile (fax) device, this keyword lists the various
fax-related capabilities of the device. One or more capabilities can be listed,
separated by white space.
Currently, the only registered value (a StringValue) is
BaseThis device can encode the rasterized version of a document in fax
format and transmit the fax to another fax device.

*FileSystem:

True | False

This StringValue indicates whether or not the PostScript device has the capability for a writable file system. Normally this means the presence of a hard
disk or SCSI controller on the device. This information can be used by a print
manager to determine the capability for internal file system support. Note
that some devices might have the capability for a file system but might not in
fact have a disk installed (in this case the value for this keyword would be
True, but the associated query would return False). The *?FileSystem query can
be used to dynamically determine whether or not a file system is actually
present. If the device has no capability of having a file system, this statement
will be omitted.

*?FileSystem:

query

This query will return True if a writable file system is currently online, False if
not, and Unknown if the state cannot be determined. The results of this query
do not convey any information about whether or not the disk is initialized, or
how many free pages there are. If this device cannot support a file system,
this statement will be omitted.

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69

*LanguageLevel:

int

This QuotedValue designates the PostScript language level supported by the

PostScript interpreter in this device. If the value is 2, the PostScript interpreter in this device supports all PostScript Level 2 features. If the value is 1
or if this keyword is not present, the PostScript interpreter supports all PostScript Level 1 features. See *Extensions for further information.

*Throughput:

int

This QuotedValue is the nominal throughput in pages per minute. It represents the marking engines rated capacity for throughput. It might be used to
determine the fastest of a number of devices if there are many to choose from,
but should not be construed as any kind of benchmark figure.
In the case of roll-fed machines, the number indicates the number of 8-1/2
inch sections of media that can be fed in one minute by the marking engine.
In the case of duplex devices, which can print on both sides of the paper, the
number indicates the number of pages that can be printed in one minute in
simplex (one-sided) mode. If the value is fractional, it is rounded up to the
nearest number (it must be 1 or larger).

*TTRasterizer:

rasterizerOption

This keyword indicates whether or not this device contains software to create
font bitmaps from Type 42 (TrueType ) font outlines. If the device does contain such rasterizer software, the rasterizerOption indicates whether the
software is built into the device, is downloadable, or other details.
The currently registered values (of type StringValue) for rasterizerOption are
NoneThis device does not contain a Type 42 rasterizer and the device is
not capable of receiving a downloaded rasterizer.
Accept68KThis device does not contain a Type 42 rasterizer, but the device
can accept a downloaded rasterizer that is 68000-compatible. A driver
wishing to download a rasterizer should also query the current state of free
VM on the device to determine whether there is enough memory to accept
the rasterizer.
Type42This device contains a Type 42 rasterizer in ROM.
TrueImageThis device contains a TrueImage rasterizer, which accepts the
TrueImage version of a TrueType font.

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*?TTRasterizer:

query

This query returns the rasterizerOption corresponding to the devices capability regarding Type 42 rasterizer software. The value returned must be one
of the rasterizerOptions listed under *TTRasterizer or it will be Unknown. If
Accept68K is returned by this query, a parser should also query the current state
of free VM to determine whether there is enough memory to download the
rasterizer.

*1284Modes

channelOption: mode...

The StringValue of this keyword describes the level of compliance of each

communication channel with the IEEE 1284-1994 specification, IEEE Standard Signaling Method for a Bidirectional Parallel Peripheral Interface for
Personal Computers. It tells which communication modes are supported, on a
per-channel basis. For example:
*1284Modes Parallel: Compat Nibble

The channelOption must match one of the channel names listed under *Source.
(See section 5.21 for information on *Source.) More than one mode may be
listed in the value field, separated by white space, meaning multiple modes
are supported on that channel. The mode definitions are taken from the 12841994 specification, and are as follows:
CompatCompatibility mode (unidirectional host-to-peripheral parallel
communication). Many older devices support only this mode.
Nibble4-bit reverse (peripheral-to-host) communication
Byte8-bit reverse (peripheral-to-host) communication
ECPExtended Capabilities Port (8-bit bidirectional)
EPPEnhanced Parallel Port (8-bit bidirectional)
Currently, the only channel described by the 1284-1994 specification is
Parallel, but other channels may add support in the future, so other channel
options are permitted. There may also be variations of Parallel on a device,
such as ParallelB for a second parallel channel.

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71

*1284DeviceID:

"text"

For a device that is compliant with the IEEE 1284-1994 specification mentioned under *1284Modes, the QuotedValue of this keyword provides the
Device ID string returned by the device. For example:
*1284DeviceID: "MFG:Acme;MODEL:SuperSpiffy;COMMAND SET: POSTSCRIPT,PJL,PCL

If the device does not return a valid string in response to a request for
Device ID, this statement will be omitted from the PPD file.
5.6

*PatchFile:

System Management

invocation

This represents a (perhaps large) PostScript language sequence that is a

downloadable patch to ROM code, which must be downloaded outside the
server loop, into initial VM. It is represented as a QuotedValue. It can be used
if there are any known bugs in existing PostScript devices or to provide some
initial state to all jobs. A program that is managing a PostScript device should
make every attempt to guarantee that this information is resident in the PostScript interpreters memory before any jobs are run.
Code in a patch file must adhere to certain requirements. These restrictions
are intended to ensure that this patch code will only execute on the printer for
which it was intended, and will not execute if it has already been executed on
this particular printer (to conserve memory space and avoid possible conflicts). A conforming patch file must do the following:
Check a unique key to see if the patch has already been downloaded to the
printer.
Compare the product, version, and revision strings on the printer to the
values of the *Product and *PSVersion statements in the PPD file to make sure
that this patch will be downloaded only to the printer for which it was
written.
If downloading the patch, define or set a unique key in a dictionary or otherwise indicate the patchs presence, so that its existence can be checked
later.
Please see the comments on daggered keywords at the end of section 4.1 for a
list of the additional responsibilities of the builder of the PPD file and of print
manager authors.

This keyword requires the *Password value to be supplied in front of the invocation.

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*?PatchFile:

query

This query checks the key set by the code in *PatchFile and returns True if the
patch file is present behind the server loop, and False if it is not. This allows a
print manager to decide whether it is necessary to download the patch file
outside the server loop as a separate job. The patch files presence is determined by the presence or absence of a certain key in a dictionary, or by any
other method that the implementor of the patch file chooses. If a patch file is
implemented, a patch file query must be provided.

*JobPatchFile

int: invocation

Like *PatchFile, this is used to download a PostScript language sequence to

apply a bug fix or to set up an initial state for a job, but it does not require a
password and is not downloaded outside the server loop. Its code should be
attached to the beginning of the job and the pair of files should be downloaded as one job. The option keyword is provided so that multiple patch files
for a device may be numbered.

*FreeVM:

int

This keyword gives the maximum amount of memory available for use by a
PostScript language job in the products minimal memory configuration. The
QuotedValue is the integer returned by the PostScript language sequence
vmstatus exch sub == pop

or, on a Level 2 device,

2 vmreclaim vmstatus exch sub == pop

executed immediately after the device is first powered on.

For a print manager, *FreeVM does not necessarily reflect the current amount
of VM available on the device, since either more memory may have been
added or VM may have been used up by downloaded fonts or other resources.
It should be regarded as a maximum limit of free VM in the minimal memory
configuration, rather than as a measure of current availability. Historically,
*FreeVM has been used by print managers to determine which of several
devices has more memory built into it. Because *FreeVM is generated using the
products minimal memory configuration, it is of limited use on devices that
support additional memory modules. In that case, the combination of
*InstalledMemory and *VMOption is more useful for determining how much
memory might be available.

5 Keywords

73

*VMOption

vmOption: int

This keyword provides potential values of the *FreeVM keyword with various
optional memory (VM) configurations installed. The values are obtained by
inserting each additional memory module, one at a time, and recording the
value returned by the code fragment listed in the description of *FreeVM.
The vmOption None denotes the basic, standard memory configuration, with no
additional memory upgrades. The other vmOptions must match the vmOptions in
the *InstalledMemory entry, and are generally of the form 2Meg or 2MB, denoting
the size of the total installed memory. The value, although in the form of an
InvocationValue, must be an integer.
A PPD file with a *VMOption entry must also have a *FreeVM statement. At least
one *VMOption statement must contain the same value as the *FreeVM statement.
For example, the following entry indicates that the standard configuration
contains 100,000 bytes of free memory at boot time, while the upgrade called
2Meg provides 1,100,000 bytes of free memory:
*FreeVM: "100000"
*VMOption None/Standard: "100000"
*VMOption 2Meg: "1100000"

*VMOption is used with *InstalledMemory to determine how much memory is

installed and how much VM is available as a result. See the description of

*InstalledMemory for an explanation.

Note

*InstalledMemory
*DefaultInstalledMemory:
*?InstalledMemory:

To builders of PPD files: PPD files with *FormatVersion statements greater than
4.1 should not have *UIConstraints between an installable memory module and
*VMOption. This method is obsolete. Instead, there should be *InstalledMemory
entries in the InstallableOptions group for each additional amount of memory.
*InstalledMemory is automatically linked to *VMOption by the use of identical
option keywords, so there is no need for *UIConstraints on *VMOption.

vmOption: "invocation"

U
UII

vmOption | Unknown
query

(returns: vmOption | Unknown)

*InstalledMemory is used to link the amount of physical memory in the device

with the amount of available VM. The string vmOption must match a valid
vmOption listed under *VMOption. *DefaultInstalledMemory indicates the default
amount of memory installed. *?InstalledMemory returns a vmOption that corre-

sponds to the current memory configuration. Note that this is not the amount
of free VM, but an indicator of the physical memory installed.

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This entry would typically appear in the InstallableOptions group. If the

*?InstalledMemory query is present and a bidirectional communication channel
is available, the print manager can use the *?InstalledMemory query to ask the
device how much memory is installed. If a bidirectional communication
channel is not available, the print manager can use *InstalledMemory to ask the
user how much memory is installed. (See section 5.4 for a description of the
InstallableOptions group.) The print manager would then match the users choice
of an option for *InstalledMemory (or the string returned by *?InstalledMemory) to
the same option of *VMOption to find out how much VM is available.
For example, in a unidirectional environment, the print manager could read
the following entry and add it to a configuration panel, asking the user to
select which memory module had been installed in their printer:
*OpenGroup: InstallableOptions
*OpenUI *InstalledMemory: PickOne
*DefaultInstalledMemory: 2MB
*InstalledMemory 2MB/Standard: " "
*InstalledMemory 3MB/3 MB Upgrade: " "
*InstalledMemory 4MB/4 MB Upgrade: " "
*CloseUI: *InstalledMemory
*CloseGroup: InstallableOptions

The print manager could then take the users selection (lets say it was 4MB)
and search the following statements to find out how much VM would be provided by the 4MB option:
*VMOption 2MB: "1234567"
*VMOption 3MB: "2345678"
*VMOption 4MB: "3456789"

This provides a rough method of obtaining an updated value for *FreeVM.

While this value still may not reflect the true amount of VM available, due to
resource downloading, in a communications environment where the print
manager cannot query the printer for the actual amount of VM available, this
provides something closer to the truth.
In most cases, the invocation value for *InstalledMemory will be null; that is,
there will be no code between the quotes (like most values in the
InstallableOptions group). However, in some cases, the invocation value might
contain code, in which case the print manager should treat it as normal invocation code. If there is actual code in the quotes, the *InstalledMemory entry
must have an *OrderDependency statement specifying where the code should be
emitted. The *InstalledMemory keyword can also occur outside the
InstallableOptions group.

5 Keywords

75

*Reset:

invocation

This QuotedValue is a PostScript language sequence that will perform a

soft restart of the PostScript interpreter. It can be used by a printing manager to reboot the device under some circumstances. Please see the comments
on daggered keywords at the end of section 4.1 for a list of the additional
responsibilities of the builder of the PPD file and of print manager authors.

*Password:

invocation

This QuotedValue provides the password required to persistently set values in

initial VM on the device. It is used in conjunction with the *ExitServer keyword
and other keywords that are flagged with the dagger. See section 2.6 for
details on local customization for instructions on changing this password for
a specific device.

*ExitJamRecovery
*DefaultExitJamRecovery:
*?ExitJamRecovery:

True | False: "invocation"

U
UII

True | False | Unknown

"query"

(returns: True | False | Unknown)

This keyword provides the code to invoke the exit jam recovery feature. If
True, pages that jam in the exit path are reprinted. If False, jammed pages are
not reprinted, which may result in a performance improvement because more
overlapping of page processing is possible. *DefaultExitJamRecovery denotes the
default state. *?ExitJamRecovery returns the current state.

*ExitServer:

invocation

This QuotedValue provides the appropriate PostScript language sequence to

exit the job server loop (on a Level 1 device, this code would typically use the
exitserver operator, and on a Level 2 device, the startjob operator). This should
be used carefully, if at all, by a print manager. Its purpose is to make changes
to device memory permanent until the device is turned off. It is usually only
used to apply bug fixes or to change the system defaults on a device. The
value of *Password or the current password input by a user must precede this
invocation. Please see the comments on daggered keywords at the end of section 4.1 for a list of the additional responsibilities of the builder of the PPD
file and of print manager authors.

This keyword requires the *Password value to be supplied in front of the invocation.

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*SuggestedJobTimeout:

"int"

This QuotedValue provides the time, in seconds, that the device manufacturer
suggests for the value of the user parameter JobTimeout (Level 2) or the argument to setjobtimeout (Level 1). This value may be the default value set in the
device at the factory, or it may be an alternative to the factory-set value, provided for performance or other reasons. This keyword is intended for print
managers that allow the user to change the job timeout value; it provides an
initial value for display to the user.

*SuggestedManualfFeedTimeout:

"int"

This QuotedValue provides the time, in seconds, that the device manufacturer
suggests for the value of the page device parameter ManualFeedTimeout (Level
2) or the argument to setmanualfeedtimeout (Level 1). This value may be the
default value set in the device at the factory, or it may be an alternative to the
factory-set value, provided for performance or other reasons. This keyword is
intended for print managers that allow the user to change the manualfeed
timeout value; it provides an initial value for display to the user.

*SuggestedWaitTimeout:

"int"

This QuotedValue provides the time, in seconds, that the device manufacturer
suggests for the value of the user parameter WaitTimeout (Level 2) or the argument to setwaittimeout (Level 1). This value may be the default value set in the
device at the factory, or it may be an alternative to the factory-set value, provided for performance or other reasons.This keyword is intended for print
managers that allow the user to change the wait timeout value; it provides an
initial value for display to the user.

*PrintPSErrors:

True | False

This StringValue indicates to a print manager whether or not the device manufacturer thinks that PostScript interpreter error information should be
printed on the device. Printing interpreter error information is appropriate on
some devices, but not on others. If True, the device manufacturer suggests that
printing interpreter error information is appropriate for this device. A print
manager may, of course, let the user override this suggested setting; this keyword is intended to provide default behavior for a print manager, and a value
for initial display to the user if the behavior is to be changed.
Note

To builders of PPD files: As a rule of thumb, *PrintPSErrors is usually set to True

for cut-sheet devices and False for roll-fed devices.

5 Keywords

77

*DeviceAdjustMatrix:

[ transformation matrix ]

This QuotedValue provides a device-specific transformation matrix to compensate for any anamorphic scaling or offset problems inherent in the underlying mechanical marking device. If the device has no such problems, the
value of *DeviceAdjustMatrix is the identity matrix [1 0 0 1 0 0], and the entire
statement will be omitted from the PPD file.
A system administrator might need to add *DeviceAdjustMatrix to a local customization file for a particular device to compensate for slight shrinkage or magnification caused by motor speeds, media thicknesses, and so on. See section
2.6 for information on local customization files.
Note

5.7

The *ImageableArea figures given in the PPD files will no longer be exactly
accurate if the device matrix is adjusted. Bear in mind, if this field is
changed, any operations sensitive to the page boundaries might have to be
recomputed slightly, or the results might be off the page.
Emulations and Protocols

The keywords in this section provide information about emulators and protocols supported by the device.

*Protocols:

protocolOption ...

This provides a StringValue that indicates the protocols supported by this

device. One or more protocols can be listed, separated by white space. Valid
values for protocolOption are:
BCPThis device supports the Adobe binary communications protocols, as
documented in section 3 of Technical Note #5009, Adobe Serial and Parallel Communications Protocols Specification, available from the Adobe
Developers Association. The binary communications protocol provides a
clear channel on a serial or parallel line and is used to transparently pass
certain control characters that might be contained in binary data. On a
clear channel, switching between the PostScript language and certain emulators can be accomplished transparently using language commands from
within a job.
PJLThis device can support multiple printer languages, including the
PostScript language. Hewlett Packards printer job language (PJL) provides a means of switching between languages. This device supports the
PJL language switching sequences that begin and end PostScript language
jobs.

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Note

PPD files that conform to specification version 4.1 and higher and that contain this statement will also contain the *JCL keywords that provide the appropriate PJL language switching sequences. In version 4.0 PPD files, the *JCL
keywords do not exist and the print manager must provide the appropriate
PJL commands.
TBCPThis device supports the tagged binary communications protocol,
as documented in section 4 of Technical Note #5009, Adobe Serial and
Parallel Communications Protocols Specification, available from the
Adobe Developers Association.

*Emulators:

emulatorOption ...

This keyword provides a StringValue that enumerates the emulators that can
be invoked from within a PostScript language job on this device. The value
consists of one or more emulatorOption keywords, separated by white space.
For each emulatorOption listed under *Emulators, there must also be corresponding main keywords that describe the command sequence necessary to start
and stop the emulator named emulatorOption. These main keywords are formed
by concatenating the strings *StartEmulator_ and *StopEmulator_ with the
emulatorOption string. This odd syntax allows the values to be QuotedValues.
For example:
*Emulators: hplj proprinter
*StartEmulator_hplj: "code"
*StopEmulator_hplj: "code"
*StartEmulator_proprinter: "code"
*StopEmulator_proprinter: "code"

An emulatorOption must appear in a *Emulators statement before the corresponding *StartEmulator_ and *StopEmulator_ keywords appear.
The currently registered option keywords for emulatorOption are
diablo630Diablo 630
decppl3Digital ANSI-Compliant Printing Protocol (level 3)
hpglHewlett Packard Graphics Language
hpljHewlett Packard LaserJet and LaserJet Plus (HP-PCL)
proprinterIBM ProPrinter
ti855Texas Instruments 855

5 Keywords

79

*StartEmulator_emulatorOption:

invocation

This QuotedValue provides the PostScript language code to invoke the emulator named emulatorOption, from within the current job. The invocation is represented as a QuotedValue in case the invocation code contains 8-bit control
characters, which must be represented as hexadecimal substrings. This keyword is formed by concatenating the string *StartEmulator_ with the string from
the list of valid emulatorOptions listed under *Emulators.
The code in the QuotedValue must end with a space or newline, so that the
final PostScript language token is executed. Any data sent by the print manager following the invocation code will be executed by the named emulator.
For example:
*Emulators: hplj
*StartEmulator_hplj: "currentfile
/hpcl statusdict /emulate get exec "
*End

Before invoking any emulators, a clear channel must be established. See the
description of the keyword *Protocols for more information about establishing
a clear channel.
Note

*StopEmulator_emulatorOption:

Before beginning an emulation, most emulators will erase the current page,
initialize the graphics state, and clear the operand and execution stacks.

hexadecimal data

This QuotedValue provides the data needed to exit the emulator named
emulatorOption and return to PostScript interpretation. The invocation is represented as a QuotedValue because typically the code contains control characters, which must be represented as hexadecimal substrings.These
hexadecimal substrings should be parsed by the print manager, and the appropriate 8-bit characters should be sent to the device.
This keyword is formed by concatenating the string *StopEmulator_ with the a
string from the list of valid emulatorOptions listed under *Emulators. For example:
*Emulators: hplj
*StartEmulator_hplj: "currentfile
/hpcl statusdict /emulate get exec "
*End
*StopEmulator_hplj: "<1B7F>0"

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5.8

Features Accessible Only Through Job Control Language

On some devices, certain features can be accessed only through a job control
language (JCL), which is managed independently from the PostScript language interpreter. Keywords pertaining to such features are referred to
throughout this document as *JCL keywords. A typical job that accesses certain features via JCL code would contain these components in this order:
the code from *JCLBegin, which starts the JCL job
the code, if any, to change the desired feature, such as *JCLResolution or
*JCLFrameBufferSize

the code from *JCLToPSInterpreter, which invokes the PostScript interpreter

the PostScript language job
the code from *JCLEnd, which ends the job and returns the device to its idle
state, awaiting further JCL commands.
If a feature can be selected either through the PostScript interpreter or
through JCL, the device manufacturer should decide which method is preferred and should use only one method in the PPD file. Although it is legal to
include both the PostScript and JCL methods of invoking a feature in the
PPD file, it is not recommended for the following reasons:
The result is undefined. For example, if a user sets the resolution using
*JCLResolution and later sets the resolution differently using *Resolution, the
resolution result will depend on the order in which the print manager performs the operations and on how the two methods interact in the device.
A print manager, parsing blindly for *JCLOpenUI and *OpenUI, may offer the
user two methods of changing the resolution on the same print panel,
which would be confusing.

*JCLBegin:

"JCL"

*JCLToPSInterpreter:

"JCL"

*JCLEnd:

"JCL"

These QuotedValues provide the JCL commands to bracket one or more

PostScript language jobs into one printed document. The job is emitted in the
order shown in the introduction to this section. If any of the *JCL- keywords
are present in a PPD file, then these three keywords must all be present.

5 Keywords

81

Here is an example of these keywords, using Hewlett Packards PJL as the

JCL:
*JCLBegin: "<1B>%-12345X@PJL JOB<0A>"
*JCLToPSInterpreter: "@PJL ENTER LANGUAGE = POSTSCRIPT <0A>"
*JCLEnd: "<1B>%-12345X@PJL EOJ<0A><1B>%-12345X"

*JCLOpenUI
*JCLCloseUI:

mainKeyword: PickOne | PickMany | Boolean

mainKeyword

These keywords are identical to the *OpenUI/*CloseUI keywords (see section 5.2
for a description), except that they are used to enclose only *JCL keywords.
Like keywords for other selectable features, JCL keywords affect the user
interface, and as such must be presented to the user in a consistent fashion.
All JCL keywords that provide the user with selectable features will be
enclosed in the *JCLOpenUI/*JCLCloseUI keywords. If a print manager does not
wish to offer selection of features via JCL to the user, the parser can simply
skip all sections of the PPD file that are bracketed by *JCLOpenUI/*JCLCloseUI.

*JCLFrameBufferSize
*DefaultJCLFrameBufferSize:
*?JCLFrameBufferSize:

frameBufferOption: "JCL"
frameBufferOption | Unknown
"query"

(returns: frameBufferOption | Unknown)

*JCLFrameBufferSize provides the JCL code to change the frame buffer size.

Note that requesting a larger frame buffer size means that less memory is
available for resources such as downloaded fonts.
Although the value looks like an InvocationValue, the *JCL keywords have
special parsing rules and such values are treated like QuotedValues. This is
because the values may contain out-of-range byte codes in hexadecimal
strings, which the print manager must translate before emitting to the job
stream.
The values for frameBufferOption are device-specific. One of the options must be
Off, with a corresponding QuotedValue that sends the JCL code to turn off the
ability to set the frame buffer size. The results of this action are devicedependent. Other possibilities for options include any of the media size
options supported by the device, with the corresponding JCL code requesting
the frame buffer size appropriate for that media size. See section 5.13 for a
description of media option keywords.

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Note

On some devices, setting the frame buffer size may cause the devices memory
to be reinitialized, removing anything that had previously been downloaded
outside the server loop (at save level 0). For example, downloaded fonts, patterns, prologs, forms, and other downloaded resources would be removed
from the devices memory.
Here is an example of the frame buffer size keywords in a PPD file:
*JCLOpenUI *JCLFrameBufferSize/Frame Buffer Size: PickOne
*DefaultJCLFrameBufferSize: Letter
*OrderDependency: 20 JCLSetup *JCLFrameBufferSize
*JCLFrameBufferSize Off: '@PJL SET PAGEPROTECT = OFF<0A>'
*JCLFrameBufferSize Letter: '@PJL SET PAGEPROTECT = LTR<0A>'
*JCLFrameBufferSize Legal: '@PJL SET PAGEPROTECT = LGL<0A>'
*JCLCloseUI: *JCLFrameBufferSize

*DefaultJCLFrameBufferSize indicates the default frame buffer size set by a JCL

command. *?JCLFrameBufferSize returns a string denoting the current frame

buffer size set by a JCL command. If it is never possible to determine the

frame buffer size, the *?JCLFrameBufferSize query will be omitted.

*JCLResolution
*DefaultJCLResolution:
*?JCLResolution:

resolutionOption: "JCL"
resolutionOption | Unknown
query

(returns: resolutionOption | Unknown)

*JCLResolution provides the JCL code to change the resolution. There is one

statement for each resolution supported by the device. For a complete explanation of resolutionOption and its possible values, see the description of
*DefaultResolution in section 5.9.
Although the value looks like an InvocationValue, the *JCL keywords have
special parsing rules and such values are treated like QuotedValues. This is
because the values usually contain out-of-range byte codes in hexadecimal
strings, which the print manager must translate before emitting into the job
stream.
Note

On some devices, setting the resolution may cause the devices memory to be
reinitialized, removing anything that had previously been downloaded outside the server loop (at save level 0). For example, downloaded fonts, patterns, prologs, forms, and other downloaded resources would be removed
from the devices memory.

5 Keywords

83

Here is a typical entry, using PJL as the JCL:

*JCLOpenUI *JCLResolution/Resolution Settings: PickOne
*DefaultJCLResolution: 300dpi
*OrderDependency: 10 JCLSetup *JCLResolution
*JCLResolution 300dpi/300 DPI: "@PJL SET RESOLUTION = 300<0A>"
*JCLResolution 600dpi/600 DPI: "@PJL SET RESOLUTION = 600<0A>"
*JCLCloseUI: *JCLResolution

*DefaultJCLResolution indicates the default resolution set by a JCL command.

*?JCLResolution returns a string denoting the device resolution set by a JCL

command. If it is never possible to determine the resolution, this query will

be omitted.
5.9

Resolution and Appearance Control

This section contains keywords that control the resolution and related appearance characteristics of the device.

*DefaultResolution:

resolutionOption | Unknown

This statement provides the default resolution of the device. The resolution is
measured in dots (spots) per linear inch, in both x and y dimensions, in PostScript default user space. The value resolutionOption must be a string either of
the form 300dpi or of the form 300x300dpi, or it can be Unknown if the resolution
cannot be determined at power-up. If *DefaultResolution is part of an entry, the
value of resolutionOption appearing here must be a valid resolution listed under
*SetResolution or *Resolution.
If the format of resolutionOption is 300x300dpi, this signifies that the device supports anamorphic resolution; that is, the resolution in the x dimension can be
different from the resolution in the y dimension. For example, a printer might
support a resolution of 300x600dpi. The first number denotes the resolution in
the x dimension; the second number denotes the resolution in the y dimension. The x in the middle is a convenient separator, and the dpi signifies
dots per inch. This format should be used only for a device that supports
anamorphic resolution.
The format 300dpi is a shorthand form of 300x300dpi and means that the resolution is the same in both the x and y dimensions (the device does not support
anamorphic resolution). This is the most common format found in PPD files.

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The format of resolutionOption used by *DefaultResolution must be used consistently wherever a resolutionOption appears. The two formats 300dpi and
300x300dpi cannot be intermixed in a PPD file.
Note

*Resolution

Builders of PPD files: If the device has only one resolution, *DefaultResolution
may appear by itself, without *Resolution, *SetResolution, or any *OpenUI/*CloseUI
bracketing. See section 3.2 and section 4.5 for information on stand-alone
default keywords.

resolutionOption: invocation

U
UII

For devices that support resolution changes from within a PostScript language job, this keyword will provide the proper InvocationValue for each resolution supported by the device. There can be several of these statements, if
the PostScript device supports multiple selectable resolutions. The string
resolutionOption is of the form specified in the *DefaultResolution statement. Print
managers need to ensure that any resolution changes occur before the page
size is selected.
Note

*SetResolution

To builders of PPD files: *Resolution does not require a password to precede

the invocation. If a device requires a password to change the resolution, the
PPD file should contain *SetResolution, instead of *Resolution.

resolutionOption: invocation

For devices that support resolution changes from software and require that
the resolution be changed outside the server loop, in initial virtual memory,
this keyword will provide the proper InvocationValue for each resolution supported by the device. There can be several of these statements, if the PostScript device supports multiple selectable resolutions. The string
resolutionOption is of the form specified under *DefaultResolution. Print managers
need to ensure that any resolution changes occur before the page size is
selected. Please see the comments on daggered keywords at the end of section 4.1 for a list of the additional responsibilities of the builder of the PPD
file and of print manager authors.
Note

To builders of PPD files: *SetResolution should be present only in the PPD files
of devices that require a password to change the resolution. Devices that do
not require a password to change the resolution should use *Resolution.

This keyword requires the *Password value to be supplied in front of the invocation.

5 Keywords

85

*?Resolution:

query

(returns: resolutionOption | Unknown)

This query returns a string denoting the current resolution of the device. The
returned value will be a string in the format specified by *DefaultResolution,
including the string dpi, or it will be Unknown. The resolution returned must
be a valid resolution listed under *SetResolution or *Resolution, if those entries
are present. Upon device power-up, downloading the *?Resolution code to the
device should return the value of *DefaultResolution.

*Smoothing
*DefaultSmoothing:
*?Smoothing:

smoothOption: invocation

U
UII

smoothOption | Unknown
query

(returns: smoothOption | Unknown)

*Smoothing provides the InvocationValues to invoke various levels of smooth-

ing the edges of text and graphics after they have been rendered by the
device. This is also sometimes referred to as bit smoothing, anti-aliasing,
or resolution enhancement, Option keywords describe the level of smoothing. One of the options must be None or False to turn off smoothing.
The currently registered values for smoothOption are:
NoneNo smoothing.
LightTurn on light smoothing.
MediumTurn on medium smoothing
DarkTurn on dark smoothing
TrueTurn on smoothing (for a device that has only a binary setting).
FalseTurn off smoothing (for a device that has only a binary setting).
*DefaultSmoothing denotes the default state of the smoothing mechanism.
*?Smoothing returns a string that denotes the current state of the smoothing

mechanism.

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*BitsPerPixel
*DefaultBitsPerPixel:
*?BitsPerPixel:

depthOption: invocation

U
UII

depthOption | Unknown
query

(returns: depthOption | Unknown)

*BitsPerPixel provides the InvocationValues to select various gray-scale levels

or color depths. depthOption is a string that denotes the number of bits per pixel

that should be used to represent a color when rendering the job on the device.
The currently registered values for depthOption are:
None, Off, FalseUsed to represent the lowest number of bits per pixel,
which is typically 1.
On, TrueUsed with Off and False respectively when this feature has only

two states. Represents the highest number of bits per pixel available.
2Use 2 bits per pixel.
4Use 4 bits per pixel.
8Use 8 bits per pixel.
*DefaultBitsPerPixel denotes the default state of color depth. *?BitsPerPixel returns

a string that denotes the current color depth.

5.10

*AccurateScreensSupport:

Gray Levels and Halftoning

True | False

This StringValue indicates whether or not the device supports Adobes

Accurate Screens technology. The value is True if accurate screens are supported, otherwise it is False. The accurate screens feature is documented in
section 6.4 of the PostScript Language Reference Manual, Second Edition.

*ContoneOnly

True | False

This StringValue indicates the continuous tone capabilities of the device. This
keyword only appears if the device can reproduce color (including grayscale)
as continuous tones. True means the device can reproduce color and grayscale
only as continuous tones; it cannot halftone. False means the device can reproduce color and grayscale either as continuous tones or halftones. The absence
of this keyword means that the device cannot produce continuous tones at all,
but can only produce halftones. An application can use this information to
decide whether or not to download special halftone dictionaries, or whether
to even offer this capability to the user. There is no point in downloading halftone dictionaries if *ContoneOnly is True.

5 Keywords

87

*DefaultHalftoneType:

int

This StringValue is the integer value of HalftoneType in the default Halftone dictionary. This keyword applies only to Level 2 devices. This keyword is
present only if the device is capable of halftoning and if the default state of
the device is to produce halftones rather than continuous tone color.
(*ContoneOnly:True and *DefaultHalftoneType may not appear in the same file.)
*DefaultHalftoneType provides a hint to the print manager about the accuracy of
the values for *ScreenFreq, *ScreenAngle, and *DefaultScreenProc. See their descrip-

tions for further information.

*ScreenAngle:

real

*ScreenFreq:

real

*DefaultScreenProc:

spotOption

These keywords provide the default halftone screen angle, frequency, and
spot function, respectively. On Level 1 devices, these values are the angle,
frequency, and proc arguments returned by the currentscreen operator after powering on the device. On Level 2 devices, only a type 1 halftone dictionary can
be easily represented by these keywords. Therefore, if the value of
*DefaultHalftoneType is 1, or if *DefaultHalftoneType is not present, these values are
the Frequency, Angle, and SpotFunction entries in the default Halftone dictionary.
If the value of *DefaultHalftoneType is anything other than 1, the values of
*ScreenAngle, *ScreenFreq, and *DefaultScreenProc may be meaningless and application authors may not want to rely on them for anything important.

88

Note

To builders of PPD files: Although these are not required keywords,

*ScreenFreq, *ScreenAngle, and *DefaultScreenProc should be present even for
contone-only devices, because many applications have come to depend on
their presence, even though their values may be useless on a particular
device. You should assume that some applications will execute setscreen with
the values provided by *ScreenFreq, *ScreenAngle, and *DefaultScreenProc. To prepare for this, if the value of *DefaultHalftoneType is anything other than 1, you
should put reasonable values for angle, frequency, and spotOption in the keywords above. If you dont know what values to use, try 45 for angle, 60 for
frequency, and Dot for spotOption, and make sure that *ScreenProc Dot is defined in
the PPD file.

Note

Some older PPD files for Level 2 devices may need to have these values corrected. Prior to the 4.3 version of this specification, there was no requirement
that these values represent the Frequency, Angle, and SpotFunction entries in the
default Halftone dictionary in a Level 2 device, and if sethalftone was use to set
these values, the currentscreen operator used to build the PPD files would not
have returned the correct values.

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*ScreenAngle and *ScreenFreq are QuotedValues, and *DefaultScreenProc is a

StringValue. For *DefaultScreenProc, the spotOption must correspond to one of the
options listed under *ScreenProc.

*ResScreenFreq

resolutionOption: "real"

*ResScreenAngle

resolutionOption: "real"

On devices with user-settable resolution, the halftone screen frequency and

angle may be changed by the device when the resolution is changed by the
user. These keywords provide the halftone screen frequency and angle that is
applied by the device for each settable resolution. The option must be a valid
resolutionOption listed under *Resolution, *SetResolution, or *JCLResolution in the PPD
file for this device. There should be one *ResScreenFreq and *ResScreenAngle
statement for each settable resolution. See section 5.9 for an explanation of
the format of resolutionOption.
On Level 2 devices, only a type 1 halftone dictionary can be easily represented by these keywords. Therefore, for a Level 2 device, if the value of
*DefaultHalftoneType is anything other than 1, these keywords should be omitted
from the PPD file.

*ScreenProc

spotOption: { procedure }

This InvocationValue provides a procedure body that is suitable for use as a

spot function with the setscreen or sethalftone (Level 2) operator. The
spotOption represents the name of the spot function. These options are used to
specify an alternate shape for the halftone spot. There can be one or more of
these spot shape options in a PPD file.
These spot options are used by the *ScreenProc keyword to set the halftone
screen spot function. Any of these options can also have a .Inverse qualifier,
which would invert the color of the spot function, or it can have a serialization qualifier to distinguish it from other options.
The currently registered values for spotOption are:
DotThis keyword represents a standard dot-shaped halftone screen function. This is the default shape for the halftone cell on many PostScript language implementations, and basically consists of small, black, roughly
circular spots that vary in size with the gray level. This keyword also
encompasses more sophisticated functions that also produce circular dots
(for example, as found on higher-resolution devices), but which might
slightly differ from the most basic dot screen.

5 Keywords

89

 LineThis keyword represents a line screen halftone function. Gray levels

will be rendered by parallel lines that vary in thickness according to the
gray level.
EllipseThis keyword provides an elliptical spot screen, which is similar
to a dot screen except that the dots are elliptical rather than circular.
CrossThis provides a crosshatch screen halftone function.
MezzoThis provides a pseudorandom mezzotint screen function for the
halftone mechanism.
DiamondDotThis provides a screen in which low gray levels produce round
dots, medium gray levels produce diamond-shaped dots, and high gray
levels produce negative dots. This screen produces smoother transitions
among medium gray levels.

*Transfer
*DefaultTransfer:

transferOption: { procedure }
Null | Factory
*Transfer provides InvocationValues for possible transfer functions, which may
be invoked with the operators settransfer, setcolortransfer, and sethalftone (Level

2 only). A transfer function is a procedure that corrects for the characteristics

of a particular marking engine or display technology to obtain true optical
gray or color densities. A transfer function is expected to return accurate
results at the 10% increments and should return reasonable values at any
point between 0 and 1.
Since transfer functions are inherently specific to an instance of a type of
device, any transfer functions should be entered into a local customization
file for a specific device. Most PPD files will ship without any transfer functions defined for a class of devices.
Note

To print manager authors: When transfer functions are used at the PostScript
language level, always concatenate the transfer function with the existing
one, rather than replacing it. See section 6.3 of the PostScript Language Reference Manual, Second Edition for more information about transfer functions
and their uses.
The currently registered values for transferOption are:
NullThis is provided to indicate a null procedure body for the transfer
function. A null procedure body is represented in the PostScript language
as a pair of curly braces, { }.

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 FactoryFor a monochrome device that ships from the factory with a builtin non-null transfer function, this option lists the transfer function built
into the device.
NormalizedFor a monochrome device, this provides a normalized transfer
function to obtain true optical gray densities. For a color device, the Normalized option provides the transfer function to correct the gray values on
an RGB device and the black colorant on a CMYK device.
RedFor a color device, this provides a normalized transfer function to
correct the red colorant on an RGB device or the cyan colorant on a
CMYK device.
GreenFor a color device, this provides a normalized transfer function to
correct the green colorant on an RGB device or the magenta colorant on a
CMYK device.
BlueFor a color device, this provides a normalized transfer function to
correct the blue colorant on an RGB device or the yellow colorant on a
CMYK device.
Any of these transfer option keywords can also have the .Inverse qualifier or a
serialization qualifier to distinguish it from other options. Inversion is typically performed by appending 1 exch sub to the existing transfer function, but
an inverse normalized function can be much more complex.
On monochrome devices, *DefaultTransfer provides the built-in transfer function, as returned by the currenttransfer operator immediately after powering up
the device. Most devices ship with a null default transfer function.
5.11

Color Adjustment

This section contains keywords used to adjust colors on color devices.

*BlackSubstitution
*DefaultBlackSubstitution:
*?BlackSubstitution:

True | False: invocation

U
UII

True | False | Unknown

query

(returns: True | False | Unknown)

*BlackSubstitution provides the InvocationValue to invoke black substitution.

When True, it indicates that the printer should substitute process black ink for
any pixel that is marked in composite black (cyan, magenta, and yellow inks
all requested), to produce a better black. *DefaultBlackSubstitution denotes the
default state of the black substitution feature. *?BlackSubstitution returns True if
black substitution is currently invoked and False if it is not.

5 Keywords

91

*ColorModel
*DefaultColorModel:
*?ColorModel:

colormodelOption: invocation

U
UII

colormodelOption | Unknown
query

(returns: colormodelOption | Unknown)

*ColorModel provides InvocationValues to select different native color models

to be used by the device for imaging. The native color model is the color
model to which all colors are converted before rendering. *DefaultColorModel
denotes the default native color model of the device. *?ColorModel returns the
current native color model. The currently registered values for colormodelOption
are

CMYCyan-magenta-yellow color model.

CMYKCyan-magenta-yellow-black color model.
RGBRed-green-blue color model.
GrayGray-scale color model.

*ColorRenderDict

dictOption: invocation

On Level 2 color devices, manufacturers can supply built-in color rendering

dictionaries (CRDs) to calibrate the device colors for different rendering
intents, different types of paper, different halftone screens, or for other purposes. This keyword lists the CRDs that are built into the device and provides
the InvocationValue code to invoke each CRD referred to by dictOption. There
will be one instance of this keyword for each built-in color rendering dictionary. The invocation code sets up the named CRD to be the current CRD,
which will affect all imaging done after this code appears in the output file.
In devices with interpreter versions below 2015, CRD names were arbitrary
strings. In devices with interpreter versions of 2015 and later, CRDs must be
named according to Adobes CRD naming conventions. For more information on naming and using color rendering dictionaries, see section 5.4, CRD
Selection Based on Rendering Intent, in the PostScript Language Reference
Manual Supplement for Version 2015, available from the Adobe Developers
Association.
The dictOption name will be a concatenation of rendering intent, device setup,
and halftone names, separated by dots:
renderingintent.devicesetup.halftone

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The name will also typically have a translation string. For example:
*ColorRenderDict Saturated.6x6Transparency.Dot/Saturated Color, 600x600 dpi, Transparency, Dot:
"/Saturated.6x6Transparency.Dot /ColorRendering findresource setcolorrendering"
*End

An application might provide the list of built-in CRDs to the user for selection, so a meaningful translation string is important. See *RenderingIntent,
*PageDeviceName, and *HalftoneName for more information on the components of
a CRD name.
In addition, if a user wants to supply new CRDs that are not built into the
device, new instances of this keyword can be added to a local customization
PPD file for a given device. This is rarely used because it greatly increases
the size of the PPD file. For a new CRD in a local customization file, the
*ColorRenderDict code would have to create the CRD, fill it with the appropriate
values for color calibration, and invoke the CRD with setcolorrendering. If the
CRD is to be made available for future use as a resource, the appropriate
defineresource code and any other necessary procedures must also be included.
Note

*RenderingIntent:

To application developers: There is a close relationship between the current

device setup (page device), the current halftone dictionary, and the appropriate CRD. The *ColorRenderDict code does not take these things into account.
Application developers who wish to use *ColorRenderDict should ensure that the
appropriate halftone and device setup are invoked correctly before executing
the *ColorRenderDict code, or the results will be unpredictable. Better yet, applications should use findcolorrendering to find and set up the appropriate CRD.

string

This keyword provides the list of rendering intents supported by the device.
At minimum, all of the intents named in the built-in CRDs must appear here,
as StringValues. These should correspond to the first component of each
dictOption listed under *ColorRenderDict. The manufacturer may also choose to
list any additional built-in intents.
Here is an example, listing the four standard rendering intents:
*RenderingIntent:
*RenderingIntent:
*RenderingIntent:
*RenderingIntent:

AbsoluteColorimetric
RelativeColorimetric
Saturation
Perceptual

For more information on the name components of color rendering dictionaries, see section 5.4, CRD Selection Based on Rendering Intent, in the PostScript Language Reference Manual Supplement for Version 2015, available
from the Adobe Developers Association.

5 Keywords

93

*PageDeviceName:

string

This keyword provides the list of device setups (page device names) supported by the device. At minimum, all of the device setups named in the builtin CRDs must appear here, as StringValues. These should correspond to the
second component of each dictOption listed under *ColorRenderDict. The manufacturer may also choose to list any additional built-in page device names.
These page device names must correspond either to instances of the
setpagedevice key PageDeviceName, or to the list of names returned by the builtin procedure GetPageDeviceName, or the list may include all of the above
names.
For example:
*PageDeviceName: 6x6Transparency
*PageDeviceName: 3x3Transparency
*PageDeviceName: Paper

For more information on the name components of color rendering dictionaries, see section 5.4, CRD Selection Based on Rendering Intent, in the PostScript Language Reference Manual Supplement for Version 2015, available
from the Adobe Developers Association.

*HalftoneName:

string

This keyword provides the list of halftone names supported by the device. At
minimum, all of the halftones named in the built-in CRDs must appear here,
as StringValues. These should correspond to the third component of each
dictOption listed under *ColorRenderDict. The manufacturer may also choose to
list any additional built-in halftone names. These halftone names must correspond either to instances of the Halftone dictionary key HalftoneName, or to the
list of names returned by the built-in procedure GetHalftoneName, or the list
may include all of the above names.
For example:
*HalftoneName: ScatterDot
*HalftoneName: QuadDot

For more information on the name components of color rendering dictionaries, see section 5.4, CRD Selection Based on Rendering Intent, in the PostScript Language Reference Manual Supplement for Version 2015, available
from the Adobe Developers Association.
Note

*RenderingIntent, *PageDeviceName, and *HalftoneName may be useful to an appli-

cation that wishes to download a new CRD without immediately invoking it

(*ColorRenderDict immediately invokes the new CRD). In that case, the application or user must provide the contents of the new CRD and the code to down-

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load it to the device, name it properly, define it as a resource, and perform

any other necessary procedures. These keywords provide components for the
new CRD name.
5.12

Introduction to Media Handling

PPD files are most commonly used to take advantage of the different media
sizes supported by a device. There are many devices on the market and many
different sizes and types of media and finishing features supported on each
device. The actual invocation code for a particular type of media often varies
from one device to anotherit might require the use of the operator
setpageparams on one device, setpapertray on another, and setpagedevice on a
third. The keywords in the next several sections are used to address the issues
of choosing the input media, selecting a method of output, and requesting
various finishing features.
In many instances, what the user wants is please print this on ledger paper,
where the user does not care from which tray the paper comes. For this situation, there is a keyword, *PageSize, whose corresponding invocation code
selects a tray that contains the requested size of paper. Unless there are special media handling needs, print managers should use the *PageSize keyword
to request media.
For more control over the media handling capabilities, there are keywords for
directly selecting the input slots, the output bins, the output order of the
pages, the imageable area of a given page, and finishing features, such as stapling. Each of these has a specific use that might be needed beyond the notion
please give me ledger paper. For instance, if the manual feed feature is
used, the *PageRegion keyword should be used to set up an imageable area for
the manually fed sheet of paper.
Note

The author of a print manager should assume that all media handling
requests (requests for a particular page size, media tray, and so on) will initiate a new, blank page. That is, assume that a request for a media handling
feature will clear the frame buffer and perform the equivalent of the
PostScript language operators initgraphics and erasepage. This does not
happen on all PostScript Level 1 devices, but is true for all PostScript Level 2
devices, and to be safe, you should assume it will happen on all Level 1
devices. Print managers should ensure that all media handling requests are
placed in the output file before any page manipulation is performed, before
any marks are made on the page, and outside of any page-level save.
A primary use of a PPD file is for a print manager to be able to determine a
list of all supported media types and to be able to determine the salient features of each page size (for example, the media dimensions and the imageable area). This list can then be displayed to the user in a user interface, or
consulted by the print manager when a user requests a certain page size.

5 Keywords

95

In addition to the keywords that supply invocation code for the various media
types, there are keywords that provide information about each media size. For
example, the physical media dimensions are described by the *PaperDimension
keyword, and the actual area of the page which is writable by the PostScript language interpreter is described by the *ImageableArea keyword.
5.13

Media Option Keywords

In a PPD file, each type of media is described by an option keyword. The

same option keyword is used with several different main keywords to
describe different aspects of a given media type. For example, the statements
*PageSize Letter, *PaperDimension Letter, and *ImageableArea Letter all address different characteristics of a letter-size page.
Tables of the currently registered media option keywords, sorted by both
name and size, can be found in Appendix B: Registered mediaOption Keywords. The media option names in those tables can be substituted for any
occurrence of the placeholder word mediaOption anywhere in this specification.
Additional media option keywords can be added to the list of registered
option keywords at any time. To ensure that the set of device features is not
artificially limited, a print manager should parse the PPD file for the complete list of option keywords in a main keyword entry, rather than parsing for
specific option keywords. See section 5.1 for more information about the
extensibility of option keywords and the rules for creating new ones.
With closely related statements, such as the media handling keywords, it is
impossible to predict which statement a print manager will read to get the
translation string for an option keyword. For continuity of results, if a
mediaOption of one main keyword has a translation string, and that mediaOption
is used with multiple main keywords and has the same semantics across those
keywords, then the translation string should be on every occurrence of the
mediaOption and should be identical across occurrences. For example, if the
*PageSize statement for Letter uses a translation string Portrait Letter, then the
*PageRegion, *PaperDimension, and *ImageableArea statements for Letter should all
use the same translation string Portrait Letter.
5.14

Media Selection

The keywords in this section allow the user to control the selection of media
by specifying characteristics such as page size, input slot, media type, media
color, and other attributes.

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*InputSlot
*DefaultInputSlot:
*?InputSlot:

inputSlotOption: invocation

U
UII

inputSlotOption | Unknown
query

(returns: inputSlotOption | Unknown)

*InputSlot provides the InvocationValue to select media by specifying the name

of the input tray in which the media is located, rather than the page size or
other characteristics of the media. For example, the media can be selected by
specifying the upper or the lower slot and accepting whatever is found there.
The most common use of this keyword is to select a media tray that contains
letterhead or other special paper. There will be one statement for each software-selectable input slot. *DefaultInputSlot provides the name of the default
input slot. *?InputSlot returns the name of the current input slot.

Any arbitrary strings that appropriately describe the devicess input slots are
valid inputSlotOptions. The following list documents commonly used
inputSlotOptions. For Windows print managers, Microsoft has defined C language constructs called #defines, which are used to match Windows application requests for input slots to the inputSlotOption names in PPD files. If one
exists, the appropriate #define is listed in the inputSlotOption description, for use
by print managers. Builders of PPD files are encouraged to use these standard
inputSlotOption names so that Windows print managers can correctly match
application requests to input slots:
LowerThis is used for any tray which has no particular distinguishing feature other than it is lower than another tray similar to it.
#define: DMBIN_LOWER
MiddleThis designates a tray that is between other trays. See Lower.
#define: DMBIN_MIDDLE
UpperThis designates a tray that is above other trays. See Lower.
#define: DMBIN_UPPER
RearThis designates a tray at the rear of the device.
EnvelopeThis denotes an envelope tray. #define: DMBIN_ENVELOPE
CassetteThis keyword can be used where Upper, Middle, and Lower make
little sense (for example, if there is only one input slot, or if the printer is a
roll-fed device). Since many print managers display the choices of input
slot and manual feed on a single menu, Cassette provides differentiation for
the user between the paper or film cassette and the manual feed slot, if one
exists. #define: DMBIN_CASSETTE
LargeCapacityThis is used to refer to a large capacity media tray, such as an
input paper tray that can hold more than one ream of paper.
#define: DMBIN_LARGECAPACITY

5 Keywords

97

 AnySmallFormatThis is used to indicate a media tray that can hold any of

the smaller format medias. This includes any media size that is up to (and
including) 11 inches on the longer side. #define: DMBIN_SMALLFMT
AnyLargeFormatThis option allows selection of a universal media tray
that can contain any of the large format media sizes (those with one
dimension greater than 11 inches).#define: DMBIN_LARGEFMT
Option keywords may also combine other attributes such as *MediaType or
*ManualFeed with *InputSlot. For example:
*InputSlot ManualPaper: code
*InputSlot ManualTransparency: code

The code fragments would select the manual feed slot and set up the printer
(perhaps adjusting color densities) to print on paper or transparency, respectively.
Note

To builders of PPD files: If features are combined into an option keyword as

shown above, the relevant feature keyword should usually be omitted, to
avoid presenting the user with two different ways to choose a feature. In this
example, the *ManualFeed and *MediaType entries should be omitted, since the
use of *InputSlot allows selection of those features. Likewise, if *InputSlot Manual
is present, the *ManualFeed entry should be omitted, to avoid providing two
methods of invoking the manual feed slot. Use common sense and test the
PPD file with print managers to make sure a feature is not presented in multiple ways, confusing the user.

Note

To builders of PPD files: The *InputSlot entry is not required. However, even if
there is only one input slot, a minimal *InputSlot entry is usually included. This
allows the manufacturer to dictate the slot name (as an option keyword or
translation string) for a print manager to display, rather than using the print
managers default choice of a slot name. Cassette is the most commonly used
name for single-slot or roll-fed devices. For example:
*OpenUI *InputSlot: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 20 AnySetup *InputSlot
*DefaultInputSlot: Cassette
*InputSlot Cassette: ""
*CloseUI: *InputSlot

There is no need to include the *?InputSlot query, since it provides no useful

information and increases the size of the PPD file, but it can be included,
with code that simply flushes back the string Cassette. For example:
*?InputSlot: save (Cassette) = flush restore

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*ManualFeed
*DefaultManualFeed:
*?ManualFeed:

True | False: invocation

U
UII

True | False | Unknown

query

(returns: True | False | Unknown)

*ManualFeed provides the InvocationValue to turn manual feed on (True) and off
(False). *DefaultManualFeed denotes the default state of the manualfeed mechanism. *?ManualFeed returns the current state of the manual feed mechanism.

Some manufacturers prefer to handle the manual feed slot as a regular input
slot, naming one of the *InputSlot options Manual or ManualFeed and invoking
manual feeding in the code for that option. In this case, *ManualFeed should not
be present, as that would cause a print manager to offer the user two different
methods of choosing manual feed, which would be confusing.
Note

*PageSize
*DefaultPageSize:
*?PageSize:

To builders of PPD files: The existence of *ManualFeed as a separate feature is

an historic anomaly. Adobe recommends that you omit *ManualFeed and
instead include *InputSlot Manual or *InputSlot ManualFeed. This provides a cleaner
interface for print managers, which usually regard the manual feed slot as
just another input slot. It also means that you dont have to write *UIConstraints
between *ManualFeed and every *InputSlot option, thus reducing both the size of
the PPD file and the time it takes to build it.

mediaOption: invocation

U
UII

mediaOption | Unknown
query

(returns: mediaOption | Unknown)

Required. *PageSize provides the InvocationValue to invoke supported page

sizes. *DefaultPageSize indicates the default page size set by the device when it
is first powered up. Since there can be only one default page size, this value
should be the same as the value of *DefaultPageRegion, *DefaultImageableArea, and
*DefaultPaperDimension. *?PageSize returns the media option corresponding to the
current page size, and is not required if it is not possible to write such a query.
The *PageSize invocations will establish both an input slot and a frame buffer
(an area in device memory to hold the imageable region of the page). The
exception to this is on roll-fed devices, such as imagesetters, where there are
no selectable input slots and the invocation will only set up the frame buffer.
*PageSize should be used by a print manager for the common case of a request

for a certain size of media, with no special handling of media requested (for
example, the user says, give me legal size paper, but does not care which
tray is used). *PageSize is intended to be used in all but very specific circumstances (such as when using manual feed or when directly controlling a
media tray).

5 Keywords

99

Note

To print manager authors: An invocation string supplied by *PageSize will

usually override an invocation string supplied by *PageRegion. Therefore, if,
for some reason, both a *PageRegion invocation and a *PageSize invocation for
a single page are going into the output file, the *PageRegion invocation must
come after the *PageSize invocation to achieve the expected results.

Note

To builders of PPD files: In a PPD file for an imagesetter, the invocation

strings for *PageSize and *PageRegion are usually identical. On devices that
support multiple page sizes, the value of *DefaultPageSize will often be Unknown,
as it may be impossible to predict which media tray will be inserted or designated as the default tray. Also, read the end of section 5.13 for a discussion of
translation strings on media option keywords.
Currently registered values for mediaOption may be found in Appendix B: Registered mediaOption Keywords

*PageRegion
*DefaultPageRegion:

mediaOption: invocation

U
UII

mediaOption | Unknown

Required. The InvocationValues of *PageRegion set the imageable area to the

appropriate media type without explicitly specifying the source of the media.
It is intended to be used in conjunction with manual feed so that the imageable area is appropriate for the media to be fed. It is also used instead of the
*PageSize invocations when the user specifies an input tray and a page size (for
example, Upper Tray, Letter Size), because the *PageSize invocations generally select an input tray and would override the users previous selection of a
specific input tray.
*DefaultPageRegion indicates the default imageable area (in terms of media

options) for the device when powered on. Since there can be only one default
page size, this value should be the same as the value of *DefaultPageSize,
*DefaultImageableArea, and *DefaultPaperDimension.

100

Note

To print manager authors: *PageSize should be used to select a particular size

of paper, *PageRegion should be used to select a particular imageable area for
manualfeed, and *InputSlot should be used to select a specific media tray.
*InputSlot is documented in section 5.17.

Note

To builders of PPD files: In a PPD file for an imagesetter, the invocation

strings for *PageSize and *PageRegion are usually identical. On devices that
support multiple page sizes, the value of *DefaultPageRegion will often be
Unknown, as it may be impossible to predict which media tray will be inserted
or designated as the default tray. Also, read the end of section 5.13 for a discussion of translation strings on media option keywords.

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*MediaType
*DefaultMediaType:
*?MediaType:

typeOption: invocation

U
UII

typeOption | Unknown
query

(returns: typeOption | Unknown)

*MediaType provides the InvocationValue to select media by some characteristic other than size (or in addition to size). The typeOptions are product-dependent strings that describe the media. For example, a user might be able to
select letterhead paper by specifying Letterhead as a media type. This method
usually requires prior device setup, so that the device knows how to access a
certain type of media. *DefaultMediaType provides the default media type.
*?MediaType returns the current media type.

*MediaColor
*DefaultMediaColor:
*?MediaColor:

colorOption: invocation

U
UII

colorOption | Unknown
query

(returns: colorOption | Unknown)

*MediaColor provides InvocationValues to select media by color. The

colorOptions are product-dependent strings that describe the available colors of
media, such as Blue and Buff. This method usually requires prior device setup,

so that the device knows how to access a certain color of media.

*DefaultMediaColor provides the default media color. *?MediaColor returns the cur-

rent media color.

*MediaWeight
*DefaultMediaWeight:
*?MediaWeight:

weightOption : invocation

U
UII

weightOption | Unknown
query

(returns: weightOption | Unknown)

*MediaWeight provides InvocationValues to select media by weight. The

weightOptions are product-dependent strings that describe the available media

weights. This method of media selection usually requires prior device setup,
so that the device knows how to access a certain weight of media.
*DefaultMediaWeight provides the default media weight. *?MediaWeight returns the
current media weight.

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5.15

Information About Media Sizes

The keywords in this section provide information about the media sizes that
are available on the device. They do not invoke any device features.

*ImageableArea
*DefaultImageableArea:

mediaOption: llx lly urx ury

mediaOption | Unknown

Required. *ImageableArea provides the bounding box of the imageable area for
the page size named mediaOption. There will be one statement for each named
page size supported by the device. *DefaultImageableArea provides the
mediaOption name of the default imageable area. Since there can be only one
default page size, this value should be the same as the value of
*DefaultPageSize, *DefaultPageRegion, and *DefaultPaperDimension.
The bounding box value of *ImageableArea is given as four real numbers, representing the x and y coordinates of the lower left and upper right corners of the
region, respectively, in the PostScript language default user space coordinate
system. The x and y axes of a given page size correspond to the x and y axes
of that page size in the *PaperDimension entry.
The imageable region is defined as the part of the page where marks can actually be made. On many devices, there are margins imposed by the media
transport mechanism in the marking engine that might prevent marks from
being made close to the edges of the media. The *ImageableArea entry will
supply a region that represents a reliable area of the page in which marks
can be made. This might exactly correspond to the clipping path set by the
PostScript interpreter. The value is represented as an InvocationValue.
On some devices, the imageable area of a given page size varies as a result of
the current resolution, amount of memory, the direction of paper feed, and
other factors. For example, the imageable area of a Legal size page might be
smaller at higher resolutions on a printer with variable resolution, or it might
be shifted left or right depending on whether the page was fed long-edge-first
or short-edge-first. In PPD files where the imageable area of a given page
size can vary depending on other factors, the imageable area recorded for that
page size will be the intersection of all possible imageable areas for that page
size. While this means that the imageable area available in the current configuration might actually be larger than the imageable area shown in the PPD
file, it at least guarantees that the available imageable area will not be smaller
than that shown in the PPD file, and all marks made within the given imageable area will be visible.

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Note

*?ImageableArea:

To builders of PPD files: On devices that support multiple page sizes, the
value of *DefaultImageableArea will often be Unknown, as it may be impossible to
predict which media tray will be inserted or designated as the default tray.
Also, read the end of section 5.13 for a discussion of translation strings on
media option keywords.

query

(returns: llx lly urx ury | Unknown)

This query returns a string composed of four real numbers representing the
bounding box of the imageable area, as defined under *ImageableArea. Since it
is virtually impossible to determine hardware restrictions from software polling, this query will usually return the default clipping region for the page size
in effect. In general, it is better for a print manager to use the values supplied
by the *ImageableArea statements, since they can be adjusted by hand for particular hardware constraints.

*PaperDimension

mediaOption: real real

*DefaultPaperDimension:

mediaOption | Unknown

Required. The InvocationValue of *PaperDimension lists the physical dimensions of a particular media size, independent of the imageable area of the
page. There are only two numbers specified, which represent the width (in the
x dimension) and height (in the y dimension) of the media, respectively, in
PostScript default units. The x and y axes of a given page size correspond to
the x and y axes of that page size in the *ImageableArea entry.
*DefaultPaperDimension provides the mediaOption name of the default physical

media dimension. Since there can be only one default page size, this value
should be the same as the value of *DefaultPageSize, *DefaultPageRegion, and
*DefaultImageableArea.

Note

*RequiresPageRegion

To builders of PPD files: On devices that support multiple page sizes, the
value of *DefaultPaperDimension will often be Unknown, as it may be impossible to
predict which media tray will be inserted or designated as the default tray.
Also, read the end of section 5.13 for a discussion of translation strings on
media option keywords.

inputSlotOption: True | False

This keyword provides a StringValue that indicates, for each input slot,
whether or not the *PageRegion invocation code must be sent with the *InputSlot
invocation code when the user requests media from that input slot. For example, if the device cannot sense what page size is installed in a given input slot,

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any invocation of that input slot must be followed by an invocation of the

appropriate *PageRegion code to set up the requested frame buffer and imageable area for the page.
Therefore, if the device cannot sense the page size in a given input slot, the
*PageRegion code is required, and the value of *RequiresPageRegion will be True
for that slot. The *PageRegion code may be required for any reason. If the
*PageRegion code is not required for a given slot, then the value of
*RequiresPageRegion for that slot will be False.
The option keyword inputSlotOption must be a valid inputSlotOption listed in the
*InputSlot entry in the PPD file. For example:
*InputSlot Lower: "code"
*InputSlot Envelope: "code"
...
*RequiresPageRegion Lower: False
*RequiresPageRegion Envelope: True

An additional special option keyword All means that the statement applies to
all media sources on the device. For example:
*RequiresPageRegion All: False

This statement indicates that the *PageRegion code is never required after an
input slot invocation.
If *RequiresPageRegion for any slot (or all slots) is omitted from a PPD file, it is
assumed to be False for those slots. That is, the *PageRegion code should not be
invoked after an input slot invocation.

*LandscapeOrientation:

Plus90 | Minus90 | Any

Every print manager makes assumptions about the location of the origin of
default user space on the physical page. When a user selects landscape orientation, a print manager must rotate and translate the origin of default user
space on the page. On certain printers, the orientation of the physical page is
dictated by either physical markings on the printer case, or by instructions in
the user manual. This dictated orientation might be incompatible with the
print manager's assumptions about the orientation of the physical page. This
is not significant for blank paper, but for pre-marked paper, such as letterhead, 3-hole-punched paper, or envelopes, the printed output might appear
upside-down with respect to the letterhead, punch holes, envelope flap, or
other pre-markings on the page.
This keyword, whose StringValue is determined from knowledge of the
printer's markings and instructions, provides a hint to a print manager about
which way it should rotate and translate the page, for the printed output to be

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compatible with the page feeding instructions on the printer or in the printer's
user manual. If this keyword is present, it means that the printer requires the
use of the transformations listed below for the correct printing results to
occur.
The values have the following meanings:
Plus90This means that the print manager should perform the functional
equivalent of the following fragment of PostScript language code:
90 rotate 0 pagewidth neg translate

where pagewidth is the width of the page in default user space. For example, on a letter-size page in portrait mode, after this transformation has
been performed, the default user space would look like this:

+x

+y

Minus90This means that the print manager should perform the functional
equivalent of the following fragment of PostScript language code:
90 neg rotate pageheight neg 0 translate

where pageheight is the height of the page in default user space. For example, on a letter-size page in portrait mode, after this transformation has
been performed, the default user space would look like this:
+y

+x

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105

 AnyThis means that no hint is provided and the driver can follow its
normal assumptions, but the results might be incorrect for certain printers.
*LandscapeOrientation should appear only in the PPD files of printers in which

the orientation of page feeding is dictated by printer markings or the printer's

user manual. If this keyword is missing, assume that Any is the default value.
Note

5.16

If a printer treats envelopes differently from paper (for example, when an

envelope size is requested, the printer performs its own rotations and translations to print correctly on the envelope), this keyword might not provide
any assistance and the printing results might still be incorrect.
Custom Page Sizes

Some devices support user-defined or custom page sizes by allowing the user
to supply the page dimensions and other characteristics, rather than selecting
from a list of pre-defined page sizes. The keywords in this section support
that capability.
Custom page sizes are handled differently depending on whether the media is
roll-fed or cut-sheet. Some devices accept both roll-fed and cut-sheet media.
With roll-fed media, such as a roll of film or paper, the media is larger than
the page size requested by the user. The requested page size is positioned
somewhere on the larger physical media, and the imageable area may be
assumed to be identical to the requested page size, which means the entire
page area is imageable.
When using cut-sheet media, the user is expected to supply an individual
sheet of the requested physical size, often in a tray that adjusts to different
sizes. The page size requested by the user is identical to the physical page
size. However, due to media handling hardware requirements, the imageable
area may be smaller than the requested page size. The unimageable margin
area required by the hardware is described by the keyword *HWMargins.

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Custom Page Size Parameters

The location and orientation of the page image on the media and of the initial
PostScript coordinate system depends on the combination of the custom page
size parameters. Custom page size and orientation parameters are specified
relative to the media feed direction. For roll-fed media, the media feed direction is parallel to the length of the roll of media, as shown in Figure 1:
Figure 1 Media feed direction on roll-fed media
media feed direction

roll-fed media
(capstan imagesetter)

roll-fed media
(drum imagesetter)

For cut-sheet media, media feed direction is the direction in which media is
fed into the device, as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2 Media feed direction on cut-sheet media
media feed direction

long-edge feed

short-edge feed

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Custom page sizes are defined in terms of the following parameters:

WidthThis indicates the width of the page perpendicular to the direction
of media feed, in PostScript default units.
Height This indicates the height of the page parallel to the direction of
media feed, in PostScript default units.
WidthOffsetThis indicates the amount, in PostScript default units, to offset
the image perpendicular to the direction of media feed. The direction of
the offset is in the direction of increasing y in user space when Orientation
(defined below) is 0. A negative number indicates an offset in the direction
of decreasing y in user space when Orientation is 0.
HeightOffsetThis indicates the amount, in PostScript default units, to offset
the image parallel to the direction of media feed. The direction of the
offset is in the direction of increasing x in user space when Orientation
(defined below) is 0. A negative number indicates an offset in the direction
of decreasing x in user space when Orientation is 0.
OrientationThis indicates the orientation of the image with respect to the
media feed direction. Devices support a subset of four possible integer values. In orientation 0, the x axis in user space decreases in the media feed
direction. The y axis therefore increases 90 degrees counterclockwise relative to increasing x, perpendicular to media feed direction. Orientations 1,
2, and 3 are rotated 90, 180, and 270 degrees (respectively) counterclockwise from orientation 0.
Note that Orientation does not provide a method of requesting a specific orientation of the physical page relative to the device. That is, Orientation does not
request short-edge feed or long-edge feed of the physical page; it only
requests a specific orientation of the image relative to the device. It is up to
the user to feed the paper into the device in a direction that is compatible with
the image they have requested.
The Orientation parameter can be used in several ways:
If the device supports it, Orientation can be used in the *CustomPageSize code
to request a specific image orientation from the device. Most roll-fed
devices support this; most cut-sheet devices do not.
For cut-sheet media, the primary use for the Orientation parameter is for the
print manager to calculate the imageable area of the page, using the values
provided by *HWMargins. See the description of *HWMargins for details.
Orientation may also be used by the print manager in offering the user a pictorial representation of the image on the page.

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Figure 3 shows the interaction between Width, Height and Orientation. Although
this figure depicts roll-fed media, the same principles apply to cut-sheet
media. Note that Width and Height are always defined with respect to the media
feed direction. For a given Width and Height, two values of Orientation will produce a landscape (y < x) coordinate system and two values of Orientation will
produce a portrait (x < y) coordinate system.
Figure 3 Interaction of Width, Height, and Orientation
Width > Height,
Orientation:

+y

+x
0,0

0,0

+x

+y

Width

media feed
direction

+y +x
0,0

0,0

+y

+x

Height

Height > Width,

Orientation:

+y

+x
+x

+y
0,0

+y +x

0,0

+x

*CustomPageSize

0,0

0,0

+y

True: invocation

This InvocationValue provides the code to set up a custom page size. The
print manager is responsible for obtaining five parameters from the user and
placing them on the operand stack in the correct order before executing the
invocation code. The parameters are Width, Height, WidthOffset, HeightOffset, and
Orientation, as described earlier. The order in which these parameters must be
placed on the stack is described under *ParamCustomPageSize.
Because *CustomPageSize emits code, there must be a *NonUIOrderDependency
statement for *CustomPageSize. There may be *NonUIConstraints between
*CustomPageSize and *InputSlot or other features.
The *CustomPageSize code can be quite complex. See section 6.3 for several
examples of complete custom page size entries on various types of devices.
Note

On a roll-fed device, the actual orientation of a page might not match the
request, due to device configuration. For example, an imagesetter manufacturer might configure a product to conserve media by rotating a page automatically so that it feeds long-edge first, if the requested page size will fit that
way. The *CustomPageSize invocation code cannot be expected to override such
behavior.

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109

Note

*ParamCustomPageSize

To be compatible with existing parsers, *CustomPageSize conforms to the

syntax of other True/False keywords, but there is no reason to ever have a
*CustomPageSize False statement, since there is no sensible corresponding invocation code.

paramOption: order type min max

This provides the allowable types and ranges for each of the custom page size
parameters (paramOption) required by the invocation code of the *CustomPageSize statement. There must be one *ParamCustomPageSize statement for each of
the custom page parameters: Width, Height, WidthOffset, HeightOffset, and Orientation. Like any option keyword, these options can have translation strings,
allowing a print manager a more meaningful string to display to the user.
For example:
*ParamCustomPageSize
*ParamCustomPageSize
*ParamCustomPageSize
*ParamCustomPageSize
*ParamCustomPageSize

Width: 1 points 1 792

Height: 2 points 1 5184
WidthOffset: 3 points 0 791
HeightOffset: 4 points 0 0
Orientation: 5 int 0 1

The value is a StringValue with multiple components separated by white

space. The value of order indicates the order in which the parameter named by
paramOption must be placed on the stack and passed to the *CustomPageSize
code. A parameter with an order of 1 is placed on the stack first, followed
by a parameter with an order of 2, and so on. An application program is
responsible for obtaining these parameters from the user and putting them on
the stack in the correct order before invoking the *CustomPageSize code.
The type of each parameter is either int, real, or points, where points means a real
number of PostScript default units. The print manager or application is
responsible for converting user-supplied values into the correct type. For
example, a value of points tells an application that, although the units might be
obtained from the user in any form offered by the application, such as inches
or millimeters, they must be translated to PostScript interpreters default units
(1/72 inch) before they are placed on the stack.
The allowable range for each parameter is expressed as min and max, representing the minimum and maximum acceptable numbers, inclusive, with the
minimum value first. The type of min and max must match the type value for
that parameter. For example, if type is int, then min and max must both be integers. A print manager should use the minimum and maximum values for each
parameter to ensure that the user provides parameters in the valid range.

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If the device does not support offsetting the image on the media, the min and
max range values for WidthOffset or HeightOffset (or both, if offsetting is not supported in either direction) will both be 0 (zero). The print manager can use
this information to limit or disable user selection of the offsetting feature.

*MaxMediaWidth:

"real"

*MaxMediaHeight:

"real"

On devices that support custom page sizes, these QuotedValue statements

indicate the maximum media width and height allowed by the device when a
custom page size is requested. Both *MaxMediaWidth and *MaxMediaHeight are
expressed in PostScript default units. *MaxMediaWidth is measured perpendicular to the media feed direction and *MaxMediaHeight is measured parallel to the
media feed direction.
A print manager must ensure that the sum of Width plus WidthOffset does not
exceed the value of *MaxMediaWidth. Likewise, it must ensure that the sum of
Height plus HeightOffset does not exceed the value of *MaxMediaHeight.

*?CurrentMediaWidth:

query

*?CurrentMediaHeight:

"query"

The absolute maximum width and height of media supported by the device
can be obtained from the values of *MaxMediaWidth and *MaxMediaHeight respectively. However, some devices support different sizes of media cassettes, so
the current maximum width or height might be less than the absolute maximum width or height respectively. *?CurrentMediaWidth returns a real number
specifying the maximum width, in PostScript default units, of the currently
installed media. *?CurrentMediaHeight returns a real number specifying the maximum height, in PostScript default units, of the currently installed media.
If these queries are available, a print manager can use them to replace the
values of *MaxMediaWidth and *MaxMediaHeight in the print managers internal
data structures with the value returned by the query. The print manager can
then proceed with range-checking as described under *MaxMediaWidth and
*MaxMediaHeight.

*CenterRegistered:

True | False

This keyword provides a StringValue that tells whether the device registers
the film or paper stock from the center or from the edge of the scan. If a
device uses center-registering, it is up to the user or the application to provide
the correct value for WidthOffset, to move the image to the beginning edge of
the stock. For example, on a center-registered device, if the user installs 10-

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111

inch wide stock on a 12-inch wide transport mechanism, either the user or the
application must provide a 1-inch WidthOffset to get the image to start at the
edge of the stock. On a device that does not use center-registering, this additional calculation is unnecessary.

*LeadingEdge
*DefaultLeadingEdge:

edgeOption:
edgeOption
*LeadingEdge allows the user to tell the print manager how the current input

slot has been configured to feed the page. This is both an assertion of how an
input slot is set up (for cut-sheet media) and a partial request for page image
orientation (for roll-fed media). See Responsibilities of a Print Manager
Regarding Custom Page Sizes at the end of this section for a description of
how the print manager can use this information to determine the orientation
and imageable area of the page. *LeadingEdge should be displayed as a PickOne
menu and should follow the rules for PickOne keywords, although it is not surrounded by *OpenUI/*CloseUI (see the description of *OpenUI/*CloseUI for information on PickOne). The value of *DefaultLeadingEdge provides a default state for the
print manager to display.
The options for edgeOption are:
ShortThe currently selected input slot expects the page to be fed shortedge first, or the user would like the page image printed short-edge first on
roll-fed media.
LongThe currently selected input slot expects the page to be fed longedge first, or the user would like the page image printed long-edge first on
roll-fed media. On roll-fed media, this is often also called transverse or
media saving.
PreferLongThe currently selected input slot has been configured to rotate
the page image to correspond to long-edge feed if the page will fit that
way. That is, if Width is less than Height (which would normally produce a
short-edge feed), and if Height is less than or equal to *MaxMediaWidth, the
device will rotate the page image to be long-edge feed. If Width is less than
Height and Height is greater than the value of *MaxMediaWidth, the page will
remain short-edge feed.
ForcedThe device performs no page image rotation. The user can request
a custom page size whose Width and Height define it as short-edge feed, and
if the device is configured for long-edge feed, the short-edge feed image
will be printed on the long-edge feed page, so clipping will probably
occur. Likewise, a long-edge feed image can be printed on a short-edge
feed page, with clipping equally likely to occur.

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 UnknownNothing is known about the leading edge, so Orientation and the

imageable area cannot be calculated accurately.
Only the options that are supported by the device will be listed. If a particular
input slot places restrictions on the choice of leading edge, there will be
*NonUIConstraints between *LeadingEdge and *InputSlot or *ManualFeed. For example, this device supports only Short and Long for *LeadingEdge, and supports
only short-edge feed from the manual feed slot:
*LeadingEdge Short:
*LeadingEdge Long:
*DefaultLeadingEdge: Short
*NonUIConstraints: *ManualFeed True *LeadingEdge Long
*NonUIConstraints: *LeadingEdge Long *ManualFeed True

Note that *LeadingEdge does not control the device in any direct way; it is an
assertion from the user to the print manager about how the device has been
configured, and it aids the print manager in determining the value of the
Orientation parameter. This keyword is in the form of an InvocationValue for
convenience, but the InvocationValue quotes will be empty. This keyword
will not be surrounded by *OpenUI/*CloseUI because it requires extra action on
the part of a print manager and is therefore not suitable for blind parsing. A
*NonUIOrderDependency statement is not necessary, as no code will be downloaded from this keyword.
Note

To print manager authors: Some print managers provide leading-edge control in the form of a two-state checkbox labeled Transverse. In that case, an
empty box (Transverse Off) should cause *LeadingEdge to be set to Short, and a
checked box (Transverse On) should cause *LeadingEdge to be set to Long.

Note

To builders of PPD files: See section 6.3 for examples of how to determine
which *LeadingEdge options are supported on a device and how to write
*NonUIConstraints entries for *LeadingEdge. Be careful, when writing the
*NonUIConstraints entries, to not exclude all options at once. At any given time,
at least one option for *LeadingEdge must be available to the user.
Cut-Sheet Keywords

The following keywords apply only to devices that can accept cut-sheet pages
or can treat roll-fed pages as if they were individual sheets, imaging within an
area smaller than the requested page size.

*HWMargins:

left bottom right top

This keyword describes how much space around the outer edge of the page
cannot be imaged because of hardware restrictions. A print manager can use
this information to calculate the imageable area and tell a user when the
entire requested custom page size cannot be printed upon, or to show the user

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113

which part of the page can be imaged. For non-custom page sizes, the keyword *ImageableArea provides the same information (in the form of imageable
area, rather than non-imageable area) for each supported page size. See
Responsibilities of a Print Manager Regarding Custom Page Sizes at the end
of this section for a description of how the print manager can use *HWMargins.
The StringValue of this keyword is composed of multiple components, separated by white space. The components are real numbers of PostScript default
units, and are defined in default user space as follows:
top = distance, in PostScript default units, from the top edge of the page to

the nearest beginning of imageable area. The top edge is the edge of the
page that enters the printer first (the leading edge in the direction of media
feed).
right, left, and bottom are similarly defined, as shown in Figure 4. This is a top

view; you are looking down at the paper going into the device.
Figure 4 Margins of *HWMargins

device

media feed
direction
right

right

bottom

top

bottom

top

left
left

short-edge feed

long-edge feed

For example, a printer might have an adjustable tray that accepts several sizes
of paper, but the printer always needs 1 inch along the sides and 1/2 inch at
the top and bottom to handle paper of any size. The *HWMargins statement to
describe this would be
*HWMargins: 72 36 72 36

Any or all of the values may be 0 (zero). If the margin requirements of the
printer vary with the paper size (for example, if the printer needs a 1 inch
margin to handle some page sizes, and a 2 inch margin to handle other page
sizes), the values of *HWMargins will reflect the largest margin required by the
printer (in this case, the 2 inch margin). For some page sizes, this might pro-

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vide a smaller imageable area than is actually achievable by the printer, but at
least it guarantees that marks made within the indicated imageable area will
be visible on the page.
This keyword will be present only if the device supports custom page sizes
and has hardware-imposed margins or can be configured to behave as though
it has hardware-imposed margins, imaging in an area that is smaller than the
requested page size.
Note

To builders of PPD files: Typically, PPD files for devices that accept only cutsheet media will have *HWMargins. Typically, PPD files for devices that accept
only roll-fed media will not have *HWMargins. Devices that accept only roll-fed
media are usually able to image over the entire requested page area; any
restrictions on page size due to hardware control mechanisms are described
by *MaxMediaWidth and *MaxMediaHeight. However, if the device supports both
roll-fed media and cut-sheet media, or if the device supports only roll-fed
media but can be configured to image within a smaller area as if the pages
were individual sheets, *HWMargins will be needed in the PPD file. See the
description of *UseHWMargins in this section.

Note

Because of varying margin widths, the interaction of custom page sizes with
duplexing (or other operations that may shift the image on the page) on cutsheet media is unpredictable.

*UseHWMargins
*DefaultUseHWMargins:

True | False:
True | False

The presence of *UseHWMargins indicates a device that can switch between

imaging over the entire page area (typical roll-fed media behavior) and imaging only in the area dictated by *HWMargins (typical cut-sheet media behavior).
*UseHWMargins allows the user to tell the print manager how to define the
imageable area of the requested custom page size. Although not surrounded
by *OpenUI/*CloseUI, *UseHWMargins should be displayed and treated as a Boolean
feature. (See *OpenUI/*CloseUI for a description of Boolean.)*DefaultUseHWMargins
provides a default state for *UseHWMargins for the print manager to display.
True means the print manager should treat the requested page as a cut-sheet
page with hardware-imposed margins, and should use *HWMargins to calculate
the imageable area of the page. False means the print manager should treat the
requested page as a roll-fed page, imaging over the entire area of the page.
Note that *UseHWMargins does not control the device in any way; it is merely a
request from the user to the print manager for a specific action. The print
manager should warn the user that the device must be set up properly to
achieve the correct result, as many devices require user interaction at the
devices front panel to establish cut-sheet behavior vs. roll-fed behavior.

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This keyword is in the form of an InvocationValue for convenience, but the

InvocationValue quotes will be empty. A *NonUIOrderDependency statement is
not necessary, as no code will be downloaded from this keyword. This keyword will not be surrounded by *OpenUI/*CloseUI because it requires extra
action on the part of a print manager and is therefore not suitable for blind
parsing. If cut-sheet behavior is only available through certain input slots,
there will be *NonUIConstraints between *UseHWMargins and *InputSlot or
*ManualFeed. If the device cannot provide both types of imaging (entire page
area vs. smaller imageable area), this keyword will be omitted. If
*UseHWMargins is present, *HWMargins must also be present.

116

Note

To print manager authors: If *HWMargins is missing from the PPD file, assume
that all four values are zero. If *HWMargins is present and *UseHWMargins is
missing, assume that *HWMargins should always be used.

Note

To builders of PPD files: Usually, *UseHWMargins will not be present in PPD

files for devices that accept only cut-sheet media, because such devices can
image only within the smaller area imposed by *HWMargins, so there is no
choice for the user to make about using *HWMargins. Likewise, *UseHWMargins
(and *HWMargins) will not usually be present in PPD files for devices that
accept only roll-fed media, because such devices usually cannot impose a
smaller imageable area on the requested page size.*UseHWMargins will usually
be needed only in the PPD file of a device that supports both roll-fed and cutsheet media, or a device that supports only roll-fed media but can be configured to image within a smaller area as if the pages were individual sheets, or
a device that supports only cut-sheet media but can be configured to image
across the entire page area. In these cases, there is a choice of imaging methods and the user must tell the print manager about the devices current configuration or how the page should be imaged.

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Responsibilities of a Print Manager Regarding Custom Page Sizes

If *UseHWMargins is present, it should be offered as a two-state menu or checkbox in the custom page size user interface. *LeadingEdge, if present, should be
offered as a PickOne type of menu. Throughout the user selection process, the
print manager must consult any *NonUIConstraints statements for *UseHWMargins,
*CustomPageSize, and *LeadingEdge.
If *UseHWMargins is True, the print manager should warn the user that the device
may require setup at the devices front panel. If *UseHWMargins is not present
and *LeadingEdge is changed by the user from its default state, the print manager should warn the user that the device may require adjustment of the input
trays.
When obtaining the values for Width, Height, WidthOffset, HeightOffset, and
Orientation from the user, the print manager must
convert the value to the appropriate units listed under *ParamCustomPageSize
for that parameter, if necessary. For example, Width and Height may be
obtained from the user in inches or millimeters and must be converted to
points before any further calculations occur.
ensure that each value falls within the appropriate range listed under
*ParamCustomPageSize for that parameter. If the range is limited to a single
choice (for example, the range for Orientation may be 0..0), the print manager might wish to prevent the user from typing values in that field in the
user interface.
if *CenterRegistered is True, the print manager should warn the user to provide the correct value for WidthOffset if the installed media is narrower than
the transport mechanism.

ensure that the sum of Width plus WidthOffset does not exceed the value of
*MaxMediaWidth. Likewise, it must ensure that the sum of Height plus
HeightOffset does not exceed the value of *MaxMediaHeight.

Emitting the correct *CustomPageSize parameters in the correct order can be

complicated. Here are the key points that must be considered:
If *LeadingEdge is Short, Long, or PreferLong, the device will rotate the page
image in device space so that the long axis is parallel to the long axis of
the physical page. To calculate the imageable area correctly, the print manager must generate Width and Height so that they match the physical page
orientation. If the user sets *LeadingEdge to Long, Width must be greater than
or equal to Height. Likewise, if the user sets *LeadingEdge to Short, Height must
be greater than or equal to Width. Depending on how the print manager pre-

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117

sents the dimensions of the page to the user, the print manager may have to
perform some manipulation on the dimensions to produce the correct Width
and Height before placing them on the operand stack.
If *LeadingEdge is PreferLong: If Width Height, or if Width < Height and Height
*MaxMediaWidth, the print manager should behave as if *LeadingEdge is Long
when consulting Table 2. If Width < Height and Height >*MaxMediaWidth, the
print manager should behave as if *LeadingEdge is Short when consulting
Table 2.
If *LeadingEdge is Forced, the print manager must accept the values of Width
and Height as provided by the user, and set *LeadingEdge accordingly for its
internal use. If Width < Height, *LeadingEdge should be Short. If Width Height,
*LeadingEdge should be Long. The print manager may also wish to warn the
user that if the device is not set up accordingly, the choice of Forced may
result in the clipping and apparent rotation of the image.
If *LeadingEdge is Unknown, see the note after Table 3.
Unless the print manager lets the user enter Orientation directly, the print
manager must deduce the value of Orientation from a combination of user
requests, as shown in Table 2.
Table 2 Determining the value of Orientation

User chooses:

Dimensions

Portrait (x < y)

Landscape (y < x)

*LeadingEdge: Long

Width > Height

Orientation = 0 or 2

Orientation = 1 or 3

*LeadingEdge: Short

Height > Width

Orientation = 1 or 3

Orientation = 0 or 2

Most print managers restrict the choices for Orientation to 0 and 1, and must
choose accordingly from Table 2. To offer the user a choice of 2 or 3 for
Orientation, the print manager must offer a user interface that allows the user
to choose all four orientations pictorially or by entering the value directly.
Once the value of Orientation has been determined, the print manager can
decide whether or not it is necessary to calculate and display the imageable
area, using the following algorithms:
If *HWMargins is not present or if *UseHWMargins is False, the page will be
imaged over its entire imageable area, so no imageable area calculations
are necessary. The print manager may skip to the last step in this section.
If *HWMargins is present and *UseHWMargins is not present or is True, and all
*NonUIConstraints conflicts have been resolved, then the print manager can
calculate the imageable area of the custom page size and show a pictorial
to the user. Using Orientation as a key, the print manager can use Table 3 to

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calculate the imageable area. The imageable area is expressed as the x and
y coordinates of the lower left and upper right corners of the imageable
area. These coordinates are referred to as llx, lly, urx, and ur y, respectively. top,
bottom, left, and right are defined in the description of *HWMargins.
Table 3 Using Orientation and *HWMargins to determine imageable area
Orientation

Note

llx

lly

urx

ury

top

left

Height minus bottom

Width minus right

left

bottom

Width minus right

Height minus top

bottom

right

Height minus top

Width minus left

right

top

Width minus left

Height minus bottom

Previous versions of this specification, which did not use Orientation to determine the correspondence of image edge to page edge, recommended using the
simpler but less accurate method of subtracting the largest of the four
*HWMargins values from each edge of the page. This method may produce a
much smaller imageable area than the device is capable of handling, but it
does guarantee that all marks made in the calculated imageable area will be
visible. For maximum user satisfaction, print managers should be written to
use the newer, more accurate method, using Orientation as a key. However, if
*LeadingEdge is Unknown, the print manager cannot calculate Orientation and
must resort to a fallback position such as described above.
Finally, the print manager must ensure that the parameters are placed on the
operand stack in the proper order (documented by *ParamCustomPageSize) and
followed by the invocation code from *CustomPageSize.

5.17

Media Handling Features

The keywords in this section provide handling of media other than media
selection, such as output attributes.

*OutputBin
*DefaultOutputBin:
*?OutputBin:

binOption: invocation

U
UII

binOption | Unknown
query

(returns: binOption | Unknown)

*OutputBin provides the InvocationValue to select different output paths for

media. *DefaultOutputBin denotes the default output path. *?OutputBin returns a

string denoting the current output path. If the device does not provide software-selectable output paths, these keywords will be omitted.

5 Keywords

119

The currently registered values for binOption are:

UpperThis refers to an output bin located above any other output bins.
LowerThis refers to an output bin located below any other output bins.
RearThis designates an output bin located to the rear of the device.
Note

*OutputOrder
*DefaultOutputOrder:
*?OutputOrder:

To builders of PPD files: Although older PPD files (and the tools that built
them) often included *DefaultOutputBin, it provides no useful information to a
print manager unless the complete *OutputBin entry is also present. If the
output bins are not software-selectable, omit these keywords.

orderOption: invocation

U
UII

orderOption | Unknown
query

(returns: orderOption | Unknown)

*OutputOrder provides the InvocationValue to invoke a specific page stacking

order for the duration of the current job. On many devices, the output order is
tied to the selection of the output bin. On some devices, invoking a new page
stacking order will cause a new output bin to be selected. On other devices, a
new output bin must be explicitly selected. *DefaultOutputOrder indicates the
default page stacking order of the default output bin. *?OutputOrder returns a
string denoting the current page stacking order of the current output bin.
The currently registered values for orderOption are:
NormalThis keyword indicates that if the pages are transmitted to the
device in 1-n order, they will be in 1-n order when they are picked up from
the output tray. This usually, but not always, means that the output pages
are stacked face down in the output tray.
ReverseThis keyword indicates that if the pages are transmitted to the
device in 1-n order, they will be in n-1 order when they are picked up from
the output tray (the last page will be on the top of the stack). This usually,
but not always, means that the output pages are stacked face up in the
output tray.
Note

120

To builders of PPD files: *DefaultOutputOrder can be used by a print manager to

determine in which order to send the pages of the job, so it should usually be
included in the PPD file even when the output order cannot be changed. If
*DefaultOutputOrder is stand-alone, its value must be Normal or Reverse. See the
note under Unknown in section 4.4, and section 4.5.

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*PageStackOrder

binOption: Normal | Reverse

This is an informational statement that indicates the page stacking order of

each output bin. It is useful only if the device has multiple software-selectable output bins. The option keyword binOption must be a valid option keyword listed under *OutputBin. The StringValues Normal and Reverse have the
same meaning as defined under *OutputOrder.
There is an implicit assumption that the stacking order of a given bin cannot
be changed. This keyword is useful in determining either which output path
to select (to get the proper page ordering) or in which order the pages should
be sent from the host (to utilize the stacking order of the chosen output path).
This keyword will not be present if the device has only one output bin.

*TraySwitch
*DefaultTraySwitch:
*?TraySwitch:

True | False: invocation

U
UII

True | False | Unknown

query

(returns: True | False | Unknown)

*TraySwitch provides the InvocationValue to turn automatic tray switching on

(True) and off (False). Automatic tray switching is provided by some devices
with multiple input trays, so that when one input tray runs out of media,
another tray with the same type of media can be automatically used.
*DefaultTraySwitch denotes the default state of the automatic tray switching
mechanism. *?TraySwitch returns the current state of tray switching.

*Signature
*DefaultSignature:
*?Signature:

signatureOption: invocation

U
UII

signatureOption | Unknown
query

(returns: signatureOption | Unknown)

*Signature provides the InvocationValue to invoke signature options. Signaturing is the automatic ordering of virtual pages on physical pages, so that the
output, when properly folded and collated, will have all the virtual pages in
the proper order. *DefaultSignature denotes the default state of the automatic signature feature. *?Signature returns a string denoting the current state of the
automatic signature feature.

One of the signatureOptions must be None or False, to turn off the automatic signature feature. Other option keywords might include the number of virtual
images per physical page. The currently registered values for signatureOption
are:
TrueTurn on the signature option.
FalseTurn off the signature option.

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121

*Duplex
*DefaultDuplex:
*?Duplex:

duplexOption: invocation

U
UII

duplexOption | Unknown
query

(returns: duplexOption | Unknown)

*Duplex provides the InvocationValue to control the duplex (two-sided printing) feature. *DefaultDuplex denotes the default state of the duplex feature.
*?Duplex returns a string denoting the current state of the duplexing mechanism.

The currently registered values for duplexOption are listed below. One of the
options must be None or False, for no duplexing (that is, produce simplex or
one-sided printing). Tumbling is defined in section 4.11 of the PostScript
Language Reference Manual, Second Edition. Briefly, to print a book, where
the binding is along the left edge, the user selects NoTumble. To print a calendar, bound along the top edge so that successive pages are flipped upward,
the user selects Tumble. Tumble is also referred to as HeadToToe.
DuplexTumblePrint on both sides of the paper and tumble the images while
printing.
DuplexNoTumblePrint on both sides of the paper but do not tumble the
images.
SimplexTumblePrint on only one side of the paper, but tumble the images
while printing.
NonePrint the image on one side of the paper and do not tumble successive images (this is normal one-sided printing, equivalent to
SimplexNoTumble).

*OutputMode
*DefaultOutputMode:
*?OutputMode:

modeOption: invocation

U
UII

modeOption | Unknown
query

(returns: modeOption | Unknown)

*OutputMode provides the InvocationValues to invoke different output modes.

Output modes might be caused by mechanical variations in the printer, such
as varying print-head direction or speed. The valid values for modeOption are
strings that describe the level of output quality (for example, Draft or
LetterQuality). *DefaultOutputMode denotes the default output mode. *?OutputMode
returns a string denoting the current output mode.

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5.18

Finishing Features

This section documents finishing features, which typically affect a document

after it has been printed or imaged. For the convenience of print managers, all
finishing features in a PPD file should be grouped by *OpenGroup/*CloseGroup.
For a complete example, refer to the sample PPD files in section 6.

*Collate
*DefaultCollate:
*?Collate:

collateOption: invocation

U
UII

collateOption | Unknown

(returns: collateOption | Unknown)

query

*Collate provides the InvocationValue to control collating. Collating is defined

as follows: for three copies of a three-page document, collated pages are produced in the order 1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3, while uncollated pages are produced in
the order 1-1-1-2-2-2-3-3-3. One of the options must be None or False, to turn
off collating.
The currently registered values for collateOption are
TrueTurn on collation.
FalseTurn off collation.
*DefaultCollate denotes the default state of the collator mechanism. *?Collate

returns a string denoting the current state of the collator mechanism.

*FoldType
*DefaultFoldType:
*?FoldType:

foldOption: invocation

U
UII

foldOption | Unknown

(returns: foldOption | Unknown)

query

*FoldType provides the InvocationValue to control which type of fold is

invoked, if any. *DefaultFoldType denotes the default type of fold. *?FoldType

returns a string denoting the current type of fold.

The following are the current foldOptions. Many of these folds are illustrated by
Figure G.3 in Appendix G of the PostScript Language Reference Manual,
Second Edition.
ZFold
RightGate

Saddle
Letter

DoubleGate
XFold

LeftGate
None

5 Keywords

123

One of the options must be None or False, to turn off folding. Builders of PPD
files should include the following *UIConstraints statements to disable *FoldType
unless *FoldWhen has been invoked with a value other than None:
*UIConstraints: *FoldWhen None *FoldType
*UIConstraints: *FoldType None *FoldWhen

*FoldWhen
*DefaultFoldWhen:
*?FoldWhen:

foldOption: invocation

U
UII

foldOption | Unknown
query

(returns: foldOption | Unknown)

*FoldWhen provides the InvocationValue to control when a job is folded, if

folding has been invoked. *DefaultFoldWhen denotes the default state of when
the job will be folded. *?FoldWhen returns a string denoting the current state of
*FoldWhen. The following foldOptions are used with the *FoldWhen keyword to
determine when the document should be folded:

NoneDo not fold.

DeviceDeactivationFold immediately after the device has been deactivated.
EndOfJobFold when the last page has joined the other pages in the job, so
the entire job can be folded together. The notion of job is explained in
section 3.7.7 of the PostScript Language Reference Manual, Second
Edition.
EndOfSetFold when the last page has joined the other pages in the set, so
the entire set can be folded together. The definition of set depends on
whether the document is collated. For a definition of set, see NumCopies
and Collate in Table 4.11 of the PostScript Language Reference Manual,
Second Edition.
EndOfPageFold after each showpage or copypage.
One of the options must be None or False, to turn off folding. Builders of PPD
files should include the following *UIConstraints statements to disable *FoldType
unless *FoldWhen has been invoked with a value other than None:
*UIConstraints: *FoldWhen None *FoldType
*UIConstraints: *FoldType None *FoldWhen

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*Sorter
*DefaultSorter:
*?Sorter:

sortOption: invocation

U
UII

sortOption | Unknown
query

(returns: sortOption | Unknown)

*Sorter provides the InvocationValue to invoke sorting. On some devices, there

might be different kinds of sorting; on other devices, sorting may simply be

on or off.
The currently registered values for sortOption are:
TrueTurn on sorting.
FalseTurn off sorting.
One of the options must be None or False to turn off sorting. *DefaultSorter
denotes the default state of the sorter mechanism. *?Sorter returns a string
denoting the current state of the sorter mechanism.

*StapleLocation
*DefaultStapleLocation:
*?StapleLocation:

stapleOption: invocation

U
UII

stapleOption | Unknown
query

(returns: stapleOption | Unknown)

*StapleLocation provides an InvocationValue that controls where the staple is

placed on the pagefor devices where the location is expressed as a single

parameter. A PPD file will contain either *StapleLocation or *StapleX and *StapleY
but not both. *DefaultStapleLocation denotes the default location for stapling.
*?StapleLocation returns a string that denotes the current stapling location.
The following stapleOptions are used with the *StapleLocation keyword to determine the location of staples:
SinglePortraitWith the page in portrait orientation, a single staple is put at
the upper left.
SingleLandscapeWith the page in landscape orientation, a single staple is
put at the upper left.
DualLandscapeWith the page in landscape orientation, two staples are put
along the top edge of the page, approximately 1/3 and 2/3 of the way
across the page, respectively.
NoneNo stapling.

5 Keywords

125

One of the options must be None or False, to turn off stapling. Builders of PPD
files should include the following *UIConstraints statements to disable
*StapleLocation unless *StapleWhen has been invoked with a value other than
None:
*UIConstraints: *StapleWhen None *StapleLocation
*UIConstraints: *StapleLocation None *StapleWhen

*StapleX
*DefaultStapleX:
*?StapleX:

stapleOption: invocation

U
UII

stapleOption | Unknown
query

(returns: stapleOption | Unknown)

*StapleX provides an InvocationValue that controls the x dimension (in default

user space) of where the staple is placed on the pagefor devices where the
location is expressed as two parameters, x and y. This keyword must appear in
PPD files in which *StapleY appears. A PPD file will contain either
*StapleLocation, or *StapleX and *StapleY, but not both.
These stapleOptions are used with the *StapleX keyword to determine the location of staples in relation to the x axis when the page is in portrait orientation:
LeftThe staple is placed along the left side of the page. Exactly where it is
placed in relation to the left edge is device-dependent.
RightThe staple is placed along the right side of the page. Exactly where
it is placed in relation to the right edge is device-dependent.
SaddleThe staple is placed halfway along the x axis of the page. This is
commonly used when the page is to be stapled along the center and then
folded in half along the staple line to form a booklet.
NoneNo stapling.
One of the options must be None or False, to turn off stapling. Builders of PPD
files should include the following *UIConstraints statements to disable *StapleX
unless *StapleWhen has been invoked with a value other than None:
*UIConstraints: *StapleWhen None *StapleX
*UIConstraints: *StapleX None *StapleWhen

*DefaultStapleX denotes the default location for stapling. *?StapleX returns a

string that denotes the current stapling location.

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*StapleY
*DefaultStapleY:
*?StapleY:

stapleOption: invocation

U
UII

stapleOption | Unknown
query

(returns: stapleOption | Unknown)

*StapleY provides an InvocationValue that controls the y dimension (in default

user space) of where the staple is placed on the pagefor devices where the
location is expressed as two parameters, x and y. This keyword must appear in
PPD files in which *StapleX appears. A PPD file will contain either
*StapleLocation or *StapleX and *StapleY but not both.
These stapleOptions are used with the *StapleY keyword to determine the location of staples in relation to the y axis with the page in portrait orientation:
TopThe staple is placed at the top of the page. Exactly where it is placed
in relation to the top edge is device-dependent
OneThirdThe staple is placed 1/3 of the way down the page.
MiddleThe staple is placed halfway down the page.
TwoThirdsThe staple is placed 2/3 of the way down the page.
BottomThe staple is placed at the bottom of the page. Exactly where it is
placed in relation to the bottom edge is device-dependent
NoneNo stapling.
One of the options must be None or False, to turn off stapling. Builders of PPD
files should include the following *UIConstraints statements to disable *StapleY
unless *StapleWhen has been invoked with a value other than None:
*UIConstraints: *StapleWhen None *StapleY
*UIConstraints: *StapleY None *StapleWhen

*DefaultStapleY denotes the default location for stapling. *?StapleY returns a

string that denotes the current stapling location.

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127

*StapleWhen
*DefaultStapleWhen:
*?StapleWhen:

stapleOption: invocation

U
UII

stapleOption | Unknown
query

(returns: stapleOption | Unknown)

*StapleWhen provides the InvocationValue to control when a job is stapled.

Examples include end of job, end of group. One of the options must be
None or False to turn off stapling. See the descriptions of *StapleX, *StapleY,
*StapleOrientation, and *StapleLocation for examples of *UIConstraints that should be
written for *StapleWhen.

These stapleOptions are used with the *StapleWhen keyword to determine when
the document should be stapled:
NoneDo not staple.
DeviceDeactivationStaple immediately after the device has been deactivated.
EndOfJobStaple when the last page has joined the other pages in the job,
so the entire job can be stapled together. The notion of job is explained
in section 3.7.7 of the PostScript Language Reference Manual, Second
Edition.
EndOfSetStaple when the last page has joined the other pages in the set, so
the entire set can be stapled together. The definition of set depends on
whether or not the document is collated. For a definition of set, see
NumCopies and Collate in Table 4.11 of the PostScript Language Reference
Manual, Second Edition.
EndOfPageStaple after each showpage or copypage.
*DefaultStapleWhen denotes the default time for stapling. *?StapleWhen returns a

string that denotes when stapling will occur under the current setting.

*StapleOrientation
*DefaultStapleOrientation:
*?StapleOrientation:

orientationOption: invocation

U
UII

orientationOption | Unknown
query

(returns: orientationOption | Unknown)

*StapleOrientation provides the InvocationValue to control the orientation of the

staple; for example, 45 degrees.These orientationOptions are used with the
*StapleOrientation keyword to determine the orientation of the staple with

respect to default user space:

0 The staple is not turned. That is, the staple is horizontal, or parallel to
the x axis of the page.

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 45The staple is rotated 45 degrees clockwise from the x axis of the page.
90The staple is rotated 90 degrees clockwise from the x axis of the page.
That is, the staple is vertical, or parallel to the y axis of the page.
135The staple is rotated 135 degrees clockwise from the x axis of the
page.
NoneNo specific staple orientation requested (empty code).
One of the options must be None or False. Builders of PPD files should include
the following *UIConstraints statements to disable *StapleOrientation unless
*StapleWhen has been invoked with a value other than None:
*UIConstraints: *StapleWhen None *StapleOrientation
*UIConstraints: *StapleOrientation *StapleWhen None

*DefaultStapleOrientation denotes the default orientation for the staple.

*?StapleOrientation returns a string that denotes the current staple orientation.

*BindEdge
*DefaultBindEdge:
*?BindEdge:

bindOption: invocation

U
UII

bindOption | Unknown
query

(returns: bindOption | Unknown)

*BindEdge provides the InvocationValue to control which edge is bound.

*DefaultBindEdge denotes the default edge for binding. *?BindEdge returns a

string denoting which edge will be bound under the current setting.
These bindOptions are used with the *BindEdge keyword to determine the location of binding relative to the page in default user space (portrait orientation):
LeftThe binding is placed along the left side of the page.
RightThe binding is placed along the right side of the page.
BottomThe binding is placed along the bottom of the page.
TopThe binding is placed along the top of the page.
NoneNo binding.
One of the options must be None or False, to turn off binding. Builders of PPD
files should include the following *UIConstraints statements to disable *BindEdge
unless *BindWhen has been invoked with a value other than None:
*UIConstraints: *BindWhen None *BindEdge
*UIConstraints: *BindEdge None *BindWhen

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129

*BindType
*DefaultBindType:
*?BindType:

bindtypeOption: invocation

U
UII

bindtypeOption | Unknown
query

(returns: bindtypeOption | Unknown)

*BindType provides the InvocationValue to control the type of binding.

*DefaultBindType denotes the default type of binding.*?BindType returns a string

indicating which type of binding will occur given the current setting.
bindtypeOption is a product-dependent string describing the type of binding
available (for example, Spiral). One of the options must be None or False, to disable binding. Builders of PPD files should write *UIConstraints entries to disable *BindType when *BindWhen is None; see *BindEdge for an example.

*BindColor
*DefaultBindColor:
*?BindColor:

colorOption: invocation

U
UII

colorOption | Unknown
query

(returns: colorOption | Unknown)

*BindColor provides the InvocationValues to control the binding color.

*DefaultBindColor denotes the default color of binding. *?BindColor returns a string

indicating which binding color will be used under the current setting. The
valid values for colorOption are product-dependent strings describing the color
of the binding, such as Blue or Red. One of the options must be None or False.
Builders of PPD files should write *UIConstraints entries to disable *BindColor
when *BindWhen is None; see *BindEdge for an example.

*BindWhen
*DefaultBindWhen:
*?BindWhen:

bindOption: invocation

U
UII

bindOption | Unknown
query

(returns: bindOption | Unknown)

*BindWhen provides the InvocationValue to turn on binding and to control

when a job is bound. *DefaultBindWhen denotes the default time for binding.
*?BindWhen returns a string that denotes when binding will occur under the

current setting.
These bindOptions are used with the *BindWhen keyword to determine when the
document should be bound:
NoneDo not bind.
DeviceDeactivationBind immediately after the device has been deactivated.

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 EndOfJobBind when the last page has joined the other pages in the job, so
the entire job can be bound together. The notion of job is explained in
section 3.7.7 of the PostScript Language Reference Manual, Second Edition.
EndOfSetBind when the last page has joined the other pages in the set, so
the whole set can be bound together. The definition of set depends on
whether or not the document is collated. For a definition of set, see
NumCopies and Collate in Table 4.11 of the PostScript Language Reference
Manual, Second Edition.
One of the options must be None or False to turn off binding. See the description of *BindEdge for an example of *UIConstraints that should be written
between *BindWhen and *BindColor, *BindType, and *BindEdge.

*Booklet
*DefaultBooklet:
*?Booklet:

bookletOption: invocation

U
UII

bookletOption | Unknown
query

(returns: bookletOption | Unknown)

*Booklet provides the InvocationValue to make booklets. Booklets are created

by saddle stitching, folding, and trimming. One of the options must be None
or False, to turn off booklet-making.

The currently registered values for bookletOption are:

TrueMake a booklet.
FalseDo not make a booklet.
*DefaultBooklet denotes the default state of booklet making. *?Booklet returns a

string denoting the current state of booklet making.

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131

*Slipsheet
*DefaultSlipsheet:
*?Slipsheet:

slipsheetOption: invocation

U
UII

slipsheetOption | Unknown
query

(returns: slipsheetOption | Unknown)

*Slipsheet provides the InvocationValue to control slipsheeting. Slipsheeting is

the insertion of pages of a different color or type between sets of documents.

One of the options must be None or False to turn off slipsheeting.
The currently registered values for slipsheetOption are:
NoneTurn off slipsheeting.
DeviceDeactivationInsert slipsheet at device deactivation.
EndOfJobInsert slipsheet at the end of the current job. A job is defined in
section 3.7.7 of the PostScript Language Reference Manual, Second Edition.
EndOfSetInsert slipsheet at the end of the current set. For a definition of
set, see NumCopies and Collate in Table 4.11 of the PostScript Language
Reference Manual, Second Edition.
EndOfPageInsert slipsheet at the end of the current page.
TrueTurn on slipsheetingfor devices in which slipsheeting is a binary
state. Whether this activates slipsheeting at the end of the job, end of set,
or device deactivation is device-dependent.
FalseTurn off slipsheetingfor devices in which slipsheeting is a binary
state.
*DefaultSlipsheet denotes the default state of slipsheeting. *?Slipsheet returns a
string denoting the current state of slipsheeting.

*InsertSheet
*DefaultInsertSheet:
*?InsertSheet:

True | False: invocation

True | False | Unknown

query

(returns: True | False | Unknown)

*InsertSheet provides the InvocationValue to insert a sheet at a specific place in

the document. True means that the next page will be drawn from a special
input tray and inserted in the page sequence. False means that the next page

will be drawn from the regular input tray. For example, a printer might allow
the insertion of a photograph between specific pages of the document after
the pages have passed through the heated elements in the printer. To accom-

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plish this, a print manager would emit the code for a True value at the beginning of the specific page, emit the showpage operator to insert the special
sheet, and then emit the code for the False value of *InsertSheet.
*DefaultInsertSheet denotes the default state of *InsertSheet. *?InsertSheet returns a
string denoting the current state of *InsertSheet.

Note

*Jog
*DefaultJog:
*?Jog:

To builders of PPD files: This feature was marked with the UI symbol in
previous versions of this specification. Upon further study, it was found that
this keyword should not be surrounded by *OpenUI/*CloseUI because the print
manager must do more than blindly post the feature and execute the code; it
must provide a method for the user to specify where the page should be
inserted and then perform the procedures described above.

jogOption: invocation

U
UII

jogOption | Unknown
query

(returns: jogOption | Unknown)

*Jog provides the InvocationValue to control jogging.When jogging is

invoked, the next job or set is offset to the left or right from the previous job
or set in the output bin. Jogging is also known as offset stacking. One of the
options must be None or False to turn off jogging.
The currently registered values for jogOption are:
NoneTurn off jogging.
DeviceDeactivation Jog at device deactivation.
EndOfJob Jog at the end of the current job.
EndOfSet Jog at the end of the current set.
*DefaultJog denotes the default state of jogging. *?Jog returns a string denoting
the current state of jogging.

5.19

Imagesetter Features

This section contains features that are usually found only on imagesetters
(also referred to as typesetters and filmsetters). These features are implemented by device-dependent means, but a uniform interface to them is provided by the PostScript interpreter. Each of these features, with the exception
of *ReferencePunch, is documented in section 4.11 of the PostScript Language
Reference Manual, Second Edition.

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133

*MirrorPrint
*DefaultMirrorPrint:
*?MirrorPrint:

True | False: invocation

U
UII

True | False | Unknown

query

(returns: True | False | Unknown)

*MirrorPrint provides the InvocationValue to turn the mirror print feature on

(True) and off (False). *DefaultMirrorPrint denotes the default state of mirror printing. *?MirrorPrint returns the current setup for mirror printing.

*NegativePrint
*DefaultNegativePrint:
*?NegativePrint:

True | False: invocation

U
UII

True | False | Unknown

query

(returns: True | False | Unknown)

*NegativePrint provides the InvocationValue to turn the negative print feature on

(True) and off (False).*DefaultNegativePrint denotes the default state of negative
printing. *?NegativePrint returns the current setup for negative printing.

*AdvanceMedia
*DefaultAdvanceMedia:
*?AdvanceMedia:

advanceOption: invocation

U
UII

advanceOption | Unknown
query

(returns: advanceOption | Unknown)

*AdvanceMedia provides the InvocationValue to tell the device when to advance

roll-fed media by a preset distance. The currently registered values for
advanceOption are:

NoneDo not advance the medium.

DeviceDeactivationAdvance the medium at device deactivation.
EndOfJobAdvance the medium at the end of the job.
EndOfSetAdvance the medium after each set.
EndOfPageAdvance the medium after each showpage or copypage.
*DefaultAdvanceMedia denotes the default state of *AdvanceMedia. The query
*?AdvanceMedia returns a string denoting the current state of *AdvanceMedia.

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*CutMedia
*DefaultCutMedia:
*?CutMedia:

cutOption: invocation

U
UII

cutOption | Unknown
query

(returns: cutOption | Unknown)

*CutMedia provides the InvocationValue to tell the device when to cut roll-fed
media. *DefaultCutMedia denotes the default state of *CutMedia. *?CutMedia returns
a string denoting the current state of *CutMedia.

The currently registered values for cutOption are:

NoneDo not cut the medium.
DeviceDeactivationCut the medium at device deactivation.
EndOfJobCut the medium at the end of the job.
EndOfSetCut the medium after each set.
EndOfPageCut the medium after each showpage or copypage.

*ReferencePunch

mediaOption: x y

Printing plates are typically punched along their leading edge to facilitate
mounting on printing presses. Some devices provide an equivalent punch
system for film so that the film may be accurately contacted to a printing
plate. This keyword provides the location of the reference punch (the center
point of the center hole on the punch rack) so that an application may position the image on the film relative to the punch.
The parameter mediaOption designates the page size. It must be one of the
option keywords listed under *PageSize and *PageRegion in the PPD file. There
must be one *ReferencePunch statement for every page size that can be
punched.
The parameters x and y provide the coordinates, in default user space, of the
reference punch. For example, if the punch rack was 1/8 inch ahead of the
page image along the media feed direction, and the reference punch was centered along the page in the direction perpendicular to media feed direction,
the PPD file would contain the following statements for the page sizes Letter
and Letter.Transverse:
*ReferencePunch Letter: 792.125 306
*ReferencePunch Letter.Transverse: -0.125 396

5 Keywords

135

This example assumes that, on this device, Letter has a width of 612, a height
of 792, and an orientation of 1, and Letter.Transverse has a width of 792, a
height of 612, and an orientation of 0, where width, height, and orientation
are defined as in Figure 3 on page 109.
Note: There is currently no *ReferencePunch support for custom page sizes.
5.20

Font Related Keywords

This section contains keywords that provide information about the fonts on
the device.

*FDirSize:

int

This provides the size, in bytes, of the font directory in the devices interpreter. This is only useful for Level 1 devices, which have a fixed-size font
directory. This keyword will not appear in the PPD file of a Level 2 device. If
a print manager is keeping track of how many fonts have been downloaded to
the device, this StringValue tells a print manager when the directory is getting
full, so the print manager can flush out old fonts to make room for new ones.
Without this information, a print manager may either flush too often or
encounter a dictfull error.

*FCacheSize

vmOption: int

This StringValue provides the size of the font cache, in bytes, for a given
level of memory installed in the device. vmOption must be a valid option listed
under *VMOption and *InstalledMemory. (See the description of those keywords
for details on vmOption.) If the device accepts installable memory modules,
there should be a *FCacheSize statement for each module size.

*Font

fontname: encoding (version) charset status

This keyword provides one line of information for each font that may be resident on the product. (To understand which fonts are listed, see Listing fonts at
the end of this keyword description.) The option fontname is the valid PostScript language name of the font, without the leading slash. The StringValue
has multiple components separated by white space.
Value of encoding

The encoding value has slightly varying meanings depending on the font type.
If the encoding cannot be determined, the value of encoding may be Unknown.

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For Roman (one byte per character) fonts, the encoding value indicates the
default encoding of each font. Fonts are usually re-encoded by applications or
print managers to provide other encodings; the charset value (described later)
for each font indicates which encodings are possible for that font.
The following are the currently defined encoding values for Roman fonts:
StandardThis font, by default, uses the Adobe StandardEncoding vector.
SpecialThis font has a nonstandard font-specific encoding (for example,
the font named Sonata, which is composed of musical symbols).
ISOLatin1This font, by default, uses the Adobe ISOLatin1Encoding vector.
ExpertThis font, by default, uses the Adobe Expert encoding vector.
ExpertSubsetThis font, by default, uses the Adobe ExpertSubset encoding
vector.
Older composite fonts use the following encoding values:
JISA Japanese font with JIS (Japan Industrial Standard) encoding. (This
is a two byte-per-character encoding.)
RKSJA Japanese font with RKSJ (Romaji-Kana-Shift-JIS) encoding.
(This is a mixed one and two byte-per-character encoding, common on
PCs, and often informally referred to as Shift JIS. In this specification,
Shift-JIS refers to the two byte-per-character encoding, which is a
proper subset of RKSJ.)
EUCA Japanese font with EUC (Extended UNIX Code) encoding. (This
is a two byte-per-character encoding.)
Shift-JISA Japanese font with Shift-JIS encoding. (This is a two byte-percharacter encoding. It is a proper subset of RKSJ. The Japanese PC encoding commonly referred to as Shift JIS, which includes one-byte Romaji
and Katakana codes, is referred to in this specification as RKSJ.)

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137

CID-keyed composite fonts use the encoding value to record the CMap component of the font. For details on CMaps in CID-keyed composite fonts, including the CMap names for Chinese and Korean fonts, see Technical Note
#5094, Adobe CJK Character Collections and CMaps for CID-Keyed Fonts,
available from the Adobe Developers Association. The following is a list of
the currently registered values for encoding for Japanese CID-keyed fonts:
78-H
78-EUC-H
90pv-RKSJ-H
Add-RKSJ-H
Ext-RKSJ-H
EUC-H
Hankaku
Katakana
NWP-H

78-V
78-EUC-V
90ms-RKSJ-H
Add-RKSJ-V
Ext-RKSJ-V
EUC-V
Hiragana
Roman
NWP-V

78-RKSJ-H
83pv-RKSJ-H
90ms-RKSJ-V
Add-H
Ext-H
RKSJ-H
H
WP-Symbol

78-RKSJ-V

Add-V
Ext-V
RKSJ-V
V

Note

The encodings named NWP-H and NWP-V are obsolete and may be removed
from a future version of this specification.

Note

To builders of PPD files: The currently registered values for encoding are primarily for the most common Japanese fonts. If a font has a CMap name that
is not listed here, the appropriate CMap name from Technical Note #5094
should be inserted in the encoding field. However, print managers, depending
on how they use the encoding field, might not recognize new encoding values
until they are listed in this specification and the print manager is updated.
Value of version

The value of version is the version number of the font; for most fonts, it is the
value of the key Version in the FontInfo dictionary that is a subdictionary of the
font dictionary. For CID-keyed composite fonts, it is the value of the key
CIDFontVersion in the dictionary for the CIDFont resource instance.
Value of charset

The charset value of the *Font keyword indicates which shape descriptions
(glyphs) are contained in the font and are available for re-encoding. If this
information cannot be determined, the value of charset may be Unknown.
Valid charset values for Western (Roman) fonts are:
StandardThis indicates a Roman font that contains the character set that
supports both the Standard and ISOLatin1 encodings. Most Roman fonts from
Adobe will have this value in the charset field of their *Font statements.

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 OldStandardThis indicates a Roman font that contains the character set

necessary to support the Standard encoding. OldStandard is a subset of the
Standard character set.
SpecialThis indicates a font that supports a font-specific character set (for
example, Sonata).
ISOLatin1This indicates a Roman font that contains the character set that
supports the ISOLatin1 encoding. ISOLatin1 is a subset of the Standard character set.
ExpertThis indicates a Roman font that contains the character set that supports the Expert encoding.
ExpertSubsetThis indicates a Roman font that contains the character set
that supports the ExpertSubset encoding.
Older composite fonts use the following charset values:
JIS-83Supports the JIS X0208-1983 character set.
JIS-78Supports the JIS 1978 character set.
83pvSupports the 83pv (Apple Macintosh-compatible) character set.
AddSupports the Add (Fujitsu FM system-compatible) character set.
ExtSupports the Extended (NEC PC-98-compatible) character set.
NWPSupports the NWP (NEC Word Processor) character set.
CID-keyed composite fonts use the charset value to record the registry, ordering, and supplement values of the font. For details on CID-keyed fonts, see
Technical Note #5094, Adobe CJK Character Collections and CMaps for
CID-Keyed Fonts, available from the Adobe Developers Association. When
creating a charset value, the registry, ordering, and supplement fields are separated by hyphens. The following is a list of the currently registered values for
charset for CID-keyed fonts:
Adobe-Japan1-0
Adobe-Japan2-0
Adobe-GB1-0

Note

Adobe-Japan1-1
Adobe-Korea1-0
Adobe-CNS1-0

Adobe-Japan1-2
Adobe-Korea1-1

To builders of PPD files: If a font contains a registry, ordering, and supplement combination that does not appear on this list, you may create a charset
value composed of the registry, ordering, and supplement values from the
font, in that order, separated by hyphens. Some print managers might not recognize such newly-created charset values; depending on whether or not the
print manager uses the charset information, this might not matter.

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139

Value of status

The status field indicates whether or not the font can be removed without
causing the printer to cease its normal functioning.Valid values for the status
field are ROM and Disk. The distinction between ROM and Disk is that upon
powering up the device, a font from the ROM list will be inaccessible only if
there is a printer malfunction. A font from the Disk list, while usually available, could possibly be inaccessible without a printer malfunction.
Table 4 contains examples of font distribution methods and associated status
keywords. This table is not exhaustive as to the different methods of font distribution.
Table 4 Designation of fonts: ROM versus Disk

Font distribution

Erasable

Removable

Status

ROM-resident

No

No

ROM

auto-loaded into RAM, read-only

No

No

ROM

internal read-only CD-ROM

No

No

ROM

downloaded to RAM, writable

Yes

No

Disk

external read-only CD-ROM

No

Yes

Disk

internal writable hard disk

Yes

No

Disk

external writable hard disk

Yes

Yes

Disk

While most devices include fonts in ROM, a device could ship with all fonts
having a status of Disk. For example, all of a devices fonts could be shipped on
an external CD-ROM.
Listing fonts

All valid font dictionaries found on the device will have *Font statements; the
list is not limited to Type 1 fonts. All fonts shipped with the product in its
minimal configuration are listed. These fonts may be in ROM or on a peripheral device such as a hard disk, as long as they are always shipped with the
product.
Note

140

To builders of PPD files: If additional fonts are available on a plug-in cartridge, hard disk, or similar peripheral device that does not ship with the
product in its minimal configuration, a separate PPD file should be created
to represent the primary device with the peripheral device attached. For
example, there might be a PPD file for Acme FunPrinter and a separate
PPD file for Acme FunPrinter with Display Font Cartridge. The second
PPD file would be a duplicate of the first PPD file, except that the second
PPD file would contain extra *Font statements to list the fonts available on the

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

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Display Font Cartridge. Theoretically, this could also be accomplished by

creating a local customization file with the extra fonts listed, but support for
the installation of local customization files is extremely limited or nonexistent
in most common operating environments, so this has little practical value.
See the next note for long-term plans to make the inclusion of aftermarket
font devices more streamlined.
Note

To print manager authors: Although it is not legal now, in a future edition of

this specification, it will be legal to use *NonUIConstraints to constrain *Font. For
example, if *Option1 represents a plug-in font cartridge in the InstallableOptions
group, a future version of this specification will allow
*NonUIConstraints: *Option1 False *Font Palatino

which would tell a print manager that the Palatino font is not available if the
*Option1 font cartridge is not installed on the device. The PPD file could contain *Font entries for fonts available on peripheral devices for this product,
along with the appropriate *NonUIConstraints statement that ties the presence of
the font to the presence of the peripheral device. If you are writing or upgrading an application that reads *Font statements, we recommend that you
include support for this future feature. That is, instead of assuming that all
fonts listed under *Font are always present on the device, applications should
be written to check for *NonUIConstraints on *Font and only register the font as
available if the appropriate peripheral device has been registered as
installed.
Fonts that are later downloaded to the device from the host via software are
usually monitored by system software (the print manager, a font downloading
utility, or any application) and are not covered by this specification.

*DefaultFont:

Error | fontname

This gives the name of the default font provided by findfont if the requested
font is not available. Note that in some devices this might not be well-defined
(especially where there might be a network font server, for instance), and in
these cases, this statement might not be present. For many devices this field
will contain the name Courier. If this value is Error, an execution error will
occur if the font is not found. Any other value implies that a font substitution
will take place (such as substituting Courier).

*?FontList:

query

Provides a PostScript language sequence to return a list of all available fonts.

It should consult the FontDirectory dictionary as well as any mass storage
devices available to the device. The list does not need to be in any particular
order, but each name is returned separated by a slash / character. This is nor-

5 Keywords

141

mally the way the PostScript language == operator will return a font name.
All white space characters should be ignored. The end of the font list is indicated by a trailing * sign on a line by itself (decimal 42).
The following is a look at two valid returns from the query:
/Optima/Optima-Bold/Optima-Oblique/Optima-BoldOblique/Courier/Symbol
*

and
/Courier
/Symbol
/Times-Roman
*

Note

*?FontQuery:

To builders of PPD files: This keyword can return a large amount of data. If
the host or communication channel cannot retrieve the data fast enough, the
devices output buffer may overflow, causing data to be lost before it can be
retrieved. If the device ships with a large number of fonts or will regularly be
attached to a mass storage device containing many fonts, the *?FontList code
should be tested over all available communication channels. If data is lost,
the*?FontList code should be altered to slow down the output. One method is to
output the font names in groups separated by small time delays.

query

This provides a PostScript language query that should be combined with a

particular list of font names being sought. It looks for any number of names
on the stack, and will print a list of values depending on whether or not the
font is known to the PostScript interpreter. The font names must be provided
on the operand stack by the print manager. This is done by emitting the
names, with leading slash / characters, before emitting the query itself. To
avoid stack overflow, the number of names on the stack should be less than
150.
So that the print manager does not have to keep track of the precise order in
which the values are returned and to guard against errors from dropped information, the syntax of the returned value will be /fontname:Yes or /fontname:No,
where each font in the list is returned in this manner. The slashes delimit the
individually returned font names, although newlines should be expected (and
ignored) between them. A final * character will follow the returned values.

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For example:
/Times-Roman:Yes
/Optima:Yes
/CircleFont:No
/Adobe-Garamond:No
*

Note

To print manager authors: The query provided by *?FontQuery is often preferable to the *?FontList query, since that query can return a very long list of fonts
in some devices, such as those with access to built-in hard disks or network
font servers.

Note

To builders of PPD files: Given a large list of font names to query, this keyword could return a large amount of data, although not typically as large as
*?FontList. If the host or communication channel cannot retrieve the data fast
enough, the devices output buffer may overflow, causing data to be lost
before it can be retrieved. If the device ships with a large number of fonts or
will regularly be attached to a mass storage device containing many fonts, the
*?FontQuery code should be tested with a large list of font names over all available communication channels. If data is lost, the*?FontQuery code should be
altered to slow down the output. One method is to output the responses in
smaller groups separated by small time delays.

5.21

Printer Messages

In an environment where the output device is connected to the host by a bidirectional channel, such as serial communication, the output device can
return various status messages to the host. A print manager can recognize
these messages and convert some of them to a more readable form before displaying them to the user. The messages are divided into categories and enumerated in the PPD file for recognition purposes.

*PrinterError:

text

Printer errors are reported automatically by the output device when something is wrong. The same printer errors can often be returned in a status message as a response to a request for status (see *Status). This provides a list of
QuotedValues that are possible Printer Error messages returned by the device
in the following form:
%%[PrinterError: cover open]%%
%%[PrinterError: paper exit misfeed]%%

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143

The PPD file statements for these error messages would be as follows:
*PrinterError: "cover open"
*PrinterError: "paper exit misfeed"

The brackets, percent signs, and the word PrinterError from the original
error message are not included in the PPD file.
If a translation string were included, the PPD file statement would look like
this:
*PrinterError: "cover open"/lucka <F6>ppen

The translation string translates the error message into Swedish; the hexadecimal substring F6 represents the 8-bit character Odieresissmall. See section 3.5 for details on translation string syntax.

*Status:

text

This lists the possible responses to a status query as QuotedValues. A status

query is typically accomplished by sending ^T (control-T, decimal 20) over a
serial connection or by a special status packet if a network protocol is used
(for instance, AppleTalk).
The status message may be composed of up to three parts. There is always at
least the word status: message with an appropriate status message (those
messages are listed in this section of the PPD file). There may also be two
other sections in the message from the device, listing the currently executing
job name (job: name) as defined by the variable jobname in statusdict, and a
source field, like this: source: connection.
The following are examples of status messages returned by a PostScript
output device:
%%[status: warming up]%%
%%[status: busy; source: AppleTalk]%%
%%[job: userjob; status: waiting; source: serial25]%%
%%[job: myjob; status: PrinterError: cvr opn; source: serial25]%%

The statements in the PPD file will not have the brackets, the percent signs, or
the extraneous fields for jobname and source. The PPD file will contain only the
message field:
*Status:
*Status:
*Status:
*Status:

144

"warming up"
"busy"
"waiting"
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Note that the message portion of a status message can contain a printer error,
so the same list of printer errors that appears under *PrinterError may appear
under *Status.

*Source:

sourceOption

This lists the possible sources for print jobs, as QuotedValues. These correspond to the source: field in the status message (as shown under the *Status section). This effectively provides a list of the names of the communications
channels on the device, plus any other possible sources for jobs. The following are example statements for Level 1 devices:
*Source:
*Source:
*Source:
*Source:

"serial25"
"serial9"
"AppleTalk"
"Centronics"

and for Level 2 devices:

*Source:
*Source:
*Source:
*Source:

"Serial"
"SerialB"
"LocalTalk"
"Parallel"

The status message in which the source is found can contain other fields (as
in the example under *Status), depending on the values of jobname in statusdict
and whether or not there is an active job (in which case the source is listed).
Just the strings for the source field are provided in this section.

*Message:

text

This provides, as QuotedValues, a list of possible device messages that do not

fit into the categories of *Status, *PrinterError, or *Source. Messages that are listed
under those keywords are not repeated here. The strings listed under the keyword *Message will contain the text delimiters (brackets and percent signs), if
they exist in the original error message generated by the device.
The following are two examples. The first example contains the delimiters as
the device generated them. The second example contains no delimiters
because the device generates this message without delimiters. The second
example also contains a translation string and some special syntax, which is
explained below.
*Message: "%%[exitserver: permanent state may be changed]%%"
*Message: "\fontname\ not found, using Courier"/no \fontname\ on this printer

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145

Notice the \fontname\ notation in the last example, with the backslashes. The
exact text of this message depends on which font was requested by the user
program. This backslash notation is a PPD file syntax that indicates that any
arbitrary PostScript language name may be found at the beginning of that
message (substituted for \fontname\). A parser, parsing a PPD file, should parse
for the complete string \fontname\. Special significance should not be given to
the single character \, because a backslash can occur in other contexts.
5.22

Color Separation Keywords

Color separations are device-dependent. A color separation is a monochrome

print that represents a single color plate that is later printed in combination
with other plates on a full color press system. In this sense, a color separation
can be one of the four standard process colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and
black) from which all other colors are simulated by mixing, or it can be a particular spot color, which is simply an ink of a particular color.
For color separations to work well, it must be possible to print several layers
one on top of the other on a color printing press. The way the color mixing is
optimized is to print each color plate with a different halftone screen, usually
rotated at some specific angle to minimize both dot interference with other
plates and to avoid moir patterns.
The selection of these halftone screens is typically done by hand for a particular device, taking resolution and other device characteristics into account
(even variations in the speed of media travel). Once a good set of screen
parameters have been established, they are used for almost all separations on
that machine, unless screens of different granularity are desired, in which
case the process is repeated.
In addition to the halftoning process necessary for producing separations,
there are issues of color matching that are equally device-dependent. As an
example, many companies have specific names for their entire range of colored inks. These colors can be simulated or approximated with various color
technologies (screen phosphors or process inks) but it might not be possible
to render them exactly. There is usually a color mapping table that associates
a particular combination of process inks (or screen phosphor intensities) to
one of the named colors. This is, of course, device-specific.
Option Keywords

Color separation option keywords (the notation colorsepkey in the keyword listings) are designed to reflect particular combinations of separation characteristics. For example, a given separation typically is designed for a particular
process color (for example, the cyan separation), at a certain halftone screen
frequency, for a particular resolution device. To this end, the color separation

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option keywords are complex and modular, but they can be made more
human-readable through use of the general translation string mechanism provided in the file format.
A colorsepkey consists of a name that can optionally have any number of qualifiers (sub-components), each separated by a dot (., decimal 46). The key is
typically a color name, and the qualifiers typically refer to a screen frequency, a resolution, and sometimes to vendor-specific or printer-specific
features that can affect the appearance of the color separation, such as a special screening method or a specific type of controller.
Two common qualifiers are defined in this spec: screen frequency, which
must end in the string lpi, and resolution, which must end in the string dpi.
These qualifiers occur in the following relationship:
colorname.frequency.resolution

Any number of other qualifiers can appear after the resolution qualifier and
will be separated from each other by a dot.
The idea is to be able to associate many different components of a color separation package by keyword. The keywords are arbitrary, but the structured
qualifiers make it possible for an application to separate the components, if
necessary, to allow a user to choose from several frequencies, optional resolutions, and so on. Otherwise, these keywords behave similarly to any other
option keywords in PPD files. For devices where the resolution cannot be
varied (most of them), the resolution qualifier will usually be omitted from
the colorsepkey keyword.
The following are several examples, to help illustrate the format more clearly:
*ColorSepScreenAngle ProcessCyan.60lpi.1270dpi: "37"
*ColorSepScreenAngle ProcessMagenta.60lpi.1270dpi: "45"
*ColorSepScreenAngle ProcessYellow.60lpi.1270dpi: "75"
*ColorSepScreenAngle ProcessBlack.60lpi.1270dpi: "0"
*ColorSepScreenFreq ProcessBlack.60lpi.1270dpi: "60"
*ColorSepScreenProc ProcessBlack.60lpi.1270dpi: "{ pop }"
*ColorSepTransfer ProcessBlack.60lpi.1270dpi: "{ 1 exch sub }"
*ColorSepScreenFreq ProcessCyan.90lpi.1270dpi: "90"
*ColorSepScreenFreq ProcessCyan.60lpi.600dpi: "60"

The following keywords provide suggested values for manipulating the

PostScript language halftone machinery to provide good color separations.
Each separate process color should be printed with a different screen angle
and perhaps different transfer functions or at various screen frequencies.
Be aware that all color separation statements are optional. If a statement does
not exist for a specific color, the default value should be used. For example,
there might be statements for screen frequencies and screen angles for a color
but not a statement for a screen procedure for that color.

5 Keywords

147

*DefaultColorSep:

colorsepkey

This keyword provides the default color separation in the form of a colorsepkey
keyword. This is used in conjunction with the other keywords listed below.

*ColorSepScreenFreq

colorsepkey: real

This keyword provides the InvocationValue for the appropriate screen frequency for a color separation keyed to the given colorsepkey.

*ColorSepScreenAngle

colorsepkey: real

This statement gives the halftone screen angle InvocationValue for the given
color separation.

*ColorSepScreenProc

colorsepkey: {procedure}

This provides the halftone spot function InvocationValue for the specified
color separation.

*ColorSepTransfer

colorsepkey: {procedure}

This keyword provides the transfer function InvocationValue appropriate for

the given color separation keyword.

*CustomCMYK

inkname: cyan magenta yellow black

This keyword provides an InvocationValue containing the CMYK equivalents

for a named custom color. These can be user-defined or names used in a commercial color matching system that can provide CMYK approximations for
particular marking technologies. The idea is to associate any given named ink
(whether it be from a commercial color matching system or a local custom
color) with a set of process color values to approximate it. For example:
*CustomCMYK HarvestGold: "0 .01 .9 .01"

The keyword *CustomCMYK is kept deliberately brief because there might be

hundreds of statements of this sort in a PPD file. For some devices, in fact,
these statements can be put into a separate file that references the original
PPD file with the *Include convention, discussed in section 2.6.

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*InkName:

inkname / alias

This keyword provides a StringValue that is an alternative name for one of

the inkname keywords used in the *CustomCMYK section. It provides slightly
more human-readable versions of the keywords that can be presented in a
user interface (the keywords themselves cannot contain spaces). Here is an
example:
*InkName: p305/COLORNAME 305

Alternatively, you can omit the *InkName entry and simply supply a translation
string for the option keyword of the *CustomCMYK entry. For example:
*CustomCMYK p305/Harvest Gold 305: "0 .01 .9 0.1"

*Separations
*DefaultSeparations:
*?Separations:

True | False: invocation

U
UII

True | False | Unknown

query

(returns: True | False | Unknown)

If the device can provide automatic generation of color separations,

*Separations provides the InvocationValue to tell the device to output either
color separations (True) or composite color (False). True means that the device
will produce each page by printing multiple color separations, one for each
device colorant. False means that the device will produce each page as a
single composite page with all the colors, if any, combined on the same page.
*DefaultSeparations denotes the default state of the automatic separations mechanism.*?Separations will return the current state of the separations mechanism
Color separations are explained in section 4.8 of the PostScript Language
Reference Manual, Second Edition. The print manager may wish to provide a
more complex user interface for the user to declare which pages should be
produced as separations and which should not, in which case this keyword
should not be treated as a simple UI keyword.

5.23

Symbolic References to Data

The keywords in this section provide a way for parsers to skip large amounts
of data contained in a PPD file when the parsers are not interested in that particular type of data. This is accomplished by providing a symbolic reference
in place of a large body of PostScript language code.
Where an InvocationValue is normally permitted, it is legal to have a symbol
name instead. A symbol name must start with the character caret, ^ (decimal
94). This symbol name is associated with a PostScript language sequence

5 Keywords

149

(InvocationValue) that appears at some later place in the PPD file (or in an
attached local customization file). Since the InvocationValue might be large,
a length hint can be provided by *SymbolLength to allow parsers to skip the
large value quickly.
For example:
*OpenUI *MainFeature: PickOne
*MainFeature Option1: ^MySymbol
*MainFeature Option2: "..."
*CloseUI: *MainFeature
...
*SymbolLength ^MySymbol: bytecount EOLcount
*SymbolValue ^MySymbol: "
... bulky data here (e.g. color rendering dictionary)
"
*SymbolEnd: ^MySymbol

If a parser encounters a symbol name as a value, the parser should expect to

find a *SymbolValue statement with the same symbol name later in the file. The
rest of this section describes the individual keywords used to indicate symbolic pointers to bodies of data.
Note

*SymbolLength

The use of a symbol name in place of an InvocationValue is incompatible with

version 3.0 of the PPD file specification and might cause problems for older
parsers. It is intended for use only when the code is very largeon the order
of tens of kilobytes. Symbol names should not be used as the values of keywords that existed in version 3.0 of this specification or for commonly-referenced keywords, such as *PageSize.

symbolName: bytecount EOLcount

This keyword tells a parser how long the body of data is, so the parser knows
how many bytes to skip if it wants to skip this data. The option symbolName
must be the symbolName used in the associated *SymbolValue statement.
The StringValue components bytecount and EOLcount are unsigned integers,
separated by white space. Together they measure the length in bytes of the
data from the * byte of *SymbolValue to the * byte of *SymbolEnd. The first
value gives the number of bytes, excluding the bytes that comprise end-ofline sequences. The second value gives the number of end-of-line sequences.
The parser must determine the number of bytes in an end-of-line sequence in
the PPD file (usually 1 or 2).This number is usually a function of the operating system or platform on which the parser is operating, so it is usually
known to the parser. It can then compute the byte offset of the *SymbolEnd keyword in the file by the formula
ibEnd = ibValue + bytecount + (cbEOL*EOLcount)

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where
ibEnd
= byte offset of '*' in '*SymbolEnd'
ibValue = byte offset of '*' in '*SymbolValue'
cbEOL
= number of bytes per end-of-line sequence

and the values of bytecount and EOLcount are taken from the *SymbolLength keyword.
The information given by the *SymbolLength keyword is a hint only; parsers
must not rely on it being correct or even present. If it is not correct or present,
the parser must skip the value definition by scanning through the file until it
reaches the *SymbolEnd keyword with the appropriate symbolName.
*SymbolLength must occur in a PPD file immediately before *SymbolValue.

*SymbolValue

symbolName: invocation

This keyword marks the beginning of a body of data of type InvocationValue.

Symbol names must be defined in a *SymbolValue statement if they are referenced by a main keyword. It is an error for a PPD file to reference a symbol
name that is not later defined. If a name is referenced but not defined, parsers
can substitute a value of " " (empty quotes). The *SymbolValue statement for a
given symbolName must occur after the reference to symbolName by a main keyword. That is, once a parser encounters a main keyword referencing
symbolName, it can expect to find a corresponding *SymbolValue statement either
later in the PPD file or in an included PPD file.
The following two examples are both valid.
*%File: A
...
*Jog True: ^JogTrue
...
*SymbolLength ^JogTrue: 2000 500
*SymbolValue ^JogTrue: "..."
*SymbolEnd: ^JogTrue
...
*%File: B
...
*Jog True: ^JogTrue
...
*Include: "C" --------->
...

*%File: C
...
*SymbolLength ^JogTrue: 2000 500
*SymbolValue ^JogTrue: "..."
*SymbolEnd: ^JogTrue

5 Keywords

151

Alternatively, the reference to symbolName can be in an included PPD file as

long as the *SymbolValue statement is encountered after the *Include statement in
the including file. For example, the following is valid because included files
are treated as in-line files, so the parser must finish parsing File E before it
encounters the *SymbolValue in File D:
*%File: D
...
*Include: "E" ------------------->
...
...
*SymbolLength ^JogTrue: 2000 500
*SymbolValue ^JogTrue: "..."
*SymbolEnd: ^JogTrue

*%File: E
*Jog True: ^JogTrue
...

The rules for legal symbolNames are the same as for legal option keywords. By
convention, Adobe-generated PPD files will construct symbol names by concatenating the main and option keywords together (omitting the asterisk from
the main keyword). For example:
*ColorRenderDict Saturated.Bond.Dot: ^ColorRenderDictSaturated.Bond.Dot
...
*SymbolValue ^ColorRenderDictSaturated.Bond.Dot: ...

If there are multiple occurrences of *SymbolValue for a given symbolName, the

first occurrence has precedence.

*SymbolEnd:

symbolName

This keyword must appear on the next line following the closing double
quote of the symbol value. The StringValue value, symbolName, must be the
same as the symbolName used in the associated *SymbolValue statement.

152

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Sample PPD File Structure

This section contains examples of
a generic Level 2 color printer PPD file
a generic Level 2 imagesetter PPD file
custom page size entries for various devices

6.1

Level 2 Color Printer

This PPD file describes a Level 2 color printer with one resolution, one regular input slot, one manual feed slot, two output bins, an optional envelope
feeder, and three supported page sizes. The printer can have a hard disk
attached to it. It supports duplexing, choosing the media by type, and HP
LaserJet emulation. It can also do color separations at the printer, when sent a
composite color file.
*PPD-Adobe: "4.3"
*FormatVersion: "4.3"
*FileVersion: "1.0"
*LanguageEncoding: ISOLatin1
*LanguageVersion: English
*Product: "(Acme Color Printer)"
*PSVersion: "(2017.0) 0"
*Manufacturer: Acme
*ModelName: "Acme Color Printer v.2017"
*ShortNickName: Acme Color Printer
*NickName: "Acme Color Printer v.2017"
*PCFileName: ACCOLOR1.PPD
*%=== Basic Capabilities ===============
*LanguageLevel: 2
*ColorDevice: True
*DefaultColorSpace: CMYK
*FreeVM: "8134935"
*FileSystem: True
*?FileSystem: "
save false
(%disk?%)
{ currentdevparams dup /Writeable known
{ /Writeable get {pop true} if } { pop } ifelse
} 10 string /IODevice resourceforall
{(True)}{(False)} ifelse = flush
restore"
*End
*Throughput: "1"
*Password: "0"

6 Sample PPD File Structure

153

*ExitServer: " count 0 eq

{ false } { true exch startjob } ifelse
not { (WARNING: Cannot modify initial VM.) =
(Missing or invalid password.) =
(Please contact the author of this software.) = flush quit
} if"
*End
*Reset: " count 0 eq { false } { true exch startjob } ifelse
not { (WARNING: Cannot reset printer.) =
(Missing or invalid password.) =
(Please contact the author of this software.) = flush quit
} if
systemdict /quit get exec
(WARNING : Printer Reset Failed.) = flush"
*End
*Protocols: BCP PJL
*Emulators: hplj
*StartEmulator_hplj: "currentfile /hpcl statusdict /emulate get exec "
*StopEmulator_hplj: "<1B7F>0"
*JCLBegin: "<1B>%-12345X@PJL JOB<0A>"
*JCLToPSInterpreter: "@PJL ENTER LANGUAGE = POSTSCRIPT <0A>"
*JCLEnd: "<1B>%-12345X@PJL EOJ<0A><1B>%-12345X"
*%===== Installable Options =============
*OpenGroup: InstallableOptions/Options Installed
*OpenUI *Option1/Optional Envelope Feeder: Boolean
*DefaultOption1: False
*Option1 True/Installed:
*Option1 False/Not Installed:
*CloseUI: *Option1
*CloseGroup: InstallableOptions
*% ====== Constraints ===========
*% This device cannot print duplex on envelopes or transparencies,
*% It cannot output legal size paper to the rear output tray. It
*% cannot print from the envelope feeder unless the feeder is installed
*% Envelopes must be fed from the envelope feeder. Only envelopes may be fed
*% from the envelope feeder. Envelopes may not be transparent.
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Env10 *Duplex
*UIConstraints: *Duplex *PageSize Env10
*UIConstraints: *Duplex *MediaType Transparent
*UIConstraints: *MediaType Transparent *Duplex
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Legal *OutputBin Rear
*UIConstraints: *OutputBin Rear *PageSize Legal
*UIConstraints: *Option1 False *InputSlot Envelope
*UIConstraints: *InputSlot Envelope *Option1 False
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Env10 *InputSlot Upper
*UIConstraints: *InputSlot Upper *PageSize Env10
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Legal *InputSlot Envelope
*UIConstraints: *InputSlot Envelope *PageSize Legal
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Letter *InputSlot Envelope
*UIConstraints: *InputSlot Envelope *PageSize Letter
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Env10 *MediaType Transparent
*UIConstraints: *MediaType Transparent *PageSize Env10
*UIConstraints: *InputSlot Envelope *MediaType Transparent
*UIConstraints: *MediaType Transparent *InputSlot Envelope

154

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*%=== Resolution Information ======================

*DefaultResolution: 300dpi
*?Resolution: "save
currentpagedevice /HWResolution get
0 get
(
) cvs print (dpi) = flush
restore
"
*End
*% Halftone Information ===========================
*ScreenFreq: "60.0"
*ScreenAngle: "45.0"
*DefaultScreenProc: Dot
*ScreenProc Dot: "
{abs exch abs 2 copy add 1 gt {1 sub dup mul exch 1 sub dup mul add 1
sub}{dup mul exch dup mul add 1 exch sub}ifelse}
"
*End
*ScreenProc Line: "{pop}"
*ScreenProc Ellipse: "{dup 5 mul 8 div mul exch dup mul exch add
sqrt 1 exch sub}"
*End
*DefaultTransfer: Null
*Transfer Null: "{}"
*Transfer Null.Inverse: "{1 exch sub}"
*% Paper Handling ===================
*% Print managers should use these entries to set paper size, unless there is
*% a specific reason to use PageRegion, such as with manual feed.
*OpenUI *PageSize: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 20 AnySetup *PageSize
*PageSize Letter: "(<<) cvx exec
/PageSize [612 792] /ImagingBBox null (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize Legal: "(<<) cvx exec
/PageSize [612 1008] /ImagingBBox null (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize Env10: (<<) cvx exec /PageSize [297 684] /ImagingBBox null
(>>) cvx exec setpagedevice
*End
*DefaultPageSize: Letter
*?PageSize: "save
currentpagedevice /PageSize get aload pop
2 copy gt {exch} if (Unknown)
(<<) cvx exec
[612 792] (Letter)
[612 1008] (Legal)
[297 684] (Env10)
(>>) cvx exec
{ exch aload pop 4 index sub abs 5 le exch 5 index sub abs 5 le and
{ exch pop exit } {pop} ifelse
} bind forall = flush pop pop
restore
"
*End
*CloseUI: *PageSize

6 Sample PPD File Structure

155

*% These entries set up the frame buffer. Usually used with manual feed.
*OpenUI *PageRegion: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 30 AnySetup *PageRegion
*PageRegion Letter: "(<<) cvx exec /PageSize [612 792] /ImagingBBox null
(>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion Legal: "(<<) cvx exec /PageSize [612 1008] /ImagingBBox null
(>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion Env10: (<<) cvx exec /PageSize [297 684] /ImagingBBox null
(>>) cvx exec setpagedevice
*End
*DefaultPageRegion: Letter
*CloseUI: *PageRegion
*% The following entries provide information about specific paper keywords.
*DefaultImageableArea: Letter
*ImageableArea Letter: "13 12 596 774 "
*ImageableArea Legal: "15 13 597 991 "
*ImageableArea Env10: "15 13 280 670"
*?ImageableArea: " save /cvp { cvi (
print ( ) print } bind def
newpath clippath pathbbox
4 -2 roll exch 2 {ceiling cvp} repeat
exch 2 {floor cvp} repeat ( ) = flush
restore
"
*End

) cvs

*% These provide the physical dimensions of the paper (by keyword)

*DefaultPaperDimension: Letter
*PaperDimension Letter: "612 792"
*PaperDimension Legal: "612 1008"
*PaperDimension Env10: "297 684"
*% On this device, the Upper tray is tray 0 and the Envelope tray is tray 1.
*OpenUI *InputSlot: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 15 AnySetup *InputSlot
*DefaultInputSlot: Upper
*InputSlot Upper: " mark {
(<<) cvx exec
/InputAttributes (<<) cvx exec /Priority [0] (>>) cvx exec
(>>) cvx exec setpagedevice
} stopped cleartomark "
*End
*InputSlot Envelope: " mark {
(<<) cvx exec
/InputAttributes (<<) cvx exec /Priority [1] (>>) cvx exec
(>>) cvx exec setpagedevice
} stopped cleartomark "
*End

156

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*?InputSlot: "
save
(<<) cvx exec
/1 (Envelope)
/0 (Upper)
(>>) cvx exec
currentpagedevice /InputAttributes get
dup /Priority known
{ /Priority get 0 get (
) cvs cvn get }
{
dup length 1 eq
{ {pop} forall (
) cvs cvn get }
{ pop pop (Unknown) } ifelse
} ifelse
= flush
restore
"
*End
*CloseUI: *InputSlot
*OpenUI *MediaType: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 20 AnySetup *MediaType
*DefaultMediaType: Paper
*MediaType Transparent: "(<<) cvx exec /MediaType Transparent (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*MediaType Paper: "(<<) cvx exec /MediaType Paper (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*?MediaType: " save
currentpagedevice /MediaType {get} stopped
{pop pop (Unknown)} {dup null eq {pop (Unknown)} if} ifelse = flush restore "
*End
*CloseUI: *MediaType
*OpenUI *Duplex: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 30 AnySetup *Duplex
*DefaultDuplex: None
*Duplex DuplexTumble: "(<<) cvx exec /Duplex true /Tumble true (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*Duplex DuplexNoTumble: "(<<) cvx exec /Duplex true /Tumble false (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice
*Duplex None: "(<<) cvx exec /Duplex false /Tumble false (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*?Duplex: "save currentpagedevice /Duplex get
{ currentpagedevice /Tumble get
{(DuplexTumble)}{(DuplexNoTumble)}ifelse
}
{ (None)}
ifelse = flush
restore
"
*End
*CloseUI: *Duplex
*% Font Information =====================
*DefaultFont: Courier
*Font AvantGarde-Book: Standard "(001.002)" Standard ROM
*Font AvantGarde-BookOblique: Standard "(001.002)" Standard ROM
*Font AvantGarde-Demi: Standard "(001.003)" Standard ROM
*Font AvantGarde-DemiOblique: Standard "(001.003)" Standard ROM
*Font Courier: Standard "(002.002)" Standard ROM
*Font Courier-Bold: Standard "(002.002)" Standard ROM
*Font Courier-BoldOblique: Standard "(002.002)" Standard ROM

6 Sample PPD File Structure

157

*Font
*Font
*Font
*Font
*Font
*Font

Symbol: Special "(001.003)" Special ROM

Times-Bold: Standard "(001.002)" Standard ROM
Times-BoldItalic: Standard "(001.004)" Standard ROM
Times-Italic: Standard "(001.002)" Standard ROM
Times-Roman: Standard "(001.002)" Standard ROM
ZapfDingbats: Special "(001.002)" Special ROM

*?FontQuery: "
save
{ count 1 gt
{ exch dup 127 string cvs (/) print print (:) print
/Font resourcestatus {pop pop (Yes)} {(No)} ifelse =
} { exit } ifelse
} bind loop
(*) = flush
restore"
*End
*?FontList: "
save (*) {cvn ==} 128 string /Font resourceforall
(*) = flush restore"
*End
*% Printer Messages (verbatim from printer):
*Message: "%%[ exitserver: permanent state may be changed ]%%"
*Message: "\FontName\ not found, using Courier"
*% Status (format: %%[ status: <one of these> ]%% )
*Status: "idle"
*Status: "busy"
*Status: "waiting"
*Status: "printing"
*Status: "initializing"
*Status: "PrinterError: "Optical System Error "
*Status: "PrinterError: " Cover Open "
*Status: "PrinterError: "Prnter Wrmng"/PrinterError: Printer Warming Up
*% Input
*Source:
*Source:
*Source:
*Source:

Sources (format:%%[status:<stat>;source:<one of these>]%%)

"%Serial%"
"%SerialB%"
"%LocalTalk%"
"%Parallel%"

*% Printer Error (format: %%[ PrinterError: <one of these> ]%%)

*PrinterError: "Optical System Error "
*PrinterError: " Cover Open "
*PrinterError: "Prnter Wrmng"/Printer Warming Up
*% Color Separation Information =====================
*OpenUI *Separations: Boolean
*OrderDependency: 40 AnySetup *Separations
*Separations True: "(<<) cvx exec /Separations true (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*Separations False: "(<<) cvx exec /Separations false (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*DefaultSeparations: False
*?Separations: "save currentpagedevice /Separations get
{(True)}{(False)}ifelse = flush restore"
*End
*CloseUI: *Separations

158

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

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*DefaultColorSep: ProcessBlack.60lpi.300dpi/60 lpi / 300 dpi

*InkName:
*InkName:
*InkName:
*InkName:
*InkName:
*%

ProcessBlack/Process Black
CustomColor/Custom Color
ProcessCyan/Process Cyan
ProcessMagenta/Process Magenta
ProcessYellow/Process Yellow

For 60 lpi / 300 dpi

*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*%

ProcessBlack.60lpi.300dpi/60 lpi / 300 dpi: "45"

CustomColor.60lpi.300dpi/60 lpi / 300 dpi: "45"
ProcessCyan.60lpi.300dpi/60 lpi / 300 dpi: "15"
ProcessMagenta.60lpi.300dpi/60 lpi / 300 dpi: "75"
ProcessYellow.60lpi.300dpi/60 lpi / 300 dpi: "0"
ProcessBlack.60lpi.300dpi/60 lpi / 300 dpi: "60"
CustomColor.60lpi.300dpi/60 lpi / 300 dpi: "60"
ProcessCyan.60lpi.300dpi/60 lpi / 300 dpi: "60"
ProcessMagenta.60lpi.300dpi/60 lpi / 300 dpi: "60"
ProcessYellow.60lpi.300dpi/60 lpi / 300 dpi: "60"

For 53 lpi / 300 dpi

*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq

===============================

===============================

ProcessBlack.53lpi.300dpi/53 lpi / 300 dpi: "45.0"

CustomColor.53lpi.300dpi/53 lpi / 300 dpi: "45.0"
ProcessCyan.53lpi.300dpi/53 lpi / 300 dpi: "71.5651"
ProcessMagenta.53lpi.300dpi/53 lpi / 300 dpi: "18.43"
ProcessYellow.53lpi.300dpi/53 lpi / 300 dpi: "0.0"
ProcessBlack.53lpi.300dpi/53 lpi / 300 dpi: "53.033"
CustomColor.53lpi.300dpi/53 lpi / 300 dpi: "53.033"
ProcessCyan.53lpi.300dpi/53 lpi / 300 dpi: "47.43"
ProcessMagenta.53lpi.300dpi/53 lpi / 300 dpi: "47.43"
ProcessYellow.53lpi.300dpi/53 lpi / 300 dpi: "50.0"

*% end of PPD file for Acme Color Printer

6 Sample PPD File Structure

159

6.2

Level 2 Imagesetter

This PPD file describes a generic Level 2 roll-fed imagesetter. It supports

Adobes Accurate Screens technology and several resolutions. It supports the
features mirror print and negative print, which have been grouped together by
the *OpenGroup/*CloseGroup keyword pair. This device ships with several fonts
built into the ROM of the device, and the font Avant-Garde on a separate hard
disk. While most imagesetters support custom page sizes, the custom page
size section is not shown here because of its complexity; see section 6.3 for
examples of custom page size code.
*PPD-Adobe: "4.3"
*FormatVersion: "4.3"
*FileVersion: "1.0"
*LanguageEncoding: ISOLatin1
*LanguageVersion: English
*Product: "(Acme Imagesetter)"
*PSVersion: "(2015.11) 7"
*Manufacturer: Acme
*ModelName: "Acme Imagesetter v.2015.11"
*ShortNickName: Acme Imagesetter
*NickName: "Acme Imagesetter v.2015.11"
*PCFileName: ACIMAGE1.PPD
*%======================================= Basic Capabilities ===============
*LanguageLevel: 2
*ColorDevice: False
*DefaultColorSpace: Gray
*FreeVM: "8134935"
*FileSystem: True
*?FileSystem: "
save false
(%disk?%)
{ currentdevparams dup /Writeable known
{ /Writeable get {pop true} if } { pop } ifelse
} 10 string /IODevice resourceforall
{(True)}{(False)} ifelse = flush
restore"
*End
*Throughput: "1"
*Password: "0"
*ExitServer: " count 0 eq
{ false } { true exch startjob } ifelse
not { (WARNING: Cannot modify initial VM.) =
(Missing or invalid password.) =
(Please contact the author of this software.) = flush quit
} if"
*End

160

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

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*Reset: " count 0 eq

{ false } { true exch startjob } ifelse
not { (WARNING: Cannot reset printer.) =
(Missing or invalid password.) =
(Please contact the author of this software.) = flush quit
} if
systemdict /quit get exec
(WARNING : Printer Reset Failed.) = flush"
*End
*%=== Resolution Information ===================
*OpenUI *Resolution/Choose Resolution: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 10 AnySetup *Resolution
*Resolution 600dpi: "(<<) cvx exec /HWResolution 600 (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*Resolution 1200dpi: "(<<) cvx exec /HWResolution 1200 (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*Resolution 2400dpi: "(<<) cvx exec /HWResolution 2400 (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*DefaultResolution: 1200dpi
*?Resolution: " save
currentpagedevice /HWResolution get
0 get (
) cvs print (dpi) = flush
restore"
*End
*CloseUI: *Resolution
*% === Halftone Information ===========================
*ScreenFreq: "60.0"
*ScreenAngle: "45.0"
*DefaultScreenProc: Dot
*ScreenProc Dot: "
{abs exch abs 2 copy add 1 gt {1 sub dup mul exch 1 sub dup mul add 1
sub}{dup mul exch dup mul add 1 exch sub}ifelse}
"
*End
*ScreenProc Line: "{pop}"
*ScreenProc Ellipse: "{dup 5 mul 8 div mul exch dup mul exch add
sqrt 1 exch sub}
"
*End
*AccurateScreensSupport: True
*DefaultTransfer: Null
*Transfer Null: "{}"
*Transfer Null.Inverse: "{1 exch sub}"
*% Paper Handling ===================
*% Use these entries to set paper size most of the time, unless there is
*% specific reason to use PageRegion or PaperTray.
*OpenUI *PageSize/Page Size: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 30 AnySetup *PageSize
*DefaultPageSize: Letter
*PageSize Letter: "(<<) cvx exec
/PageSize [612 792]
/ImagingBBox null (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End

6 Sample PPD File Structure

161

*PageSize Legal: "(<<) cvx exec

/PageSize [612 1008]
/ImagingBBox null (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize Tabloid: "(<<) cvx exec
/PageSize [792 1224]
/ImagingBBox null (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End
*?PageSize: "save currentpagedevice /PageSize get aload pop
2 copy gt {exch} if (Unknown)
(<<) cvx exec
[612 792] (Letter)
[612 1008] (Legal)
[792 1224] (Tabloid)
(>>) cvx exec
{ exch aload pop 4 index sub abs 5 le exch 5 index sub abs 5 le and
{ exch pop exit } { pop } ifelse
} bind forall = flush pop pop
restore"
*End
*CloseUI: *PageSize
*% These entries set up the frame buffer. Same as *PageSize for an
*% imagesetter, which has no input trays or manual feed slot.
*OpenUI *PageRegion: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 40 AnySetup *PageRegion
*DefaultPageRegion: Letter
*PageRegion Letter: "(<<) cvx exec
/PageSize [612 792]
/ImagingBBox null (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion Legal: "(<<) cvx exec
/PageSize [612 1008]
/ImagingBBox null (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion Tabloid: "(<<) cvx exec
/PageSize [792 1224]
/ImagingBBox null (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End
*CloseUI: *PageRegion
*% These entries provide the imageable area for specific paper keywords.
*DefaultImageableArea: Letter
*ImageableArea Letter: "0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0"
*ImageableArea Legal: "0.0 0.0 612.0 1008.0"
*ImageableArea Tabloid: "0.0 0.0 792.0 1224.0"
*?ImageableArea: "
save
/cvp { (
) cvs print ( ) print } bind def
/upperright {10000 mul floor 10000 div} bind def
/lowerleft {10000 mul ceiling 10000 div} bind def
newpath clippath pathbbox
4 -2 roll exch 2 {lowerleft cvp} repeat
exch 2 {upperright cvp} repeat ( ) = flush
restore
"
*End

162

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

(9 Feb 1996)

*% These provide the physical dimensions of the page (by option keyword)
*DefaultPaperDimension: Letter
*PaperDimension Letter: "612 792"
*PaperDimension Legal: "612 1008"
*PaperDimension Tabloid: "792 1224"
*% Only one input slot, but the entry is included to dictate the slot name
*% that appears in the user interface.
*OpenUI *InputSlot: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 30 AnySetup *InputSlot
*InputSlot Cassette:
*DefaultInputSlot: Cassette
*CloseUI: *InputSlot
*% === Imagesetter Information ===========================
*% Imagesetter features are grouped here.
*OpenGroup: Imagesetter
*OpenUI *MirrorPrint/Mirror Print: Boolean
*OrderDependency: 40 AnySetup *MirrorPrint
*MirrorPrint True: "(<<) cvx exec /MirrorPrint true (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*MirrorPrint False: "(<<) cvx exec /MirrorPrint false (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*DefaultMirrorPrint: False
*?MirrorPrint: " save currentpagedevice /MirrorPrint get
{(True)} {(False)} ifelse = flush restore"
*End
*CloseUI: *MirrorPrint
*OpenUI *NegativePrint/Negative Print: Boolean
*OrderDependency: 40 AnySetup *NegativePrint
*NegativePrint True: "(<<) cvx exec /NegativePrint true (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*NegativePrint False: "(<<) cvx exec /NegativePrint false (>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*DefaultNegativePrint: False
*?NegativePrint: "save currentpagedevice /NegativePrint get
{(True)}{(False)}ifelse = flush restore"
*End
*CloseUI: *NegativePrint
*CloseGroup: Imagesetter
*% Font Information =====================
*% For example purposes, this device ships with several fonts built into
*% the ROM of the device, and Avant-Garde on a separate hard disk
*DefaultFont: Courier
*Font AvantGarde-Book: Standard "(001.002)" Standard Disk
*Font AvantGarde-BookOblique: Standard "(001.002)" Standard Disk
*Font AvantGarde-Demi: Standard "(001.003)" Standard Disk
*Font AvantGarde-DemiOblique: Standard "(001.003)" Standard Disk
*Font Courier: Standard "(002.002)" Standard ROM
*Font Courier-Bold: Standard "(002.002)" Standard ROM
*Font Courier-BoldOblique: Standard "(002.002)" Standard ROM
*Font Symbol: Special "(001.003)" Special ROM
*Font Times-Bold: Standard "(001.002)" Standard ROM
*Font Times-BoldItalic: Standard "(001.004)" Standard ROM
*Font Times-Italic: Standard "(001.002)" Standard ROM
*Font Times-Roman: Standard "(001.002)" Standard ROM

6 Sample PPD File Structure

163

*?FontQuery: "
save
{ count 1 gt
{ exch dup 127 string cvs (/) print print (:) print
/Font resourcestatus {pop pop (Yes)} {(No)} ifelse =
} { exit } ifelse
} bind loop
(*) = flush
restore
"
*End
*?FontList: "
save (*) {cvn ==} 128 string /Font resourceforall
(*) = flush restore
"
*End
*% Printer Messages (verbatim from printer):
*Message: "%%[ exitserver: permanent state may be changed ]%%"
*Message: "\FontName\ not found, using Courier"
*% Status (format: %%[ status: <one of these> ]%% )
*Status: "idle"
*Status: "busy"
*Status: "waiting"
*Status: "printing"
*Status: "initializing"
*Status: "PrinterError: Cassette not loaded"
*Status: "PrinterError: Film Unit Error"
*% Input
*Source:
*Source:
*Source:
*Source:

Sources (format:%%[status:<stat>;source:<one of these>]%%)

"Localtalk"
"Parallel"
"Serial"
"SerialB"

*% Printer Error (format: %%[ PrinterError: <one of these> ]%%)

*PrinterError: "Cassette not loaded"
*PrinterError: "Film Unit Error"
*% Color Separation Information =====================
*DefaultColorSep: ProcessBlack.90lpi.1200dpi/90 lpi / 1200 dpi
*InkName:
*InkName:
*InkName:
*InkName:
*InkName:

ProcessBlack/Process Black
CustomColor/Custom Color
ProcessCyan/Process Cyan
ProcessMagenta/Process Magenta
ProcessYellow/Process Yellow

*% For 90 lpi / 1200 dpi

*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle

164

===============================

ProcessCyan.90lpi.1200dpi/90 lpi / 1200 dpi: "71.565"

ProcessMagenta.90lpi.1200dpi/90 lpi/1200 dpi: "18.43"
ProcessYellow.90lpi.1200dpi/90 lpi / 1200 dpi: "0"
ProcessBlack.90lpi.1200dpi/90 lpi / 1200 dpi: "45"
CustomColor.90lpi.1200dpi/90 lpi / 1200 dpi: "45"

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

(9 Feb 1996)

*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq

ProcessCyan.90lpi.1200dpi/90 lpi / 1200 dpi: "94.8683"

ProcessMagenta.90lpi.1200dpi/90 lpi/1200 dpi: "94.86"
ProcessYellow.90lpi.1200dpi/90 lpi / 1200 dpi: "30"
ProcessBlack.90lpi.1200dpi/90 lpi / 1200 dpi: "84.852"
CustomColor.90lpi.1200dpi/90 lpi / 1200 dpi: "84.8528"

*ColorSepScreenProc ProcessYellow.90lpi.1200dpi/90 lpi / 1200 dpi: "

{2 {1 add 2 div 3 mul dup floor sub 2 mul 1 sub exch } repeat
abs exch abs 2 copy add 1 gt {1 sub dup mul exch 1 sub dup mul add 1
sub }{dup mul exch dup mul add 1 exch sub }ifelse }"
*End
*% For 110 lpi / 1200 dpi ==============================
*ColorSepScreenAngle ProcessCyan.110lpi.1200dpi/110 lpi /1200 dpi: "70.01"
*ColorSepScreenAngle ProcessMagenta.110lpi.1200dpi/110 lpi/1200 dpi: "19"
*ColorSepScreenAngle ProcessYellow.110lpi.1200dpi/110 lpi / 1200 dpi: "0"
*ColorSepScreenAngle ProcessBlack.110lpi.1200dpi/110 lpi / 1200 dpi: "45"
*ColorSepScreenAngle CustomColor.110lpi.1200dpi/110 lpi / 1200 dpi: "45"
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*% For 90 lpi / 2400
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenAngle
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq

ProcessCyan.110lpi.1200dpi/110 lpi /1200 dpi: "102.52"

ProcessMagenta.110lpi.1200dpi/110 lpi/1200 dpi: "102"
ProcessYellow.110lpi.1200dpi/110 lpi/1200 dpi: "109.1"
ProcessBlack.110lpi.1200dpi/110 lpi/1200 dpi: "121.22"
CustomColor.110lpi.1200dpi/110 lpi/1200 dpi: "121.218"
dpi ===============================
ProcessCyan.90lpi.2400dpi/90 lpi /2400 dpi: "71.5651"
ProcessMagenta.90lpi.2400dpi/90 lpi/2400 dpi: "18.44"
ProcessYellow.90lpi.2400dpi/90 lpi / 2400 dpi: "0"
ProcessBlack.90lpi.2400dpi/90 lpi / 2400 dpi: "45"
CustomColor.90lpi.2400dpi/90 lpi / 2400 dpi: "45"
ProcessCyan.90lpi.2400dpi/90 lpi / 2400 dpi: "94.8683"
ProcessMagenta.90lpi.2400dpi/90 lpi /2400 dpi: "94.87"
ProcessYellow.90lpi.2400dpi/90 lpi / 2400 dpi: "30"
ProcessBlack.90lpi.2400dpi/90 lpi /2400 dpi: "84.8528"
CustomColor.90lpi.2400dpi/90 lpi / 2400 dpi: "84.8528"

*ColorSepScreenProc ProcessYellow.90lpi.2400dpi/90 lpi / 2400 dpi: "

{2 {1 add 2 div 3 mul dup floor sub 2 mul 1 sub exch } repeat
abs exch abs 2 copy add 1 gt {1 sub dup mul exch 1 sub dup mul add 1
sub }{dup mul exch dup mul add 1 exch sub }ifelse }"
*End
*% For 115 lpi / 2400 dpi ==============================
*ColorSepScreenAngle ProcessCyan.115lpi.2400dpi/115 lpi /2400 dpi: "71.56"
*ColorSepScreenAngle ProcessMagenta.115lpi.2400dpi/115 lpi/ 2400 dpi: "18"
*ColorSepScreenAngle ProcessYellow.115lpi.2400dpi/115 lpi / 2400 dpi: "0"
*ColorSepScreenAngle ProcessBlack.115lpi.2400dpi/115 lpi / 2400 dpi: "45"
*ColorSepScreenAngle CustomColor.115lpi.2400dpi/115 lpi / 2400 dpi: "45"
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq
*ColorSepScreenFreq

ProcessCyan.115lpi.2400dpi/115 lpi/2400 dpi: "126.491"

ProcessMagenta.115lpi.2400dpi/115 lpi/ 2400 dpi: "126"
ProcessYellow.115lpi.2400dpi/115 lpi / 2400 dpi: "120"
ProcessBlack.115lpi.2400dpi/115 lpi/2400 dpi: "113.13"
CustomColor.115lpi.2400dpi/115 lpi/2400 dpi: "113.137"

*% end of PPD file for Acme Imagesetter

6 Sample PPD File Structure

165

6.3

Examples of Custom Page Size Code

This section contains examples of custom page size entries for Level 1 and
Level 2 drum and capstan recorders (roll-fed devices) and for Level 2 devices
that accept both roll-fed and cut-sheet media. These examples are intended to
help builders of PPD files with the construction of custom page size entries.
They should be interpreted as guidelines, not requirements of this specification.
Because of the complexity of writing a custom page size entry, it is critical
that you thoroughly test your *CustomPageSize code with requests for different
page sizes, different offsets (if supported), and different orientations, preferably using several different print managers or applications. Such testing often
highlights problems with the custom page size code in the PPD file, with a
print managers handling of custom page sizes, or even with the devices
implementation of custom page sizes.
Minimums and maximums

When constructing your own custom page size entry, you would insert the
devices values for *MaxMediaWidth, *MaxMediaHeight, *HWMargins (if present), and
the minimum and maximum range values of the *ParamCustomPageSize entries.
On some devices, requesting a width or height of zero will cause an error.
Because of this, the values of the minimum Width and Height boundaries in the
*ParamCustomPageSize entries should be set to small positive numbers, such as
100 points.
*LeadingEdge
*LeadingEdge is needed by print managers to give the user a way to request
Transverse pages (on roll-fed media) or to tell the print manager how a cutsheet device is configured so that the imageable area of the custom page size
can be calculated correctly. It is important to include this keyword in the PPD
file if *CustomPageSize is present.

For *LeadingEdge, list only the options that are available on the device. Most
devices that accept only cut-sheet media will support either Short or Long, but
not both. However, some cut-sheet devices will support both Short and Long,
either in separate input trays or in an adjustable input tray. Most roll-fed
devices support both Short and Long, because the page image can be rotated on
the film or paper.

166

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

(9 Feb 1996)

Youll need to write *NonUIConstraints that document which trays support

which leading edge, such as these for a device whose Upper tray supports only
long-edge feed and whose Lower tray supports only short-edge feed:
*LeadingEdge Short:
*LeadingEdge Long:
*DefaultLeadingEdge: Long
*NonUIConstraints: *InputSlot Upper *LeadingEdge Short
*NonUIConstraints: *LeadingEdge Short *InputSlot Upper
*NonUIConstraints: *InputSlot Lower *LeadingEdge Long
*NonUIConstraints: *LeadingEdge Long *InputSlot Lower

Typically, PreferLong will be available only on devices that accept roll-fed

media. It should only appear in the PPD file as an option for *LeadingEdge if
the device can be configured to calculate whether the page will fit on the roll
in the long-edge feed direction and rotate the page to long-edge feed if it fits
that way. PreferLong is typically not available on devices that accept only cutsheet media, as the device has no way to rotate the physical page. If
*HWMargins and *UseHWMargins are both present, then PreferLong will typically
only be available when *UseHWMargins is False (when the device is operating in
traditional roll-fed mode). If PreferLong is not available when *UseHWMargins is
True, there should be a *NonUIConstraints entry to reflect this:
*NonUIConstraints: *UseHWMargins True *LeadingEdge PreferLong
*NonUIConstraints: *LeadingEdge PreferLong *UseHWMargins True

The *LeadingEdge option Forced is very rare. Forced will usually be available
only on devices that accept cut-sheet media. If the device always rotates the
page image in device space so that the long axis of the page image is parallel
to the long axis of the physical page, then Forced is not available on the
device. To find out whether Forced is available, try to print a short-edge feed
image (Width < Height, Portrait orientation) on a long-edge feed page, or vice
versa. You must first set up the device correctly, in do what I say mode,
with the leading edge set up to be the opposite of what you will request from
the print manager. If you do this with a full-page image, and Forced is available, the image should appear to be rotated 90 degrees and clipped. If you are
unsure, do not include Forced as an option for *LeadingEdge in the PPD file.
Unknown is available for all devices, but it provides a print manager with no

useful information and should be omitted if the device manufacturer (and

PPD file builder) wants to force the user to choose the correct value (Short,
Long, PreferLong, or Forced) for *LeadingEdge. If a user chooses Unknown, the print
manager cannot correlate the top of the physical page with the x and y axes of
the page image, so it cannot calculate the imageable area of the custom page
size correctly. This can cause the print manager to falsely warn the user that
the page image will be clipped, or it can cause actual clipping if the page
image and the physical page are rotated relative to each other. For these reasons, including Unknown in the *LeadingEdge options list is discouraged. If
Unknown must be listed as an option, using Unknown as the value of

6 Sample PPD File Structure

167

*DefaultLeadingEdge is strongly discouraged. The value of *DefaultLeadingEdge

should be the default leading edge of the default input slot; typically, Short,
Long, or PreferLong.

Level 1 roll-fed devices

Since the *ParamCustomPageSize parameters for roll-fed devices are defined in

terms of media feed direction, not fast scan/slow scan direction, writing the
*CustomPageSize code and setting up the *ParamCustomPageSize entries can be
confusing, and must be done with great care.
On Level 1 roll-fed devices that use the setpageparams operator in the
*CustomPageSize code, HeightOffset is not used and will be discarded, as shown
by exch pop in the first line of the *CustomPageSize code.
Example 1: Entry for a Level 1 capstan recorder, or a Level 1 drum recorder
where setpageparams has been redefined to emulate the output of a capstan

recorder:
*CenterRegistered: False
*LeadingEdge Short:
*LeadingEdge Long:
*DefaultLeadingEdge: Long
*NonUIOrderDependency: 20 AnySetup *CustomPageSize
*ParamCustomPageSize Width: 1 points 1 1008
*ParamCustomPageSize Height: 2 points 1 3000
*ParamCustomPageSize WidthOffset/Margins: 3 points 0 1007
*ParamCustomPageSize HeightOffset: 4 points 0 0
*ParamCustomPageSize Orientation: 5 int 0 1
*CustomPageSize True: "exch pop
statusdict /setpageparams get exec"
*End
*MaxMediaWidth: "1008"
*?CurrentMediaWidth: "statusdict /mediawidth get exec = flush"
*MaxMediaHeight: "3000"
*?CurrentMediaHeight: "statusdict /medialength get exec = flush"

168

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

(9 Feb 1996)

Example 2: Entry for a Level 1 drum recorder, where setpageparams has not

been redefined to emulate the output of a capstan recorder. Note the

differences in the ordering of the parameters on the stack, and the differences
in both the invocation and query code, compared to Example 1:
*CenterRegistered: False
*LeadingEdge Short:
*LeadingEdge Long:
*LeadingEdge PreferLong:
*DefaultLeadingEdge: PreferLong
*NonUIOrderDependency: 20 AnySetup *CustomPageSize
*ParamCustomPageSize Width: 2 points 1 1152
*ParamCustomPageSize Height: 1 points 1 1584
*ParamCustomPageSize WidthOffset/Margins: 4 points 0 0
*ParamCustomPageSize HeightOffset: 3 points 0 1151
*ParamCustomPageSize Orientation: 5 int 0 1
*CustomPageSize True: "1 exch sub exch pop
statusdict /setpageparams get exec"
*End
*MaxMediaWidth: "1152"
*?CurrentMediaWidth: "statusdict /medialength get exec = flush"
*MaxMediaHeight: "1584"
*?CurrentMediaHeight: "statusdict /mediawidth get exec = flush"

6 Sample PPD File Structure

169

Level 2 devices

These examples of Level 2 *CustomPageSize invocation code first check the

Orientation parameter to see if it is even or odd. An even Orientation parameter (0
or 2) means that the x axis will be parallel to the media feed direction, which
means that Height must be mapped to the x axis. To perform this mapping, if
Orientation is even, Width and Height are first checked for equality; if they are not
equal, they are switched so that Height maps to x and Width maps to y in the
PageSize array.
The code then examines the dimensions Width and Height to determine how to
map the custom page size Orientation parameter to the setpagedevice key
Orientation, using a choice of arrays of orientations. It then executes
setpagedevice with the appropriate dictionary.
These examples are only appropriate for devices that support the
setpagedevice key PageOffset; otherwise, this code must be written to discard

the offset values provided by the user. The code used to obtain the maximum
width and height is only appropriate for devices that support the setpagedevice
key OutputDevice and a particular form of the PageSize value in the
OutputDevice resource, as documented in the appropriate PostScript language
supplement for the product.
This sample Level 2 code is more verbose than the equivalent Level 1 code
because the mapping between the *ParamCustomPageSize parameters and the
setpagedevice keys can be complicated. When writing your own code, consult
the diagram of orientations in Figure 3, section 5.16 of this document. If the
value of Orientation produces different positions of the pages on the media than
described in these examples, you can still use the examples as a starting point
and change the numbers in the arrays to correctly map the custom page size
parameter Orientation to the setpagedevice key Orientation in the invocation code.

170

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

(9 Feb 1996)

Example 3: Entry for a Level 2 capstan recorder that accepts only roll-fed
media. This example assumes that a portrait page with Orientation equal to 0 in
the currentpagedevice dictionary results in the same positioning of the page on
the media as when the *ParamCustomPageSize parameter Orientation is 0 and
Width is greater than the Height. Note the order of the parameters on the stack
dictated by *ParamCustomPageSize.
*CenterRegistered: False
*DefaultLeadingEdge: PreferLong
*LeadingEdge Long:
*LeadingEdge PreferLong:
*LeadingEdge Short:
*ParamCustomPageSize Width: 3 points 100 1008
*ParamCustomPageSize Height: 4 points 100 3000
*ParamCustomPageSize WidthOffset/Width Margin: 1 points 0 908
*ParamCustomPageSize HeightOffset/Height Margin: 2 points 0 2900
*ParamCustomPageSize Orientation: 5 int 0 3
*NonUIOrderDependency: 30 AnySetup *CustomPageSize
*CustomPageSize True: "
3 copy 2 mod 0 eq {
2 copy eq {
1 add
}{
5 -2 roll exch 5 2 roll
} ifelse
} if
[0 0 2 2] [3 1 1 3]
4 2 roll lt {exch} if pop
exch get
(<<) cvx exec
/Orientation 3 -1 roll
/PageSize [ 7 -2 roll ]
/PageOffset [ 9 -2 roll ]
/ImagingBBox null
(>>) cvx exec setpagedevice"
*End
*MaxMediaWidth: "1008"
*?CurrentMediaWidth: "
currentpagedevice /OutputDevice get
/OutputDevice findresource
/PageSize get 0 get 2 get = flush
"
*End
*MaxMediaHeight: "3000"
*?CurrentMediaHeight: "
currentpagedevice /OutputDevice get
/OutputDevice findresource
/PageSize get 0 get 3 get = flush
"
*End

6 Sample PPD File Structure

171

Example 4: The code for a roll-fed drum recorder may be slightly different from
the code for a capstan recorder. This example assumes that the setpagedevice
key Orientation on the drum recorder produces the same results as the capstan

device in Example 3. This code is similar to Example 3, except that it first

calculates a new value for the width offset by subtracting the custom page
size parameters Width and the WidthOffset from the maximum width. This is
necessary because the fast scan direction (relative to media feed direction) of
a drum recorder is different from that of a capstan recorder. Note that the
order of the parameters on the stack is different from that of Example 3.
*CenterRegistered: False
*DefaultLeadingEdge: PreferLong
*LeadingEdge Long:
*LeadingEdge PreferLong:
*LeadingEdge Short:
*ParamCustomPageSize Width: 1 points 100 1152
*ParamCustomPageSize Height: 2 points 100 1584
*ParamCustomPageSize WidthOffset/Width Margin: 5 points 0 1052
*ParamCustomPageSize HeightOffset/Height Margin: 4 points 0 1484
*ParamCustomPageSize Orientation: 3 int 0 3
*NonUIOrderDependency: 30 AnySetup *CustomPageSize
*CustomPageSize True: "
currentpagedevice /OutputDevice get /OutputDevice findresource
/PageSize get 0 get 3 get
5 index sub exch sub 5 2 roll
3 copy 2 mod 0 eq {
2 copy eq {
1 add
}{
5 -2 roll exch 5 2 roll
} ifelse
} if %
[0 0 2 2] [3 1 1 3]
4 2 roll lt {exch} if pop exch get
(<<) cvx exec
/Orientation 3 -1 roll
/PageSize [ 7 -2 roll ]
/PageOffset [ 9 -2 roll ]
/ImagingBBox null
(>>) cvx exec setpagedevice
"
*End
*MaxMediaWidth: "1152"
*?CurrentMediaWidth: "
currentpagedevice /OutputDevice get
/OutputDevice findresource
/PageSize get 0 get 3 get = flush
"
*End
*MaxMediaHeight: "1584"
*?CurrentMediaHeight: "
currentpagedevice /OutputDevice get
/OutputDevice findresource
/PageSize get 0 get 2 get = flush
"
*End

172

PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification

(9 Feb 1996)

Cut-sheet media

If the roll-fed capstan recorder depicted in Example 3 also accepted cut-sheet

media, additional entries would be required in the PPD file, as shown in
Example 5. Example 6 illustrates a device that, unlike all the other examples
in this section, accepts only cut-sheet media, perhaps in an input tray whose
sides can be adjusted to accommodate different page sizes.
Example 5: In this example, cut-sheet media is accepted only through the

manual feed slot, fed short-edge first, and the hardware imposes margins of 1
inch at the top and bottom and 1/2 inch on the sides. These entries would
appear in addition to the entries shown in Example 3.
*HWMargins: 72 36 72 36
*UseHWMargins True:
*UseHWMargins False:
*DefaultUseHWMargins: False
*NonUIConstraints: *InputSlot Cassette *UseHWMargins True
*NonUIConstraints: *UseHWMargins True *InputSlot Cassette
*NonUIConstraints: *ManualFeed True *UseHWMargins False
*NonUIConstraints: *UseHWMargins False *ManualFeed True
*NonUIConstraints: *InputSlot Cassette *ManualFeed True
*NonUIConstraints: *ManualFeed True *InputSlot Cassette
*NonUIConstraints: *ManualFeed True *LeadingEdge PreferLong
*NonUIConstraints: *ManualFeed True *LeadingEdge Long
*NonUIConstraints: *LeadingEdge Long *ManualFeed True
*NonUIConstraints: *LeadingEdge PreferLong *ManualFeed True

6 Sample PPD File Structure

173

WidthOffset and HeightOffset on cut-sheet devices

Most devices that accept only cut-sheet media do not support the concept of
offsetting the image in a particular direction. On such devices, WidthOffset and
HeightOffset should be discarded by the *CustomPageSize code. Level 2 devices
that do support offsetting will do so with one of the following setpagedevice
keys:
Margins, which should not be used for this purpose. Margins, which is
measured in device units, is intended to be used to compensate for
mechanical misadjustments in the device, not to position output on the
page. Do not use it in *CustomPageSize code.
PageOffset, which is intended for this purpose. WidthOffset, HeightOffset, and
PageOffset are all defined in points (1/72 of an inch), so no conversion is
necessary. However, the direction of offset for PageOffset is in device
space, which may cause problems for a rotated page. Test the custom page
size code carefully with different combinations of Orientation, WidthOffset,
and HeightOffset. In each case, WidthOffset should remain relative to Width, and
HeightOffset should remain relative to Height. If this does not happen, you
will have to amend the *CustomPageSize code so that it manipulates the
offset values to compensate for Orientation before passing them to
PageOffset.
ImageShift is defined in default user space, so the *CustomPageSize code
can pass the values of WidthOffset and HeightOffset directly into ImageShift.
However, if the device also performs duplex printing on custom page
sizes, this combination should be carefully tested with WidthOffset and
HeightOffset to make sure the image is offset in the proper direction on both
sides of the page, as ImageShift was designed to shift the image differently on the front and back sides of a page. In this case, PageOffset may
work better.
If the device does not support either of the setpagedevice keys PageOffset or
ImageShift, or if the manufacturer does not want image offsetting to be supported in custom page sizes on the device, change the min and max range
values for WidthOffset and HeightOffset to 0:
*ParamCustomPageSize WidthOffset: 3 points 0 0
*ParamCustomPageSize HeightOffset: 4 points 0 0

and rewrite the *CustomPageSize code to discard the values of WidthOffset and
HeightOffset. Be careful to keep the dictionary mark on the stack.

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Example 6: This is a sample custom page size entry for a PostScript Level 2

device that accepts only cut-sheet media, supports custom page sizes fed
short-edge first only through the manual feed slot, and does not support
offsetting or the setpagedevice key Orientation. The *CustomPageSize code first
discards the values of HeightOffset and WidthOffset by popping them off the stack.
(Note the order of the parameters.) Next, Orientation is checked (and discarded,
since it is not supported by the device); if it is even, the values of Width and
Height are exchanged so that they will be in the correct order for the requested
landscape or portrait page. This code assumes that Width, Height, and Orientation
have been calculated as described in Table 2 in section 5.16 and that all
values were put on the stack in the correct order.
*HWMargins: 72 36 72 36
*LeadingEdge Short:
*DefaultLeadingEdge: Short
*NonUIConstraints: *InputSlot Upper *ManualFeed True
*NonUIConstraints: *ManualFeed True *InputSlot Upper
*NonUIConstraints: *ManualFeed False *CustomPageSize True
*NonUIConstraints: *CustomPageSize True *ManualFeed False
*MaxMediaWidth: 792
*MaxMediaHeight: 1008
*CustomPageSize True: "
pop pop
2 mod 0 eq {exch} if
(<<) cvx exec
/PageSize [ 5 -2 roll ]
/ImagingBBox null
(>>) cvx exec setpagedevice
"
*End
*ParamCustomPageSize Width: 1 points 100 1008
*ParamCustomPageSize Height: 2 points 100 1008
*ParamCustomPageSize WidthOffset: 4 points 0 0
*ParamCustomPageSize HeightOffset: 5 points 0 0
*ParamCustomPageSize Orientation: 3 int 0 3

*?CurrentMediaHeight, *?CurrentMediaWidth, and *CenterRegistered are not usually

supported by devices that accept only cut-sheet media, so they are omitted
from this example. *UseHWMargins is omitted because this device can only
print within the hardware-imposed margins (this is true for most cut-sheetonly devices), so there is no choice to be made about using *HWMargins (it
must be used).

6 Sample PPD File Structure

175

PPD File Summary

This section is intended for builders of PPD files. It provides a brief summary
of things to check for when youre done building your PPD file. Checking off
all the items on this list does not guarantee that youve built a perfect PPD
file, but at least you will have avoided some common errors and omissions.
Using the PPD File Format Specification and the product addendum as a
guide, first make sure that the PPD file contains all of the keywords from
the specification that are relevant to the device.
Using the product addendum, make sure that the PPD file does not contain
any entries or statements for features that are not supported by the device.
Make sure the required keywords are present and that they are correct
according to their descriptions in section 5.
Make sure that *PCFileName, *ModelName, *NickName, and *ShortNickName are
unique across all PPD files, and that *ShortNickName is < 32 characters and
occurs before *NickName.
If there is an ICC color profile for the device: Check *ModelName, *NickName,
and *ShortNickName against the value of icHeader.model in the ICC color profile, and check the first four characters of these strings against icHeader.manufacturer.
Make sure the *Manufacturer string is the same as in all other PPD files from
this manufacturer. Check its value against the icHeader.manufacturer tag in
any ICC color profiles for that manufacturer.
Make sure that the *PCFileName follows Adobe naming standards.
Any main keywords created by the manufacturer must start with the manufacturers assigned prefix (see Appendix D).
Check the *UIConstraints entries and *NonUIConstraints entries to make sure
that all necessary constraints exist, that there are no unnecessary constraints, that constraints that need to be reversed have been reversed, and
that no constraints are reversed unnecessarily.
Make sure that the four required media handling keywords (*PageSize,
*PageRegion, *ImageableArea, *PaperDimension) are present for each page size.
Make sure any translation strings on option keywords are consistent across
all media handling keywords.

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 The page size option keyword qualifier Transverse is often misused. Check
for the following:
- 1. Transverse sizes should not appear in the PPD file of a cut-sheet device
that supports either short-edge-feed or long-edge-feed but not both. If a
device supports only one feed direction, there is no reason to have
Transverse sizes listed in the PPD. Transverse is used to designate a page
size that is fed differently from other page sizes on the device.
- 2. If a cut-sheet device does support 2 media feed directions and they
are selectable via PostScript code, the *PageSize code for equivalent
Transverse and non-Transverse sizes (for example, Letter and
Letter.Transverse) should request the same page size (with the dimensions
in the same order, to preserve the correct image orientation on the
page), but should do whatever it takes to ensure that the page is fed
from the correct tray. This might mean that the code requests a different
page orientation (if the setpagedevice key /Orientation is supported by the
device) or a different input slot, as shown here:
*PageSize Letter: .../PageSize [612 792]
/MediaPosition 1...
*End
*PageSize Letter.Transverse: .../PageSize [612 792]
/MediaPosition 0...
*End

The whole point of Transverse is for the user to say this device usually
feeds Letter from the short-edge-feed input tray, but this time I want a
Letter page from the long-edge-feed tray. The physical size is the same,
but the feed direction is different, and code needs to be sent to invoke
that difference. However, the *PageRegion code fragments for the equivalent Transverse and non-Transverse sizes will usually be identical to each
other, because *PageRegion should not select an input tray; it should only
request the page dimensions,which are the same for the Transverse and
non-Transverse size.
- 3. On a roll-fed device, the *PageSize code for Transverse pages will
request a different /Orientation than the *PageSize code for the equivalent
non-Transverse size. For example:
*PageSize Letter: .../PageSize [612 792]
/Orientation 1...
*End
*PageSize Letter.Transverse: .../PageSize [612 792]
/Orientation 0...
*End

7 PPD File Summary

177

Again, the page size dimensions should be in the same order, at least for
most roll-fed devices. The *PageSize and *PageRegion code fragments will
usually be identical, since on a roll-fed device the *PageSize code does
not usually invoke an input slot, so it performs the same function as the
*PageRegion code.
- 4. The page size dimensions should be in the same order in all relevant
keywords (*PageSize, *PageRegion, *ImageableArea, *PaperDimension) for
equivalent Transverse and non-Transverse sizes.
- 5. If the intent is to produce a landscape page, you should use Rotated or
R as the suffix (for example, A4Rotated or LetterR) instead of Transverse.
Most print managers perform landscape rotation internally, so there's
really no need for special landscape page sizes in a PPD file, unless it
will be used in an environment where the print manager does not provide this service. If landscape page sizes are included in the PPD file,
their dimensions in all relevant keywords should be in reversed from the
dimensions of the equivalent non-Transverse size. For example:
*PaperDimension LetterRotated: 792 612
*PaperDimension Letter: 612 792

Make sure that the imageable area for each page size is within its bounding box as defined by *PaperDimension for that page size.
Make sure the *?ImageableArea query ends with the following code, as in the
examples in section 6:
repeat ( ) = flush

rather than the old form of code, which was

repeat flush

The first example ensures that the string returned from the query terminates with a newline, which is a new requirement of the 4.3 specification.
Make sure that all user-selectable features are surrounded by *OpenUI/
*CloseUI pairs as needed, and that each entry is complete (contains a *Default
keyword, *OrderDependency statement, main keyword with options and code
to invoke the feature, and query code if a query keyword exists for that feature and if query code can be written).
Make sure that the strings returned by query code do not include any
translation strings; they should return only option names, and they must be
terminated by a newline (usually accomplished by ending the code with
the sequence = flush).
Make sure the devices error and status messages have been included.

178

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 Make sure that color separation information is present for each resolution.
Most critical: Make sure that every piece of PostScript code in the PPD
file has been thoroughly tested against the device, with all variables, such
as invoking different input slots and page sizes.
Test the PPD file with different print managers and applications. Make
sure that all features that are surrounded by *OpenUI/*CloseUI in the PPD file
are selectable from the print manager. Test the functionality of the print
manager and PPD file by printing a sample document, using the different
PPD file options. For example, select Duplex and Lower Tray and make sure
that document is printed from the lower tray and is printed on both sides of
the page. Test the functionality of all the features in the PPD file. Test the
PPD file and print manager by printing from more than one application.
7.1

PPD Files for Kanji Products

If you are building a PPD file for a Kanji (Japanese font) product, you should
be aware of the following guidelines, which have evolved over time and are
now an accepted part of the PPD file building process. These are not requirements of this specification, and failure to follow these guidelines should not
be considered an error in the PPD file. They are recommendations, intended
to provide some uniformity in PPD files.
*ModelName should include the word Kanji. For example:
*ModelName: ACME Maxi-Print Kanji

*NickName should include the word Kanji as well as the PostScript interpreter version number. For example:
*NickName: ACME Maxi-Print Kanji v2013.114

*ShortNickName should include the word Kanji. If you have to shorten the
name to squeeze it into 31 characters, shorten another part of the name.
Leave the word Kanji to differentiate this product from any equivalent
Roman product.
*PCFileName: The 8.3 format name should include a J in the file name,
usually near the end of the name. For example: xxxxxJ_1.PPD or
xxxxxxJ1.PPD. The first two characters must be the assigned manufacturer
prefix.
*PageSize, *PageRegion, *ImageableArea, *PaperDimension: Make sure that any
additional page sizes available on the Kanji product are included, and that
any page sizes that are not available on the Kanji product are deleted.

7 PPD File Summary

179

 *Font: Make sure that all Kanji fonts built into the product are included in
the list with the correct Character Set, Font Encoding, and Status fields
filled in. This includes fonts on a separate hard disk if the hard disk always
ships with the product. If the hard disk is not part of the minimal configuration for the product, you should create one PPD file for the device in its
minimal configuration, and a second PPD file that represents the product
with the optional hard disk attached.
If the Kanji product comes with more memory than the Roman product,
you will need to make the appropriate changes to *FreeVM, *InstalledMemory,
and *VMOption.
If you are translating strings in the PPD file into Japanese, you will need to
change *LanguageVersion and *LanguageEncoding to the appropriate value. If
the PPD file is to be a cross-platform (portable) file, you must use the
hexadecimal notation for 8-bit byte codes in translation strings. If the file
is platform-specific (for example, Macintosh-only or Windows-only), you
may use 8-bit byte codes directly in the translation strings. You may also
directly translate the values of the following keywords into 8-bit byte
codes, without using translation strings: *ModelName, *ShortNickName,
*NickName, *Manufacturer, *PCFileName, *Include.

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Appendix A: Keyword Categories

A.1

UI Keywords
This section provides a list of keywords that are typically bracketed by the
*OpenUI/*CloseUI keywords in PPD files. Only the main keywords are listed
here; naturally, their associated defaults and queries would also be included
in the *OpenUI/*CloseUI bracketing. Other keywords may also be bracketed by
*OpenUI/*CloseUI; this list provides only the typical set.

*AdvanceMedia
*BindColor
*BindEdge
*BindType
*BindWhen
*BitsPerPixel
*BlackSubstitution
*Booklet
*Collate
*ColorModel
*CutMedia
*Duplex
*ExitJamRecovery
*FoldType
*FoldWhen
*InputSlot
*InstalledMemory
*Jog
*ManualFeed
*MediaColor
*MediaType
*MediaWeight
*MirrorPrint
*NegativePrint
*OutputBin
*OutputMode
*OutputOrder
*PageSize

*PageRegion
*Separations
*Signature
*Slipsheet
*Smoothing
*Sorter
*StapleLocation
*StapleOrientation
*StapleWhen
*StapleX
*StapleY
*TraySwitch

181

A.2

Repeated Keywords
In the general model, if a main keyword, or specific combination of main and
option keyword, is repeated within a PPD file or in an included PPD file, the
first occurrence has precedence and future occurrences are ignored. For historical reasons, there are certain keywords in a PPD file that do not conform
to the general model; specific main keywords are repeated, but all occurrences are relevant and should be recorded by a parser because their values
are unique. For backward compatibility, the form of these keywords cannot
be changed.
To provide assistance to PPD file parsers, the following is a list of main keywords that do not have option keywords to distinguish one instance from
another, yet all instances are relevant, so all occurrences of this main keyword and its associated unique values should be recorded by the PPD file
parser.
*HalftoneName
*Include
*Message
*NonUIConstraints
*NonUIOrderDependency
*OrderDependency
*PageDeviceName
*PrinterError
*Product
*PSVersion
*QueryOrderDependency
*RenderingIntent
*Source
*Status
*UIConstraints

182

Appendix A: Keyword Categories

(9 Feb 1996)

Appendix B: Registered
mediaOption Keywords

The tables in this section contain the option keywords currently registered for
mediaOption, which designates a given page size on a device. Table B.1 is
sorted by the mediaOption name. Given the name of a page size, the table provides the dimensions and any additional information about that size.
Table B.2 is sorted by size. This is useful for a person building a PPD file, as
the dimensions of a page size available on a device can be looked up in the
table and it can be determined if there is already a mediaOption defined for that
size.
Only the most common page sizes are specified here. A device manufacturer
is free to list a new size in a PPD file for a new device. However, care should
be taken to avoid duplicating the semantics of an already-registered option
keyword. Also, when creating a new option keyword, the capitalization conventions shown in the tables should be followed as much as possible; that is,
the first letters of logical words should be capitalized.
Note

Builders of PPD files should always use existing mediaOption names where
possible, because some applications and users have come to rely on these
standard names for page sizes. Also, keeping paper size names consistent
reduces user confusion. Builders of PPD files should define new mediaOptions
only when there is no existing mediaOption that describes a certain page size.
See section 5.13 for more information on mediaOption, and section 5.1 for
information on defining new option keywords.

183

B.1

Components of mediaOption Keywords

Any mediaOption keyword can be qualified by another string that indicates a
slightly distinct treatment of the media size. A qualifier is appended with a
period, like this:
Letter.Transverse

Any mediaOption keyword can have a serialization qualifier, which is a number

used to distinguish between two otherwise equivalent instances of the same
option keyword. For example, if there are two Letter-size media trays, they can
be numbered to differentiate them (as in Letter.1, Letter.2). These qualifiers can
be combined with other qualifiers. For example, Letter.Transverse.1
Certain qualifiers and substrings in mediaOption names have special meaning.
The most common components of a mediaOption name are defined here, primarily so that builders of PPD files can construct meaningful names for their
page sizes:
As of the 4.3 specification, the prefix Env denotes an envelope page size.
The following sizes had the prefix Env added to reflect this change:C0, C1,
C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, DL, and Monarch. Additionally, Comm10 was changed to
Env10. However, these size names were not changed in existing PPD files.
While the old names are still valid, PPD files built to conform to the 4.3
specification should use EnvC0, EnvC1, etc. rather than C0, C1, etc. This
enables a print manager to recognize envelope sizes and group them
together. Translations strings can be used to control the mediaOption name
that is displayed to the user.
The size Executive varies by as much as 1/2 inch across devices. Most
devices offer only one version of Executive. However, if a device offers
more than one size of Executive, these sizes can be differentiated by a serialization extension and a translation string that denotes the exact size. For
example, a PPD file for a Level 1 device might have:
*PageSize Executive.1/7.5 x 10 in: "7.5x10inchtray"
*PageSize Executive.2/7.25 x 10.5 in: "7.25x10.5inchtray"
*PageSize Executive.3/7.5 x 10.5 in: "7.5x10.5inchtray"

Envelope describes envelopes that have no standard name. This keyword

can be qualified by an x and y dimension (specified in PostScript default
units), in the order x.y, where x is perpendicular to the feed direction and y
is parallel to the feed direction. In the 3.0 specification, all envelope sizes
were specified in the format Envelope.x.y, usually with a translation string
for clarity. In later versions, envelopes are simply another size of media,
and most envelope sizes are listed by their common names, but the 3.0
format is still valid and is useful for envelopes without common names.

184

Appendix B: Registered mediaOption Keywords

(9 Feb 1996)

 Extra in a page size name or as a qualifier designates a page size slightly

larger than the corresponding standard size, such as A4Extra. The purpose is
to allow for bleeds and crop marks to be printed in the margins. However,
the increase in size is somewhat variable across devices. Typically, an Extra
size is 0.69 to 1 inch larger than its corresponding standard size.
MaxPage is a special mediaOption that denotes the largest page size available on a given device. The dimensions of this size will vary widely across
devices. MaxPage provides a convenient way for the user to select the largest available page size.
Rotated in a page size name designates a page size whose image is rotated
relative to the corresponding standard size. For most page sizes, this produces a landscape image on the page. For example, on a LetterRotated
page, the x dimension is longer than the y dimension. This functionality is
usually provided by the print manager on the host, so the use of Rotated
page sizes in a PPD file is usually redundant and should be discouraged.
Small in a page size name or as a qualifier usually denotes a page that is the
same physical size as the regular named page, but with an imageable area
that is typically 10 to 20 points smaller.
The Transverse qualifier indicates that the paper is fed in an orientation that
is rotated 90 degrees from the orientation of the base paper size. Since
most printers feed paper with the short edge of the paper perpendicular to
the feed direction (short edge feed), Transverse usually means long edge
feed. That is, a Transverse size indicates that the long edge of the image
(on an imagesetter) or of the physical page (on a cut-sheet printer) is perpendicular to the feed direction.
This does not affect the relationship of user space to the physical page, but
it does mean that the page is oriented differently with respect to device
space. Transverse is not the same as landscape orientation. The orientation
of the image on the page is exactly the same for transverse as for nontransverse pages. A page fed transversely will appear identical to a page
fed non-transversely, except that on certain printers, certain patterns and
asymmetric halftone screens will image differently when the page is fed
transversely, due to device and driver limitations. On older devices, the
printing speed when using the image operator might be different for a page
that is fed transversely.
Because the orientation of the image on the page is the same, the dimensions for a Transverse and non-Transverse page are the same. For example:
*PaperDimension Letter: 612 792
*PaperDimension Letter.Transverse: 612 792

B.1 Components of mediaOption Keywords

185

Page sizes with the qualifier Transverse should only appear in the PPD file
of a roll-fed device (such as an imagesetter) that supports requesting a specific orientation so that pages can be either short-edge feed or long-edge
feed, or in the PPD file of a cut-sheet device that has both short-edge-feed
and long-edge-feed input trays. If a cut-sheet device supports either shortedge-feed or long-edge-feed, but not both, there is no need to differentiate
Transverse pages from non-Transverse pages. Transverse is only useful if there
is a need to choose between two input slots with different feed directions.
If a page size has both a Transverse and non-Transverse version in a PPD file,
their *PageSize code fragments should be different. For example, in a PPD
file for a Level 2 device, the *PageSize code for Letter.Transverse should
request a different /Orientation from setpagedevice than the code for Letter, or
it should set up a different input slot. Otherwise, including both the Transverse and non-Transverse size is pointless, if they produce exactly the same
result. See section 7 for more advice and examples of putting Transverse
sizes in a PPD file.

B.2

mediaOption Name Tables

The dimensions given in the tables are in PostScript default units. They refer
to the actual physical dimensions of the page, not the imageable region,
unless otherwise specified. All sizes are given with the x dimension first, followed by the y dimension. The units in which a page size was originally
defined appear in boldface type. The dimensions in other units are provided
strictly for comparison, and are approximate due to rounding.
The letters in the Notes column have the following meanings:
Isize is defined by ISO standards
Jsize is defined by JIS standards
Simageable area is smaller than the imageable area of the corresponding
standard size, typically by 10 to 20 points
Nsee section B.1 for information about this size
Vsize varies across devices, typically by up to 1/2 inch
Ethis is an envelope size
Microsoft has defined programming identifiers (#define's in C language programs) for many of the common mediaOption keywords, for use in Windows
applications. This enables a print manager to match a request for a specific
page size, in the form of a #define, to a mediaOption name.The #define column
contains those identifiers where appropriate.

186

Appendix B: Registered mediaOption Keywords

(9 Feb 1996)

Table B.1 MediaOptions Sorted By Name

mediaOption

Size (pts)

Size (mm)

Size (inches)

Notes

#define

10x11

720 x 792

254 x 279.4

10 x 11

10x13

720 x 936

254 x 330.2

10 x 13

10x14

720 x 1008

254 x 355.6

10 x 14

DMPAPER_10X14

12x11

864 x 792

304.8 x 279.4

12 x 11

DMPAPER_12X11

15x11

1080 x 792

381 x 279.4

15 x 11

DMPAPER_15X11

7x9

504 x 648

177.8 x 228.6

7x9

8x10

576 x 720

203.2 x 254

8 x 10

9x11

648 x 792

228.6 x 279.4

9 x 11

9x12

648 x 864

228.6 x 304.8

9 x 12

A0

2384 x 3370

841 x 1189

33.11 x 46.81

I, J

A1

1684 x 2384

594 x 841

23.39 x 33.11

I, J

A2

1191 x 1684

420 x 594

16.54 x 23.39

I, J

DMPAPER_A2

A3

842 x 1191

297 x 420

11.69 x 16.54

I, J

DMPAPER_A3

A3.Transverse

842 x 1191

297 x 420

11.69 x 16.54

A3Extra

913 x 1262

322 x 445

12.67 x 17.52

N, V

DMPAPER_A3_EXTRA

A3Extra.Transverse

913 x 1262

322 x 445

12.67 x 17.52

N, V

DMPAPER_A3_EXTRA_TRANSVERSE

A3Rotated

1191 x 842

420 x 297

16.54 x 11.69

DMPAPER_A3_ROTATED

A4

595 x 842

210 x 297

8.27 x 11.69

I, J

DMPAPER_A4

A4.Transverse

595 x 842

210 x 297

8.27 x 11.69

A4Extra

667 x 914

235.5 x 322.3

9.27 x 12.69

A4Plus

595 x 936

210 x 330

8.27 x 13

A4Rotated

842 x 595

297 x 210

11.69 x 8.27

DMPAPER_A4_ROTATED

A4Small

595 x 842

210 x 297

8.27 x 11.69

DMPAPER_A4SMALL

A5

420 x 595

148 x 210

5.83 x 8.27

I, J

DMPAPER_A5

A5.Transverse

420 x 595

148 x 210

5.83 x 8.27

A5Extra

492 x 668

174 x 235

6.85 x 9.25

N, V

DMPAPER_A5_EXTRA

A5Rotated

595 x 420

210 x 148

8.27 x 5.83

DMPAPER_A5_ROTATED

A6

297 x 420

105 x 148

4.13 x 5.83

I, J

DMPAPER_A6

A6Rotated

420 x 297

148 x 105

5.83 x 4.13

DMPAPER_A6_ROTATED

DMPAPER_10X11

DMPAPER_9X11

DMPAPER_A3_TRANSVERSE

DMPAPER_A4_TRANSVERSE

N, V

DMPAPER_A4_EXTRA
DMPAPER_A4_PLUS

DMPAPER_A5_TRANSVERSE

B.2 mediaOption Name Tables

187

Table B.1 MediaOptions Sorted By Name (Continued)

mediaOption

Size (pts)

Size (mm)

Size (inches)

Notes

#define

A7

210 x 297

74 x 105

2.91 x 4.13

I, J

A8

148 x 210

52 x 74

2.05 x 2.91

I, J

A9

105 x 148

37 x 52

1.46 x 2.05

I, J

A10

73 x 105

26 x 37

1.02 x 1.46

I, J

AnsiC

1224 x 1584

431.8 x 558.8

17 x 22

AnsiD

1584 x 2448

558.8 x 863.6

22 x 34

AnsiE

2448 x 3168

863.6 x 1118

34 x 44

ARCHA

648 x 864

228.6 x 304.8

9 x 12

ARCHB

864 x 1296

304.8 x 457.2

12 x 18

ARCHC

1296 x 1728

457.2 x 609.6

18 x 24

DMPAPER_CSHEET

ARCHD

1728 x 2592

609.6 x 914.4

24 x 36

DMPAPER_DSHEET

ARCHE

2592 x 3456

914.4 x 1219

36 x 48

DMPAPER_ESHEET

B0

2920 x 4127

1030 x 1456

40.55 x 57.32

B1

2064 x 2920

728 x 1030

28.66 x 40.55

B2

1460 x 2064

515 x 728

20.28 x 28.66

B3

1032 x 1460

364 x 515

14.33 x 20.28

B4

729 x 1032

257 x 364

10.12 x 14.33

DMPAPER_B4

B4Rotated

1032 x 729

364 x 257

14.33 x 10.12

DMPAPER_B4_JIS_ROTATED

B5

516 x 729

182 x 257

7.17 x 10.12

DMPAPER_B5

B5.Transverse

516 x 729

182 x 257

7.17 x 10.12

B5Rotated

729 x 516

257 x 182

10.12 x 7.17

DMPAPER_B5_JIS_ROTATED

B6

363 x 516

128 x 182

5.04 x 7.17

DMPAPER_B6_JIS

B6Rotated

516 x 363

182 x 128

7.17 x 5.04

DMPAPER_B6_JIS_ROTATED

B7

258 x 363

91 x 128

3.58 x 5.04

B8

181 x 258

64 x 91

2.52 x 3.58

B9

127 x 181

45 x 64

1.77 x 2.52

B10

91 x 127

32 x 45

1.26 x 1.77

C4 (use EnvC4)

649 x 918

229 x 324

9.02 x 12.75

I, E, N

DMPAPER_ENV_C4

C5 (use EnvC5)

459 x 649

162 x 229

6.38 x 9.02

I, E, N

DMPAPER_ENV_C5

C6 (use EnvC6)

323 x 459

114 x 162

4.49 x 6.38

I, E, N

DMPAPER_ENV_C6

188

Appendix B: Registered mediaOption Keywords

DMPAPER_B5_TRANSVERSE

(9 Feb 1996)

Table B.1 MediaOptions Sorted By Name (Continued)

mediaOption

Size (pts)

Size (mm)

Size (inches)

Notes

#define

Comm10 (use Env10)

297 x 684

104.8 x 241.3

4.125 x 9.5

E, N

DMPAPER_ENV_10

DL (use EnvDL)

312 x 624

110 x 220

4.33 x 8.66

I, E, N

DMPAPER_ENV_DL

DoublePostcard

567 x 419.5

200 x 148

7.87 x 5.83

DoublePostcardRotated

419.5 x 567

148 x 200

5.83 x 7.87

DMPAPER_DBL_JAPANESE_POSTCARD_ROTATED

Env9

279 x 639

98.4 x 225.4

3.875 x 8.875

DMPAPER_ENV_9

Env10

297 x 684

104.8 x 241.3

4.125 x 9.5

DMPAPER_ENV_10

Env11

324 x 747

114.3 x 263.5

4.5 x 10.375

DMPAPER_ENV_11

Env12

342 x 792

120.7 x 279.4

4.75 x 11

DMPAPER_ENV_12

Env14

360 x 828

127 x 292.1

5 x 11.5

DMPAPER_ENV_14

EnvC0

2599 x 3676

917 x 1297

36.10 x 51.06

I, E

EnvC1

1837 x 2599

648 x 917

25.51 x 36.10

I, E

EnvC2

1298 x 1837

458 x 648

18.03 x 25.51

I, E

EnvC3

918 x 1296

324 x 458

12.75 x 18.03

I, E

DMPAPER_ENV_C3

EnvC4

649 x 918

229 x 324

9.02 x 12.75

I, E

DMPAPER_ENV_C4

EnvC5

459 x 649

162 x 229

6.38 x 9.02

I, E

DMPAPER_ENV_C5

EnvC6

323 x 459

114 x 162

4.49 x 6.38

I, E

DMPAPER_ENV_C6

EnvC65

324 x 648

114 x 229

4.5 x 9

DMPAPER_ENV_C65

EnvC7

230 x 323

81 x 114

3.19 x 4.49

I, E

EnvChou3

340 x 666

120 x 235

4.72 x 9.25

DMPAPER_JENV_CHOU3

EnvChou3Rotated

666 x 340

235 x 120

9.25 x 4.72

E, N

DMPAPER_JENV_CHOU3_ROTATED

EnvChou4

255 x 581

90 x 205

3.54 x 8

DMPAPER_JENV_CHOU4

EnvChou4Rotated

581 x 255

205 x 90

8 x 3.54

E, N

DMPAPER_JENV_CHOU4_ROTATED

EnvDL

312 x 624

110 x 220

4.33 x 8.66

I, E

DMPAPER_ENV_DL

EnvInvite

624 x 624

220 x 220

8.66 x 8.66

DMPAPER_ENV_INVITE

EnvISOB4

708 x 1001

250 x 353

9.84 x 13.9

DMPAPER_ENV_B4

EnvISOB5

499 x 709

176 x 250

6.9 x 9.8

DMPAPER_ENV_B5

EnvISOB6

499 x 354

176 x 125

6.9 x 4.9

DMPAPER_ENV_B6

EnvItalian

312 x 652

110 x 230

4.33 x 9

DMPAPER_ENV_ITALY

EnvKaku2

680 x 941

240 x 332

9.45 x 13

DMPAPER_JENV_KAKU2

EnvKaku2Rotated

941 x 680

332 x 240

13 x 9.45

E, N

DMPAPER_JENV_KAKU2_ROTATED

DMPAPER_DBL_JAPANESE_POSTCARD

B.2 mediaOption Name Tables

189

Table B.1 MediaOptions Sorted By Name (Continued)

mediaOption

Size (pts)

Size (mm)

Size (inches)

Notes

#define

EnvKaku3

612 x 785

216 x 277

8.5 x 10.9

DMPAPER_JENV_KAKU3

EnvKaku3Rotated

785 x 612

277 x 216

10.9 x 8.5

E, N

DMPAPER_JENV_KAKU3_ROTATED

EnvMonarch

279 x 540

98.43 x 190.5

3.875 x 7.5

DMPAPER_ENV_MONARCH

EnvPersonal

261 x 468

92.08 x 165.1

3.625 x 6.5

DMPAPER_ENV_PERSONAL

EnvPRC1

289 x 468

102 x 165

4 x 6.5

DMPAPER_PENV_1

EnvPRC1Rotated

468 x 289

165 x 102

6.5 x 4

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_1_ROTATED

EnvPRC2

289 x 499

102 x 176

4 x 6.9

DMPAPER_PENV_2

EnvPRC2Rotated

499 x 289

176 x 102

6.9 x 4

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_2_ROTATED

EnvPRC3

354 x 499

125 x 176

4.9 x 6.9

DMPAPER_PENV_3

EnvPRC3Rotated

499 x 354

176 x 125

6.9 x 4.9

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_3_ROTATED

EnvPRC4

312 x 590

110 x 208

4.33 x 8.2

DMPAPER_PENV_4

EnvPRC4Rotated

590 x 312

208 x 110

8.2 x 4.33

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_4_ROTATED

EnvPRC5

312 x 624

110 x 220

4.33 x 8.66

DMPAPER_PENV_5

EnvPRC5Rotated

624 x 312

220 x 110

8.66 x 4.33

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_5_ROTATED

EnvPRC6

340 x 652

120 x 230

4.7 x 9

DMPAPER_PENV_6

EnvPRC6Rotated

652 x 340

230 x 120

9 x 4.7

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_6_ROTATED

EnvPRC7

454 x 652

160 x 230

6.3 x 9

DMPAPER_PENV_7

EnvPRC7Rotated

652 x 454

230 x 160

9 x 6.3

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_7_ROTATED

EnvPRC8

340 x 876

120 x 309

4.7 x 12.2

DMPAPER_PENV_8

EnvPRC8Rotated

876 x 340

309 x 120

12.2 x 4.7

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_8_ROTATED

EnvPRC9

649 x 918

229 x 324

9 x 12.75

DMPAPER_PENV_9

EnvPRC9Rotated

918 x 649

324 x 229

12.75 x 9

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_9_ROTATED

EnvPRC10

918 x 1298

324 x 458

12.75 x 18

DMPAPER_PENV_10

EnvPRC10Rotated

1298 x 918

458 x 324

18 x 12.75

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_10_ROTATED

EnvYou4

298 x 666

105 x 235

4.13 x 9.25

DMPAPER_JENV_YOU4

EnvYou4Rotated

666 x 298

235 x 105

9.25 x 4.13

E, N

DMPAPER_JENV_YOU4_ROTATED

Executive

522 x 756

184.2 x 266.7

7.25 x 10.5

N, V

DMPAPER_EXECUTIVE

FanFoldUS

1071 x 792

377.8 x 279.4

14.875 x 11

DMPAPER_FANFOLD_US

FanFoldGerman

612 x 864

215.9 x 304.8

8.5 x 12

DMPAPER_FANFOLD_STD_GERMAN

FanFoldGermanLegal

612 x 936

215.9 x 330

8.5 x 13

DMPAPER_FANFOLD_LGL_GERMAN

190

Appendix B: Registered mediaOption Keywords

(9 Feb 1996)

Table B.1 MediaOptions Sorted By Name (Continued)

mediaOption

Size (pts)

Size (mm)

Size (inches)

Notes

#define

Folio

595 x 935

210 x 330

8.27 x 13

ISOB0

2835 x 4008

1000 x 1414

39.37 x 55.67

ISOB1

2004 x 2835

707 x 1000

27.83 x 39.37

ISOB2

1417 x 2004

500 x 707

19.68 x 27.83

ISOB3

1001 x 1417

353 x 500

13.90 x 19.68

ISOB4

709 x 1001

250 x 353

9.84 x 13.90

ISOB5

499 x 709

176 x 250

6.9 x 9.8

ISOB5Extra

569.7 x 782

201 x 276

7.9 x 10.8

N, V

ISOB6

354 x 499

125 x 176

4.92 x 6.93

ISOB7

249 x 354

88 x 125

3.46 x 4.92

ISOB8

176 x 249

62 x 88

2.44 x 3.46

ISOB9

125 x 176

44 x 62

1.73 x 2.44

ISOB10

88 x 125

31 x 44

1.22 x 1.73

Ledger

1224 x 792

431.8 x 279.4

17 x 11

DMPAPER_LEDGER

Legal

612 x 1008

215.9 x 355.6

8.5 x 14

DMPAPER_LEGAL

LegalExtra

684 x 1080

241.3 x 381

9.5 x 15

Letter

612 x 792

215.9 x 279.4

8.5 x 11

DMPAPER_LETTER

Letter.Transverse

612 x 792

215.9 x 279.4

8.5 x 11

DMPAPER_LETTER_TRANSVERSE

LetterExtra

684 x 864

241.3 x 304.8

9.5 x 12

LetterExtra.Transverse

684 x 864

241.3 x 304.8

9.5 x 12

DMPAPER_LETTER_EXTRA_TRANSVERSE

LetterPlus

612 x 913.7

215.9 x 322.3

8.5 x 12.69

DMPAPER_LETTER_PLUS

LetterRotated

792 x 612

279.4 x 215.9

11 x 8.5

DMPAPER_LETTER_ROTATED

LetterSmall

612 x 792

215.9 x 279.4

8.5 x 11

DMPAPER_LETTERSMALL

MaxPage

largest page

available on

this device

N, V

Monarch (use EnvMonarch)

279 x 540

98.43 x 190.5

3.875 x 7.5

E, N

DMPAPER_ENV_MONARCH

Note

612 x 792

215.9 x 279.4

8.5 x 11

DMPAPER_NOTE

Postcard

284 x 419

100 x 148

3.94 x 5.83

PostcardRotated

419 x 284

148 x 100

5.83 x 3.94

PRC16K

414 x 610

146 x 215

5.75 x 8.5

PRC16KRotated

610 x 414

215 x 146

8.5 x 5.75

DMPAPER_FOLIO

N, V

N, V

DMPAPER_ISO_B4

DMPAPER_B5_EXTRA

DMPAPER_LEGAL_EXTRA

DMPAPER_LETTER_EXTRA

DMPAPER_JAPANESE_POSTCARD

DMPAPER_JAPANESE_POSTCARD_ROTATED
DMPAPER_P16K

DMPAPER_P16K_ROTATED

B.2 mediaOption Name Tables

191

Table B.1 MediaOptions Sorted By Name (Continued)

mediaOption

Size (pts)

Size (mm)

Size (inches)

Notes

#define

PRC32K

275 x 428

97 x 151

3.82 x 5.95

DMPAPER_P32K

PRC32KBig

275 x 428

97 x 151

3.82 x 5.95

DMPAPER_P32KBIG

PRC32KBigRotated

428 x 275

151 x 97

5.95 x 3.82

DMPAPER_P32KBIG_ROTATED

PRC32KRotated

428 x 275

151 x 97

5.95 x 3.82

DMPAPER_P32K_ROTATED

Quarto

610 x 780

215.9 x 275.1

8.5 x 10.83

DMPAPER_QUARTO

Statement

396 x 612

139.7 x 215.9

5.5 x 8.5

DMPAPER_STATEMENT

SuperA

643 x 1009

227 x 356

8.94 x 14

DMPAPER_A_PLUS

SuperB

864 x 1380

305 x 487

12 x 19.17

DMPAPER_B_PLUS

Tabloid

792 x 1224

279.4 x 431.8

11 x 17

DMPAPER_TABLOID

TabloidExtra

864 x 1296

304.8 x 457.2

12 x 18

192

Appendix B: Registered mediaOption Keywords

DMPAPER_TABLOID_EXTRA

(9 Feb 1996)

.
Table B.2 MediaOptions Sorted By Size
mediaOption

Size (pts)

Size (mm)

Size (inches)

Notes

#define

A10

73 x 105

26 x 37

1.02 x 1.46

I, J

ISOB10

88 x 125

31 x 44

1.22 x 1.73

B10

91 x 127

32 x 45

1.26 x 1.77

A9

105 x 148

37 x 52

1.46 x 2.05

I, J

ISOB9

125 x 176

44 x 62

1.73 x 2.44

B9

127 x 181

45 x 64

1.77 x 2.52

A8

148 x 210

52 x 74

2.05 x 2.91

I, J

ISOB8

176 x 249

62 x 88

2.44 x 3.46

B8

181 x 258

64 x 91

2.52 x 3.58

A7

210 x 297

74 x 105

2.91 x 4.13

I, J

EnvC7

230 x 323

81 x 114

3.19 x 4.49

I, E

ISOB7

249 x 354

88 x 125

3.46 x 4.92

EnvChou4

255 x 581

90 x 205

3.54 x 8

B7

258 x 363

91 x 128

3.58 x 5.04

EnvPersonal

261 x 468

92.08 x 165.1

3.625 x 6.5

PRC32K

275 x 428

97 x 151

3.82 x 5.95

DMPAPER_P32K

PRC32KBig

275 x 428

97 x 151

3.82 x 5.95

DMPAPER_P32KBIG

Monarch (use EnvMonarch)

279 x 540

98.43 x 190.5

3.875 x 7.5

DMPAPER_ENV_MONARCH

Env9

279 x 639

98.4 x 225.4

3.875 x 8.875

DMPAPER_ENV_9

Postcard

284 x 419

100 x 148

3.94 x 5.83

EnvPRC1

289 x 468

102 x 165

4 x 6.5

DMPAPER_PENV_1

EnvPRC2

289 x 499

102 x 176

4 x 6.9

DMPAPER_PENV_2

Comm10 (use Env10)

297 x 684

104.8 x 241.3

4.125 x 9.5

E, N

DMPAPER_ENV_10

A6

297 x 420

105 x 148

4.13 x 5.83

I, J

DMPAPER_A6

EnvYou4

298 x 666

105 x 235

4.13 x 9.25

DMPAPER_JENV_YOU4

EnvPRC4

312 x 590

110 x 208

4.33 x 8.2

DMPAPER_PENV_4

DL (use EnvDL)

312 x 624

110 x 220

4.33 x 8.66

I, E

DMPAPER_ENV_DL

EnvPRC5

312 x 624

110 x 220

4.33 x 8.66

DMPAPER_PENV_5

EnvItalian

312 x 652

110 x 230

4.33 x 9

DMPAPER_ENV_ITALY

DMPAPER_JENV_CHOU4

DMPAPER_ENV_PERSONAL

DMPAPER_JAPANESE_POSTCARD

B.2 mediaOption Name Tables

193

Table B.2 MediaOptions Sorted By Size (Continued)

mediaOption

Size (pts)

Size (mm)

Size (inches)

Notes

#define

C6 (use EnvC6)

323 x 459

114 x 162

4.49 x 6.38

I, E

DMPAPER_ENV_C6

EnvC65

324 x 648

114 x 229

4.5 x 9

DMPAPER_ENV_C65

Env11

324 x 747

114.3 x 263.5

4.5 x 10.375

DMPAPER_ENV_11

EnvPRC6

340 x 652

120 x 230

4.7 x 9

DMPAPER_PENV_6

EnvChou3

340 x 666

120 x 235

4.72 x 9.25

DMPAPER_JENV_CHOU3

EnvPRC8

340 x 876

120 x 309

4.7 x 12.2

DMPAPER_PENV_8

Env12

342 x 792

120.7 x 279.4

4.75 x 11

DMPAPER_ENV_12

ISOB6

354 x 499

125 x 176

4.92 x 6.93

EnvPRC3

354 x 499

125 x 176

4.9 x 6.9

DMPAPER_PENV_3

Env14

360 x 828

127 x 292.1

5 x 11.5

DMPAPER_ENV_14

B6

363 x 516

128 x 182

5.04 x 7.17

DMPAPER_B6_JIS

Statement

396 x 612

139.7 x 215.9

5.5 x 8.5

DMPAPER_STATEMENT

PRC16K

414 x 610

146 x 215

5.75 x 8.5

DMPAPER_P16K

PostcardRotated

419 x 284

148 x 100

5.83 x 3.94

A6Rotated

420 x 297

148 x 105

5.83 x 4.13

DoublePostcardRotated

419.5 x 567

148 x 200

5.83 x 7.87

DMPAPER_DBL_JAPANESE_POSTCARD_ROTATED

A5

420 x 595

148 x 210

5.83 x 8.27

I, J

DMPAPER_A5

A5.Transverse

420 x 595

148 x 210

5.83 x 8.27

PRC32KBigRotated

428 x 275

151 x 97

5.95 x 3.82

DMPAPER_P32KBIG_ROTATED

PRC32KRotated

428 x 275

151 x 97

5.95 x 3.82

DMPAPER_P32K_ROTATED

EnvPRC7

454 x 652

160 x 230

6.3 x 9

DMPAPER_PENV_7

C5 (use EnvC5)

459 x 649

162 x 229

6.38 x 9.02

I, E

DMPAPER_ENV_C5

EnvPRC1Rotated

468 x 289

165 x 102

6.5 x 4

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_1_ROTATED

A5Extra

492 x 668

174 x 235

6.85 x 9.25

N, V

DMPAPER_A5_EXTRA

EnvPRC2Rotated

499 x 289

176 x 102

6.9 x 4

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_2_ROTATED

EnvISOB6

499 x 354

176 x 125

6.9 x 4.9

DMPAPER_ENV_B6

EnvPRC3Rotated

499 x 354

176 x 125

6.9 x 4.9

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_3_ROTATED

EnvISOB5

499 x 709

176 x 250

6.9 x 9.8

DMPAPER_ENV_B5

ISOB5

499 x 709

176 x 250

6.9 x 9.8

7x9

504 x 648

177.8 x 228.6

7x9

194

Appendix B: Registered mediaOption Keywords

DMPAPER_JAPANESE_POSTCARD_ROTATED
DMPAPER_A6_ROTATED

DMPAPER_A5_TRANSVERSE

(9 Feb 1996)

Table B.2 MediaOptions Sorted By Size (Continued)

mediaOption

Size (pts)

Size (mm)

Size (inches)

Notes

#define

B6Rotated

516 x 363

182 x 128

7.17 x 5.04

DMPAPER_B6_JIS_ROTATED

B5

516 x 729

182 x 257

7.17 x 10.12

DMPAPER_B5

B5.Transverse

516 x 729

182 x 257

7.17 x 10.12

Executive

522 x 756

184.2 x 266.7

7.25 x 10.5

DoublePostcard

567 x 419.5

200 x 148

7.87 x 5.83

ISOB5Extra

569.7 x 782

201 x 276

7.9 x 10.8

8x10

576 x 720

203.2 x 254

8 x 10

EnvChou4Rotated

581 x 255

205 x 90

EnvPRC4Rotated

590 x 312

A5Rotated

DMPAPER_B5_TRANSVERSE

N, V

DMPAPER_EXECUTIVE
DMPAPER_DBL_JAPANESE_POSTCARD

N, V

DMPAPER_B5_EXTRA

8 x 3.54

E, N

DMPAPER_JENV_CHOU4_ROTATED

208 x 110

8.2 x 4.33

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_4_ROTATED

595 x 420

210 x 148

8.27 x 5.83

DMPAPER_A5_ROTATED

A4

595 x 842

210 x 297

8.27 x 11.69

I, J

DMPAPER_A4

A4.Transverse

595 x 842

210 x 297

8.27 x 11.69

A4Small

595 x 842

210 x 297

8.27 x 11.69

Folio

595 x 935

210 x 330

8.27 x 13

DMPAPER_FOLIO

A4Plus

595 x 936

210 x 330

8.27 x 13

DMPAPER_A4_PLUS

PRC16KRotated

610 x 414

215 x 146

8.5 x 5.75

Quarto

610 x 780

215.9 x 275.1

8.5 x 10.83

EnvKaku3

612 x 785

216 x 277

8.5 x 10.9

Letter

612 x 792

215.9 x 279.4

8.5 x 11

DMPAPER_LETTER

Letter.Transverse

612 x 792

215.9 x 279.4

8.5 x 11

DMPAPER_LETTER_TRANSVERSE

LetterSmall

612 x 792

215.9 x 279.4

8.5 x 11

DMPAPER_LETTERSMALL

Note

612 x 792

215.9 x 279.4

8.5 x 11

DMPAPER_NOTE

FanFoldGerman

612 x 864

215.9 x 304.8

8.5 x 12

DMPAPER_FANFOLD_STD_GERMAN

LetterPlus

612 x 913.7

215.9 x 322.3

8.5 x 12.69

DMPAPER_LETTER_PLUS

FanFoldGermanLegal

612 x 936

215.9 x 330

8.5 x 13

DMPAPER_FANFOLD_LGL_GERMAN

Legal

612 x 1008

215.9 x 355.6

8.5 x 14

DMPAPER_LEGAL

EnvPRC5Rotated

624 x 312

220 x 110

8.66 x 4.33

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_5_ROTATED

EnvInvite

624 x 624

220 x 220

8.66 x 8.66

DMPAPER_ENV_INVITE

SuperA

643 x 1009

227 x 356

8.94 x 14

DMPAPER_A_PLUS

9x11

648 x 792

228.6 x 279.4

9 x 11

DMPAPER_9X11

DMPAPER_A4_TRANSVERSE

DMPAPER_A4SMALL

DMPAPER_P16K_ROTATED
DMPAPER_QUARTO

DMPAPER_JENV_KAKU3

B.2 mediaOption Name Tables

195

Table B.2 MediaOptions Sorted By Size (Continued)

mediaOption

Size (pts)

Size (mm)

Size (inches)

Notes

#define

9x12

648 x 864

228.6 x 304.8

9 x 12

ARCHA

648 x 864

228.6 x 304.8

9 x 12

C4 (use EnvC4)

649 x 918

229 x 324

9.02 x 12.75

I, E

DMPAPER_ENV_C4

EnvPRC9

649 x 918

229 x 324

9 x 12.75

DMPAPER_PENV_9

EnvPRC6Rotated

652 x 340

230 x 120

9 x 4.7

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_6_ROTATED

EnvPRC7Rotated

652 x 454

230 x 160

9 x 6.3

E ,N

DMPAPER_PENV_7_ROTATED

EnvYou4Rotated

666 x 298

235 x 105

9.25 x 4.13

E, N

DMPAPER_JENV_YOU4_ROTATED

EnvChou3Rotated

666 x 340

235 x 120

9.25 x 4.72

E, N

DMPAPER_JENV_CHOU3_ROTATED

A4Extra

667 x 914

235.5 x 322.3

9.27 x 12.69

N, V

DMPAPER_A4_EXTRA

EnvKaku2

680 x 941

240 x 332

9.45 x 13

DMPAPER_JENV_KAKU2

LetterExtra

684 x 864

241.3 x 304.8

9.5 x 12

N, V

DMPAPER_LETTER_EXTRA

LetterExtra.Transverse

684 x 864

241.3 x 304.8

9.5 x 12

N, V

DMPAPER_LETTER_EXTRA_TRANSVERSE

LegalExtra

684 x 1080

241.3 x 381

9.5 x 15

N, V

DMPAPER_LEGAL_EXTRA

EnvISOB4

708 x 1001

250 x 353

9.84 x 13.9

DMPAPER_ENV_B4

ISOB4

709 x 1001

250 x 353

9.84 x 13.90

DMPAPER_ISO_B4

10x11

720 x 792

254 x 279.4

10 x 11

10x13

720 x 936

254 x 330.2

10 x 13

10x14

720 x 1008

254 x 355.6

10 x 14

B5Rotated

729 x 516

257 x 182

10.12 x 7.17

DMPAPER_B5_JIS_ROTATED

B4

729 x 1032

257 x 364

10.12 x 14.33

DMPAPER_B4

EnvKaku3Rotated

785 x 612

277 x 216

10.9 x 8.5

E, N

DMPAPER_JENV_KAKU3_ROTATED

LetterRotated

792 x 612

279.4 x 215.9

11 x 8.5

DMPAPER_LETTER_ROTATED

Tabloid

792 x 1224

279.4 x 431.8

11 x 17

A4Rotated

842 x 595

297 x 210

11.69 x 8.27

DMPAPER_A4_ROTATED

A3

842 x 1191

297 x 420

11.69 x 16.54

I, J

DMPAPER_A3

A3.Transverse

842 x 1191

297 x 420

11.69 x 16.54

DMPAPER_A3_TRANSVERSE

12x11

864 x 792

304.8 x 279.4

12 x 11

DMPAPER_12X11

ARCHB

864 x 1296

304.8 x 457.2

12 x 18

TabloidExtra

864 x 1296

304.8 x 457.2

12 x 18

SuperB

864 x 1380

305 x 487

12 x 19.17

196

Appendix B: Registered mediaOption Keywords

DMPAPER_10X11

DMPAPER_10X14

DMPAPER_TABLOID

DMPAPER_TABLOID_EXTRA
DMPAPER_B_PLUS

(9 Feb 1996)

Table B.2 MediaOptions Sorted By Size (Continued)

mediaOption

Size (pts)

Size (mm)

Size (inches)

Notes

#define

EnvPRC8Rotated

876 x 340

309 x 120

12.2 x 4.7

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_8_ROTATED

A3Extra

913 x 1262

322 x 445

12.67 x 17.52

N, V

DMPAPER_A3_EXTRA

A3Extra.Transverse

913 x 1262

322 x 445

12.67 x 17.52

N, V

DMPAPER_A3_EXTRA_TRANSVERSE

EnvPRC9Rotated

918 x 649

324 x 229

12.75 x 9

E, N

DMPAPER_PENV_9_ROTATED

EnvC3

918 x 1296

324 x 458

12.75 x 18.03

I, E

DMPAPER_ENV_C3

EnvPRC10

918 x 1298

324 x 458

12.75 x 18

DMPAPER_PENV_10

EnvKaku2Rotated

941 x 680

332 x 240

13 x 9.45

E, N

DMPAPER_JENV_KAKU2_ROTATED

ISOB3

1001 x 1417

353 x 500

13.90 x 19.68

B4Rotated

1032 x 729

364 x 257

14.33 x 10.12

B3

1032 x 1460

364 x 515

14.33 x 20.28

FanFoldUS

1071 x 792

377.83x
279.4

14.875 x 11

DMPAPER_FANFOLD_US

15x11

1080 x 792

381 x 279.4

15 x 11

DMPAPER_15X11

A3Rotated

1191 x 842

420 x 297

16.54 x 11.69

DMPAPER_A3_ROTATED

A2

1191 x 1684

420 x 594

16.54 x 23.39

I, J

DMPAPER_A2

Ledger

1224 x 792

431.8 x 279.4

17 x 11

AnsiC

1224 x 1584

431.8 x 558.8

17 x 22

ARCHC

1296 x 1728

457.2 x 609.6

18 x 24

EnvPRC10Rotated

1298 x 918

458 x 324

18 x 12.75

E, N

EnvC2

1298 x 1837

458 x 648

18.03 x 25.51

I,E

ISOB2

1417 x 2004

500 x 707

19.68 x 27.83

B2

1460 x 2064

515 x 728

20.28 x 28.66

AnsiD

1584 x 2448

558.8 x 863.6

22 x 34

A1

1684 x 2384

594 x 841

23.39 x 33.11

ARCHD

1728 x 2592

609.6 x 914.4

24 x 36

EnvC1

1837 x 2599

648 x 917

25.51 x 36.10

I, E

ISOB1

2004 x 2835

707 x 1000

27.83 x 39.37

B1

2064 x 2920

728 x 1030

28.66 x 40.55

A0

2384 x 3370

841 x 1189

33.11 x 46.81

I, J

AnsiE

2448 x 3168

863.6 x 1118

34 x 44

DMPAPER_B4_JIS_ROTATED

DMPAPER_LEDGER

DMPAPER_CSHEET
DMPAPER_PENV_10_ROTATED

I, J
DMPAPER_DSHEET

B.2 mediaOption Name Tables

197

Table B.2 MediaOptions Sorted By Size (Continued)

mediaOption

Size (pts)

Size (mm)

ARCHE

2592 x 3456

914.4 x 1219

36 x 48

EnvC0

2599 x 3676

917 x 1297

36.10 x 51.06

I, E

ISOB0

2835 x 4008

1000 x 1414

39.37 x 55.67

B0

2920 x 4127

1030 x 1456

40.55 x 57.32

MaxPage

largest page

size available

on this device

N, V

198

Appendix B: Registered mediaOption Keywords

Size (inches)

Notes

#define
DMPAPER_ESHEET

(9 Feb 1996)

Appendix C: Character Encodings

The *LanguageEncoding keyword defines the encoding used by translation

strings and certain QuotedValues in a PPD file. This appendix describes three
encodings commonly used in PPD files, and how to convert between them.
The three encoding options compared in this appendix are ISOLatin1,
WindowsANSI (character set 0 or Western), and MacStandard (Script Manager
script 0). ISOLatin1 encoding is commonly used in the Unix environment.
WindowsANSI is defined by Microsoft for use in the Windows operating system.
MacStandard is the encoding used by Macintosh computers.
Document managers will need to convert certain strings from the encoding
used in the PPD file to the encoding used on their operating system. For document managers operating in the Macintosh, Windows, and Unix environments, this often means a conversion between two of the three encodings
listed here. These tables are intended to help in that conversion.
Table C.1 shows the three encoding vectors in their entirety. It is indexed by
character code and contains the union of all of the characters in all three
encoding vectors.
Tables C.2, C.3, and C.4 contain only the differences between the three
encoding vectors, and could be the basis for conversion tables in a document
manager. Table C.2 is indexed by the character code and name of each character in the WindowsANSI encoding vector. Table C.3 is indexed by the character code and name of each character in the MacStandard encoding vector. Table
C.4 is indexed by the character code and name of each character in the
ISOLatin1 encoding vector.

199

C.1

All Encodings Indexed By Byte Code

Table C.1 shows the three encoding vectors in their entirety. The first column
gives the byte code. The second, third, and fourth columns give the PostScript
language name of the character encoded at that position in the specified encoding vector. The word unused in a column means there is no printable character
at that byte code position in the specified encoding vector.

Table C.1 All Encodings Indexed By Byte Code

Code
0-31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65-90
91
92
93
94

200

WindowsANSI
unused
space
exclam
quotedbl
numbersign
dollar
percent
ampersand
quotesingle
parenleft
parenright
asterisk
plus
comma
hyphen
period
slash
zero
one
two
three
four
five
six
seven
eight
nine
colon
semicolon
less
equal
greater
question
at
A-Z
bracketleft
backslash
bracketright
asciicircum

ISOLatin1
unused
space
exclam
quotedbl
numbersign
dollar
percent
ampersand
quoteright
parenleft
parenright
asterisk
plus
comma
minus
period
slash
zero
one
two
three
four
five
six
seven
eight
nine
colon
semicolon
less
equal
greater
question
at
A-Z
bracketleft
backslash
bracketright
asciicircum

Appendix C: Character Encodings

MacStandard
unused
space
exclam
quotedbl
numbersign
dollar
percent
ampersand
quotesingle
parenleft
parenright
asterisk
plus
comma
hyphen
period
slash
zero
one
two
three
four
five
six
seven
eight
nine
colon
semicolon
less
equal
greater
question
at
A-Z
bracketleft
backslash
bracketright
asciicircum

Table C.1 All Encodings Indexed By Byte Code (Continued)

Code
95
96
97-122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158

WindowsANSI
underscore
grave
a-z
braceleft
bar
braceright
asciitilde
unused
unused
unused
quotesinglbase
florin
quotedblbase
ellipsis
dagger
daggerdbl
circumflex
perthousand
Scaron
guilsinglleft
OE
unused
unused
unused
unused
quoteleft
quoteright
quotedblleft
quotedblright
bullet
endash
emdash
tilde
trademark
scaron
guilsinglright
oe
unused
unused

ISOLatin1
underscore
quoteleft
a-z
braceleft
bar
braceright
asciitilde
unused
unused
unused
unused
unused
unused
unused
unused
unused
unused
unused
unused
unused
unused
unused
unused
unused
dotlessi
grave
acute
circumflex
tilde
macron
breve
dotaccent
dieresis
unused
ring
cedilla
unused
hungarumlaut
ogonek

MacStandard
underscore
grave
a-z
braceleft
bar
braceright
asciitilde
unused
Adieresis
Aring
Ccedilla
Eacute
Ntilde
Odieresis
Udieresis
aacute
agrave
acircumflex
adieresis
atilde
aring
ccedilla
eacute
egrave
ecircumflex
edieresis
iacute
igrave
icircumflex
idieresis
ntilde
oacute
ograve
ocircumflex
odieresis
otilde
uacute
ugrave
ucircumflex

(9 Feb 1996)

Table C.1 All Encodings Indexed By Byte Code (Continued)

Table C.1 All Encodings Indexed By Byte Code (Continued)

Code
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210

Code
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255

WindowsANSI
Ydieresis
spacea
exclamdown
cent
sterling
currency
yen
brokenbar
section
dieresis
copyright
ordfeminine
guillemotleft
logicalnot
hyphenb
registered
macron
degree
plusminus
twosuperior
threesuperior
acute
mu
paragraph
periodcentered
cedilla
onesuperior
ordmasculine
guillemotright
onequarter
onehalf
threequarters
questiondown
Agrave
Aacute
Acircumflex
Atilde
Adieresis
Aring
AE
Ccedilla
Egrave
Eacute
Ecircumflex
Edieresis
Igrave
Iacute
Icircumflex
Idieresis
Eth
Ntilde
Ograve

ISOLatin1
caron
space
exclamdown
cent
sterling
currency
yen
brokenbar
section
dieresis
copyright
ordfeminine
guillemotleft
logicalnot
hyphen
registered
macron
degree
plusminus
twosuperior
threesuperior
acute
mu
paragraph
periodcentered
cedilla
onesuperior
ordmasculine
guillemotright
onequarter
onehalf
threequarters
questiondown
Agrave
Aacute
Acircumflex
Atilde
Adieresis
Aring
AE
Ccedilla
Egrave
Eacute
Ecircumflex
Edieresis
Igrave
Iacute
Icircumflex
Idieresis
Eth
Ntilde
Ograve

MacStandard
udieresis
dagger
degree
cent
sterling
section
bullet
paragraph
germandbls
registered
copyright
trademark
acute
dieresis
notequal
AE
Oslash
infinity
plusminus
lessequal
greaterequal
yen
mu
partialdiff
summation
product
pi
integral
ordfeminine
ordmasculine
Omega
ae
oslash
questiondown
exclamdown
logicalnot
radical
florin
approxequal
Delta
guillemotleft
guillemotright
ellipsis
space
Agrave
Atilde
Otilde
OE
oe
endash
emdash
quotedblleft

WindowsANSI
Oacute
Ocircumflex
Otilde
Odieresis
multiply
Oslash
Ugrave
Uacute
Ucircumflex
Udieresis
Yacute
Thorn
germandbls
agrave
aacute
acircumflex
atilde
adieresis
aring
ae
ccedilla
egrave
eacute
ecircumflex
edieresis
igrave
iacute
icircumflex
idieresis
eth
ntilde
ograve
oacute
ocircumflex
otilde
odieresis
divide
oslash
ugrave
uacute
ucircumflex
udieresis
yacute
thorn
ydieresis

ISOLatin1
Oacute
Ocircumflex
Otilde
Odieresis
multiply
Oslash
Ugrave
Uacute
Ucircumflex
Udieresis
Yacute
Thorn
germandbls
agrave
aacute
acircumflex
atilde
adieresis
aring
ae
ccedilla
egrave
eacute
ecircumflex
edieresis
igrave
iacute
icircumflex
idieresis
eth
ntilde
ograve
oacute
ocircumflex
otilde
odieresis
divide
oslash
ugrave
uacute
ucircumflex
udieresis
yacute
thorn
ydieresis

MacStandard
quotedblright
quoteleft
quoteright
divide
lozenge
ydieresis
Ydieresis
fraction
currency
guilsinglleft
guilsinglright
fi
fl
daggerdbl
periodcentered
quotesinglbase
quotedblbase
perthousand
Acircumflex
Ecircumflex
Aacute
Edieresis
Egrave
Iacute
Icircumflex
Idieresis
Igrave
Oacute
Ocircumflex
apple
Ograve
Uacute
Ucircumflex
Ugrave
dotlessi
circumflex
tilde
macron
breve
dotaccent
ring
cedilla
hungarumlaut
ogonek
caron

a. Some PostScript fonts may include code 160 as

a non-breaking space named nbspace.
b. Some PostScript fonts may include code 173 as
a soft hyphen named sfthyphen.

C.1 All Encodings Indexed By Byte Code

201

C.2

Conversions from WindowsANSI Encoding

In Table C.2, the first two columns give the byte code and name of a character in
the source encoding vector, WindowsANSI (abbreviated for space in the table as
ANSI). The third and fourth columns give the corresponding byte code in the destination encoding vectors, MacStandard (abbreviated as Mac) and ISOLatin1, respectively. The word same in a column means that the destination byte code is the
same as the source byte code. The string n/a in a column means that the character has no equivalent in the destination encoding vector.

Table C.2 Conversions from WindowsANSI

Encoding
Character Name
quotesingle
hyphen
grave
quotesinglbase
florin
quotedblbase
ellipsis
dagger
daggerdbl
circumflex
perthousand
Scaron
guilsinglleft
OE
quoteleft
quoteright
quotedblleft
quotedblright
bullet
endash
emdash
tilde
trademark
scaron
guilsinglright
oe
Ydieresis
space
exclamdown
currency
yen
brokenbar
section
dieresis
ordfeminine
guillemotleft
logicalnot

202

ANSI
39
45
96
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
159
160
161
164
165
166
167
168
170
171
172

Mac
same
same
same
226
196
227
201
160
224
246
228
n/a
220
206
212
213
210
211
165
208
209
247
170
n/a
221
207
217
32
193
219
180
n/a
164
172
187
199
194

Appendix C: Character Encodings

ISOLatin1
n/a
173
145
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
147
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
96
39
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
148
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same

Table C.2 Conversions from WindowsANSI

Encoding (Continued)
Character Name
hyphen
registered
macron
degree
twosuperior
threesuperior
acute
paragraph
periodcentered
cedilla
onesuperior
ordmasculine
guillemotright
onequarter
onehalf
threequarters
questiondown
Agrave
Aacute
Acircumflex
Atilde
Adieresis
Aring
AE
Ccedilla
Egrave
Eacute
Ecircumflex
Edieresis
Igrave
Iacute
Icircumflex
Idieresis
Eth
Ntilde
Ograve
Oacute

ANSI
173
174
175
176
178
179
180
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211

Mac
45
168
248
161
n/a
n/a
171
166
225
252
n/a
188
200
n/a
n/a
n/a
192
203
231
229
204
128
129
174
130
233
131
230
232
237
234
235
236
n/a
132
241
238

ISOLatin1
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same

(9 Feb 1996)

Table C.2 Conversions from WindowsANSI

Encoding (Continued)
Character Name
Ocircumflex
Otilde
Odieresis
multiply
Oslash
Ugrave
Uacute
Ucircumflex
Udieresis
Yacute
Thorn
germandbls
agrave
aacute
acircumflex
atilde
adieresis
aring
ae
ccedilla
egrave
eacute
ecircumflex
edieresis
igrave
iacute
icircumflex
idieresis
eth
ntilde
ograve
oacute
ocircumflex
otilde
odieresis
divide
oslash
ugrave
uacute
ucircumflex
udieresis
yacute
thorn
ydieresis

ANSI
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255

Mac
239
205
133
n/a
175
244
242
243
134
n/a
n/a
167
136
135
137
139
138
140
190
141
143
142
144
145
147
146
148
149
n/a
150
152
151
153
155
154
214
191
157
156
158
159
n/a
n/a
216

ISOLatin1
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same

C.2 Conversions from WindowsANSI Encoding

203

C.3

Conversions from MacStandard Encoding

In Table C.3, the first two columns give the byte code and name of a character in
the source encoding vector, MacStandard (abbreviated for space in the table as
Mac). The third and fourth columns give the corresponding byte code in the destination encoding vectors, WindowsANSI (abbreviated as ANSI) and ISOLatin1, respectively. The word same in a column means that the destination byte code is the
same as the source byte code. The string n/a in a column means that the character has no equivalent in the destination encoding vector.

Table C.3 Conversions from MacStandard Encoding

Table C.3 Conversions from MacStandard Encoding

Character Name
hyphen
grave
Adieresis
Aring
Ccedilla
Eacute
Ntilde
Odieresis
Udieresis
aacute
agrave
acircumflex
adieresis
atilde
aring
ccedilla
eacute
egrave
ecircumflex
edieresis
iacute
igrave
icircumflex
idieresis
ntilde
oacute
ograve
ocircumflex
odieresis
otilde
uacute
ugrave
ucircumflex
udieresis
dagger
degree
section

Character Name
bullet
paragraph
germandbls
registered
trademark
acute
dieresis
notequal
AE
Oslash
infinity
lessequal
greaterequal
yen
partialdiff
summation
product
pi
integral
ordfeminine
ordmasculine
Omega
ae
oslash
questiondown
exclamdown
logicalnot
radical
florin
approxequal
Delta
guillemotleft
guillemotright
ellipsis
space
Agrave
Atilde

204

Mac
45
96
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
164

ANSI
same
same
196
197
199
201
209
214
220
225
224
226
228
227
229
231
233
232
234
235
237
236
238
239
241
243
242
244
246
245
250
249
251
252
134
176
167

Appendix C: Character Encodings

ISOLatin1
173
145
196
197
199
201
209
214
220
225
224
226
228
227
229
231
233
232
234
235
237
236
238
239
241
243
242
244
246
245
250
249
251
252
n/a
176
167

Mac
165
166
167
168
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
178
179
180
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204

ANSI
149
182
223
174
153
180
168
n/a
198
216
n/a
n/a
n/a
165
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
170
186
n/a
230
248
191
161
172
n/a
131
n/a
n/a
171
187
133
32
192
195

ISOLatin1
n/a
182
223
174
n/a
146
152
n/a
198
216
n/a
n/a
n/a
165
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
170
186
n/a
230
248
191
161
172
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
171
187
n/a
32
192
195

(9 Feb 1996)

Table C.3 Conversions from MacStandard Encoding

Table C.3 Conversions from MacStandard Encoding

Character Name
Otilde
OE
oe
endash
emdash
quotedblleft
quotedblright
quoteleft
quoteright
divide
lozenge
ydieresis
Ydieresis
fraction
currency
guilsinglleft
guilsinglright
fi
fl
daggerdbl
periodcentered
quotesinglbase
quotedblbase
perthousand
Acircumflex
Ecircumflex
Aacute
Edieresis
Egrave
Iacute
Icircumflex
Idieresis
Igrave
Oacute
Ocircumflex
apple
Ograve
Uacute
Ucircumflex
Ugrave
dotlessi
circumflex
tilde
macron
breve
dotaccent

Character Name
ring
cedilla
hungarumlaut
ogonek
caron

Mac
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250

ANSI
213
140
156
150
151
147
148
145
146
247
n/a
255
159
n/a
164
139
155
n/a
n/a
135
183
130
132
137
194
202
193
203
200
205
206
207
204
211
212
n/a
210
218
219
217
n/a
n/a
152
175
n/a
n/a

ISOLatin1
213
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
96
39
247
n/a
255
n/a
n/a
164
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
183
n/a
n/a
n/a
194
202
193
203
200
205
206
207
204
211
212
n/a
210
218
219
217
144
147
148
149
150
151

Mac
251
252
253
254
255

ANSI
n/a
184
n/a
n/a
n/a

ISOLatin1
154
155
157
158
159

C.3 Conversions from MacStandard Encoding

205

C.4

Conversions from ISOLatin1 Encoding

In Table C.4, the first two columns give the byte code and name of a character in
the source encoding vector, ISOLatin1. The third and fourth columns give the corresponding byte code in the destination encoding vectors, WindowsANSI (abbreviated for space in the table as ANSI) and MacStandard (abbreviated as Mac),
respectively. The word same in a column means that the destination byte code
is the same as the source byte code. The string n/a in a column means that the
character has no equivalent in the destination encoding vector.

Table C.4 Conversions from ISOLatin1 Encoding

Character Name
quoteright
quoteleft
dotlessi
grave
acute
circumflex
tilde
macron
breve
dotaccent
dieresis
ring
cedilla
hungarumlaut
ogonek
caron
space
exclamdown
currency
yen
brokenbar
section
dieresis
ordfeminine
guillemotleft
logicalnot
hyphen
registered
macron
degree
twosuperior
threesuperior
acute
paragraph
periodcentered
cedilla

206

ISOLatin1
39
96
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
154
155
157
158
159
160
161
164
165
166
167
168
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
178
179
180
182
183
184

ANSI
146
145
n/a
96
180
n/a
152
175
n/a
n/a
168
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same

Appendix C: Character Encodings

Mac
213
212
245
96
171
246
247
248
249
250
172
251
252
253
254
255
32
193
219
180
n/a
164
172
187
199
194
45
168
248
161
n/a
n/a
171
166
225
252

Table C.4 Conversions from ISOLatin1 Encoding

Character Name
onesuperior
ordmasculine
guillemotright
onequarter
onehalf
threequarters
questiondown
Agrave
Aacute
Acircumflex
Atilde
Adieresis
Aring
AE
Ccedilla
Egrave
Eacute
Ecircumflex
Edieresis
Igrave
Iacute
Icircumflex
Idieresis
Eth
Ntilde
Ograve
Oacute
Ocircumflex
Otilde
Odieresis
multiply
Oslash
Ugrave
Uacute
Ucircumflex
Udieresis

ISOLatin1
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220

ANSI
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same

Mac
n/a
188
200
n/a
n/a
n/a
192
203
231
229
204
128
129
174
130
233
131
230
232
237
234
235
236
n/a
132
241
238
239
205
133
n/a
175
244
242
243
134

(9 Feb 1996)

Table C.4 Conversions from ISOLatin1 Encoding

Character Name
Yacute
Thorn
germandbls
agrave
aacute
acircumflex
atilde
adieresis
aring
ae
ccedilla
egrave
eacute
ecircumflex
edieresis
igrave
iacute
icircumflex
idieresis
eth
ntilde
ograve
oacute
ocircumflex
otilde
odieresis
divide
oslash
ugrave
uacute
ucircumflex
udieresis
yacute
thorn
ydieresis

ISOLatin1
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255

ANSI
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same
same

Mac
n/a
n/a
167
136
135
137
139
138
140
190
141
143
142
144
145
147
146
148
149
n/a
150
152
151
153
155
154
214
191
157
156
158
159
n/a
n/a
216

C.4 Conversions from ISOLatin1 Encoding

207

208

Appendix C: Character Encodings

(9 Feb 1996)

Appendix D: Manufacturers Prefix

List and *Manufacturer Strings

The first column of Table D.1 contains the formal, legal name of device manufacturers who support Adobe PostScript in their devices.
The second column of Table D.1 contains a list of two-letter prefixes that
have been assigned to device manufacturers. The manufacturers assigned
prefix composes the first two characters of an initial PPD file name, the first
two characters of *PCFileName, and the first two characters after the asterisk of
any main keywords created by the manufacturer. Each manufacturer must
have a unique prefix and the prefix must be the same in all PPD files for
devices from that manufacturer. For example, all PPD files built for Agfa
devices will have filenames and *PCFileName values that start with the character sequence AG, and any main keywords created by Agfa will start with
the character sequence *AG, as in *AGHalftone. See *PCFileName in section 5.3 for
advice on naming PPD files. See section 5.1 for information about creating
and properly prefixing keywords.
The third column of Table D.1 contains the value of *Manufacturer (see section
5.3), if known. The fourth column of Table D.1 contains the value of the tag
icHeader.manufacturer in ICC color characterization profiles belonging to this
manufacturer in the Windows environment, if known.
Note

Because the *Manufacturer keyword is new in the 4.3 version of this specification, very few *Manufacturer strings and icHeader.manufacturer profile tags are
known at this time. By the time the next version of this specification is
released, this table will be much more complete.

Note

To builders of PPD files: If you do not have an assigned *Manufacturer string,

before choosing one, please consult Table D.1 to avoid name conflicts. Also,
if you plan to install ICC color profiles in the Windows environment, certain
restrictions are placed on the first four characters of these names and they
must not conflict with the first four characters of other manufacturers names.
Please read the notes for *Manufacturer, *ModelName, and *ShortNickName in section 5.3.
For updates to this list, please contact the appropriate address on the front
cover of this document.

209

Table D.1 Assigned prefixes and *Manufacturer strings as of February 9, 1996

Company Name

Prefix

*Manufacturer

icHeader.manufacturer

3M Corporation

3M

Adobe Systems Inc.

AD

Adobe

ADOB

Agfa-Gevaert N.V. (includes Agfa-Matrix,

Agfa-Compugraphic, and Miles Inc.)

AG

Apple Computer, Inc.

AP

Apple

APPL

AST Research Inc.

AS

AST

AST

Autologic Incorporated (a subsidiary of

Volt Information Sciences)

AU

Barco Graphics

BC

Birmy Graphics Corporation

BG

Bull HN Information Systems Italia S.P.A.

BU

Bull

BULL

Cactus

CC

CalComp, Inc.

CA

Canon, Inc.

CN

Canon

CANO

Colorbus Software

CB

Colossal Graphics Inc.

CG

Compaq Computer Corporation

CP

Compaq

COMP

Crosfield Electronics Limited

CF

Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co. Ltd.

DS

Dataproducts Corporation

DP

Dataproducts

DATA

Digital Equipment Corporation

DC

DuPont see E.I.DuPont

Eastman Kodak Company and

Diconix (a Division of Kodak)

KD

Kodak

KODA

Eicon Technology Corporation (includes Escher-Grad Inc.)

EG

E.I. DuPont deNemours and Company

DU

EFI, Inc. (Electronics For Imaging, Inc.)

EF

Epson see Seiko Epson

Fargo Electronics, Inc.

FE

210

Appendix D: Manufacturers Prefix List and *Manufacturer Strings

(9 Feb 1996)

Table D.1 Assigned prefixes and *Manufacturer strings as of February 9, 1996 (Continued)

Company Name

Prefix

*Manufacturer

icHeader.manufacturer

Fujitsu, Inc.

FU

Fuji Film

FF

Fuji Xerox

FX

GCC Technologies

GC

Gestetner Lasers Pty. Limited

GS

Hewlett Packard Company

HP

HP

HP

Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.

HK

IDT

ID

Indigo

IN

Integrated Computer Solutions, Inc.

IC

International Business Machines Corp.

IB

IBM

IBM

Kodak see Eastman Kodak

Lasergraphics

LG

Lexmark International

LX

Lexmark

LEXM

Lincoln, A.J.

LI

Linotype-Hell AG

LH

Management Graphics

MG

Mannesmann Scangraphic GmbH

SC

Mannesmann

MANN

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

MT

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

ME

Monotype Corporation PLC

MO

NEC Corporation (includes NEC Information Systems, Inc.

and NEC Technologies, Inc.)

NC

NEC

NEC

Network Computing Devices, Inc.

ND

Newgen Corporation

NW

NeXT Computer, Inc.

NX

Nihon System Gijutsu Co.

NP

Oce Graphics USA Inc. (formerly Schlumberger)

OC

Oce

OCE

Ohio Electronic Engravers

OE

211

Table D.1 Assigned prefixes and *Manufacturer strings as of February 9, 1996 (Continued)

Company Name

Prefix

*Manufacturer

icHeader.manufacturer

Oki Electric Industry Co. (includes Okidata)

OK

Oki

OKI

Optronics, a Division of Intergraph

OP

Panasonic USA

PA

Panasonic

PANA

PIX Computer Systems GmbH

PX

PrePRESS Solutions, Inc.

PP

QMS, Inc.

QM

QMS

QMS

Radius

RA

Ricoh Company, Ltd.

RI

Ricoh

RICO

Scangraphic see Mannesmann

Scitex Corporation Ltd.

SX

Seiko Epson Corporation

EP

Epson

EPSO

Seiko Instruments USA, Inc.

SK

Seiko

SEIK

Silicon Graphics

SG

Sony Corporation

SO

Sun Microsystems, Inc.

SN

SuperMac Technology, Inc.

SM

Tektronix

TK

Tektronix

TEKT

Texas Instruments Inc.

TI

TI

TI

Total Integration, Inc.

TO

Unisys

UN

Ultimate Technographics

UT

Varityper Inc. (now PrePRESS Solutions, Inc.)

VT

VerTec Solutions, Inc.

VS

Visual Edge Software Ltd.

VE

Wang Laboratories Inc.

WA

Wang

WANG

Xante Corporation

XT

Xerox Corporation

XR

Xerox

XERO

212

Appendix D: Manufacturers Prefix List and *Manufacturer Strings

(9 Feb 1996)

Appendix E: Changes Since

Earlier Versions

E.1

Changes since Version 4.2, March 29, 1994

New Material

Added the following new required keywords:

*Manufacturer

Added the following new non-required keywords:

*1284DeviceID
*ContoneOnly
*DefaultLeadingEdge
*?ExitJamRecovery
*HalftoneName
*NonUIOrderDependency
*PageDeviceName
*RenderingIntent
*UseHWMargins

*1284Modes
*CloseSubGroup
*DefaultExitJamRecovery
*DefaultHalftoneType
*DefaultUseHWMargins
*ExitJamRecovery
*FCacheSize
*FDirSize
*?InstalledMemory
*LeadingEdge
*NonUIConstraints
*OpenSubGroup
*QueryOrderDependency
*ReferencePunch
*SuggestedManualFeedTimeout

Added new section 4.5, Summary of Rules for *Default Keywords, to

get all the information about *Default keywords into one place.
Added new section 5.1, Creating Your Own Keywords, to document
how device manufacturers can create their own main and option keywords
when building PPD files for their devices.
Added new section 6.3, Examples of Custom Page Size Code, to assist
builders of PPD files with writing *CustomPageSize invocation code for both
roll-fed and cut-sheet devices.
Added new section 7, PPD File Summary, for PPD file builders, containing a summary of what goes into a PPD file, including changes to
make for a Kanji PPD file.

213

 Added new Appendix D: Manufacturers Prefix List and *Manufacturer

Strings, to list PPD filename & keyword prefixes assigned to device manufacturers, known string values for *Manufacturer, and icHeader.manufacturer
color profile tags, if known.
Renamed old Appendix D (this appendix) to Appendix E. Removed
Changes since February 14, 1992, as it only fixed minor typographical
errors and provided no useful information.
Combined Appendix B with Appendix A, renamed Appendix A: Keyword
Categories. Added new Appendix B: Registered mediaOption Keywords.
Moved all lists of mediaOption option keywords (page sizes) from section
5.9, Media Option Keywords, into new Appendix B, and combined lists
into two tables, sorted by name and size.
New Appendix B: Introduced the prefix Env to designate envelope page
sizes. The following sizes had the prefix Env added to reflect this
change:C0, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, DL, and Monarch. Also, Comm10 was
changed to Env10. These names were not changed in existing PPD files.
The old names are still valid, but builders of new PPD files are encouraged
to use the new names for easy recognition of envelopes by print managers.
Indexed all previously deleted keywords for reference to old PPD files.
Changes to Existing Material

Made *ShortNickName a required keyword. It was not required in previous

versions of this specification. Added it to various examples. Also clarified
that the *Default versions of required keywords are also required. For example, *DefaultPageSize is required.
Throughout document, changed all examples using setpagedevice to use
recommended method of construction dictionaries, by using (<<) cvx exec
etc. Updated many examples from Level 1 to Level 2 code. Also added
audience designators to many Notes: To builders of PPD files, and To
application developers. Consolidated descriptions of main keywords with
their associated *Default and query keywords, where it made sense to do so.
Added Unknown to all *Default values. Specified valid return values, including newline, for all query keywords in a standard format.
Moved ASCII Code Chart and Definition of Terms closer to front of document. Many other sections were moved, reorganized, and renumbered to
be more internally consistent and consistent with the actual structure of
most PPD files.
Error Handling: Removed comments on file portability; covered elsewhere.

214

Appendix E: Changes Since Earlier Versions

(9 Feb 1996)

 Order Dependencies: Edited to clarify that the code ordering guidelines

are only needed if a parser does not use the *OrderDependency statements
provided in the PPD file. Removed redundant examples.
Local Customization Files: Clarified that local customization files must
include the minimal set of required keywords, and that any customization
of UI keywords must include the entire *OpenUI/*CloseUI entry. Added warnings about creation & use.
Definition of Terms: Moved closer to front of document. Removed comments about keyword registration, since this is now covered in section 5.1.
Added note to state that query keywords do not exist for every main keyword. Added definitions for, *Default keywords, and stand-alone *Default
keywords. Changed allowable byte-code ranges to allow 8-bit ASCII in
translation strings and QuotedValues. Changed definition of in-range and
out-of-range byte codes.
General Parsing Summary: Added material about 8-bit ASCII byte codes.
Main Keywords: Changed 3rd paragraph to make it clear that *Default keywords can appear alone in a PPD file, without a corresponding invocation
or query keyword. Moved required keywords list from Parsing Summary
to beginning of section 5.
Option Keywords: Slightly reworded beginning of section to reflect
changes in how option keywords are created.
Syntax of Values, under Parsing Summary for Values: Changed several
bullets to clarify use of stand-alone *Default keywords and use of Unknown.
Added note to warn parsers about 8-bit ASCII appearing in certain QuotedValues in translated PPD files. Throughout document, changed the use
of StringValues to StringValue with multiple components separated by
white space where appropriate.
Translation String Syntax: Clarified that *Default keywords may have a
translation string on their value only if they are stand-alone keywords.
Clarified that a given option keyword should have the same translation
string across closely related entries such as *PageSize, *PageRegion,
*ImageableArea, and *PaperDimension. Added note to warn parsers about 8-bit
ASCII appearing in certain QuotedValues in translated PPD files. Added
description of when hex must be used and when 8-bit ASCII may be used.
PostScript Language Sequences: Added recommendations on writing
Level 2 code that reduces the risk of errors if sent to a Level 1 device.
Added advice on efficient Level 2 dictionary construction. Removed
*?PageRegion query in example, as this query keyword does not exist. Clarified example of how *End is used.

E.1 Changes since Version 4.2, March 29, 1994

215

 PPD File Structure: Added *Manufacturer and *ShortNickName to list of

required keywords usually found near front of file. Added info about PPD
file size limits and keyword content imposed by common print managers.
Syntax of Specification, General Syntax: Added that PostScript operators
and dictionary keys appear in boldface type. In Elementary Types, under
query, added that valid return values are defined for each query, that translation strings are not allowed on return values, and that return values must
terminate with a newline. Added new type text for strings with spaces. In
Standard Option Values for Main Keywords, under Unknown, added that
stand-alone *Default keywords cant have value of Unknown.
General Information Keywords: Added more examples to most keywords;
added guidelines for PPD file builders to many keywords. Changed the
first part of a *PCFileName from an upper limit of 8 characters to specify that
it must be 8 characters; added Adobes file naming conventions and examples. Added options of ISOLatin2 and ISOLatin5 to *LanguageEncoding and Turkish to *LanguageVersion. Added explanation about ICC color profile matching
to *ModelName and *ShortNickName. Changed value type of *ShortNickName,
*ModelName, *NickName from string to text to accommodate spaces in value.
Emulators and Protocols: From *Emulators, removed statement Multiple
*Emulators statements may appear. There is no need for multiple *Emulators
statements, since *Emulators can list multiple emulators in a single
StringValue. Explained odd syntax of *StopEmulator_ and *StartEmulator_ keywords.
Structure Keywords, *UIConstraints: Added new rule that *UIConstraints can no
longer be used with non-UI keywords; instead, the new keyword
*NonUIConstraints should be used. Also, *UIConstraints should be reciprocated
and should be considered reciprocated by print managers even if the reciprocal constraint is missing.
Structure Keywords, *OrderDependency: *OrderDependency may only be used
with UI keywords and the new keyword *NonUIOrderDependency must be
used with non-UI keywords. AnySetup should be used for the section value if
a specific section is not required. Adobe strongly recommends using
*OrderDependency in every *OpenUI and *JCLOpenUI entry. Changed to say that
order numbers define the order within a section, rather than across all sections, to accommodate printing the 1st page from a different bin, when the
*InputSlot code is not emitted until the 2nd page. Added note about using the
same order number if possible & how print managers can use this to reduce
the number of setpagedevice calls and improve performance. Removed this
statement regarding code fragments that dont have *OrderDependency statements: [Such fragments] are not assigned an ordering number or a section. Such code fragments can be used anywhere during the imaging of a

216

Appendix E: Changes Since Earlier Versions

(9 Feb 1996)

page. Executing such code will affect the appearance of future imaging,
but will not affect imaging already done.. This left only the statement that
non-ordered fragments should be emitted after ordered fragments.
Structure Keywords: *OpenGroup/*CloseGroup may not be nested; the new
keywords *OpenSubGroup/*CloseSubGroup should be used for nesting groups
within groups. Removed requirement that main keywords surround by
*OpenUI/*CloseUI be documented in the PPD spec, as OEMs can invent their
own main keywords. Added reference to *JCLOpenUI/*JCLCloseUI. In
*Resolution example at end of *OrderDependency description, changed 2504 to
2504dpi. Rewrote entire section to be less verbose.
Symbolic References to Data: Removed unnecessary titles on examples in
description of *SymbolValue.
Media Option Keywords: Removed lists of mediaOptions to Appendix B.
Added explanation of how Transverse qualifier should and should not be
used. Added explanations for other common qualifiers and page size substrings.
Custom Page Sizes: Made substantial changes to how custom page sizes
are handled on cut-sheet devices. Orientation, WidthOffset, and HeightOffset are
now allowed. All parameters are now defined the same for roll-fed & cutsheet media. Orientation can now be used with *HWMargins to figure out
which edge is leading into the device, so the imageable area can now be
more accurately determined by subtracting the correct values of *HWMargins
from the correct edges of the page. Added section for print manager
authors on how to handle custom page sizes. All complete examples of
custom page size entries were moved to section 6.4. The keyword
*VariablePaperSize was removed from the specification, as it was superceded
by *CustomPageSize in version 4.0.
Media Handling Features, *InputSlot: Added Microsoft #defines for input
slots to list of inputSlotOptions. Removed LargeFormat as an inputSlotOption
because it duplicated the function of AnyLargeFormat and was not used in
any existing PPD files. Added note to *InputSlot about combining functionality such as *MediaType and *ManualFeed with *InputSlot. Added example of
*InputSlot entry for single-slot or roll-fed devices.
Media Handling Features: Removed OnlyOne as an option for *OutputBin, as
this keyword should be omitted if there is only one output bin. Rewrote
*RequiresPageRegion to clarify that *PageRegion code may be required for reasons other than input slots not sensing page size. Added note to *DefaultOutputBin; it should not be present without *OutputBin. To *DefaultOutputOrder,
added that if this keyword is stand-alone, its value may not be Unknown.

E.1 Changes since Version 4.2, March 29, 1994

217

 Finishing Features: Added option EndOfPage to *Slipsheet. Removed UI

symbol from *InsertSheet, as this keyword requires the print manager to
build a special UI to accommodate it, so it cannot be blindly parsed and
displayed. Noted symbol removal. Added examples to folding, binding,
and stapling keywords of how to write *UIConstraints so a print manager
would understand the interdependencies between them.
Resolution and Appearance Control: Combined descriptions of
*ScreenAngle, *ScreenFreq, and *DefaultScreenProc. Added material to these
keywords related to *DefaultHalftoneType and *ContoneOnly. Added note to
description of *DefaultResolution to clarify that this keyword may appear
alone, without *Resolution or *SetResolution. Changed *ResScreenFreq and
*ResScreenAngle to say that they should be omitted in the PPD file of a
Level 2 device if the default Halftone dictionary type is not 1. In *BitsPerPixel, deleted requirement that one of the options be None. Changed definition of None from 1 bit per pixel to lowest number of bits per pixel.
Added options Off, On, True, False.
Color Issues: Under *ColorRenderDict, changed how color rendering dictionaries are named, to correspond to the new Adobe CRD naming convention. Clarified how a CRD can be added to the device via *ColorRenderDict.
Font Related Keywords: Clarified that fonts in the *Font list do not have to
be Type 1 fonts. Added many new charset and encoding options to cover
composite and CID-keyed fonts. Clarified how to deal with aftermarket
plug-in fonts and host-downloaded fonts. Removed recommendation to
put these in local customization file. Added note about future use of *Font
with *NonUIConstraints. Added note to *?FontList and *?FontQuery about slowing
down query responses.
Printer Messages: Under *Source, added that this keyword lists the names
of the communications channels. Changed the value type of *PrinterError,
*Status, and *Message from string to text, to accommodate spaces in the value.
Features Accessible Only Through Job Control Language: Added advice
against including both the PS and JCL methods of invoking a given feature, if both methods exist. Added Unknown to list of valid return values
from queries.
Sample PPD File Structure: Added examples of custom page size entries
and advice on how to write them. Removed Level 1 examples. Expanded
Level 2 color printer and imagesetter examples.
Appendix A.2 (formerly Appendix B): Removed the following keywords
from the list of optionless repeated keywords (these are optionless, but not
repeated): *Emulators, *Extensions, *FaxSupport, and *Protocols.

218

Appendix E: Changes Since Earlier Versions

(9 Feb 1996)

 Appendix C, Table C.2: Added character set 0 or Western to definition of

WindowsANSI and Script Manager script 0 to definition of MacStandard.
Removed byte codes 157 and 158 from the WindowsANSI encoding table,
because these byte codes are unused, not bullets as was previously stated.
Added footnotes about codes 160 and 173 to the WindowsANSI table (these
codes may have different names than shown in the table).
Globally changed several values that were recorded as invocation code
to simply invocation. Fixed various formatting errors and typos and
made minor rewording changes. Improved indexing.
Changed spec version number from 4.2 to 4.3.

E.2

Changes since Version 4.1, April 9, 1993

Changed spec version number from 4.1 to 4.2 in all appropriate places.
Added the following new keywords:
*PrintPSErrors
*ResScreenAngle
*DefaultInstalledMemory

*SuggestedJobTimeout
*ResScreenFreq

*SuggestedWaitTimeout
*InstalledMemory

Added a new option TrueImage to *TTRasterizer.

Moved description of *VMOption from section 5.4 to section 5.22, System
Management, after the description of *FreeVM. Removed examples of using
*UIConstraints on *VMOption to show how much VM is available (this method
has been replaced by *InstalledMemory). Rewrote description of *FreeVM for
clarity & accuracy with regard to *VMOption.
Made the following changes to section 5.7, Installable Options: It is now
legal, when necessary, to have named keywords, like *InstalledMemory, in the
InstallableOptions group (instead of the generic *Option1 type of keyword). It is
now legal to have PostScript code in the value of an entry in the InstallableOptions group. If there is such code, the entry must also have an *OrderDependency statement. Removed section on Keyword-Value pairs; they are no
longer recommended in *UIConstraints.
Added paragraph to description of *UIConstraints to say that constraints
should only be used with UI keywords.
Section 2.1, last paragraph: Removed the following sentence from the end
of the description of defaults, as the PPD specification should not be dictating print manager behavior, only recommending it: Print managers
should ensure that if the user selects nothing else, the defaults shown in

E.2 Changes since Version 4.1, April 9, 1993

219

the user interface are invoked. Replaced with description of how some
print managers behave regarding defaults. Removed similar statement dictating print manager behavior from last paragraph of section 2.6.
Section 5.9: Under Folio page size, changed incorrect reference to 8.5x13
page to correct metric size of 210mm x 330mm. Changed point size of
page from [595 936] to [595 935] for greater accuracy. Changed imageable area description to approximate. Removed references to folio
sheet and quarto sheet (under the definition of Quarto page size).
Section 5.14: Fixed typo F* at beginning of several keywords.
Appendix A: Removed *AccurateScreensSupport from the list, as it was never
an *OpenUI keyword. Added *InstalledMemory.

E.3

Changes since Version 4.0, October 14, 1992

Changed spec version number from 4.0 to 4.1 in all appropriate places.
Changed this section from Appendix C to Appendix D.
Inserted new Appendix C, Character Encodings, for use with the new
*LanguageEncoding keyword.
Added the following new keywords
*TTRasterizer
*ColorModel
*JCLOpenUI
*JCLBegin
*JCLFrameBufferSize
*JCLResolution
*MaxMediaHeight

*LanguageEncoding
*?ColorModel
*JCLCloseUI
*JCLEnd
*?JCLFrameBufferSize
*?JCLResolution
*?CurrentMediaHeight

*ShortNickName
*DefaultColorModel
*JCLToPSInterpreter
*DefaultJCLFrameBufferSize
*DefaultJCLResolution

Substantially rewrote section 5.12, Custom Page Sizes, to define the meaning of custom page sizes on cut-sheet devices (old version dealt only with
roll-fed devices). Added definitions for cut-sheet devices to the custom
page size parameters and to all relevant keywords. Divided roll-fed and
cut-sheet devices into two subsections, wrote new introduction to cover
both sections. Clarified portions of *HWMargins and added info about how to
use it. Added new illustrations and examples. Changed *MaxMediaWidth
from int to real. Added explanation to *CurrentMediaWidth.
Added new section 5.23, Features Accessible Only Through Job Control
Language, to document new *JCL keywords.

220

Appendix E: Changes Since Earlier Versions

(9 Feb 1996)

 In section 3.6, Syntax of Values, under the subheadings QuotedValues

and Parsing Summary For Values, added exception for *JCL keywords to
the first rule, regarding the presence of option keywords. *JCL keywords
are treated like QuotedValues even if they have an option and look like
InvocationValues.
In section 4.2, Elementary Types, added new elementary type: JCL. Under
*Protocols, added note to subsection on PJL regarding the interaction of the
PJL value and the *JCL keywords. Added JCLSetup section to *OrderDependency.
Added reference to *ShortNickName in *NickName description. Also under
*NickName, clarified use of translation strings and encodings with *NickName.
Changed description of *UIConstraints and the Installable Options section to
include keyword-value pairs as well as keyword-option pairs.
*ImageableArea: Added description of PPD files for devices that have pages
with an imageable area that can vary depending on resolution and other
factors.
Added subheading Syntax and Use in section 5.7, Installable Options.
Added new section of info: Keyword-Value Pairs.
Various minor wording changes were made for clarification or brevity.
Minor typographical errors were fixed. Updated examples at end to
include some of the new keywords.

E.4

Changes since Version 3.0, dated March 8, 1989

Changes to Text

Significant rewriting and reorganizing occurred in this version of the spec, so

rather than documenting line-by-line changes, only the major semantic and
syntactical changes are described here.
The specification version number was increased to 4.0. International headquarters addresses added to front cover; updated copyright. PostScript
Printer Description files was changed to PPD files in all but the first
few times it is mentioned; Printer Description files were likewise
changed to PPD files in all cases. Changed printer to device in most
cases. Changed paper to media in text, not in keywords.
The option keyword section at the end of the document was removed; all
currently registered option keywords are now documented with their
respective main keywords. Added section with several sample PPD files.

E.4 Changes since Version 3.0, dated March 8, 1989

221

 Introduction became a section (section 1) and was rewritten to reflect new

focus on building a user interface from a PPD file and to get more basic
information on the first page.
Using PPD Files: Completely rewritten to show how document composition application and print manager interact to create PostScript language
code, and how code sample grows as it passes through various phases
(DSC comments added). Added sections on building a user interface,
inserting print-time features, error-handling, post-processing, and order
dependencies within a file.
Local Customization and *Include: Entire section was rewritten to explain
what kind of information is in the initial PPD file, what kind of information a user or system administrator might want to change or add, the drawbacks of editing a PPD file directly, and alternative suggestions to
managing PPD files. Explained local customization files in more detail
and emphasized consistent use of that title for them. Added subsection on
changing *Default- values in local customization file. Expanded meaning of
defaultsin original PPD file, defaults are the factory defaults, but they
can now be changed in a local customization file. New rule for *Include:
filenames must be enclosed in quotes.
The Format: Significantly rewritten. Added sentence about how queries
only work if the physical interface to the device allows feedback. Added
ASCII code chart for commonly referenced characters, definition of terms,
and descriptions of canonical forms of keyword entries. A bullet was
added to point out the maximum line length of 255 characters. The maximum length of 40 characters per keyword was clarified under Main Keywords. Split apart Parsing Details and reintegrated into subsections on
main keywords, option keywords, and values. Divided descriptions of
main keywords, option keywords, and values into subsections for PPD
writers and PPD parsers.
Details: Section was split apart and integrated into separate sections on
main keywords, option keywords, and values. Under Main Keywords, it
was clarified that a grep for a complete keyword includes the asterisk in
the keyword name (so *PageSize is not a substring of *DefaultPageSize).
Semantics of Main Keywords: Section was removed and information
moved to either The Format or Main Keywords.
The following keywords are now required in a a PPD file, whereas previously there was no requirement. Some are old keywords, some are new:
*PPD-Adobe, *Product, *PSVersion, *PCFileName, *ModelName, *NickName, *PageSize,
*PageRegion, *ImageableArea, *PaperDimension, *FileVersion, *FormatVersion, and
*LanguageVersion.

222

Appendix E: Changes Since Earlier Versions

(9 Feb 1996)

 Option Keywords: Significantly rewritten. Added advice for parsers and

emphasized extensibility of option keywords.
Translation String Syntax: This section was moved and retitled from
Foreign Language Customization: Translation String Syntax, because it
applies to more than foreign languages. Section was expanded to include
examples of translating cryptic keywords from English to English. In
the French example, the nonexistent keyword *PaperSize was changed to
*PageSize and syntactically incorrect percent signs and brackets and the
word PrinterError were all removed. Added section about 7-bit ASCII PPD
files and how to represent 8-bit characters (for foreign languages) as hex
strings. Provided reasons and noted that translation strings, if present,
should always be displayed to the user rather than the original option keyword. Added Parsing Summary for translation strings.
Human-Readable Comments: Added paragraph about comments in PostScript language code.
PostScript Language Sequences: The prohibition against leaving anything
on the operand and dictionary stacks was removed, as it is already violated
by the color separation keywords, the halftone screen keywords, the transfer function keywords, and probably others.
Parsing Details section was removed and integrated into previous
sections.
Syntax of Specification: New section to document syntax of spec itself.
Added syntax and elementary types. Changed the symbols used for or in
the meta-syntax from a slash to a vertical bar, to be consistent with the
DSC. Inclusive or is now defined to be ellipsis, like the DSC. Added
explanations and examples of each type of PPD entry (main keyword with
fixed option list, main keyword with variable option list, and keyword
with no options).
Paper Handling, was merged with a later section, Introduction to Media
Handling. The Color Extensions section was removed and its material was
moved to the beginning of the Color Keywords section.
In the Keywords introduction, added paragraph about how if a feature is
not supported by a device, it should be omitted from the PPD. Moved
Standard Option Values For Main Keywords from back of document to
beginning of section, to document global options like True, False, None, and
Unknown. Added examples for each of these and added note about not using
None or Unknown to indicate absence of a feature on a device.

E.4 Changes since Version 3.0, dated March 8, 1989

223

U
UII

Keywords: Rearranged all keywords into more logical sections and order.
Removed all option keywords from end of document and integrated them
into their respective main keyword sections. Added UI symbol (shown
here) throughout document to mark keywords that should be bracketed
with *OpenUI/*CloseUI.
New Keywords

224

*AdvanceMedia
*BindColor
*BindEdge
*BindType
*BindWhen
*BitsPerPixel
*BlackSubstitution
*Booklet
*Collate
*CutMedia
*Duplex
*FoldType
*FoldWhen
*InsertSheet
*Jog
*MediaColor
*MediaType
*MediaWeight
*MirrorPrint
*NegativePrint
*OutputMode
*Separations
*Signature
*Slipsheet
*Smoothing
*Sorter
*StapleLocation
*StapleOrientation
*StapleWhen
*StapleX
*StapleY
*TraySwitch

*?AdvanceMedia
*?BindColor
*?BindEdge
*?BindType
*?BindWhen
*?BitsPerPixel
*?BlackSubstitution
*?Booklet
*?Collate
*?CutMedia
*?Duplex
*?FoldType
*?FoldWhen
*?InsertSheet
*?Jog
*?MediaColor
*?MediaType
*?MediaWeight
*?MirrorPrint
*?NegativePrint
*?OutputMode
*?Separations
*?Signature
*?Slipsheet
*?Smoothing
*?Sorter
*?StapleLocation
*?StapleOrientation
*?StapleWhen
*?StapleX
*?StapleY
*?TraySwitch

*DefaultAdvanceMedia
*DefaultBindColor
*DefaultBindEdge
*DefaultBindType
*DefaultBindWhen
*DefaultBitsPerPixel
*DefaultBlackSubstitution
*DefaultBooklet
*DefaultCollate
*DefaultCutMedia
*DefaultDuplex
*DefaultFoldType
*DefaultFoldWhen
*DefaultInsertSheet
*DefaultJog
*DefaultMediaColor
*DefaultMediaType
*DefaultMediaWeight
*DefaultMirrorPrint
*DefaultNegativePrint
*DefaultOutputMode
*DefaultSeparations
*DefaultSignature
*DefaultSlipsheet
*DefaultSmoothing
*DefaultSorter
*DefaultStapleLocation
*DefaultStapleOrientation
*DefaultStapleWhen
*DefaultStapleX
*DefaultStapleY
*DefaultTraySwitch

*OpenUI
*OpenGroup
*StartEmulator_
*FaxSupport
*CustomPageSize
*MaxMediaWidth
*Resolution

*CloseUI
*CloseGroup
*StopEmulator_
*JobPatchFile
*ParamCustomPageSize
*CenterRegistered
*HWMargins

*Extensions
*Protocols
*Emulators
*?PatchFile
*?CurrentMediaWidth
*PageStackOrder
*LandscapeOrientation

Appendix E: Changes Since Earlier Versions

(9 Feb 1996)

*ColorRenderDict
*DefaultColorSpace
*RequiresPageRegion

*OrderDependency
*LanguageLevel
*UIConstraints

*PCFileName
*ModelName
*AccurateScreensSupport

Changes to Existing Keywords

The changes to the syntax and semantics of actual keywords from version 3.0
are as follows:
*Include: The filename must now be enclosed in double quotes.
*ImageableArea, *?ImageableArea: The numbers in the value (and the numbers
returned by the query) are now real numbers; previously, they were integers.
*DefaultResolution, *?Resolution, *SetResolution: These can now take an option of
the form 300x600dpi. Previously, the only format was 300dpi. This change is
necessary to accommodate printers with anamorphic resolution.
*Font: Two more fields were added to the value to describe the character set
of the font and whether the font is removable or not.
*PaperTray, *?PaperTray, and *DefaultPaperTray were removed, as their code had
always been redundant with *PageSize and no tools were found to depend
upon their presence.
*Collator, *?Collator, *DefaultCollator: These were changed to *Collate, *?Collate,
and *DefaultCollate, since they had not previously been used in PPD files and
this brought them more in line with other keyword usage.
Changes to Descriptions of Existing Keywords

General Information Keywords: This section title was changed from

General Defaults and Information Keywords. In *FileVersion, the structure
of the version number and how to update it was clarified. In *FormatVersion,
the conformance number of the spec was changed to 4.0. In
*LanguageVersion, added material about the encoding of foreign translation
strings and how to represent non-English characters in translation strings.
Added new language option keywords Swedish and Danish. Added Level 1
and Level 2 code fragments to *Product. The definition and examples of
*Nickname were corrected to be a string within quotation marks but without
parentheses (for example, Apple LaserWriter II NTX v49.3), since all
existing PPD files had been built that way (without parentheses).
Basic Device Capabilities: *ColorDevice: clarified that this keyword indicates physical color output. Added reference to *Extensions, for devices that
support color extensions but may or may not physically output color.
Moved *FileSystem keywords here. *FileSystem was clarified as referring to

E.4 Changes since Version 3.0, dated March 8, 1989

225

the capacity for a file system; example was added for a device that has the
capacity but does not have a file system installed; reemphasized that this
entry should be omitted if there is no capacity for having a file system.
Clarified meaning of return values of *?FileSystem. Moved *Throughput to this
section.
Keywords: Added new section Structure Keywords. Moved *Include and *End
to this section. Moved information on device resolution to new section
Resolution and Appearance Control.
Introduction to Media Handling: New section created from Paper
Handling. Significantly rewritten. Added setpagedevice to the list of example invocations.
Media Option Keywords: New section, created from several old sections.
Significantly rewritten. Added info about the extensibility of media option
keywords. PaperKeyword became mediaOption throughout the document.
Refined explanation of how to handle Envelopes. Explained parsing for
*OpenUI/*CloseUI rather than a specific list of options. Clarified meaning of
Transverse (long edge perpendicular to feed direction).
Media Option Keywords: Rewrote all dimensions in consistent format.
Built tables of ISO and JIS standard paper and envelope sizes and added
most sizes. Moved most U.S. standard definitions to a separate table,
except for the ones that needed extra text to explain them, and included
several new media sizes. Changed imageable area definition of A4Small
from inches to points (all others were already in points). Changed imageable area of LetterSmall from 553x731.5 points to 552x730 points, because
that is what 8 out of 9 PPD files had for that imageable area.
Paper Size Invocation became Media Selection Under *DefaultPageSize,
Unknown is now an option. Clarified, with examples, how *PageSize is meant
to be used. Explained how *PageRegion should be used. Removed *PaperTray
and associated default and query.
Information About Media Sizes: Under *DefaultImageableArea and *DefaultPaperDimension, the sentence The value should always be Letter. was
removed. This value may be Unknown or one of the media options listed
under *ImageableArea/*PaperDimension. was added. For *ImageableArea, clarified that imageable area was measured in PostScript default units.
Changed integers to reals for all imageable area and paper dimension
keywords. Added that x and y axes should correspond in *ImageableArea and
*PaperDimension.
Media Handling Features: For the *InputSlot keywords, the list of options
was replaced by trayOption and explanation was added. Current options
were brought forward from the rear of the document. In the definition of
*ManualFeed the value None was removed from the list of valid choices and

226

Appendix E: Changes Since Earlier Versions

(9 Feb 1996)

the explanation changed. The *OutputBin keywords were changed to accept

an extensible list of bin names, the current options were integrated into
this section from the rear of the document, and return values were specified for the query. Added Rear option for output trays. The explanation of
*OutputOrder was modified to address how most devices handle page stack
order today.
Resolution and Appearance Control: This new section was created to contain *SetResolution, *DefaultResolution, *?Resolution, and resolution information.
Expanded format of the resolution option keyword to include 300x300dpi
(as well as the old format of 300dpi), to accommodate devices with
anamorphic resolution.
Gray Levels & Halftoning: The description on *ScreenFreq was changed
from the second argument to the frequency argument. The description
on *ScreenAngle was changed from the first argument to the angle argument. Both *ScreenFreq and *ScreenAngle were changed to be a real instead
of an integer, since that is what is returned by currentscreen. Throughout
this section, the .Invert qualifier was changed to the .Inverse qualifier.
This was a typo in the spec; the .Invert qualifier never appeared in a PPD
file. Spot options were integrated into this section. Several option keywords were added to *Transfer to include the ability to define transfer functions for each process color. Options added to Null and Normalized were Red,
Green, and Blue. The option Factory was added to distinguish between transfer functions that are built-in and transfer functions that are suggested.
Entire section was rewritten for more detail and clarification.
Color Separation Keywords: Merged earlier color separation section (used
to be 3.0) into the intro of this section. Added DiamondDot spot function.
Font Related: Error was added as a legal value for *DefaultFont. Added charset
and status fields to *Font, with explanatory table for status.
Printer Messages: General rewording throughout section. Under *Message,
added Messages that appear under *Status or *PrinterError should not be
repeated here. Clarified that a message may appear under both *Status and
*PrinterError, added examples of entries and translation strings to *PrinterError,
added Level 2 device names to the list of options for *Source.
System Management: Reworded *PatchFile explanation for clarity and added
requirements for behavior of patch file code. The description of *Password
was changed to refer to the current password instead of the default password. *DeviceAdjustMatrix should be commented out if it is not used. Added
reference to Localization section to *DeviceAdjustMatrix).
Cleaned up all sample code to eliminate begin...end so no dictionaries
are left on the stack if the code fails.

E.4 Changes since Version 3.0, dated March 8, 1989

227

228

Appendix E: Changes Since Earlier Versions

(9 Feb 1996)

Index

Symbols
* (first character of main keywords,

PPD files) 15
*% (comment characters in PPD files)

28
*? (first characters of query keywords,

PPD files) 15
/ (translation string marker in PPD
files) 26
^ (caret, marks a symbol name) 149
| (exclusive OR) 32

Numerics
*1284DeviceID 72
*1284Modes 71

7-bit ASCII byte codes. See byte

codes
8-bit byte codes. See byte codes

A
Accept68K (*TTRasterizer) 70
*AccurateScreensSupport 87
*?AdvanceMedia 134
*AdvanceMedia 134

binary communications protocol 78

*?BindColor 130
*BindColor 130
*?BindEdge 129
*BindEdge 129
*?BindType 130
*BindType 130
*?BindWhen 130
*BindWhen 130
bit smoothing 86
*?BitsPerPixel 87
*BitsPerPixel 87
*?BlackSubstitution 91
*BlackSubstitution 91
*?Booklet 131
*Booklet 131
Boolean (*OpenUI) 42
bounding box (imageable area) 102
byte codes
8-bit allowed in QuotedValue 21
in StringValues 23
in SymbolValues 22
in translation strings 27
range in InvocationValues 21
range in PPD files 4, 15
translating PPD files 27

anti-aliasing 86
AnySetup (*OrderDependency) 49

ASCII characters
definition of commonly used 2
in main keywords 16
range allowed in PPD file 4

B
basic device capabilities keywords
6872
BCP (*Protocols) 78

C
Cassette (*InputSlot) 97
*CenterRegistered 111

use by print manager 117

when to omit 175
charset
value of *Font 138
CID-keyed composite fonts
*Font charset value 139
*Font encoding value 138
version in *Font 138

229

clear channel
needed for BCP 78
needed for emulators 80
clipping path (*ImageableArea) 102
*CloseGroup 45
*CloseSubGroup 46
*CloseUI 42
CMap
used as encoding value of *Font
138
*?Collate 123
*Collate 123
colon, in PPD files 20
color issues in PPD files 9195
black substitution 91
color depths, invoking 87
color matching 146
color rendering dictionaries 92
color separation keywords 146149
custom color 148
option keywords defined 146
process color 146
*ColorDevice 68
*?ColorModel 92
*ColorModel 92
*ColorRenderDict 92
colorsepkey option keyword 147
*ColorSepScreenAngle 148
*ColorSepScreenFreq 148
*ColorSepScreenProc 148
*ColorSepTransfer 148
Comm10

changed to Env10 184

comments in PPD files 28
configuration panel, created from
PPD file 66
*ContoneOnly 87
*?CurrentMediaHeight 111
when to omit 175
*?CurrentMediaWidth 111
when to omit 175
custom page sizes 106119
code examples 166175
responsibilities of a print manager
117
*CustomCMYK 148
use with *InkName 149

230

Index

*CustomPageSize 109
and *NonUIOrderDependency

48
examples 166175
parameters defined 108
relationship to
*ParamCustomPageSize 110
*?CutMedia 135
*CutMedia 135

cut-sheet media
example of custom page size entry
173, 175
keywords defined for custom page
sizes 113

D
*Default
example of format 16
in InstallableOptions entry 65, 68
in local customization files 67
prefix 15
summary of rules 40
translation string allowed 26
use of value False 38
use of value None 39
use of value True 38
use of value Unknown 39
valid values 24
default keywords in PPD files
*Default syntax 15
definition 3
summary of rules 40
using and changing default settings
14
default state of the device 6
*DefaultAdvanceMedia 134
*DefaultBindColor 130
*DefaultBindEdge 129
*DefaultBindType 130
*DefaultBindWhen 130
*DefaultBitsPerPixel 87
*DefaultBlackSubstitution 91
*DefaultBooklet 131
*DefaultCollate 123
*DefaultColorModel 92
*DefaultColorSep 148
*DefaultColorSpace 68
*DefaultCutMedia 135
*DefaultDuplex 122
*DefaultExitJamRecovery 76

*DefaultFoldType 123
*DefaultFoldWhen 124
*DefaultFont 141
*DefaultHalftoneType 88
*DefaultImageableArea 102
*DefaultInputSlot 97
*DefaultInsertSheet 132
*DefaultInstalledMemory 74
*DefaultJCLFrameBufferSize 82
*DefaultJCLResolution 83
*DefaultJog 133
*DefaultLeadingEdge 112

example 168
*DefaultManualFeed 99
*DefaultMediaType 101
*DefaultMediaWeight 101
*DefaultMirrorPrint 134
*DefaultNegativePrint 134
*DefaultOutputBin 119
*DefaultOutputMode 122
*DefaultOutputOrder 120
*DefaultPageRegion 100
*DefaultPageSize 99
*DefaultPaperDimension 103
*DefaultPaperTray keyword removed

225
*DefaultResolution 84
*DefaultScreenProc 88
*DefaultSeparations 149
*DefaultSignature 121
*DefaultSlipsheet 132
*DefaultSmoothing 86
*DefaultSorter 125
*DefaultStapleLocation 125
*DefaultStapleOrientation 128
*DefaultStapleWhen 128
*DefaultStapleX 126
*DefaultStapleY 127
*DefaultTransfer 90
*DefaultTraySwitch 121
*DefaultUseHWMargins 115

device, definition of 1
*DeviceAdjustMatrix 78
Disk
status value of *Font 140

document structuring conventions

relationship to PPD files 2
surrounding PPD file features 7, 8
use in unencapsulated jobs 33
DocumentSetup
(*OrderDependency) 49

(7 Dec 1995)

DSC. See document structuring

conventions
*?Duplex 122
*Duplex 122

E
elementary types of a PPD file 36
*Emulators 79
emulators and protocols keywords
7880
encoding
*LanguageEncoding option 57
encoding
value of *Font 137
*End 29, 55
Env

prefix for envelope names 184

Envelope (*InputSlot) 97
Envelope page size name 184

envelopes
requesting unnamed sizes 184
error handling, in PPD files 9
EUC (font encoding option) 137
Executive page size variations 184
exiting the server loop, PPD keywords
marked 33
*?ExitJamRecovery 76
*ExitJamRecovery 76
*ExitServer 76
ExitServer (*OrderDependency) 49
Expert

font charset value 139

font encoding option 137
ExpertSubset

font charset value 139

font encoding option 137
*Extensions 68
Extra in page size name 185

F, G
Factory transfer function 91
False, defined 38
*FaxSupport 69
*FCacheSize 136
*FDirSize 136

filename, elementary type defined 36

*?FileSystem 69
*FileSystem 69
filmsetter (imagesetter) features 133

finishing features 123133

folding a job after printing 123
*?FoldType 123
*FoldType 123
*?FoldWhen 124
*FoldWhen 124
*Font 136
charset value 138
encoding value 136
status value 140
font related keywords in PPD files
136139
font encoding options 140
fonts in ROM 140
fonts on disk 140
*?FontList 141
fontname
*Font option 136
fontname, elementary type defined
36
*?FontQuery 142

HeightOffset

Forced
*LeadingEdge option defined

112
example 167
foreign language translation 2528,
180
format of PPD files 1531
*FormatVersion 56
*FreeVM 73
relationship to *VMOption 74
globaldict , assumptions in PPD files
29
gray levels and halftoning 8791
transfer functions 91

*?ImageableArea 103
*ImageableArea 102

H
halftone screen
angle, frequency, spot function
components 88
list of spot options 89
order of invocation 11
*HalftoneName 94
hard disk, presence listed 69
HeadToToe duplex printing 122
Height (custom page size parameter)
defined 108
example 166

custom page size parameter

defined 108
discarded by Level 1 devices 168
discarded if not supported 174,
175
range if not supported 174
hexadecimal substrings
defined 5
in *JCL keywords 82, 83
in *NickName 60
in emulator code 80
in InvocationValues 21
in QuotedValues 21
in translation strings 27
parsing rules 25
when to use 21
*HWMargins 113115
example 166
use by print manager 118, 119

use 96
imagesetter features 133136
ImageShift in *CustomPageSize
code 174
*Include 25, 55
example 13
use with *SymbolValue 152
informational main keywords,
definition 4
*InkName 149
*?InputSlot 97
*InputSlot 97
combined with *MediaType 98
use by print managers 100
in-range byte codes 4
*?InsertSheet 132
*InsertSheet 132
installable options (PPD file group)
6568
InstallableOptions
and *InstalledMemory 75

option keyword definition 65

*?InstalledMemory 74
*InstalledMemory 73, 74, 75

in InstallableOptions group 66, 67

int, elementary type defined 36

Index

231

invocation, elementary type defined

37
InvocationValue 20
in InstallableOptions entry 68
symbol name in place of 149
ISOLatin1
*LanguageEncoding value 57

encoding conversion tables 199

207
font charset value 139
font encoding option 137
ISOLatin2 (*LanguageEncoding)

57
ISOLatin5 (*LanguageEncoding)

57

J, K
JCL keywords
and *Procotols 79
defined 81
JCL, elementary type defined 37
*JCLBegin 81
*JCLCloseUI 82
*JCLEnd 81
*?JCLFrameBufferSize 82
*JCLFrameBufferSize 82
*JCLOpenUI 82
*?JCLResolution 83
*JCLResolution 83
JCLSetup (*OrderDependency) 49
*JCLToPSInterpreter 81
JIS

character set options 139

font encoding option 137
JIS83-RKSJ (*LanguageEncoding)

57
job control language keywords 81
*JobPatchFile 73
*?Jog 133
*Jog 133
Kanji PPD files 179
keywords in PPD files 41152

L
landscape orientation, relationship to
Transverse 185
*LandscapeOrientation 104
language extensions, support in PPD
files 68

232

Index

*LanguageEncoding 56

byte code conversion tables 199

207
*LanguageLevel 70
*LanguageVersion 57
LargeCapacity (*InputSlot) 97
*LeadingEdge 112
examples 166
use by print manager 117, 118
Level 1
presence noted in PPD file 7, 70
Level 2
presence noted in PPD file 7, 70
recommendations for code
sequences 30
line length in PPD file 4
local customization (PPD) file
defined 12
parsing order 13
warnings about using 13
local customization of PPD files 1,
1114
Long (*LeadingEdge)

example 166
option defined 112
Lower (*InputSlot) 97
Lower (*OutputBin) 120

M
MacStandard
*LanguageEncoding value 57

encoding conversion tables 199

205
main keywords in PPD files 1517
ASCII characters 17
case 17
creating your own keywords 41
42
definition 3
delimiters 17
general format 16
length limit 17
manufacturer prefix list 209
parsing 16
sample entry 34
standard option values 3839
terminators 17
unrecognized 17
managing a device via PPD files 11
*?ManualFeed 99

*ManualFeed 99
*Manufacturer 58

list of names 209

Margins in *CustomPageSize code

174
*MaxMediaHeight 111

example 166
*MaxMediaWidth 111

example 166
MaxPage page size name 185

media handling features in PPD files

95, 119122
automatic tray switching 121
duplex printing 122
output order options, list of 120
select a media tray 97
selecting letterhead 97
selecting special paper 97
tumbling a duplex print job 122
media option keywords 96, 183198
media saving page orientation 112
media selection 96101
media size information 102106
bounding box query 103
margins 102
physical height 103
physical width 103
*?MediaColor 101
*MediaColor 101
*?MediaType 101
*MediaType 101
*?MediaWeight 101
*MediaWeight 101
*Message 145
Middle (*InputSlot) 97
Minus90 (*LandscapeOrientation)

105
*?MirrorPrint 134
*MirrorPrint 134
*ModelName 59

same as *NickName 60

(7 Dec 1995)

Orientation

*?NegativePrint 134
*NegativePrint 134
*NickName 60
relation to *ShortNickName 64

use of 64
None

defined as option and value 39

in PickMany option list 43
in PickOne option list 43
*NonUIConstraints 54
examples 167
*NonUIOrderDependency 10, 48
Normal, output order defined 120
Normalized transfer function 91
NoValue 20, 23
Null transfer function 90

O
OldStandard

font charset value 139

one-sided printing 122
*OpenGroup 14, 45
*OpenSubGroup 46

calculation by print manager 118

table for use by print manager 119
custom page size parameter
defined 108
discarded if not supported 175
range in *ParamCustomPageSize
110
used to figure imageable area of
custom page size 118
uses 108
out-of-range byte codes 4
output bin options, list 120
output file, definition of 1
*OutputBin 119
?OutputBin 119
*?OutputMode 122
*OutputMode 122
*?OutputOrder 120
*OutputOrder 120

P
*PageDeviceName 94
PageOffset in *CustomPageSize

code 170, 174

*OpenUI

*PageRegion 100

defined 42
in local customization file 13
list of UI keywords 181
UI symbol in spec 33
*Option, in InstallableOptions entry
66
option keywords in PPD files 1720
ASCII characters 19
capitalization conventions 183
case 19, 42
creating your own 42
definition 3
forbidden characters 18
length limit 19
parsing 19
qualifier 18
serialization 18
option, elementary type defined 37
optional features, handling in PPD
files 65
order dependency in PPD files 10
*OrderDependency 10, 48

can be overridden by *PageSize

100
use with manual feed 95
pages per minute 70
PageSetup (*OrderDependency) 49
*?PageSize 99
*PageSize 99
use 95
use of *PageRegion instead of
100
*PageStackOrder 121
*PaperDimension 103
relationship to *ImageableArea
102
use 96
*?PaperTray keyword removed 225
*PaperTray keyword removed 225
*Param, prefix 15
*ParamCustomPageSize 110
example 166, 168
parsing rules for PPD files 15
parsing summary for values 23
*Password 76
*?PatchFile 73

*PatchFile 72
*PCFileName 61

list of OEM prefixes 209

PickMany (*OpenUI) 42
PickOne (*OpenUI) 42
PJL (*Protocols) 78
Plus90 (*LandscapeOrientation)

105
PostScript language sequences in PPD
files 28
Level 2 vs Level 1 29
PostScript printer description files.
See PPD files
PPD file format specification
changes from earlier versions 213
PPD files
local customization (PPD) file
naming 13
post-processing 8
*PPD-Adobe 42
PreferLong (*LeadingEdge) 112
example 167
print manager, defined in PPD spec 6
printable 7-bit ASCII. See byte codes
printer messages in PPD files 143
146
*PrinterError 143
*PrintPSErrors 77
*Product 62
Prolog (*OrderDependency) 49
*Protocols 78, 80
*PSVersion 62

Q
qualifier
defined 18
for mediaOption keywords 184
query keywords in PPD files
definition 3
query, elementary type defined 37
querying the device via a PPD file 5
*QueryOrderDependency 51
QuotedValue 20, 21

R
real, elementary type defined 37
Rear (*InputSlot) 97
Rear (*OutputBin) 120
*ReferencePunch 135

Index

233

*RenderingIntent 93
repeated keywords 14, 182
required keywords
handling missing 9
in local customization file 16
list of 41
order of appearance 31
*RequiresPageRegion 103
*Reset 76
*?Resolution 86
*Resolution 85
resolution
enhancement 86
resolution and appearance control
8487
*ResScreenAngle 89
*ResScreenFreq 89
Reverse, output order defined 120
RKSJ (font encoding option) 137
roll-fed media
example of custom page size entry,
Level 1 168, 169
example of custom page size entry,
Level 2 171, 172
ROM
status value of *Font 140
Rotated in page size name 185

S
sample of spec format 34
sample PPD files 153175
custom page size examples 166
Level 2 Color Printer 153
Level 2 Imagesetter 160
*ScreenAngle 88
*ScreenFreq 88
*ScreenProc 89
*?Separations 149
*Separations 149
serialization qualifier
for media size, defined 184
*SetResolution 85
Shift-JIS (font encoding option) 137
Short (*LeadingEdge) 112
example 166
*ShortNickName 64
relationship to *NickName 60
*?Signature 121
*Signature 121
simplex (one-sided) printing 122

234

Index

size limits of PPD files 31

*?Slipsheet 132
*Slipsheet 132
Small in page size name 185
*?Smoothing 86
*Smoothing 86
*?Sorter 125
*Sorter 125
*Source 145
Special

font charset value 139

font encoding option 137
spooler, using PPD files 8
spot color 146
stand-alone default keywords
definition 3
rule summary 40
rules 24, 26, 39

symbolic references to data in PPD

files 149152
*SymbolLength 150
symbolNames, use with *Symbol
keywords 152
*SymbolValue 151
use 150
use with *SymbolEnd 152
use with *SymbolLength 150
SymbolValue 20, 22
translation string not allowed 26
syntax of PPD specification 3235
system administrator, defined 11
system management in PPD files 72
78
system management of PPD files 12
systemdict, assumptions in PPD files
29

Standard

font charset value 138

font encoding option 137
*?StapleLocation 125
*StapleLocation 125
relationship to *StapleX 126
*?StapleOrientation 128
*StapleOrientation 128
*?StapleWhen 128
*StapleWhen 128
*?StapleX 126
*StapleX 126
*?StapleY 127
*StapleY 127
stapling a job after printing 125
*StartEmulator_emulatorOption 80
startjob, use in *ExitServer code 76
*Status 144

status
value of *Font 140
*StopEmulator_emulatorOption 80
string, elementary type defined 38
StringValue 20, 23
structure keywords (PPD files) 42
55
structure of PPD files 31
*SuggestedJobTimeout 77
*SuggestedManualFeedTimeout 77
*SuggestedWaitTimeout 77
summary of PPD file contents 176
*SymbolEnd 152
use with *SymbolLength 150

T
tagged binary communications
protocol 79
TBCP (*Protocols) 79
*Throughput 70
*Transfer 90
translation strings
defined 25
on *Default keywords 26
on query keywords, not allowed
37
on related keywords 26, 96
parsing rules 27
rules 26
syntax in PPD files 2528
transverse
as used on roll-fed devices 112
common use by print managers
113
Transverse mediaOption qualifier
definition 185
usage advice 177
*?TraySwitch 121
*TraySwitch 121
True, defined 38
TrueImage (*TTRasterizer) 70
*?TTRasterizer 71
*TTRasterizer 70
tuples, defined in PPD files 16
two-sided printing 122
Type42 (*TTRasterizer) 70

(7 Dec 1995)

typesetter (imagesetter) features 133

WindowsANSI
*LanguageEncoding value 57

encoding conversion tables 199

207

UI graphic symbol, definition 44

UI keywords
definition 4
list of 181
use with *OpenUI/*CloseUI 42
*UIConstraints 52
in InstallableOptions entry 66, 67
unencapsulated job 33
Unknown
*LeadingEdge option defined

113
generic option/value defined 39
use with *LeadingEdge 167
unsetting a feature in PPD files 8
Upper (*InputSlot) 97
Upper (*OutputBin) 120
*UseHWMargins 115
example of *NonUIConstraints
167
use by print manager 117, 118
when to omit 175
user interface
building from a PPD file 5, 6
user-defined page sizes in PPD files
106
userdict, assumption in PPD files 29
using PPD files 514

V
*VariablePaperSize keyword

removed 217
version
value of *Font 138
*VMOption 74

W, X, Y, Z
Width

custom page size parameter 108

example 166
WidthOffset

custom page size parameter 108

discarded if not supported 174,
175
range if not supported 174
use with *CenterRegistered 111

Index

235

236

Index

(7 Dec 1995)