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Control codes, some of them. For example, some popular systems intercept - driver

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instead of an Italic A, pay close attention to the next three paragraphs. The original ASCII code was designed to use the decimal numbers zero through 127. Computer systems designers soon decided to extend this range (to 0 through 255) in order to make room for more features. Unfortunately, some designers did not anticipate that printers would make use of this extended range. So they designed BASIC printer drivers that intercept any number in the upper half of the range (128 255) and automatically convert it to the lower half of the range by subtracting 128. In these systems such a code as CHR$(193) never makes it to the printer. The printer driver subtracts 128, which means that the code for Italic A gets to the printer as a CHR$(65). The printer then produces a Roman A. For many applications, you won't need the upper half of the ASCII codes. For others, the inability to generate codes greater than 127 will be an obstacle. Whenever we can, we suggest ways to get around this obstacle. In Chapter 5, for instance, we discuss Italic Mode, which is the FX designers' method of making Italic characters easily accessible to all users. If you're patting yourself on the back because your printer printed an Italic A, postpone your celebration for a bit. Nearly all computers' BASIC programs intercept codes on their way to the printer and alter some of them. For example, some popular systems intercept a CHR$(l0)-line feed-and send out a CHR§(13)-carriage returninstead. Typical problem codes involve the numbers 0 and 9 to 13. Your computer manual may alert you to these problems, Or experience may have to be your guide. In order to help computer systems that can't send a zero in a CHR$ command, several printers' instruction sequences allow such options as using "0" (quote-zero-quote) in place of CHR$(0). Besides mentioning some of these solutions within the text of this User's Manual, we have written a troubleshooting appendix, Appendix F. Control codes Enough talking about problems. Here's a program line to try: 10 LPRINT CHR$(7) Be sure to use the appropriate printer access commands for your system. 41

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

instead of an Italic A, pay close attention to the next three paragraphs.

The original ASCII code was designed to use the decimal numbers

zero through 127. Computer systems designers soon decided to extend

this range (to 0 through

255)

in order to make room for more features.

Unfortunately, some designers did not anticipate that printers would

make use of this extended range. So they designed BASIC printer

drivers that intercept any number in the upper half of the range

(128 -

255)

and automatically convert it to the lower half of the range by

subtracting

128.

In these systems such a code as CHR$(193) never makes it to the

printer. The printer driver subtracts

128,

which means that the code

for Italic A gets to the printer as a CHR$(65). The printer then

produces a Roman A.

For many applications, you won’t need the upper half of the ASCII

codes. For others, the inability to generate codes greater than 127 will

be an obstacle. Whenever we can, we suggest ways to get around this

obstacle. In Chapter 5, for instance, we discuss Italic Mode, which is

the FX designers’ method of making Italic characters easily accessible

to all users.

If you’re patting yourself on the back because your printer printed

an Italic A, postpone your celebration for a bit. Nearly all computers’

BASIC programs intercept codes on their way to the printer and alter

some of them. For example, some popular systems intercept a

CHR$(l0)-line feed-and send out a CHR§(13)-carriage return-

instead. Typical problem codes involve the numbers 0 and 9 to 13.

Your computer manual may alert you to these problems, Or experi-

ence may have to be your guide.

In order to help computer systems that can’t send a zero in a CHR$

command, several printers’ instruction sequences allow such options

as using “0” (quote-zero-quote) in place of CHR$(0). Besides mention-

ing some of these solutions within the text of this User’s Manual, we

have written a troubleshooting appendix, Appendix F.

Control codes

Enough talking about problems. Here’s a program line to try:

10 LPRINT CHR$(7)

Be sure to use the appropriate printer access commands for your

system.