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PRIN12.DOC
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1990-05-21
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Prin version 1.2 beta: a document printing program.
Copyright (C) Drake Koefoed 1990
By use of this program, you agree to hold the author free from any
liability of any kind.
Prin is called up by the command prin (filename) where (filename)
is the name of a DOS text file. The name of the file as you entered
it will be printed, and then the file, at 60 lines per page.
You may exit Prin at any time by pressing escape. The printer
will continue to print whatever is in it's own buffer, and you
will be returned to the prompt.
Prin filters out all formfeeds embedded in the file, so it
totally ignores the pagination of the file. This is handy when
printing out shareware documents that have wierd page lengths,
useless formfeeds, or no pagination at all.
Prin sends an escape @ to the printer on startup, which is a
reset to an Epson. Some printers may not understand this code, in
which case they will not reset.
The other codes used are just formfeed and linefeed, with
embedded formfeeds being replaced by linefeeds to prevent
possible overprinting. Prin uses DOS services, and has been
tested under Desqview, with fine results. It should be the same
under other multitaskers. You may find it works much better than
print does in this situation, and it is NOT memory resident.
Prin is written in assembler, so it is very small and fast. It
could be optimized considerably and perhaps it will be, too, but
it's a lot faster than my printers already. I have run {Commo} in
one window of Desqview and prin in another with no noticable
slowing of print speed on an 8mhz XT.
Prin depends on you to set the paper to the top of form before
starting. 60 lines will be printed, and then a formfeed. When the
end of file is reached, another formfeed will be sent, and Prin
will exit. Hopefully, your printer does not have more than 6
blank lines above the first one printed. If it does, we're not
going to make it. The only thing we could do is roll back a bit
before starting. Unfortunately, that means we would end up at the
same spot on the form when we finished, which would be nice if a
bunch of documents were being printed, but a pain if it is only
one. I don't know of any printers that are like that, but it's
possible.
This version has some procedures in it to make it possible to put in
command line options. You will be able to specify the page length,
whether you want the filename printed, and some other things. I am
considering an option to "print" an escape code file before the real
file so you could send codes to your printer. I wonder if it's worth it
because I doubt very many users know how to create a file with escape
codes. The alternative is a limited list of options for the user to
enter, which is less flexible because you may want to send a command to
your printer that I didn't put in, or even one my printers don't know
about. A configuration file is the third option. The trouble there is
finding the thing. Most likely prin.com will not be in the current
directory, so I would need a set command in your autoexec.bat, or to
have you specify the full path to the config file on the command line,
assuming you are going to open prin.com with a batch file anyway. Or I
could allow command line arguments and a config file, too. I need to
know what people want. GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK
Not for profit use of this program is authorized with no fee, but I ask
that you make a contribution. I would consider a buck generous. I
have a theory of shareware that it ought to be cheaper than commercial
stuff because we get rid of all the middlemen. Unfortunately, the small
area of distribution and the people who won't pay may make up for that.
One thing people could do is distribute the files all over the place to
help programmers get their work seen. I would like that done with this
program as soon as a few people have tried it and said it worked OK for
them. I don't want it to go all over with a bug in it.
I NEED BETA TESTERS !
If you print things prin is good for, I would like to have you run the
latest versions of the program. In exchange for your comments, I offer a
lifetime licence to use prin1.2 and all future versions. A $1.00 value,
yours free for God only knows how much of your time. It's just the sort
of ridiculous offer I would bite on, so if you're like me, let me know.
The best way to leave me a message about the program would be on
Directory Assistance bbs at (707) 538-8710. If you want to write and you
want an answer, the least you could do is send a self addressed, stamped
envelope, dontcha think? Oh yeah, and I should put my address in here
just in case somebody actually wants to pay.
Drake Koefoed After Sept '90 I will be at the
8120 Tarwater road University of Oregon
Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Eugene Oregon
Desqview is the property of Quarterdeck. It's a great program.
{Commo} is the property of Fred Brucker. It's a greater program.