Printing: Why you need to know a lot in Unix

If you usually use a PC program such as Microsoft Word or WordPerfect, the amount of information you need to print something on Unix may seem strange. This is because Unix offers its users more options. You tell the computer what you want printed and how it should look. Special software isn't needed to print a paper, a color graphic, or a spreadsheet. However, to print a paper, a color graphic, or a spreadsheet you need to give the computer some exact information:

• Printing: The name of the file
• Printing: Locating the file -- what directory it is in
• Printing: The name of the printer you wish to use
• Printing: The type of printing you want to do
• Printing: The commands to the printer

Last updated: 1997/05/19 04:44:04 UT
URL: http://www.nmt.edu/tcc/help/printing/why.html