Publishing Reports to the Web - Downloads - Oracle

Printer-Related Files
If you need a PPD file that is not among those shipped with Oracle Reports, you must
do one of the following (in order of preference):
■ Ask the printer vendor for the PPD file.
■ Download the PPD file from Adobe's Web site
■ Copy an existing PPD file and edit it
■ Ask Adobe for the PPD specs and write the PPD file.
The PostScript file only has the font information not the font metrics. Oracle Reports
refers to the AFM file installed for the font metrics information. The font vendors
provide these AFM files. Oracle Reports ships AFM files for some of the most
commonly used fonts. The printer must have the required font installed in order to
correctly print the PostScript file generated by Oracle Reports.
5.4.2.1 Local customization of PPD files
A PPD file is a static representation of the features of a printer. It contains default
factory settings. Once a printer is installed, features such as additional memory, paper
trays, and fonts may be added to the device. 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 printers or to specific applications when necessary.
Instead of modifying the original PPD file, another approach would be having a new
file having the local customization of certain parameters and refer to the primary file
for the remaining information. 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. A file referenced by the *Include keyword is treated
as though it were in the including (local customization) file.
For example, suppose that the default.ppd file is defined as:
*PPD-Adobe: "4.0"
*Include: "datap462.ppd"
*% Page definitions
*DefaultPageSize: Letter
…………………………
*DefaultPageRegion: Letter
The primary PPD file is datap462.ppd.
Administrators should change the name of the included file to conform to their site's
default printer type.
When a local customization file includes a primary PPD file, there might be several
instances of the same keyword in the composite file. Hence, the location of the primary
file in the customization file (beginning or end) is important and effects the changes
made by the customization file.
Printing on UNIX with Oracle Reports 5-9