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1993-11-10
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******************************************
* *
* DJPrint v2.01 *
* *
* Paper Saving Utility. *
* *
******************************************
This utility produces A5 size booklets from text files using an Amiga
and the HP DeskJet or compatible printer.
A BRIEF HISTORY
---------------
Software to print out manuals and other text files into neat A5 size
booklets using a PC and the DeskJet has long been available, but a similar
utility for the Amiga was hard to find.
I searched widely for a program to do exactly what I required.
I did find useful programs. I even came across a version written in ARexx.
Some were good too, but not one would do exactly what I wanted, so I decided
to write my own version. I chose to base it upon the excellent "BOOKLET" by
A.Lawrie, which I have been using on the PC for some time.
Thus DJPrint was born and v1.01 was the first real working release.
Version 2.0 includes these new features:-
- Full point and click user interface.
- Option to Chop Long Lines (>80 chars)
- Option to Act on Embedded formfeeds (char 12)
- Option to Suppress Blank Lines
- Option to Expand Embedded TAB characters to your own setting
- Sound option
This version prints 4 pages to each A4 sheet, two on the front and two on the
back, with a maximum of 72 lines of 80 characters on each page.
It is possible, therefore, to put more than 23,000 characters on each sheet!
In practice, the printed booklets look much better with <25% of that absolute
(and almost unreadable) maximum density.
To use DJPrint v2.01 you will need:-
* An Amiga computer (WB1.3 or later) with at least 1MB Ram.
Using an standard A1200 it is possible to process a 250k
text file which produces a booklet of about 100 pages.
* The HP DeskJet or compatible printer with lots of paper.
I have not proved it yet, DJPrint should also work on the HP LaserJet
and compatible printers because the commands sent to the printer
are all to the HP PCL Level III specification.
* A stapler. (I use an ordinary 6mm WHSmith special - but bigger
is always better!)
* Lots of patience if the file you wish to print is a long one!
MAKING IT WORK
--------------
I hope the program works intuitively enough to be usable without lots
of instructions - but just a few pointers may help.
DJPrint opens it's own custom screen.
The main buttons and keys are:-
LOAD - Loads text file into memory ready for processing.
Also available with <CTRL> L
PROCESS - Analyses the loaded file using the current parameters
ie. Suppressing Line Feeds, Expanding Tab Characters, etc.
File can be processed only once without re-loading
Also available with <CTRL> P
PRINT - Prints the text to the destination selected in the cycle
gadget (PAR, SER or Disk File)
The text must be processed prior to printing.
Also available with <CTRL> R
SAVE - Saves the current configuration. This includes all the button
and gadget selections. File is saved as "SYS:s/DJPRINT.cfg"
If the program is started and the config file is not found,
a set of default values is used.
Also available with <CTRL> S
The two Cycle Gadgets to the right:-
#1 - Selects the output destination (PAR: SER: or File)
Also available with <CTRL> O
#2 - Selects the auto text printed at the top of each page.
(None, Name, Date or Both)
ie.None, Name of the file, Current date or Both.
Also available with <CTRL> G
The four 'Tick-Boxes' on the left of the lower panel can be set On or Off
by clicking in the relevant box. They are:-
CHOP LONG LINES - Set = Text is limited to no more than 80 characters/line.
Unset = >80 characters extended to a new line.
IGNORE FORMFEEDS - Set = Formfeed (ASCII 12) characters ignored.
Unset = React to FF chars ie: Start new page when found.
LETTER QUALITY - Set = Best quality output, but slow.
Unset = Faster, draft quality output.
SOUND - Set = Ding, ding, squawk flong!
Unset = Silence
The contents of the five edit boxes in the lower panel can be altered by
clicking in the relevant box - an edit cursor will then appear. Alter the
contents as you wish, then press <ENTER> to complete the edit. They are:-
SUPPRESS LINE FEEDS - If set to >0, blocks of empty lines greater than the
current setting will be ignored.
EXPAND TABS - If >1 any TAB (ASCII 9) characters found in the text will be
expanDed to this number of spaces.
Values of between 2 and 5 are reasonable.
EXTRA HEADER TEXT - Your own message text to appear at the top of each
printed page, along with the selected auto text.
BUFFER SIZE - When expanding TABs or reacting to Formfeed characters,
workspace is needed by the program. Consequently, if many
of these characters are found in the text, the buffer size
may need to be increased to provide adequate workspace.
OUTPUT FILENAME - The name of the output save file when the print
destination is set to 'File'.
See 'PRINTING TO A FILE' for further information.
The EXIT gadget is at the left hand side of the top panel.
Also available with <CTRL> Q or <ESC>
The SCREEN TO BACK gadget is at the right hand side of the top panel.
You can switch back again to DJPrint with the <LEFT AMIGA> M combination.
During Printing. . . . .
* Most importantly, please, do not remove finished sheets while the
printer busy light remains lit . . for those of you who are colour
blind, it is the green one.
* When the paper has been through the printer once, ie. the "front"
side has been printed, wait until the busy light goes out, take
the printed sheets from the top tray and, WITHOUT TURNING THEM
or changing their order in any way, place them back in the
paper feed tray.
Only then should you hit <ENTER> to continue printing the "back"
side of the sheets.
* When the paper has been through the DeskJet twice AND the busy
light goes out you can safely remove the finished sheets.
Stapling the sheets together is made easier if the pages are laid flat
together on a piece of corrugated cardboard or similar and stacked with
page number one face up.
Open the stapler out flat, lay the head on the pages along the centre-
fold line.
While holding the stapler firmly with one hand, bring your other hand
down hard and fast on to the stapler handle.
If you are quick and hit hard enough the staple points should penetrate
all the sheets and come out the back side. Carefully bend them into the
paper with a coin or screwdriver.
Using this method I have successfully made booklets of more than 100
pages - that is 25 sheets! This appears to be the maximum number. Any
more than 25 and they become unmanageable when stapled together. Of
course, the heavier the paper you use, the thicker and stiffer the
resultant booklet will be. I use 80 gsm copier paper most of the time.
And the corrugated cardboard ? Oh, that's there to stop the staple
points going through into the kitchen table top!
PRINTING TO A FILE
------------------
It is possible to save the files to disc for later printing of single or
multiple copies. Saving to disc file is almost the same as direct printing,
but you will end up with two disc files instead of a lot of printed paper.
For example, if you opt to save to a file and name it "df0:TEST.doc", when the
program finishes you will have "TEST.doc.front" and "TEST.doc.back" on df0:
To create a booklet from these files you would then do:-
COPY df0:TEST.doc.front PAR:
wait for the busy light to go out, move the sheets down into the paper
feed tray, and finally do
COPY df0:TEST.doc.back PAR:
The above example applies only if you are using the parallel port - substitute
"SER:" for "PAR:" if you are using the serial port. If you do use the serial
option, be certain that the Workbench prefs serial settings and your DeskJet
serial speed match - 9600 baud is quite fast enough in this situation.
In either case, with both parallel and serial ports please make sure that the
PRINTER IS ON LINE before running DJPrint as the program needs to initialise
the printer before any real printing takes place.
NB. Failure to do this will hang the program until the printer is ready.
Last of all, please, be patient when waiting for the DeskJet to finish printing.
Yes, it is frustrating when you are waiting for a printer to finish a job -
sometimes it seems like hours before it actually does anything! Remember, the
DeskJet is doing a great job of what many other printers can't do at any price -
print in landscape orientation.
Anyway, you have an Amiga - so appreciate, as I do, that you CAN run another
program or two at the same time as DJPrint ! I also use a PC and I can vouch
for the benefits of working on a true multi-tasking computer, (the Amiga), as
opposed to one which gets completely tied up running just a single program (PC).
Written and compiled with Amos Professional v2.00
DJPrint v2.01 is Freeware.
Copyright remains with the author, who is:-
Rod Crookes
INTERNET : rodcrux@cix.compulink.co.uk
- Grimsby, Lincs.
- November 1993
- Tel: +44 (0)472 347234