Graphics Output File Does Not Print

A number of users have occasionally encountered problems printing the graphics output file. The symptom is that the file goes to the printer, takes some time being processed, but finally no output is produced.

This is almost certainly due to <CONTROL-C> being used to exit FIT2D. The Unix⁶⁶ file system does not necessarily flush file buffers to disk unless forced to do so. When FIT2D is exited normally there is a call to properly close any open files including the graphics output file. This ensures that all output is properly written to the file. With PostScript an image is only drawn on ``paper'' when the showpage command is encountered. This is normally the last line of the file, so if the file is not properly closed this line can easily be lost.

The simple manner to avoid this problem is not to use <CONTROL-C>. Using <CONTROL-C> may well cause other problems. It is possible that FIT2D also exits abnormally owing to circumstances beyond the users control e.g. bugs, or system crashes. Thus, it may be useful to be sure that a graphics output file is properly closed, without exiting the program. This can be done using the END GRAPHICS FILE command (see Section 15.31, Page ). After the END GRAPHICS FILE has been issued and the prompt returns, the user can be sure that the graphics output file is properly closed and written to disk. In this manner it is possible to send the file to a printer without first having to exit FIT2D.