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1985-01-31
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SWAP PRINTERS COMMAND
Written by Thomas M. Rowlett
The Swap Printers (SWPTR) Command provides the capability to logically
swap the printer defined as LPT1: with the printer defined as LPT2:. This
can be very useful to IBM PC owners who have printers connected to the two
(2) parallel ports of their PCs. I developed the assembly language program
so that I could easily use either one of my two printers with many of my
application programs that use LPT1: exclusively, without having to recable
the printers or use an A-B Switch Box every time I wanted to swap them.
An example would be if one were using WordStar to print a draft of a
document using a dot matrix printer, then a final copy is desired using a
letter quality printer. Normally, one would have to disconnect the dot
matrix printer and connect the letter quality printer to the LPT1: port. By
having a second printer port (LPT2:) and using the SWPTR command from
WordStar (Run a Program option from the main menu of WordStar), one can
logically swap LPT1: with LPT2: so that the output directed to LPT1: is
printed on the printer attached to LPT2:. No cables to disconnect and
reconnect! No pins bent or broken! Just remain in the comfort of your
chair and let the computer do the printer swapping. When it is desired to
swap the printers back to their original assignments, just run SWPTR again.
SWPTR initializes both printers when a swap takes place. This was
necessary because some printers would not operate after the swap. An
optional input of an "i" or "I" in the command line (for example, "SWPTR
I") specifies that only an "inspect" of the printer assignment is desired.
Like all DOS Commands, upper or lower case letters may be used. Executing
the inspect option does not cause either printer to be initialized.
SWPTR, when linked, becomes a COMmand file of DOS so it can be executed
like the DOS Commands MODE or DISKCOPY. This usually requires executing
SWPTR before the application program. Some programs, like WordStar, provide
a way to execute a DOS Command without exiting. SWPTR works very well from
those programs.
Since the time I first developed this command, I have seen several
examples in other publications on how to make use of two printers connected
to the same IBM PC. All the articles proposed using a BASIC program to do
the swapping. I feel this assembly language program, SWPTR, offers much
more flexibility than the BASIC programs because it operates as a DOS
Command.
Please enjoy the flexibility offered by SWPTR. You no longer have to
swap printer cables or connectors to be able to direct your printer output
to LPT2: instead of LPT1:.
nger have to
swap printer cables or connectors to be able to direct your printer output
to LPT2: instea