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BASIC Communications, Computer

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Table 2-1. Several computers' print LIST commands Command LLIST LIST"COM0:" PR#1 LIST PR#0 Computer Epson QX-10™, IBM-PC®, and Radio Shack TRS-80® Epson HX-20 Notebook Computer™ Apple® II If your listing is more than a page long (or if you didn't start the listing at the top of a page), your printer may have printed right over the perforation. Set DIP switch 2-3 to the on position, and the printer will automatically skip over the perforation. We discuss this further in Chapter 8. Meanwhile, printing a program LISTing is a fundamental function of the printer. Be sure you manage this before continuing (if you have trouble, consult your computer's manual for help). BASIC Communications Part of the difficulty in controlling communications between computer and printer is the lack of a completely standard coding scheme. When your computer sends out a numeric code for the letter A, you naturally want your printer to interpret that code as an A. Most manufacturers of computers, printers, and software use the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII, pronounced askee) to code such frequently used characters as the letters of the alphabet, numerals, and keyboard symbols. Of the 256 ASCII numbers, most are codes for specific characters; some are codes for such computer or printer functions as sounding a beep or performing a carriage return. The ASCII standard does not yet allow for the advanced features in today's computers and printers. Individual manufacturers therefore adjust the codes to suit their own needs, which means that we are often faced with compatibility problems between printers and computers. (To compare your computer's version of the ASCII table with the FX's version, see your computer manual and this manual's Appendix A.) You can usually overcome the code inconsistencies by sending control codes for advanced printer functions in care of a special ASCII code that is called an ESCape code. The next five subsections discuss these matters in more detail. 38

Section	Page
FRONT MATTER	1
PREFACE	3
Conventions Used in this Manual	3
TABLE OF CONTENTS	7
LIST OF FIGURES	13
LIST OF TABLES	17
INTRODUCTION	18
Inside the Printer	19
Inside This Manual	19
PROGRAMMER'S EASY LESSON	24
First Steps	24
Ticket Program	25
Ticket Program Description	27
CHAP 1-THE FX PRINTERS	30
Additional Supplies and Accessories	33
Printer Location	33
Printer Preparation	34
Paper separator	34
Covers	35
Manual-feed knob	36
DIP switches	37
Ribbon installation	40
Paper Loading	41
FX-80: built-in tractor feed	41
FX-80 and FX-100: friction feed	45
FX-80 and FX-100: removable tractor unit	46
Top-of-form position	49
Paper-thickness lever	49
Starting Up	49
Control panel	52
The FX tests itself	52
CHAP 2-BASICS AND THE PRINTER	54
BASIC Communications	55
Character strings	56
BASIC print commands	56
ASCII and BASIC basics	57
Control codes	58
Escape-CHR$(27)-and other CHR$ commands	59
Change Commands	61
Reset Code	62
Mode cancelling codes	62
Delete and Cancel	63
Alternate Formats for ESCape Sequences	63
Summary	64
CHAP 3-PRINT PITCHES	66
Dot-Matrix Printing	66
Main columns	67
Intermediate positions	68
Modes for Pitches	69
Pica and Elite Modes	69
Compressed Mode	70
Mode priorities	72
Pitch Mode Combinations	73
Expanded Mode	73
Multiple print pitches on one line	75
Summary	76
CHAP 4-PRINT QUALITY	78
Bold Modes	78
Double-Strike Mode	78
Emphasized Mode	79
Proportional Mode	81
Mixing Modes	82
Summary	83
CHAP 5-DRESS-UP MODES AND MASTER SELECT	86
Four Modes	86
Underline Mode	86
Script Modes: Super and Sub	88
Italic Mode	89
More Mode Combinations	90
Master Select	90
Master Select combinations	93
Summary	95
CHAP 6-SPECIAL PRINTING FEATURES	98
Backspace	98
Overstrikes	98
Offsets	99
Unidirectional Mode	100
International Characters	102
Special Speeds	105
Half-Speed Mode	106
Immediate-Print Mode (FX-80 only)	106
Summary	107
CHAP 7-LINE SPACING AND LINE FEEDS	110
Line Spacing	110
Preset line spacing	110
Variable line spacing	112
Microscopic line spacing	115
Line Feeds	115
Summary	118
CHAP 8-FORMS CONTROL	120
Form Length Control	120
Form feed distance	120
Not-so-standard forms	122
Paper Perforation Skip	124
Skip command	124
DIP switch skip	126
Single-Sheet Adjustment	126
Summary	127
CHAP 9-MARGINS AND TABS	130
Margins	130
Left margin	130
Margins and pitches	131
Right margin	133
Both margins	135
Tabs	135
Horizontal tab usage	136
Variable horizontal tabs	138
Vertical tab usage	139
Ordinary vertical tabs	140
Vertical tab channels	143
Summary	145
CHAP 10-INTRODUCTION TO DOT GRAPHICS	148
Dots and Matrixes	148
Print Head	149
Graphics Mode	151
Pin Labels	152
First Graphics Programs	154
Straight line	155
Slash	156
Large caret	156
Wave pattern	157
Diamond pattern	158
Summary	159
CHAP 11-VARIETIES OF GRAPHICS DENSITY	160
Graphics Programming Tips	160
Graphics and the Reset Code	161
Graphics and low ASCII codes	161
Density Varieties	162
High-Speed Double-Density Graphics Mode	163
Low-Speed Double-Density Graphics Mode	165
Quadruple-Density Graphics Mode	166
More densities	166
More Graphics Programming Tips	167
Reassigning alternate graphics codes	167
Nine-Pin Graphics Mode	169
Pin Combination Patterns	171
Repeated patterns	172
Repeated DATA numbers	173
Summary	174
CHAP 12-DESIGN YOUR OWN GRAPHICS	176
Planning Process	176
Strata Program	177
Three-Dimensional Program	180
First version of 3D program	182
Other versions	187
Summary	188
CHAP 13-PLOTTER GRAPHICS	190
Arrays	190
Dimension and arrays	193
Filling arrays	193
Circle Plotting	194
Ones become dots	195
Pin firing sequences	196
Code solutions	197
Higher resolution	198
Reflections	200
Exploding galaxy	201
Big bang	202
Summary	205
CHAP 14-SYMMETRICAL GRAPHICS PATTERNS	206
Pin Pattern Calculation	209
Graphics Width Settings	210
Pattern Printout	210
Variations	212
Summary	214
CHAP 15-USER-DEFINED CHARACTERS	216
Preparation	217
Character Definition	217
Design	218
Dots into Data	219
Attribute byte	220
Proportional print	220
Printing User-Defined Characters	222
Downloading Command	224
Defining More Characters	224
Redefining Control Codes	225
Mode Strings	228
Strata	229
Summary	229
CHAP 16-COMBINING USER-DEFINED CHARACTERS	232
Large Letters: Double Wide	232
Large Letters: Double High	234
Giant Letters: Double High and Double Wide	234
Core Sets	240
Line Graphics	242
Summary	243
CHAP 17-BUSINESS APPLICATIONS	244
Preparation	244
Barchart	244
Statement Form	248
999 REM: The End	255

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Table

2-1.

Several computers’ print LIST commands

Command

Computer

LLIST

Epson QX-10™, IBM-PC

and Radio Shack TRS-80

LIST"COM0:"

Epson HX-20 Notebook Computer™

PR#1

Apple

LIST

PR#0

If your listing is more than a page long (or if you didn’t start the

listing at the top of a page), your printer may have printed right over

the perforation. Set DIP switch 2-3 to the on position, and the printer

will automatically skip over the perforation. We discuss this further in

Chapter 8.

Meanwhile, printing a program LISTing is a fundamental function

of the printer. Be sure you manage this before continuing (if you have

trouble, consult your computer’s manual for help).

BASIC Communications

Part of the difficulty in controlling communications between com-

puter and printer is the lack of a completely standard coding scheme.

When your computer sends out a numeric code for the letter A, you

naturally want your printer to interpret that code as an A. Most man-

ufacturers of computers, printers, and software use the American

Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII, pronounced

ask-

ee) to code such frequently used characters as the letters of the alpha-

bet, numerals, and keyboard symbols. Of the 256 ASCII numbers,

most are codes for specific characters; some are codes for such com-

puter or printer functions as sounding a beep or performing a carriage

return.

The ASCII standard does not yet allow for the advanced features in

today’s computers and printers. Individual manufacturers therefore

adjust the codes to suit their own needs, which means that we are

often faced with compatibility problems between printers and com-

puters. (To compare your computer’s version of the ASCII table with

the FX’s version, see your computer manual and this manual’s Appen-

dix A.) You can usually overcome the code inconsistencies by sending

control codes for advanced printer functions in care of a special ASCII

code that is called an ESCape code. The next five subsections discuss

these matters in more detail.