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Text File | 1996-02-05 | 26.3 KB | 867 lines

BOTH.EXE(tm) Release 4.01 BOTH is a simple DOS utility which helps print plain ASCII text files to both sides of a page, resulting in output that looks like a book. BOTH is completely independent of printer control codes, so it can be used with any printer and any ASCII or "plain vanilla" text file. BOTH also performs some text formatting and line numbering chores if desired, to produce high quality printed output of ".DOC" type files that can be bound for later reference. Requirements: Any computer / printer combination capable of run- ning MS or PC-DOS 2.1 or higher. It will run with any version of DOS above 2.0, and in a DOS window under Windows 3.1, and in a VDM under OS/2 2.0 and above. Permissions, Warranties, & Etc. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Permission is hereby granted to individual users to evaluate this program for a thirty day period. Following this period, a fee of $20 must be sent to I.C. Consultants to license the program for private, non-commercial use. Business or commercial users, please contact IC Consultants for licensing information. This program may be distributed free of charge to other private users for EVALUATION ONLY, provided the files remain unaltered in their original distribution "package" (BOTH40.EXE). All other rights are explicitly reserved by the author. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- L I M I T E D W A R A N T Y BOTH is supplied to the user "as-is" for evaluation, and makes no claims other than being an evaluation package. The user is sole- ly responsible for the evaluation and utilization of this pack- age. It is not guaranteed to do *anything* at all, but if you use it for more than 30 days, you are required to license it from us. ----------------------------------------------------------------- IC Consultants P.O. Box 902 Santa Barbara CA 93102 7156.2535@compuserve.com Copyright 1996 by Peter F. Feldmann All Rights Reserved HOW BOTH OPERATES BOTH(tm) prints ASCII text files to both sides of the page in "book" or "magazine" style. BOTH does this by scanning the specified input file, then helps the user make decisions on specific page formats, such as how many lines/page to use, a left margin offset, etc. The printer should be configured with the user's choice of font, etc. before begining with BOTH. The file is printed as alternate pages (eg. odd side first, 1, 3, 5, 7, . . .). Once one side has been completed, reverse the paper and re- insert it into the printer to print the other side (eg. 2, 4, 6, . . .) on the same pages, resulting in a book-like document suitable for binding. INSTALLING AND USING BOTH. Copy the program BOTH.EXE to your hard disk, preferrably some- where on the PATH setting (see your OS manual for details). BOTH can be run in several different ways: (1) From the DOS command line, (2) From Windows(tm) and Windows95(tm), and (3) From OS/2(tm) as a program reference object. (1) From the DOS command line. ------------------------------ If you already know the name and location of the file you wish to print, just type: BOTH filename <ENTER> or you can use BOTH's "File-Finder" to select a file. Type: BOTH <ENTER> BOTH will bring up the main menu. Type "S" to invoke the "Select File" option to locate your file. NEW in BOTH version 4: If you just press the <ENTER> key, a sorted list of files in the current directory is shown in a spe- cial window, labeled "BOTH File Search". If you enter a wildcard pattern such as "*.DOC", that search pattern will be used to limit the display to files matching the pattern. Notice that the first file is highlighted in reverse video. You can use the arrow keys to move the highlighted cursor to each file in turn. Pressing <ENTER> selects the highlighted file. If the message "More Files" appears at the bottom of the window, it means that not all the files could be displayed, and that you need to be more specific in the wildcard search for those files. See your DOS help file under "Wildcards" for more information. 2. Using BOTH From Windows. ---------------------------- BOTH can be easily run from Windows using the File Manager, a DOS window, or by creating an icon in any Windows program group. To use the File manager, just open the File manager icon and go to the directory where BOTH.EXE resides and double-click on that filename. or, Open a DOS session by double-clicking on the DOS Window icon and run the program as shown in section 1. above. Be sure that the file BOTH.EXE is somewhere in the active DOS PATH. or, Create a BOTH program reference by copying the file BOTH.EXE to a utilities directory (eg. C:\UTILS) and use the Windows Program Manager to set up your application. Pick any DOS application currently in one of your Windows groups. Make a copy of this icon. Highlight the copied icon and press <Alt-Enter> to edit the properties. Substitute the path and the name BOTH.EXE for the "Command Line:" prompt (eg. C:\UTILS\BOTH.EXE). An icon can also be loaded for BOTH. It is supplied in the BOTH40 package as BOTHW.ICO. Go to the "Change icon" button, then click on the "browse" option. Clicking on the BOTH icon will then bring that up and match it to the BOTH program. 3. Using BOTH under OS/2. -------------------------- BOTH can be run as shown in section 1. above in a DOS window (VDM). Most users will find it convenient to creat a program reference object for BOTH. To do this, just drag a copy of a program template form the system | templates folder to the desktop. Fill in the path and program name settings. For the "parameters:" section, use "%*" (without the quotes). You can create your own icon or use the file BOTH-O.ICO supplied in the distribution file BOTH40.EXE. Once the BOTH program object has been created, it's a simple matter to use BOTH to print a text file by draging the icon for the file from your drives object to the BOTH object. BOTH will automatically read in the file for your use. SCANNING THE FILE TO BE PRINTED. Once a filename is specified, BOTH will scan the selected file and present you with formatting information before printing your file. Notice that BOTH shows you: 1. The filename of the file just scanned 2. The total number of lines in that file 3. The length in characters of the widest line and its location - in case you want to edit it 4. A suggested type/width of font for printing the file 5. The length of the file in pages at 60 lines/page The types of printer fonts that BOTH suggests are PICA ( 10 chars / inch ), ELITE ( 12 chars / inch ), and CONDENSED ( 15 chars / inch ). BOTH does not select or initialize printer fonts: these are for your information only. They will vary from one printer to another. It is left to you to initialize your printer with the correct font and line spacing information. NOTE: If the file has embedded form feeds (special characters that cause the printer to eject the current page), the display will alert you to that fact. BOTH will display (1) the number of form feeds in the file, and (2) the maximum number of lines / page in the file, which is assumed to be pre-formatted. If the file contains these form feed characters but has unusually large page sizes (or more than one form feed on one line), BOTH will report that as an error condition. You can then decide whether the file needs editing before printing. For example, you may wish to remove all form feeds and use BOTH's built-in automatic formatting feature to print the file. CONFIGURING YOUR TEXT FILE FOR PRINTING. Unless you've specified a custom configuration file (see "Ad- vanced Options", below), select the "Configure" option from BOTH's menu by typing "C". A window will appear with the title; "Edit Settings". There are 10 parameters you can set using this window. You can navigate from one to the next using your arrow keys. Most of these settings are self-explanatory, but here are some details: Lines per page? The default value is 60, but you can set this value to anything you wish, within the limits of your printer's capabilities. Notice that, as you change the setting, the number of total pages as shown in the 3rd line, "Ending Page", will change too, as BOTH calculates the total number of pages "on the fly". NOTE: if the file being scanned is pre-formatted with form feeds, this setting is marked "N/A" since BOTH cannot change pre-formatted files. Laser-Jet Users: be sure to have the printer's lines/page option set to two lines MORE than this setting to avoid extra form feeds. If the file has been pre-formatted with blank lines (so that there are 66 lines/page on a standard sheet), be sure to specify the exact number of lines which totally fill one page (at 6 lines/inch, a sheet 11 inches long would be filled with 66 lines), and answer NO to the "AutoFormat" prompt below. Make sure your printer is set to print 66 lines / page. Starting Page? The default is 1, but you can start printing on any page you wish. Ending Page? The default is the last page possible. Again, any valid number between 1 and the last page possible can be used. While testing BOTH, we suggest you set the program to print just pages one and two to see how the file prints on your setup. Binding space? If you're planning to punch your paper to insert it in a binder, this setting moves the text over the specified number of spaces on odd-numbered pages only. These spaces are ADDED to whatever the value you include for the left margin setting below. Left margin space? The text file's left margin on the printer is set here for both odd and even numbered pages. Use LPTn (0-1-2-3)? Use this setting to direct BOTH's output to the printer of your choice: LPT1, LPT2, or LPT3, depending on where your printer is configured. Most systems are set up for LPT1. REGISTERED users can also use the number "0" (not the letter "O"), which directs BOTH to print the output to a disk file. (See "Advanced Options") Print odd side first? Enter "Y" for odd pages, "N" (no) for even-numbered pages. (See "Advanced Options"). Pause between pages? Enter "Y" (yes) to have BOTH stop after each sheet is sent to the printer. This is useful for testing or when printing using manual feed sheets. Add auto formatting? If "Y" (yes) is selected, BOTH prints a blank line and a line with the date and filename and page number at the bottom of each sheet. Two lines are subtracted from each page of text to enable BOTH to do this, so that 58 lines of the file are printed if the lines/page setting is set to 60. If "N" (no) is selected, BOTH will print the file "as-is". Add line numbers? This is handy if you're printing source code or other text which you'd like to be able to refer to by line numbers. NOTE that se- lecting this option will add an extra 6 spaces to the left side of all the text being printed. Navigate up and down through these options until you're all set to print. The <HOME> and <END> keys will move to the top and bottom of these settings respectively. The <F10> key or <ENTER> exits this setup window. NOTE: The <ESC> key will always get you out of any operation and will exit to the DOS command line from the top menu. ---------------------------------------------------------------- REGISTERED USERS: Instead of resetting custom options for each file as you go, the registered version of BOTH allows you to save your favorite settings in one or more configuration files, which can be loaded when BOTH is run. See "Advanced Options", below. ---------------------------------------------------------------- PRINTING THE FILE. Once the file is chosen and you've set the configuration, press the "P" key to send the file to your printer. A window will ap- pear showing the settings you've specified, and will give you a final chance to review them before printing. If you wish to make changes, press <ESC>. To print, press <ENTER>. Notice that as BOTH prints the selected pages, a window appears showing the lines printed, pages printed, and the pages being skipped. Pressing <ESC> during this process will pause the pro- gram and prompt you to either stop or continue printing. NOTE: if your printer is accessed through a spooler, BOTH may have sent several pages to the spooler before it is halted, and the spooler will have to be cleared. This is why we suggest printing just one page first to make sure your settings produce the results you desired. To give BOTH the maximum control of your printer, dis- engage the spooler before printing. See your computer / printer manual for details on your system. When BOTH is done with a file, the prompt: "Print other side ... ? [y/N]" will appear. If you type a "Y" (yes), the second side will be sent to the printer, keeping all user-supplied parameters exactly the same as for the first side printed (ie., the same page size, beginning page, ending page, left margin, etc.). To change any parameters, type "N" to this prompt, then "C" to re-configure your file. NOTE: BOTH does NOT send control codes to the printer other than a form feed at the end of each page. This means that BOTH should work with ANY printer, but you must configure your printer before starting BOTH to set the typeface, lines/page, etc. Laser Printer Users: If you are having printer "time-out" prob- lems, try placing the command:"MODE ,,p" in your AUTOEXEC.BAT. Be sure that the printers lines / page setting is at least two lines per page more than your setting on BOTH. If it is not, you will get blank pages ejected from your printer between the printed ones as the printer "believes" the pages are too long. ADVANCED OPTIONS 1. Configuration Files. If you're like most BOTH users, you'll probably develop preferred settings to match most of the text files you print with the printer you use on a daily basis. Rather than using BOTH's built-in defaults, you can configure BOTH to use your own default settings, so that you can skip the configuration step in the printing process, either in part or entirely. The registered version of BOTH allows you to create one or several custom con- figuration files which can be stored anywhere on your hard disk that is accessed by the "PATH" setting in your current environ- ment (see your DOS manual if you don't know about the "PATH" com- mand.) To create a configuration file, fill out the parameters using the "Edit Settings" menu from the configuration option as described above. Then, press the <F9> key. You'll be prompted for a file name. Choose any valid file name (eg. "BOTH.CFG") and press en- ter. If you don't specify the extension, the ".CFG" will be added by default. You've now created a configuration file that can be loaded automatically when BOTH is invoked, or loaded from the "Edit Settings" menu when the <F3> key is pressed. 2. Loading configuration files automatically. To have BOTH use your new configuration file automatically, put the line "BOTH=cfgfilename" in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Where "cfgfilename" is the name of the configuration file you wish to use. BOTH will load that file and inform you that it is being used to set the formatting and printing parameters. You can change this file or create new variations at any time by using the "C" configuration option from the main menu. 3. Loading configuration files within BOTH. To load a configuration file while BOTH is already running, go to the configuration menu by pressing "C". Then press the <F3> key. You'll see a prompt to enter a configuration file name. Pressing <ENTER> at that prompt will bring up a selection of all files ending in ".CFG" in the current directory. You can pick the one you wish to use (or create a new one "on the fly" as mentioned above.) You can also reset all settings to a preset default value of your choice at any time by pressing the <F2> key. 4. Command line parameters This new version of BOTH permits registered users to customize the program with special command-line options that can be typed at the DOS command line or invoked in a .BAT file each time BOTH is used. The parameters can change the color scheme of the pro- gram, change the current page number of the file being printed, or use BOTH to eliminate extraneous blank lines to maximize the savings in space by "compressing" the text files while they are being printed. The full BOTH command line could look like this: BOTH [ filename /F:nn /B:nn /H:nn /P:nn /S:nn ] Any combination of the parameters can be used, but they must be separated by slashes and spaces as shown, and the numeric values must be preceded by a colon ":". /F:nn sets the foreground color, where "nn" is a number from 0 to 15. /B:nn sets background color. The number range may be limited to 0-7 or 0-15, depending on the type of hardware you're using. Experiment to see the effects you get on your sys- tem. Pressing <ESC> a few times will always exit you back to the DOS prompt and your previous color scheme. /H:nn sets the highlight color. ------------------------------------------------------- The color values for the numbers used above are: 0 Black 8 Dark Gray 1 Blue 9 Light Blue 2 Green 10 Light Green 3 Cyan 11 Light Cyan 4 Red 12 Light Red 5 Magenta 13 Light Magenta 6 Brown 14 Yellow 7 Light Gray 15 White ------------------------------------------------------- /P:nn Can be used if you're printing a large file divided into smaller file segments, and you want to set the starting page number to a value higher than 1. If you want to start the page numbers with 100 for example, just use P/:100. /S:nn Some BOTH users have suggested that we incorporate a way to eliminate the extra blank lines that some text files contain. This parameter is the "skip" setting, and the number "nn" is set to the maximum number of successive blank lines permitted in the file output. For example, the parameter "/S:2" will cause BOTH to skip any succeed- ing blank lines after two such have been printed. "S/:0" will eliminate *all* blank lines from your document. BOTH /? brings up a simple help screen. 5. Printing to disk. REGISTERED users can tell BOTH to send the output to a disk file instead of the printer. This option is handy to test formatting parameters, or to line up a group of files to be printed sequen- tially. To print to disk, specify "0" at the Lptn? prompt. You will then be prompted for an output file name. Do NOT specify an extension, since BOTH will add the extension ".ODD" for the odd- numbered pages and ".EVE" for the even-numbered ones. NOTE: Un- less you specify a disk drive and/or path for the output file, BOTH will place the output file in the same directory as the cur- rent input file. So if you want to send output to a ram disk, for example, be sure to specify the disk drive along with the output filename (eg. "D:\TEMPFIL"). MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 1. Files BOTH can (and can't) print. BOTH is intended for use with "plain vanilla" ASCII text files, such as source code and many documentation files (eg., ".DOC" or ".XT", such as the one you are now reading.) BOTH can NOT print word-processor-type files with embedded control characters, for example, files generated by the Windows word processor "Write", and having an extension .WRI. While many word processors embed an assortment of formatting characters into their files, most can be made to create plain ASCII text files by "printing to disk". If you have such a file and want to print it using both, make a "print-to-disk" copy and use that as the source file for BOTH. 2. PROBLEM FILES: Text files which have been specially treated to double-print lines by omitting line feed characters (such as the documentation for some versions of PROCOMM), or by including embedded printer control characters, may have to be edited before using BOTH. Files with embedded form feeds will usually print ac- ceptably using BOTH "as-is". If problems are encountered, try removing the offending characters before printing the file. Any line with an embedded form feed will be processed to place the form feed at the end of that line, thus keeping all characters in that line on the same page. You may wish to place form feeds on separate lines, or at the end of text lines. 3. SPECIAL NOTE: We'd suggest not attempting to print a 700 page book with BOTH before giving it a test file or two (including this .DOC file). Any bug reports would be gratefully received. Thanks to all those who contributed to the success of previous versions of BOTH with comments, suggestions and of course, registrations. They are much appreciated. 4. TECH SUPPORT Support via email is available ONLY to REGISTERED USERS of BOTH. The best way to contact us is on the Internet. Our email address is: 75156.2535@compuserve.com (alternate: pfeldmann@bix.com). Our mailing address is: IC Consultants P.O. Box 902 Santa Barbara CA 93102 (be sure to enclose a stamped, addressed envelope for a reply). If you encounter what you think is a malfunction or "bug", send us a copy of the following report form. We'll try to solve the problem for you as quickly as possible. PROBLEM REPORT --------------------------------------------------------------- Send to: IC Consutlants, PO Box 902, Santa Barbara CA 93102 or via email to: 75156.2535@compuserve.com Name: email or mail address: BOTH registration number: ---------------------------------------------------------------- I have encountered a problem using BOTH. The equipment I am using includes: Computer: BOTH Version number: OS type and version number: Printer: Word Processor: Problem description: --------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Please do not call I.C. Consultants by phone for support. We cannot provide telephone support for this product, nor can we provide email support for unregistered users . . . sorry! HOW TO REGISTER BOTH Persons are encouraged to share and distribute copies of this program free of charge, provided the distribution file (BOTH40.EXE) is kept intact, and that the files contained therein are not altered in any way. After a 30-day trial period, you are required to register the program with us if you wish to keep using it. Persons who send in a license payment will receive a registration number which will unlock all the advanced features of the program, and will enable them to receive technical support via email. We will send licensees this number via the fastest possible route (usually a reply via email). Commercial or multi-user licenses and custom versions to print documentation files, etc. are available from I.C. Consultants. Licensing. The license fee for individual users of BOTH is: New User: $20.00 U.S. Upgrade: $10.00 U.S. There are two ways to license your copy of BOTH: A - Via CompuServe's on-line software registration program. Ac- cess CIS and type GO SWREG. Follow the directions to find the BOTH program in the software database ID# 9823. Your registration will be sent via email and your CompuServe account will be billed for $20. New copies only - not for upgrades! B - By mail. Send us a copy of the enclosed order form with a check payable to "IC Consultants" for the number of copies you wish to register. Include a stamped envelope for fastest ser- vice. We will return a personalized registration number for each copy of the program you wish to install. If you are upgrading from an earlier version, be sure to include your customer number. If you want a pre-registered copy of the latest version mailed to you on a diskette, please enclose an additional $10. and specify the diskette size ( 5-1/4 or 3-1/2 ). In either case, persons who send in a license payment will receive a registration number by return email, or by U.S. surface mail. Entering the number from the "R - Registration" op- tion will unlock all the enhanced features of the program, and will enable them to receive technical support via email if neces- sary. The "registration reminder" and delay at the end of the program will disappear. Once BOTH is registered, you will notice that the registration option has disappeared from the main menu, and that all the ex- tended features are now available for you. The most useful fea- ture is the ability to create and read configuration files (as many as you like) to set up BOTH for printing documents as you best like them. You can also specify a new color scheme from the command line, as well as have the program eliminate extra blank lines from text files, thus saving even more paper during print- ing. You will have the satisfaction of helping to support the shareware concept which provides useful programs for a fraction of the price of commercially-distributed software. # # # # ---------------------------------------------------------- "BOTH" is a Trademark of I.C. Consultants. "Windows" and "Windows95" are trademarks of Microsoft Corp. BOTH.EXE remains the property of Peter Feldmann and IC Consultants.