PUB2000: Microsoft Publisher PPDs Files Cannot be Used With the Adobe PostScript Driver (234985)

SYMPTOMS

If you run the AdobePS 4.x Setup Utility (on Windows 95 or Windows 98), or the AdobePS 5.x Setup Utility to install a new printer driver, neither the Microsoft Publisher Imagesetter (Msgenbw.ppd) or the Microsoft Publisher Color Printer (Msgencol.ppd) appear on the list of available PostScript Printer Definition (PPD) files.

This utility is part of the Adobe PostScript Driver for Windows 95 and Windows NT, which is available from Adobe Systems, Inc.

CAUSE

Version 4.0 (and later) of the Adobe PostScript Driver for Windows 95, and version 5.0 (and later) of the Adobe PostScript Driver for Windows NT do not support the proper version of PostScript, so the Adobe driver ignores them.

RESOLUTION

If you want to use the Adobe PostScript driver for Windows 95 or NT, you should not use the Microsoft Publisher PPD files. Instead, you should use a PPD file that matches (as closely as possible) the printer you will be printing to.

MORE INFORMATION

A PostScript Printer Definition (PPD) file is a text-only file that provides device-specific settings for a certain type of printer. When you use the AdobePS Setup Utility to add a new printer, the utility examines the PPD to determine the version of Postscript that is supported.

The Microsoft Publisher Imagesetter and Microsoft Publisher Color Printer do not support the proper version of Postscript so the AdobePS Setup Utility ignores them. The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

For more information about this issue, visit the following Adobe Web site:

PPD File Not Listed When Installing AdobePS 4.2.x for Windows 95 or AdobePS 5.0 for Windows NT Printer Driver