BBS: Inland Empire Archive
Date: 02-15-93 (06:51) Number: 334
From: TOM HAMMOND Refer#: NONE
To: ERIC REIDMILLER Recvd: NO
Subj: Lprint Conf: (2) Quik_Bas
ER>i am trying to write a program in quickbasic for my printer to print
in the spaces provided by my expense reports except that using
"LPRINT" doesn't always match-up. is there a small increment than
"LPRINT" ?
ER>using "TAB(x)" works fine for left and right spacing but i can't get
the lines to match.
One of the BIG problems in doing what (I think) you're attempting to do
is to get the darned thing to
into the lines on a pre-printed form. Mainly because the form designers
often seldom planned for the form to be machine-printed... it's not too
difficult to mkae your fist print in a non-uniformly spaced series of
lines, etc., or even to periodically re-align the platen on your
typewriter.
First off, LPRINT per se is NOT the culprit. It's the linefeed
increment on your printer! The printer is defaulted to a 1/6" linefeed
increment, which it will attempt to maintain until you instruct it to
use a different increment. Now, here's the kicker. It's (usually) not
too difficult to (temporarily) change the linefeed increment of your
printer thru programming.
IF you have an "IBM-compatible" printer, you should be able to switch
from 6 lines per inch (LPI) linefeed incrementing to 8 LPI be merely
issuing the command
LPRINT CHR$(27); CHR$(48);
This sends an "Esc0" to the printer and tells it to switch from 6 to
8 LPI and to continue on from there until told to change again or until
turned off or othewise reset. The semicolon at the end of the LPRINT
command keeps the printer from issuing an unwanted linefeed when it
receives the command. To return to 6 LPI, issue the command:
LPRINT CHR$(27); CHR$(50); (sends "Esc2")
Now, assuming you don't want 8 LPI, but some other increment, you'll
have to consult your printer manual for the exact code, because there
are a jillion (conservatively) different linefeed increments available
out there for each manufacturer's products and there are also several
differing methods of issuing the commands from within the program.
Fortunately, many of the vendors are beginning to slow down a bit on
going it alone and more recently, they seem to be converginf on a more
or less "semi-standard" command syntax. Here's what I have to do for my
EPSON LQ-850 to get linefeed increments other than 6 LPI and 8 LPI.
The LQ-850 has two Variable linespacing increments (n/60" and n/180").
PROBLEM: Calculate and set the required linespacing for 12 LPI
using n/60" spacing increments.
^^^^
The LPRINT command is LPRINT CHR$(27); CHR$(65); CHR$(nn)
LPI = 12
x = 60/LPI (therefore: n = 60/12 = 5)
LPRINT CHR$(27; CHR$(65); CHR$(x);
This sets my linespacing increment to 5/60" (or 12 LPI) using
the n/60" increment availablt to my printer.
PROBLEM: Calculate and set the required linespacing for 16 LPI
using n/180" spacing increments.
^^^^^
The LPRINT command is LPRINT CHR$(27); CHR$(51); CHR$(nn)
LPI = 16
x = 180/LPI (therefore: n = 180/16 = 11.25)
LPRINT CHR$(27; CHR$(51); CHR$(x);
This sets my linespacing increment to 11.25/180" (or 16 LPI)
using the n/180" increment availablt to my printer.
You want to change your linefeed increment on the line BEFORE you make
your first linefeed at that spacing so it is in effect at the time of
the linefeed, so just issue the command(s) anywhere on the previous line
(start or end of line if usually OK. I usually use the end, but either
works.)
Remember that mant printers implement variable in a slightly different
manner (different CHR$( ) character following the CHR$(27) or different
increments). So you will have to work out your own set of commands, but
this should at least get you pointed in the right direction.
Good luck.
Tom Hammond
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