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README
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1999-01-31
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SetDevice V1.00 11.09.1998
Introduction
------------
Using SetDevice you can define the device used by the
printer.device for printing, thus removing the need for a device
redirection program (for instance MapDevice, NSDPatch). This is
especialy usefull with IO boards like MultiFace III, GVP IO
Extender, HyperCOM, IOBlix... . Only the output device specified
is used by the printer.device and no other port is blocked from
using because of redirection.
Note that since V2.04 the Amiga OS and printer.device does support
printing to basicly any device. However, the "Printer"
preferences program does not allow you to alter the output device
setting. Only the unit of the output device can be altered after
starting "Printer" preferences using the UNIT tool type/keyword.
Instead of allowing the user to enter the device in Printer
preferences, Commodore deviced to leave this job to the
programmers of the IO devices to supply the necessary tool.
However, most of those never did the job. Using SetDevice you can
alter the system preferences so that the printer.device will
automaticly use the output device you want. Stop using MapDevice
and other hacks.
Requirements:
-------------
Kickstart 2.04 (or later).
Installation:
-------------
Basicly no installation is needed. However, it is recommended you
do drag the SetDevice program to your systems Prefs drawer.
Startoptions
------------
SetDevice can be started from Workbench or Shell. Following
options can be provided as shell argument or as tool type (click
ONCE on the programs icon and than use the "Information" menu item
of the Workbench to access the programs tool types) when starting
from Workbench):
USE/S and SAVE/S:
You must specify at least one of these keywords in order to set
the output device without showing the user interface of SetDevice.
Similar to preferences editors, USE does only alter the temporary
preferences in ENV: while SAVE also does set the device in the
permanent ENVARC: preferences file.
DEVICE=<devicename>
Use DEVICE in order to specify the output device used by the
printer.device for printing. For instance, MultiFace III users
can use: SetDevice DEVICE=pit.device UNIT=0 SAVE in order to set
the output device for their IO board.
UNIT=<unitnumer>
Here you can specify the output device unit. The setting is
identical to the Unit setting offered in the Printer preferences
program when starting the preferences program with the UNIT option.
PUBSCREEN=<screenname>
The SetDevice window is opened on the default public screen. You
may specify a special public screen by setting the Tool Type
PUBSCREEN=<screenname> and the preferences program will open its
window on your application's screen. If you run the preferences
program from a Shell you can similar specify a screen with the
PUBSCREEN option. Note the screen name is case sensitive.
TOPAZ:
The SetDevice program is font independent, which means it uses any
system font you have chosen in Workbench Font preferences for
displaying the text in gadgets and windows. You can force the
preferences programs to always use the topaz 8 font by defining a
TOPAZ Tool Type or Shell keyword.
Notes
-----
SetDevice is normaly part of the commercial/shareware printer
software Studio/CanonStudio. IOBlix users are free to also use
this tool.
Note that the device name and unit defined by SetDevice is part of
the normal printer preferences setting of your Workbench. The
settings are stored in the same file as edited by the "Printer"
preferences program. The "Printer" preferences program usualy
does not change your settings unless you do change the settings in
a "complete" manner. For instance, if you do use the "Reset To
Default" menu item of the Printer preferences program, it will
also reset the output device set by the SetDevice program.
Changing indivual settings in the Printer preferences program will
not harm our output device settings.
As you might have noted, SetDevice does not offer a FROM option or
does allow saving the complete preferences. This is not necessary
as the setting is stored in the same profile as used by the
Printer preferences program. So if you do want to change the
device setting based on a previously saved setting file, simply
use the Printer preferences program for it. Otherwise you can
always use the DEVICE and UNIT argument with SetDevice to change
the settings in batch files without causing requesters or windows.
The device set with SetDevice is always used for output, no matter if
you specify Serial or Parallel output in Printer preferences.
Thus the default setting is no device name. In this case the
printer.device automaticly refers to parallel.device or
serial.device depending on the "Printer Port" setting in the
Printer preferences program.
For those who don't know what device to set for their IO boards:
Amiga internal parallel port: parallel.device
Amiga internal serial port: serial.device
MultiFace III parallel port: pit.device
MultiFace III serial ports: duart.device
GVP IO Extender parallel port: gvppar.device
HyperCom parallel port: hyperPAR.device
IOBlix: ioblixpar.device or ioblix12par.device
Bugs/Wishes/Contact
-------------------
In case you run into problems with this program, contact:
Wolf Faust, email: wfaust@compuserve.com
COPYRIGHT/DISCLAIMER
====================
Copyright ©1998 Wolf Faust. All rights reserved. All
distribution- and marketing rights to the software are vested in
Wolf Faust. The software has been provided to you strictly 'as
is', without warranty of any kind. In no event shall the
distributor and/or Faust be held liable for any loss or damages
arising out of any action, from whatever source, concerning the
use or inability to use the software. YOU MAY NOT USE, COPY, OR
TRANSFER THE PRODUCT, OR ANY COPY OR PORTION, WITHOUT PRIOR
CONSENT IN WRITING FROM WOLF FAUST.
More (c) 1986-1993 Commodore-Amiga, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduced and distributed under license from Commodore.