Change desktop printer setting in OS 9.04?

In article , Dave
Balderstone wrote:

> In article ,
> Edward Mendelson wrote:
>
> > I'm trying to write a script for OS 9.0.4 that will set the default
> > destination folder for an existing Desktop Printer. The existing
> > desktop printer is a translator, created using AdobePS.
> >
> > I have no trouble writing a script that creates a NEW Desktop Printer
> > and sets its default destination folder. And I have no trouble using a
> > script that changes the PPD File of an existing Desktop Printer. But I
> > can't figure out how to set the destination folder of an existing
> > printer.
> >
> > This is the code that fails:
> >
> > tell application "Desktop Printer Manager"
> > set printers to get name of every desktop printer as string
> > if printers contains "Test Printer" then
> > set destination folder of desktop printer "Test Printer" ¬
> > to alias "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:"
> > end if
> > end tell
> >
> > The folder "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:" exists, and I can create a new
> > Desktop Printer with that folder as the default destination folder.
> > But I can't figure out how to change an existing destination folder.
> >
> > I will be very grateful for any help.
>
> It's been a LONG time since I scripted OS but try "folder" instead of
> "alias"

Thanks for that - but I'm afraid it generates a syntax error. The
syntax for creating a Desktop Printer uses destination folder: alias
"folder name" for the setting, so I'm a bit baffled.

- Edward
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In article , Dave
Balderstone wrote:

> In article ,
> EdwardMendelson wrote:
>
> > In article , Dave
> > Balderstone wrote:
> >
> > > In article ,
> > > Edward Mendelson wrote:
> > >
> > > > I'm trying to write a script for OS 9.0.4 that will set the default
> > > > destination folder for an existing Desktop Printer. The existing
> > > > desktop printer is a translator, created using AdobePS.
> > > >
> > > > I have no trouble writing a script that creates a NEW Desktop Printer
> > > > and sets its default destination folder. And I have no trouble using a
> > > > script that changes the PPD File of an existing Desktop Printer. But I
> > > > can't figure out how to set the destination folder of an existing
> > > > printer.
> > > >
> > > > This is the code that fails:
> > > >
> > > > tell application "Desktop Printer Manager"
> > > > set printers to get name of every desktop printer as string
> > > > if printers contains "Test Printer" then
> > > > set destination folder of desktop printer "Test Printer" ¬
> > > > to alias "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:"
> > > > end if
> > > > end tell
> > > >
> > > > The folder "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:" exists, and I can create a new
> > > > Desktop Printer with that folder as the default destination folder.
> > > > But I can't figure out how to change an existing destination folder.
> > > >
> > > > I will be very grateful for any help.
> > >
> > > It's been a LONG time since I scripted OS but try "folder" instead of
> > > "alias"
> >
> > Thanks for that - but I'm afraid it generates a syntax error. The
> > syntax for creating a Desktop Printer uses destination folder: alias
> > "folder name" for the setting, so I'm a bit baffled.
>
> What's the exact error that your original code throws? Also, what's the
> significance of "Unix:" in the path? Is the folder on an HFS+ volume?

More information first: the problem is fairly clearly one of syntax,
because I can easily MAKE a new desktop printer with the destination
folder Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:, but I get the error message when I
try to set that path to an existing desktop printer. I get a similar
error if I try to set the "protocol" of an existing desktop printer.
Also, I CAN change the "PPD file" setting of an existing desktop
printer with the same syntax that does NOT let me change the
destination folder setting.

Could this have something to do with the fact that "PPD file" is a
class, but "destination folder" is a member (element?) of the class
"translation address" (forgive me if I'm using the wrong terminology)?
Does that point the way to the solution?

To answer your questions: the error message is:

Execution Error Desktop Printer Manager got an error: Can't set
destination folder of desktop printer "Test Printer" to alias
"Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:".

As for "Unix" - I'm writing this for use in a SheepShaver-emulated Mac.
The idea is that I can use ancient software in the emulated Mac
(running 9.0.4) and send the print files to OS X, where a folder action
script send the output to a printer. In SheepShaver, there is always a
folder called "Unix" on the emulated system's desktop which is the same
as a user-specified folder in the OS X file system. I hope this makes
sense.

Again: the problem is not the folder name, because I can get exactly
the results I want when I create a new desktop printer with the
destination folder set as "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:" But it's
essential (for complicated but compelling reasons) that I modify an
existing desktop printer instead of creating a new one.

Thanks again for taking the trouble to think about this!

- Edward
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In article , Dave
Balderstone wrote:

> In article , Edward
> Mendelson wrote:
>
> > In article , Dave
> > Balderstone wrote:
> >
> > > In article ,
> > > EdwardMendelson wrote:
> > >
> > > > In article , Dave
> > > > Balderstone wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > In article ,
> > > > > Edward Mendelson wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > I'm trying to write a script for OS 9.0.4 that will set the default
> > > > > > destination folder for an existing Desktop Printer. The existing
> > > > > > desktop printer is a translator, created using AdobePS.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I have no trouble writing a script that creates a NEW Desktop
> > > > > > Printer
> > > > > > and sets its default destination folder. And I have no trouble
> > > > > > using a
> > > > > > script that changes the PPD File of an existing Desktop Printer.
> > > > > > But
> > > > > > I
> > > > > > can't figure out how to set the destination folder of an existing
> > > > > > printer.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > This is the code that fails:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > tell application "Desktop Printer Manager"
> > > > > > set printers to get name of every desktop printer as string
> > > > > > if printers contains "Test Printer" then
> > > > > > set destination folder of desktop printer "Test Printer" ¬
> > > > > > to alias "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:"
> > > > > > end if
> > > > > > end tell
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The folder "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:" exists, and I can create a
> > > > > > new
> > > > > > Desktop Printer with that folder as the default destination folder.
> > > > > > But I can't figure out how to change an existing destination folder.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I will be very grateful for any help.
> > > > >
> > > > > It's been a LONG time since I scripted OS but try "folder" instead of
> > > > > "alias"
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for that - but I'm afraid it generates a syntax error. The
> > > > syntax for creating a Desktop Printer uses destination folder: alias
> > > > "folder name" for the setting, so I'm a bit baffled.
> > >
> > > What's the exact error that your original code throws? Also, what's the
> > > significance of "Unix:" in the path? Is the folder on an HFS+ volume?
> >
> > More information first: the problem is fairly clearly one of syntax,
> > because I can easily MAKE a new desktop printer with the destination
> > folder Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:, but I get the error message when I
> > try to set that path to an existing desktop printer. I get a similar
> > error if I try to set the "protocol" of an existing desktop printer.
> > Also, I CAN change the "PPD file" setting of an existing desktop
> > printer with the same syntax that does NOT let me change the
> > destination folder setting.
> >
> > Could this have something to do with the fact that "PPD file" is a
> > class, but "destination folder" is a member (element?) of the class
> > "translation address" (forgive me if I'm using the wrong terminology)?
> > Does that point the way to the solution?
>
> Possible. Your script addresses the application, but perhaps you need
> to address its preferences or such.
>
> I don't have a 9.04 Mac handy to test, so I'm in "guessing mode" here.
>
> >
> > To answer your questions: the error message is:
> >
> > Execution Error Desktop Printer Manager got an error: Can't set
> > destination folder of desktop printer "Test Printer" to alias
> > "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:".
>
> >
> > As for "Unix" - I'm writing this for use in a SheepShaver-emulated Mac.
> > The idea is that I can use ancient software in the emulated Mac
> > (running 9.0.4) and send the print files to OS X, where a folder action
> > script send the output to a printer. In SheepShaver, there is always a
> > folder called "Unix" on the emulated system's desktop which is the same
> > as a user-specified folder in the OS X file system. I hope this makes
> > sense.
> >
> > Again: the problem is not the folder name, because I can get exactly
> > the results I want when I create a new desktop printer with the
> > destination folder set as "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:" But it's
> > essential (for complicated but compelling reasons) that I modify an
> > existing desktop printer instead of creating a new one.
> >
> > Thanks again for taking the trouble to think about this!
>
> Try changing the name of the folder so that it does not contain spaces.
>
> What do you get in OS X if you run
>
> set thePath to POSIX path of "Folder for PrintFiles:"
> set thequotedPath to quoted form of POSIX path of "Folder for
> PrintFiles:"
>
> with the correct path to the folder substituted for "Unix:Folder for
> PrintFiles:"?

Exactly the same error results when the folder name has no spaces.

The quoted form of the POSIX path for the folder (with spaces in the
name) is:

"'/Folder for PrintFiles/'"

without spaces in the name:

"'/FolderForPrintFiles/'"

Again, I can't help thinking that it's a syntax error in my dealing
with the class "translator address". The scripting dictionary for
Desktop Printer Manager says this:

-----
Class translator address: Targets a PostScript� translator output folder
Properties:
<Inheritance> address specification -- inherits some of its
properties from the address specification class
destination folder alias -- the folder to receive translated output
-----

I think I'm making an elementary syntax error, but I don't enough
AppleScript to recognize what it might be!

- Edward
 >> Stay informed about: Change desktop printer setting in OS 9.04? 

In article , Dave
Balderstone wrote:

> In article , Edward
> Mendelson wrote:
>
> > In article , Dave
> > Balderstone wrote:
> >
> > > In article ,
> > > EdwardMendelson wrote:
> > >
> > > > In article , Dave
> > > > Balderstone wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > In article ,
> > > > > Edward Mendelson wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > I'm trying to write a script for OS 9.0.4 that will set the default
> > > > > > destination folder for an existing Desktop Printer. The existing
> > > > > > desktop printer is a translator, created using AdobePS.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I have no trouble writing a script that creates a NEW Desktop
> > > > > > Printer
> > > > > > and sets its default destination folder. And I have no trouble
> > > > > > using a
> > > > > > script that changes the PPD File of an existing Desktop Printer.
> > > > > > But
> > > > > > I
> > > > > > can't figure out how to set the destination folder of an existing
> > > > > > printer.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > This is the code that fails:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > tell application "Desktop Printer Manager"
> > > > > > set printers to get name of every desktop printer as string
> > > > > > if printers contains "Test Printer" then
> > > > > > set destination folder of desktop printer "Test Printer" ¬
> > > > > > to alias "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:"
> > > > > > end if
> > > > > > end tell
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The folder "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:" exists, and I can create a
> > > > > > new
> > > > > > Desktop Printer with that folder as the default destination folder.
> > > > > > But I can't figure out how to change an existing destination folder.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I will be very grateful for any help.
> > > > >
> > > > > It's been a LONG time since I scripted OS but try "folder" instead of
> > > > > "alias"
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for that - but I'm afraid it generates a syntax error. The
> > > > syntax for creating a Desktop Printer uses destination folder: alias
> > > > "folder name" for the setting, so I'm a bit baffled.
> > >
> > > What's the exact error that your original code throws? Also, what's the
> > > significance of "Unix:" in the path? Is the folder on an HFS+ volume?
> >
> > More information first: the problem is fairly clearly one of syntax,
> > because I can easily MAKE a new desktop printer with the destination
> > folder Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:, but I get the error message when I
> > try to set that path to an existing desktop printer. I get a similar
> > error if I try to set the "protocol" of an existing desktop printer.
> > Also, I CAN change the "PPD file" setting of an existing desktop
> > printer with the same syntax that does NOT let me change the
> > destination folder setting.
> >
> > Could this have something to do with the fact that "PPD file" is a
> > class, but "destination folder" is a member (element?) of the class
> > "translation address" (forgive me if I'm using the wrong terminology)?
> > Does that point the way to the solution?
>
> Possible. Your script addresses the application, but perhaps you need
> to address its preferences or such.
>
> I don't have a 9.04 Mac handy to test, so I'm in "guessing mode" here.
>
> >
> > To answer your questions: the error message is:
> >
> > Execution Error Desktop Printer Manager got an error: Can't set
> > destination folder of desktop printer "Test Printer" to alias
> > "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:".
>
> >
> > As for "Unix" - I'm writing this for use in a SheepShaver-emulated Mac.
> > The idea is that I can use ancient software in the emulated Mac
> > (running 9.0.4) and send the print files to OS X, where a folder action
> > script send the output to a printer. In SheepShaver, there is always a
> > folder called "Unix" on the emulated system's desktop which is the same
> > as a user-specified folder in the OS X file system. I hope this makes
> > sense.
> >
> > Again: the problem is not the folder name, because I can get exactly
> > the results I want when I create a new desktop printer with the
> > destination folder set as "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:" But it's
> > essential (for complicated but compelling reasons) that I modify an
> > existing desktop printer instead of creating a new one.
> >
> > Thanks again for taking the trouble to think about this!
>
> Try changing the name of the folder so that it does not contain spaces.
>
> What do you get in OS X if you run
>
> set thePath to POSIX path of "Folder for PrintFiles:"
> set thequotedPath to quoted form of POSIX path of "Folder for
> PrintFiles:"
>
> with the correct path to the folder substituted for "Unix:Folder for
> PrintFiles:"?

Apologies - I posted the previous reply with a pseudonym - that only
confuses matters. Thanks again...

- Edward
 >> Stay informed about: Change desktop printer setting in OS 9.04? 

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In article , Dave
Balderstone wrote:

> In article , Edward
> Mendelson wrote:
>
> > Apologies - I posted the previous reply with a pseudonym - that only
> > confuses matters. Thanks again...
> >
> > - Edward
>
> No worries. It was kind of obvious it was you.
>
> I'l see if I can replicate your Sheepshaver scenario and test, but it
> may be tomorrow before that happens/.

Thanks, Dave! Here's some further information:

If I use this line in the script (instead of trying to set the
destination folder):

get properties of desktop printer "Test Printer"

the result looks like this:

--> {name:"Test Printer", container:alias "WPDOS OS 9:Desktop Folder:",
is default:true, PPD file:alias "WPDOS OS 9:System
Folder:Extensions:Printer Descriptions:LaserWriter II NTX", queue
size:0, queue status:idle, queue stopped:false, shows manual feed
alert:false, address:{class:address specification, destination
folder:alias "WPDOS OS 9:Desktop Folder:Virtual Printers:",
protocol:translator}, driver name:"AdobePS"}

This makes me think that I need a line something like this (which does
NOT work):

set destination folder of address of desktop printer "Test Printer" to
alias "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:"

I can set the name and the PPD file, but I don't know how to set
anything that's in that list of properties inside "address". I think
I'm making a real beginner's error here!

- Edward
 >> Stay informed about: Change desktop printer setting in OS 9.04? 

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 >> Stay informed about: Change desktop printer setting in OS 9.04? 

In article , Dave
Balderstone wrote:

> In article , Edward
> Mendelson wrote:
>
> > I can set the name and the PPD file, but I don't know how to set
> > anything that's in that list of properties inside "address". I think
> > I'm making a real beginner's error here!
>
> Try:
>
> set properties of desktop printer "Test Printer" to
> {address:{class:address specification, destination folder:alias
> "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:", protocol:translator}}
>
> If that doesn't work, try
>
> set properties of desktop printer "Test Printer" to {destination
> folder:alias "Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:", protocol:translator}
>
> That should leave all the other properties alone and reset the folder
> to what you want. But I could be wrong...
>
> As for beginner's error, I've been writing Applescripts since 1993, and
> I still make them on a regular basis. It would be nice if I could
> script full time, but alas that's not the case.
>
>

First, I'm deeply impressed by your generosity with this. Second, I'm
sorry to report that both suggestions run without producing any errors,
but they leave the destination folder unchanged. I've also tried (out
of pure desperation) to tell desktop printer "Test Printer" to make
those changes, but that didn't have any effect either.

Thanks again and again!

- Edward
 >> Stay informed about: Change desktop printer setting in OS 9.04? 

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 >> Stay informed about: Change desktop printer setting in OS 9.04? 

In article , Dave
Balderstone wrote:


> As for beginner's error, I've been writing Applescripts since 1993, and
> I still make them on a regular basis. It would be nice if I could
> script full time, but alas that's not the case.
>
By the way, just FYI, here's a script that correctly makes a desktop
printer with the correct properties:

tell application "Desktop Printer Manager"
set printers to get name of every desktop printer as string
if printers does not contain "Test Printer" then
make new desktop printer with properties ¬
{name:"Test Printer", container:alias "WPDOS OS 9:Desktop ¬
Folder:", is default:false, address:¬
{class:address specification, destination folder:alias ¬
"Unix:Folder for PrintFiles:", protocol:translator} ¬
, driver name:"AdobePS"}
set PPD file of desktop printer "Test Printer" to alias ¬
"WPDOS OS 9:System Folder:Extensions:Printer ¬
Descriptions:LaserWriter II NTX"
set default printer to desktop printer "Test Printer"
end if
end tell

I set the default printer and the PPD file in separate lines to avoid
errors that sometimes occur when I try to set them in the earlier part
of the script. By the way, this seems to work reliably only with the
AdobePS driver, not with LaserWriter 8.

Thanks again for all your trouble over this!

- Edward
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