Virtual printer definitions and attributes

A virtual printer definition is a file that pairs the attributes or characteristics of a specific printer with the attributes of a specific data stream type.

If a specific printer supports more than one data stream type, you must create a virtual printer definition, pairing the attributes of the printer with each data stream type. Thus, if a printer supports both ASCII and PostScript data streams, you must create two virtual printer definitions for the printer.

The colon file stores the virtual printer definition for a printer or plotter. Colon files reside in the predefined and customized database directories. The printer backend uses the attribute values stored in colon files to format print requests.

All attribute values reside in colon files as character strings, regardless of whether they represent strings, integers, or Booleans. An attribute value can contain embedded references to other attribute values or embedded logic that dynamically determines the content of the value.

For more information on colon files and how embedded references and logic are used in attribute strings, see Printer colon file conventions and Printer colon file escape sequences.