Release Notes for Printdesk® 2.0
August, 1997

This document describes the changes made to the Printdesk product 
for its current release. Depending on which configuration of 
Printdesk you are using, some of the information contained herein 
may not apply to you. You may choose to print a copy of this 
document to keep with the printed documentation for future 
reference.

Important! If you use one of the Macintosh models in the list below, 
we strongly recommend that you run the Network Software 
Installer 1.5 or later. NSI 1.5 is available from Apple and fixes a 
bug in the Ethernet controller chip of these models:
- Macintosh 660AV, 840AV
- Power Macintosh 6100/60, 7100/66, 8100/80
- Apple Work Group Servers 6150, 8150, and 9150
You can also solve this problem by updating your Macintosh system 
to version 7.5.3 or better.


Contents

- Macintosh System versions
- Disk drives
- Hardware keys and Energy Saver
- Memory Allocation
- Hardware Considerations
- Hints & Tips
- Known Limitations
- Feedback


Macintosh System versions

The stability and integrity of the System on the Macintosh running 
Printdesk is obviously of great importance. Always make sure the 
System is in good shape. If you experience system crashes or 
strange behavior within the Finder, consider doing a “clean install” 
of the Macintosh System.

Take a conservative approach to installing new System versions on 
your server Macintosh. Wait until a new System version has proven 
its worth on your workstations before installing that version on 
your server.

As of this writing, we recommend using System 7.6 when 
running Printdesk. See your local Apple dealer for information on 
how to upgrade to this version.


Disk drives

During operation Printdesk uses the connected disk drives very 
intensively.  Print job spooling, printing and validation are all 
actions involving heavy disk activity. This is much harder on the 
disk drives than if you just run QuarkXPress or PhotoShop, and it 
may cause low-quality drives to fail. When you configure the 
Macintosh running Printdesk, we strongly recommend to use only 
high-quality drives and most importantly, to use high-quality 
formatting and driver software. If you experience system crashes 
or lockups during Printdesk operation, consider reformatting ALL 
the connected disk drives using the latest Apple Disk software if 
applicable, or a good third-party formatting software like 
Hard Disk ToolKit™ from FWB, Inc., version 1.8s or better.


Hardware keys and Energy Saver

The Printdesk hardware key is not compatible with the Energy 
Saver control panel. If the Energy Saver control panel is installed 
on the Macintosh running Printdesk, you should disable it to avoid 
problems. Do not just remove it from the system folder, you must 
use the control panel to turn off the Energy Saver before removing 
it.


Memory Allocation

Printdesk 2.0 requires at least 8 MB RAM to run. With this amount 
of memory, Printdesk can concurrently serve 3 users and 3 
printers. When you use Printdesk in larger installations, we 
recommend that you assign 1 MB RAM additionally for each 
concurrent user or printer.


Hardware Considerations

- You must properly terminate both ends of your SCSI chain (that 
is, your Macintosh and all SCSI devices connected to it) to maintain 
its communication integrity. The documentation included with your 
Macintosh and with your backup device should explain their 
individual termination requirements.
- PCI Power Macintosh SCSI ID #5: PCI Power Macintosh models 
may hang during Printdesk operation. Make sure no device is at SCSI 
ID #5 on either SCSI bus. To solve this problem update your System 
to version 7.5.3, which you may do with Apple’s System 7.5 Update 
2.0.
- The Macintosh 630 series has a SCSI problem that causes random 
hangs when transferring large amounts of data. To solve this 
problem update your System to version 7.5.3, which you may do 
with Apple’s System 7.5 Update 2.0.


Hints & Tips

- You can take advantage of Printdesk OPI even without creating 
view files. When working in PageMaker, QuarkXPress and a lot of 
other applications, you can print and omit high-resolution TIFF 
files. Printdesk will then link and insert the high-resolution 
images just as if you had used view files.
- When running Macintosh with Open Transport we recommend using 
Open Transport 1.1 or better. Previous versions of Open Transport 
can cause system crashes and degraded performance.
- If you run Macintosh System 7.5, we recommend that you upgrade 
to System 7.5.1 or better, available from Apple and on-line 
services.
- If you run System 7.1, we recommend that you install System 
Upgrade 3.0, available from Apple and on-line services.
- When you use QuarkXPress to change the contrast or color of a 
gray-scale TIFF image, you must use QuarkXPress version 3.3 or 
better. Previous versions of QuarkXPress do not communicate these 
changes to Printdesk.
- When you work with TIFF View Files (TIFF OPI) then you must 
specify an Image Resort holding the high-resolution images UNLESS 
the corresponding high-resolution images are in the same location 
as the View Files. Printdesk will notify you if you forget it.


Known limitations

- Printdesk can not make DCS merging on JPEG DCS images. Save 
DCS images uncompressed if you want Printdesk to merge them. 
Apart from merging, Printdesk handles JPEG DCS images correctly 
in all respects.
- You can not use Multiple Master fonts in the Printdesk Font 
Library. In all other respects Printdesk handles Multiple Master 
fonts correctly.
- Printdesk is incompatible with all versions of Mode32 prior to 
Mode32 7.5. This version is available from Apple Computer.
- You can not use the Print Option features in Printdesk when 
faxing from a laser printer with fax capabilities. To fax 
successfully, you must turn off Print Options.
- Occasionally, you may have to establish an Image Resort to fulfill 
an image link even though the image in question is in the right 
place. To avoid this problem, make sure that both the Macintosh 
running Printdesk and the Macintosh creating view files are running 
System 7.5 or better.
- Printdesk does not support TrapWise external trap zones.


Feedback

We would like to know what you think about the Printdesk product. 
If you have any comments, suggestions for changes or new 
features, please let us know.

Send your comments to:
- Internet: support@ninebits.com
- Fax: +45 31 23 18 34

Please remember to include information about the Printdesk 
program version and the hardware key number you are using. Choose 
“About Printdesk” from the Apple menu to find the hardware key 
number. We may not respond to you directly, but your feedback is 
greatly appreciated, and will help us make Printdesk even better.

Please direct any technical support questions you may have 
directly to your Printdesk supplier.


Nine Bits and Printdesk are registered trademarks of Nine Bits. 
View File Producer is a trademark of Nine Bits. Other brands or 
product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their 
respective holders.

Copyright © 1994-97 Nine Bits and its licensors. All rights 
reserved.

Nine Bits
Copenhagen, Denmark