Re: page layout, graphics to printers from i4gl reports.

In <CyJw4B.ECz@wyn386.mi.org> danielw@wyn386.mi.org (Daniel Wynalda) writes: >I am looking to find a better way to create 4GL reports (Vertical lines, >boxes, shading, etc) direct from 4gl. Is there an addon program/filter >one can use to (ideally) design a form and place it in a file. Then >I can feed this "filter" a listing of things to print in the fields on >that form. The filter would then output (postscript or pcl) a form >that can be pretty printed on a printer? I've designed ascii forms >forever and dream of the day I can print nice looking statements and >forms without inserting pre-printed forms... >A *BIG* plus here would be the ability to add BARCODES to the output... >SYSTEM: SCO ODT 3.0 i486 box running Informix Online V5.01 w/ support. >Any alternatives to the filter idea would be greatly appreciated. I use the UNIX typesetting program groff. Groff generates formatted text and can handle different point sizes, formats (bold, ilitics, etc), and various other features. By using "pic", I can generate graphics with shading, line, boxes, circles. Another program "tbl", allows me to create tables. The filter can generate either postscript or PCL. All of this but the PCL is part of the groff package by gnu. The PCL part, called "psroff", is a program that translates troff code (groff output) to PCL. All you have to do is have your report generate groff code along with the text. Jerry -- Jerry Kaas