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Text File | 1987-12-13 | 12.5 KB | 262 lines

"VPRINT" Vertical Printing Program Instructions - by - Steven E. Margison Copyright 1984, S.E. Margison I. INTRODUCTION This program was originally intended to print fanfold adhesive labels for the sides of 3-ring binders. The idea was to print vertically, so that the labels would be easier to read when the binders were lined up on a shelf. But, like many programs, what started out to be a quick one-evening job wound up taking over 25 hours, 17K of source code, and 4K of executable program code. Another classic case of "wouldn't-it-be-nice-if..."! VPRINT.COM is intended for use with Z80-based CPM systems and an Epson MX80 printer with GrafTrax Plus. It should be obvious that the basis of this program is the use of the graphics mode on the Epson to write out a custom character set, with all characters turned "sideways." This presents some unusual formatting problems, in that margins become switched around. In order to maintain a vertical label that reads from left-to-right, it is necessary to either buffer all text first, then print it in last-line-in, first-line-out order, starting at the left margin of the paper, or write each line as received from the console, justifying to the RIGHT-hand margin. The second approach is the one that VPRINT uses. This may cause some headaches when first using the program as explained later, but this program is, after all, intended primarily for label-making, not for word-processing! II. USAGE The program is disgustingly simple to use. After the program signs on, it will prompt you with a '>' character. You then type in the text you want printed, the special commands you want, or a combination of both, and then a <RETURN>. The line is then printed out, and you are prompted for the next line. (And THAT took 17K of source code????) The special character set includes all upper case letters, numbers, and most punctuation, with the following exceptions: no control characters accepted $ is tall up arrow % is tall down arrow (except when used as command lead-in) & is fancy border character #1 < and > are spaces (reserved for future special characters) (note that a regular space character is recognized) = is fancy border character #2 @ is a slashed zero (normal 0 is un-slashed) These additional punctuation marks are supported normally: [ ] \ ^ _(underscore) Any illegal characters found in the text string are simply eliminated and the remaining characters in the line printed. All characters are in a 5 X 7 dot-matrix style, except for a few which are 6 X 7. An attempt was made to duplicate the normal Epson character set, but that is not possible as the Epson does 1 some neat "half-spacing" tricks within its character set which can't be duplicated in the graphics mode. III. SPECIAL COMMANDS No printing program would be complete without special printing commands, and VPRINT is no exception! There are at least 14 print mode combinations (more if you start getting tricky!). In addition, there are several commands aimed at adjusting character/line spacing, form length, etc. All special commands are preceeded by a % character, and MUST be the first items on a text line. A text line may consist only of commands if desired. The program will report an error and "kill" the entire line on the first encountered command systax or value error. Multiple special commands may be used, provided each is prefaced with its own % sign. A % sign within the text string is treated as a character, rather than a lead-in to a command. The special commands are as follows: K = sets normal graphics (mode K) (Default) L = sets hi-resolution graphics (mode L) D = sets "double-strike" mode. Line is printed, paper is advanced 1 dot height, and line is re- printed. T = Tall characters. All characters are printed twice normal height. Spacing between characters remains normal. En = sets "Emphasized" mode. Line is reprinted over itself "n" number of times, where "n" is number 1-9. Note that "n" = 0 cancells this mode, and that "n" = 1 is actually the normal mode of operation (1 pass). Cnn = sets maximum number of characters to allow per line This affects right-hand margin placement. (Maximum is 80, Default is 40) Wnn = sets number of 72" increments between vertical columns. Range is from 1-72, Default is 12 (1/6") Sn = sets number of dot spacings between characters. Range is 1-9, Default is 4. \ = suppress line feed at end of line. Allows for "overstriking" one line with the next line. A = Force paper advance of one line immediately F = Force form feed immediately ? = Prints HELP menu to console (overrides remainder of line) N = returns to Normal character mode (cancells T, D, and E modes) R = re-initialize printer. Used mainly to reset top-of-form. Pnn = sets paper form length. "nn" is 1-11 inches, Default is 1". Q = Quit program immediately and return to system. Note that "n" and "nn" above must be fully expressed. For two-digit entries, use leading zero if necessary. Error message is generated for any illegal syntax or variable. 2 The ">" prompt character is preceeded by the print modes currently in effect. As follows: K> (mode K, no special modes set) LD> (mode L, Double strike mode set) LE3T> (mode L, Emphasize with 3 passes, using Tall characters) K\D> (mode K, Double strike mode set, current line will overprint last line) A typical entry may be as follows: K>%C20%W36%R%T%E3%DSTEVEN MARGISON KE3TD>%F%Q These lines would set a limit of 20 characters (%C20), 36/72" line (column) spacing (%W36), re-set printer (not needed if program just invoked, as initialization of program automatically does a %R), set Tall characters (%T), Emphasize with 3 passes (%E3), and Double-strike (%D). My name would then be printed, and the modes would be echoed before the prompt for the next line. The next line would do a form feed (%F), and then return to CPM (%Q). Piece-of-cake, Right??? Note that all of the commands on line 1 could have been done first, and my name just typed on the second line with the same results. The form feed and exit would then be on line 3. A little creative thinking should show how these modes, plus the overstrike (%\) function can be mixed to form some unique printing. Keep in mind that the Wnn command sets the forward paper motion, and values less than 06 will cause one line to run into or overprint the previous line. (This is how Double-striking works; by temporarily setting a W01 mode, then returning to the user's selection.) IV. ABOUT MARGINS, LINE LENGTHS, JUSTIFICATION The actual length of a line and, more importantly, where the right-hand or "top" margin appears is a function of the K or L modes, the character count limit, and the number of dot spacings set between characters (vertically). Remember the Epson limits for graphics: mode K is not more than 480 bytes (dots), and mode L is not more than 960 bytes (dots). The right-hand margin is literally the maximum number of bytes programmed. The formula is: MAX = (NUMCHARS*8) + (SPACING*NUMCHARS) Where NUMCHARS is the maximum number of characters set with the Cnn command; and SPACING is the number of dot spaces set with the Sn command. For the defaults of 40 and 4 respectively: MAX = (40*8) + (4*40) = 320 + 160 = 480 which we all know is the maximum for mode K graphics. This will put the top of the first character at the right-most head position on the Epson. Since this is the maximum for mode K, any attempt to set Cnn or Snn higher will result in an error message warning of too many bytes for mode K. Changing to mode L 3 will give more room, but for the SAME values, the right-hand margin will still be 480 bytes in from the left, which is only about half-way across the page in mode L! As you can see, the formula above determines the position of the "top" of the line. I suggest for any given set of labels (or whatever) to print, practice on normal fanfold paper until the proper margin and format are determined, then load the real stuff and go to work. V. ERRORS The program, I believe, will not let you commit an unpardonable sin. There are many error messages, all of which will point you to your error. Like most programs, though, it will ultimately print what you tell it to print, not what you meant it to print! VI. SYSTEM COMPATABILITY Although I have no way to try the program on another CPM system, I have kept the program to normal CPM 2.2 and above standards. (One caution: the system MUST be a Z80 system, as some instructions are used which are NOT 8080/8085 compatible.) I am using the normal LST: device output system calls, and at no time is bit 7 sent to the printer. As long as your system does not attempt to "trap" control characters sent to the LST: device, there should be no problems. Well, like the program, what started to be a quick one-page set of instructions has now become several pages of documentation. Hope you enjoy this program. If you are ambitious enough to want to add new features or more character sets, contact me via CompuServe E-MAIL (74435,1042) and we can discuss a transfer of source files. ********************** COPYRIGHT NOTICE ************************* This program and associated documentation are copyright 1984 by Steven E. Margison. Permission is given to CompuServe members to download and use VPRINT.BIN and VPRINT.DOC as desired, provided no sale or profit results from such use, and provided all copyright notices remain intact. Right of sale of this program is reserved by the copyright owner. ***************************************************************** 4 **************************************************