›               o=o=o=o=o=››         Printer Draft Font Maker››                    by››             Thomas J. Andrews››             Copyright 1997›› Developed   from  "The  Printer  Font› Maker" for Gemini 10X and Epson  FX80› printers  by James Duffin  (Copyright› 1984)››› This  program  can  create  and  edit› downloadable draft characters for the› Star  Micronics  NX-1001  9-pin   dot› matrix   printer.    While   designed› specifically   for  the  NX-1001,  it› should   work   with   any    printer› compatible  with  the  Epson   LX850,› which  the  NX-1001  emulates when in› "standard"  mode.   The  program  can› download directly to the  printer  or› create a disk file that can be copied› to the printer at  a  later  time  or› from  another  program.   It can also› use Epson FX80 and  Star  Gemini  10X› font  data  files  created with James› Duffin's     "Fontmaker."      (Antic› Magazine, March 1985)›› Hardware  requirements  are: a 48K or› better    Atari    8-bit    computer,› joystick, disk drive, and, of course,› a  compatible  printer.  This program› will work with Atari DOS  2.0s,  2.5,› and  MYDOS  4.5.  It should work with› almost any DOS but the horrendous DOS› 3.0  (is  ANYBODY  still  using  that› thing?),  but  it  hasn't been tested› with any  others.   It's  written  in› Atari  BASIC  and  works  with  Turbo› BASIC XL, with a bit of special setup› procedure.  I highly recommend  using› Turbo  BASIC.   The  operating  speed› difference is worth the effort.›› This    ARC   file   should   include› STARFNT.BAS, STARFNT.DOC, and several› font data files with NX extensions.› Getting Started›› Getting  the  NX  fontmaker  up   and› running  couldn't  be  simpler.  Just› RUN  STARFNT.BAS  from  either  Atari› BASIC or Turbo BASIC XL, or use  your› favorite  autorun  or  menu program. › Sometimes, the  display  is  unstable› during  disk  access when using Turbo› BASIC.  It  doesn't  affect  anything› but  the  display,  but  it  can   be› annoying.  If this happens, make sure› you save any font data  you  want  to› keep,  then  try  pressing  RESET and› RUNning   the   program  again.   The› instability should disappear.›› Using STARFNT›› The first screen you see  contains  a› short  description  of  the program. › Pressing any key will take you to the› main operating screen.›› On  the  Main  Screen  you'll  see an› empty dot  matrix  grid,  a  list  of› commands, and a group of characters. › These characters are the ones you can› use   for   downloading.    Use   the› joystick to move the cursor over  the› character you want to use, then press› the trigger button to select it.›› Once a character has  been  selected,› any  font  data already in memory for› it is copied to the dot matrix grid. › A  plus  sign in the grid indicates a› blank   spot   and  a  filled  circle› indicates a printed  dot.   Edit  the› character  by  moving the cursor over› the grid space you  wish  to  change,› then  pressing  the button.  Dots may› be adjacent to each other vertically,› but not horizontally.  When finished,› copy the edited character  to  memory› by  using  one of the commands listed› on the screen (except "D").  A  small› representation  of the character will› be drawn on the bottom of the  screen› and the character in the list will be› shown in inverse to indicate  it  has› been edited.›› Since all CHR$(155)'s will be changed› by   the   printer    interface    to› Chr$(13)'s  before  they  get  to the› printer, a 155 is not allowed in  the› font data.  If a 155 is detected when› copying  the  edited  font  data  the› program will automatically change  it› to  a  153,  which  is   similar   in› appearance  in  the grid, and ask you› to re-edit the character.›› Key Commands›› E   Edit   Character.   This  is  the› command to use when you want to  copy› one  character  to memory and then do› another.›› D Descender On/Off.  This toggles the› descender  of  the  character   being› edited.   Descender  off  means   the› character  will  use  the  top 8 pins› when printed.  Descender on means  it› will use the bottom eight.›› S  Save  Font.   This  saves the font› data into a disk  file  that  STARFNT› can load and use in another session. › The files with the NX  extension  are› this  type  of  file.   It can NOT be› used   to  download  a  font  to  the› printer.›› L Load Font.  This  loads  font  data› files  created  with the SAVE command› above.    All  font  data  in  memory› before the command is initiated  will› be  cleared.   Any characters showing› font data will be  indicated  in  the› character list.›› F  Load  FX80  Font.   This loads and› converts FX80 font data files created› with James Duffin's original program,› similar to the LOAD command above.›› G Load Gemini Font.  This  loads  and› converts  Star  Gemini  10X font data› files  created  with  James  Duffin's› original program, similar to the LOAD› command above.›› START  Load  Printer.  This downloads› the characters in memory directly  to› the  printer.   If  the printer has a› DIP switch  controling  print  buffer› functions,  it  must  be  set  to the› download position for this command to› work.   Once  a font is downloaded to› the printer,  it  will  remain  there› until  the switch is turned off or it› is replaced with another  font.   For› test  purposes,  you will be asked if› you want the characters  printed  for› you.›› OPTION  Create   Font   File.    This› creates  a  font  file  that  can  be› dumped  directly  to the printer from› another program  or  from  DOS.   The› file will contain all the commands to› download the characters and  set  the› printer to use them.›› All  commands  using  disk files will› ask   for   a  filename.   Any  legal› Device:Subdirectory:Filename› combination  of 40 characters or less› will be accepted.  A name  without  a› device  code  will  use  "D:"  as   a› default.   To  get a directory of any› drive, press RETURN at the  Filename?› prompt,  then  answer  with  a  drive› number.›› I've  had a lot of fun converting Mr.› Duffin's program for my  printer.   I› have  plans  to  develop  a   similar› program  to  edit  and  download  NLQ› characters  for  my  NX-1001, so look› for it if you have any  interest.   I› also  intend to write a version of my› Print Star that  will  download  font› files created by these two programs. › Programming the Atari 8-bit is  still› as  enjoyable  as ever - why should I› stop now?››          Thomas J. Andrews ››     e-mail: tandrews16@delphi.com›››               o=o=o=o=o=›››