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- A R T C O P Y
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- Version 2.00
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- BGI Device Drivers
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- for Hewlett Packard LaserJet
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- Epson Compatible Dot Matrix Printers
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- and
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- HPGL Pen Plotters
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- Copyright (C) B. McAra Software 1991
- All Rights Reserved
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- ArtCopy
- License Agreement
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- ArtCopy is the property of B. McAra Software. Users
- are permitted to use this software subject to the following terms
- and conditions:
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- You may use this software on a single machine and make copies
- of this software for backup purposes. Other than this you
- may use this software as if it were a book - meaning it may
- be used by any number of people and may be moved from one
- computer to another providing that there is no possibility
- that it may be used by more than one person at one time. In
- the case of the Introduction Package you may give copies to
- others provided that the entire package (all files) are included
- and that no modifications are made to the files. Although
- the Introduction Package is free I request that you register
- your copy with me (at no charge) in this way I can notify you
- of updates.
-
- Programs written with or using ArtCopy may be used, given away
- or sold provided that such programs bear a copyright notice
- either your own or "Created Using ArtCopy (C) B. McAra Software
- 1990, All Rights Reserved" and that only the .BGI files are
- distributed with such programs (eg: no source or support files
- which are part of ArtCopy or were created with ArtCopy may
- be included). In the case of the Introduction Package the
- entire package must be distributed with your program in un-
- modified form. Developers Package licensees may distribute
- the file SETUPPRN.EXE along with the BGI files.
-
- Limited Warranty:
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- I will replace the original disks for free for a period of
- one year in the case of physical defects provided you return
- the defective disk. I specifically disclaim all other warranties
- express, implied or statutory including but not limited to
- merchantability or suitability for a particular purpose. In no
- case will I be liable for any loss of business profit or any
- other damage including but not limited to special, incidental,
- consequential or other damages.
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- ArtCopy
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- CONTENTS
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- Introduction
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- Using the ArtCopy Drivers with Borland Compilers
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- User Configuration Files
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- Order Form
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- Enhancement Request/Bug Report Form
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- ArtCopy
- Introduction
-
- ArtCopy is a collection of printer driver files which
- make use of the Borland Graphic Interface to provide programmers
- who use Borland compilers (Turbo Pascal, Turbo C, C++ and Prologue)
- with a convenient way of producing hard-copy output of screen
- graphics.
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- These drivers do not merely "dump" screen buffers to the
- printer. The full resolution of the output device can be used.
- Graphic library calls such as Line, Circle, PieSlice etc. produce
- output on printers and plotters.
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- ArtCopy is written in assembler to maximize speed and
- to minimize memory requirements leaving as much memory as possible
- for your programs and data. Since printers like the HP LaserJet
- can produce full page output at 300 dots per inch the graphics
- buffer could be as large as 1 megabyte. ArtCopy uses temporary
- files or Expanded Memory (EMS) to swap data to disk thus keeping
- conventional memory demands of the driver to about 5000 bytes.
- If Expanded Memory (EMS LIM Specification) such as Intel Aboveboard
- or CEMM, is available the drivers will use this for rendering
- graphics otherwise the drivers will use a temporary disk file.
- The temporary file can be directed to a RAM disk to maximize speed
- (Developers Package only).
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- ArtCopy is available in two versions: an Introduction
- Package which provides basic printer functionality with BGI
- files for laser printers, dot matrix printers and HPGL plotters
- and The BGI Developers Package which provides more advanced
- printer support including user configuration settings and
- complete source code.
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- The Introduction Package is available for free - include $5
- for shipping and handling and can be used to create programs for
- sale or distribution subject to certain restrictions (see
- Licensing Agreement). The Developers Package is available for
- $20 plus $5 shipping and handling and provides full customization
- capabilities. Programs created with the Developers Package may
- include user customized drivers or drivers which have been
- incorporated into the user program itself.
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- Upgrades from version 1.00 or 1.10 to version 2.00 of the
- Developers Package can be ordered for $5.00.
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- ArtCopy
- Using ArtCopy with Borland Compilers
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- ArtCopy driver files are loaded by the graphics library
- supplied with your Borland compiler in the same way that .BGI
- screen drivers are except that one extra step is required:
- using the InstallUserDriver function. See your compiler manual
- for details and review the sample code provided.
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- Printers differ from screens in several important ways
- from a programming point of view. First of all printers are
- attached to the computer by means of serial or parallel ports
- or a network device. ArtCopy uses DOS device handles to
- access printers however they are attached. Secondly dot matrix
- and laser printers require that graphics be encoded as "rasters".
- A raster is a series of bytes with bits representing dots where
- pins will hit or toner will be deposited. This means that the
- output must be prepared for the entire graphic page and then
- dumped to the printer. ArtCopy uses a temporary file or EMS to
- store the rasters while the picture is being created thus sufficient
- disk space or Expanded Memory must be available at run time.
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- In the case of the Introduction Package the MATRIX and
- HPPCL (LaserJet) drivers send output to the first parallel port
- on the PC and the HPGL (plotter) driver sends output to the COM1
- device. The Developers Package drivers use the .CFG file to
- send output to whatever device is required. A set up program is
- supplied to modify these settings.
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- Communications Settings
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- Device communication parameters are not set by the BGI
- driver. If the printer or plotter is attached to a serial port
- the port should be set up by your program or by the DOS MODE
- command (eg: MODE COM2:9600,e,7,1,p) before starting the program.
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- Scaling and Device Independence
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- To maintain device independence your programs should
- avoid using absolute values for graphic coordinates. Instead
- use GetMaxX and GetMaxY functions after calling InitGraph
- to obtain these values and then scale all coordinates to these
- values.
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- ArtCopy
- Using With Borland Compilers
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- Color
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- The HPGL driver allows for multi-color drawings by
- selection of pens. The SetColor function will cause the plotter
- to select the pen which corresponds to the color number parameter.
- SetColor(0) will cause the plotter to put the pen away. Your
- program should prompt the user to mount pens in the correct order
- before issuing drawing commands.
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- Paper Size
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- The Introduction Package always produces portrait mode
- output of half-page size on 8 1/2 x 11 pages on Laserjet and
- matrix printers. The Developer Package provides separate drivers
- for full page landscape mode drawing on these printers (MATRIXF
- & HPPCLF).
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- The HPGL plotter driver maps user coordinates to plotter
- P1 and P2 points. These points are determined by the paper
- size switch on the plotter or may be changed by the user from
- the plotter control panel.
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- Temporary Files
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- If Expanded Memory is not available ArtCopy uses a
- temporary file to hold the graphics raster data in order to
- minimize conventional memory requirements. By default this
- file (TEMP.$$$) is created in the current directory at
- run time and deleted when you call CloseGraph.
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- The Developers Package allows you to control which drive
- or directory is used. A .CFG file contains the drive and path
- names as required for each driver. Directing the temporary file
- to a RAM disk will improve the speed of the driver. However
- for maximum performance the use of Expanded (EMS) Memory is
- strongly recommended. My testing indicates up to a 20:1 speed
- advantage of EMS over a RAM disk.
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- If EMS is not available your program should ensure that
- sufficient disk space is available at run time for the temporary
- file.
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- ArtCopy
- Configuration File
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- The Developers Package contains drivers which use
- configuration files to determine which port will be used by
- a driver and which drive and directory will be used for
- temporary files. These files use the same name as the driver
- they are used with and have an extension of .CFG. For
- example HPGL.BGI will use HPGL.CFG.
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- The Developers Package also includes a configuration
- editor (SETUPPRN.EXE) which can be used to change the CFG files.
- This program may be included with any programs you sell or distribute
- to allow users to easily change the CFG file.
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- ArtCopy
- Order Form
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- Name ....................................
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- Address .................................
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- City ............... State/Prov ........
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- ZIP/Postal Code .........................
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- Phone Number (. . .) . . . - . . . .
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- I program in: --- Turbo Pascal ---Turbo C --- Borland C++
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- --- Other (specify) ..........................
- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
- Please forward the following: Price Shipping and Total
- Handling
- --- ArtCopy Introduction Package Free $5.00 $5.00 -----
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- --- ArtCopy Developers Package $20.00 $5.00 $25.00 -----
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- --- ArtCopy Developers Upgrade Free $5.00 $5.00 -----
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- Saskatchewan Residents Add 7% PST -----
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- Canadian Residents Add 7% GST -----
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- Total -----
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- --- ArtCopy Introduction Package
- REGISTRATION ONLY Free Free
-
- Version Number (See First Page of this DOC File) ......
- =====================================================================
- Check one:
-
- ....Cheque or Money Order Enclosed
-
- ....Please charge to my VISA/Master Card as indicated below:
-
- VISA Card Number .............................. Expires .......
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- Signature .......................................
-
- (Sorry I can no longer accept MasterCard orders.)
- ====================================================================
- Mail this form with your cheque or money order to:
-
- B. McAra Software
- 1449 Shannon Road
- Regina, Saskatchewan
- S4S 5L4
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-
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- ArtCopy
- Enhancement Request/BUG Report
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- Registration Number .....................
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- Name ....................................
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- Address .................................
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- City ............... State/Prov ........
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- ZIP/Postal Code .........................
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- Phone Number (. . .) . . . - . . . .
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- Date .................
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- Description of Problem
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- Suggested Solution/Improvement
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- .................................................................
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- .................................................................
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- .................................................................
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- Mail to:
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- B. McAra Software
- 1449 Shannon Road
- Regina, Saskatchewan
- S4S 5L4
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