Interfacing WithApplicationsPrograms
If this wem the best of all possiblecomputer worlds, every software
applicationwouldrunautomaticallyonthe StarLaserPrinter4oranyother
printer.The fact is that software applications-word processing,spread-
sheets,databases,orothers-m designedtoworkwith aspecificprinteror
alimitedgroupof printem.
Someverypopularsoftwareapplicationswerewrittenbeforelaserprinters
becamecommon,and require adot-matrixor daisy-wheelprinter.Some
softwareislinkedto aparticularbrandof computerand printer.Andsome
canbe usedon only onebrandof laser printer.
Asyou haveread, someofthe commandsneededforprintingare resident
inthe StarLaserPrinter4.Somecanbeprogrammedfromthecontrolpanel.
Andsome mustbe issuedby the computer,fromwithinaprogram. Some
applicationsprogramsallowtheuserto specifyaprinter orprinters,either
by nameor by type. Once the selectionis made, it becomespart of the
programffle.Asaresult,printingusuallyrequiresnothingmorethanissuing
aoneor two keystrokecommand.
Inthis chapteryouwilllearn howtospecifythe StarLaserPrinter4forfour
popularapplicationsprogramsforIBM-compatiblecomputers:Lotus1-2-
3,WordPerfect,MicrosoftWord,andMicrosoflWindows.TheStarLaser-
Printer4will print graphics as well as words and numbers,emulating
HewlettPackardgraphics,alldensitiesof the Epsondotmatrixprinters. It
canalso beusedwith thetwo populardesktoppublishingprograms,Aldus
PageMaker,andXeroxVentu~Publisher,whichusestheGEMdesktopen-
vironment.Both are compatible with the HP LaserJetIIP. For further
informationconsulttheApplicationsManual.
Beforeyou begin printing, be sumyour Star LaserPrinter4is correctly
cotilguredforyourcomputerbyhavingeithertheparallelor serialinterface
selectedandthe correctcabling.Priortoprinting,make surethatyou have
selectedthesameemulationfromthefrontpanelas theoneyouspecifiedin
theapplication.
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