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README.HP4
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1994-09-20
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Comments on HP LaserJet 4 PAF Printer Files w/some Alternatives
Prepared By
Mike St. Clair - 20 September 1994
I've seen a number of comments on how "scrunched up" the family group
sheets and pedigree charts are when printed using the PAF 2.2/2.3 driver
files for the HP LaserJet 4. The original drivers for these charts result
in a top and bottom margin of approximately 1 3/4", a left margin of about
1/4" and a right margin of roughly 3/4". When configuring, most users add
5 or so spaces to the left margin resulting in a page that is centered on
the sheet but with very large top/bottom margins.
The pleasure any report layout gives to a particular set of eyes is a
matter of taste. I decided to experiment with these codes to see if I
could find a combination more pleasing to my eyes. The three enclosed
alternative drivers are the result. They can be used to replace the
original file to obtain different looking pages which may or may not be
better than the original depending on your own taste.
The standard PAF parameters are compromises to make the pedigree chart and
the family group chart both look reasonable. PAF has to work with many
printers, including some dot-matrix printers that don't allow printing on
the entire page surface. This puts constraints on what can be done.
My three alternatives are described below as alternatives 0, 1 and 2:
Alternative 0 - This is very similar to the standard print driver. It uses
a slightly smaller font and larger spacing between letters to get rid of
the "scrunched together" appearance in the original, most noticeable when
capital letters appear adjacent to each other. It also adds a margin to
the left side eliminating the need to add that during configuration. It
still has the large top and bottom margins.
Alternative 1 - This stretches both charts to cover most of the page while
using the same smaller font with wider spacing I used in alternative 0.
As the result of the larger vertical spacing, the vertical bars on the
pedigree chart (which are almost a solid line on the original) become
distinct dashed lines. This is the alternative I like the best.
Alternative 2 - This again uses the new font and spacing which eliminates
the horizontal appearance that I found objectionable in the original.
However it makes the top and bottom margins even larger! This is done
to reduce vertical spacing the amount required to force the vertical lines
on the pedigree chart to become solid lines.
Anyone with a text editor and a LaserJet 4 PCL manual can experiment for
themselves. The file which controls the printer for the pedigree chart
and family group chart is called HP4-1.PRN. My custom versions are called
HP4-1.AL0, HP4-1.AL1 and HP4-1.AL2. To put any one of these into effect,
copy the appropriate file over the existing file. In case you change your
mind and want to revert back to the original, you will find a copy of it
with the name HP4-1.ORI. Whichever of these files has been last copied
to the file name HP4-1.PRN will control all printing done from that point
forward. No changes in PAF configuration are required except to remove
any extra left spaces you may be currently using.
Permission is hereby granted to use or share these files in any manner.
LASER PRINTER CODES
Following are the actual printer codes which were used for the original
print driver and each of my alternatives.
The original file HP4-1.PRN, also included here as HP4-1.ORI:
ESC E Reset printer
ESC &l1h2A Select cassette w/letter size paper
ESC (10U IBM Character set
ESC (s4102t0p16.6h0s2B Letter Gothic, fixed spaced, 16.6 cpi,
upright, Demi bold stroke weight
ESC &l7e6.23c66F 7 lines top margin, 6.23/48" vmi,
66 lines of text per page
ESC &k6.66H 6.66/120" hmi
ESC &a0L 0 character left margin
The file HP4-1.AL0 which delivers the results described as alternative 0:
ESC E Reset printer
ESC &l1h2A Select cassette w/letter size paper
ESC (10U IBM Character set
ESC (s4102t0p17h0s2B Letter Gothic, fixed spaced, 17 cpi
upright, Demi bold stroke weight
ESC &l7e6.23c66F 7 lines top margin, 6.23/48" vmi,
66 lines of text per page
ESC &k7H 7/120" h.m.i.
ESC &a3L 6 character left margin
The file HP4-1.AL1 which delivers the results described as alternative 1:
ESC E Reset printer
ESC &l1h2A Select cassette w/letter size paper
ESC (10U IBM Character set
ESC (s4102t0p17h0s2B Letter Gothic, fixed spaced, 17 cpi
upright, Demi bold stroke weight
ESC &l2e7.39c66F 2 lines top margin, 7.39/48" vmi,
66 lines of text per page
ESC &k7H 7/120" hmi
ESC &a3L 3 character left margin
The file HP4-1.AL2 which delivers the results described as alternative 2:
ESC E Reset printer
ESC &l1h2A Select cassette w/letter size paper
ESC (10U IBM Character set
ESC (s4102t0p17h0s2B Letter Gothic, fixed spaced, 17 cpi,
upright, Demi bold stroke weight
ESC &l9e5.8c66F 9 lines top margin, 5.8/48" vmi,
66 lines of text per page
ESC &k7H 7/120" hmi
ESC &a3L 3 character left margin