Star Micronics SB-15 user manual Chrso, When you run the program now it produces this

CHR$(9) is a problem with some computers. Some BASICS convert CHR$(9) to a group of spaces that act like a sort of pseudo-tab.This is line if the computer and the printer have the same tab settings, but it doesn’t allow us to use our own tab settings on SD-lOjl5. We can “outsmart” these computer by adding 128 to the ASCII value that we use. Instead of using CHR$(9), use CHR$(137) for a tab command. Even this trick won’t work for Apple II computers, for they use CHR$(9) for something else entirely. Apple users can get some help in Appendix J.

Now add the following line to your program to set different horizontal tabs:

15 LPRINT CHR$(27) I'D"CHR$(7) CHR$(lb) CHR$(21) CHR$(@)

<ESC > “D” is the command to begin setting horizontal tabs. It must be followed by characters representing the positions that you want the tabs set. In our program we are setting tabs in columns 7, 14, and 21. The CHR$(O) at the end ends the string of tabs. In fact, any character that is not greater than the previous one will stop setting tabs. This means that you must put all your tab values in order, from least to greatest, or they won’t all get set. (It also means that a CHR$(l) is just as good as a CHR$(O) for ending a group of tabs; some computers have trouble sending

CHRS(O).)

When you run the program now it produces this:

one t. WC2 three f out-

The words are now closer together, but still evenly spaced. Turn your printer off and on again to reset the default tabs.

nA one-shot tab command

-

Suppose you need to move to a position across the page, but you only need to do it once. It doesn’t make much sense to set up a tab to use only one time. There must be an easier way-and of course there is.

The solution is called a one-time tab and is < ESC > “b” CHR$(n). This command moves the print head n columns to the right. It has the same effect as sending n spaces to the printer.

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