There are four common approaches. First, you may be able to buy

an alternative interface board for your system. This is the best solution for 7-bit system problems. Check with your dealer or call the Epson 800 number.

The second approach is to use commercially available software that is specifically designed to overcome these coding problems. Consult your dealer or refer to current computer publications to see if a program for your computer system is available.

The third approach is to avoid the software that is changing the codes. On most computers you can send each code directly to the printer port. This bypasses the BASIC interpreter and avoids the interface.

Unfortunately, this process is also different for each computer system. Consult your computer’s manual to determine if you can do the same on your system.

A fourth approach is to change the printer driver program in your system. You should take this approach only if you have a working knowledge of machine language and of the way your computer works.

Solutions for Specific Systems

The next four subsections illustrate dealing with interface puzzles on four types of computers.

Applesoft BASIC solutions

Applesoft BASIC does not use PRINT to send data to the screen and LPRINT to send data to the printer as Microsoft BASIC does. Therefore, put a PR#l at the beginning of a program and change all instances of LPRINT to PRINT.

If one of the example programs contains an INPUT statement or a PRINT statement, a message should go to the screen before anything is sent to the printer. In these programs, leave the first lines as they are and after the INPUT and/or PRINT statements, add a line that states PR#l. Then change all the instances of LPRINT to PRINT and put a line that states PR#0 at the end of the program.

Problem Solving and MaintenanceC-7