50

Here, the value of n defines the print style to be selected. The value of n can range from 0 to 255, which is the range of values that can be stored in one eight-bit byte. If you look at each bit in this byte, you’ll find that each one represents a printing style variation. Adding the binary values of the selected bits gives the value of n for a particular combination of print styles.

Table 5-10 shows the decimal values of the bits in the Master Print byte. To calculate the value n for a particular combination of printing styles, just add the values of the features that you want to combine.

Table 5-10

Values of mixing print styles for Master Print

Bit

1 Print style

I

Decimal value

1

1 Elite mint

 

 

1

2

Proportional

print

 

2

3

Condensed

print

 

4

4(Not used)

I5

1 Boldface mint

I

16

I

6

Expanded print

 

32

 

7(Not used)

8

Underline

128

 

For example, if you want to select elite expanded boldface

 

print,

you would calculate

the value of n like this:

-

 

Elite

1

 

 

Boldface

16

-

 

Expanded

32

 

 

n=

49

-

The command would look like this:

CHR$(27);“!“;CHR$(49)

To better understand the way the print modes work, consider that each mode except pica (pica is the default) has a separate switch that can turned on and off via software. Once the switch is on, it stays on until turned off. When two modes that conflict are turned on at the same time, the printer must choose which one to use.

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Star Micronics NB-15 user manual Elite mint