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SPOOLG.TXT
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1988-07-18
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Circle Software Company
P.O. Box 7954
Department G
Clearwater, FL 34618-7954
This software spooler is designed to provide maximum
utility at minimum cost. Your contribution will help me
continue to provide quality products for MS-DOS computers.
The following rate schedule lists several options available
to you.
1. Registration $10.00
Includes product registration, notice of updates,
and list of other quality software products.
2. Spooler Program $15.00
Includes the above plus a disk with the spooler
program and documentation file.
3. Source Code $25.00
Includes all the above plus well-documented
assembly language source code, theory of
operation, and suggestions on how to modify or
customize the program.
1
Spooler Program Description
This is a RAM-based spooler program that will free your
computer for other tasks while your printer is working.
Program output that ordinarily goes to the printer is sent
instead to a RAM buffer in a fraction of the time required
for the printer to complete its task. The data is then
doled out to the printer in the "background" while you are
free to do other things on your computer. You can set the
buffer size to any value up to 64 kbytes. The program
requires one kilobyte of RAM plus the buffer size you
choose. The spooler works with any parallel printer
connected to any port, but will not work with serial
printers.
Two controls are provided to increase the program's
utility. These may be executed at any time, even when your
computer is running some other program. Both are executed
by pressing the Control Key and one other key. Control-P
will clear the buffer if you decide you don't want to print
the contents after all. Control-D will resend the contents
to the printer to make another copy.
Command line options are available to change the buffer
size and the control keys described above. Default values
are 64 kbytes buffer size and Control-P and Control-D as
described above.
Loading The Program
The spooler is a memory resident program. Once it is
loaded you can forget it for as long as your computer is
powered. It is probably best that you put the spooler
command in your Autoexec.bat file. The program should
coexist safely with other memory resident programs. It
doesn't care if it is loaded first or last. Try different
orders if you have a problem.
The command syntax is as follows:
SPOOL BBBB DDDD PPPP
BBBB is a hex number representing the size of the buffer.
For example:
FFFF = 64 kbytes default
7FFF = 32 kbytes
3FFF = 16 kbytes
1FFF = 8 kbytes
You can also use in-between values. To get a 40 kbyte
buffer enter 9C40.
2
DDDD and PPPP are the codes for the key combinations
you wish to use to duplicate the output and clear the
buffer, respectively. Use values from the following table:
Alt-A 1E1E Alt-J 2424 Alt-S 1F1F
Alt-B 3030 Alt-K 2525 Alt-T 1414
Alt-C 2E2E Alt-L 2626 Alt-U 1616
Alt-D 2020 Alt-M 3232 Alt-V 2F2F
Alt-E 1212 Alt-N 3131 Alt-W 1111
Alt-F 2121 Alt-O 1818 Alt-X 2D2D
Alt-G 2222 Alt-P 1919 Alt-Y 1515
Alt-H 2323 Alt-Q 1010 Alt-Z 2C2C
Alt-I 1717 Alt-R 1313
CTRL-A 1E01 CTRL-J 240A Ctrl-S 1F13
CTRL-B 3002 CTRL-K 250B Ctrl-T 1414
CTRL-C 2E03 CTRL-L 260C Ctrl-U 1615
CTRL-D 2004 * CTRL-M 320D Ctrl-V 2F16
CTRL-E 1205 CTRL-N 310E Ctrl-W 1117
CTRL-F 2106 CTRL-O 180F Ctrl-X 2D18
CTRL-G 2207 CTRL-P 1910 * Ctrl-Y 1519
CTRL-H 2308 CTRL-Q 1011 Ctrl-Z 2C1A
CTRL-I 1709 CTRL-R 1312
To accept the default values (*), simply enter SPOOL.
If you only want to change the buffer size, it is not
necessary to enter the control key codes. However, if you
want to change the control key codes, you must also enter
the buffer size.
Using The Spooler
The operation of the spooler is completely automatic
except for clearing the buffer and printing duplicate copy.
The spooler will accept program output, even if the printer
is off-line, until the buffer is full. Make sure the
printer is turned on though. Sometimes the output port
can't distinguish between a ready signal and a dead line.
When the buffer fills up, your program will have to
wait. The spooler will accept new input at the same rate
that the printer empties the buffer.
You can clear the buffer any time you need to. Of
course, if your printer has a built-in buffer, you will have
to clear it too. If you want to print another copy of what
ever is in the buffer, wait until the first copy is
completely printed, then press Control-D. If you have
printed several different jobs, clear the buffer before
printing the one you wish to print duplicate copies of.
Also, the duplicate function only works if the document
smaller than the buffer.
3
If for some reason you want to restart a printing job
(paper jam), take the printer off-line. Clear the problem,
press Control-D, then put the printer on-line.
4