You select a printer using the Desktop Printer Utility or the Chooser. In most cases, when you select a printer using one of these applications you create a "desktop printer" (a printer that's represented by an icon on your desktop). You can also create desktop printer icons that are not associated with a printer.
How you select your printer depends on whether the printer you want to use is a PostScript or non-PostScript printer.
Selecting a non-PostScript printer
To print to a non-PostScript printer, use the Chooser in the Apple menu.
Help me create a desktop printer with the Chooser.
Selecting a PostScript printer
To print to a PostScript printer, you need to create a desktop printer using the Desktop Printer Utility in the Utilities folder. You can create desktop printers for PostScript printers connected via AppleTalk, TCP/IP (LPR printers), or USB.
Help me create a desktop printer with the Desktop Printer Utility.
Creating a desktop printer with no printer attached
You can create desktop printer files that aren't associated with any printer. For example, you can create
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a "translator," a desktop printer that converts documents to PostScript format
You can print to a translator desktop printer to create a PostScript version of your file.
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a "spool file," a desktop printer that allows you to save documents that you want to print at a later time
You can copy the spool file to another computer to be printed, or drag the file to a desktop printer that is associated with a printer.
To create a desktop printer file that's not attached to a printer, use the Desktop Printer Utility, in the Utilities folder.
Problems selecting a printer
If you don't see the printer you want to use in the Chooser or Desktop Printer Utility:
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Make sure the printer is turned on.
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If the printer is connected directly to your computer, make sure that the printer cable is attached to the correct port.
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If the printer is on a network that has zones, make sure you're looking in the correct zone.
If you're on a network and don't see any zones, make sure the port you're using to connect to the network is selected in the AppleTalk control panel. (For example, if you're connected to the network through your Ethernet port, make sure Ethernet is selected.)
Open the AppleTalk control panel for me.
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If you are looking for a USB printer connected to another computer, make sure the other computer is sharing the printer and that you have preselected the printer.
If you don't see the Setup or Create button:
You may not be able to use the Desktop Printer Utility to create a desktop printer for your printer. Check the documentation that came with the printer software. (If you cannot use the Desktop Printer Utility, use the Chooser.)
If you see a message that the port is in use when you try to connect a serial printer to the printer port:
Turn off AppleTalk in the AppleTalk control panel. In the control panel, click Options, then click Inactive.
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