Solution: Information about PostScript Errors
What is PostScript?
PostScript is a programming and page-description language developed by Adobe Systems that provides a method for representing pages of printable information. It contains both special purpose graphics commands and general programming commands which allow a page to be described in a way that does not depend on the specifics of the intended output device.
Typically, a page is created in an application, which may provide text editing, such as Microsoft Word or WordPerfect, or graphics editing, such as MacroMedia Freehand, Adobe Illustrator, or Photoshop. When you choose a PostScript device (such as a Xerox Phaser printer) as the output, these applications or the driver convert the page that you see on your display into a series of PostScript language commands that will cause the page you have created to be printed on any PostScript or PostScript-compatible output device without further changes.
Note: PostScript is entirely software based; the code is created by the software application and the printer driver. For this reason, PostScript errors are typically the result of software configuration problems, not printer problems.
Using an Error Handler
Error handlers report the most accurate and useful PostScript error information. Error handlers are provided on all current Xerox Phaser printers. Depending on the printer model you are working with, the Error Handler may be enabled via the printer's front panel, or by downloading the Tekehand.ps file to the printer. Once the error handler is downloaded to the printer, it will remain in the printer memory until the printer is turned off. When a PostScript error occurs with the error handler activated, the printer will output a page with red text detailing the specific error, usually giving more complete information than other error handlers provide.
Note: The Tekehand.ps error handler is only intended to work with Xerox Phaser printers. It is not intended to work with the DocuPrint N-Series printers.
Identifying the error.
PostScript errors generally consist of two different pieces of information; the Error Type and the Offending command. For example, the error handler may report:
ERROR: typecheck(COMMAND TYPE: nametype)
OFFENDING COMMAND: definefont "definefont"
It is valuable to know both parts of the error for the troubleshooting process. The error type defines what sort of error it is, and the offending command indicates the specific part of the PostScript code that the interpreter couldn't read, which usually means the command that caused the problem. The error handler will also provide supplementary information, such as the:
NEXT 320 CHARACTERS AFTER ERROR:
which shows the next 320 characters of the PostScript code after the point where the error occurred.
For more information on PostScript and PostScript errors, contact Adobe Systems (see the Related Items below).
