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                                 PRTRLE.COM                                   

             Size (recs) CRC   Version    Author/Latest Issue      Disk
               4k (26)   477C  2.0        Gene Pizzetta 12/90      Z3COM15

  1- Syntax/Options  2- Errors  3- Configuration  4- RLE Files  5- Notes      


   PRTRLE is  a ZCPR3  utility  that prints high resolution Run Length Encoded
(RLE) graphics files on Epson graphic printers.

   Version 1.0 (9/17/87) by Gene Pizzetta.
:1
 Syntax   PRTASM {dir:}fn{.ft} {...} {/options}

   A file list may be given, but at least one  filename  is  required.   If no
filetype is given, "RLE" is assumed.   Names in the file list may be separated
by any number of spaces and commas.  Ambiguous filenames are not accepted, but
will not abort the program.   If no  DU  or  DIR  specification  is given, the
current drive/user is assumed.
 Options 

  A leading slash is required.   If a  filename is  used  that  begins  with a
slash, it must be preceded by a DU specification.

     F    Send a form feed to the printer after each picture is 
          printed.  Normally, a form feed is sent after every 
          third picture so three pictures are printer per page.  
          This option actually toggles the default condition, 
          which can be changed with ZCNFG.

     H    Do not print filename header before printing each 
          picture.  This is useful for including pictures in 
          documents.  This option actually toggles the default 
          condition, which can be changed with ZCNFG.

   Once printing has begun,  pressing  any  key  will  cancel  printing of the
current picture file.   If the pressed key is ^C,  PRTRLE  will  return to the
operating system; otherwise,  it  will  skip  to the next file in the list and
continue printing.
 Options - 2/2 

   If a file cannot be found,  or if an  ambiguous  file  spec  is encountered,
PRTRLE will display an error message  and  then  continue with the next file in
the file list.  It will, however, set the program error flag on exit.

   PRTRLE, with header suppressed, can be used to insert a picture into a text
file, if the paper has  been  properly  aligned.   Or,  using  the F option, a
single picture can be printed on each page.
:2

 Errors 

   Most error messages are  self-explanatory.   However, if you print many RLE
files, you will probably see  "Non-standard RLE file"  or  "Unexpected end-of-
file".  The first message means that PRTRLE has  encountered an escape code in
the file that it does not recognize.  The latter message indicates that a CP/M
end-of-file character was  encountered  before  the  proper terminating escape
sequence was found.   I have run into  several  RLE  files that are terminated
with an incorrect escape code or no code at all.   Usually the picture will be
complete and the message can be  considered informational only.   There may be
times, however, that these messages mean something is wrong.

   If an escape sequence  indicates  the  RLE  file contains medium-resolution
graphics, PRTRLE will abort  printing  that  file with a message.   Only high-
resolution graphics can be printed.   Medium resolution graphics files are not
supported, mainly  because  I  haven't  found  any  medium resolution files to
experiment with.
:3

 Configuration 

   PRTRLE  configuration  options  can  be  easily  set  using  ZCNFG  and the
accompanying  PRTRLEnn.CFG  file.   The  name  of  the  CFG file should not be
changed, so that ZCNFG can always find it, even if you rename PRTRLE.

   No provisions have been made for  changing  the  printer  strings because I
have no idea how  printers  that  are  not  Epson-compatible handle bit-mapped
graphics.

   For full details of the configuration options see the ZCNFG help screens.
:4

 RLE Graphics Files 

   Run  Length  Encoding is  a  machine  independent  graphics  standard  that
originated on CompuServe.   It pre-dates CIS's current GIF standard, but it is
widely used because it is supported  by more graphics programs running on more
machines.   RLE files are  readily  available  on  both  CompuServe and GEnie,
especially in the  Macintosh  and Commodore file areas.   Although the size of
the data files vary with the  complexity of  the  picture, the number of bytes
generated is always the same.  The files were designed for screen display, but
a printer will do in a pinch, as PRTRLE shows.
:5 

 PRTRLE Notes 

   a. Version 2.0 updates (12/26/90, Gene Pizzetta):
      - Eliminated several CP/M 3-specific BDOS calls.
      - Added DU support
      - Eliminated warm boot on exit.
      - Incorporated library routines.
      - Translated to Zilog opcodes.
      - Added LST-status check.  Now accepts a file list.  
      - Aborts on ^C, but any other key skips to next file.  
      - Sets error flag.
      - Added configuration bytes and command line options.  
      - ZCNFG configuration.
      - Epson-specific  because  I don't  know  how  any other printers handle
        graphics.

   b. Version 1.1 updates (9/20/87, Gene Pizzetta):
      - Added page numbering and boldfacing in header.
