Here are guidelines for finding your way through the distribution kits listed below, plus tips on downloading them successfully.
Revisions to the PrintKit software come in two forms: product updates and printer model supplements. A product update is a full release of the PrintKit product; it contains the latest revisions to the PrintKit software, configuration files, documentation and printer model definitions. A printer model supplement contains only printer model definitions (and, occasionally, corrections to configuration files).
We release model supplements on a frequent schedule as new printer models become available. Because their changes are limited to specific printer models, and they make no changes to the software itself, you can install them without affecting your existing use of the software.
Model supplements come in several variants. Initially, most model definitions are released in a “preliminary” supplement. Once they are validated for correctness, they are moved to a regular supplement. (Some little-used models never make the transition.) There are separate supplements for printers supported only by the Production PrintKit product.
If you use definitions from a preliminary supplement, we would appreciate your feedback as to their correctness and completeness.
PrintKit distribution kit version numbers are of the form major.minor-revision – that is, a major/minor version number and a revision suffix. Product updates and model supplements share the major/minor version portion, but each has its own sequence of revision numbers. (For example, you might be using the PrintKit 2.2-6 maintenance release with updates to your model definitions from Printer Model Supplement 2.2-10 and Preliminary Printer Model Supplement 2.2-35.)
Certain update files for the PrintKit software are available for downloading only if you have a particular license; others require that you have a current support subscription (or had one when the update was released). If you request one of these files, you will be prompted for information from your PrintKit License PAK to confirm your license and support status.
VMSINSTAL kit files contain binary data (BACKUP savesets), and are provided for downloading in a compressed, self extracting executable format.
You download the compressed files and RUN them on your OpenVMS system to produce the decompressed files. The compressed files should appear on your OpenVMS system with fixed-length 512-byte records.
If you need to transfer the compressed files from one system to another, be sure to use binary transfers.
Download either the Alpha or VAX version of the files, to match the system where you will decompress the files.
PrintKit 2.3 is the most recent version of the PrintKit software. It is the primary focus for ongoing maintenance releases and printer model supplements.
Version 2.3-3 of the PrintKit software is a maintenance update to version 2.3. It provides essentially the same feature set, but fixes several problems encountered in the version 2.3 software.
Version 2.3, a major release of the PrintKit software, provided new functionality and substantial recoding to enhance reliability. Key features include: support for Integrity servers; staple, punch, and folding controls; simplified queue configuration; listing data type with graybars, line numbers; separator page media selection. >>>
Adds new definitions for Canon, Dell, HP, Kyocera Mita, Lexmark, Ricoh, and Xerox printers and multi-function devices. Includes preliminary definitions for over two hundred devices from Canon, Fuji Xerox, HP, IBM, Konica Minolta, Kyocera Mita, Lexmark, Océ, Ricoh, Sharp, Toshiba, Xerox and others. (Contains definitions for the same printers as the 2.2-36 preliminary supplement.) >>>
This kit requires a Production PrintKit license.
Includes preliminary definitions for Xerox production printers and multi-function devices. (Contains definitions for the same printers as Production PrintKit 2.2-6.) >>>
PrintKit 2.2 has been superseded by the PrintKit 2.3 software. No further maintenance releases are anticipated. In support of customers using this version, printer model supplements will continue to be updated for a limited period of time.
Version 2.2-6 of the PrintKit software is a maintenance update to version 2.2. It provides essentially the same feature set, but fixes several problems encountered in the version 2.2 software.
Version 2.3, a major release of the PrintKit software, provided new functionality and substantial recoding to enhance reliability. New features include: support for production printing; changes to simplify installation and configuration. >>>
This kit requires a Production PrintKit license.
Version 2.2-P6 of the PrintKit software is a maintenance update to version 2.2. It provides essentially the same feature set, but fixes several problems encountered in the version 2.2 software. (This update is the same as 2.2-6, with added definitions for production printing.)
Version 2.3, a major release of the PrintKit software, provided new functionality and substantial recoding to enhance reliability. New features include: support for production printing; changes to simplify installation and configuration. >>>
Adds new definitions for Dell, Fuji Xerox, HP, Kyocera Mita, Minolta, Ricoh, and Xerox printers and multi-function devices. Includes validated definitions for devices from Fuji Xerox, HP, IBM, Konica, Kyocera Mita, Lexmark, Ricoh, Tektronix, Xerox and others. >>>
Adds new definitions for Canon, Dell, HP, Kyocera Mita, Lexmark, Ricoh, and Xerox printers and multi-function devices. Includes preliminary definitions for over two hundred devices from Canon, Fuji Xerox, HP, IBM, Konica Minolta, Kyocera Mita, Lexmark, Océ, Ricoh, Sharp, Toshiba, Xerox and others. >>>
This kit requires a Production PrintKit license.
Adds new definitions for Canon, Kyocera Mita, Ricoh, and Xerox production printers and multi-function devices. Includes preliminary definitions for devices from Canon, Konica, Kyocera Mita, Ricoh, and Xerox. >>>
