Print Dialog Window

This dialog window can be used to set options and target before printing the current graph in PostScript format. The graph can either be sent to a PostScript printer or saved in a file for import in another application. Informations about the daVinci PostScript interface are available in the reference chapter.

Initially, the options in this dialog are set such that the graph is sent to a printer, fits on the page according to the specified size and is centered on the page. Before printing, the user is able to modify these settings. Beside using the windows dialog items, this can also be done with direct manipulation of the "paper picture" in the lower part of the window:

• Click on the symbolized graph (on the paper) to switch the Center Graph on Page check button.
• Click on the symbolized paper (i.e. on the border around the graph) to switch the Page Orientation option button.
• Click on the symbolized printer resp. disk icon to switch the Send to radio buttons.

Dialog Items of the Print Window

• Page Size
  Specifies the size of the page used for printing the graph, either A3, A4, A5, Letter or Legal. Look at your printer to choose the appropriate value. The resulting page size (in cm or inch) is displayed in the window. This size is used to center the graph correctly on a page and has no effect when the Center Graph on Page check button is not selected.

• Page Orientation
  Specifies the orientation of the graph on the page, either Landscape or Portrait. The resulting page width and height (in cm or inch) is displayed in the window. The initial orientation is set automatically to get a maximal scale (e.g. Landscape, if the graph height is smaller than the width).

• Center Graph on Page
  Select this check button to center the graph on the page. You have to choose the right Page Size of your printer to get proper results. Usually, centering is desired when a graph is printed on paper, but not when a PostScript file is imported in another application. So, if the user switches the Send to radio buttons, then this check button is automatically set (centered for printers, not centered for files). Of course, this automatic setting can be manipulated afterwards.

• Graph Scale
  This slider sets the scale in the PostScript representation of the graph. The Fit to Page button calculates the maximal scale where the graph is completely visible on the page (but not larger than a scale of 1:1). This is also the scale used as initial value. After manipulating the scale, the actual width and height of the PostScript graph will be displayed (in cm or inch) in the picture in the lower part of the window. Width and height are drawn in red when the graph exceeds the current dimensions of the page. A special scale is 1:1 where one inch on the screen is one inch in the generated PostScript file (for 72dpi screens). To get this scale, simply click on the 1:1 label.

  Note: The daVinci PostScript interface has a minimal scale with a magnification rate of 0.1x which is the Small value of the scale slider. No smaller scales are supported, so very large graphs may not fit on the page of the selected size. The Fit to Page button does not reduce the scale if the scale slider is already at the minimal value. Choose a larger page size or do not use the Center Graph on Page option in this case.

• Send to
  Used to select the target of the PostScript graph, either a printer specified by the Print Command field or a file specified by the File Name field. Switching these radio buttons also manipulates the Center Graph on Page check button for more convenience (see above).

• Print Command
  This specifies the UNIX command used for printing the graph on a PostScript printer after the Print push button is pressed. The required syntax is the same used in a UNIX shell for printing files, but without the filename. Options to the print command may also be typed here.

• File Name
  This specifies the filename where the PostScript representation of a graph is stored after the Print push button was pressed. Either type the filename directly into this field or use the file browser for more convenience by pressing the Browse... button.

• Print (or Save)
  Push button to print the graph in PostScript format either on a printer or save it into a file, according to the Send to radio buttons.

• Cancel
  Push button to close the print dialog without performing any action.

• Help
  Push button to start the online help system with this page.