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Text File | 1991-11-02 | 21.2 KB | 509 lines

PFile V3.1 (c)1991 Sid Jones 1127 Poplar Wood Drive California, MD 20619 (301) 737-0287 PrintFile was originally written as a programming aid in Turbo C 2.0. In developing a program it was necessary to obtain a printout of the source code fairly often. In order to get the long lines to fit on the page without wrapping around or being cut off, I had to continually set the printer for condensed print. For the final copy to be included in a notebook, a left margin was required also. PFile is intended to alleviate all the fuss. *** To print the document file, set PFile for 60 lines per page. *** PFile version 3.1 has the following features: * Supports three default printer types or any printer the user defines in the printer ID (.PID) file. Four sample pid files are supplied with the program. * Can be run from the command line or from the menu. Everything can be changed from the menu. * Line numbered source code. Can handle multiple line printing from long source lines. * Ignores formfeed characters anywhere in line. If your page lengths don't match up, your'e not stuck with every other page being only a few lines. * Optionally prints title at top of each page with current date, filename, file creation/modification date and page numbering with page totals. * The first 12 lines are displayed allowing you a glimpse of the file you are printing. * Printer ID file to customize the PFile program to any printer. (Printer, Top/Bottom Margin, Tab expansion) * Use DOS environment to set path for printer ID files. * View the contents of any printable file with out leaving the program. BASIC OPERATION Type PFILE at the DOS prompt to start the program. The top half of the screen shows what the program is currently set up for. To move around the main menu, use the up & down arrow keys or use the space bar. When your selection is highlighted, hit the enter key. To back out of any menu without making a choice, hit the ESC key. PRINT FILE - Use this after you have loaded a file and wish to send it to the printer using the printer displayed next to PRN:. LOAD NEW FILE - This will call up a listing of the current directory. The directory can be changed by moving the cursor to a sub-directory (all capitals) or to the parent directory (..). By doing this you can traverse the disk. To look at a different disk, hit F2, <ALT>-D, or <CTRL>-D. This will display a list of the different disks that are available. Other keys available are: PGUP & PGDN moves the directory 20 choices up or down. HOME or LEFT arrow move to the beginnig of the list. END or RIGHT arrow move to the end of the list. OPTIONS - This will display the options menu. Move the cursor to the option you would like to change and hit enter. PRN: - Shows a list of PID files that are available. The same three paths are searched just like for pfile.pid (See Printer ID File below.) CHARS PER INCH - Toggles through choices (10, 12, 17). The printer must be set up to use these. LINE NUMBERING - Toggles line numbers on the output. (On/Off). This option uses 7 spaces. TITLE PRINTING - Toggles title printing (On/Off). This option uses 3 lines. LINES PER INCH - Toggles through choices (6, 7, 8). The choice of 7 is actually 6.6. This was mainly for the HP LaserJet II which only has a printable page of 10 inches or 60 lines. This gives the LaserJet the ability to print 66 line pages which the standard. TOP MARGIN - Gives a menu to choose from (0 to 6 lines) BOTTOM MARGIN - Gives a menu to choose from (0 to 6 lines) TAB - This sets the tab expansion. Generally a tab is 8 characters wide. However, when writing code, people have their own preferences. (0 to 12 spaces) BORDER CHARACTER - This applies only when title printing is on. This sets the character that is printed across the page to separate the title from the body of the document. Default choices with their decimal equivalents in (): ─ (196), ═ (205), ▀ (223), - (45), = (61), * (42), ~ (126), . (46). Or you can put anything you want there. See PID file below. View File - This will let you view the whole file on the screen, 13 lines at a time. Hitting a key will display the next 13 lines. Hitting ESC will return to the main menu. To choose a file or drive, see 'Load New File' option. COMMAND LINE USEAGE PFile [-options] [filename.ext] PFile -h -- Displays this help screen. PFile -r -- Displays registration information. Options m[-] -- Starts PFile in menu mode. (m- for command line mode) p[e|i|h] -- Selects default printer. (Epson, Ibm, Hp) l[6|7|8] -- Selects lines per inch. c[10|12|17] -- Selects characters per inch. n[-] -- Sets line numbering on. (n- turns numbering off) t[-] -- Sets title printing on. (t- sets title printing off) The default printer option is used when there is no default printer id file present (pfile.pid), otherwise that parameter is ignored. The default switch settings are: PFILE -ml6c17nt. This is equivalent to running PFILE without any optional switches. It will run in the menu/interactive mode. The printout will be set for 6 lines per inch (lpi), 17 characters per inch (cpi), line numbering and a title at the top of the page. From the main menu, any of the options may be set. Any options set from the command line will override those set in the id file. PFile can be setup from the command line. By using the appropriate command line switches, PFile can be configured to your liking upon loading of the program. This saves you the trouble of entering the options menu for the same choices time after time. This includes loading the source file. See example batch file number one. If you already know which file you wish to print, the options you wish to use, and the printer is ready, you can use the command line option to bypass the interactive session. See example batch file number two. Ex 1 PBAT1.BAT: PFILE -n-l8ph %1 Useage: pbat1 source.c Ex 2 PBAT2.BAT: PFILE -l8c12m- %1 Useage: pbat2 source.c The first batch file calls PFile with the file "source.c" already loaded. PFile will also have the following options set: line numbering off, 8 lines per inch, and ready to use the HP LaserJet II--if the file "pfile.pid" was not found. Of course, once PFile is loaded the options can be changed. The second batch file doesn't use the interactive menu at all. PFile will set the printer for 8 lines/inch, 12 characters per inch and will proceed with printing the file. With this option you don't get a chance to change the options or to set your printer to the top of the page. PRINTER ID FILE (PID) There are several printer ID (PID) files supplied with this program. When PFile is run, it checks to see if "pfile.pid", the default printer id file is in the current directory. If not, the DOS environment is checked for the variable "PFILE=path". If it is found, that directory is checked for the default file. Then the root directory of the current drive is checked. If the file still isn't found the program uses an internal set of defaults. The printer of which can be specified through the command line switches. To use the DOS environment, in your autoexec place the following command: SET PFILE=path Where path is the path (including drive) where you want your PID files to be found. This allows you to call PFile from other directories or even disks while still using the same PID files. If the program doesn't seem to be working on your system, check the PFILE.PID file. If you don't have one, one can be built with any text editor and the following commands. Command identifiers must be entered exactly as they appear. They must begin with a period in the first column and end with a colon. All non printable characters must be entered in the format "\DDD" where DDD is the decimal ASCII code of the character. Three digits must be used. Comments can be interspersed throughout this file, however, nothing but the printer codes can be on the command lines. TMARGIN - The size of the top margin. BMARGIN - The size of the bottom margin. BORDER - A single character that is repeated across the page forming a line between the header and the file. PRINTER - Names the printer the codes are set for. Must be no longer than 15 characters. INITIALIZE - Printer initialization code. (45 characters max) 6LPI - Code for 6 lines per inch. (45 characters max) 8LPI - Code for 8 lines per inch. (45 characters max) 66LPI - Code for 6.6 lines per inch. (Listed as 7 on the command line options) On Hp, this gives an effective page length equal to other printers. Very helpful when printing out doc files spaced for normal 66 lines per page. (45 characters max) 10CPI - Code for 10 characters per inch. (45 characters max) 12CPI - Code for 12 characters per inch. (45 characters max) 17CPI - Code for 17 characters per inch. (45 characters max) Due to all printers not having the exact same choices for character spacing, the next three commands are required even though they seem redundant. They basically indicate the page size. The PICA_COL is the exact characters per inch multiplied by the page width in inches (normally 8). For example, the compressed print for the HP is 16.66 cpi not 17. Therefore the number of columns per line is different then the standard 17 cpi. PICA_COL - # of columns in 10CPI. (normally 80) ELITE_COL - # of columns in 12CPI. (normally 96) COMP_COL - # of columns in 17CPI. (normally 136) TAB - Width of tabs on printout. (normally 4 or 8) PAGESIZE - Length of page. (normally 11 -- 10 for HP) *** If there is a problem with the file header not fitting on one line. The problem lies in one of the column commands. PFile History 1.0 12/89 Original program written. 2.0 5/90 Menu support added. Ignore formfeeds in first column added. Configuration files added. Configureable printer drivers. Displays the first 12 lines of loaded file. 2.0a 12/90 Streamlined Code. 3.0 1/91 New expanded printer id file. Simplified printer option in PID file. You only have to set up one printer-yours. Choose from as many printers as you want to set up from the menu. Easier to use command line options. Expand tabs on printout. File directory sorted by extension. With sub directories grouped at the top. (All .c files grouped together) New menu choices. Ignore formfeeds anywhere in line. More choices for lpi and cpi. Use of the DOS environment variables. 3.1 11/91 Fixed problem of retrieving first file from disk. PFile now accounts for long file lines to give the correct page total in the print header. Added file viewing capability SHAREWARE This version of PFile is NOT public domain or free software, but is being distributed as "shareware". Non-registered users of this software are granted a limited license to make an evaluation copy for trial use on a private, non-commercial basis, for the express purpose of determining whether PFile is suitable for their needs. At the end of this trial period, you should either register your copy or discontinue using PFile. What is "ShareWare"? If you use this program, then you should pay for your copy. That way shareware authors will be able to provide you support and updates for current software as well as develop new low cost software. Plus, registered users receive update notices, technical support, and a warm fuzzy feeling that they've helped the system. Registration entitles you to use the program on any and all computers available to you, with the following restriction: If other people have access to this program or may use it, then you should purchase a site license. See the following section for information about site licensing or quantity discounts. All users are granted a limited license to copy PFile only for trial use and subject to the above limitations. This license does NOT include distribution or copying of this software package: 1. In connection with any other product or service. 2. For general use within a company or institution. 3. For distribution in modified form; i.e., the file containing this license information MUST be included, along with the full PFile documentation. Operators of electronic bulletin board systems (Sysops) are encouraged to post PFile for downloading by their users, as long as the above conditions are met. ORDERING INFORMATION A PFile registration licenses you to use the product on a regular basis. Registration includes notification of updates and telephone support. Remit to: Sid Jones 1127 Poplar Wood Drive California, MD 20619 *** PFile version 3.1, Nov 1991 *** I offer special prices/discounts on quantity orders, multiple-user licenses, and dealer pricing Please send me (check desired items): ____ PFile on disk w/o registration ... @ $3.50 ea $ ______ Format: [_] 3½ [_] 5¼ ____ PFile Registration ............... @ $10.00 ea $ ______ ____ PFile Registration W/Disk ........ @ $12.50 ea $ ______ Format: [_] 3½ [_] 5¼ Subtotal $ ______ MD Residents please add Sales Tax ....... @ 5% $ ______ Total $ ______ [__] Please send me word when the next update or other new software products are available. Name: ________________________________________________________ Company (ONLY if company address):____________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________ : _____________________________________________________ : _____________________________________________________ Day Phone: _________________________ Eve: ____________________ ------------------------ User comments ----------------------- I acquired PFile (serial number _________) from: [ ] - Friend [ ] - Software product [ ] - Computer Club [ ] - Computer Store [ ] - Data Base Service Name__________________________ [ ] - BBS Name_______________ #(____) ____-_____ [ ] - Other - Please Specify __________________________ If you have any ideas or comments that would make PFile a better program, then please let us know. Comments and/or suggestions: DISCLAIMER Use of this program acknowledges this disclaimer of warranty: "This program is supplied as is. Casual Software disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness of this program for any purpose. Casual Software assumes no liability for damages direct or consequential, which may result from the use of this program." CORPORATE SITE LICENSES AND QUANTITY PURCHASES All corporate, business, government or other commercial users of PFile must be registered. We offer quantity discounts as well as site licensing. Corporate site licensing agreements allow duplication and distribution of copies within the licensed institution. Duplication of multiple copies is not allowed except through execution of a licensing agreement. Site license fees are based upon estimated number of users. Note that with a site license, only one copy of the program will be sent. You will be responsible for distributing additional copies. Please call or write for more information.