6K PRINTER UTILITY (DISK/CASS)
by Dick Tedeschi
Those of you with new Epson printers, if you are like me, have been frustrated by all those wonderful CONTROL CODES available to do anything from change the number of characters per line, change line spacing, select full width/double-width/half-width, etc.
There are an impressive number of these "print options" available, especially when you "mix and match" them to create unusual combinations for a specific application.
This program allows you to choose from among the more commonly used commands by way of a menu which issues the codes to the printer as well as updating the menu as the option is chosen.
I have found this valuable in setting up VISICALC (R) sheets for printing and have used it with a multitude of programs in addition to printing out program listings (e.g.,fit a 1 1/2 page listing on one page).
I leave the PAPER OUT switch (#1-3) ON (Left) which turns the paper out sensor OFF (does that make sense?). Then if I want to print a single sheet I can do so without buzzers ringing and the printer halting at the halfway point. If I am using pin-fed forms I can select (P) on the menu and the sensor is enabled which enables me to walk away and not worry about the print roller getting messed up.
The great part of all this is that the EPSET program can be run and then the 400/800 and/or the disk drive can be turned off and any program (except a few like LETTER PERFECT which internally reset & control the printer) can be loaded without affecting the print status previously selected.
(H)elp and (R)eset options are included. Reset will simply return the printer to power up state while Help gives a brief (one screen) description of the program.
More options which can be added include italics (I use inverse char.) and 480/960 dot graphics select.
***Program Variables***
| A$-W$ | : print option strings |
| K | :input Character variable |
| CH | : number of characters per line |
| DL | : number of dots per line (1-85) |
| FL | : number of lines per 11" form |
| PF | : number of lines to skip before perf |