I am looking for input on tools to use for the printing of hard copy, i.e. invoices, ledgers, etc. This is initially on linux/unix from Perl 5.

I have tried TeX to this purpose but the printing process was, to put it mildly, too weighty.

My tentative plan is to have printers known to the software system. Output will be prefaced by a print control clause. A filter will translate this to control sequences, postscript, or such based on printer type. Conceptually a form is printed on the page, then the data is printed on the page. For dumber line printers this may require laying out the page in memory first. My model will fit well with HP's PCL on laser printers..

My knowledge of printing systems is rather limited and retro. This seems like it should be well trod ground. I'd like to follow a marked path but haven't found one.

Thanks for any advice.

In reply to Line Printing Control by rir

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