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1985-04-16
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PRINT TO DISK Utility, Operating instructions.
Use with version 2.0+ MS DOS
FUNCTION:
This utility is designed to redirect the printer output from
an application program to a disk file.
There are three advantages to doing this:
1. Programs that required a printer may now be run
without physical having a printer attached to the
system.
2. Even if you have a printer, you may just want to look
at a report without actually needing a hard copy
printout. In this case you can save the paper/ribbon
expense and general wear and tear on the printer
itself. Later you can print the file if you so
desire.
3. There are times when only a portion of a long
printout is needed, or you may wish to add
information or comments, or incorporate all or part
of a report in another document.
You may now put the report into a file, edit it as
desired, and then print the modified file.
LIMITATIONS:
There are a couple of situations where this utility will not
work properly:
1. This program only traps the normal print vectors.
This covers all normal MS DOS applications programs,
BASIC programs, and most system type utilities. But,
any program that works directly with the hardware
output port will continual to function as it would
without this utility.
2. This program changes the above mentioned vectors. So
do all spoolers, printer drivers, and other utilities
that affect printer output or operation. Therefore,
this program MUST be the LAST utility/driver
installed. If it is installed after any other "vector
modifying program", it will function as expected.
If not, it will not.
(see EXAMPLE below).
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3. SHIFT/PRINT SCREEN:
CONTROL/PRINT SCREEN:
MS DOS redirection (ie: DIR > PRN):
These functions do NOT work with PD.COM if the
utility is set to DISK, and they will hang the
system. If PD.COM is set to PRINTER they do work
normally.
OPERATION:
Installation:
The first time this program is run it will install
itself. When installed, the resident portion occupies
1.6k of memory.
NOTE- you MUST be in the same DIR:\PATH as PD.COM when it
is first run.
Every time PD.COM is run from the terminal after instal-
lation, it will close any open print files, and then it
will ask you if you wish to go to the STATUS/MENU screen.
It is from this screen that the various options of the
utility may be set.
Once installed, the utility will automatically open a
disk file for output whenever a program attempts to print
the first character of a report.
This file will stay open, accepting more print data,
until:
1. The program itself sends a CTL/Z (end of file)
character;
2. PD.COM is run from the terminal; or
3. The NEXT program produces additional printer
output. (Repetitive reports/printouts from the
same program will all continue to go into the
same disk file until that program is exited or it
sends a CTL/Z to the printer.)
When the file is closed in one of the above ways, the
last memory buffer of printer data is automatically
written to the file.
NOTE- MS DOS will close all files whenever an applica-
tion program exits (stops).If you have just run a
program that produced a printed report to disk,
then there is still part of the printout in the
utilities' printer buffer. The utility can sense
this situation and will display a reminder to you
on the screen, but it will not automatically write
this last buffer.
2
There are two ways to close this last file and write this
last buffer:
1. Just run PD.COM from the terminal. (You need not
go into the STATUS/MENU screen).
2. The next program that produces printer output
will cause the last file to be closed and the
last buffer written.
Otherwise, if you look at this file (list it or edit it),
the very last part of the report will not be visible.
FILE NAMES:
When PD.COM is installed each day, it will begin to open disk
files as necessary using the name TMP01.RPT. As each file is
closed and a new one opened, '1' is added to the number in
the file name, and the next name becomes TMP02, TMP03, etc.
up to TMP99.
The utility will check the disk first and not use the name of
any existing file, in other words, it will not destroy an
existing file. When the number in the default file name gets
to 99, the utility will automatically start over again with
01. If you have enough disk space and have used every
possible number from 1 to 99 this program will go into an
infinite loop. Since 99 report files would take up quite a
few megabytes of disk space, and you, being conscientious,
will be deleting these files after you are finished with
them, this situation should never occur (hello Murphy).
THE FOLLOWING ARE OPTIONS THAT MAY BE SELECTED FROM THE STATUS/
MENU SCREEN.
(OPTION) [A]ctive: (Print to DEV):
This controls the destination of printouts, DISK or PRINTER.
When the utility is installed, it automatically begins with
output directed to the DISK. This can be changed to allow
output to go to the PRINTER in the normal manner. From the
STATUS/MENU screen, type 'A' to toggle from DISK to PRINTER
and back.
(OPTION) [M]essages:
PD.COM will normally print a message whenever it opens a new
output file. This is handy as a reminder of the name and
DEV/PATH that the new file is going into. But in some
programs this will interfere with what is currently
displayed. This option may be used to suppress these normal
messages. Error messages will still be displayed.
(OPTION) [N]ext file name to use:
You may specify a particular device\path\filename for the
next disk file name from the STATUS/MENU screen of PD.COM.
After this next printout is completed, the file name will
then revert to the next default file name assigned by the
utility.
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(OPTION) [D]efault device\path:
The device\path name of the utilities' next default file name
can be specified from the STATUS/MENU.
NOTE- This default device/path does NOT apply to a user
specified file name (above), it only applies to
the program's default names.
(OPTION) [Z]ero history fields:
This program keeps statistics on its activity just for
general information. The current totals for day/month/total
can be reset to zero when a new owner begins to use this
program. The grand totals can not be reset. When the current
fields are zeroed, the date installed field is updated.
MISCELLANEOUS:
FREE SPACE:
The utility will show you the amount of free space available
on its default device. Experience with printing reports to
disk will help you determine if there is enough room left for
your next report file.
SAVINGS:
From the above history fields, estimated savings can be
computed. They are based on the assumptions that a page of
paper costs 1 1/2 cents, and ribbons cost $10.00 per 2
million print characters. There is the additional saving of
wear and tear on the printer itself (everything wears out),
and also the intangible savings of time and trouble. But
these, although real, can not be calculated.
EXAMPLE of using this utility with a spooler.
MS DOS's PRINT command is probably the most widely used
spooler program available. This utility and PRINT can work
together.
To use both, remember to install PD.COM AFTER installing
PRINT. Do this by first running PRINT without specifying a
file name, PRINT will ask you for the device name of your
printer. Answer as you normally would. It will then announce
itself as installed.
Then, being sure you are in the same DEV/PATH as PD.COM, run
PD.COM. PD.COM will then announce itself installed, and you
are in business.
To print 1 or more files with PRINT, first toggle PD.COM to
PRINTER, and then print the files as you normally would.
NOTE- while they are printing, you can not toggle back to
DISK until they are finished printing.
When they are finished printing, you may then return to DISK
printing.
4
If you wish to install PD.COM in an AUTOEXEC.BAT file and you
plan to use a spooler also, then do it this way:
... ; preceding commands
...
...
PRINT ;install spooler first
PD.COM ;install PD.COM last
... ; (be sure your in the same DEV/PATH
as PD.COM)
...
... ; remainder of AUTOEXEC.BAT
That's all there is to installing and using PD.COM. I hope
that this utility will prove as useful and convenient to you
as it has to me.
Remember, I make my living by writing software for sale. If
you use this program, then I expect you to pay for it. I like
the 'FREEWARE' concept. I have been burned by some high
priced programs that just did not do what I expected (or what
they claimed) and then could not return them. It is an advan-
tage to be able to use a program first, and then BUY it.
There are a few programs available on this basis, and there
will be more, if YOU, the user, support this concept.
If not, we all lose.
I suggest a price of $15.00. But again, the worth of this
program is the value it is to YOU. If you agree with the
concept but not the price, tell me by sending whatever you do
think its price should be.
Thank you!
Roy Minier
490 Burnham Rd.
Williamsburg, VA 23185
--------------------------------------
Downloaded from the IBMPC special interest area of CompuServe,
uploaded to PCanada by Bob Leigh, PC1022.
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