Star Micronics user manual Getting Started With Delta, Using this book without learning Basic

Page 35

Getting Started With Delta

23

install program that comes with WordStar. The procedure is fairly involved, but it is explained in the WordStar manual. If you have trouble figuring it out, ask for assistance where you bought Word- Star.

Using this book without learning BASIC

Throughout most of this book we will be teaching you how to

._ use Delta’s features using the BASIC programming language in our examples. This is because it is easy to communicate with Delta from BASIC and because, despite its shortcomings, BASIC is the nearest thing to a universal language among users of per- sonal computers. But it’s not the only way to communicate with Delta, as we have already seen. Even if you don’t know BASIC, you can learn how to use Delta’s features by reading on. When you find a function that you want to use, just apply what you already know about translating from one name for codes to another. The examples will still show you how the commands are used, even if you are not using BASIC.

Some Basics About BASIC

Probably the simplest thing to do with your printer in BASIC is to list a program on the printer. But in this world of proliferating microcomputers even this presents a problem. It seems that every computer uses a different system of communicating with the printer. We are going to tell you about some of the more common ways, and hope that between this and your computer’s BASIC manual you will be able to stay with us.

First on our list is Microsoft BASIC’s way of communicating with the printer. They just add an “L” to the beginning of the LIST and PRINT commands, making them LLIST and LPRINT. This method is used by more computers than any other and so we will use it throughout this book, after telling the rest of you how to follow along.

Microsoft BASIC is used by TRSSO computers, IBM-PC com- puters, many CPlM computers, and many other computers. (Look in your BASIC manual; it will probably say if it’s Microsoft BASIC.)

Next we need to talk about Apple II computers. They have a real simple system. To list a program that you have loaded into

Image 35

Contents Delta User’s Manual @Copyright 1983 Star Micronics, Inc Special Message to the New Owner Delta User’s Manual Table of Contents Creating Your Own Characters Special Features Delta PrinterFormatting Your Output Getting It All Together Maintenance Appendix F Atari 400/800 Computers Appendix D TRS-60 ComputersAppendix E Osborne, Kaypro and CP/M Computers Appendix Appendix DIP Switch SettingsAppendix Character Style Charts Appendix Commodore VIC-20 ComputersSerial busy protocols XONlXOFF Protocol ACK protocol Index Consumer Response 309 DIP Switch Quick ReferenceWarranty Inside Back Cover Command Quick Reference Delta User’s ManualTables Xii Delta User’s Manual Closer Look Roll paper holder and holder shaft used only with roll Paper separator and paper guide used with roll paperPage Paper Selection and Loading Parallel interface connector the place where you hookLoading single sheets Delta User’s Manual Loading roll paper Delta User’s Manual Loading sprocket-feed paper Closer LookOpen the tractor covers to expose the sprocket teeth Figure I-10.Delta ready to run with sprocket-feed paper Bottom feeding Delta-15Delta User’s Manual Ribbon Installation Self-Test Closer Look Delta User’s Manual Getting Started With Delta Using Commercial Sojtware First, some terminology Getting Started With DeltaAscii Using Delta with word processors Using Delta with SuperCalcPage Getting Started With Delta Using this book without learning BasicEstablishing communications ListOPEN4,4 CMD4 List PRINT#4 CLOSE4 CHR$ function NEW Lprint Testing RUNNEW NEW LPRINTCHR$7 RUNEscape Code NEW LPRINTCHR$27CHR$52 2$3LPRINT Testing RUNESC$=CHR$27 l@ LPRINTESC$ Some problem codesDelta User’s Manual Chapter Printing Text With DeltaLprint NOW WE are Back to Pica Pitch Printing Print pitch Commands@ Lprint this is Elite Pitch Printing Lprint Condensedis the NarrowestpitchH153 LPRINTCHR$27W CHR$@NOW Were Back to NormalExpanded print I sMaking Delta print darker Print CommandsLPRINTCHR$14EXPANDEDELITE Pitch Lprint NOW WE are Back to Unexpandedpica PrintingLprint this is DOUBLE-STRIKEPRINTING Print EmDhasis a CommandsItalic printing Italic CommandsSuperscripts and subscripts UnderJiningMixing modes Superscript Subscript commandsNEW Lprint Thisline Uses Build Instructionset Return LPRINTRESET.ALL$Lprintelites Elite LPRINTPICA$ Pica LPRINTRESET.ALL$ Return REGULAR.HEADING$= STRING$27,*+ RegularIf ENLARGED= True then Lprint Italics = False LPRINTROMAN$Repeatwith Italics If Pica = False then LPRINTFOUR.DOT$ GOTO3590Control Code Function Here is the chart it producesPage Delta User’s Manual Line Spacing and Forms Control Changing Line Spacing This is what you will get Run the program again. Now the results will look like this Line spacing CommandsMoving down the page without a carriage return NEW Lprint LinenumberForm feed Forms ControlsChanging the Page Length Form length commandsLprint PAY to the Order Top and bottom margin commandsLineSpacingandFormsControl51 Control code SummaryESC Delta User’s Manual Formatting Your Output NEW Lprint ONECHR$9TWOCHR$9THREE CHR$9 Four Left and right margin commands One-shot tab command13@ Lprint Return 5B ENDLPRINTCHR$27P CHR$l@ CHR$Z@CHR$@ Control Code Function One-shot vertical tab commandNow hear this LChapterInitializing Delta Bell commandsUnidirectional printing Some Miscellaneous commandsPutting Delta to sleep Printing to the bottom of the sheetPrinting Direction Lprint LprintNext Backspace and delete NEW Lprint Backspacedoes notLprint I===WORK Lprint Deletedoes not Lprint WorkEighth Bit controls Block graphics characters and special symbols3pl Lprint I II=11CHR$ICHR$9 4pI Next I Lprint Next J Macro control code International Character set commandsInternational character sets Macro instruction Commands END Macro StartdefinitionMacro Lprint CHR$18 Pica OFF RegularprintControl code Function Bell Disable bell Enable bell Reset Off-lineOn-lineDelta User’s Manual Creating Your Own Characters Dot Matrix Printing 000 0 eeeS&fee Rule I Download characters are seven dots high Defining Your Own CharactersRule 2 Dots cannot overlap Add up each column of dots 8WRONGCreating YourOwn Characters Assigning a value to your character Download character definition commandCharacter designs for the four card suits Figure Y-10. The attribute byte n2 for our heart character Next MPrinting Download Characters LPRINTCHR$27CHR$36CHR$@ DEFINTA-Z DECKCARD=X Next Card Return Read X LPRINTCHR$XNext J Next Lprint ReturnLPRINTSUIT$SUIT Proportkmal Characters Download Character dejfinition commands12@ Lprint CHR$BITS 138 Next Only Difference Is the way They Are Accessed Creating Your Own Characters Lprint DEF.DOWN.CHAR$ NUMERAL.BOT$NUM= CHR$ASCII+ 2 + CHR$ASCII+ Mixing Print Modes with Download Characters Utility Program Gosub 950RETURN Gosub 660 Return REM **** Display Menu for Edit Mode Summary