Editing Programming the LaserWriter 1991

'''''Programming the LaserWriter''''' is a 1991 book by David A. Holzgang, published by Addison-Wesley in the Macintosh Inside Out series, with a foreword by Scott Knaster. ISBN 0-201-57068-8; Library of Congress TK7887.7.H65 1991, card number 90-28918. The scan is the first printing, April 1991.<ref name="tp">David A. Holzgang, ''Programming the LaserWriter'' (Addison-Wesley, 1991), title page and copyright page (PDF pp. 3-4).</ref> The Library of Congress record gives the extent as xxv, 439 pages.<ref name="ol">Open Library, [https://openlibrary.org/books/OL1870157M ''Programming the LaserWriter'', record OL1870157M], from Library of Congress catalogue data. Retrieved 2026-09-30.</ref>

The book is for Macintosh developers who want their software to use the LaserWriter beyond what the standard Printing Manager calls provide. It deals with the PostScript LaserWriters connected over AppleTalk; the LaserWriter SC and Personal LaserWriter SC, which print QuickDraw over SCSI, are largely outside its scope.<ref name="intro">Holzgang, ''Programming the LaserWriter'', Introduction and Overview, pp. xv-xvi (PDF pp. 14-15).</ref> It covers the printing process, the PostScript language, the Printing Manager, font handling, and direct communication with the printer through AppleTalk and the Printer Access Protocol (PAP), including querying the printer and using PPD files. The example code was sold on a separate disk.<ref name="toc" /><ref>Holzgang, ''Programming the LaserWriter'', disk order page (PDF p. 458).</ref>

== Contents ==
Page numbers are from the book's contents list.<ref name="toc">Holzgang, ''Programming the LaserWriter'', Contents, pp. v-ix (PDF pp. 5-9).</ref>
* Foreword by Scott Knaster, p. xi
* Acknowledgments, p. xiii
* Introduction and Overview, p. xv
* Chapter 1: LaserWriter Printing Process, p. 1
* Chapter 2: PostScript Language Concepts, p. 35
* Chapter 3: Printing Manager Functions, p. 75
* Chapter 4: PostScript Program Construction, p. 125
* Chapter 5: Basic LaserWriter Programming, p. 227
* Chapter 6: Font Handling, p. 309
* Chapter 7: Advanced LaserWriter Operations, p. 333
* Appendix: Complete Example Code, p. 393
* Bibliography, p. 421
* Index, p. 427

== What this book does not contain ==
It is a programming book about the LaserWriter as a PostScript output device. It has no service procedures, parts lists, schematics or adjustments for the printer. The hosted scan is 461 PDF pages including the covers and advertisements; the disk is not included.

== Related titles on this wiki ==
* [[Inside The Apple Laserwriter 1989]]
* [[Apple Laserwriter Reference 0-201-19258-6 1988]]
* For servicing the printers: [[Service Support Training Programs LaserWriter Technical Procedures Jan 1985]], [[LaserWriter II Service Source]], [[LaserWriter Select Service Source]], [[LaserWriter Pro 600/630 Service Source]], [[LaserWriter 10/600 A3+ Service Source]]

<pdf> File:Programming_the_LaserWriter_1991.pdf </pdf>

Download: [[:File:Programming_the_LaserWriter_1991.pdf|Programming_the_LaserWriter_1991.pdf]] (84 MB)

== References ==
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[[Category:Apple Documentation]]