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1992-08-05
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Program : LASER1 Version 1.0
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Release Date : August 1992.
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Purpose : This program solves 2 problems:
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1) You want to print a mailing label. You already have
the name and address data on your computer, in an
application that can display it in a consistent
format, but it does not provide a "print this label"
function and you don't want to type it again.
2) You have a laser printer, which prints a page at a
time and you hate to waste a full page of labels
to print just one.
Solution Approach:
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The solution I chose was to write a memory resident program that READS THE
SCREEN at user specified positions, and prints the data to a mailing label,
where the label's position on a sheet is input at run time.
The program is made resident by a batch file that then invokes the
application, and upon exiting the application, uninstalls the program.
Consequently, the program is only in memory (using about 66k of ram) when
you need it!
Two nice features:
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1) You don't just select a block of text from the screen, but rather specify
individual "fields". That way your label can show the fields in a
different order than the way they appear on the screen, and you may skip
over certain fields and not have them printed.
2) You can add extra literals to your label that do not appear on the screen.
How to install
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Step 1: Create a Screen Definition File. (A one-time effort).
Step 2: Create (or modify) a batch file to invoke the
application after first loading LASER1 into memory.
(Also a one-time effort).
Step 3: Whenever you are in the application, displaying the
name and address on the screen, hit the LASER1 HOT KEY
combination (ALT D) to capture the data and print the
label. You will be prompted for justification preference
and to tell it which label position on the sheet of
labels to print upon.
After the label is printed, you can peel it off, but use the
same sheet of remaining labels next time!
Step 1 details:
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The screen definition file tells LASER1 which portions of the screen
contain the information for your mailing label, and in what order to print.
If you have multiple applications that you wish to print labels from,
simply create multiple screen definition files. The batch file that loads
your application is what tells the program which screen definition file to use.
You create the screen definition file using any ASCII text editor. Choose any
file name you are comfortable with (I use "laser1.scr").
The first line of the file specifies which colors the data will be displayed
in. The format is {foreground color, background color,} separated by a
comma, using the following color codes:
Dark Colors |
(Foreground & | Light Colors
Background) | (Foreground)
----------------------------------
Black | 0 | DarkGray | 8
Blue | 1 | LightBlue | 9
Green | 2 | LightGreen | 10
Cyan | 3 | LightCyan | 11
Red | 4 | LightRed | 12
Magenta | 5 | LightMagenta | 13
Brown | 6 | Yellow | 14
LightGray | 7 | White | 15
Each successive line in the file specifies a "field" to capture from the
screen. The format is: {Row,Column,Length,Label Print Line,} where each
entity (including the last) is separated by a comma.
The order is significant! The label fields are printed in the same order
that they appear in the screen definition file.
The program strips out leading and trailing blanks, then adds a single blank
space between each field.
To make it easier to determine the row and column of fields on your screen,
a memory resident program (TSRRUL) is included. Simly type "TSRRUL" at the
DOS prompt and hit ALT R to activate. It will draw a ruler line on the
screen which can be moved with the up and down arrows. Uninstall by typing
"TSRRUL U" at the DOS prompt.
Step 2 details:
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Chances are, you already use a batch file to invoke your application. All
you have to do is add 2 lines to the batch file. Immediately before the
application is executed, insert a line as follows:
"LASER1 screendeffilename", where screendeffilename is the name of the
screen definition file, including the path name. Example:
"LASER1 c:\wp51\letters\laser1.scr"
Immediately after the application, insert a line to uninstall LASER1:
"LASER1 U"
Note that the program LASER1.EXE must be in one of the directories that
is in referenced in your path statement.
A Specific Example:
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A demonstration screen definition file is provided, with comments.
The file is "laserd.scr".
Run the bat file "demo.bat" to simulate an application that displays
name and address data. When the demo customer order screen is displayed
with the MORE prompt, hit the ALT D keys simultaneously, and the name
and address area will be highlighted in yellow on red.
The top line of the screen will prompt you to continue. Hit enter and you
will be given a preview of what the printed label will look like. Type 1, 2,
or 3 to change the justification on the label. Hit enter to continue.
You then select whether to print on the left or right side of the sheet.
Finally, enter the position of the label you want to print. This is a number
between 1 and 7, where 1 is the top label on the sheet, 4 is the middle, 7
is the bottom, and so on.
Note: On different versions of DOS or BIOS, the MORE filter may put one
additional line per screen. In this case, the highlighted name and
address will be off by one line. If this happens, edit the file
LASER1.DEM and add a blank line to the top of the file.
This demo also illustrates how to add literals that are not on the screen to
the label. In this case, it added "Rush To:" as the first line of the label,
and also added a comma after the city.
By defining individual fields, the program allows you to change the order
(the name is displayed as last, first, and mi, but prints as first, mi,
and last).
Just remember to define the fields in the order you want them to print.
When you want to start a new line (on the label) change the label print line.
The label print line (4th parameter) is not an absolute value, but rather
it tells the program when to start a new line. In this demo, if you were to
delete the "Rush To" line, it would not be necessary to renumber the label
print line parameters. I will repeat an earlier statement to emphasize it:
"Just remember to define the fields in the order you want them to print.
When you want to start a new line (on the label) change the label print line."
Warning:
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Since this is a memory resident program, it is important to keep the program
code as small as possible. Consequently, the program does minimum syntax
checking on the screen definition file. If you enter illegal rows or columns,
or forget to end a line with a comma, the system will probably hang!
Limitations:
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This program can only capture data from TEXT based screens. It cannot
read from a graphics screen such as Windows.
The maximum number of print lines on any one label is 12 (even though
the label itself can only hold 8 lines)!
The program assumes your laser printer is using a font that prints at
10 characters per inch, printing at 6 lines per inch.
This shareware version of the program is set up to use two-up
1.3" by 4" labels (14 labels to a sheet), such as AVERY 5162.
Registered uses will receive a more versatile program that allows
them to specify label sizes and number of labels per sheet.
Warranty:
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There is no warranty, period.
Steve Leonard specifically disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied.
Use this product at your own risk.
In no event shall Steve Leonard be liable for any loss of profit,
or any other damages or loss incurred because of this product.
Steve Leonard specifically states that the effects of running the same
physical sheet of labels through your printer many times over are not known,
and could conceivably cause printer problems. Please check with your
printer manufacturer.
Distribution of this program:
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This program may be freely copied and distributed. Additionally, it may
be distributed by Shareware companies for a fee not to exceed $10.
The only requirement is that this DOC file is included, and not altered.
If you continue to use this program after an initial 10 day evaluation
period, then you are required to send a payment of $14.95 plus $2.95
Shipping & Handling to :
Steve Leonard
212 Green Springs Ln.
Madison, AL 35758
Please send a couple of sample sheets of the labels you plan to use
along with your payment.
Attention Corporate Customers:
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Buy a site license for an UNLIMITED number of machines / workstations
for a flat fee of $149.95.
Registration Benefit:
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Upon receipt of payment, you will be sent a more powerful version of the
program that allows you to create a label definition file. This will
enable you to use label sizes other than the AVERY 5162 (1.3" by 4") labels.
Additional customizations are available - please send written request
for a quote.
I may be reached on Compuserve at : 73557,203