# PCL3OPTS

## NAME

pcl3opts — determine options for the ghostscript driver pcl3 from a PCL-3+ file

## SYNOPSIS

pcl3opts [-o `output_file`] [`input_file`...]

## DESCRIPTION

The command pcl3opts is intended to help in determining which options one should use when calling ghostscript using pcl3 for driving a PCL-3+ printer. It analyzes one or more PCL `input_files` and issues on the `output_file` its best guess as to which options one should specify in order to produce files using a similar configuration. The default `output_file` is standard output. If no `input_files` are specified, the command reads from standard input.

This command is mostly of interest if you have access to PCL files generated by software provided by the printer's manufacturer, for example if you have a manufacturer-supplied Microsoft Windows driver for your printer. In that case you can generate a few files under Windows using different settings and let pcl3opts examine them.

## LIMITATIONS

Note that pcl3opts cannot guarantee that the collection of options it proposes leads to a file which is understood by the printer. It can merely provide a best guess.

In addition, some settings require interpretation of the page contents in order to properly translate them into options for pcl3 and some cannot reliably be derived from a PCL file at all. Finding good values for these parameters is beyond pcl3opts's capabilities. This includes LeadingEdge, SendBlackLast, Tumble and the distinction between the colour models `CMY+K` and `CMYK`.

## SEE ALSO

gs-pcl3(1)

## AUTHOR

Copyright © 2000, 2001 by Martin Lottermoser, Greifswaldstraße 28, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany. E-mail: `Martin.Lottermoser@t-online.de`.

Version of this reference page: $Revision: 1.10 $ ($Date: 2001/02/10 17:01:06 $).