home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- 8 July 1989
- Mark C. DiVecchio
- 9888 Carroll Center Road, Suite 113
- San Diego, CA 92126
- (619) 549-4056
- RBBS (619) 549-3927
-
- Dear User of LPTx,
-
- Here are all of the latest versions of LPTx. The different
- versions are not replacements of each other but are different ways of
- doing the job. The latest is version 7.00. This version works best
- under all versions of DOS and includes a pop-up window for turning
- LPTx on and off from within an application program.
-
- This program attempts to do things which are strictly illegal in
- DOS. DOS is not re-entrant and with LPTx I try to make it so. Though I have
- tried to make this a solid and safe program, I cannot be responsible for
- its use. Use this program at your own risk.
-
- -----------------------
- User-Supported Software
- -----------------------
-
- This program and documentation are copyrighted by Mark C.
- DiVecchio.
-
- Permission to copy:
-
- Individuals, clubs and other non-profit organizations are
- granted permission by the author to freely copy this program and
- documentation and share it with their members, so long as:
-
- - No price is charged for the software or documentation.
- However, a distribution cost may be charged for the cost of
- the diskette, so long as it is not more than $9 total.
-
- - Club members are informed of the user-supported concept and
- encouraged to support it with their copyright fees.
-
- - The program and documentation are not modified in any way
- and are always distributed together.
-
- Schools, universities, and other non-profit organizations are
- granted permission by the author to copy LPTx for use on other
- computers and at other locations in the organization, so long as:
-
- - The full fee of $25 has been paid for the original copy of
- the program.
-
- - A usage fee of $40 is paid for each additional building
- where LPTx will be used. Within each building for which
- the usage fee has been paid, LPTx may be copied freely for
- use on any other computer in that building. Contact the
- author if you would like to make other arrangements.
-
- Commercial users of this program are required to submit the
- copyright fee. Commercial and site licenses as well as source
- code licenses are available. The site license is handled as a
- graduated per copy fee. Contact the author.
-
- The User-Supported concept:
-
- User-Supported Software
-
- If you are using this program and find it to be of value, your
- copyright fee will be appreciated. ($25 is suggested)
-
- Mark C. DiVecchio
- 9888 Carroll Center Road, Suite 113
- San Diego, CA 92126
-
- Regardless of whether you pay the copyright fee, you are
- encouraged to use, copy and share this program.
-
- User-supported software is an experiment in distributing
- computer programs, based on these beliefs:
-
- - That the value and utility of software is best assessed by
- the user on his/her own system.
-
- - That the creation of personal computer software can and
- should be supported by the computing community.
-
- - That copying of programs should be encouraged, rather than
- restricted.
-
- Anyone may request a copy of a user-supported program by
- sending a blank double sided double density, 360Kb formatted disk
- (without DOS) to the author of the program. An addressed,
- postage-paid return mailer must accompany the disk (no
- exceptions, please). A copy of the program, with documentation
- on the disk, will be sent by return mail. The program will carry
- a notice suggesting the payment of a copyright fee to the
- program's author. Paying that copyright fee is completely
- voluntary on the part of each non-commercial user. You can also
- call my RBBS at 619-549-3927 for the latest news.
-
- Free distribution of software and voluntary payment for its use
- eliminates costs for advertising and copy protection schemes.
-
- Users obtain quality software at reduced cost. They can try it
- out before buying, and do so at their own pace and in the comfort
- of their own home or office. The best programs will survive,
- based purely on their quality and usefulness.
-
- Please join the experiment.
-
- If you believe in these ideals, the copyright fee is solicited
- to help make them work.
-
- --------------------------
- Programs on this disk are:
- --------------------------
-
- LPTX301 Fixed a small bug which sometimes causes LPTx
- to hang when first loaded.
-
- LPTX401 Corrects the same bug as LPTX301
-
- LPTX500 Version which uses DOS critical section flag and
- takes over both interrupt 17h and 21h.
- Works better under DOS 3.x but does not capture
- as much output as LPTX300.
-
- LPTX600 Version which uses a combination of the DOS critical
- section flag and the timer interrupt 08h to empty
- memory buffers. I've tested it under DOS 3.1 with
- the software that I have. Look at the associated
- DOC file for the programs that cause trouble.
-
- LPTX700 Version based on the functionality of V6.00 but
- includes a pop-up window for turning LPTx on and
- off. This version was written by Kepa Zubeldia who
- has permitted me to include it in my distribution.
- The .ASM has his address if need to get in touch
- with him.
-
- LPTX70A Just like version 7.0 but with a single 40K buffer
- supporting LPT1 only. This might help in some cases
- where LPTx does not get enough cycles to empty the
- original 4K buffer.
-
- CAPX100 This is a special utility which I wrote for the express
- purpose of capturing the screen to a disk file. The
- program itself is called CAPTUR.
-
- Also on the disk are print capture programs written by others
- from which I have gleaned (kind of like borrowed) to write LPTx.
-
- FSPOOL.ARC Gave me the idea of saving the DOS stack
- REDIRECT.ARC An article written by Dwight K. Illk about LPTx, PR2FL
- and LPT2DSK. This article can be reprinted in your local
- computer club newsletter per Dwight's release.
-
- Many of these are in ZIPPED library format. I have included the
- PKUNZIP program to let you remove the individual program from each library
- file. For example, to unzip a version 7, type 'PKUNZIP LPTX700'.
-
- I appreciate the response that I have received from a couple of
- letters in the Data Based Advisor magazine and from Steve Ciarcia's plug in
- BYTE. From that, I can see that there is a tremendous need for a printer
- redirection program for users of programs written in dBase and do not give
- a print to disk option.
-
- If anyone figures out how to make a more reliable capture
- program which is less dependent on the idiosyncrasies of DOS, please
- send me a copy and I will incorporate those ideas into LPTx. Watch the
- Athena Systems BBS at 619-549-3927 for future updates.
-
- Good Luck,
-
- Mark
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------
-
- I have also authored a VT100 Terminal Emulator called PC-VT. It is a
- complete communication package that specializes in VT emulation. You can
- get a copy from many of the PC Library companies, from RBBSs (The best
- bet is, of course, mine at 619-549-3927), or directly from me. Send a
- formatted 360K diskette and a self-addressed postage-paid mailer to me
- at the above address.