Star Micronics NB-15 user manual

cessor handles it. Once you understand the concept you should be able to use your program manual to figure out how your word processor does it.

The program that we will study is‘the EasyWriter word pro- cessor for the IBM Personal Computer. This uses a fairly typical method of handling special codes. Generally, word pro- cessing programs don’t want you to put non-printing codes in the file. They “know” that they won’t print anything, and so they “protect” you by not letting you use them. But the non- printing codes are the ones that you need to use your printer’s features. So EasyWriter provides a way to override this protec- tion. If you precede a special code with a “control-O” then EasyWriter will accept the next non-printing code.

Let’s look at a specific example. Suppose you want to print the title of a book in boldface. The code sequence to select boldface print is Escape G (that’s two separate characters).

Entering the G is no problem; it’s a printing character so EasyWriter won’t object (although in this case it’s not going to print). The Escape, however, is a non-printing character so it re- quires special handling. To enter the Escape code first enter con- trol-0 (hold the Ctrl key while you press the letter 0). Then press the Esc key. The Escape character shows on the screen as a left pointing arrow. Now just type the letter G and you’re done.

When you want to end the boldface print, you need to enter Escape H. Use the same procedure: enter control-O, Esc, and then H.

You can use many of your printer’s features this way. Find the codes that you need in Appendix C.

A note to WordStar users: WordStar is probably the most popular word processing program in the world. But it provides no way to enter special printer control codes from the keyboard.

WordStar does, however, provide you with a way to use some of your printer’s advanced features. WordStar has four special commands that you can use to access your printer’s features.

These are called “user printer controls” and are control-P Q, control-P W, control-P E, and control-P R. You might use two of these to turn boldface on and off and the other two for some other function. The process of setting up these codes is called “patching” and is done with the 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 WordStar.