Visual Basic Source Code/Visual Basic Source Code.iso/vbsource/vbbook13/vbbook13.doc

Text File | 1993-04-03 | 10.7 KB | 231 lines

                          VB Book Version 1.3
                              30 March 93


IMPORTANT:  Don't forget to read UPDATES at the end of this document!
            ---------------------------------------------------------

Utility to print ASCII text files to LaserJet Series II, IIp, or III
printers in booklet format (4 pages to a sheet).

Based on the program, PC Book, by Jay Munro, Copyright 1990 PC Magazine -
Ziff Davis - Jay Munro.

Originally written by Jay Munro in Quick Basic 4.5 and converted to Visual
Basic by Dennis Scott on September 1, 1991.  Updated to version 1.3
March, 1993.

USE AND DISTRIBUTION:

VB Book Version 1.3 can be freely used and distributed by any person or
company but it's not to be sold.  Distributors and BBS operators are
permitted to charge distribution fees as they see fit.

PURPOSE:

VB Book prints README and similar ASCII files in booklet format on an HP
LaserJet II, IIp, or III printer.  Uses two-sided printing in landscape mode,
with Line Printer font (Courier 16.6) so that four standard pages of up to
80 characters per line, 66 lines per page are printed on each sheet without
formatting changes.

REMARKS:

The filename can designate any ASCII text file in which each line is
terminated with a Carriage Return/Line Feed combination.  Page Feed characters
can be added to force breaks in addition to those implicit in the 60-line
(68-line if a header is used) page length.

The original switches in PC Book have been replaced with Windows Checkboxes.
Any or all of the Checkboxes can be used to create a one-line header that
prints the filename, page number, and date, on all but blank pages.  The Wrap
Checkbox causes lines exceeding the configurable line length to wrap; by
default such lines are wrapped.  Configurable line length was added in version
1.1 (see "Updates" below) so that space could be left on the left side for
hole punching.  A4 (European) paper size was added in version 1.3.

Output can be directed to LPT1, LPT2, COM1, COM2, or File.  Note that
you must set the proper parameters for your port before printing to a COM
port.  If File is selected, you will be prompted to enter an output filename
and two PRN files will be created, ready to be copied to the printer.

VB Book sequences the page printing so that all side-one pages are printed in
one pass.  The sheets are then put back in the LaserJet paper tray and all
side-two pages are printed.  The finished booklet can then be created with a
single fold.  When using the normal (top) LaserJet output bin the pass-one
sheets should be reinserted in the paper tray without any relative change
in orientation.  If rear output from the printer is used, the sheets must be
turned over as a group before reinsertion.  If you wish to hole punch the
finished product, set the line length to something less that 80 (or 90 if
using A4 paper).  Line lengths of 75 to 76 (A2 (American) paper) seem to
work real well for hole punching.

REQUIREMENTS:

VB Book requires Windows 3.x.  The Visual Basic Run Time file, VBRUN100.DLL,
must be in the path (recommend putting it in your Windows directory).
Modifications will require Microsoft Visual Basic Version 1.0 or greater.
Both the executable and the source files for VB Book are provided.

COMMENTS TO QuickBASIC PROGRAMMERS:

The conversion of PC Book from QuickBASIC to Visual Basic (VB) was undertaken
as an exercise in converting original QuickBASIC (QB) source code into VB code.
It was surprisingly easy!

The hardest part was deciding HOW the screens (forms in VB) should look.
Actually designing the forms is very easy.  Once the forms were designed, I
just used "load text" to get the original QB code into the main form.  VB does
almost everything automatically.  For example, all SUBs are automatically
created and the old code placed in them.

Some things will need to be changed, of course.  Any input from the user
(QBs Input, Line Input, and Inkey commands) needs to converted to "InputBox$"
functions.  Similarly, the "print" statements (with corresponding Locate's)
were converted to "MsgBox" functions or a form created to place them onto.
The QB code that performed initialization was placed in the main form's
Form_Load procedure.  All Declare's were removed.  Most of the above changes
were accomplished by pressing F5 (run) and letting VB tell me what it didn't
like.  I just used the ol' cut & paste to put things in the right place.

I then defined what should happen when each of the controls on the forms were
activated (usually clicked) and wrote the code into those areas.  Putting the
drive, directory, and file selection boxes on the screen and activating them
is phenomenally easy!

The overall concepts of VB are a little difficult to comprehend at first but
then it clicks and it all becomes quite simple.  I would highly recommend that
you take the tutorial before doing anything.  If you don't, you will not
comprehend what's going on and will probably get disgusted and quit.

This conversion took about a day to do because of having to learn VB.  If I
had to do it again I could probably complete it in an hour or less.  Please
note that the code has not been "cleaned up" - some debugging code may still
be there.

RECOMMENDED ADDITIONS:

Want some practice with VB?  Why not add:  A screen preview of output while
printing (or before printing or instead of printing) and status display of
percent completed.

If anyone adds this capability or changes the code in some other way, please
be kind enough to send me a copy of the source code.

Please send comments or suggestions to:

     Dennis Scott
     CompuDirect
     7711 Butler Road
     Myrtle Beach, SC  29575-6628
     [phone]
     CompuServe ID:  71360,3701

DISCLAIMER:

The standard disclaimer applies:  Use this program at your own risk.  I will
not be held responsible for anything!


UPDATES:

Version 1.1, December 18, 1991.  Added the following features:

  1.  Status display to give an indication that the program is really printing.
      It is also used to display totals, source file, and destination.

  2.  Added the capability to set the line length which in effect allows the
      margins to be set.  This feature was added so that people could use a
      hole punch if needed (added at the request of Norman Levenstein;
      70366,140).  With this set to other than the default, recommend that
      you edit your text file so that its line length is equal to or less than
      this setting.  Otherwise, the lines will wrap at the right edge (or be
      cut off if line wrap is turned off).

  3.  Added the ability to cancel before starting to print side 2, i.e., if the
      first side is not what you really wanted then why print the second side.

  4.  Cleaned up the code somewhat.  It's still not real pretty but this is a
      free program!

Version 1.2, March 9, 1993.

  1.  Changed info screens to reflect our change of address and telephone
      number.

  2.  Cleaned up the code a little more.  Still not great but better.

  3.  Added a new file called SOURCE.DOC to the distribution archive.  It
      is the source code listing from version 1.0 and is included so that
      people without Visual Basic can see the source code and thus make a
      determination of whether to start using VB or not. This file is not
      needed to use nor change VB Book.

Version 1.3, March 30, 1993.

  1.  Added A4 capability at the request of Mick Ellis of Cogent Software,
      Letchworth, Herts., England.

      NOTE:  I do not have the capability to thoroughly test this added
      ----   feature due to the lack of A4 paper here in the States.  The
             code 'should' work but if anyone finds a fault please let
             me know.

  2.  Changed the 'Print to File' section.  It now creates two files
      instead of just one.  With only one PRN file being created, it was
      not possible to reinsert the paper in the middle.  To use the two
      PRN files, first copy 1xxxxxxx.PRN to the printer.  When done
      printing, reinsert the paper in the printer and copy 2xxxxxxx.PRN
      to the printer.  Be advised that these two files are NOT ASCII
      files -- they have printer codes imbedded within and therefore
      you must use the following command when copying to the printer:

        COPY 1xxxxxxx.PRN PRN /b
        ... reinsert paper then
        COPY 2xxxxxxx.PRN PRN /b

      Of course, replace the x's with the proper filename.

      When prompted to enter an output filename, if you use a filename
      prefix of 8 characters in length, the last character will be dropped
      in order to put a '1' on the front of the filename.  This is a DOS
      limitation not mine.

  3.  If you have tabs in the document you want to print, you may want to
      remove them before processing with VB Book.  Otherwise, VB Book will
      print the tabs as 8 spaces which could upset your line spacing and cause
      text to wrap (if on) or be cut off at the right margin.  If your
      printouts 'bleed over' to the next page for no apparent reason,
      you probably have tabs in the document that need to be removed.

  4.  VB Book will now yield time to other running applications while
      computing the number of pages and when printing.

  5.  Removed the blacked out background screen so that users can now
      see the desktop.  A fullfilment of another request by Mick Ellis.

  6.  VB Book no longer ends when finished printing but rather returns
      to the main screen.  Choose 'Cancel' to quit the program.

  7.  NOTE:  The current version of VB Book does not use Windows printing
      facilities.  It bypasses Windows and sends raw LaserJet printer codes
      directly to the printer.  A future version (hopefully) will have the
      ability to print preview and select an optional Windows font.

  8.  Note that the only size limit on an input file is that it can not
      be larger than 512 output pages.  I have tested VB Book on input
      text files as large as 200K -- not even a burp!

IF ANYONE HAS SOME SAMPLE VISUAL BASIC CODE THAT DETAILS SELECTION OF FONTS
AND PRINTING PROPORTIONAL FONTS TO THE PRINTER, PLEASE SEND ME A COPY.

I have to work for a living so can't spend forever working on a Free program!
Any code samples that you send will allow me to add features to VB Book in
a more timely manner and may make the difference between getting or not
getting the features added!  In return, your name will be placed in this
file as a generous provider and assistant.