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-
-
- Program:
- OV.EXE - HP LaserJet II Overlay Utility
- ALPHA TEST 1.03
- Copyright 1988 by Keith P. Graham
-
- Contact:
- Keith Graham at Other Woman BBS (707) 938-3508.
-
- Description:
- OV.EXE creates Macro Files which can be sent
- to a Hewlett Packard LaserJet II to form a
- forms overlay. It uses graphics files from
- several available sources to create the
- macro file. The macro created by OV.EXE
- will be set to automatically print whenever
- a form feed is sent to the printer.
-
- Uses:
- OV.EXE is useful for creating Letterheads
- or endbars for letters. It can be used to
- place graphics or signitures on form letters.
- It can be used to created forms. Anything that
- can be scanned or created on a paint program
- can be placed automatically on a printed page.
-
- Operation:
- First a suitable graphic must be created using
- a paint file or a scanner program. Files must be
- one of the following types:
- 1. PDA - Palantir scanned images type 1 or 2.
- 2. TIF - Aldus Microsoft Tag Image Format File.
- 3. PCX - (or PCC), ZSOFT PC Paintbrush files.
- 4. GEM - Gem Paint images.
-
- Use black and white files only. The LaserJet cannot
- print in colors. Do not use grey level images as
- the LaserJet can't handle them either.
- The files must have an extension of one of the above.
- Use Optiks to convert a file from other formats.
-
- OV.EXE does not create the graphics files, these
- must be created by another program.
-
- Start OV.EXE by typeing OV and pressing return.
-
- A screen with fill in blanks will appear. If you
- have a composite screen and have trouble reading the
- screen use the MODE BW80 command before starting
- OV.EXE.
-
- There are 7 fields to fill in. You enter data into
- the fields by typing. You move from field to field
- by using the cursor keys. If you chicken out you
- just press Esc.
-
- Pressing F1 will give you information about the
- field that the cursor is on.
-
- Pressing F10 checks the data on the screen and
- if it is correct it will create the overlay file.
- If there is something wrong on the screen, the
- field will be flagged and you will get the help
- screen for that field.
-
- FIELDS:
-
- 1. Image file. This is the name of a file with
- the extension of PDA, PCX, IMG or TIF.
- It must be a valid image file or OV will
- give up. If the file is not on the current
- disk and/or directory you can include a
- path with the file name.
-
- 2. Macro file. The macro file is created by OV.EXE
- and has all of the HP escape sequences to create
- the macro on the printer. You must give a valid
- file name. OV does not check to see if the file
- already exists. If you put an existing file name
- here, OV will replace it.
-
- 3. Printer density is the DOTS PER INCH that the
- graphic will print at. It is either 75, 150
- or 300. You have to know about how big your
- graphic is to make it print at the right size on
- the paper. If you graphic is 640 pixels wide
- (640 is one screen), it will print out at
- 2-1/8 inches wide at 300 DPI and about 8-1/2
- at 75 DPI. OV does what it is told, it is up to
- you to decide how you want to print it.
-
- 4. Macro number. The LaserJet II allows up to 32
- macros numbered 01 to 32. You can have more than
- one macro around at a time so you may want to
- give them separate numbers. Only one automatic
- overlay is active at a time.
-
- 5. Inverse. This field controls whether or not
- black dots form the screen will appear as
- black dots on the paper. Some graphics programs
- produce graphics which are acceptable as white
- pixels on the screen on a black background, but
- they look like negatives on the paper.
- Entering a N here will make the paper print
- just like the screen image. Placing a Y here
- will make the screen a negative. Some graphics
- are not immediately obvious as to which to use,
- but you must use one or the other
-
- 6. X position. This is in character columns. It is
- the count of inches from the left. If you
- wanted the macro to start printing at the left
- hand margin you would put 00000 in this field.
- If you wanted the macro to start in the middle
- of the paper, you would put 4.000 here.
- (this field is not checked. Make sure its less
- than 8.5 inches)
-
- 7. Y position is the vertical count of inches
- measured from the top of the page used for
- positioning the graphic. If you want the graphic
- to print at the top of the page, put 000 here.
- if you want it to start in the middle put 5.500.
- (this field is not checked. Make sure its less
- than 11 inches)
-
-
- Using the Macro File:
-
- After you create a macro file you have to get it
- to your printer. The easiest and fastest way is
- to use the DOS COPY command.
-
- If you had named the macro file LETTERH.HP:
- (this is an example you can name it anything
- that you like.)
-
- Enter from the DOS prompt:
-
- COPY LETTERH.HP LPT1: /B
-
- COPY is the DOS COPY command.
- LETTERH.HP is the name of the macro file that
- you created.
- LPT1: is the printer to copy to. If you have
- a printer on LPT2: then use that instead.
- /B means do the copy in binary mode. The /B
- is required.
-
- The PRINT command will not work correctly with
- binary files. Do not use PRINT.
-
- Once a file is created you can use it as often as
- you like. The LaserJet will remeber the overlay
- until it is turned off or reset. Use HPRESET.COM
- included here to reset the LaserJet.
-
- Notes:
-
- The Macro files are big. Even little ones can
- be 256K. Make sure that there is enough free
- room on the disk.
-
- Your LaserJet must have enough memory (most likely
- at least 1.5M) to run the graphics. You must have
- a LaserJet II, LaserJet+ or a LaserJet 500+.
- Some LaserJet compatibles can't handle m cros.
-
- Sending a new macro to the printer with a different
- number supercedes the current macro, but does
- not clear it from memory. In a future release I
- will add a few HP setup utilities.
-
-