Contents of this manual

This page applies to Harlequin v13.1r0 and later; and to Harlequin MultiRIP but not Harlequin Core

The first chapters are essential for all plugin writers.

Introduction to the Plugin Kit , provides an introduction to the plugin concept and the various kinds of plugin to which the RIP can connect. It also discusses the plugin interface generally and what is provided with the plugin kit.

Basic Structure and Implementation of Plugins , describes the basics of input and output plugins and the elements of the plugin mechanism that are common to both.

Input and output plugin parameters and plugin dialogs , describes the facility for allowing end‐users to set parameters in plugins, such as values used in driving particular devices. User input can come through (platform‐independent) dialogs or through PostScript language fragments.

The Plugin Library , describes a support‐service library with which you can link your plugins.

The next chapters are primarily about output plugins.

Output Plugins , builds on The Plugin Library to provide further material about output plugins.

Output Plugin Data Structures , defines data structures that the RIP and the output plugin use to share data.

Output Plugin Selectors , defines the communication protocol the RIP uses to interact with an output plugin.

Error Handling in Output Plugins , defines the data structures and communication protocol for reporting and handling errors during output plugin operations.

The next chapters are primarily about input plugins.

Input Plugins , builds on The Plugin Library to provide further material about input plugins.

Input Plugin Data Structures , defines data structures the RIP and the input plugin use to share data.

Input Plugin Selectors , defines the communication protocol the RIP uses to interact with an input plugin. This includes error handling.

Filters, Asynchronous Actions, and Progress Plugins describes some specialist applications of input plugins.

PostScript Device Plugins describes PostScript device plugins.

Core module plugins provides an overview of the core module plugin mechanisms. It explains how the RIP communicates with a core module plugin, from startup to shutdown.

Event based plugins describes plugins that allow the GUI RIP to be able to locate and load event handling plugins.

Harlequin MultiRIP plugins on Microsoft Windows describes aspects of constructing a plugin for Microsoft Windows‐ based Intel platforms.

Calibration Targets describes the construction of calibration test strips.