Convert FrameMaker documents to PostScript or PDF

NeXT Computer, Inc. -> NEXTSTEP / OPENSTEP Software

Title: Convert FrameMaker documents to PostScript or PDF
Post by: andreas_g on November 11, 2021, 11:04:27 AM
Hello all,

I have a bunch of FrameMaker documents that I want to convert to either PostScript or PDF. Doing this manually is quite painful. Is there a way to batch-process these documents? Any help is welcome.
Title: Re: Convert FrameMaker documents to PostScript or PDF
Post by: mikeboss on November 19, 2021, 07:20:50 AM
this is what I found (but you'd have to run it on Windows NT 4.0 or 2000; Solaris or AIX):

https://www.miramo.com/dzbatcher2.html

downloads available via archive.org:

https://web.archive.org/web/20000301150434/http://www.miramo.com/
https://web.archive.org/web/20030911170652/http://www.miramo.com/download/dzbatcher/documentation.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20030911170652/http://www.miramo.com/download/dzbatcher/relnotes.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20030911170652/http://www.miramo.com/download/dzbatcher/win320/setupex.exe
https://web.archive.org/web/20030911170652/http://www.miramo.com/download/dzbatcher/dzbatcher-320sun.tar
https://web.archive.org/web/20030911170652/http://www.miramo.com/download/dzbatcher/dzbatcher-320aix.tar
Title: Re: Convert FrameMaker documents to PostScript or PDF
Post by: mikeboss on November 19, 2021, 08:25:52 AM
hm, too bad. I was able to actually install DZbatcher on Windows XP but unfortunately it also expects FrameMaker 5.5.6 to be installed.
Title: Re: Convert FrameMaker documents to PostScript or PDF
Post by: andreas_g on November 19, 2021, 10:47:57 AM
Thank you very much for these hints! Anyway I think it is finally easiest to do it manually. I have a copy of FrameMaker 3.2 for NeXTstep which is able to open the documents and convert them to PostScript via printing dialog.
Title: Re: Convert FrameMaker documents to PostScript or PDF
Post by: spitfire on November 19, 2021, 02:47:51 PM
I checked the man page for "open" it has a print option. So "open -p mydocument.frame" would
add the document to the print queue. Making a PS->PDF print queue is another exercise.

I don't know if that actually will print - I'm still waiting for my printer from Rob (Hint hint). But I assume if you had a printer attached it would print.

Does anyone know of a PDF printer for NeXT?

I wonder also if it's possible to script interactions a little.
Title: Re: Convert FrameMaker documents to PostScript or PDF
Post by: nuss on November 20, 2021, 03:12:16 AM
You can use Franks PStill for generating PDF from every application.

Back then I used the version from our Peanuts Update CD: Peanuts-U/NEXTSTEP/text/filter/PStill.1.10g.NIHS.b.tar.gz

Also I have used the 1.10z version.

Newer versions seem to have vanished from the search engines:
PStill.1.10u.NISH.b.tar.gz
PStill.1.10z.NISH.b.tar.gz

App was not freeware and I do not remember the restrictions. I slightly remember that Frank provided a general key at the end of the NeXT lifespan (like many other companies and developers), but could not find evidence for this.

For testing I have converted a simple page to PDF from Framemaker 3.2 via print panel (PStill option) and it worked fine, added no visible watermark or similar.
Title: Re: Convert FrameMaker documents to PostScript or PDF
Post by: Andreas on December 08, 2021, 11:40:42 AM
AFAIK the key was:
PStill      1.10Z   PStillNSFreekey-7f2d1fd800a83a0d
Title: Re: Convert FrameMaker documents to PostScript or PDF
Post by: Ingo on December 10, 2021, 02:11:57 PM
The last version for Nextstep/Openstep ist still available from Frank Siegert's web page:

http://www.wizards.de/~frank/

Direct link to PStill 1.10z:

http://www.wizards.de/~frank/PStill.1.10z.NISH.b.tar.gz

The free registration key can be found in the "Order form" under "Registration".

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