P P R I N T Users Guide and Reference ------------------------------------------------------- A General purpose printing system for all computers and printers ------------------------------------------------------- Shareware by Patri-Soft (ASP Member) (714) 352-2820 (Voice) (714) 352-2825 (BBS) Version 5.3 April 1991 ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄ¿ ³ (tm) ³ ³o ³ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ ³ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÁÐÄÄ¿ ³ Association of ³ ³ ³ÄÙ Shareware ÀÄÄij o ³ Professionals ÄÄÄij º ³ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ ÀÄÄÄÄÐÄÄÄÄÙ * Member * Support BBS -- Patriquin's BBS 714-352-2825 (DATA) Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991 by Patri-Soft PPRINT Table of Contents PPRINT - General Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Command Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Setting PPRINT default parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 The printer definition file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Printer Definition statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Dynamic PPRINT command parameter definitions. . . . . . . 20 Registration Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Problems and Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Program Maintenance Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 i PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PPRINT ------ PPRINT is a general purpose print utility that can be used with HP laser or other printers. PPRINT will scan a directory and select files for printing. Print control parameters govern the print process. A special print feature for the HP laserjet printer allows printing two pages on both halves of a side of paper. This is especially nice for printing large documents as it saves paper and print time. PPRINT is special and unique because it is customisable to any printer type. It also allows you to access printer features not normally availaable for printing normal text files. I know there are too many command parameters for each user to learn. PPRINT has all these features to support the many different printers and features available today. I have designed PPRINT to provide be a single utility that will accomplish most all print tasks. An installation can standardize on one one print utility even though it has users with many different kinds of printers. Type the PPRINT command without parameters to get help about command parameters available. Once you learn the parameters you use most often, set up DOS batch files to make printing easier. If you have questions, problems, ideas, or requests, please don't hesitate to contact me through my online support BBS. You are allowed immediate access the first call. The number is 714-352-2825. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Command Parameters ------------------ PPRINT allows many command parameter switches to be specified to customize the printing process. All these parameters are optional. The command format and switch parameters are described below. A quick review of command parameters is always available by entering the PPRINT command with no parameters. COMMAND FORMAT: PPRINT filespec [ (/ switches) ] filespec Enter a DOS file specification. Pathnames and standard DOS wildcard characters are allowed. /AP Set printer to print using PI FONT A character set. For laser and other compatible printers. (See also Printer Definition file) /B:filename When a wildcard name is supplied to indicate multiple files are to be printed, this parameter indicates to skip all files until this filename is found. /BA BAtch command operation. Causes PPRINT to ignore keystrokes entered during processing and to immediately end terminate processing when all printing is complete. You will not be asked to press any key to erase the print status window. /BM:nn Number of lines of bottom margin /BW Force PPRINT to use black and white screen colors instead of its normal default attributes. /C Sends code to printer to force compressed print. /CO:nn Specify the number of copies of each file to be printed. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /C2 /C3 These options change PPRINT's screen colors. If you like the colors they produce over the standard colors, specify them using the SET PPRINT=/C2 command. This will place them in the DOS environment where PPRINT can use them for each execution. /DB Set printer to print using its Double Strike mode. (See also Printer Definition file) /DS Double space printed output /D:[(]xxx Date. Select files based on the relationship between [)] their last update date and the date specified. This [=] parameter includes a date or number of days value. It may also contain a modifier that reverses or modifies the use of the date specified. When xxx contains a date the date is compared to the last update date of the file. The last update date of the file is the date contained in its directory entry. The file is selected if the condition specified by the condition modifier is met. The condition modifier meanings are: '(' = Select files whose date is older than the date specified. ')' = Select files whose date is newer than the date specified. (default if none specified) '=' = Select files whose date is equal to the date specified. Date values may be specified in any of these formats: MM/DD/YY MM-DD-YY DDMMMYY 12/31/80 12-31-80 31DEC80 If xxx contains a numeric value, that positive number is used to calculate a date value a number of days prior to the current date. Then that date is used as in the calculation above. Example: /D:(1JAN86 - Process files updated before 1JAN86 /D:)1JAN86 - Process files updated after 1JAN86 /D:=1JAN86 - Process files updated 1JAN86 /D:(5 - Process files modified prior to 5 days ago /D:)5 - Process files modified within the last 5 days /D:=5 - Process files modified 5 days ago PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /E Sends code to printer to force emphasized print. /EQ PPRINT normally asks the user to press a key before removing the print status window at the end of processing. This parameter causes PPRINT to END QUICKLY and not wait for a user key press. /EX Attempt to print the header and footer lines using dot matrix expanded print options. If there is not enough room on the line this option will be ignored. /F Print page footings at the bottom of each page. This makes thumbing through listings to find a specific file much easier. /FC Set printer to print using Courier type face. For laser and other compatible printers. (See also Printer Definition file) /FE Set printer to print using Prestiege Elite type face. For laser and other compatible printers. (See also Printer Definition file) /FG Set printer to print using Gothic Elite type face. For laser and other compatible printers. (See also Printer Definition file) /FH Set printer to print using Helvitca type face. For laser and other compatible printers. (See also Printer Definition file) /FL Set printer to print using Line Printer type face. For laser and other compatible printers. (See also Printer Definition file) /FP Print Footer line that contains Page number only. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /FT Set printer to print using Times Roman type face. For laser and other compatible printers. (See also Printer Definition file) /G For printing C language source files. This option prints ruler lines to help follow IF and DO sets of lines down and across pages. /HD Print Header line that contains filename, date file was last updated, and page number. /HP Print Header line that contains Page number only. /HT PPRINT will prompt you for heading information to be placed in heading and footing lines. /HT:ccc Specify heading information to be placed in heading and footing lines. Since DOS does not allow spaces in command lines, enter an underline character '_' wherever you want a space printed. PPRINT will substitute a space in those positions. I.E. PPRINT *.BAT/ht:Disk_Batch_Files /IT Use printers Italics print mode. (See also Printer Definition file) /JU Use printer's Auto Justification Mode (See also Printer Definition file) /LA Set printer's Landscape print Mode (See also Printer Definition file) /LC Compress all sets of spaces to one space in each print line. /LD Set printer to print using LINEDRAW character set. For laser and other compatible printers. (See also Printer Definition file) PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /LE Set printer to print using LEGAL character set. For laser and other compatible printers. (See also Printer Definition file) /LJ Left Justify each line to be printed. /LL:nn Number of characters to be allowed for each print line. Longer lines will be truncated. /LM:nn Number of characters for the left margin. /LO:nn Ignore the first n characters and start printing with the nnth character in each print line. (Offset) /LP:nn Lines per page. 66 lines assumed. (11 inch * 6 lpi) /LPTn Specify /LPT1 or /LPT2 or /LPT3 or /LPT4 to indicate the alternate printer PPRINT is to direct all output to. This has the same effect as specifying /PD:LPTn. Note, specification of LPT2 will cause PPRINT to attempt to use a printer definition file of PPRINT2.DEF. This allows a special printer definition file to be set up for different printers attached to your system. If the special printer definition file is not found, PPRINT will look for the standard printer definition file PPRINT.DEF. /LQ When the printer has letter quality mode, this parm activates it. (See also Printer Definition file) /ML:nn Indicate the maximum number of lines to be printed. /MP:nn Indicate the maximum number of pages to be printed. /N Print a line number before each line printed. Useful for printing program source listings. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /NC Ignore print control characters found in input lines. You may also want to specify /NE. /ND PPRINT will search for duplicate input lines and ignore them. This feature can be used to take any sorted text file and remove duplicate lines. /NE Do not eject the paper by inserting Form Feed characters. SPECIAL FEATURE: You can use this parameter to change a input file to upper case, lower case or for any of the other data manipulation features of PPRINT. This causes PPRINT to pass the file through without added print control. The following example reads file X.TXT and creates file Y.TXT and converts it to upper case and removes duplicate lines. PPRINT X.TXT/PD:Y.TXT/PU/ND/NE The next example takes the first 500 lines of file X.TXT and creates file Y.TXT. PPRINT X.TXT/PD:Y.TXT/NE/ML:500 /NF Ignore Form Feed characters found in input files. Normally when PPRINT finds a form feed it honors it and skips to the top of the next page. With /NF specified, the form feed is removed from the input and ignored. /NI No envIronment variables. Causes PPRINT to ignore any PPRINT= DOS environment variable parameters during processing. /NT Do not expand tabs in input file. /NV Disables PPRINT display of file lines on its display during processing. /NW No Window causes PPRINT operation to write to the display like other DOS commands and not display and update a full screen status window during processing. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /PA Pause before each page is printed. Use on single sheet printers to allow each new page to be placed in the printer. /PD:xxxx Alternate print device name. /PD:LPT2 will cause all output to be directed to printer 2. LPT1 is assumed. This can also be the name of a DOS file. /PF:xxxx Specification of an alternate printer definition file name. You may cause PPRINT to use any printer definition file you wish. Just specify the name of the file as part of the /PF: parameter as shown by the following example. Any valid DOS file name may be used. /PF:LASER2.DEF or /PF:LASER.2 /PI Set printer to print using PI FONT character set. For laser and other compatible printers. (See also Printer Definition file) /PL Convert all print lines to lower case. /PU Convert all print lines to upper case. /PR Use printer's Proportional print mode. (See also Printer Definition file) /PS Print file over page perforation. Also consider /NE. (See also Printer Definition file) /P5 Set printer to print using 8.5 point type /P7 Set printer to print using 7 point type /P8 Set printer to print using 8 point type /P10 Set printer to print using 10 point type /P12 Set printer to print using 12 point type /P14 Set printer to print using 14 point type For laser and other compatible printers. (See also Printer Definition file) PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /R Print a ruler at the top of each page of output. /RE When you register PPRINT, you will be sent a registration code and serial number. Use this option to activate registration processing. /RO Set printer to print using ROMAN character set. For laser and other compatible printers. (See also Printer Definition file) /RSET Is the opposite of /SET parameter. Use to cause PPRINT to send printer reset codes to reset the printer as if PPRINT processing for the specified command were terminating. Allows you to reset the printer for other applications. /RX Set printer to print using ROMANX character set. For laser and other compatible printers. (See also Printer Definition file) /S laSer printer. 2-up side by side page printing in compressed format. Requires lanscape font. This may be used with /2D or /2E or /PA to get double sided output on laser printer. /SC Use printers Script print mode. (See also Printer Definition file) /SET Changes the function of PPRINT. When /SET is specified, PPRINT will send all appropriate control codes to set the printer for processing and will terminate. No files will be printed. This parameter allows you to take advantage of PPRINT printer setup features for other applications, /SL:nnn Start or restart printing with the nnth line of the file. Previous lines will be skipped. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /SP:nnn Start or restart printing with page number nnn. Previous pages will be skipped. /S6 Use printer's 6 line per inch mode. (See also Printer Definition file) /S8 Use printer's 8 line per inch mode. (See also Printer Definition file) /T Test the command. Use this switch when you would like to test the command entered without actually printing any files. Messages will indicate what will happen if the command is executed without the /T switch. /TB:xxx Specify text to be located in the input file. When the text is found, the following data will be printed. PPRINT XXX.TXT/TB:start here /TL:5 Indicate the length of each tab character. Default is 8 characters. /TM:nnn Number of top margin lines. /TP:xxx Specify text to be located in the input file. When the text is found, the remaining data will be ignored. PPRINT XXX.TXT/TB:stop here /TR Truncate print lines that exceed the max line length PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /TS:xxx Specify text to be located in the input file. Only lines containing the text will be printed. Following example indicates to print all lines with 714 telephone area code. PPRINT XXX.TXT/TS:714 /TX:xxx Specify text to be located in the input file. lines containing the text will be excluded. /US Set printer to print using USASCII character set. For laser and other compatible printers. (See also Printer Definition file) /V Cause PPRINT to show lines being sent to the printer on its display during processing. See also /NV to turn this feature off. /XP Print using a dot matrix printers expanded print mode. (See also Printer Definition file) /12 Print using printers 12 characters per inch mode. (See also Printer Definition file) /2C Use the second character set already loaded into the printer. This activates an option unique to some printers. (See also Printer Definition file) /2E Print only even numbered pages. For 2 sided printing /2D Print odd numbered pages. For 2 sided printing. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 12 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Setting of default parameters (DOS Environment) ----------------------------------------------- Default parameters are parameters that do not need to be specified each time PPRINT is started. Any PPRINT parameter may be specified as a default parameter. Use the DOS SET command to specify the parameter name and contents to be used by PPRINT each time it is started. The following example indicates that PPRINT is always to assume /C and /NW are specified: SET PPRINT=/C/NW Once this DOS command is issued, each subsequent use of PPRINT will operate as if these parameters have been specified on the command line. The SET command is most commonly placed in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file so it may be in effect every time your machine is started. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 13 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The printer Definition file --------------------------- PPRINT is designed as a general purpose print utility to support any type or brand of printer. There are many shareware programs available for different printers but few allow you to use the utility for any printer. The reason for this incompatibility is because printer manufacturers have not standardized printer control codes. Each printer may require different codes to automatically activate special features. PPRINT overcomes the incompatibility problems with different printers by allowing you to define your printer and its control codes to it. Instead of keeping track of printer control codes, you indicate type of printing desired and PPRINT will send the appropriate codes to the printer to accomplish it. These codes are defined in PPRINT's printer definition file. When started, PPRINT always reads a printer definition file from the root directory of the current disk drive, or from the directory where PPRINT.EXE is located. This printer definition file contains control codes to activate the different features of your printer. The default printer definition file read by PPRINT is named PPRINT.DEF. PPRINT supports environments where multiple printers are connected to your computer, and even allows you to specify dynamic printer definitions when you have printers connected to you computer using switch boxes. No matter what printer is attached, you can still get the same results with PPRINT. Use the /PF: command to specify different printer definition files to PPRINT. When you use PPRINT to print to LPT1 or PRN, it will look for, and use, PPRINT.DEF printer definition file. When using another printer such as LPT2, PPRINT appends the printer number to the printer definition file name it looks for. LPT3 would cause PPRINT to search for PPRINT3.DEF. If the printer file is not found, PPRINT will default to the standard printer definition file, PPRINT.DEF. The printer definition file is a standard text file that may be edited by most any word processor or editor. You may also use the DOS EDLIN command. I have provided some commonly requested PRINTER.DEF files along with PPRINT. All you need to do is copy one to your disk, and give it the correct name. Use the DOS type command to type file PRINTDEF.DOC to see if your printer is included. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 14 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ If your printer is not included you can call the Patriquin Utility support BBS to determine if one is available for your printer. (data: 714-352-2825). If you still are unable to find one, you need to create one from an already existing file that is similar to your printer. Copy the existing printer definition file for the printer that resembles your printer closest. Then edit that file for your printers characteristics. Here is how. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 15 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Printer Definition Statements ----------------------------- Each statement begins with a word identifier and may be followed by codes to be sent to the printer when the related feature is activated. You may include comments anywhere in the file by starting the line with an * character. Printer codes are specified as decimal numbers. These numbers are the same numbers defined in your printer manual. If your printer manual uses hexidecimal codes, you will first need to convert them to decimal values before including them on the statement. If your printer defines character codes, convert the character to its ascii decimal value and specify the value or values on the statement. Character printer codes may also be specified, although their specification is a little more complex. To indicate a character code is being specified, preceed the first character of the code with a period (.). Terminate the character code with a space. A space may not be a part of a character code. More than one character may be part of a character code and character codes may include the (.) period character. The following example shows a combination of character and numeric printer codes being defined. EMPH 27 .&l1O 27 .(s16.6H 27 .(s8.5V A special character code of ^ may be used to indicate an ascii escape character (27). This is a commonly used printer code that is sometimes difficult to key in through a normal character editor. Specification of these keywords and codes accomplishes two things. First, it defines the capabilities of PPRINT for your environment. If a code is not specified, PPRINT will not allow you to specify a command parameter to activate the feature. The command parameter will also be missing from the help display. The second thing accomplished by specifying the keywords is to give PPRINT the appropriate codes to send to your printer when it is asked to use a specific printer feature. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 16 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Identifier Descrption --------------- ------------------------------------------- PRINTER: Specify 1 to 40 characters of text to identify the printer being defined. This text will be displayed on the PPRINT display to let you know exactly what printer definition you are using. PRINTER: IBM PROPRINTER LASER Include to indicate the printer being defined is a LASER printer. LETTER Include to indicate the printer being defined is a Daisy Wheel type letter quality printer. DOT Include to indicate the printer being defined is a Dot Matrix Printer. INIT Define up to 15 code characters to be sent to the printer each time PPRINT is started. For customized printer initialization. Example: INIT 12 27 56 FFEED Define the code for a form feed character. This is usually 12. Example: FFEED 12 COMPON Codes to set compressed printing on. Example: FFEED 12 COMPOFF Code to be sent to printer to set compressed mode off once it has been set on. 8LPI Code to set printer in 8 lines per inch mode. 6LPI Code to set printer in 8 lines per inch mode. ITALIC Code for Italics mode ITALICOFF Code for Italics mode off EMPH Code for printers Emhphasized mode EMPHOFF Code to set printers Emhphasized mode off DOUBLE Double strike mode codes DOUBLEOFF Code Double strike mode off PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 17 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SCRIPT Scrpit print mode SCRIPTOFF Scrpit print mode off EXPAND Expanded print mode EXPANDOFF Expanded print mode off RESET Master reset code for printer MICSPACE Code to set printer microspacing. Microspacing code will be set automatically before each run of PPRINT. MICSPACEOFF Reset printer microspacing at end of PPRINT. FORMLENL Used each time PPRINT is started to set printers form length in number of lines per page. FORMLENI Used each time PPRINT is started to set printers form length in number of inches per page. Use either FORMLENL or FORMLENI or none to use standard form. NLQ Code to set Near Letter Quality mode NLQOFF Code to set Near Letter Quality mode off DLFONT Code to use downloadable font DLFONTOFF Code to use normal font PERFSKIP Code to skip over perforation PERFSKIPOFF Code to reset skip over perforation ONEDIR Code to set one directional printing ONEDIROFF Code to reset one directional printing CHARSET Code to use printers 2nd char set CHARSETOFF Code to use printers normal char set 12CPI Set printers 12 char per inch printing 12CPIOFF Reset printers 12 char per inch printing TOPMARGIN Set number of lines to always allow for top margin of printer. BOTMARGIN Set number of lines to always allow for top margin of printer. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 18 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LINELEN Specify the line length (in characters) PPRINT is to assume for the printer. CLINELEN The number of characters in the print line when the /C (compressed print) option is specified. LINESPAGE Specify number of print lines to print per page. PROPORTIONAL Code to set proportional print mode on PROPORTIONALOFF Code to set proportional print mode off AUTOJUST Code to set printers auto justification mode. AUTOJUSTOFF Code to set printers auto justification mode off. PORTRAIT Code to set printers portrait print mode. LANDSCAPE Code to set printers landscape mode FONTNORMAL Code to use when normal print font is to be used. ROMAN8 Code to select ROMAN 8 font USASCII Code to select USASCII font ROMANX Code to select ROMAN X font LEGAL Code to select Legal font LINEDRAW Code to select Linedraw font PIFONT Code to select PIFONT font PIFONTA Code to select PIFONT font A NORMALPOINT Code to select printers normal point size. POINT7 7 point size POINT8 8 point size PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 19 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ POINT85 8.5 point size POINT10 10 point size POINT12 12 point size POINT14 14 point size FACENORMAL Code to select normal type face to be used. COURIER Code to set courier type face LINEPRINTER Code to set Lineprinter type face HELV Code to set Helvitca type face TIMESROMAN Code to set Timesroman type face PRESTIGEELITE Code to set Prestige Elite type face GOTHIC Code to set Gothic type face PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 20 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dynamic PPRINT Command definitions ---------------------------------- In addition to the keyword printer definitions already known to PPRINT, you may define additional capabilities to support special features of your printer, or define simple commands to support commonly used command combinations you desire to use with PPRINT. To define your own PPRINT command parameters, include CDEF statements in the PPRINT printer definition file. Following is a definition of how to specify the CDEF statement: CDEF statement format -- CDEF command-id [parameters] printer codes * help text ---- ---------- ------------ ------------- ----------- command-id Specify the command characters you wish to associate with the dynamic command. These characters are the ones you will specify on the PPRINT command to activate the special feature. Any character combination (up to three characters) may be used as long as they do not conflict with already existing PPRINT command values. CDEF DF would be activated with the /DF command parameter. PPRINT will send the appropriate codes to the printer immediately before starting the print the first file. PPRINT also allows you to specify codes to be used to reset the printer when PPRINT is completed. To specify these reset codes, specify a second CDEF statement with the same command characters preceeded with a - character. The codes specified on this statement will be sent to the printer just before PPRINT terminates. CDEF -DF would be activated with the /DF command parameter and associated codes will be sent to the printer just before pprint terminates. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 21 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [parameters] You may optionally specify command parameters to be supplied when the dynamic command is used. To specify command parameters on the CDEF definition, include the / command values immediately after the CDEF command id. Include a space before the first command. The command parameters specified here will be part of PPRINT processing just as if they were specified on the PPRINT command. They will only be supplied to PPRINT when the associated CDEF command id is specified on the PPRINT command. The following CDEF statement would cause PPRINT to assume 50 lines per page, 10 max pages, and compressed print when the /DF parm is specified. CDEF DF /LP:50/MP:10/C ....... printer codes Specify up to 30 printer control codes to be sent to the printer when the CDEF command id is specified on the PPRINT command. These codes are specified exactly like other PPRINT printer control code definitions. The following CDEF statement will send decimal printer codes 15 20 and 21 to the printer when the /DF parameter is specified on the PPRINT command. CDEF DF /LP:50 15 20 21 * help text Following printer codes associated with the CDEF command id, you may specify help text to be displayed when PPRINT help is requested. This text will briefly explain the CDEF command id dynamically defined to PPRINT. This help information will be displayed when you enter the PPRINT command without any parameters. Up to 60 characters of help information may be specified. The following example shows how help text is associated with the dyanmically defined /DF command parameter. CDEF DF /LP:50 15 20 21 * print compressed bold PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 22 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VISA / Mastercard / Telephone Registration ------------------------------------------ You may place a telephone order for the utilities using your credit card by calling Nelson Ford's Public (Software) Library. Telephone orders: 800-242-4775 or 713-665-7017 The PSL supplies Shareware software at a nominal cost to its customers. Consider them for all your Shareware needs. ---- OR ------ You may call the Patri-Soft BBS and register online. The number is (714) 352-2825 1200/14000 8-N-1. Fill out script 2 to place your order. Credit card orders are also accepted through U.S. Mail. REGISTRATION ------------ Patri-Soft provides full support to users, both registered and non-registered. We provide support through several different way: U.S. Mail - You may send us problem reports through the mail. Any extended information that you can provide is greatly appreciated. (i.e. screen shots, the actual problem file, etc). Telephone - You may contact us at (714) 352-2820 to discuss problems. However, extended telephone support is be limited as the circumstances require. CIS - You may contact us on CompuServe (76347,2477). This is usually the fastest way. A BBS is in operation 24 hours a day to take your enhancement requests and problem reports. The number for this is (714) 352-2825. (1200/14000 8-N-1). Extended access is provided to registered users of the utilities. Patri-Soft offers a money back guarrentee if you are not satisfied with the software. Simply contact us with the reasons of your dissatisfaction, and we will gladly refund your money. We at Patri-Soft pride ourself on our user support. If for some reason you feel that you have not gotten the service you deserve, PLEASE let us know. We try to respond to ALL users quickly and politely. Registered PPRINT 5.3 Order Form VISA/Mastercard orders are also accepted through telephone orders. Call Public Software Library: 800-242-4775 or 713-665-7017 to order. _____ Registration of all Patriquin Utilities with includes program disk and User's Guide...........@ $45.00 _____ Update Service -- in addition to above, send the next version automatically when it is available....@ +$15.00 -------------------------------------------------------------------- _____ PPRINT -- Advanced file print w/special formats....$20.00 _____ PCOPY -- File Copy, Move, Backup, Update, more!...$20.00 _____ PSEARCH -- Locate files on your disk. Outstanding!..$20.00 _____ PALERT -- Warns you of low disk space..............$15.00 _____ PATTR -- Manage attributes of DOS files...........$10.00 _____ PDAILY -- Automatically execute commands once/day..$10.00 _____ PDELETE -- Save space with automatic disk cleanup...$15.00 _____ Update a registered set with new disk and manual - show proof of previous registration SER=_________....$15.00 Method of payment: _______ Check enclosed _______ Visa/Mastercard Account Number: _____________________________________ Expiration date: _____________ Signature: _____________________ Total amount of my order is: $________ Disk Size (circle one)? 5 1/4 3 1/2 =================================================================== Name: __________________________________________________ Company: _______________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ City: ________________________ State: ________ Zip: __________ I learned about PPRINT from: ____________________________________ Send order to: Patri-Soft P.O. Box 8263 San Bernardino, CA 92412 PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 24 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ P P R I N T 5.3 Problems and Maintenance ------------------------ I welcome all comments or enhancement suggestions. Please document each item clearly and provide printed examples if possible. Please be sure to include this form with all requests, it will help to make sure we can provide you with the best possible service. Name: __________________________________________________________ Company: _______________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ City: __________________________________ State: _______________ Zip: ______________________________ Telephone: _______ / ________________________ (Home / Work) Date: _________________________ Description of problem or enhancement: Version: ______________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Suggested solution: ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 25 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ P P R I N T Program Maintenance: -------------------- Version 1.0 October 15, 1986 Version 2.0 March 6, 1987 Many corrections were made to release 2. It appears OK now. Here is a short list. -- /LM (left margin) option corrected. Was not working. -- /LL (line length) option now works with headers. -- Lines with more than 80 characters of data now work -- /HD, /HP options added. It is no longer the default to print headers. Use /HD and /HP to print headers. -- /EX (expanded headings/footings) if headings or footings are desired in dot matrix expanded format, specify this parameter. -- Page ejected if printing terminated with escape Version 3.0 May 25, 1987 I do not know where to start in describing the changes to this release. PPRINT has been totally enhanced. It includes a mass of new command line parameters to select all kinds of print options and also now has a printer definition file to allow users to define the attributes of their own printers. Extensive support has been added to support printing files on laser printers. Look for the vericle bar at the right side of the document. It indicates this feature has been added with release 3.0. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 26 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Version 3.1 June 7, 1987 -- PPRINT was unable to print a file from a disk drive other than the current drive. This was usually ok for hard disk users but created problems for floppy users. -- The PPRINT.DEF file no longer needs to be placed in the root directory. It can now be placed in the same directory where PPRINT.EXE is found -- /HT added to allow user to be prompted to enter their own print heading information on the PPRINT command line. -- Help screens showed options not available for all printers. -- Generic PPRINT.DEF file added so PPRINT could be used on all printers. -- Automatic generation of headings and other options for specific file types was disabled. This seemed to get in users way. Version 3.2 August 1987 -- RESET keyword added to .DEF file. It specifies codes to be sent to the printer every time PPRINT terminates. Following is an example: RESET 27 46 Version 3.5 January 17, 1988 -- Bottom margin setting was not working correctly -- PPRINT always printed one too many lines per page -- Double space printing was printing one extra line on some pages -- No eject at top of page 2 when /2e specified PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 27 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Laser 2-up print setup definitions added to Hplaser printer definition file. -- /Sx options were not showing on help screens when other than a laser printer is used. -- Many new printer definition files for other printers. Version 3.6 February 3, 1988 -- Corrected /S side-by-side print option for HP Laser -- HP laser printer printed page with P at beginning -- Correct problem causing dates in form of 1/1/88 to be rejected. Version 3.7 May 21, 1988 -- INIT parameter codes were not being sent to printer. -- Tabs were unlike DOS tab printing. Now PPRINT should work like DOS. -- /NT parameter will bypass PPRINT tabs expansion and let the printer do the work. Version 3.8 May 29, 1988 -- Older versions only checked for form feeds in input file in the first position of a line. This version checks all positions of each line. -- /B: begin file now accepts wildcard names. Version 3.82 July 4, 1988 -- /TS: /TP: /TX: parm can specify multiple words with spaces using ~ for spaces in input command line. -- After first page is printed, PPRINT will estimate number of pages left to print and show on display. PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 28 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Version 3.83 December 10,1988 -- Detect and properly print lines that have form feed imbedded in in them. -- Properly set print codes when restarting printing with the /SP:nn parameter. Version 4.0 July 4, 1989 -- Support SET PPRINT= environment variable to allow PPRINT default commands to be set in your environment. -- Add real windows support for better display. -- Support multiple printers and printer definition files. When pprint prints to LPT1, PPRINT.DEF will be used. When pprint prints to LPT2, PPRINT2.DEF will be used. You may pprint set up to work properly with all your printers. The current printer definition file is displayed on the PPRINT display. -- Added dynamic pprint keyword command definitions. Now you can make your own PPRINT / command codes to take advantage of special features of your printer. The command codes can even contain imbedded command codes. Kind of like macro commands. Dynamic commands also are shown in pprint help. -- /SET and /RSET commands allow you to use pprint to set up printer options for other programs. -- Corrected some problems with page ejecting and margins. -- PPRINT.DEF file may now contain character and decimal printer control codes. -- PPRINT display can optionally show lines being sent to the printer -- /PF: command allows you to specify any alternate printer definition file. -- /LPT1 and /LPT2 commands direct to appropriate printer. Version 4.0b July 27, 1989 -- Add windowed help PPRINT Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1991 Patri-Soft Page 29 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Version 5.0 July 25, 1990 -- Converted to Borland TURBOC compiler -- Added /BA batch mode. Ignore keypress -- Added /EQ to exit without asking for keypress -- Documented /NW (no window) mode that was already implemented -- Corrected /S 2-up option center line too long -- Allowed lines to print on last line of page. -- Fixed page eject on footer -- Fixed top margin operation. No longer causes bottom margin problem. -- Corrected problems with 2-sided laser processing -- Corrected processing when form feeds found in input file -- Added CLINELEN to printer def file (compressed line length) -- Wrap lines longer than line length -- Change /2e and /2d to work with /S 2-up option This allows double sided copies on laser -- Removed redundant /NH. Use /NE -- /NoEject now counts pages correctly -- Added /NI to cause environment parms to be ignored Version 5.1 March 1991 -- Fixed multiple HPlaser problems Version 5.2 April 10, 1991 -- Fixed another HPlaser problem with /S and an HPIII -- Removed long delay Version 5.3 April 29 -- Fixed registration problem -- Enviromental variables were ignored in some areas