PC-SIG Library 8/PC-SIG Library CD-ROM (8th Edition) (1990-04).iso/201_300/disk0265/okimenu.doc

Text File | 1984-03-21 | 17.2 KB | 509 lines

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       *** OKIMENU ***


        OKIDATA  ML92


     PRINT  CONTROL  MENU


        USER'S  MANUAL




             Version 2.94       March 20, 1984




        Copyright (C)1984  BWare SoftWare EveryWare





This documentation is intended solely for use with the
OKIMENU.BAS print control menu program.  Sale of either the
program or this documentation is strictly prohibited.  The
information in this document has been carefully compiled and
tested, but no guarantee is made for its accuracy or suitability
for any specific purpose or configuration.





Both OKIMENU.BAS and this documentation are made available
through the Software Library of the Silicon Valley Computer
Society, P.O. Box 60506, Sunnyvale, CA 94088.


CGENERAL INFORMATIOND


OKIMENU.BAS is an IBM-PC BASIC program which is intended to
provide an easy-to-use facility for controlling the Okidata ML92
dot-matrix printer.  Thirty printer features and several related
printer functions are included in this program which should run
on any version of PC-DOS with Disk or Advanced BASIC, although at
least one function requires DOS 2.00 (or greater).  Either the
monochrome or color graphics monitors may be used.  Although the
program has not been tested with an Okidata ML93 printer, it
should function just as well as on the ML92.  Compatibility with
any other printer (including other Okidata models) would be sheer
coincidence.



*****  OKIMENU.BAS will CNOTD function properly on a printer  *****
*****  with the Okidata-IBM Plug 'n Play ROM's installed.   *****



OKIMENU should be run just as any other BASIC program is run on
the IBM PC, using either Basic or BasicA.  Selection of the
print codes and functions should be mostly self-evident, but the
following additional advice is offered.




CKEY USAGED


<Enter> means the gray key with the bent arrow on the right side
of the keyboard which is also called "return" or "carriage return".
This key is not used when selecting items from the menu, and will
normally be used only when entering responses which are more than
one character in length, such as a filename.

<Esc> means the gray key between F2 and number 1 at the top left
of the keyboard.  This key can be pressed at any time to "escape"
from the current selection.  If pressed when on the main menu
prompt, the entire screen will be cleared and rewritten.

To exit from this program, select menu item 6 to exit to your own
"menu" program (if you have one), menu item 7 to exit to BASIC,
or menu item 8 to exit to DOS.


CNOTE 1D

Make sure the printer is on and selected (SEL light on) when
using OKIMENU.  Although error conditions will be detected and
effectively handled, there will be a 30-second timeout period if
the printer is powered on but not selected.  If you use a print
spooler program (SUPERSPL, SPOOL, DSPOOL, etc.), obscure problems
might occur since printer errors might not be detected by
OKIMENU.

CNOTE 2D

There are three conditions which can cause your Okidata ML92 to
stop printing even though it appears to be in a ready state.
First, if the printer receives the deselect code (DC3, decimal 19
or hexadecimal 13), it will remain in the deselected state until
it receives the select code (DC1, decimal 17 or hexadecimal 11).
This code can be sent by choosing menu selection A (Clear print
buffer & reset printer).

Second, if the printer receives the control code for the start of
the VFU load sequence (DC4, decimal 20, hex 14), it will
interpret all following codes as part of the VFU load sequence
until it receives the termination code (?, decimal 63, hex 3F).
Since it is impossible to know whether this condition has been
accidentally created, the best solution is to turn off your
printer if menu selection A does not make it print.  (Arbitrarily
sending the termination code to the printer will cause the
question mark to print if it is not in the VFU load sequence.)

Third, if the printer receives the control code for entering
graphics mode (ETX, decimal 3, hex 3), nothing will print unless
the appropriate graphics codes are sent to the printer.  Since
the codes for exiting graphics mode (ETX-STX, decimal 3-2) will
cause the printer to enter graphics mode if it is not already in
that mode, the quickest solution is to turn off the printer if
menu selection A does not restore normal operation.

CNOTE 3D

Once the printer has been set for the various modes of operation,
it should retain those modes until it is turned off, your
computer is rebooted (Ctrl-Alt-Del or power off/on), or certain
programs are run which change the print modes.  Compiled BASIC
programs and BASIC version 1.0 appear to completely reset the
printer, and WordStar or other word processing programs may also
change the print modes.

CNOTE 4D

The original User's Manuals (blue or green soft cover manuals)
contain a number of errors and misconceptions.  An updated
version in a three-ring binder is now available by request if you
send proof of purchase (a copy of your purchase invoice) to
Okidata Corporation, Marketing Services, 532 Fellowship Road,
Mount Laurel, New Jersey 08054.


PRINT CONTROL CODES FROM A to Z


CA. Clear print buffer & reset printerD

All unprinted data in the printer buffer will be deleted.  The
following power-on defaults will be reset:

     Data processing print mode
     Single-width characters at 10 CPI and 6 LPI
     Enhanced and emphasized print off
     Superscripts and subscripts off
     Underlining off
     Space between characters is normal
           (for Correspondence Quality print mode)

Other conditions will remain unchanged, such as the left margin
setting, tab settings, page length.  Also see Note 3 above.

If printer does not print even though it appears ready, it will
be necessary to use the "master reset" (turn it off and back on).
See Note 2 above for further details.


CB. Data processing print modeD

Data processing characters will be selected.


CC. Correspondence Quality print modeD

Correspondence Quality characters will be selected.


CD. Downloaded Character print modeD

The downloaded character set currently stored in the printer's
memory will be selected.  If no characters have been downloaded,
no printing will occur while this mode is selected.  Use print
function 1 to download an italics character set.  Note that
turning off the printer will erase the downloaded character set.


CE. Enhanced printingD

Half-dot enhanced printing mode is turned on.  This feature can
be combined with emphasized printing, but it cannot be selected
if Correspondence Quality print mode is currently selected.


CF.  Emphasized printingD

Half-dot emphasized printing mode is turned on.  This feature can
be combined with enhanced printing, but it cannot be selected if
Correspondence Quality print mode is currently selected.


CG. Stop enhanced/emphasized printingD

Both enhanced and emphasized printing will be turned off.


CH. 10 characters per inchD

10 CPI (Pica) type size is selected.


CI. 12 characters per inchD

12 CPI (Elite) type size is selected.


CJ. 17 characters per inchD

17 CPI (Compressed) type size is selected.  Compressed print
cannot be selected in Correspondence Quality print mode; if this
menu item is selected in CQ mode, 10 CPI will be selected.


CK. Double-width charactersD

Character width will be set to twice the current width:
  5 CPI, 6 CPI or 8.5 CPI.

To return to single-width characters, select menu item H, I or J.


CL. 6 lines per inchD

Six LPI is selected.  It is not necessary to change the form
length (see menu item T).


CM. 8 lines per inchD

Eight LPI is selected.  It is not necessary to change the form
length (see menu item T).


CN. Underlining onD

Continuous underlining is turned on.


CO. Underlining offD

Underlining is turned off.


CP. Subscripts/superscripts onD

Subscripts or superscripts will be turned on, depending on your
reply to the prompt which will be issued.  If either one is
already turned on, it will be turned off before turning on your
new choice.


CQ. Subscripts/superscripts offD

Subscripts or superscripts will be turned off, if either is
currently turned on.


CR. Set variable horizontal tab stopsD

You will be asked to enter the column numbers of the desired tab
stops.  The columns can range from 1 to 255:  type any one-digit,
two-digit or three-digit number in this range.  Press <Enter>
after each column number has been typed.  The tabs will be
displayed each time you press <Enter>.  When you have entered all
desired tab stops, press <Enter> again and the tabs will be set.

Once you have pressed <Enter> after typing a column number, you
cannot backspace to erase it.  If you change your mind, press
<Esc> to return to the menu without setting any tab stops.
You may then select menu item R again.

Use of this function will cause all previously set tab stops to
be cleared.  You cannot set a few tab stops and then add more in
a separate command.  (This is a printer limitation, not a program
limitation.)

Only 14 tab stops can be set using this function (due to space
limitations on the display line), although the Okidata ML92 will
accept 16 tab settings.  After you have entered 14 tab stops,
they will automatically be sent to the printer without asking for
any more (you will not have to press <Enter> again).

A peculiar circumstance (bug) seems to exist on the Okidata ML92.
Only one tab stop can be set between columns 234 and 255.
Fortunately, this is a minor hindrance.  This program will not
request any more tab columns once you have entered a column
number greater than 233.  (If you could enter another tab
setting, it would print the column number instead of setting a
tab stop for it.)


CS. Set fixed horizontal tab stopsD

You will be asked to enter the number of columns between tab
stops.  Type any one-digit, two-digit or three-digit number
between 1 and 254, and then press <Enter>.  A maximum of 16 tab
stops can be set, but no tab stop can be set past column 255.

The tab stops will be displayed on line 24 for your review.
Press any key to set the tabs and return to the menu.  All
previously set tab stops will be cleared.  As noted in menu
item R above, only one tab stop will be set between columns
234 and 255.


CT. Clear all tab stopsD

All currently set tab stops will be cleared.


CU. Set form length (for form-feeds)D

You will be asked to enter the number of lines per page in order
to set the length of the form used by the form-feed (top-of-form)
command.  Normal form length is 11 inches, which is obtained by
setting either 66 lines per page at 6 LPI or 88 lines per page at
8 LPI.

It is strongly recommended that you select menu item L or M
before using this selection, so that the current number of lines
per page can be ascertained.  The prompt will display the current
setting:  6 LPI or 8 LPI if known, or "?" if not known.

Note that setting 66 lines per page at 8 LPI results in a form
length of 8.25 inches, while setting 88 lines per page at 6 LPI
results in a form length of 14.67 inches.

Any number of lines per page from zero to 99 can be selected.
Setting the form length to zero cancels any previous setting and
restores the setting of the FORM LENGTH dial on the front of the
printer.

This command does CNOTD set the number of lines which will
be printed on a page, since that is determined by the program
which is doing the printing.


CV. Set top-of-formD

The top-of-form position used by the form-feed command will be
set at the current paper position.  This is the same as pressing
the TOF SET button on the front of the printer.  Top-of-form will
also be set when the printer is turned on.


CW. Advance to top-of-formD

The paper in the printer will be advanced to the next top-of-form
as determined by the current form length and top-of-form settings
(refer to menu items U and V).  This is the same as pressing the
FORM FEED button on the front of the printer.


CX.  Skip 01-99 linesD

You can skip zero to 99 lines.  Just type any one- or two-digit
number and press <Enter>.  Skipping zero lines is the same as
doing nothing at all.  Skipping 1 to 99 lines is the same as
pressing the LINE FEED button on the front of the printer 1 to 99
times.


CY. Set left marginD

Type any one- or two-digit number from 1 to 90 and press <Enter>
to set the left margin.  All subsequent printing will begin
in the specified column number.

This setting is not changed by the reset printer command (menu
item A), so it must be specifically changed by this menu item if
you wish to have a different left margin.  Turning off the
printer will, of course, reset the left margin to column one.


CZ. Set space between charactersD

This setting applies only to Correspondence Quality print mode.

Type any one-digit number to set the space between characters in
multiples of 1/120th of an inch.  Zero will reset the spacing to
normal.


PRINT-RELATED FUNCTIONS 1 to 8


C1. Download Italics character setD

The program named OKITALIC.BAS will be loaded from disk to begin
the download of the 96-character Italics character set, which
will take approximately 12 seconds.  Once Italics have been
downloaded into the printer, they can be used by switching to the
Downloaded Character print mode (menu item D).

If OKITALIC.BAS is not on the diskette in the default drive, you
will be asked for the letter of the drive containing the program.
Once the download has been completed, OKIMENU.BAS will be
reloaded and the menu screen will be rewritten.


C2. Print test--all ASCII charactersD

All printable ASCII values (decimal 32 to 127) will be printed,
using the current print mode settings.


C3. Print an ASCII text fileD

This function provides a simple way to print normal ASCII text
files.  Tokenized BASIC programs cannot be printed by this
function; use the ASCII format option to save BASIC programs for
printing (SAVE "PROG",A).  Files created in WordStar's document
mode can be printed, but probably will not be formatted correctly
unless the "soft" carriage-returns are replaced by "hard"
carriage-returns.  Text files from other word processing programs
may or may not print correctly.

You must first enter the number of print lines per page.  Just
press <Enter> if the text file already contains the necessary
form-feeds.  Otherwise, enter the number of lines you would like
printed on each page; 54 lines at 6 LPI or 72 lines at 8 LPI on
an 11-inch page are usually good values.  You must, of course,
have set your choice of lines per page and the form length prior
to using this function (using menu items L, M and U).

You will then be asked for the name of the file you want to
print.  Be sure to type the complete filename (including the disk
drive identifier if not on the default drive) and the filename
extension.  For example, type B:OKIMENU.DOC, then press <Enter>.

If you type the filename incorrectly, or fail to specify the
drive identifier, or the file does not contain any data, or the
file is a tokenized BASIC program or other non-text file, an
error message will be displayed, and you will be asked to type
the name of the ASCII text file again.  Press <Esc> if you do not
wish to print any file.  You can use print function 5 if you do
not remember the name of the file you want to print.

If the specified text file is found, it will begin to print.
Please note that CNOD leading form-feed will be sent to the
printer, even if one is contained in the file, so you must
position the paper where you want printing to start before using
this function.  Form-feeds will be used between pages (if the
number of print lines per page was entered), AND at the end of
the printing.

You can terminate printing at any time by pressing <Esc>, but
please note that printing may continue if you are using a print
spooler/buffer.


C4. Print disk directory (BASIC 2.00)D

This function can be used only in BASIC 2.00 and DOS 2.00 (or
higher).  It will print the directory and disk space usage using
the BASIC SHELL command and the DOS DIR and CHKDSK commands with
output redirected to the printer.  Correspondence Quality print
mode at 12 CPI and 8 LPI will be used to print the information
starting in column one.

You must specify a disk drive letter:  only A through D are
valid.  If the drive is not ready, you will get the DOS error
message asking for "Abort, Retry or Ignore"; A or R is the
recommended response.


C5. Display disk directoryD

You must specify the drive letter of the desired disk:  only A
through D are valid.  The directory will be displayed using the
BASIC FILES command.  This function serves mainly as an aid in
identifying files for menu item 3.


C6. Exit to MENUD

This function can be used to exit OKIMENU and run your own
MENU.BAS program (if you have one).  If MENU.BAS is not on the
default drive, you will be asked for the correct drive letter.


C7. Exit to BASICD

This function will clear the screen and exit from OKIMENU to
BASIC in text mode with color enabled.


C8. Exit to DOSD

This function will clear the screen and exit to DOS.