Current Shareware 1994 January

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Text File | 1993-10-06 | 121KB | 2,613 lines

┌─┬───┬───┐ ┬─┬─────┐ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ┬┬ ┬ ┬┬ ┌┬┬┐ ┬┬ ──── │ ├─────┘ ┬┬─┐ ┬┬ ┌┬─┐ ┬ ┌┬┬┐ │ │ │ │ ││ │ ││ ││ ││ │ │ │├┬┘ ││ ││ │ │ ││ ┴─┴ ┴ ┴ └┴─┘ ┴┴─┘ ┴┴ ┴┴ ┴─┴ ┴┴└─ ┴┴ ┴┴ └─┘ ┴┴ ╔░░░░░░░░░░░ Welcome to ░░░░░░░░░░░╗ ║ ║ ║ ║▒▒ ║ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ ║▒▒ ║ │ Multi-Print (MP) │ ║▒▒ ║ └─────────────────────────────┘ ║▒▒ ║ Version 3.6 -- A major update ║▒▒ ║ ║▒▒ ║ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ MP is an amazing utility! ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ ║ ▌ ▐ ╚░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▌ * Print text in 5 different ways (2 portrait ▐▒▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▌ and 3 landscape modes), on Epson, DeskJet ▐▒▒ ▌ and LaserJet printers! Print 1- or 2- ▐▒▒ ▌ sided on Letter, Legal or A4 paper. Print ▐▒▒ ▌ 2-sided in portrait mode on ANY printer! ▐▒▒ ▌ ▐▒▒ ▌ * Print 2-9 pages of text per sheet of paper,▐▒▒ ▌ saving 50-85% of the paper normally used! ▐▒▒ ▌ ▐▒▒ ▌ That's right, even on EPSON-compatible ▐▒▒ ▌ printers you can print 2-9 pages of text ▐▒▒ ▌ on EACH sheet of paper, EVEN in LANDSCAPE ▐▒▒ ┌───────────▌ mode (sideways) if you like. ▐▒▒ │ ▌ ▐▒▒ │ ▌ * Finally, Multi-Print is menu-driven, sup- ▐▒▒ │ ▌ ports a mouse, and is fun to use! ▐▒▒ │ ▌ ▐▒▒ │ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▒▒ │ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ │ │░░ │ For information or support, contact: │░░ │ │░░ │ Rob W. Smetana │░░ │ Pro~Formance │░░ │ 132 Alpine Terrace │░░ │ San Francisco, CA 94117 │░░ │ (415) 863 - 0530 │░░ │ │░░ │ For fast delivery of your registered │░░ │ version CALL with a Visa/Mastercard #.│░░ │ │░░ │ Copyright 1989-1993, Rob W. Smetana │░░ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ If you're a programmer, or if you know someone who is: Run MP.Exe (on EGA/VGA monitors) and watch for MP's custom screen fonts, lines, mouse cursor shapes and "hour glass" symbols. These are part of our Font Pak programmer's edition, which ANY programmer can use. "Catalog.Doc" has descriptions of Font Pak and our other programs. ┌─────────────────────┐ │ ┌─────────────────┐ │ Multi-Print will turn your PC │ │ │ │ into a real printing machine. │ │ │ │ │ │≡≡ Multi-Print ≡≡│ │ Consider this : : : │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ * On-disk manuals (like this │ └─────────────────┘ │ one), program source code, └──▄──Θ──Θ──Θ──────▄──┘ "readme" and other text ┌─────────▀───────────────▀─────────┐ files often have 10, 20, │┌─────────────────┐┌──────────────┐│ 50, up to 200 pages. ││ by Pro~Formance ││ ────┐────── ■││ │└─────────────────┘├──────────────┤│ * If you print these in normal │ ≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡ │ ■││ portrait mode, you'd consume └───────────────────┴──────────────┴┘ 10 - 200 sheets of paper! But Multi-Print prints these same files on just 2-50 sheets of paper, saving up to 85% of the paper you normally use! With MP you can: * Print FIVE different ways on Epson, LaserJet or DeskJet printers (2 portrait options and 3 landscape (sideways) options)! Print 1- or 2-sided. Use 2-sided in normal portrait mode on ANY printer! - Portrait options include Newspaper, 2-column and Normal formats. - Landscape (sideways) options include Booklet, Left-to-Right and Wide, 1-column formats. MP's Wide, 1-column format is great for printing forms, spreadsheets, database or other wide data, with up to 210 characters-per-line -- sideways. In most cases you can print 1-sided or 2-sided (Booklets, by definition, are 2-sided). 2-sided printing allows up to 500+ lines of text on each sheet of paper! You not only save paper, but you can also scan 2-6 pages at once instead of just 1! * Do all of this on EPSON, LaserJet or DeskJet Plus and 500 printers (and compatibles), using Letter, Legal or A4 paper. That's right! Even on Epson printers you can print sideways, in landscape mode, in 3 different ways. And LaserJet or DeskJet users will enjoy MP's 16 hand-crafted, high-quality fonts to improve the appearance of printed text, or to simply give you variety. Multi-Print's output is so good that MP is used in commercial, corporate and government settings to print newsletters, catalogs, brochures, product or program summaries, program manuals, etc. And unlike most text-printing programs, Multi-Print is menu-driven (there are few arcane command-line switches to remember), supports a mouse, and even has features designed to make you smile. Finally, MP saves most options you choose so next time you run it, MP pre- selects options YOU prefer. Other Features 3 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ MP offers many options ────────────────────── * Print in 5 different ways to suit your needs or preferences. * Print on Letter (8.5 x 11), Legal (8.5 x 14) or A4 paper. * Print titles with page numbers, the date, and the name of the file you're printing (or a custom title) ── in any combination. Print titles at the TOP or BOTTOM of each page in several styles. * Print both sides, the front or the back, or a range of pages. The option to print a range of pages (available in registered versions) is useful to skip pages, or to re-print pages your printer damaged the first time through. * Control Top, Left and Right Margins. "Wrap" long lines of text (Lasers only). Print to LPT1, 2 or 3 or "to a file." And more! MP's 17 fonts offer complete, high-quality output ───────────────────────────────────────────────── MP includes 8 fonts for LaserJets, 8 for DeskJets and a "landscape" font for Epson printers which lets you use 3 different landscape print options on Epson printers! (We recently improved our Epson font and added an "emphasized print" option to improve the quality of landscape printing). Our fonts contain almost all ASCII characters! With MP's fonts you can print: * Boxes, shading, Big! Fonts (like titles in this manual), etc.. * Characters in French, German, Spanish or other languages. * "Control codes" (with ASCII values below 32), "bullets," "check boxes" and other symbols. Print TestFont.Doc to see examples. LaserJet and DeskJet users will enjoy MP's 16 Helvetic and Times Roman fonts in both 16.67 and 20 character-per-inch (cpi) ver- sions. By "DeskJet" we mean the DeskJet Plus or DeskJet 500. Original DeskJets DO accept portrait fonts, but do NOT accept landscape fonts. In some cases you can use "resident" LaserJet or DeskJet fonts. But some people prefer MP's Helvetic fonts, while others prefer MP's bolder, more ornate Times Roman fonts. Try them all. NOTE: DeskJets MUST have a RAM cartridge to use MP's (or any) downloadable font. Limited License (the legal stuff) 4 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Multi-Print is NOT public domain or free software. It is copy- righted software distributed as shareware (user-supported) software. Unregistered users may try the user-supported version, on a private, non-commercial basis, to determine if it suits your needs. At the end of this trial period, you must either register your copy or stop using it. * Running Multi-Print 15-20 different times should allow you to decide if it's going to be useful to you. Therefore the "trial period" is set at 20 Multi-Print sessions. This program MAY NOT be installed on a network or used in any organization or in the conduct of any business activity beyond the trial period without a purchase or license arrangement. What does all this really mean? Very simply: Try it. Then either pay for it, or stop using it. * If you use this program, you must pay for your copy. Multi- Print is NOT free, and we simply can't give away free copies. * Paying for this software allows us to stay in business and provide you with support, new features and new programs. When you Register . . . ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ When you register, we say "Thanks" for your honesty and support by sending you much more. Registered users receive: * A version of MP which does NOT display and print reminders urging you to register! * The latest version of Multi-Print, with NEW FEATURES we're adding now to give you even greater flexibility. For example, you'll be able to: - Print ranges of pages (this can be **extremely** useful). - Print just the front or back of jobs. - Print to files (instead of to the printer). - And more! * A utility to save ASCII versions of files saved by these word processors: WordPerfect (5.0 +), Microsoft Word, Windows Write and Ami Pro. This greatly simplifies converting word processor files to the format MP needs. ============================= TO ORDER ============================= For FASTEST delivery of your programs, CALL with a Visa/MC card number. See Catalog.Doc for descriptions of all our programs. The last 2 pages of this manual describe program prices, and how to get a DISCOUNT when ordering Multi-Print. F __________________________________________ M Rob W. Smetana Pro~Formance R __________________________________________ A T 132 Alpine Terrace San Francisco, CA O __________________________________________ I O 94117 (415) 863-0530 M __________________________________________ L Make checks payable Phone ( ) ______-________ Date ___/___/___ to: Rob W. Smetana ======================================================================= For Visa or MasterCard Orders ======================================================================= Credit Card Number: ________________________________ Expires: ___|___ Signature (Required for credit card orders): __________________________ Be sure your name at the top matches how it appears on your credit card. ============================================================== mp 3.6 = Name of Program or "Package" # of Copies Price/Copy Total ======================================================================= Multi-Print ($29 w/ another pgm. or $39)_______ x ______ = $_______ _____________________________________ ________ x ______ = $_______ _____________________________________ ________ x ______ = $_______ ======================================================================= Shipping & Handling: Total Number @ $4/copy (US/Canada) of Programs (and Copies) ----->> _____@ $8/copy (Elsewhere) $ ______ =============================+========================================= | Subtotal $ ________ INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: : : | | CA. residents, add 8.5% tax $ _______ * US funds only please. +-----------------------+----------------- * Money order, check drawn a | US bank, or VISA/MasterCard |TOTAL $ ________ =====================================================+================= Disclaimer and Limited Warranty 6 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ This product is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The entire risk as to the results and performance of this product is assumed by you. Neither Rob W. Smetana nor Pro~Formance shall be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or conse- quential damages in connection with the performance or use of this product or its documentation. Neither Pro~Formance nor Rob W. Smetana, nor any of their officers or employees shall be held responsible for: failures of this program to satisfy any needs, damages due to using this program, or any effects this program has on you, your business or operations. We warrant only that any disks we send you are free from physical defects and workmanship under normal use and service for a period of 30 days from the date shipped. Our entire liability, and your exclusive remedy, as to the disk shall be, at our option, to either (1) return the purchase price; or, (2) replace disks which don't meet our limited warranty. Distributing MP ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ The file VENDOR.DOC contains descriptions of MP (1 line to very complete) that BBS Sysops and Shareware vendors may use. It also includes these requirements for distributing Multi-Print. Bulletin board Sysops, clubs and shareware distributors may distribute "user supported" versions of this program, provided: *** Your company name is NOT: California Freeware *** American Freeware US Freeware or any other firm, group or association which uses "freeware," "free software," etc. to misrepresent "user-supported" software. We further ask that: (1) You distribute our program in complete, unmodified form. You include, unmodified, all files mentioned in Vendor.Doc and, if appropriate, in our "Packing.Lst" or "Readme" files. (2) You charge no more than $8 US as a "disk distribution fee." (3) You state YOUR fee is NOT payment for OUR software, and you clearly encourage registration by stating that continued use requires sending contributions to the developer. (4) You obtain our ***written*** permission to distribute our software via CDs, "racks," vending machines. Contents ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Quick Start: Tips to Help Get You Going! ...................... 8 Important Tips .............................................. 9 Printing 2-sided, or Not .................................... 10 Summary of MP's 5 Printing Options .......................... 13 Terms and Conventions, System Requirements ..................... 17 Installing MP, SETTING MP-Dir; Saving Options you Prefer ....... 18 Running MP ..................................................... 19 MP's Main Menu ................................................. 20 Using MP's Menus, Using a Mouse or the Keyboard ................ 21 Menu #1: Format: Landscape or Portrait, 1- or 2-sided ...... 23 Menu #2: Titles: File name or ?, Page Numbers, Dates ....... 24 Menu #3: Margins: Top, Left or Right ....................... 27 Menu #4: Options: Paper Size, Which Sides, 29 Printing a Range of Pages ........................ 28 Menu #5: Which Printer: LaserJet, Epson, DeskJet or ANY .... 30 Printing on Duplex LaserJets ....................... 31 Menu #6: Choosing Printer Ports, Print to a File, Setup ..... 32 What Happens After You Say "Print;" Downloading Fonts .......... 35 Printing the 2nd Side (Please Read This Section) ............... 37 Portrait Mode ................................................ 38 Landscape Modes (Booklet, Left-To-Right or 1-Column) ......... 39 To Rotate 180 Degrees, or Not .................................. 41 Summary of Tips: All Printers; Portrait Mode Printing ......... 42 Printing on LaserJets and DeskJets ........................... 43 Printing on Epson Printers; "FX" versus "LQ" Modes ........... 44 Trouble Shooting: Frequently-asked questions .................. 45 Running MP on a Network ........................................ 46 To Register: A summary of programs and prices ....... last 2 pages Quick Start 8 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ If you're like most people, you probably want to get going. Fortunately, MP is menu-driven, very easy to use, and offers tips at each step to help you make the right choices. If you run MP a few times, print Quik-Ref.Doc, and watch MP's tips, you may find you'll only need to refer to this manual occasionally. Here are 4 simple steps to get you going quickly. 1. Read the next 6 pages. They'll offer IMPORTANT tips to help you print successfully on Epson, LaserJet or DeskJet printers. They'll also describe MP's 5 different print options. 2. Copy these files to any drive/directory, preferably to a direc- tory on your PATH (type PATH <cr> to see what's on your PATH): MP.Exe Multi-Print itself LaserJet.MPF LaserJet font library (optional) DeskJet.MPF DeskJet " " " Quik-Ref.Doc, Test-210.Doc Sample text files you should FontTest.Doc and To-Order.Doc print to experiment with MP 3. Run MP. Then type in a file name, or press F2 to select a file from a menu. When MP's menus appear, press: Up or Down cursor keys to high- light options, <Space> to select options and PgDn to change menus. Or click the Left mouse button on any option to select it. Then press rint, and read MP's tips to print successfully. 4. Print Quik-Ref.Doc, FontTest.Doc and Test-210.Doc SEVERAL TIMES. Use different print options and different fonts. The quick ref- erence guide may be all you'll need to use most of MP's options. Test-210.Doc demonstrates how MP can print spreadsheet, data- base, forms or other wide text. Print up to 210 characters per line depending on your printer and the font you use. * Printing these short (1-6 page) text files in different ways will help you learn which of MP's various print options you prefer -- before you consume lots of paper printing large text files (like this manual). * Also experiment with different fonts (if appropriate) and with different forms of "title lines" -- which can include page num- bers, file names (or your own title), dates, etc. After your experiments, you might want to read 2 sections of this manual: "Printing the 2nd Side" and about Title line options. They explain some subtleties that may prove useful. Quick Start: All users 9 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Users of Shareware versions ─────────────────────────── We hope Multi-Print (MP) becomes as vital and indispensable to you as it has for us. But please understand that MP is NOT free soft- ware. As you use MP, you'll see that we've spent enormous amounts of time making MP intuitive and easy to use. And we added options and hand-crafted fonts YOU will enjoy. We simply can't afford to update MP and offer new options unless you support MP. There are order forms in this manual, and To-Order.Doc on disk. Please REGISTER the shareware you use! Multi-Print prints ASCII text files -- only. ──────────────────────────────────────────── To print files saved by your word processor, you may have to load and re-save them as ASCII or DOS text files. That's because most word processors often embed formatting codes in files (bold, italic, etc.) -- codes which should NEVER be printed. * We send registered users a terrific utility that saves ASCII versions of files saved by WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, Windows Write and Ami Pro. Most word processors have an option letting you save files in ASCII or DOS text format. In WordPerfect, for example, press Ctrl-F5, select DOS Text, then select SAVE. * BEFORE saving the file: If you're using proportionally-spaced fonts, change to a fixed-spaced, 10 character-per-inch (cpi) font -- to limit lines to 80 characters-per-line. Also reduce margins to 0 - 1/2 inch to print as many characters per line as possible. Why? Because files formatted with proportionally-spaced fonts often have lines longer than 80 characters (e.g., they may have 110 to 130 characters-per-line). Unless you re-format the file with a 10 cpi, fixed-spaced font, you'll find that lines will be truncated, or they'll wrap around to the next line. * Now save the file, perhaps with a DIFFERENT file name so you don't overwrite your formatted text file. Then print it. 2-Sided Printing - or Not (Also read "Printing the 2nd Side") 10 ───────────────────────── 2-sided printing obviously cuts paper consumption -- a lot. And, depending on which printing format you choose, 2-sided printing makes it convenient to browse up to 4+ pages of text at once. But, 2-sided printing creates more work for you, and may increase risks and your frustration level. * With 1-sided printing you can start a printing job, walk away, then return to a job done -- barring paper jams or other errors. * 2-sided printing means that you must stay around to put the paper back into the printer to print side #2. This can be tricky if you're using a busy, shared, network printer. And it can be very frustrating when, half way through print- ing side #2, your printer mangles one or more pages. This can cause every subsequent page to mis-print. Fortunately, MP's registered users can print a "range" of pages to re-print just the damaged pages! Furthermore, when Hewlett-Packard made early LaserJets, their manuals explained how to print 2-sided. But with Series II and later LaserJets, HP began recommending that you NOT print 2-sided -- unless you use a "duplex" printer specifically designed to print 2-sided (MP DOES support duplex LaserJets). DeskJet Plus manuals don't discuss 2-sided printing. And tests show MP's 2-sided options work very well on DeskJet printers. Apparently the hot components and the closer tolerances of newer LaserJets can rub off toner that's already on the paper. At best this could mar or smear the page. At worst, the toner could collect in the printer, possibly damaging it. Fortunately, MP's many print options let YOU balance ease-of-use against efficiency and convenience. Four of MP's 5 printing options let YOU select 1- or 2-sided printing (Booklets always print 2-sided). Try all options to see what suits you. Printing side #2; Rotating the paper ───────────────────────────────────── If you DO print 2-sided, it's important to put the paper back in the printer or paper tray correctly. Watch MP's "tips" to help you do this. And EXPERIMENT with our short text files to learn how! LaserJet/DeskJet Users: If you print in any format other than Booklet form, you may want to rotate the paper 180 degrees, then put it back in. This is sometimes required so that, when you turn the paper over, text is right-side up (not upside down). Again, watch MP's tips, and experiment with short text files first. A "page" is a "column of printed text" 11 ────────────────────────────────────── Because of MP's many printing options, it may sometimes be unclear what a "page" is. By "page" we mean a column of printed text. This definition is important for 2 reasons: * First, when MP numbers "pages," it increments page numbers each time it prints a new column. This sounds obvious until you consider MP's Newspaper, 2-column format. Here MP prints 90 + lines per column -- which may contain 2 actual pages of text! * Second, registered users can print "ranges" of pages. This is especially useful to re-print sheets that your printer damaged. To specify "pages" you must specify the "columns" MP must print. We'll explain this in the section "Print page ___ through ___." MP prints "high and left" so you can print all types of text ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This manual, like many text files, comes with top and side margins and page breaks "built in." When printing files like this, it may be best NOT to use margins -- set MP's top and side margins to 0. But other files may have no margins or page breaks (e.g., source code files). Here you may want a top margin (e.g., 2) and side margins (e.g., 3). Side margins help add room for 3-hole punching, or help you center text on the paper. The point is that programs should not "impose" margins on you assuming they know what's best. MP doesn't. * By design, MP prints "high and left." It adds NO margins at the top or left sides of each page ── because MP gives YOU options to do this. This gives YOU the flexibility to print YOUR way. Please browse through files before printing them to determine how they're formatted and if margins are needed. Then choose margins that fit the text file you're printing. * Also note that when printing 2 columns of text (in either por- trait or landscape modes), MP lets you specify BOTH left and right side margins. Specifying a small left margin and a larger right margin lets you widen the space between columns. Using LaserJets and DeskJets (Also READ Quik-Ref.Doc) ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ What can we say. Multi-Print works beautifully on LaserJets and DeskJets! MP's custom fonts let you print most every ASCII charac- ter. They also offer high-quality output and variety. Try them all. PLEASE NOTE: DeskJets must have a RAM cartridge to download MP's fonts. Also, MP uses Draft Quality mode on DeskJets. If you'd prefer Letter Quality mode, use MP's "Setup" feature and enter this printer code: <Esc>(s2Q (to enter <Esc>, just press Escape). Using Epson-style Printers (Also read Quik-Ref.Doc) 12 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Not all "Epson-compatible" printers are fully compatible. For example, MP's Newspaper, 2-column option needs a compressed, 20 character-per-inch (cpi) font. Newer Epson printers offer this font, as do many FX-style printers (e.g., FX 286, FX 286e, etc.). But IBM ProPrinter and Tandy printers may not. To see which options work on your printer, print our test files in different ways. If your printer does NOT have a 20 cpi font, text printed in Newspaper format will be too wide -- it will print off the page, or lines will wrap around. If this happens, you still have 3 options: normal portrait mode (2-sided), booklet or left-to-right. If your printer has a control panel, be sure to set your printer to "program" mode so MP can control fonts, pitch and line spacing. Also, PLEASE use new or re-inked ribbons for best results. Com- pressed fonts may be hard to read if printed faintly with old ribbons. Epson Printers: Portrait Options (we'll describe options shortly) ──────────────────────────────── * MP's Newspaper format requires a 20 cpi, compressed font. You may use normal compressed Elite to print 90+ lines per column. Or use "superscript" fonts to print 125+ lines of (very small) text per column! Note: Epson's 17 cpi compressed fonts is too wide to print 2 columns side-by-side in portrait mode. Set the DIP switch for standard Epson mode. If this switch is set for IBM mode, MP may be unable to use the 20 cpi font. MP WILL enable IBM graphics so you can print lines, boxes, etc. * In normal portrait mode, MP uses whatever fonts, line spacing, etc. your printer is set up to use. That means YOU should reset your printer and select options BEFORE you select rint. Epson Printers: Landscape Options (we'll describe options shortly) ───────────────────────────────── Use MP's landscape font to print booklets, in left-to-right format, or print wide forms, spreadsheets or data in wide, 1-column format. Note that landscape (sideways) options require that we print in graphics mode -- rather than in text mode as with portrait options. That's because Epson printers don't have landscape fonts. Graphics- mode printing is slower than text-mode printing. So experiment on short text files to see if landscape modes are acceptable. If not, use MP's portrait formats to print most text, and reserve landscape options for files that **must** be printed sideways. USERS of "LQ" PRINTERS: Because Epson changed a line spacing command when they introduced LQ printers, MP can print 77 characters-per- line (rather than 80) in Booklet and Left-To-Right modes. See Quik-Ref.Doc for an explanation of this compromise. Here's a summary of Multi-Print's 5 printing options. 13 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ For each option we'll describe how many characters-per-line (cpl) and lines-per-page (lpp) you can print. Note that the numbers below are for Letter-size paper. These numbers will differ for Legal and A4 paper. Newspaper, 2 Portrait Options 2-column Normal ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ ┌───┬───┐ ┌───────┐ │pg.│pg.│ │ pg. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 1 │ 2 │ │ 1 │ └───┴───┘ └───────┘ Pages of text per sheet: 3-10 1-2 Characters-per-line (cpl): 80 Up to you Lines-per-page (column, lpp): 90 - 125* 64 or Up to you 1- or 2-sided printing: Yes Yes Printers supported: Epson, DeskJet, LaserJet ANY printer ("*" Epson users may use a "superscript" font to print 125 lines- per-page of very small text.) Newspaper, 2-Column ┌────────┬────────┐ ─────────────────── │ │ │ │ page 1 │ page 2 │ MP's Newspaper option is TERRIFIC! │ │ │ MP prints 2 columns on each side, │ │ │ with 90 - 125 lines per column, and │ │ │ 80 characters-per-line (80 cpl). │ │ │ └────────┴────────┘ In this format we can print 3-9 pages of text on EACH sheet of paper! If you print 2-sided, this format cuts paper consumption over 80%. 1-sided printing cuts paper consumption over 60%. Most users find text printed in Newspaper format easier to read than text printed in normal ways. That's because their eyes needn't travel back and forth as much to read each line of text. Note: With most formats, MP honors "form feed" characters (ASCII 12) to govern where pages begin and end. But in Newspaper format, MP ignores form feed characters. This lets us print 90 - 125 lines of text in each column (depending on your font and paper size). FONTS REQUIRED: For best results, Newspaper, 2-Column printing re- quires a 20 character-per-inch (20 cpi), fixed-spaced font. * Epson printers must have compressed Elite or superscript fonts. * DeskJet printers offer internal 20 cpi fonts, and MP offers 2 others you may use. Many LaserJets have no internal fixed- spaced 20 cpi font. MP offers 2 20 cpi LaserJet fonts. Newspaper, 2-column format (continued) 14 ┌───────────────────────────── Tip ──────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ BEFORE printing files in Newspaper format, scan the file look- │ │ ing for pages or sections with many BLANK lines. If you find │ │ many, edit the file and delete the blank lines! │ │ │ │ Some authors still don't know that virtually EVERY PRINTER │ │ recognizes the form feed (ASCII 12) as the end-of-page marker. │ │ They think each page must have 64 lines on every page. 64 │ │ lines is an Epson standard, and is disaster on laser printers │ │ which print 60 lines-per-page by default. But more to the │ │ point, these blank lines will cause gaps to appear between │ │ pages printed in Newspaper format. For best results, delete │ │ large sections of blank lines. │ │ │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Normal, 1-Column Portrait Mode ┌───────────────┐ ────────────────────────────── │ Normal │ │ Portrait │ You already have many ways to print text │ Mode │ in normal portrait mode. Why do you need │ │ another? The reason is that MP gives you │ 1- or 2-Sided │ several useful options in this mode. │ printing on │ │ ANY printer │ * First, you can print 2-Sided on ANY └───────────────┘ printer in Normal Portrait mode. That's guaranteed to cut your paper consumption at least in half. * Second, you can print title lines on each page with text, page numbers and the date, in any combination you choose. * Third, on LaserJet, DeskJet and Epson printers, MP "tightens up" line spacing just a little to ensure you can print 62 - 64 lines of text per page -- including title lines. Why? Because LaserJets and DeskJets normally print just 60 lines per page. It's annoying to print a document with an occasional 61 - 64 lines per page: the printer prints the first 60 lines, ejects the page, prints 1 or more lonely lines on the next page, then ejects that page -- 95% empty! And on Epson printers, slightly tighter line spacing ensures that we can print title lines without encroaching on the next page -- and then shooting that sheet of paper out 95% empty. Left-to- Wide, 15 3 Landscape Options Booklet Right 1-Column ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ ┌────┐ ┌────┬────┐ ┌─────────┐ │ pg.│ │ pg.│ pg.│ │ pg. │ │ 1 │ │ 1 │ 2 │ │ 1 │ └────┘ └────┴────┘ └─────────┘ Pages of text per sheet: 4 2 or 4 1 or 2 wide pages Characters-per-line (cpl): 77-100* 77-100* 156-210+ Lines-per-page (lpp): 66-75* 66-75* 66-75* 1- or 2-sided options: 2-Sided only Yes Yes Printers supported: Epson, LaserJet, DeskJet Plus or 500 ("*" = Depends on the printer, font and/or paper size you use.) Booklets ──────── ┌─────────────┬─────────────┐ │ │ page 1 │ Booklets always have 4 pages of │ │ │ text on each sheet of paper -- │ │ │ two per side. Odd numbered pages │ │ │ print on the right side, and even │ (all EVEN │(and all ODD │ numbered pages print on the left │ pages) │ pages) │ side of the paper. └─────────────┴─────────────┘ Once your text is printed, fold the paper in half, then staple down the middle. Or, print on perforated paper, then separate the sides and put your booklets into IBM-style binders! Left-to-Right Format ──────────────────── ┌─────────────┬─────────────┐ │ page 1 │ page 2 │ MP's Left-to-Right format is │ │ │ especially useful if you use │(and all ODD │(and all EVEN│ 3-ring binders and like being able │ pages) │ pages) │ to scan 4 pages of text at once. │ ∙ ∙ ∙│ ├(───────────(────────────(─┤ Left-to-Right means the first │ ∙ ∙ ∙│ page prints on the left side of │ │ │ the paper, and page #2 (and all │ │ │ even-numbered pages) prints on │ │ │ the right side of the paper. You │ page 3 │ page 4 │ can print 1-sided or 2-sided. └─────────────┴─────────────┘ NOTE: If you plan to use 3-ring binders, please read "To Rotate or Not to Rotate." The issue is: when you read the first side and then lift the paper, will you be able to read side #2 as-is, or will you have to rotate the binder to read it. In the example above, we rotated the paper to print side #2. This lets us read pages 3 and 4 without rotating the binder. 16 In Booklet or Left-to-Right modes, how much you can actually print in each column depends on the printer and font you use. Here's a summary (these numbers are for Letter size paper and will differ if you use Legal or A4 paper): ┌───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┐ │ Font: 16.67 cpi │ Font: 20 cpi │ │(cpi = characters-per-inch)│(cpi = characters-per-inch)│ ┌──────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┤ │ │ Characters Lines │ Characters Lines │ │ Printer │ per line per page │ per line per page │ ├──────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┤ │ Epson │ 80* 66 │ not available │ ├──────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┤ │ LaserJet/│ │ │ │ DeskJet │ 80 66 │ 100 75 │ └──────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────┘ * On "LQ" printers, MP can print 77 rather than 80 characters per line. Quik-Ref.Doc explains why. NOTE: 16.67 cpi fonts are often best for normal text files (like this one) with 65 - 80 characters-per-line. But if you're printing source code (or other text) with lines greater than 80 cpl, MP's 20 cpi fonts help ensure longer lines aren't truncated. With 20 cpi fonts, MP can also pack lots of information (75 lines) on each page! Wide, 1-Column ────────────── ┌────────────────────────────┐ │ page 1 │ MP's Wide, 1-Column format is │ │ useful for printing spreadsheets, │ │ forms, database files, or other │(print up to 210 characters │ wide text. Depending on the │ per line and 75 lines/page)│ printer and the font you use, MP │ │ prints 162 to 210 characters-per- └────────────────────────────┘ line, and 66 to 75 lines-per-page. You can print 1- or 2-sided. To print spreadsheet data, tell Lotus 1-2-3, Quattro Pro or the program you use to "print to a file" (ie., create a ".PRN" file). Then use Multi-Print to print that ".PRN" file. If you print 2-sided, be sure to read "To Rotate or Not to Rotate." How much MP actually prints on each side of the paper depends on the printer and font you use. Here's a summary (numbers for Letter paper): ┌───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┐ │ Font: 16.67 cpi │ Font: 20 cpi │ │(cpi = characters-per-inch)│(cpi = characters-per-inch)│ ┌──────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┤ │ │ Characters Lines │ Characters Lines │ │ Printer │ per line per page │ per line per page │ ├──────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┤ │ Epson │ 162* 66 │ not available │ ├──────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┤ │ LaserJet/│ │ │ │ DeskJet │ 168 66 │ 210 75 │ └──────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────┘ * On "LQ" printers, MP prints about 156 rather than 162 cpl. We use the following terms and conventions in this manual. 17 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ <─┘ means press <Enter> or <Return> <Esc> means press the Escape key on your keyboard or <Y> or <N> means press the letter in brackets (for example, to print press ) <Space> means press the Space Bar "Select an option" You may choose options using either a mouse or the keyboard. So "select an option" means: ─ Move the mouse cursor to an option and "double click" the LEFT mouse button. ─ Or, press Up/Down cursor keys to highlight an option, then press <SPACE> or <─┘. System Requirements ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ * An IBM PC, XT, AT, 386, 486, PS/2. 256k memory. * Use any monitor. Multi-Print's custom screen fonts and mouse cursor shapes are visible only on EGA and VGA monitors. If you have an EGA or VGA monitor and prefer that MP NOT use its custom screen fonts, run MP like this: MP /nof ("/nof" means no fonts). * DOS 2.1 or later is required. DOS 3.1 or later is needed if MP is to automatically find and download fonts from it's LaserJet and DeskJet font libraries. If you use DOS 3.0 or earlier, be sure to read the section "Setting MP-DIR." * You'll need an Epson, LaserJet or DeskJet Plus or 500 to use all options. But you can print 1- or 2-sided in normal portrait mode on ANY printer. NOTE: Original LaserJets do NOT accept downloaded fonts. Original LaserJets and the LaserJet Plus can't print some "control codes," even though our fonts contain them. DeskJets must have at least a 256k memory cartridge to use MP's downloadable soft fonts. Original DeskJets may not accept land- scape soft fonts needed to print Booklets, Left-to-Right, etc. The original DeskJets DO accept portrait fonts, useful to print in Newspaper, 2-column format. Installing Multi-Print; Setting MP-Dir 18 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ "Quick Start" describes how to install MP. When you run MP, it needs to be able to find itself so it can: * Locate and download fonts from font libraries (".MPF" files). * Save the options you prefer in a configuration file called MP.CFG, and then read MP.CFG to pre-select options for you. MP expects to find MP.CFG and it's font libraries (LaserJet.MPF or DeskJet.MPF) on the same drive/directory where you installed MP.Exe. If MP can't find these files, it won't be able to save and pre-select the options YOU prefer. And it won't be able to download its custom LaserJet and DeskJet fonts. MP searches for itself using a feature available in DOS 3.1 and later. If you use DOS 3.0 or earlier, or if you work on certain networks, MP may be unable to find itself -- unless you SET MP-DIR. Setting MP-DIR ────────────── If you use a LaserJet or DeskJet and MP tells you it can't find its font library files, -or- if MP saves MP.CFG files all over your disks, YOU can help MP find its path by typing this line before you run MP: SET MP-DIR=drive:\directory Replace "drive:\directory" with MP's path. For example, if you installed MP in your UTILITY directory on drive C:, you'd type: SET MP-DIR=C:\UTILITY NOTES: * There must be NO spaces in this phrase except after SET. * The easiest way to help ensure MP always finds itself is to add the "SET MP-DIR=" line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. If you prefer not to do this, create this batch file to run MP: SET MP-DIR=C:\UTILITY (replace "c:\utility" as needed) MP SET MP-DIR (clear it and free up memory) Running MP 19 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ At the DOS prompt, run MP by typing: MP filename [/BW] [/NOF] <─┘ * Including a file name is optional (e.g., mp mp.doc <─┘). * "/BW" is optional and means print in Black & White. This may be useful on laptops if MP's colors render text hard to read. * "/NOF" means "no screen fonts." If you have an EGA or VGA mon- itor, MP uses custom screen fonts and mouse cursor shapes from Font Pak Pro, our programmers' font and cursor shape utility that ANY programmer can use. If you'd rather we NOT use custom screen fonts, include "/nof" on MP's command line. MP then asks which file you want to print. If you included a file name on the command line, MP displays it and asks you to confirm. ──── Print which file? <F2> = Directory <Esc> = Quit ──── ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ TO exit MP to DOS, press <Esc>. To print a file, type in its name and press <─┘. Be sure to include the drive and directory if your file is not on the "current path." For example, you'd enter: MP.Doc to print MP.Doc from the path you're on C:\Utility\MP.Doc to print MP.Doc found on C:\Utility To choose a file from a menu, press <F2>, or click the left mouse button on "<F2> = Directory." MP then asks: Which drive/directory? <Esc> = Quit ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ * Press <─┘ for a list of files on the drive/directory you're on. Otherwise, enter the name of a drive and directory and press <─┘. ─ Do NOT enter a "file filter" (e.g., "*.DOC"). MP always shows you all files on the path you specified. * MP then displays a menu of all files found. To select a file: With the KEYBOARD: use cursor keys to highlight a file; press <─┘. With a MOUSE: double click the left button on a file name. NOTE: If there are more files than fit in the window, press the right cursor key until MP displays the next "page" of names. Or, click the left mouse button on the "scroll bar" you'll see. MP's Main Menu 20 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Once you select a file to print, MP displays the menu below. Select the options you want, and then select = Print or <Esc> = Quit. Notice that some options are already "checked" (already marked with "√"). These are the "defaults," the options MP uses if you don't choose other options. By default, MP: * prints in landscape "booklet" form * prints 2-sided * assumes you're using a LaserJet * assumes your printer is hooked up to port "LPT1" ═ FORMAT (pick 1 & 1 or 2 sided) ═ ═ Print TITLE (√ all that apply) ═ √ Landscape: Booklets Print File Name or Custom Title Landscape: Left-to-Right Print Page Numbers Landscape: 1 Wide Column Print Date Portrait: Newspaper, 2-column Print Title at: Option # = √ Print TWO-sided Print Title Starting on Page = ═══ MARGINS (√ all that apply) ═══ ═══ OPTIONS (√ all that apply) ═══ Top margin : # lines = Paper Size: Letter (8.5 x 11) Indent LEFT side : # spaces = Print which side? Both = Indent RIGHT side: # spaces = Print pages: ___ through ___ ═════ Which PRINTER (pick 1) ═════ ══════ Printer PORT (pick 1) ═════ √ LaserJet (Duplex OFF) √ LPT Port #: 1 Epson FX (or LQ) Print to File: Epson LQ Setup: DeskJet Wrap wide lines - LaserJet Only Any Printer (Normal Portrait) Up-Dn-Click = Highlight it Space-Enter-Double Click = Select it <PgDn>│<PgUp> = Next│Last Menu (Click on option) = Print <Esc>=Quit ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Notice that there are actually 6 separate menus in the main menu. In each menu, "check" (√) the option(s) you want. In some menus you'll "pick 1" option. In other menus you may "√ all that apply." And in some cases you can choose different levels (e.g., a top margin). Just keep selecting the option to choose the level you want (eg. a Top margin of 0-9 rows). We'll discuss these topics in detail later. NOTE: Each time you run MP, it saves your choices in MP.CFG. The next time you run MP, it reads MP.CFG and pre-selects options you prefer. See "Setting MP-Dir" for details. Using Mp's Main Menu 21 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ When MP's menus appear, the first option in the first menu will be highlighted. Use a mouse or the keyboard to choose options. NOTE: If MP displays things in color, but you'd prefer "black & white" (if you have a laptop computer for example), run MP this way: MP /BW <─┘ (where "BW" means "black & white"). USING A MOUSE to choose options ─────────────────────────────── * Double click the LEFT button on any option to "select it." ─ If you choose an option in menus that say "Pick 1," MP marks that option with "√" and unmarks the option that was chosen. ─ If you choose an option in menus that say "√ all that apply," the option will be marked with "√." To "unmark" it, double click on it again. The "√" will disappear. * To PRINT, click on = Print at the bottom of your screen. * To QUIT, click on <Esc> = Quit at the bottom of your screen. USING THE KEYBOARD to choose options ──────────────────────────────────── * To move BETWEEN menus: ─ Press <PgDn> to move to the next menu. ─ Press <PgUp> to move back a menu. As you change menus, MP highlights the first option in that menu. Press the SPACE BAR (or <─┘) to "select" options. TIP: Use 2 hands to select options quickly: Press cursor pad keys with one hand; press SPACE or <─┘ with the other. * To choose options in menus that say "Pick 1:" ─ Highlight the option you want (press the up and down cursor keys), then press SPACE or <─┘ to select that option. * To choose options in menus that say "√ all that apply:" ─ Press the up and down cursor keys to highlight the option you want and press SPACE or <─┘. The option will be marked with "√." To "unmark" it, highlight it and press SPACE or <─┘. * To PRINT, press . To QUIT, press <Esc> (the Escape key). 22 We mentioned above that some options let you "toggle" among levels. For example, the "Margins" menu looks like this: ══ MARGINS (√ all that apply) ══ Top margin : # lines = Indent LEFT side : # spaces = Indent RIGHT side: # spaces = To "select" a top margin, click Left on the "Top Margin" option, or highlight it and press SPACE or <─┘. * When you select a top margin, the phrase "# lines = 1" appears. * Select it again and "# lines = 2" appears, then "# lines = 3." * In other words, to choose a top margin, just keep pressing the Space Bar, or keep clicking the left mouse button on this option. To turn OFF a margin, just keep selecting it until it reads "# lines/spaces = 0" or "# lines/spaces = " (it's blank). You can print top margins of 0 to 9 lines. Or you can indent the left or right columns of text 0 - 9 spaces. To "turn off" a margin, keep selecting an option until it reads "# lines = 0" or "# spaces = 0." "0" means no margin. NOTE: Left and Right margins can shift pages so far right that text and, especially, titles lines can be truncated. So for most files, you may prefer NO Left or Right margin. We'll discuss this more fully later. Similarly, the "Options" menu looks like this. Notice the first option. ══ OPTIONS (√ all that apply) ══ Paper Size: Letter (8.5 x 11) Print which side? Both = Print pages: ___ through ___ To print on Legal (8.5" x 14") or A4 paper, keep selecting the first option until "Letter (8.5 x 11)" is replaced with your preference. We'll now discuss how to use each menu. ══ Format (pick 1 & 1- or 2-sided) ══ 23 √ Landscape: Booklets Landscape: Left-to-Right Landscape: 1 Wide Column Portrait: Newspaper, 2-column √ Print TWO-sided MP's first menu lets you choose HOW you want to print. You may also select 1- or 2-sided printing (Booklets always print 2-sided). We described each format earlier in the "Quick Start" section. Please refer there to see examples of what each format looks like. And try each style with different fonts to see which you prefer. To select "Normal, 1-Column" format that you can use on ANY printer, move the highlight to "Portrait" and select it (or click Left on "Portrait"). As you select "Portrait," MP switches between: Portrait: Newspaper, 2-column -and- Portrait: Normal, 1-column Note the "Print TWO-Sided" option in this menu. * Since booklets are always printed 2-sided, whenever you select booklet mode, MP automatically selects "TWO-sided" printing. * But if you choose ANY other option, you can also elect to print 2-sided or 1-sided (the back side blank). 1-sided printing lets you print "unattended." MP prints the entire text file without pausing for you to put the paper back in. This is convenient if you're on a network, or you simply don't want to be bothered putting the paper back in. It also means you'll use twice as much paper. * If you print 2-sided: - Refer to "Printing 2-sided -- or Not" in Quick Start. - Refer to "Print the Second Side." - And watch MP's "tips" as you're printing. ═ Print TITLE (√ all that apply) ═ 24 Print File Name or a Custom Title Print Page Numbers Print Date Print Title at: Option # = Print Title Starting on Page = 1 MP's second menu lets you print a "title line" above or below each page (column of printed text). "√ all that apply." If you select "Print File Name or a Custom Title," a dialog box pops up. MP will "suggest" printing the file name. But you can edit this to print anything you like -- up to 40 characters. If, once you print the file, you ask to print the same file again, MP re-displays the title you entered and asks you to confirm it. The Date is read from your PC's clock. You needn't enter it. Here's how title lines look depending on which options you select. In these examples, we printed a line under our title line. You may print this line below or above the title line, or not at all. All options: Page # Title Date ==================================== Title only: Title ==================================== Title and Page # Title Page #s: ==================================== Page #s Page # Date and Date: ==================================== Page numbers, if you elect to print them, always appear on the "outside" of the page, as they do in most printed material. But titles and dates "float" to create a balanced look. An interesting variation of this is to print ONLY the file name or custom title (no lines, date or page numbers). In this case, each page of text would be printed with just your title centered at the top (or bottom) of each page. This technique is especially useful if pages are already numbered -- as they are in this manual. Note that title lines (and top margins) reduce the number of lines MP can print on a page. Titles lines consume 2 lines. Text files which already have 64-66 lines per page AND contain form feeds should be printed with NEITHER title lines NOR top margins. Title Lines (continued) 25 Print the File Name or a Custom Title ───────────────────────────────────── Titles can be anything -- up to 40 characters. NOTE: Although MP saves most options you select in MP.CFG, it does NOT save titles -- to ensure that we don't print the wrong title or file name when you print the next file. Print Title at: (the Top or Bottom of the page) ─────────────── Use the 4th option in this menu to print title lines: 1) at the top or bottom of the page; and, 2) with or without a line above or below them. You may select the 4th option only if you've already asked to print titles, page numbers and/or the date. If you "unmark" these options, MP unmarks the 4th option (meaning, print NO title lines). This option initially reads (notice the blanks): Print Title at: Option # = As you select this option, it switches among the 6 options shown below. Watch for the words "Top" or "Bot," indicating that MP will print titles at the top or bottom of the page. Also, when "▄" or "▀" appear, it means that MP will print solid lines below (▄) or above (▀) titles. How bold these lines are depends on the printer, font and print format you've chosen. Lines are bold when using MP's fonts. But they're lighter when using fonts built into your printer -- since we have to use what exists in your printer. Here are some examples. Options 1-3 mean titles print at the TOP of the page. Options 4-6 mean that titles print at the bottom of the page. "*" will read "Top" or "Bot" depending on the Option #. ────── Examples ────── Print Title at: * Option # = 1 (or 4) My Title Page # Print Title at: * ▄ Option # = 2 (or 5) My Title Page # ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ Print Title at: * ▀ Option # = 3 (or 6) ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ My Title Page # Print Title Starting on Page: 26 ───────────────────────────── Finally, you can choose on which page you want to BEGIN printing title lines. This option is useful if the first few pages of your text consist of things like a preface, introduction, table of contents -- which often aren't numbered in the normal way. You can tell MP to skip 1-8 pages. It will begin printing title lines, page numbers, etc. on the page you specify. For example, suppose we want to begin printing title lines on page #4. We just keep selecting "Print title starting on" until "Pg. = 4" appears. MP would print NO page numbers and NO title line on the first 3 pages it found. The 4th page it found would be numbered 4, the 5th page would be Page 5, and so on. PLEASE NOTE: MP DOES increment page numbers, even though you aren't printing them. So, for example, if you ask MP to begin printing title lines on page 7, "Page 7" NOT "Page 1" will appear there. And remember that "page" means "a printed column." A column will often correspond to an actual page of text followed by a form feed. But in Newspaper, 2-column mode, MP ignores form feeds and may print 1 1/2 - 2 actual pages of text in each column. ═══ MARGINS (√ all that apply) ═══ 27 Top margin : # lines = Indent LEFT side : # spaces = Indent RIGHT side: # spaces = When you select margin options, the right side of the line will change from "# ... = " to "# ... = 1" then to "# ... = 2," etc. Margins can range from 0 (no margin) to 9. You may select TOP, LEFT and RIGHT margins separately. Top Margins ─────────── Top margins shift each page of text (and title lines you print at the top) down the number of lines you select. Bottom title lines always print on the last 1-2 lines of each page. Top margins (and title lines) also REDUCE the number of lines of text MP prints per page. For example, in Booklet mode, MP nor- mally prints up to 66 lines-per-page (lpp). But with a top margin of 4, MP can print up to 62 lpp. CAUTION: With text files that are formatted with close to 66 lines per page FOLLOWED BY form feed characters, large top margins may force the bottom 1-5 lines of text onto the next page. Since MP will then encounter a form feed, it will eject that page as well, possibly printing many, nearly-empty pages. Side Margins ──────────── Left and right margins are INDEPENDENT. Left margins shift left- side pages toward the center. Right margins shift right-side pages away from the center of the page. Title lines also shift right. * Titles lines are often wider than the text you're printing. If you use margins and shift your title lines right, page numbers may disappear. We urge you to NOT use Left or Right margins -- unless you first scan the text file and determine that it has no left margin. In this case, try margins of 1 - 3 spaces. * And if text is wide to begin with, and you shift it right, the text could be truncated or pushed off the sheet of paper. Use left or right margins of only 1 - 3 spaces, unless you're sure that columns 70-80 of every line in the text file are blank. * On LaserJets and DeskJets, right margins greater than 1 - 4 may truncate the right edge of both your text and your title lines. ═══ OPTIONS (√ all that apply) ═══ 28 Paper Size: Letter (8.5 x 11") Print which sides? Both = Print pages: ___ through ___ Paper Size ────────── To print on Legal or A4 paper, keep selecting the 1st option in this menu until you see "Legal" or "A4" beside "Paper Size." MP saves your choice when you print. So the next time you run MP, it will pre-select the paper size you prefer. Print which sides? (registered versions) ────────────────── MP normally prints all your text. But registered users can ask MP to print just the FRONT or BACK side. Note: If you're printing 1-sided, "front" means the first half and "back" means the 2nd half of the file. This option can come in handy in several situations. * You're on a busy network and can't easily control when the net- work will get around to printing the second side of your text. ─ Just ask MP to print one side. ─ Then, when the network traffic slows down, put the paper back in the printer and print the other side. * You cancelled the printing after the first side was done and now want to print the back. To select which side you want printed, just keep selecting the last option in MP's OPTIONS menu until it says: Print which sides? Both = 0 (or the whole text file) Print which sides? Front = 1 (or the 1st half of the file) Print which sides? Back = 2 (or the 2nd half of the file) You need only pay attention to the phrases "Both," "Front" or "Back." The numbers 0 - 2 simply tell MP what you're doing. Print Pages: ___ through ___ (registered versions) 29 ───────────────────────────── Registered users may select this option to print a range of pages. This option comes in **very** handy when: * The printer mangles a few pages when printing. Rather than re-print the whole thing, just re-print what was damaged. * You want to print certain pages and not the rest. When you select this option, a window pops up and MP asks you to enter two numbers: the number of the first page and the number of the last page you want printed (inclusive). * REMEMBER, "page number" means "column number." If you already printed the file -- and numbered pages -- just glance at the page numbers MP printed to determine which numbers to enter. But if you haven't printed the file, or if you didn't print page numbers, you'll have to guess what numbers to enter. And remem- ber that in Newspaper, 2-column mode, MP prints 90+ lines of text per column (per "page"). If you guess a range that's too narrow, you may have to print another page or two. * If you press <Esc> when entering either number, or if you enter 0 as the starting page, MP cancels this option. * If you enter a starting page number greater than the ending page number, MP will tell you it can't do that and start over. This option actually prints "sheets" ──────────────────────────────────── When you print 2-sided, MP automatically determines and prints the pages that should go on the back. That means you should specify the LOWEST range of page numbers -- those appearing on the FRONT! For example, suppose you printed this manual in Booklet form and the 5th and 6th sheets of paper were damaged when printing side #2. * Sheet #5 would have page #9 on one side, and page #10 on the back (Since we're printing 2-sided, page numbers would begin 1, 3, 5, and 7. Page 9 is the first page on sheet #5). Similarly, sheet #6 would have page 11 on one side and page 12 on the other side. * You need NOT worry about these complexities. Just tell MP to print pages 9 through 11. Multi-Print will figure out what to print on the right and left sides of the page, and on the back! Do NOT tell MP to print page 9 through, say, 36 -- the lowest and highest page numbers that might appear on these pages! If you do, MP will oblige, re-printing MUCH MORE than you need to. ═════ Which PRINTER (pick 1) ═════ 30 √ LaserJet (Duplex OFF) Epson FX Epson LQ DeskJet (Plus, 500 or compatible) Any Printer (Normal Portrait only) MP's 5th menu lets you choose a printer. If you choose "Any Printer" you can print in normal portrait mode only -- because MP's landscape and Newspaper formats are for LaserJets, DeskJets or Epsons. LaserJet (Duplex ?) ────────────────────── Select LaserJet if you have any HP-compatible laser printer. To print in DUPLEX mode on series "D" LaserJets, see the next page. To choose Duplex mode, keep selecting the LaserJet option until it reads "Duplex Long" or "Duplex Short." To turn it off (to use Simplex printing), select it until it reads "Duplex Off." Epson FX or LQ ────────────── Select one of the "Epson" options if your printer is compatible with Epson's FX or LQ series. NOTE: If you use the FX option but you really have an LQ printer, too much "white space" will appear between lines. Printed text may "overprint" the page and begin printing on the next page. DeskJet Plus, 500 or Compatible ─────────────────────────────── Select DeskJet if your printer is compatible with the DeskJet Plus or 500. The original DeskJet won't accept landscape soft fonts. And you MUST have a RAM cartridge to use MP's downloadable fonts. Any Printer (Portrait mode ONLY) ──────────────────────────────── Select Any Printer if you want to print in NORMAL portrait mode, and: * Your printer is not a LaserJet, Epson or Toshiba printer. * OR, you want MP to send NO printer codes at all to your printer (except your "Setup" code, which we'll discuss when we describe the next menu). "Portrait: Normal, 1-column" mode MUST be selected before you can select "Any Printer." Likewise, if Any Printer is selected, you can't select a landscape printing mode (like booklets). That's because MP can only print "normally" on "Any Printer." Duplex Printing (Series "D" LaserJets ONLY !!!) 31 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Series "D" LaserJets (e.g., IID, IIID, IVD, etc.) can print on both sides of the paper in a single pass -- if you choose duplex printing. NOTE: Pages are printed in VERY DIFFERENT ORDER when printing in Duplex mode than in "Simplex" mode. So, choose Duplex mode ONLY if you have a series "D" LaserJet!!! Choose "Duplex Long" or "Duplex Short" depending on whether you want to bind your text along the long or short edge of the paper. This is easier to picture than to describe. Here are two examples -- direct from the LaserJet's Technical Reference Manual. Long Edge Binding Short Edge Binding ┌───────────────────┐ ┌───────────────┬───────────────┐ │ page 1 │ page 2 │ │ page │ page ∙-∙ page │ page │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ∙-∙ │ │ │ ∙ ∙ ∙ │ │ 1 │ 2 │ 3 │ 4 │ ├─(──────(───────(──┤ │ │ ∙-∙ │ │ │ ∙ ∙ ∙ │ └───────────────┴───────────────┘ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ page 3 │ page 4 │ └───────────────────┘ Long edge binding is Short edge binding is appropriate for typical appropriate if you'll punch 3-ring binders. Here holes (or otherwise bind you bind text along the sheets) along the short (e.g., long (e.g., 11 inch) edge 8 inch) edge of the paper. of the paper. ═════════ Printer Options ════════ 32 √ LPT Port #: 1 Print to File: Setup: Wrap wide lines - LaserJet Only Printing to LPT port 1, 2 or 3: ─────────────────────────────── MP assumes you want to print to printer port #1 (LPT1). To print to parallel port #2 or #3 (LPT2 or LPT3), keep selecting the first option in this menu until it reads "LPT Port#: 2" or "LPT Port #: 3." Printing to a file: (Registered versions) ─────────────────── Registered users can select the 2nd option to send the output to a file instead of your printer. MP will then ask you to: ┌───────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Enter a file name: │ │───────────────────────────────────────────│ │ │ │ File Name: ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ │ │ │ └─<Esc> = Cancel────────────────────────────┘ Enter a file name (with drive if you want) and press <─┘. MP will check to see if the file name is valid (ie., DOS won't allow spaces and a few other characters in file names). If the file name is invalid, MP will ask you to re-enter it. MP also checks to see if the file already exists. If the file exists, MP will ask if you want to OVERWRITE it. If you say <Y>es, the original file will be erased and replaced with your new text file. If you say <N>o (don't overwrite it), MP will ask you to enter a new file name. Note: If you print in landscape mode on Epson printers, the output is in graphics mode -- which is almost unreadable and virtually useless unless it's sent to the printer. Setup Codes 33 ─────────── Select MP's "Setup" option to send any printer code(s) you like to your printer. MP will then display a window like this: ┌───────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Enter printer setup (1-20 characters). │ │───────────────────────────────────────────│ │ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ │ │ │ └─Press <Esc> where needed; <F10> = Cancel─┘ NOTES: * You can enter 1-20 characters. This should suffice to enter several printer codes (if you need). * Printer codes usually begin with ASCII code 27 -- Escape. To enter Escape, just press the <Esc> key on your keyboard. A left pointing arrow will appear. Since Escape is a valid printer code, you must press <F10> to exit this option. F10 simply exits. Any printer code that appears in this window (or in MP's menu) WILL be sent to your printer. * To enter normal keyboard characters just press the key. But to enter ASCII characters 1 - 31 or 127 - 255, you must: - Hold down the ALT key, then type the ASCII number on the NUMERIC KEYPAD. Using the top row of numbers WON'T work. - For example, Epson printers use ASCII code 15 to turn on com- pressed print. Character 15 isn't on your keyboard. So to enter it, hold down Alt, then type 15 on the numeric keypad. * To cancel a printer code, you must erase it. To do this, tell MP you want to edit the Setup Code. Then when you see the window above, press Ctrl-Home to erase an existing setup code, or press Delete until it disappears. * MP always sends your setup code last, AFTER it sets up your printer based on the other options you selected. - This gives you "final say" over how text prints -- since your printer code(s) can change (and will govern) how your printer prints. - But it also means you could un-do some things we're trying to do, perhaps with unfortunate effects. For example, suppose you're printing booklets on a LaserJet -- which requires landscape printing. If you then enter a setup code which turns on portrait printing, you'll get strange looking booklets. Wrap wide lines - LaserJet Only 34 ─────────────────────────────── If you have a LaserJet and some or all of your text is wider than the number of columns that'll fit on a page (e.g., 80, 160 or 210), you can ask MP to "wrap" long lines. * MP tells the LaserJet to do all the work. The LaserJet prints as much as it can on each line, then continues on the next line. * Note that LaserJets split lines at characters, not necessarily words! So, for example, if the "l" in "Multi-Print" lands on the right margin, LaserJets will print "Mul" on one line, and "ti-Print" on the next line. Also note that if you wrap lines, you may get fewer lines per page than you expected -- since the wrapped lines will consume an extra line (or more). What happens after you say "Print" 35 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Press , or click Left on "=Print" to begin printing. What happens next depends on which format and printer you're using. Normal, 1-column mode: ALL printers ──────────────────────────────────── If printing in Normal, 1-column mode, MP counts the number of pages and sheets of paper you'll print, then asks you to press <C>ontinue. If you proceed, MP will print using whatever fonts, line spacing, etc. your printer is set up for. MP sends NO printer codes, except the printer code you specified using MP's "Setup" feature. If you're printing 2-sided, read "Printing the 2nd Side" and watch for MP's "tips" when the first side is done. EPSON printers: Landscape Options (booklets, left-to-right, wide) ────────────────────────────────── When using landscape (graphics) modes on Epson printers, MP asks: ┌───────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Should I print in Emphasized Mode? │ │───────────────────────────────────────────│ │ │ │ Press <Y>es or <N>o ──> │ │ │ └─<Esc> = Quit──────────────────────────────┘ * If you say <N>o, don't use emphasized mode, MP prints text using the fastest graphics mode. This "fast" option may NOT work on older Epson models CR-420, HS-80, MX 80/100 or TP. High speed mode yields lighter text than does emphasized mode. With newer ribbons, this may be OK. But with older ribbons, text may be too light to read comfortably. * If you press <Y>es, MP will use emphasized graphics mode to print darker, easier-to-read text. But this is a slower option. EPSON printers: Newspaper, 2-Column mode ───────────────────────────────────────── When using MP's Newspaper format on Epson printers, MP asks: ┌───────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Which Font: Elite or SuperScript? │ │───────────────────────────────────────────│ │ │ │ Press <E>lite or <S>uperscript --> │ │ │ └─<Esc> = Quit──────────────────────────────┘ With the Elite font, MP can print about 90 lines in each column. Using the Superscript option, MP prints about 125 lines per column. But Superscript text is small and may be hard to read. LaserJets and DeskJets: Landscape -or- Portrait modes 36 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────── If you select Newspaper or any landscape option, MP displays a menu asking you to select a font. REMEMBER: DeskJets MUST have a RAM cartridge to use MP's downloadable fonts. * To display this menu, MP must be able to find one of it's font library files: LaserJet.MPF or DeskJet.MPF. If MP tells you it can't find this file, exit MP and ensure that you installed this font file on the same drive/directory where you installed MP.Exe. If this still doesn't work, read the "Quick Start" section and "SET MP-DIR=" before you run MP. * Carefully READ MP's "tips" to help you select the right font. In some cases we give you the flexibility to use internal fonts even though they may not work -- unless you experimented and found that they do work for the type of file you're printing. * In most cases you can use one of MP's fonts, or an internal font in your printer (ie., a resident font or one in a font cartridge). MP's fonts include virtually all printable ASCII characters. This gives you great flexibility. For example, some HP Line Printer fonts DON'T have the ASCII characters needed to print lines, boxes, shading, non-English characters and "control codes," many of which you'll find in this manual. NOTES * Original LaserJets WON'T accept downloaded fonts. If you have an original LaserJet, you'll need a font cartridge which contains an appropriate font (e.g., Line Printer). And BE SURE to select the "internal" font option in MP's font menu. * Newspaper, 2-column mode needs a 20 cpi font. Many HP LaserJets do NOT have a resident, 20 cpi fixed-spaced font (but DeskJets do). LaserJet users may have to use MP's fonts to print in Newspaper format. * Original DeskJets WILL accept downloaded portrait fonts (with a RAM cartridge), but will NOT accept landscape soft fonts. In the latter case, you must use a resident font. Most LaserJets (except original LaserJets) and DeskJets (with a RAM cartridge) can handle MP's fonts. If an error occurs, it will probable be due to: 1. Memory Overflow. You probably have too many fonts or macros already in your printer's memory to handle another font. To fix this, remove some fonts, or turn you printer off and on. 2. An Invalid Font Number. MP downloads its font with the ID # 348. All LaserJets and DeskJets accept this but some "compatibles" may not. If your printer considers this font ID # invalid, please let us know, AND tell us what numbers ARE valid. Printing the Second Side 37 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Skip this section if you'll always print 1-sided. To successfully print 2-sided in landscape OR portrait mode, heed these suggestions to ensure you correctly print side #2. And ALWAYS read the "tips" MP displays when it finishes printing side #1. If you chose to print 2-sided, MP prints the front side and says: ┌───────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Put the paper back in the printer. │ │───────────────────────────────────────────│ │ │ │ Press <ENTER> to continue printing ──> │ │ │ └─<Esc> = Quit──────────────────────────────┘ ┌────────────────────────────── TIP ──────────────────────────────┐ │ │▄ │ When you print the second side, you must re-insert the paper so │█ │ your printer prints on the blank side (not the side you just │█ │ printed). This is obvious right? Maybe. But we've seen the │█ │ first side overprinted too many times to ignore this point. │█ │ │█ │ * On a LaserJet II, III or compatible, the BLANK side of the │█ │ LAST page should be on top (or be fed in first if you're │█ │ manually feeding it). The last page you'll print should be │█ │ on the bottom of the stack -- again, blank side facing up. │█ │ │█ │ - Please do NOT use the REAR output tray when printing the │█ │ first side. If you do, the pages will come out PRINTED │█ │ side UP -- the opposite of what you want. │█ │ │█ │ * On the LaserJet Plus or the original LaserJet, the PRINTED │█ │ side of the LAST page printed should be on top. The last │█ │ page to be printed should be on the bottom of the stack -- │█ │ again, printed side facing up. │█ │ │█ │ * On dot matrix printers, MP must print side #2 in different │█ │ ways depending on whether you're printing in portrait or │█ │ landscape modes. See the sections below for details. │█ │ │█ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘█ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ We'll cover portrait and landscape printing separately. 38 Printing Side #2: PORTRAIT MODE ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Portrait Modes: DOT MATRIX Printers ──────────────────────────────────── In portrait modes, MP prints side #2 on DOT MATRIX printers from FRONT-to-BACK! Hold the paper so that: │· this ·│ ├─────────┤ - The top of page #1 is pointing down. │· side ·│ │·will be·│ - The printed side is facing you and the │·printed·│ printing is UPSIDE DOWN. Roll the paper └─────────┘ <─┐ in so we print page #2 on the back of #1. ╓▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀┬█ │ ║ ■°■°■° │ └ The TOP edge of page #1 goes in first. ╘══▄═════════════▄══╛ You might want to roll the paper ahead 1/2 page or so to make sure you'll be printing on the blank side of page #1. When everything seems okay, roll the paper back. Portrait Modes: HP LaserJets and DeskJets ────────────────────────────────────────── On these printers, MP prints side #2 from BACK-to-FRONT. That's because HP LaserJets usually stack pages with the last printed page on top. So, your job is simple: regardless of which printer you use, just pick up the paper, rotate it 180 degrees, then put it back in the paper tray. (NOTE: If you use a NON-HP laser printer, experiment by printing Quik-Ref.Doc 2-sided to determine the best way to put the paper back in the printer. You may have to "shuffle" the pages, then put the stack of paper back in the printer). * The only exceptions to this are if you use the REAR output tray or a "drop down" paper collector like those used on early Laser- Jets with front-mounted instead of top output trays. * If you DO use the rear tray or a drop-down collector, the pages will be in the opposite (wrong) order, and may be upside down. In this case, you'll have to shuffle them into the opposite order, flip the stack upside down, then put it back in. If you don't rotate the paper 180 degrees, the second side will print upside down. Printing Side #2: LANDSCAPE MODES 39 ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ALL Printers ──────────── RULE #1: In landscape modes, MP prints side #2 from BACK-to-FRONT. That means that the FIRST sheet you put back in the printer must be the LAST sheet that was printed. RULE #2: If you print booklets, it's VERY important that you do NOT rotate the paper 180 degrees when you put the paper back in. But, if you print in either Portrait mode, or in Left-to-Right or in 1-Column mode, you might want to rotate the paper before putting it back in the printer. See "To Rotate or Not to Rotate 180 Degrees" for details. RULE #3: If your Epson printer uses a "pull-type" tractor, BEFORE you tear off the first side, press the Form Feed button to advance the paper 1 FULL BLANK page. That way your printer will have some- thing to "pull" when printing side #2. If you don't, the tractor will have nothing to grab onto and pull, and your paper may not advance as MP prints the back side. Landscape Mode: DOT MATRIX Printers ──────────────────────────────────── Hold the paper so that: │· this ·│ ├─────────┤ - The BOTTOM of the LAST page points down. │· side ·│ │·will be·│ - The printed side is facing you and the │·printed·│ printing is RIGHT-SIDE UP. └─────────┘ <─┐ ╓▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀┬█ └ The BOTTOM edge of the last page ║ ■°■°■° │ goes in first. ╘══▄═════════════▄══╛ You might want to roll the paper ahead about 1/2 page to make sure you'll be printing on the blank side of the last page. When you're sure everything is ok, roll the paper back. Landscape Mode: LaserJets and DeskJets 40 ─────────────────────────────────────── (If your laser printer is NOT a Hewlett-Packard LaserJet, experiment by printing Quik-Ref.Doc or other short text files in 2-sided mode to determine the best way to put the paper back in the printer. You may have to "shuffle" the pages, then put the stack of paper back in the printer). As long as you did NOT use the LaserJet's rear output tray, printing side #2 is very simple: just pick up the stack of paper and put it back in the paper tray! The general rule is: if it faced the front of the printer coming out, it should face the front going back in! <───── Side #1 comes out with the TOP edge facing this way. ▄███████████████████████ Just put it back in the paper tray ███┌─┐█████████████████████ so the TOP edge faces the same way. ███└▀┘██████┌────┐█████████ ▄▄▄████████████└────┘████████▀ This is ALWAYS true with booklets. ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ But if you printed left-to-right, in Newspaper or in 1-column modes, AND you want to put text in binders, you may want to rotate the paper 180 degrees first. See the next page for why. If you used the rear output tray: 1. the TOP edge of the paper will be facing the BACK of the printer; and, 2. the pages will be in the wrong (opposite) order. In this case: * If you're printing booklets, pick up the stack of paper and rotate it 180 degrees. If you're not printing booklets, read the next page to decide if you should rotate it. * Then "deal" the stack into the reverse order and put it back in the paper tray. To Rotate 180 Degrees, or Not (2-sided Printing) 41 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ NOTE: This is relevant if you'll print 2-sided on LaserJets, DeskJets OR on dot matrix printers using separate sheets (ie., "cut" sheets). On Epson printers using continuous-form paper, you simply can't rotate a stack of sheets as we'll describe here. Printing in Landscape Mode ────────────────────────── If you print booklets, it's VERY important that you DON'T rotate the stack of paper 180 degrees when you re-insert it to print side 2. But if you used Newspaper, Wide, 1-Column or Left-to-Right modes, you might WANT TO rotate the stack of paper as you put it back in! In landscape modes, the issue is whether you want to "bind" the pages so you can read up to 4 pages at a time -- without rotating the binder. For example, if you rotate the paper when you print side #2, your text will look like this: ┌───────────────────┐ Note that when you flip pages 5 and 6, │ page 3 │ page 4 │ you'll be able to read the other side │ │ │ without turning the binder around. │ │ │ │ ∙ ∙ ∙│ If you DON'T rotate the paper when you ├(───────(────────(─┤ print side two, when you flip pages 5 │ ∙ ∙ ∙│ and 6 over to read 7 and 8, they'll be │ │ │ upside down. To read them, you'll have │ │ │ to turn the binder around. This MAY be │ page 5 │ page 6 │ what you want if you stand a 3-ring └───────────────────┘ binder up in a pyramid shape. The same thing would happen if you stapled the pages in the upper left corner. Once you read the first 2 pages and lifted them up, you'd be able to read pages 3 and 4 and 5 and 6, without having to spin the stack of paper around. Summary of Tips 42 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ These final sections offer tips to help you successfully use MP on different printers. Some of this was mentioned earlier. We repeat it here because: 1. it's important; and, 2. we know that many people dislike reading manuals and skip around to find what they need **now**. Since you may have missed this information earlier, we repeat it here. Portrait mode printing is different than printing in landscape mode. So we included separate sections covering each mode. All Printers ──────────── Experiment by printing short text files in various ways before you print long files. This helps you learn how MP's many options work. It will also help you learn how to re-insert the paper to print side #2. We included several "test files" to help you do this (Quik-Ref.Doc, FontTest.Doc, etc.). REGISTERED USERS: When printing large files you're unfamiliar with, begin by printing, say, pages 1-6 using MP's "Print Pages __ through __" option. This can help you: * Determine whether you should use margins. * Remember how to put the paper back in the printer to print side 2. Portrait: Normal, 1-column mode ──────────────────────────────── As we mentioned earlier, in normal portrait mode, MP prints using the currently active settings of your printer -- including fonts. We also mentioned that on LaserJet, DeskJet or Epson printers, MP "tightens up line spacing" to ensure you can print up to 64 lines- per-page. If you DON'T want this to happen, use MP's "Setup" option to re-set your printer to, say, 6 lines-per-inch (the normal default setting). Enter these codes: (to enter <Esc>, just press Escape) LaserJet or DeskJet: <Esc>&l6D (that's "l" not the number one) Epson FX: <Esc>3$ Epson LQ: <Esc>3^ ("^" here means ASCII 30. Hold down ALT, then type 30 on the Numeric Keypad.) For most text, we urge you to use fixed spaced fonts. Proportion- ally spaced fonts can make a mess of manuals like this one -- with lines, boxes and columns of numbers which must line up vertically. Always use fixed space fonts -- unless you know a text file was designed to be printed with proportionally spaced fonts. To ensure your printer is using the font, type style, and line/ character spacing you want, use MP's "Setup" feature to enter a printer code to turn on the printer attributes you need. Printing on LaserJets and DeskJets 43 ────────────────────────────────── * We urge you NOT to use the LaserJet's REAR paper tray. Why? Because MP prints side #2 assuming the paper is in a particular order and facing a specific way. If you use the rear paper tray, paper comes out of the printer in the wrong order. * DeskJet Users: Remember that MP prints in "Draft Quality" mode. This DOUBLES the speed! If you prefer "Letter Quality" printing, select MP's "Setup" option and enter: <Esc>(s2Q ("2" = Letter Quality, "1" = Draft Quality). To enter <Esc>, just press Escape. * To Print 2-sided or Not? The manuals that come with the original LaserJet and LaserJet Plus explain how to print on BOTH sides of the paper. And it works fine. But on newer LaserJet, when printing side #2, the top edge of each page can get smudged with toner. Hewlett-Packard no longer recommends 2-sided printing" except on "Duplex" printers which are designed to print on both sides. ─ With Series II and newer LaserJets, the HOT internal components "pull off" some of the toner from the printed side and mar the next page coming through. This doesn't happen on the original LaserJet or the LaserJet Plus. ─ The solution: 1) print 1-sided only; or, 2) after the first side prints, wait a few minutes for the LaserJet to cool down, put it in MANUAL FEED mode, then feed in each page slowly, let- ting the printer cool slightly before inserting the next page. Printing on Epson Printers 44 ────────────────────────── * Use new, dark ribbons, especially if you're printing in land- scape mode. Why? Compressed fonts are small. Old ribbons render these small characters faint and hard to read. * ALWAYS ensure your printer begins printing on the FIRST 1-3 lines of the paper -- especially if you print sideways! MP MUST begin printing near the top of each page -- to ensure it doesn't print the last few characters on the next page, then jump to another page, leaving the 2nd page 99% empty! * Graphics mode printing on dot matrix printers is slower than text mode printing -- because much more information must be sent to the printer. So, on dot matrix printers, you may want to: - Print in portrait mode most of the time. Portrait-mode printing uses faster text mode. - Choose 1-sided printing (not 2-sided or booklet-style). 1- sided printing lets you start a job then walk away. In other words, you can go to lunch and come back to find the job done. * We mentioned earlier that MP offers FX and LQ Epson options. The main difference between these is the "line spacing" MP uses to march down a page. If you use the FX option on LQ printers, pages may be too long! That's because Epson changed the meaning of the line spacing command when they introduced LQ printers. If MP prints beyond the perforation, try the LQ option. * Epson LQ printers -- Landscape modes. (Also read Quik-Ref.Doc) Because of the LQ's unfortunate line spacing, to produce easy- to-read text in landscape modes, MP prints 77 characters-per-line, instead of the 80 possible on FX, LaserJet or DeskJet printers. In Wide, 1-column mode, the maximum is about 156 cpl (versus 162). In many situations, this 77 cpl compromise may not matter: most ASCII text files normally use a right margin of 72 or less, so nothing would be truncated. But if you print wide text (source code, data files, etc.) with lines greater than 77 cpl, a few characters may be truncated. If lines in a file are being truncated, edit the file and: 1. Eliminate the left margin. 2. Set the right margin to, say, 75, then reformat each paragraph. Trouble Shooting: Frequently-asked questions 45 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Q. My text file has __ pages, but MP says there are __ MORE pages. Q. Why does MP sometimes print a few lines of text on a page, then shoot it out and start printing on the next page. A. These things usually happen because MP's definition of a "page" differs from yours, or because there are too many lines of text per page, given the options you've selected. For example, suppose a text file has 64 lines of text on every page. You select a Top Margin of 4 when printing booklets -- which can print up to 66 lines per page. Because of the top margin, MP counts each 64-line "page" as 2 pages! MP will print 62 lines of text, eject each page, then print lines 63-64 on the next page. Since MP then finds a form feed, it ejects these almost-empty pages. Similarly, suppose an author included 70 lines of text on several pages and then added a form feed. MP would print the 1st 66 lines and eject that page, then print lines 67-70. Since MP then hits a form feed, it ejects that page too. Q. Why, on dot matrix printers, does MP print light in landscape mode? A. This usually occurs with much-used ribbons. Use a new or re-inked ribbon for best results. To fit two, 66-line pages of text on one sheet of paper, MP's uses compressed fonts. If you print with an older ribbon, these small characters can be hard to read. Q. Why do I mess up printing the 2nd side? A. Because MP prints in both portrait and landscape modes on so many printers, it's sometimes not obvious how you should re-insert the paper to print the 2nd side. Try these suggestions: * Follow MP's TIPS. * Read the section called "Printing Side #2" -- twice. * Experiment by printing short files (like Quik-Ref.Doc) a few times. Each time, select a different printing op- tion (portrait, landscape: booklets, left-right, etc.). Q. Why, on my Epson printer, does MP print beyond the perforation and onto the next page? A. Probably because, as we explained above, you're using MP's "FX" option on an "LQ" printer. Try using the LQ option. Running MP on a Network 46 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ First, you must "license" Multi-Print for each person on the network. Network and site licenses are available at substantial discounts over the single-user price; contact us for details. Our address and phone number are on both the first few and last few pages of this manual. There's nothing special about printing on shared, networked printers -- except that if you print 2-sided , you might not know when to put the paper back in to print side #2. If you selected 1-sided printing, the whole text file is printed at once. You needn't worry about putting the paper back in. But if you print 2-sided, the network might begin printing someone else's work before you have a chance to put the paper back in to print the back side. Unfortunately, MP can't reserve your printer for you so you can manage both sides. But here are some things that can help. * Hold off 2-sided printing jobs until the network printing traffic slows down. During lunch, before or after normal work hours are likely candidates. * Print the front side. Then wait until the network traffic slows down to print the other side. * Print 1-sided only. That means you can't print booklets. And you'll use twice as much paper as you'd otherwise have to. * Find someone with a personal printer. Use it rather than the networked, shared printer. To Register or Order ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Because we offer so many programs, our order form has 2 pages. * THIS PAGE lists our programs and the per-copy cost of each. See "Catalog.Doc" for a summary of each of our programs. * THE NEXT PAGE is the actual order form. - On the next page, fill in the name of each program you're ordering. PLEASE BE CAREFUL here and use the names listed below. If we're not sure which program you're ordering, we may have to return you're order. - If ordering by Visa or MasterCard, fill in the section for credit card orders. BE SURE TO SIGN it. Program Name Per Copy ============================================================== Multi-Print $29 if ordered w/ ANY other program $39/$29 Font Pak "Pro" Programmer's Fonts & Mouse Shapes $49 Font Pak "DOS" Dozens of text-mode fonts for DOS! $29 PDT The Pro~Formance Data Tool $139 inform-Z Professional Forms Design/Database $49 Mail Call With MC Express $49 " " Without MC Express $40 Pro~Scribe & PS Express $39 P~F Presents Professional $79 " " Plus (with intro. copyright) $49 P-Screen Professional $49 " Plus $29 Pro~Stamp Stamp Collection Manager $29 Ram-Man RAM-resident Text File Browser $19 Sparkle AND Menu Magic $29 The Survey Catalyst $495 ================================================================= PACKAGE DISCOUNTS Call about quantity discounts & site licenses. ================================================================= inform-Z AND Mail Call $79 P-Screen AND P~F Presents (Prof. versions of both) $109 THE WORKS! One of each program (except The Catalyst) $349 ============================= TO ORDER ============================= For FASTEST delivery of your programs, CALL with a Visa/MC card number. See Catalog.Doc for descriptions of all our programs. The last page lists program prices -- and how to get a DISCOUNT on Multi-Print. F __________________________________________ M Rob W. Smetana Pro~Formance R __________________________________________ A T 132 Alpine Terrace San Francisco, CA O __________________________________________ I O 94117 (415) 863-0530 M __________________________________________ L Make checks payable Phone ( ) ______-________ Date ___/___/___ to: Rob W. Smetana ======================================================================= For Visa or MasterCard Orders ======================================================================= Credit Card Number: ________________________________ Expires: ___|___ Signature (Required for credit card orders): __________________________ Be sure your name at the top matches how it appears on your credit card. ============================================================== mp 3.6 = Name of Program or "Package" # of Copies Price/Copy Total ======================================================================= Multi-Print ($29 w/ another pgm. or $39)_______ x ______ = $_______ _____________________________________ ________ x ______ = $_______ _____________________________________ ________ x ______ = $_______ ======================================================================= Shipping & Handling: Total Number @ $4/copy (US/Canada) of Programs (and Copies) ----->> _____@ $8/copy (Elsewhere) $ ______ =============================+========================================= | Subtotal $ ________ INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: : : | | CA. residents, add 8.5% tax $ _______ * US funds only please. +-----------------------+----------------- * Money order, check drawn a | US bank, or VISA/MasterCard |TOTAL $ ________ =====================================================+================= PLEASE tell us here WHERE you got your copy of our program -- to help us learn the best way to get new programs to you. And feel free to write comments and suggestions on the other side. Thank you ... <rws>