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1992-12-22
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2col
Shareware Version 4.3
A Compressed Print Utility
Copyright 1992
by
ARCaine Technology
960 Neilson St
Albany, CA 94706
(510) 527-9859
All Rights Reserved
YE OLDE DISCLAIMER
This software and manual are sold "as is" and without warranties
as to performance or merchantability or any other warranties
whether expressed or implied. Because of the various hardware and
software environments into which this program may be put, no
warranty of fitness for a particular purpose is offered. The user
must assume the entire risk of using and evaluating this program.
Any liability of the seller will be limited exclusively to product
replacement or refund of purchase price.
Introduction
2col prints an ASCII text file in two columns,each up to 80
characters wide, on standard width paper. It eliminates
consecutive blank lines and prints at 20 characters/inch.
2col now supports Deskjet printers as well as dot matrix printers.
See the insructions for using the -J option when running on a
Deskjet printer. You must always use the -J option with a Deskjet.
2col is designed to be extremely easy to use. The default settings
will accommodate most printing needs. On most 9-pin printers
you can print a document by simply typing: 2COL [filename] <enter>
For example, to print this manual type:2COL 2COL.DOC <enter>
On 24-pin printers you must also include -Q on the command line.
To see a demonstration of 2COL's many print modes you can
type: DEMO2COL [9, 24, or J] <enter>. If your printer cannot print
20 char/in you should include -W68 on the command line.
2col is intended to greatly reduce the huge volume of paper that
results from printing reference manuals and text files. Regular
use of this program should cut your paper bill by 60 to 70
percent. It provides excellent readability (unlike other
compressed print programs) while compressing an average of
four pages of source material onto one side of a sheet of
paper. By using its even/odd alternate side print feature eight
pages of text can be printed using both sides of a page. Since the
normal draft mode of printing can be used, it is also much faster
than those programs which rely on nonstandard print modes.
By reducing the volume of paper, 2col also reduces storage
requirements and the bulk one has to carry around when traveling.
It can also save you money when faxing or mailing documents.
As a side benefit, many 2col users actually find it easier and
faster to read the compressed versions than the originals because
they can take in more words at one time without having to scan
across the page.
2col will optionally print in subscript mode - doubling the amount
of text contained on a single sheet to a total of sixteen pages -
with a significant loss in legibility and printing speed. This
mode is intended mainly for archival use not for documents that
will be read frequently.
This program will work on most Epson-compatible dot-matrix
printers which provide 17 characters/inch compressed printing but
is especially intended for newer printers which have a
compressed/elite mode (20 char/in) allowing two complete 80
character lines to be printed across the page. Printers which
support 20 char/inch include:KXP1180, KXP1124, FX86, 200GX,
LQ-series, etc. If you have a 17 char/inch printer see the
registration section below about obtaining a word-wrap utility.
Since most printers do not show the 20 char/inch mode on the front
panel, you should check the manual or just try printing with 2col.
If your printer supports 20 char/in but does not operate properly
with 2col, contact me, and I will let you know if it is possible
to provide you with an updated version that is compatible with
your printer.
IMPORTANT!
DOT MATRIX:
The 20 char/in mode on many printers cannot be accessed by
software if the DIP switches inside the printer are set for IBM
mode. The printer MUST be set for the Epson/Standard mode. 2col
will optionally supply the control characters to cause the full
IBM character set to print. Also, your printer should have the
auto linefeed switch turned off. If your printer has a front panel
pitch control, it should be set to program mode. On most printers
it is okay to set a specific font from the front panel as long as
the pitch is left in program mode.
Also, be sure that your paper is correctly lined up with your
printer's top of form according to your printer manual. If your
paper is misaligned, every page after the first will begin in the
middle of the sheet when printing with 2COL.
DESKJET:
If you have previously been printing standard size characters with
perf skip on, you must push the reset button on your printer
immediately before printing with 2COL or use the -J1 option.
Otherwise, the first page will not print correctly. Also, -W68 and
-W67 may truncate lines on the Deskjet because of its 16.67
cpi font pitch.
Hints
Since 24-pin printers tend to print a taller font than 9-pin
printers, both in subscript mode and standard, it is advisable to
use fewer lines/page with 24-pin printers to get optimum
readablity and appearance.
Since 2COL does not issue any font selection commands, the last
font selected for your printer will be the one used. Fonts may be
selected via the printer control panel or by a printer control
program. At 20 characters/inch the most readable font (and the
fastest) is usually the standard draft font. Letter quality fonts
tend to be too "busy" for good compressed printing.
2COL does issue a printer reset when it finishes and if the font
you selected is not your default font, it may need to be
reselected before printing again.
You will find it most convenient to use 2COL if you install it in
a directory which is located in your PATH statement. See your DOS
manual for more information.
When using a Deskjet you will probably want to use a top margin of
-F4. Also, try selecting the draft mode on the printer's control
panel. You may find it adequate for 2COL printing.
Registration
I will keep improving the program if I know enough people are
finding it useful.
My registration policy is very flexible. The nominal fee is $20 US
If you don't feel you will get $20 worth of use out of 2COL, send
whatever it is worth to you. If you are impoverished and can't
afford to pay anything, enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope
and I will send you a registration.
This is not freeware or public domain. Shareware is simply a means
of marketing commercial software. You are required to register if
you intend to use this program after a reasonable trial period.
When registering, please tell me the version number you have, your
printer model, and where you obtained your copy of 2col.
Registration checks should be made payable to "Tony Caine".
2col should be registered for the maximum number of copies that
can be used simultaneously at your site. Site fees for commercial
users can be negotiated.
If you register for the full $20 fee, and enclose a Shipping and
Handling fee of $4.95 I will send you the latest versions of 2COL
and JETCOL (for lasers). JETCOL requires a separate registration
fee if you decide to use it after a trial period. I will also send
other printing related shareware programs including a word wrap
program (by another author) which can be used to expand or
contract the column width of documents before printing. This is
particularly useful for those with 17 char/inch printers which
cannot print two full 80 character columns. Also included is a
conversion program which will help you print specially formatted
word processor files, such as .WRI files correctly with 2COL. A
label making program is also included.
Registered version features
* Custom default settings
2COL's default settings can be modified by the user. This
eliminates the need for the user to enter a string of options
whenever they run the program. They need only enter the filename.
* Automargin
The automargin option is extremely useful for those who need to
punch holes for binding. 2col scans the entire document before
printing and, in effect, moves all the available "white space"
from the center (and, if necessary,from the right margin) of the
document to the left margin.
To get an idea of how Automargin operates, type: 2COL 2COL.DOC
<enter>. This will print with the default settings of 2col. Then
type: 2COL 2COL.DOC -K -U8 <enter>. This will print a one page
demo using automargin.
* Multiple document names
Multiple document names and wildcards can be entered on the
command line.
* Append
When specifying multiple documents to print, registered users
have the choice of starting each file at the beginning of a page
or treating all documents as one continuous file without breaks.
* Redirection of output
Registered users can choose to send the output to a disk file for
later printing in background (while running other programs) or
they can send to LPT2, COM1, COM2, etc.
* Pagefix
Prints a specified number of pages per column retaining original
line spacing and page breaks.
* The registration screen is eliminated, of course.
Terminology
Since several pages from the original source file are combined
onto a single page of printer output, there may be some confusion
about the word "page." We will always refer to the original
document pages as "source pages." What is actually printed will
simply be called "pages."
Usage:
2col [options] path\filename [options] [path\filename]...
Options (except -Yx) may be specified in any order before and/or
after the file name(s). Options MUST be separated from each other
by spaces and preceded by a "-". Upper and lower case are
interchangeable.
Options are defined as follows:
-Lxx = Each column will be xx lines long
-Cxx = No more than xx consecutive blank lines will be printed
-Sxx = Skip xx pages before starting to print
-O = Print only odd # pages
-E = Print only even # pages
-Wxx = column width (number of characters in each column)
-P = Pause before printing each page.
-N = Prints filename and page # at lower left corner
-D = Delimit each (source) page with a line and page #
-T = Truncate long lines instead of wrap.
-G = Enable full IBM character set.(dot matrix only)
-Fx = Put a margin of x blank lines at the top of each page.
-K = Print a one page demo in registered mode.
* -Mx = Set left margin.(CAUTION:READ INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING)*
-? = 2COL will ask for filenames to print.
-Q = 24-pin printer line spacing
-Jx = Deskjet mode
-V = Report # pages to print.Modify spacing to fill last page
? = (no dash) Prints help screen. Must be the only option.
*Options for registered users only*
-A = Append multiple files.
-Z = Route output to disk.
-Ux = Scans file before printing and sets margins automatically.
-Xx = Print x pages/column preserving page breaks & format
-Yx = Customize 2COL default settings.
When more than 102 lines/page requested,shifts to subscript
(half-height) mode. When column width is less than 69 chars,uses
compressed mode (17 char/in.) When column width is greater than
68 uses compressed/elite (20 char/in.)
Defaults: 80 characters/column;88 lines/page;1 consecutive blank
line; no pause before printing page; do not number pages;
wrap (not truncate) long lines;0 blank lines at top of
page.
Description of options
-Lxxx
Each column will contain xxx lines of data. Line spacing will
be automatically adjusted to approximately fill the page.
Characters will be normal (pica) height until more than 102
lines/column are specified; printer will then shift to
subscript mode allowing up to 220 lines/column. Default value
is 88.
-Cxx
Pages of text frequently contain many blank lines of data.
Experience has shown that most of these can be discarded
without sacrificing readability. This option specifies that
when there are more than xx consecutive blank lines, the
excess will be discarded. If you set xx=66, 2col will print
each page in its original format without discarding any blank
lines. The default value is 1.
-Sxx
This feature is useful if you have a paper jam or decide to
print part now and part later. Using this option will cause xx
pages to be skipped before printing begins. For example,
specifying "-S2" will cause printing to begin with page 3.
When using the -O or -E option remember to count all pages -
odd and even.
-O
This and the -E option allow you to print on both sides of
each sheet of paper. By specifying "-O", only the odd numbered
pages will be printed. When printing is complete,reload the
first page back into the printer with the blank side facing
the print head and rerun 2col using the -E option.
Alternatively, 2COL will ask you whether you want to print the
even pages after it has finished printing the odd. Respond "Y"
after the paper has been reloaded or type "X" to terminate.
-E
Prints only even numbered pages. When using this option after
the -O option be sure to shift the paper about 1/2 inch to the
right before starting to print, to allow space for hole
punching or other binding requirements.
-Wxx
This option specifies how wide each column will be. Wrapping
or truncating will begin at this position. It also determines
the print density. If xx is 68 or less, the printer will use
compressed mode (137 characters across the page). If xx is 69
or larger the printer will use compressed/elite (160
characters/line). If your printer does not support
compressed/elite and you try to use it, you will end up with a
mess. You should then specify xx as 68 and decide whether you
want to truncate long lines or wrap them. Since 2COL wraps
in mid-word line by line and does not reformat, you might want
to obtain a shareware word wrapping program. I can supply
one when you register. See the "registration" section of
this document for details.
-P
Program will pause before printing each page. Hit any key to
print a page. This option is useful if you are feeding single
sheets to the printer.
-Nx
This will cause the filename and page number to be printed in
the lower left-hand corner of each sheet. To avoid confusion
when using the -S, -O and -E options the page numbering is not
reset for each document when multiple documents are specified
on the command line(registered version only).
If x=2 the current date will also be printed. If x=1 or blank
only the filename and page number will be printed.
-D
If you need to keep track of each source page, this option
will print a dashed line with a page number in the middle
whenever a form feed is encountered or after 66 lines of data.
Experience has shown that this option will be rarely used
because most documents either number their own pages or it is
just not important to keep track of original page breaks.
-T
Normally when lines longer than the specified column width are
encountered, 2col will wrap the data to the next line. If you
prefer to truncate or discard excess characters on a line, you
should invoke this option.
-G
Sends control codes to enable full IBM graphics set (ASCII
128-255). The graphics set includes line drawing characters
and foreign alphabets. This function is not for DeskJet.
-Fx
2col will insert x blank lines at the top of each page before
printing. The default is 0.
-Mx
CAUTION: IMPROPER USE OF THIS OPTION WILL CAUSE YOUR PRINTER
TO PRINT PAST THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.
This command sets the left margin x spaces from the edge of
the page. Default is 0. Use this option with caution! Most
standard width printers only have 160 print positions across
the page. If you insert spaces with a margin command, the
printer will wrap characters that go past the 160th print
position to the left side of the page, causing extra lines
to be inserted. If you use a left margin of 5, for example,
you might have to set the column width to -W77 to prevent
wraparound (this is only necessary if printable characters
would be pushed past the 160th column- blanks don't matter).
The easiest way to achieve a left margin without having to
worry about characters wrapping is to use the Automargin
option (-Ux) described below.
Given the limitations of standard width printers, it is
suggested that you permanently shift your paper several spaces
to the left. You can adjust your word processor margin
settings to compensate, so that normal printing will be
unaffected.
-K
Including this option on the command line allows any
registered option listed below to be used, but only for a
one page demo. This option allows you to explore the
options available to registered users.
-?
Instructs 2COL to ask for files to print once it is running.
You can specify files both on the command line and when 2COL
asks for filenames. Separate the file names with spaces. This
option is useful when 2COL is run from a menu or a Windows
icon.
-Q
Adjusts line spacing for 24-pin printers. If you have a 24-pin
printer and do not use this option, pages will print too long.
-Jx
Use this option whenever you are using a Deskjet printer.
If x=0 or blank, 2col will not eject a page before printing.
You can use this option if you have just printed with 2COL or
if perf skip was not activated. If you have previously been
printing with perf skip on, you must either push the reset
button on the printer before running 2col or use -J1.
-V
This option prescans the document and tells you many pages
(odd+even) will print. If you are printing only odd or even,
you must divide by two.
If the last page is only partially filled you will be given
the option to compress the line spacing to eliminate the
partial page or increase the spacing to fill it. "C"
compresses the lines. "E" expands the lines. "N" preserves
the original spacing.
If you are printing multiple documents without the Append (-A)
option or using the fiXpage (-X) option, you will not be able
to modify the line spacing.
Note: It is impossible to always adjust the spacing to exactly
fill the page. 2COL will come as close as possible.
***Options below are only in the registered version of 2col***
-Yx
The -Y option allows you to modify 2COL's default settings.
This MUST always be the first option on the command line
whenever you use it.
Typing "2COL -Y1 <enter>" will cause 2COL to display all
current default settings.
Typing "2COL -Y2 [options....] <enter>" will cause 2COL to
permanently remember those options by modifying the 2COL.EXE
program itself. Your personal registration code MUST always be
one of the options specified whenever you modify the default
settings. Whenever the -Y2 option is used, any options not
specified on the command line will be reset to the standard
defaults. Therefore, even if you change only one of your
custom options, you must reenter them all at the same time.
The next time you run 2COL the options you specified will
automatically be used.
For example, if you want to set the number of lines/page to
102 and print the page numbers at the bottom, you would type:
2COL -Y2 -L102 -N registration code# <enter>. The next time
you type 2COL [filename] <enter> It would be as though you had
typed: 2COL -L102 -N registration code [filename].
If there are several different option profiles you wish to
use, you can create different copies of 2COL.EXE with
different names, such as 2COL1.EXE, 2COL2.EXE, etc. The -Y2
option only modifies the EXE file having the same name and
path that you type on the command line.
All defaults with an 'x' value can be temporarily overridden
with a different value on the commmand line. Use an 'x' value
of 0 to temporarily deactivate Automargin or Pagefix. Any
option without an 'x' value can be activated by simply putting
it on the command line. To temporarily deactivate an option
set as a permanent default, type a minus after the option. For
example, to temporarily deactivate the N option, you would put
-N- on the command line: 2COL -N- [filename]
THIS FUNCTION WILL NOT WORK ON .EXE FILES THAT HAVE BEEN
COMPRESSED WITH PKLITE. You must first decompress, use the -Y2
option and then recompress.
-A
When multiple files are specified on the command line
(registered version only) you have the option of either
starting a new page for each file (default) or appending them
as though they were one continuous file. The -A option causes
them to be appended.
-Ux
The aUtomargin function allows you to obtain as much margin as
possible according to the format of the document. 2col scans
the entire document before printing and adjusts the column
width to gain as much space on the print line as possible.
The space obtained is allocated to the left margin until the x
value you entered is reached. The remaining space, if any, is
then added to the right margin.
If you have specified the -E option (to print on the reverse
side of the page), the first available space is used to create
a right margin (for binding) rather than a left margin.
-Zfilename
Allows output to be routed to a file instead of to the
printer. The file can then be printed in background while
running other programs. For example, to send output to a file
called PRINT.TXT, you should include -ZPRINT.TXT on the
command line.If PRINT.TXT does not exist, it will be created.
If PRINT.TXT already exists, 2col output will be appended to
the end of the file. This command is only active in the
registered version of 2col. This option can also be used to
redirect output to LPT2, COM1, COM2, etc.
-Xx
Prints exactly x pages in each column preserving original page
breaks and not suppressing consecutive blank lines. Thus the
original page formatting is maintained. Allowed range of x
is 1-3.
-X option page formats:
x=1 x=2 x=3
111 222 111 333 111 444
111 222 111 333 111 444
111 222 111 333
111 222 222 555
111 222 222 555
111 222 222 444
111 222 222 444 333 666
111 222 222 444 333 666
Examples:
2COL 2COL.DOC -L102 <enter> will print 102 lines/column
2COL 2COL.DOC -L102 -N will print 102 lines/column and number pages.
2COL 2COL.DOC -G -N will number pages and enable IBM graphics set.
Using 2COL with a word processor
2COL will not work with most word processor documents in their
original form; but most word processors have what is called an
ASCII output or DOS output mode which 2COL will work with.
For example, with WordPerfect, you can create a 2COL usable
file with the sequence: Control-F5,1,Save. WordPerfect also
supplies a freestanding program called CONVERT.EXE which can be
combined into a batch file with 2COL. The latter approach allows
WP files to be printed directly with a single command.
I also supply to registered users conversion programs which may
help you print other word processor formats with 2COL.
Distribution
Permission is hereby given to copy and distribute this program
as long as no fee other than a minimal ( <$10 ) handling cost is
charged. It must be made clear to the buyer that this is only a
handling charge and not a registration fee.Please include all
files in their original unmodified form when distributing this
program.
If you list 2COL in a catalog, I would appreciate a copy of your
catalog to be sure that the description is correct. I will also
then know to send you updated versions as they become available.
Permission to distribute may be revoked by the author
at any time for any reason.
YOU MUST NOT DISTRIBUTE ANY COPY WHICH HAS BEEN BRANDED WITH
A REGISTRATION CODE. A program can be unbranded by typing
2COL -Y2 <enter>.
All trademarks used in this document are the property of their
owners.
-Tony Caine-
GEnie mail:A.CAINE