Atari Mega Archive 1/Atari Mega Archive - Volume 1.iso/printing/pamflite.lzh/readme.plt

Text File | 1991-03-16 | 8KB | 167 lines

             Pamphlet Lite - Version 0.9  "READ ME"

   This is a summary of the features and capabilities of Self-Styled
Software's Pamphlet Lite booklet printer (PAMFLITE.PRG, V0.9 3/91).
Included are some brief instructions and some comparisons with the general
text file printer Two Column Printer (2COLUMNS.PRG) from which it is
derived.

   Version 0.9 is a preliminary version of Pamphlet Lite.  The only
printers directly supported are the Plus and 500 models of the HP Deskjet
(the supplied driver, PL_DJ500.DAT works with both).  It has no known bugs
(other than the same "Printer Ready?" problem found in Two Column Printer)
but more extensive testing is required.  Please send bug reports,
comments, or questions to:

        GEnie...JWC-OEO
or
        Mail...Self Styled Software
               321 J Street
               Sparks, NV 89431


   Documentation is limited to this file and the help options contained in
the program.  Pamphlet Lite is a very close cousin of Two Column Printer;
much of the information in 2COLUMNS.DOC also applies to it.  Two Column
Printer is available in the Atari ST sections of GEnie (as 2COLUMNS.LZH)
and Compuserve (as COLUMS.LZH).  Like Pamphlet Lite, it is a free program.


What does it do?

   Pamphlet Lite prints text files in book/pamphlet format.  It uses
landscape mode two sided printing on 8.5 x 11 inch paper to give four
5.5 x 4.25 inch pages on each sheet of paper.  Sheets are put together by
stapling them in the middle, between the pages.  Alternately the sheets
could be folded or cut in the middle, and then added to a half sized three
ring binder after punching the necessary holes.  Each page can have a
heading consisting of the page number or the page number and pamphlet
name.

   A cover/tile sheet may be added but it would have to be done with a
separate program.  You could leave room for illustrations in the body of
your text by adding a series of blank lines;  these illustrations also
would have to be added by another program.

   I put this program together at the request of a user of Two Column
Printer who wanted a quick and dirty booklet printer.  For my own use I
have found it to be great for adding README files and other supplemental
documentation to the binders that some commercial programs use for their
manuals.


How does it differ from Two Column Printer?

   The biggest difference between Pamphlet Lite (PL) and Two Column
Printer (TCP) is the order in which "columns" are printed on each sheet
and the way the sheets are bound together.

   TCP prints two consecutive columns on each side of a sheet of paper
...each of these sides constitutes a "page".  The text from the bottom of
one column continues at the top of the one next to it.  The sheets are
bound together along their left side.

   With PL, each "column" becomes a page and the sheets are bound together
between these columns/pages.  On a given sheet of paper the text from the
bottom of one column/page normally does not continue at the top of the
one next to it.

   TCP prints multi-columned "magazines", PL prints "books".  TCP uses
paper more efficiently and is the better choice for general purpose text
file printing.

   PL does not have all the features/options found in TCP.  Some of these
are:  No single sided printing; no blank line filter; and no "low-memory"
format option.

   Features/options found only in PL include:  User specified document
name (instead of the file name); heading underline option; and a "no page
number" option.


Instructions

   Pamphlet Lite will lead you through the necessary steps and has
several "help" options and bailout points if you get lost.

   The only semi tricky part comes when you reload the paper for the
second side of the printout since each sheet will have two non-
consecutive page numbers on it.  Here's how to keep the sheets in order:

    First, just to let the sheets build up in the printer tray until
    the first side is done.  This will leave the sheets print side
    up and in reverse order.  Leave them print side up throughout
    the paper change.

    Remove the whole stack from the printer.  Take the top sheet off
    the stack and lay in on your desk.  Take the next sheet off the
    top of the stack and lay it on top of the previous sheet, repeat
    as necessary.

    Take the new stack and carefully even the sheets out.  These
    will go back in the printer with the printed side up and the odd
    numbered pages towards the outside of the paper tray (top of the
    sheet to the left if you're not using page numbers).  The odd
    page numbers should be in order (1 on top of 3 on top of 5...).

    Before you put the stack back in the printer, pull any unused
    sheets in the paper tray out by an inch or two.  Now put the
    printed sheets on top of them and push them both forward into
    the printer by tapping them with the movable rear paper holder
    on the Deskjet paper tray.

   You're ready to print.  The last couple of steps were done to help
ensure that the Deskjet does not pull in two sheets instead of one at some
point.  It will sometimes do this if the paper in the tray is not stacked
very evenly, especially if you are using thin sheets of paper.


Margins, in and out

   Both inner and outer margins will be 1/2 inch wide when you print with
lines set to their maximum possible width.  As shorter and shorter line
lengths are chosen, space is first added to the inner margins, then after
14 characters, space is added equally to the inner and outer margins.
Default settings give 1/2 inch outer margins and 3/4 inch inner margins on
each page.


Using other printers...landscape mode

   As stated, this version is designed specifically for the HP Deskjet
Plus and 500.  I have not included drivers for other printers because I do
not have access to any that can do landscape printing.  If you want to
make a driver for some other printer you can do the following:

    Edit a Two Column Printer driver that works with your printer and use
the supplied Deskjet Pamphlet Lite driver as a guide.  Add the codes that
set landscape printing to the end of the "initialize printer" sequence.
Replace the maximum characters per line listed for each font with the
font's pitch multiplied by 9 ("9" here is the paper length minus 2).  Try
the maximum page length used by the Deskjet as a first guess.  If by a
wonderful coincidence your printer automatically prints with a 1/2 inch
left margin in landscape mode (like the Deskjet), you are home free.  If
not, read on.

   Pamphlet Lite requires a 1/2 inch left margin for proper page alignment
but it contains no codes to ensure this is the case (none are needed for
the Deskjet).  If your printer does not do this by default you will have
to search your printer manual for a way to set the left margin in
landscape mode, figure out what's needed for a left margin of 1/2 inch,
and add these codes to your driver (a good place for this would be at the
end of the "initialize printer" sequence).  If you get a driver working
for a printer other than the Deskjet and are willing to share it, please
send me a copy at one of the address above.

Using other printers...wide carriage/portrait mode

   It should be possible to use Pamphlet Lite in normal portrait mode on a
wide carriage printer.  Each sheet would have to be manually inserted
sideways and aligned so that printing began 1/2 inch in from the left side
of the paper.  Edit a Two Column Printer driver that works with your
printer.  Change the "maximum characters per line" entry for each font to
the number you get by multiplying its pitch by 9.  Use the settings on the
Deskjet driver as a first guess for maximum page length.  You need not
change the "Fancy Heading" entries as with the PL_DJ500 driver.  These
codes will be ignored.