Apple LaserWriter 8.5.1 and AdobePS 8.5.1: saving as PDF files; virtual printers

PDF files Apple's LaserWriter 8.5.1 includes a new feature to save files as PDF (Acrobat) files. If you find that this option is grayed out, a recent Apple TIL file explains why: "You must have the full version of Acrobat 3.0 or later installed for this option to be enabled. The Acrobat Reader alone is not sufficient. For some applications, PDF formatting can be performed in the background only."

Tom Ginsberg notes that AdobePS 8.5.1 does not have this PDF option.

Virtual printer feature Last time, we mentioned that AdobePS 8.5.1 no longer includes the virtual printer feature that older versions of AdobePS had. As pointed out by Jim O'Hearn and Jay Vidheecharoen, this is not exactly true. The AdobePS Read Me states that virtual printing is still available as a "driver extension." However, this extension is not included with the 8.5.1 package. Jay found a reference to this Virtual Printer plug-in on the Adobe web site, but he could not yet find a link to download the file.

Finally, Jim O'Hearn and Detlef Nickel pointed out that it is now possible to create a virtual printer using Apple's LaserWriter 8.5.1. This is an option available with the Desktop Printer Utility 1.0, included as part of the 8.5.1 package (see Technote 1113 for more details). Jim adds that this Desktop Printer Utility should not be confused with Apple Printer Utility (which is available via a custom install with LW 8.5.1). Also note that the Desktop Printer Utility does not work with Mac OS 8.0, although it should work with 8.1 (see previous MacFixIt postings, a and b, for more information).