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BENCH07N.DAT
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1988-03-01
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6KB
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Welcome!
This is Project Printer, 1987, a task we have amusingly
subtitled "The Search for Spec." Those of you who have
participated in the printer blockbuster project in previous years
will notice small differences between those tests of the past and
this new undertaking. Those of you who are new to the project
will reach a definite conclusion: there's quite a bit of work to
do.
For your edification, enjoyment, and to give you something
to strangle in times of fruitless endeavor, we've prepared this
document. We urge you to read it first, before you start any of
the tests. It will save you quite a bit of frustration and no
small amount of time.
The Tests
You'll be testing a variety of printers, dot matrix, letter
quality a.k.a. "Daisey Wheel" and laser printers. The tests
we've compiled are meant to extract the ultimate performance
comparisons across the varied possibilities by highlighting as
many compatible features as possible.
You must fill out ALL information on the front page of the
script. It's not an option, and whatever isn't available from
the manual should be available from the printer manufacturerer or
vendor. By the way, read the printer's manual. That's not a
suggestion.
Check the PRBENCH subdirectory on the computer you're using.
You should have the following files:
If you see more than these, that's fine. But you should have all
of these files.
Start the program by typing PRBENCH at the DOS prompt. You
can do this either from the root directory which contains a
BATCH file called PRBENCH.BAT or from the PRBENCH subdirectory.
The questions will appear either sequentially or in menu format.
The first two questions are simple. You'll need to enter
the proper name of the printer you're testing make sure you use
the correct model designation as there may well be more than one
printer from the same source. Follow that with it's tag number.
You'll be asked if the data you've entered is correct or not.
Respond accordingly.
Project Printer '87 - The Search for Spec 1
Now for the tough part. This section of the program asks
for 10 pair of printer control codes that might possibly be used
to enhance the printing of the printer you're testing. These
codes should be clearly delineated in the printer's manual.
Note: the list of control codes listed in the back of the IBM
ProPrinter manual does not show an OVERSTRIKE code, yet the codes
for this feature are mentioned within the body of the manual.
That's why it's important that you actually read the manual.
You can enter each control code directly from the keyboard. If
the code you need falls below ASCII value 32, hold down the ALT
key and type the numbers from the keypad, NOT from the top row of
numbers at the main keyboard section . When you release the ALT
key, that code will appear. E.g. DC2 is ASCII 18, so hold down
ALT and sequentially press 1 and 8; then release ALT.
Don't be alarmed if not all of these printer features apply
to your printer. The ones we've chosen represent the optimum
number. If you come across a feature that's not supported like
Italic, for example, press the END key through both turn-on and
turn-off entry routines. If you hit the wrong key by mistake,
just press DEL. It deletes the last entry. And, of course, you
can bypass the entire procedure at the start or at any time by
pressing the HOME key. IF THE PRINTER YOU'RE TESTING IS A
POSTSCRIPT PRINTER, DEFINITELY BYPASS THIS SECTION OF THE TEST.
Remember, Bold printing is, in theory at least, a
horizontally mis-aligned overprint of characters while emphasized
also called double strike, is a re-strike of one character
directly on top of another.
Next you'll be asked to specify the port to which your
printer is connected. In almost all cases it will be either
LPT1: for parallel printers or COM1: for serial printers.
We've included other choices for emergencies. If you select
either of the COM ports, you'll also be asked for the baud rate
and data characteristics parity, stop bits, word length your
printer needs. CHECK THE PRINTER'S MANUAL FOR THIS INFORMATION.
The emulation section follows and notice that we are looking
for only seven possible emulations. Select the one that applies
to your printer or press ESC if none apply.
There's a brief rest as you're asked to verify the port,
data characteristics if applicable and emulation you've just
entered.
Make sure you're printer is turned on, on line, filled to
the brim with paper and that the paper is set to top of form.
You're about to enter the wonderful world of printing.
Project Printer '87 - The Search for Spec 2