Software Du Jour

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Software Du Jour / SoftwareDuJour.iso / COMPUTER / PRINTER / LQALL.ARC / LQ.DOC < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1985-11-02 | 63.0 KB | 1,830 lines

LQ (tm) by Mark Harris Granny's Old-Fashioned Software (tm) Rt 4, Box 216 Boone, NC 28607 (704) 264-6906 October, 1985 Version 1.0 (C) 1985 by Mark Harris All Rights Reserved The unmodified LQ distribution diskette, containing a copy of this manual, may be freely copied and shared, but printed copies of this document may not be copied. Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1 2. Memory vs. file use of LQ 2 3. Control sequences 5 4. The LQ parameter line 9 5. Creating or modifying a configuration file 12 6. Tips for better printouts 17 7. Character sets available in LQ 19 8. Editing character sets: the EDCHAR program 20 Appendix A. About 'Shareware' 26 Appendix B. Coming attractions 27 Appendix C. ASCII codes 28 Introduction 1 LQ Letter quality for dot matrix printers. (C) 1985 by Mark Harris All rights reserved. 1. Introduction. LQ is a program for the IBM PC and compatible computers which will allow you to produce high-quality text on inexpensive dot matrix printers. Almost all such printers are supported, but you may have to create a configuration file (see Section 5) if yours deviates significantly from an Epson. LQ offers these features: 1. LQ can be 'locked' into memory to function inconspicuously with your favorite word processor or other program, or it can be used only as needed to process disk files. 2. Most control sequences for turning on special modes (double-strike, underline, superscript, etc.) will produce the corresponding results with LQ, so you will not have to modify your word processor to accommodate LQ. 3. Additional modes such as proportional spacing and extra-large printing can be turned on within a document or when LQ is executed. 4. Four fonts are available at any time, and others can be swapped into memory when desired. 5. You can modify an existing character set or edit your own from scratch using the EDCHAR program included in the package. You will probably want to take a look at LQ's output before reading about all the details. Following is a procedure to get some quick results if you have an Epson-compatible printer; if yours is different, skip this test and read on. 1. Boot DOS. 2. Insert the LQ disk and type LQDEMO. 3. Turn on your printer and press a key when prompted. For best results, leave friction on if you have friction feed. 2 Memory vs. file 2. Memory vs. file use of LQ. Most computer users generate a lot of paper output, but only a small fraction needs to be letter quality. One problem with using daisy wheel printers is that all output is slowed to accommodate this fraction. LQ offers two ways of using its features, depending on how often you expect to use it in a session and on the memory available: 1. LQ can be 'locked' into memory so that all printer output is intercepted and altered to letter quality. LQ can be turned off and on subsequently, but it will continue to occupy about 60K of RAM. 2. LQ can print disk files without permanently taking up memory. For example, the command LQ F'MYFILE' will print the text file MYFILE in letter quality, then restore your system to its previous state. In either case a number of options are available (see sections 3 and 4 for details). Here are a few illustrations of setting LQ in motion: LQ - loads LQ and locks it into memory, or turns LQ on if previously loaded and turned off. Options are set to their defaults. LQ OFF - if LQ is locked in memory, this command returns printing to its normal function (but does not free the memory occupied by LQ). LQ F'MYFILE' MP - prints the file MYFILE in letter quality with proportional spacing [M(ode)P(roportional)], whether or not LQ has been previously loaded. LQ MP - loads LQ if not already resident, and sets the default mode to proportional spacing. LQ F'MYFILE' W - prints MYFILE, pausing at form feeds [W(ait)] for changing single-sheet paper. The commands are shown in upper case, but you may mix upper case and lower case with exactly the same results. You can specify as many parameters as you like in a single line, and you can give them in any order. For example, LQ MP F'MYFILE' W will print MYFILE using proportional spacing and pausing at form feeds. Memory vs. file 3 When using the F(ile) option, you can stop printing at any time by pressing a key; you will be asked if you want to abort the printout or continue. There are several considerations when choosing between memory and file use of LQ. If your computer has little memory installed (128K) or if your word processor or other application software hogs memory, you may not have enough space to keep LQ resident. If this is the case, you should send output from your favorite program to a text file rather than to the printer, then process the file with LQ. How you create such a file varies from program to program, but such output redirection can almost always be performed. For example, with PC-Write (a highly-recommended Shareware word processor), the command PR MYFILE formats and prints the file MYFILE, while PR MYFILE YOURFILE sends exactly the same sequence of (formatted) characters to a second file YOURFILE instead of to the printer. The command LQ F'YOURFILE' can then be used to obtain letter quality. Similar redirection to a file is available with many DOS programs using the '>' symbol. For example, DEBUG >MYFILE will run the DEBUG program and send output to the file MYFILE instead of to the screen. This technique is frustrating, since you can't see the program's response to what you type; all output goes directly to MYFILE. However, if you want to capture a short DEBUG session, you can run through the sequence with screen output, then repeat the same sequence with output to a file. There are many other ways to create text files which can be printed with LQ. Probably 80% of the files you have stored fall into this category; they are created by word processors, data base programs, the Sidekick 'Notepad' (from Borland International), programs which you write yourself, etc. Consult the documentation for a particular application to get details of file creation and format. If you have a previously-created text file 'printout' you want to print in a letter quality mode you can take two different approaches. LQ F'filename' [parameter list] will function as described above, or you can enter COPY filename PRN if LQ is resident in memory. The latter tactic simply sends the file to the printer, and characters are 'dressed up' by LQ on the way through. The former method is preferred for reasons which will become more clear later: the F(ile) option lets you request pauses at page breaks, and automatically advances the platen 4 Memory vs. file just enough to remove slack which otherwise can distort the first line printed. (You can explicitly request this initial line advance using the B(egin) control sequence described in Section 3.) Control sequences 5 3. Control sequences. A 'control sequence' in a document is a sequence of codes or characters which has a special meaning to your printer (or the program controling it), and which changes the way in which subsequent characters are printed. You have probably used such codes for some time, perhaps without realizing it. When you tell your word processor to print a book's title in boldface or to print a subscript, you are telling your software to insert the appropriate control charaters for performing this function. There are two levels at which you will be concerned with control sequences when using LQ. At the first level, you would like to have LQ use the usual sequences for turning on bold face, italics, superscript and so forth so that you can use your accustomed word processor without changing your habits. This is simply a matter of naming the corresponding LQ functions with the same codes that your printer manual describes; if your printer behaves much like an Epson, the chances are that LQ will already satisfy this requirement. If your printer is significantly different, there are three possibilities: 1. With luck, there is a configuration file (with the suffix LQP) on the LQ disk already set up for your printer. In this case, you will specify this file when calling LQ. For example, if you have a C.Itoh printer then you can use the configuration file CITOH.LQP by calling LQ with LQ P'CITOH'. 2. The next-best case is that no configuration file has been written for your printer, but that you can write one yourself. Create the file by following the instructions in Section 5, then proceed as in case 1. 3. There is a slight chance that your printer is really incompatible with LQ. This is the case with the Okidata printer because only 7 dots can be printed at one time in graphics mode, and LQ relies heavily on printing 8. LQ may be modified in the future to suit your printer; you can help by sending us a copy of the control code section of your printer manual. In the mean time, please call us to confirm the problem. The second level of concern has to do with controling the additional features which LQ has but which your word processor does not know about, for example triple- high characters. Such options are set using using control sequences which start with the two codes <ESC> 6 Control sequences <ESC>. For example, '<ESC> <ESC> L' turns on the triple-high mode. Since these sequences are new to your application program, you must find some means for inserting them in your text file. There are several possible approaches: 1. You may use a word processor which allows for entering control codes directly. In PC-Write, the <ESC> character (ASCII code 27) can be entered by pressing <ALT 2> <ALT 7>. 2. You may insert control codes after you exit your program using a simple text editor such as Sidekick's Notepad. In the Notepad, any control code can be entered by preceding it with <Ctrl P>. To get <ESC> <ESC> you would enter <Ctrl P> <ESC> <Ctrl P> <ESC> . 3. If the LQ feature you want to use will not change during a printout, you can request it in the LQ command line rather than using control sequences. For example, LQ C3 turns on character set number three (out of the four in memory) as an alternative to <ESC> <ESC> 3 within your document. A few additional comments on option 3 are in order. Even if you want to switch back and forth between character sets within a document, you may be able to get by without entering control codes yourself. Most word processors have a way of turning on italics; since the italic set is expected to be the second of LQ's four sets, you can change to any second set by turning on italics. If you want to use this method, have LQ load the desired alternate character set with a command such as LQ C2'SANSSER' (which loads SANSSER.SET as character set number 2, replacing italics). Control functions available in LQ. Following is a list of LQ functions which may be used or changed within a document using control sequences. Those functions which can be renamed (with different control sequences which will have the same effect) are indicated with an asterisk; the renaming is done in a 'configuration file' (see Section 5). Each control sequence is shown in two forms: the sequence of keys to press, then the corresponding sequence of (decimal) ASCII codes. For example, <ESC> 'E' = 27,69 indicates that the sequence consists of the escape key code followed by the code for the capital E character. Control sequences 7 * Turn on boldface: <ESC> 'E' = 27,69 or <ESC> 'G' * Turn off boldface: <ESC> 'F' or <ESC> 'H' * Turn on italics (character set #2): <ESC> '4' * Turn off italics (turn on set #1): <ESC> '5' * Turn on double-wide print: <Ctrl N> = 14 * Turn off double-wide print: <Ctrl T> = 20 * Turn on underline: <ESC> '-' # = 27,45,# where # corresponds to any code except 0 or '0'. For example, use <ESC> '-' '1' = 27,45,49. * Turn off underline: <ESC> '-' # = 27,45,# where # corresponds to either '0' or 0. For example, use <ESC> '-' '0 = 27,45,48. * Superscript: <ESC> 'S' # = 27,83,# where # corresponds to '0' or 0. For example, <ESC> 'S' '0' = 27,45,48. * Subscript: <ESC> 'S' # = 27,83,# where # corresponds to any code except 0 or '0'. For example, use <ESC> 'S' '1' = 27,45,49. * Superscript/subscript off: <ESC> 'T' = 27,84 Turn on proportional spacing: <ESC> <ESC> 'P' = 27,27,80 Turn off proportional spacing: <ESC> <ESC> 'Q' = 27,27,81 Turn on triple-high (large) characters in the current set: <ESC> <ESC> 'L' = 27,27,76 (The large mode stays on for the entire line regardless of where in the line it was turned on, and the mode is turned off automatically at the end of the line.) Switch to character set n (1 <= n <= 4): <ESC> <ESC> 'n'. For example, <ESC> <ESC> '3' = 27,27,51 turns on character set number 3. 8 Control sequences Advance platen a little to put tension on paper (recommended for preceding first line of printout; this function is performed automatically when the F(ile) option is used.): <ESC> <ESC> 'B' = 27,27,66 Wait for key to be pressed at page breaks: <ESC> <ESC> 'W' = 27,27,87 Don't wait at page breaks (the default): <ESC> <ESC> 'X' = 27,27,88 Set line space to n units (where one unit is either 1/144" or 1/216" depending on the smallest line advance your printer supports): <ESC> <ESC> 'S' # = 27,27,83,# where # is the number (from 1 to 255) of increments desired. For example, the smallest Epson line advance is 1/216", so <ESC> <ESC> 'S' '$' = 27,27,83,36 sets the line space to 36/216" = 1/6". It is generally easier to use the L(ines per page) parameter when activitating LQ to determine the number of lines on an 11" page. Other control codes. Three additional control codes are recognized by LQ: 10 (line feed), 12 (form feed) and 13 (carriage return). All other control codes (ASCII codes less than 28) besides those listed above (or the substitutes given in a parameter file) are ignored. It is unlikely that your word processor or other application program will insert such codes without your having explicitly requested them, so you should not have any unpleasant surprises in store. However, just in case you see an occasional mystery character in your printouts, here is what could happen: if your word processor puts the sequence <ESC> 'A' in your text, expecting some response from your printer, the <ESC> would be stripped by LQ but the 'A' would be printed. If the <ESC> 'A' corresponds to a needed printer function, you may need to specify it in a configuration file. LQ parameters 9 4. The LQ parameter line. The easiest way to set one-shot options LQ is in the command line typed when LQ is installed. For example if you want proportional spacing for all your printing, LQ MP will install LQ with the proportional mode turned on. The 'LQ' file must be loaded each time an LQ command is given, so if LQ is not on the default drive, give the full path name for LQ, e.g. B:LQ MP (if LQ is on the disk in drive B). You select as many options as you like in a single line by separating parameters with spaces. For example, LQ MPD F'MYFILE' P'CITOH' W turns on proportional spacing, double-strike printing for the file MYFILE, using the parameter file CITOH.LQP and pausing at form feeds. This section lists all command line options. Parameters are shown in upper case, but you can mix upper and lower case freely. M Sets one or more of the following modes: P: proportional spacing, W: double-wide printing, D: double-strike printing. For example, LQ MPDW could be used to set all three modes. Modes omitted default to the opposite state. C Specifies a character set in memory, or loads a new set. Four sets are embedded in LQ, and the first of these is normally used as the default. LQ C4 can be used to switched to the fourth set; when used in this way, 'C' can be followed by one of the digits 1,2,3, 4. The standard sets installed in LQ are: 1 - MAIN.SET 2 - ITALIC.SET 3 - ROMAN 4 - GREEK These defaults can be changed with the INSTLSET program described in Section 7. You can see a list of all character sets on the LQ disk by typing DIR *.SET at the DOS prompt '>'. If the 'C' option is followed by a file name, the character set having this name is loaded to the indicated set number. For example, LQ C2'PRETTY' would load the character set PRETTY.SET as set number two (without switching to it). The 'SET' suffix is the default; you should stick with this naming convention to maintain compatibility with the character editor EDCHAR. You can simultaneously load a set and switch to it by using 'C' in both contexts; e.g., LQ C2'PRETTY' C2. 10 LQ parameters You can load all four sets in one line: LQ C1'FIRST' C2'SECOND' ... You can also use path names in the file specification: LQ C1'/MYDIR/FIRST' L Sets the number of lines printed on a standard 11" page. The default is 66; LQ L70 changes this to 70. The number entered must be from 1 to 99. Spacing between lines is micro-adjusted using the smallest platen advance supported by your printer (1/216" or 1/144"). S Sets the space per line in units of the smallest possible line advance. For example, on an Epson (which advances in multiples of 1/216"), the command LQ S30 would set the distance between the tops of successive lines to 30/216". The 'L' parameter generally offers an easier way of accomplishing the same objective. W Wait at page breaks. Use this for printing with single-sheet paper. Insert a new sheet, align the paper at the top, then press a key to resume printing. B Advance paper a little at the beginning. If you are just starting printing there is apt to be a little 'slack' in the paper feed; advancing just a little fixes a potential blur on the first line of text. This advance is performed automatically when the F(ile) option is used. F'filename' If you have a file named MYFILE, the command LQ F'MYFILE' will print MYFILE without locking LQ into memory. This is an important option if your computer doesn't have enough memory to keep LQ resident, or if most of your printing is in draft mode. The file to be printed should be a standard text file, possibly containing some of the control sequences described in Section 3. P'filename' If your printer is an Epson or close compatible, you will never need this option. If your printer behaves differently from an Epson in a way which 'surprises' LQ, you will need to use a parameter file to communicate these differences. The default suffix for such a file is LQP; to see a list of such files insert the LQ disk and type DIR *.LQP. Hopefully your printer (or a compatible) will be listed; if LQ parameters 11 not, read Section 5 for directions for creating a new parameter file. Example: LQ P'CITOH' loads the parameters (from CITOH.LQP) for a C. Itoh printer. One class of non-Epson printers can be accomodated without creating a parameter file. The Star Gemini line acts almost like an Epson except that the minimum line feed supported is 1/144" instead of 1/216". To address this special case, you can enter LQ P=1 . OFF If LQ is currently resident, LQ OFF restores your printer to its normal operation. The space occupied by LQ in your operating system is not made available, but if LQ is turned on again with another LQ command no additional memory is used for the program. 12 Configuration files 5. Creating or modifying a configuration file. If your printer is compatible with an Epson or another printer for which a configuration file (with suffix LQP) exists on the LQ disk, just follow the directions in Section 5 for letting LQ know what you have. If neither the built-in configuration nor any of the LQP alternatives work, you will have to write your own configuration file. If you have problems, send us a copy of the control code section of your printer manual and we will try to write the file for you. For LQ to work properly, your printer must support 1. a graphics mode in which 8 pins of the print head can be individually controlled, and 2. a minimum line advance of either 1/216" or 1/144". In addition, the graphics mode must be intialized with a control sequence telling the printer how much subsequent data will be in graphics mode. A prominent counterexample is the Okidata, which 1. controls only 7 pins in graphics mode, and 2. uses one control sequence to turn graphics on and another to turn it off. All other dot matrix printers we have seen can run LQ, but we can't get our hands on all the brands out there. A configuration file is a text file named with a suffix of LQP which contains lines typically starting with a symbol indicating a definition category, followed by a letter specifying the function to be set, then the '=' character, then a word or sequence of characters and numbers giving the definition itself. For example, %A=27,'E' indicates that emphasized print will be turned on with the <ESC> 'E' sequence (that normally used by the Epson). A control sequence is a list of codes and/or characters separated by commas; characters are put within quotes (one pair of single quotes per character) and codes are given as decimal numbers. The definition %A=27,69 is equivalent to that above since 69 is the ASCII code for 'E'. The leading symbol indicates one of the following categories: % - a control sequence for a mode definition, $ - one of the words TRUE, FALSE, # - a decimal number. A line starting with any other symbol is treated as a comment. Here is the information LQ needs (any one of these omitted defaults to the Epson value): Configuration files 13 % parameters. %A - control sequence for turning on emphasized print, %B - sequence for turning off emphasized print, %C - sequence for turning on double-strike print, %D - sequence for turning off double-strike print, %E - sequence for turning on italics, %F - sequence for turning off italics, %G - sequence for turning on double-wide print, %H - sequence for turning off double-wide, %I - sequence for turning on underline mode, %J - sequence for turning off underline mode, %K - sequence for turning on superscript, %L - sequence for turning on subscript, %M - sequence for turning off superscript/subscript, %N - prefix for turning on high-resolution graphics. For example, the Epson MX 80 manual describes its high-resolution mode as follows: <ESC> L Sets dot graphics mode to 960 dots per 8" line. Format: <ESC> 'L' N1 N2, N1 and N2 determine line length. Line length = N1 + 256*N2 1 <= N1 <= 255, 1 <= N2 <= 255 Thus you would enter the prefix in your configuration file as %N=27,'L' or %N=27,76. (You would also set the number of graphics bytes to 2 with #A=2, and non-ASCII (binary) number format with $B=FALSE. See below.) If you have several graphics densities to choose from, pick the one closest to 960 dots per 8" line (120 dots per inch). %O - In a similar fashion, %O gives the prefix used to set line feeds in units of the smallest possible increment. Again, here is the appropriate material from the Epson manual: <ESC> 3 Sets line spacing to N/216". Format: <ESC> '3' N, 1 <= N <= 255 You would enter %O=27,'3' (and set the number of line feed bytes with #B=1). %P - The control sequence used to put your printer in 'unidirection' mode. Most dot matrix printers print in both directions to speed up output, but the resulting characters are apt to vary in alignment. %Q - The sequence of characters you would like sent to your printer when LQ is disabled with the LQ OFF option. This should include an appropriate line feed setting and a return to bidirection printing. Since the printer is reset to its default settings when its power is turned off and on, you will probably have reset the printer yourself without using this parameter. 14 Configuration files %R - The sequence of characters you would like sent at the start of each line printed by LQ. Epson- compatible printers don't need this parameter, but it can be very useful for other printer types. For example, the C. Itoh doesn't have a separate 'high-resolution' graphics mode; graphics printing functions in the last character pitch (pica, elite, compressed,...) set. The most appropriate pitch is compressed; %R=27,'Q' sets this at the start of each line. $ parameters. $A - You control 8 pins on the print head in graphics mode. The pins correspond to the numbers 1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128; for example, to fire the two pins corresponding to the numbers 2 and 16, the code 18 is sent to the printer. If the highest pin corresponds to 1 and the lowest to 128, set $A=TRUE; if the order is reversed, set A$=FALSE. $B - There are two ways various printers accept numeric values: ASCII and binary. To indicate to an Epson printer that 300 graphics positions are about to be printed, the prefix <ESC>,'L',44,1 is sent. The numbers 44 and 1 are combined as 44 + 256*1 to obtain the number 300; this is the binary format. On many other brands of printers the number 300 would be sent as '3','0','0' or '0','3','0','0' in ASCII format. Set $B=TRUE for ASCII or $B=FALSE for binary. $C - Set $C=TRUE if the minimum line space your printer will accept is 1/216"; if this value is 1/144", set $C=FALSE. # parameters. #A - The number of bytes after the graphics prefix (specified with %N) used to set the number of bytes expected by the printer. For example, to print 300 bytes in high-resolution graphics you first send the Epson the sequence <ESC>,'L',44,1; since the prefix takes up two of these four bytes, the remaining two determine the setting #A=2. The same task on a C. Itoh requires sending <ESC>,'S','0','3','0','0', so you would set #A=4. #B - The number of bytes after the line feed prefix (specified with %O) to determine the space advanced by a line feed. (See #A.) Configuration files 15 Creating the configuration file. Any setting omitted in a configuration file defaults to the corresponding Epson value; see the EPSON.LQP listing below. Now that you know what to put in your config- uration file, how do you actually create one? Any screen or line editor will do; you will probably want to use your accustomed word processor. If you have no other alternative, you can always use the EDLINE line editor which comes with DOS. Just make sure that you create a standard ASCII file, not a file in a special non-ASCII format used internally by your program. To see if you can make such a file, try writing a 2-line test file and store it under the name TESTFILE. Then (at the DOS prompt '>') enter TYPE TESTFILE; if the lines look right on your screen, you are probably in luck. Check your word processor index under ASCII for details. If you have an unusual printer and succeed in creating a new configuration file for it, please send us a listing of your file. In return, if your configuration is significantly different from those we already have on record we will send you a disk with all current LQ character fonts on it. The EPSON.LQP configuration file. If you are using an Epson printer or close compatible you should never need a configuration file; all needed parameters are already set by default. However, if you are creating a new configuration file for a different printer it is instructive to look at the EPSON.LQP file which lists the Epson parameters; the form of the file may be helpful, and you should know what the defaults are in case you omit a parameter line. Here are the Epson values: {emphasized on:} %A=27,'E' {emphasized off:} %B=27,'F' {double-strike on:} %C=27,'G' {double-strike off:} %D=27,'H' {italics on:} %E=27,'4' {italics off:} %F=27,'5' {double wide on:} %G=14 {double wide off:} %H=20 16 Configuration files {underline on:} %I=27,'-',255 {the 255 code will match any 1-byte value except for 0 and '0'=48. Likewise, 0 matches 0 or '0'=48. This means you can turn off underlining in a document with the sequence <ESC> '-' '0', which is much easier to insert than <ESC> '-' 0.} {underline off:} %J=27,'-',0 {superscript on:} %K=27,'S',0 {subscript on:} %L=27,'S',255 {superscript/subscript off:} %M=27,'T' {hi-res graphics prefix:} %N=27,'L' {set line feed:} %O=27,'3' {unidirection:} %P=27,'U',1 {restore:} %Q=27,'U',0,27,'2' {start each line with:} %R= {no sequence needed} {upsidedown:} $A=FALSE {numbers in ASCII:} $B=FALSE {min linefeed=1/216?} $C=TRUE {how many bytes for graphics #?} #A=2 {how many bytes for linefeed #?} #B=1 Printing tips 17 6. Tips for better printouts. LQ obtains its high quality print by making three passes over each line, placing dots at very precise positions. Any 'play' in the paper can disrupt this precision and blur a line of print. To keep the alignment precise, it we recommend that you use friction feed if possible, even if you are using pin- feed paper. LQ works fine without friction feed, but you must make certain that the paper feeds evenly and that there is uniform tension on the paper. As previously mentioned, the first line of print is something of a special case. When your printer is first turned on there is not apt to be sufficient tension on the platen to obtain the needed precision on the first line. This problem is solved by advancing the platen a negligible distance; this is done automatically when you use the F option for printing files. Otherwise, you can use one of the following approaches: 1. When first installing LQ, include the B(eginning) parameter: e.g., LQ B. (The printer must first have been turned on for this to have any effect.) 2. Insert the sequence <ESC> <ESC> 'B' at the start of the document you want to print. 3. Start your document with a blank line. Proportional spacing can improve the appearance of a docoument, but this mode must be used with caution. Since extra 'white space' between characters is removed and since the amount of such space varies considerably (e.g. compare the characters 'i' and 'w'), tables of data can be distorted. For example, if the two lines iiii xxxx wwww yyyy were printed with proportional spacing, the 'yyyy' would be further left than 'xxxx'. One way to avoid this problem is to turn proportional spacing off (with <ESC> <ESC> 'Q') just before the table and back on (<ESC> <ESC> 'P') at the end of the table. Another tip for improving output quality concerns printing triple-high characters. Because dots are spaced further apart when printing these large characters, the print will appear lighter. To keep the print density uniform, we recommend that you set double-strike print on when printing large characters. Most LQ modes are enhancements of familiar print styles, so your word processor should not require special consideration. However, triple-high characters will definitely come as a surprise to any program which thinks it is counting 1/6" lines; you will use up a sheet of paper three times as fast as your word processor thinks you are. To fix this, you can change 18 Printing tips the number of lines per page in your word processor, or take charge yourself in other ways. One compromise was made to keep margins consistent: if the string ' This is a test.' (7 spaces preceding 'This') is printed in 'large character' mode, the leading spaces are printed as normal characters. This lets you set the margin to a fixed value in your word processor rather than worrying about whether the margin is in terms of large or regular spaces. Character sets 19 7. Character sets available in LQ. The following list of LQ character sets will almost certainly be incomplete; new sets are being created on a regular basis. To see a list of all character sets on the LQ disk, type DIR *.SET. (These sets will all appear the same if you are printing these instructions yourself. If you have an Epson-compatible printer you can see a printed copy of all character sets on the LQ distribution disk by typing PRINSETS.) MAIN.SET !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO PQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~ ITALIC.SET !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO PQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~ ROMAN.SET !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO PQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~ GREEK.SET !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO PQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~ SANSSER.SET !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO PQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~ PALATINO.SET !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO PQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~ Changing LQ's default character sets. The default sets installed in LQ are 1 - MAIN.SET 2 - ITALIC.SET 3 - ROMAN 4 - GREEK Greek letters are great for scientific applications but may never be needed by some users. You can change the list of fonts which are loaded automatically as part of LQ with the INSTLSET program. First make certain you have a backup of LQ.COM, then insert a disk with the following files in the default drive: LQ.COM INSTLSET.COM all character sets desired (You can copy all character sets from drive A to drive B by typing COPY A:*.SET B:.) A copy of the original distribution disk fits the bill, or you can transfer these files to a separate work disk. Now type INSTLSET 20 Character sets and follow the instructions. The basic idea is to choose (as often as desired) a character set from the list of sets on a disk and then install it as set number 1,2,3 or 4 in LQ. When you have finished you will be given a chance to make these changes permanent. Editing character sets 21 8. Editing character sets: the EDCHAR program. Sooner or later you will probably want to modify one of the character sets provided with LQ, or make a new set from scratch. For example, you may need a couple of special technical symbols occasionally, or you may fall in love with an altogether new font. The EDCHAR program included on the LQ disk offers a convenient way to edit characters in the format expected by LQ. The basic sequence is to run the program, specify the character set you want to edit (which may be an existing set or a new one), edit one or more characters corresponding to the ASCII codes 32- 127, then save the revised (or created) set. EDCHAR also lets you move characters from one set to another easily. To get started simply insert the LQ disk and type EDCHAR. If you want to edit an existing set, you will want to load it now; if you are creating a new set, you can skip this step. Press 'L' to get the following L(oad) submenu: 1. Load main character set. 2. Load auxiliary character set. 3. Return to Character Editor. If you choose one of the first two options you are shown a list of all character sets in the current directory, and you are given a chance to select a set or to change the directory from which you will select a set. For example, if you enter '\MYDIR\', the path will be changed to the indicated directory and all character sets (files ending in '.SET') in this new directory will be listed. Similarly, if the font you want is in the main directory of drive B you would simply enter 'B:'. You can browse through all your directories in this fashion, and when you find the one containing the set you want just type the set's name. The set will be loaded into memory as the main or auxiliary set depending on your previous menu selection. The main difference between these two categories is that the main set can be altered but the auxiliary set cannot. The only reason to use an auxiliary set at all is to transfer characters to the main set. Let's assume that you have loaded a main and/or auxiliary character set if necessary and that you are ready to edit a character. Press 'G' to obtain the G(et) submenu: 1. Get character from current set. 2. Get character from auxiliary set. 3. Edit new character. 4. Return to Character Editor. If you choose one of options 1 - 3, you will be prompted to enter the ASCII code of the character or the character (preceded by a single quote) itself. For 22 Editing character sets example, you can specify the letter 'A' by entering the code 65 or by entering 'A. If you selected option 1 or 2, you will see the existing character from the appropriate set ready for editing; if you choose option 3 you will see a clear edit window. (See Figure 1 for a typical display.) A character is edited as a 24 X 10 matrix of dots, each of which is turned on or off. You can use the arrow keys along with the Home, End, Pg Up and Pg Dn keys to position the cursor. Pressing the space bar toggles the state of the dot under the cursor. At any time you can also select any of the menu options listed on the right of the screen. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Edit character set: A████████████████████████████ A C:\TURBO\main B████████████████████████████████ B C ████░░░░ ████████ C Auxiliary set: D ████ ████ D E ████ ████ E F ████ ████ F Edit character B G ████ ████ G code = 66 H ████ ████████ H I ████ ████████ I J ████████████████████ J Options: K ████████████████████ K L ████ ████████ L C)lear character M ████ ████████ M B)ackup character N ████ ████ N R)estore character O ████ ████ O G)et character P ████ ████ P P)ut character Q ████ ████ Q L)oad character set R ████ ████████ R S)ave character set S████████████████████████████████ S W)rite char to printer T████████████████████████████ T Q)uit U U V V W W X X Figure 1 When the character has been edited to your satisfaction, you can put it into the main character set with the P(ut) option. You will be given a chance to change the code under which the character will be stored, but more than likely you will use the default: the code you used with the G(et) command. There are three levels of storage used in EDCHAR. The ultimate (and only safe) storage site is your disk, and only complete sets, not individual characters, are saved as files on disk. There are also the main and/or auxiliary character sets in your computer's volatile memory; since the power may flicker at any time, you should backup a set you are editing on a regular basis. Finally, there is the individual character being edited: modifying this character Editing character sets 23 affects neither the set in memory nor the set on disk. Only when you P(ut) the character to a set is the set in memory changed, and only when you S(ave) the set in memory is the set on disk changed. When editing a character, you have at your disposal the following options: C)lear character - pressing 'C' blanks the character matrix, but doesn't affect the corresponding character in the set being edited. (Remember, only the P(ut) command changes that.) B)ackup character - pressing 'B'makes a copy in memory of the character definition currently displayed. R)estore character is the reverse of backup - the last character definition backed up with the 'B' option replaces that being displayed. Backup and restore let you experiment with a character definition without altering a set on disk. S)ave character set - pressing 'S' lets you save the set being edited under the name used for loading the set, or under any other name. You are prompted to enter the name of the set or the path for saving. You can overwrite the previous version simply by pressing return, or you can create a separate second version by changing the path or name. You will want to use the S(ave) option often since it provides cheap insurance against power fluctuation and other perils to your data. W)rite character lets you see how your character looks on paper if you have an Epson-compatible printer attached. You will be prompted to turn on your printer, then the character being displayed will be printed in LQ mode. (LQ should not be installed in memory if you use this option.) Note that while LQ works with printers which are not Epson-compatible (through the use of LQP configuration files), EDCHAR does not. This simply means that if you want to see your new characters on paper, you may have to wait until you exit EDCHAR and run LQ. Q)uit prompts you to make certain you're serious, then returns to DOS. 24 Editing character sets There is an additional choice not shown on the screen. If you press <Ctrl C>, you will be given the following menu: 1. Center character. 2. Center entire set. 3. Return to Character Editor. Selecting the first option centers the character definition on the screen, while choosing the second centers all of the character definitions in the main character set. If characters are not centered then spacing within words can appear irregular; it is always a good idea to center the entire set when you are finished editing it. Tips on editing character sets. Make certain that you use the same 'base lines' for all the characters in a given set, so that the characters will line up properly when printed. The following should be aligned: the base of characters without descenders, the top of lower case letters such as 'a' and 'c', the top of upper case letters. If you want to create a new font, you may want to work from an existing font. For example, you might reuse the punctuation symbols but change the letters and numbers. To do this, copy (at the DOS prompt) the set to be edited to a new name: A> COPY OLD.SET NEW.SET. Editing character sets 25 Now you can run EDCHAR and edit the new set without risking your old set. The same thing can be accomplished from within EDCHAR by loading a set, editing it, then saving it to a different name, but you must be sure to enter the new name or your old set will be lost. 26 About Shareware Appendix A. About 'Shareware'. 'Shareware' is a relatively new means of software distribution with several advantages to you the consumer. The complete package including this instruction manual is contained on a single diskette which may be freely copied and distributed. Word of mouth provides a more accurate and less expensive way of making a product known than magazine advertisements, and the savings keep LQ's cost down. Shareware does not mean 'public domain'. Distribution is permitted only if the package stays intact; all files should be passed on in unmodified form. If you find LQ of use, you are encouraged to register. Your registration fee of $35 will provide the following benefits: 1. A current version of LQ including all available character sets, 2. a mail-in card for a future version of LQ, 3. a $10 commission each time someone registers from one of your copies, 4. telephone support for your technical questions. To register, phone (with MC or VISA) (704) 264-6906 or mail payment to: Granny's Old-Fashioned Software Rt 4, Box 216 Boone, NC 28607 North Carolina residents please add 4.5%. Please include the registration number from the upper right of LQ's initial display so that we can reimburse the person from whom your copy originated. Coming attractions 27 Appendix B. Coming attractions. Version 2.0 of LQ is currently in the works and promises some significant enhancements: More LQP files to support additional printers automatically, a print-spooler which will work efficiently with LQ, support for generating your own letterheads, a utility to help 'digitize' printed fonts, several additional fonts. 28 ASCII codes Appendix C. ASCII codes. 0 32 SP 1 ^A 33 ! 2 ^B 34 " 3 ^C 35 # 4 ^D 36 $ 5 ^E 37 % 6 ^F 38 & 7 ^G 39 ' 8 ^H 40 ( 9 ^I 41 ) 10 ^J 42 * 11 ^K 43 + 12 ^L 44 , 13 ^M 45 - 14 ^N 46 . 15 ^O 47 / 16 ^P 48 0 17 ^Q 49 1 18 ^R 50 2 19 ^S 51 3 20 ^T 52 4 21 ^U 53 5 22 ^V 54 6 23 ^W 55 7 24 ^X 56 8 25 ^Y 57 9 26 ^Z 58 : 27 Esc 59 ; 28 60 < 29 61 = 30 62 > 31 63 ? ASCII codes 29 64 @ 96 ` 65 A 97 a 66 B 98 b 67 C 99 c 68 D 100 d 69 E 101 e 70 F 102 f 71 G 103 g 72 H 104 h 73 I 105 i 74 J 106 j 75 K 107 k 76 L 108 l 77 M 109 m 78 N 110 n 79 O 111 o 80 P 112 p 81 Q 113 q 82 R 114 r 83 S 115 s 84 T 116 t 85 U 117 u 86 V 118 v 87 W 119 w 88 X 120 x 89 Y 121 y 90 Z 122 z 91 [ 123 { 92 \ 124 | 93 ] 125 } 94 ^ 126 ~ 95 _ 127 Del