Atari Mega Archive 1/Atari Mega Archive - Volume 1.iso/printing/hputils.arc/P_OR_SAV/P_ORSAVE.TXT

Text File | 1990-04-01 | 19KB | 370 lines

Print oR SAVE --  an ALT/HELP vector stealer.....

These programs are Copyright 1989 Chet Walters

**** NO RIGHTS RESERVED ****

That's right!  Upload 'em anywhere.  Give 'em to anyone! However, just
keep the text file that goes with them _WITH THEM_! (Hey, even us
beleaguered ShareWare programmers are entitled to a little free
advertising).

The WHY...
I simply got tired of loading a separate program into memory then
rebooting or running something that stole the ALT/HELP vector depending
on what I wanted to do -- that is whether I wanted to SAVE the screen
as a PI? pic or whether I wanted to dump the screen to the printer (I
have an HP DeskJet).

The WHAT...
So, I wrote and ALT/HELP vector stealer that did both!  Yup, depending
on what keys you press, the Print oR SAVEr will either print the screen
on the printer or save it to a disk.  There are two versions, one for
HPDJ owners and one for regular printer owners.  Please read the
instructions below carefully for the one you want to use.


The HOW...
SAVING PI? pics with Print oR SAVE

The following is common to both programs so I will detail it only once
here since it applies to both. First, it's not necessary to hold the
key presses for any length of time (with the exception of the EJECT for
the DJ).  Just use a normal key press for the keys.  Whichever program
you use, it should be run from the AUTO folder though you can run it
from the desktop anytime and it will work OK.  Back up the program
you're going to use.  Then copy it to the AUTO folder. The programs
come defaulted to the root directory of drive A: for saving the PI?
pics.  You can change that, however, by running the appropriate SET
program.  Here's the ones to use:

If you _DON'T_ have an HP then:
   Use P_R_SAVE.PRG in the AUTO folder and set with P_R_SSET.PRG

If you _DO_ have an HPDJ or HPLaser then:
   Use HP_RSAVE.PRG in the AUTO folder and set with HP_R_SET.PRG

Run the appropriate SET program. You will be first asked to locate the
copy of the program to modify (normally the one you've copied into the
AUTO folder).  If you don't select the right program, then the SET
program will ask again and again until you get the right one or hit
CANCEL on the FSEL.  Once you choose the right one, you will be asked
to choose the path to which you wish your screen dumps saved as PI?
pics and whether you want to modify the program to remember that path.
Say YES and you're done.

With either program, pressing the RIGHT-SHIFT / ALT / HELP combination
will save the currently visible screen to the path you have set as an
appropriate Degas PI? picture file.  The program can save 26 screens
consecutively starting with the name SCREEN_A.PI? and ending with the
name SCREEN_Z.PI?.  It starts scanning with the 'A' and the first time
it encounters an empty slot, that's the name it will use.  With this in
mind, it's a good idea to often clean out the path of old pics since
this will speed the process of searching for an empty slot and also
will keep you from getting confused as to which pic is which.

Pic Saving Caveats...
Now, one is not supposed to go poking around accessing the disk and
saving screens while another program is running without first asking
that program's permission.  That's what we're doing here. We're
cheating.  Along down the road we're gonna crash the machine.  Someday,
sometime the inevitable bombs will appear.  Don't say I didn't warn
you. Eventually you'll come upon a situation where trying to save the
screen will crash the machine.  Make sure before you go to save a
screen, that you save any important work you might be in the process of
creating.  THEN save the screen with the RT SHIFT/ALT/HELP keys.  Also
make sure you don't press those keys when there is any disk or printer
I/O going on at the time.  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!  BTW -  if a save is
successful, you'll hear a bell chime.  If it's _NOT_ successful (disk
full, no names left, whatever) then you'll hear _no_ bell chime (or see
bombs maybe).  Too, if another program has moved the keyboard vector
after we're installed, the SHIFT KEY may be ingnored by the system
(then again maybe not).  If that happens, you won't be able to save the
screen but the print dump should still work (then again, maybe not).

USING P_R_SAVE.PRG...
 (if you have an HP DJ or LJ then skip this part)

When P_R_SAVE.PRG is installed, it will take up 630 bytes or so of your
memory (cheap, huh?).  Any time you press the ALT/HELP keys, you'll not
even notice that P_R_SAVE is there.  It will fall through to the
system's PRINT SCREEN routine and that'll be that.  But, you happen to
have a Rainbow printer and have a nice driver installed so that the
ALT/HELP keys will dump the screen in color, right?  So, you're
wondering what the heck you can do to use P_R_SAVE.  No sweat. Just
make sure that P_R_SAVE.PRG runs AFTER the program that installs
whatever custom driver you need for your printer.  P_R_SAVE will then
fall through that custom driver.  Easy, huh?  Run P_R_SAVE after any
programs that already steal the ALT/HELP keys and you won't know it's
installed unless you press the RIGHT SHIFT / ALT / HELP key combo and
then it'll save your screen.  Now, skip the next section and move on
down to the advertising section (hey, all I ask for my trouble in
writing this program and dox and taking the time to upload it and
making it easy for you to use is that you read my ad.  Small price to
pay... go ahead....)

USING HP_RSAVE.PRG

There are a few more things you DJ or LJ owners will encounter when
configuring your HP_RSAVE.PRG.  You will be asked to set some other
parameters.  You see, this ain't just a screen dump.  This is a real
fancy screen dump (at only 1600 bytes of memory when installed, it
ain't gonna be THAT awful fancy, but I think it's nice and you will
too).

LETTER or DRAFT mode (LEFT-SHIFT/ALT/HELP)

First of all, the program comes defaulted to DRAFT prints.  They turn
out real good looking in draft and you'll hardly notice the difference
in quality, but you'll REALLY notice the savings on your expensive ink
carts.  You can change the default to one of three things.  If you
choose PANEL, then it's up to you to set the quality with front panel
switches on the printer (at least the DJ, dunno about the laser).  If
you choose LETTER then that's the default.  If you choose DRAFT then
DRAFT it'll be.  However, unless you have chosen PANEL you can change
the default ON THE FLY for each individual screen dump!  If you've
chosen LETTER and you hold the LEFT-SHIFT/ALT/HELP keys then for this
dump only, you'll get a DRAFT screen dump (the front panel will switch
to DRAFT after the dump and remain that way so punch it if you need
LETTER for other things).  Just pressing ALT/HELP will still cause a
LETTER print with HP_RSAVE next time, so remember, the LEFT SHIFT key
will SHIFT your PRINTER into the opposite mode from the default for
THIS DUMP ONLY but the printer remains in that mode for ANY OTHER
program BUT HP_RSAVE.  The same applies to a DRAFT default.  The LEFT
SHIFT key will toggle LETTER for this dump only.  If you have chosen
PANEL as the default, then the LEFT SHIFT key is ignored.  Personally,
I have it set for DRAFT and hold the LEFT SHIFT key only if I need a
LETTER quality dump (boy do my carts last a long time and this also has
the bonus of cutting about 40% off the time it takes to print).

TWO SIZES  (CONTROL/ALT/HELP)

HP_RSAVE can dump in two sizes as well.  The SMALL size is roughly 4
1/4 by 2 3/4 inches.  The LARGE size chimes in at 6 1/4 by just under 4
inches.  Set the one you want as default (I like 'em small -- saves ink
and time).  You can change the size ON THE FLY by pressing the
CONTROL/ALT/HELP keys for a dump.  That will set the printer to the
OPPOSITE of the default like above. If you have SMALL set then for THIS
DUMP ONLY you'll get LARGE when you hold down the CONTROL key while you
press ALT/HELP.  Small size dumps will fit three to a page and large
will fit two.  That's why I included the following extra feature.

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