Epson FX-85 User Manual - Page 67
Solutions for Specific Systems, Apple II solutions, PRINT CHR$980N
View all Epson FX-85 manuals
Add to My Manuals
Save this manual to your list of manuals |
Page 67 highlights
Solutions for Specific Systems The next four sections illustrate dealing with interface puzzles on four types of computers: the Apple II, the TRS-80, the IBM-PC, and the QX-10. Apple II solutions There are two types of problems that you who own Apple II com- puters will need to address. The first is that the Apple II is an 8-bit computer, but its printer interface only handles seven bits. The second is that there is one problem code number: nine. The printer interface card furnished with the Apple II computer only passes seven bits to the FX, which means that you have a 7-bit system. Should you need an 8-bit system, the simplest solution is to purchase a new printer interface card from your computer dealer. Such a card is available for the Apple II. Or you can use software to solve any problems that arise from the limitation to seven bits. You can POKE codes to memory as discussed above, you can write your own printer driver, or you can avoid the types of programs that require eight bits. A routine to POKE codes to the memory of an Apple II Plus is given above. The Apple II uses CHR$(9) to "initialize" the printer. This code and the following character or characters are intercepted by the printer interface card and used to change modes (in somewhat the same way that the printer uses ESCape codes). You can divert all output to the printer instead of to the screen by sending the following line to the printer interface card: PR#l PRINT CHR$(9)"80N" Then type anything, followed by RETURN. The CHR$(9)"80N" code directs all subsequent output to the printer, up to 80 characters per row. You can cancel this by typing: PRINT CHR$(9)"1" or PR#0 The problem is that the FX uses CHR$(9) to activate horizontal tabulation and can also use it in graphics programs. When you send this code, however, your system will interpret it as a printer initialization 312