SelecType-You have the choice of using the four preset SelecType macros, or creating your own. One of those preset macros (macro 3) is for spreadsheets. It’s set up to print in draft quality, condensed mode, with a right margin of 135 (for 136 columns).

The SelecType settings that have the greatest effect on spreadsheets are: Print Quality, Condensed, and Right Margin. (If your spreadsheet program seems to disregard the SelecType settings, see the section on Initialization.)

The program 's printing facility-Almost all spreadsheets have the capability of sending commands to a printer. However, its usually up to you to pick the pitch or mode you want, then find the proper commands in the printer manual.

For example, your spreadsheet might send printer commands as a “setup string.” To prepare a setup string for condensed, 12 pitch, you would look up the proper command in the LQ’s Command Summary (Condensed, 12 pitch, gives the maximum number of printable characters per line, as shown in Table 4-2.)

The command for 12 pitch is ESC M, and the command for condensed is SI. Most spreadsheets want you to send the decimal equivalent for the command, also given in the Command Summary A setup string for condensed, 12 pitch, might look like this:

/027/077/015 (MY M /SI)

Programs that ask you to set up the commands usually tell you how to do it; it’s up to you to find the proper commands.

A programming language-Programming languages may be the most straightforward way of setting up a printer. As demonstrated in the section at the end of this chapter, you can simply send the appropriate command without going through a setup or installation program.

If you set up your printer with a programming language, such as BASIC or Pascal, be sure your spreadsheet program does not wipe out the settings with an initialization command, as described in the next section.

4-8

Using the LQ-2500 with Application Programs