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- BOTH.EXE
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- Release 3.50
-
- August 14, 1989
-
- -----------------------------------------------
- Copyright (c) 1989 by Peter F. Feldmann
- All Rights Reserved
- Limited permission is granted to individual users
- for private, non-commercial use and transmission
- to other individuals, provided these files
- are unaltered in any way.
-
- All other rights are explicitly reserved
- by the author.
- -----------------------------------------------
-
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-
- BOTH 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,
- etc. 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, . . .).
-
- Limited text formatting commands are included, but the user must as-
- sume responsibility to preset the printer with the correct formatting
- controls (ie., choice of font or type style, number of lines per
- page, characters per line, etc. etc.)
-
- USAGE:
-
- BOTH [[[D:]pathname\]filename.ext] <ENTER>
-
- If no filename is specified, BOTH prompts the user for a file
- to be printed. Wildcard file specifiers cannot be used directly,
- though a GROUP.BAT file which uses BOTH to print a group of specified
- files is included on the BOTH350 distribution diskette*.
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------
- * - sent to all registered users.
-
-
- BOTH 3.50 Documentation Page 2/7
-
-
- Once a file is specified, BOTH scans the entire file, searching for
- the widest line, the number of lines in the file, and checking for
- the presence of form feed characters in the text. The text file's
- "statistics" are displayed near the top of the screen for reference.
-
-
- FILE CONFIGURATION
-
- The following procedure helps BOTH determine the necessary informa-
- tion to print text files correctly to BOTH sides of a page. Default
- settings are shown in CAPS inside the brackets [].
-
- "Prepare to Print File [Y/n] ?"
- -------------------------------
- If "N" is entered, BOTH discards the current file and prompts the
- user for another filename for possible printing.
-
-
- "Print [60] lines/page ?"
- -------------------------
- If BOTH finds no form feeds in the file, the first question in the
- configuration menu asks how many lines of text per page are to be
- printed (60 is the default value). 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.
-
- LASER-JET USER'S NOTE: When using a Laser-Jet(tm) type printer, be
- sure that the printer's number of lines per page menu setting is at
- least three lines more than the total page length specified to BOTH.
- Check that the Laserjet's menu has been set to lock in the desired
- typeface.
-
-
- "Begin at page [1]?"
- --------------------
- Specify the beginning page number to print.
-
-
- "End at page [nn]?"
- -------------------
- BOTH automatically calculates the number of pages it will take to
- print the complete file at the number of lines per page rate you
- specified. To end at an earlier page, just type in its number.
-
-
-
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-
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- BOTH 3.50 Documentation Page 3/7
-
-
- "Print Odd or Even pages first? [O/e]"
- --------------------------------------
- "O" will print the odd pages of the file (ie., 1, 3, 5, . . . etc.)
-
-
- "Pause after each page? [y/N]"
- ------------------------------
- If "Y" is chosen, BOTH will pause after sending each page to the
- printer. The user may either continue or halt the print operation.
- This feature is useful if you're using a single sheet printer or just
- experimenting with the format of a page.
-
-
- "AutoFormat pages? [Y/n]"
- -------------------------
- BOTH has limited capabilities to lay out "raw" text files (eg.,
- source code) into reasonably formatted pages. The "AutoFormat" fea-
- ture subtracts two lines from each page: the first is used as a blank
- line, the second contains the filename, date, and page number of the
- file being printed. Because two lines are effectively removed from
- each page to implement this feature, the "AutoF" number given at the
- top of the screen may be a little larger than that given for pre-
- formatted text files. NOTE: BOTH also adds an extra three spaces on
- the left margin of odd numbered pages for binding purposes. Even
- numbered pages are unaffected.
-
-
- "Add line numbers to listing? [y/N]"
- ------------------------------------
- A simple line numbering feature in the format: "nnnn>" (adding five
- characters to the width of each text line) is available here for
- those interested in printing source code, etc.
-
-
- "Is printer limited to 80 columns? [y/N]"
- -----------------------------------------
- If you answer "Y" (yes) to this prompt, BOTH will automatically trun-
- cate text lines longer than 80 characters. This is done to avoid in-
- serting extra "wrapped" lines while the text is being printed. NOTE:
- BOTH will NOT add the three extra spaces on odd-numbered pages for
- binding space if this option is enabled. Also, if you use line num-
- bering (see above), BOTH will DEDUCT this space (5 spaces) from the
- maximum 80 character text line to be printed. Generally speaking, it
- is better not to use this feature unless it is absolutely necessary.
-
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- BOTH 3.50 Documentation Page 4/7
-
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- "Send output to LPTx ???? [1]" (NEW: BOTH350.EXE)
- ------------------------------
- BOTH needs to know which printer port (LPT1, LPT2, or LPT3) to use
- for its output. Type in the number 1, 2, or 3 to specify the port.
- If [ENTER] is pressed, BOTH will default to LPT1.
-
-
- "Specify Left Margin Space [0]"
- -------------------------------
- BOTH can generate a left margin space of "n" characters if you so
- desire. These spaces are in addition to the three spaces reserved
- for binding purposes as explained above. Type in the number of
- characters you wish added.
-
-
- "Print other side ... ? [y/N]"
- ------------------------
- Once one side has been printed, BOTH prompts the user, asking if the
- other side of the current file is to be processed. If the user types
- a "Y", 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, which will
- bring up the following query:
-
-
- "More Files to Print ? [a/y/N]" (NEW: BOTH350.EXE)
- -------------------------------
- If the user types "A" (Again), the same file will be readied for
- printing, but the user is prompted for new starting and ending pages,
- etc. If "Y" is entered, the user will be prompted for a new
- filename, otherwise BOTH will exit to DOS.
-
-
- Miscellaneous Notes:
- ---------------------
- BOTH is intended for use with "pure ASCII" text files, such as source
- code and many documentation files (eg., ".DOC" or ".TXT") such as the
- one you are now reading. While typical word processors embed an as-
- sortment of formatting characters into their files, many can be made
- to produce ASCII text files by "printing to disk". Unless originally
- written using the non-document mode, WordStar(tm) files will need to
- be filtered of higher ASCII characters before being printed. There
- are many such filter programs (such as WS2ASC.COM) available in the
- public domain.
-
- Another possibility is offered by the utility PRNDSK.COM, found on
- the BOTH350 distribution disk. It offers an easy way to redirect
- printer output to a disk file, which itself can later be sent to a
- printer, edited, etc.
-
-
- BOTH 3.50 Documentation Page 5/7
-
-
-
- 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 hand-edited before using BOTH. Files with
- embedded form feeds will usually print acceptably 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.
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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- BOTH 3.50 Documentation Page 6/7
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- 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 donations, they are much appreciated.
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-
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- DISTRIBUTION
-
- You are encouraged to share and distribute copies of this program
- free of charge, provided the distribution file (BOTH350.EXE) is kept
- intact, and that the files and documentation are not altered in any
- way. Users who contribute $20 will be registered and receive the
- next BOTH update free of charge.
-
- Commercial or multi-user licenses and custom versions to print docu-
- mentation files, etc. are available from I.C. Consultants for a
- modest fee.
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
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- BOTH 3.50 Documentation Page 7/7
-
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-
-
- ========== I N V O I C E ==========
-
-
- IC Consultants
- P.O. Box 902
- Santa Barbara, CA 93102
- (805) 684-0267
- BIX & MCIMAIL Name: PFELDMANN
- Compuserve ID 75156,2535 ** MCI # 248-9063
- sdn
-
- Name:
-
- Address:
-
-
-
- I enclose $_______________. Please register me as a user of BOTH350.
-
- __ Bug Report:
- I have encountered a problem using BOTH350. The equipment I am using
- includes:
-
- Computer: BOTH Serial #:
- (see bottom of ending screen)
- DOS version:
-
- Printer: Word Procesor:
-
- Problem description:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- I enclose a stamped, addressed envelope for your reply. (Registered
- users can contact the author via MCI Mail, CompuServe, or on BIX
- (Byte Information Exchange).
-
- -------------------- EOF BOTH350.DOC ------------------