Programs such as Word Perfect and WordStar typically send a printer initialization string before any data. You may imbed the port select sequence in this string to select a printer. For example, Word Perfect allows you to edit the printer definition file for a specific printer by using the PTR command. The port select sequence for the Print Master would typically be inserted prior to any escape codes for the printer. Please see the documentation for your application package(s) for more information on editing printer initialization strings.
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All serial ports on Print Master (except Models 706A and 708A) feature full duplex communication. The timeout interval is based on computer port input inactivity only. Full duplex allows the printer device to transmit a limited amount of data to the connected computer during the input inactivity timeout period. Communication back to the computer uses a
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When using Print Master in a plotter sharing application, it is recommended that you send plot files to the Print Master rather than plotting dynamically from within your plotting software. You would typically have the application software direct the plot to a file and then copy the file to Print Master. This method eliminates the requirement for full duplex communication between the computer and the plotter which allows multiple computers to copy plot files simultaneously.
The DOS command to copy the plot file to Print Master typically adheres to the following format: COPY <filename> /B COMy:, where y is the number of the appropriate com port and <filename> is the name of the plot file.
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