Re: [h-e-w] Windows Emacs using Window print routines

[Peter Kaiser]

> Emacs can print fine through any printing program that you want to
> use.  As far as plain functionality goes (as opposed to convenience
> while installing), it doesn't need to incorporate a new incompatible
> and non-portable printing module.

Actually, I think the original poster's point is well taken.  Emacs already has functions on Windows 
that are absent on other platforms, and that's a perfectly appropriate approach to handle things 
that people want to do on every platform, but which the platforms handle differently.  Basic 
printing is one such thing, and should be included in GNU Emacs.  This isn't at all contradictory, 
and it makes just as much sense as having GNU Emacs use Windows displays under Windows.  Or are 
there ancient purists who think we should still be using VT100 terminal emulation within command 
windows?

GNU Emacs should be able to print simply, just like, for instance, Windows Notepad: drop down a menu 
and select "Print", and if a default printer is defined, the contents of the buffer -- or a region 
-- are printed.  (Or, of course, invoke the equivalent function programmatically or with M-x.)  Why 
must I install more software (printfile, lpr, whatever) to do something for which Windows provides a 
direct interface?  That's how it works on Unix/Linux; it just happens that there, the interface is 
*normally* a separate spooler program (e.g., lpr).  That's the Unix way.  The Windows way is through 
the interface that's an integral part of Windows.

Emacs should handle printing the Unix way on Unix, the Windows way on Windows.  Printing is 
extremely basic functionality: the user shouldn't have to install additional software simply to 
print things.  This has been a stark omission in GNU Emacs for years, and it should be rectified.

Pete