CX PARTS CATALOG

PRINTERS AND CONTROLLERS
TPW JetScript-CX

THE PRINTER WORKS
JETSCRIPT-CX PRINTER

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Controller Notes | Supplies and Accessories | Ordering Information | Text Only

Model Information

The JetScript card can also be used to give PostScript compatibility to a number of other CX, SX, RX, and TX printers. See the External and Host-Based Controllers page.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The QMS JetScript controller was originally designed to bring 300 dpi PostScript printing to the HP LaserJet series II. It is a full-length (13-inch) host-based controller (resident in the computer), connected through a special video cable, which connected to a video I/O card inserted into the Optional I/O slot in the printer. In 1989, The Printer Works and QMS collaborated to re-write the JetScript software to allow the JetScript to be used with Canon's standard video I/O port (as used on the CX VDO and SX VDO engines). The Printer works then combined the JetScript controller kit with a CX video engine to produce the JetScript-CX printer.

The architecture of the controller board is similar to the SX-based QMS-PS 810. The PS 810 came with only 2MB of RAM and 1MB of ROM; the JetScript, on the other hand, has 3MB of RAM but has no ROM. The data is loaded into RAM directly from a file on the host-computer's hard drive. Residing on the host computer's ISA bus, the JetScript acts like an additional parallel port and can be addressed as such (e.g. LPT2) or directly as an EPT port.

PostScript for Peanuts

Read the history of the JetScript and how the Printer Works came to build the JetScript-CX printer.

FONT INFORMATION

The JetScript uses the now famous Plus Set of 35 scaleable typefaces from Adobe Systems.

Controller Notes

Model Information | Supplies and Accessories | Ordering Information | Text Only

The QMS JetScript controller was originally designed to bring 300 dpi PostScript printing to the HP LaserJet Series II. It is a full-length (13-inch) host-based controller (resident in the computer), connected to the print engine by a special video cable, and to a video I/O card inserted into the Optional I/O slot in the printer.

The controller uses the same 68000 CPU as the QMS PS 800+, but it runs at 16 MHz instead of 12 MHz. Three megabytes of RAM are soldered to the board; no expansion is available. The Adobe PostScript interpreter version (47.2) is essentially the same as for the PS 800+ and PS 810. The board has two ROM chips for booting and debugging only, so the PostScript interpreter and the 35 resident fonts must be loaded into RAM at startup from a file on the hard drive.

When installed in an 8-bit or 16-bit ISA slot, the JetScript controller emulates a standard parallel (LPT) port. It uses the same port addresses and IRQs as standard parallel ports, but the DOS-based device driver allows non-default assignments of these settings. The drawback of this DOS-based-driver system is that it requires DOS to run; the JetScript will not work under most other operating systems. It works under Windows 95 albeit very slowly. It does not work at all under Windows NT. It will work in a DOS shell running under OS/2, but not from OS/2 itself.

Two different layouts of the JetScript board were made. The older layout had the RAM soldered to 12 daughterboards (similar to SIPPs) and only provided a choice of two port addresses (03BC and 0378). The revised board had the RAM in a single field of surface-mounted chips and provided the additional choice of port address 0278.

Supplies and Accessories

Model Information | Controller Notes | Ordering Information | Text Only

You can check prices or order these items from the ordering information table below.

TONER

The Printer Works' JetScript-CX uses the same toner cartridges as all other CX-based printers.

The JetScript-CX printer uses the same shaped paper trays as all other CX-based printers. All versions are physically interchangeable. (See also Diagram 300, Paper Cassettes for CX Engines.)

CONTROLLER UPGRADE OPTIONS

The 600 dpi PrinterWorks FineLine controller can be used with the same video engines with which the JetScript works. The FineLine functions much better under Windows 95 than the JetScript, but does not provide PostScript printing.

Ordering Information

Model Information | Controller Notes | Supplies and Accessories | Text Only

For price and ordering information or to place the item in your shopping cart,
select a Part Number in the table.

Model Information | Controller Notes | Supplies and Accessories | Text Only