Fw: Network faxing from windows clients

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Amadeu Pi wrote:
> 
> ---------
> > From: Amadeu Pi <santiveri@asertel.es>
> > To: mgetty@muc.de
> > Subject: Network faxing from windows clients
> > Date: miércoles 22 de enero de 1997 13:20
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > This subject has been discussed several times in this list.
> >
> > The approach I currently use is: I have defined a PostScript
> > printer in the Windows clients pointing to a lpd printer in
> > the Linux box. The filter in this printer extracts the phone
> > number from the postcript source and uses it to correctly
> > give it as an argument to faxspool (I think this was
> > suggested in a Samba readme file).
> >
> > The advantage of this approach is that you don't need to
> > customize or alter the aplication that produce the faxes in
> > any way (for example it works great with MS-Word).
> >
> > The disadvantage is that it is somewhat dirty and it does
> > not work when the application sends data as an image instead
> > of text (MS-Access works this way). In this case there is no
> > fax number in the postcript source you can look for.
> >
> > There is another approach consisting on printing the fax
> > to a file in a linux directory (for example using a samba
> > share) and creating also there a descrition file telling
> > the fax number and other needed info. A cron script can then
> > inspect that directory and faxspool requests as needed.
> >
> > This approach has the advantage of removing the need to
> > inspect the information sent for the fax number but has the
> > disavantage of forcing you to customize every application
> > that may send faxes (thru macros or whatever).
> >
> > Finally there is the only , IMHO, completely satisfactory
> > solution: writing a windows printer driver that asks the user
> > the fax number when the fax is printed, sends the file to the
> > linux box,... This approach has the advantages of the
> > previous ones and none of the disadvantages.
> >
> > This is what I would like to do. But I don't want to write a
> > windows printer driver from scratch and I have been unable to
> > find any sample code, references or whatever.
> >
> > So here is my request (my apologies for the long intro): Does
> > anyone know where can I find a sample windows printer driver in
> > source form or any other related info?. Any reference would be
> > greatly appreciated.
> >
> > I know this is not a mgetty specific question but I think that
> > the audience could be potentially interested in having such a
> > tool available and thus more willing to help.
> >
> > Of course if I someday complete this project I will share the
> > results.
> >
> >
> > TIA
> >
> >
> > Amadeu
> >
> >
> >
> > PS: I know hylafax has a windows client that does exactly
> > what I want, but who wants to use hylafax?
> > mgetty rules.
> >
> > PS2: My congratulations to the proud father for the birth
> > of his 1.0 child.
> >
> > +---------------------------------------------------------+
> > |                         | Casa Santiveri, S.A.          |
> > | Amadeu Pi               | Encuny, 8                     |
> > | Dept. Informacio        | 08038 Barcelona (Spain)       |
> > | Casa Santiveri, S.A.    | Tel.:    (+34) 3 223 00 99    |
> > |                         | Fax:     (+34) 3 223 02 95    |
> > |                         | e-mail.: Santiveri@asertel.es |
> > |---------------------------------------------------------|
> > | Aliments Sans i Naturals desde 1885                     |
> > +---------------------------------------------------------+

Wouldn´t it be possible to create a custom .spd (or .wpd) file
in windows?
This file defines the special capabilities a PostScript
printer can have I think. It should he possible to slap one
of these onto the standard PostScript driver, prompt for phone
number(s) etc and get this stuff included in the PS header.

I don´t know a thing about Windoze printing internals, but
if this is possible I´d sure could use it...

If someone tries this out, please keep me posted.
-- 
     Magnus Stenman     http://www.hkust.se     mailto:stone@hkust.se