Monday's Mac Gadget by John F. Braun MacGS Eases PostScript Commands MacGS 5.50 (Freeware) Jeff Schindall and Aladdin Enterprises One of the nice things about the PostScript is that you can take a PostScript output file (typically having a .ps suffix) and print it from almost any platform to almost any laser printer. If you are using a recent version of the Apple LaserWriter driver, and have it selected in the Chooser, you can output PostScript and EPS files from the Print dialog. You can print the resulting file by simply dragging it on top of a Desktop Printer, but what if you just want to view it? MacGS is a version of the Ghostscript PostScript interpreter for the Mac. Rather than having to wrestle with a command line interface, this version provides familiar menus to open, print and otherwise manipulate documents. If you are some sort of masochist and want to type commands manually, go for it. But once you see what they look like (the command-line equivalent of each command is displayed) you'll stick with the menus. A bonus for black and white printer owners is that you can view color PostScript documents on your screen. Another bonus is that MacGS does more than simply display and print documents. It can convert a PostScript file to ASCII, PDF or EPS formats. These conversions will allow almost anyone to be able to view your documents. Useful Links Mac Port of Ghostscript Home Page Ghostscript, Ghostview and GSview Home Page View the Horrors of the Command Line Interface Monday's Mac Gadget is here to help you with those cool things that we all just have to have on our Macs. Shareware, Freeware, Postcardware, Emailware, and even commercial apps, Monday's Mac Gadget is here to help you find and use the best of these programs. John is a software engineer who works in the corporate R&D group of a Fortune 500 company, focusing on all aspects of communications technology. He has several degrees that claim he knows what he's doing when it comes to computers. After watching co-workers reinstall Windows, search for device drivers, and experience other horrors during the day, he's glad that he comes home to a Mac (compatible) computer. Have any comments, suggestions, or favorite Gadgets? Drop John a line at You can also Post Your Comments below. Current Monday's Mac Gadget Want to Supercharge Your Dock? Check Out Todos! - August 21st Worried About Your Mac Getting Jacked? Get JackSMS - June 12th Want iChat with Tabs? Try Chax! - April 3rd Visit Monday's Mac Gadget Archives for more great Mac Gadgets!