home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Shareware Grab Bag
/
Shareware Grab Bag.iso
/
007
/
ppr.arc
/
PPR.DOC
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1987-09-28
|
14KB
|
661 lines
PPR: A Programmers Print Utility
Version 2.0
Copyright Software Solutions
Sept. 28, 1987
PPR is a print utility for the IBM Personal Computers and
compatible units. Software Solutions makes PPR available to
prospective users under the 'Shareware' distribution concept. If
you find the program of use, you are encouraged to register.
More details on registration can be found in this document.
Software Solutions
961 6th St SW
St. Paul, MN 55112
(612) 636-8462
Table of Contents
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Overview ..................................................... 3
Features ..................................................... 3
Syntax ....................................................... 4
Environment variable ......................................... 6
Examples ..................................................... 7
Messages ..................................................... 7
License ...................................................... 8
Registration ................................................. 9
Technical tidbits ............................................ 10
Coming attractions in PPR .................................... 10
PPR Users Manual
Overview
--------
PPR is a print utility designed for programmers. A good print
utility should be flexible enough to handle any printing need,
yet be easy to use and configurable to any situation. PPR was
written with these ideas in mind. It has many print options
designed to format source code listings, and a translation mode
that allows non-IBM printers to print extended ASCII codes. To
aid in configuration, it reads the environment area for run-time
options.
Features
--------
* Can translate Extended ASCII to printable characters.
* Variable Tab expansion.
* Intelligent line numbering.
* Page headers.
* Versatile output options.
* Supports 80 and 132 column printers.
Software Solutions 3
PPR Users Manual
Syntax
------
Usage: PPR {options} [file-spec]
Options are:
-n - Narrow (80 column) form width.
-w - Wide (132 column) form width.
-c - re-directable CONsole output.
-2 - use lpt2: as output.
-1 - use lpt1: as output.
-e - translate Extended ASCII codes.
-E - no translation of Extended ASCII codes.
-l - Line numbers printed.
-L - Line numbers not printed.
-p - Pass-thru mode.
-P - no Pass-thru mode.
-t[X] - expand Tabs to X character fields.
-v - print Version and serial number.
Options may be listed individually or in groups. The following
formats are valid:
PPR -n -l -2
PPR -t4E -w
PPR -n-w-nt4
Conflicting options can be entered, the last one of the pair
listed will be in effect. In the last example, -n (narrow paper)
will be in effect. PPR has several defaults options. These are
listed below:
-w - Wide (132 column) form width.
-1 - use lpt1: as output.
-E - no translation of Extended ASCII codes.
-l - Line numbers printed.
-P - no Pass-thru mode.
-t[8] - expand Tabs to 8 character fields.
It may seem redundant that default options can be specified on
the command line. This will be explained later.
-n For use with 8.5 x 11 inch paper printing at 10 chars/inch.
This controls the line wrap function, and the size of the
page banner.
-w For use with 15 x 11 inch paper printing at 10 chars/inch,
or 8.5 x 11 inch paper printing at 17 chars/inch. Like -n,
this option controls line wrap and page banner size.
Software Solutions 4
PPR Users Manual
-c Send output to the console through the STDOUT device. This
allows the data stream to be re-directed to a non-supported
device or a text file, or piped to another DOS command. The
PPR banner and all diagnostics are sent to the console via
STDERR, so they will not appear in any re-directed data
stream.
-2 Send output to LPT2:.
-1 Send output to LPT1:.
-e If your printer does not support IBM's extended ASCII
character set, this option can be used to translate
characters with an ASCII value greater that 127 into a
character your printer can handle. Some of the extended
ASCII characters have no close approximation in the regular
ASCII set, but most come out looking OK. For example:
┌────────────┐
│ » WINNER « │
└────────────┘
would print as
/------------\
| > WINNER < |
\------------/
-E If your printer supports the IBM extended ASCII character
set, then this option will allow the characters to pass
through unchanged.
-l Allows PPR to print line numbers in the left margin. The
largest line number allowed is 99,999. The numbers are
printed like this:
10123:This is a line from your file.
If a line exceeds the line width you selected, PPR is print
the line like this:
222:This is a very long ..... li
222+ne from your file
-L Tells PPR not to place line numbers in the output stream.
This allows lines to be 6 characters longer before they
wrap.
Software Solutions 5
PPR Users Manual
-p Use mainly with the -e option when the source file is
pre-formatted, say, a .LST file created by MASM, but
contains extended ASCII characters your printer cannot
handle. This inhibits PPR from adding any of its' own
formatting to the output stream.
-P Allows PPR to add it's own formatting information into the
output stream.
-tX Sets the field width for the tab character (ASCII 9).
-v Prints the PPR version number and date, along with the
serial number of the program you are running.
File-spec may be any valid DOS file name, including drive and/or
path-name. Wildcards are not supported in the version. Some
valid file-specs are:
Super.Asm
c:my.lst
\asm\new.lst
Environment variable
--------------------
Some users will find the default options unsatisfactory for their
use. Command line options are convenient for infrequent changes
but are burdensome for options used all (or most) of the time.
With this in mind, PPR allows the user to place options in the
environment space. Normally done at boot time in the autoexec
batch file, this simplifies PPR use. For instance, if the
printer connected is 80 column machine that needs ASCII
conversion, the command:
SET PPR=ne
will allow PPR use without command line options. PPR reads the
PPR variable FIRST, then the command line options, so a option
can be used to override the environment variable. For example,
if the printer in the above example is set to 17 chars/inch, a
file can be printed in the wide mode with this command:
PPR -w widestuf.txt
Software Solutions 6
PPR Users Manual
Examples
--------
Assuming the environment variable has not been set up.
PPR -v
-- Prints the version number. Because no filename was given,
the program also prints out a syntax and list of options.
PPR test.c
-- Uses the standard defaults, -w1ElPt8. TEST.C goes to LPT1:
with no extended ASCII conversion, line numbers and headers
printed, and tabs expanded to 8 characters.
PPR -n -t4 b:new.c
-- Narrow overrides Wide, tabs are set to 4. B:NEW.C is
printed.
PPR -pec \old\run.lst > \new\run.lst
-- Conversion and pass-thru are on, and re-directable console
output is enabled. \OLD\RUN.LST is sent untouched (but with
extended ASCII converted) to \NEW\RUN.LST.
Messages
--------
PPR: illegal option X
-- PPR has found an option letter it does not understand in
either the command line or in the environment variable.
This is not a fatal error.
PPR: could not open input file
-- The file to be printed could not be found. Fatal.
PPR: Internal ERROR, cannot continue.
-- Bad news. Call Software Solutions. Fatal.
PPR version number x.x, month day, year
Serial number : xxxxx
-- Printer when the -v option is given.
Software Solutions 7
PPR Users Manual
License
-------
(C)Copyright Software Solutions 1987
All Rights Reserved
Solution Systems grants you the right to use, copy and distribute
PPR for noncommercial use, as long as all of the following
conditions are met:
1) No fee is charged for use, copying, or distribution.
2) None of the files included in this distribution are modified
in any way.
By using this software, you agree to these terms.
Computer clubs and user groups may charge a nominal fee for
expenses incurred in the distribution of PPR. This fee must not
exceed $10.
Site licenses are available. Write for more information.
PPR is provided AS IS without any warranty, expressed or implied,
including but not limited to fitness for a particular purpose.
If you find PPR useful, registration has several advantages. See
the next page for more information.
Software Solutions 8
PPR Users Manual
Registration
------------
If you register a copy of PPR, this is what you get:
1) A copy of the latest version of PPR.
2) Source code for PPR.
3) One dollar for every person who registers with a copy of PPR
with your serial number.
Sound good? Then send in a copy of the order form below!
/---------------------------------------------------------\
|Name ____________________________________________ |
|Street ____________________________________________ |
|City ____________________________________________ |
|State __ Zip _____ |
| |
|Serial number on current disk (important) #________ |
| |
| Make Checks payable to : Software Solutions |
| |
| __ PPR on disk $12.00 |
| __ PPR on my disk (sent with mailer) $ 8.00 |
| |
| 6% MN sales tax (if applic) $_____ |
| |
| Total $_____ |
| |
\---------------------------------------------------------/
Software Solutions 9
PPR Users Manual
Technical Tidbits
-----------------
PPR does all of its' I/O through MS-DOS calls, so it should run
on any MS-DOS machine. It has been tested on IBM, Sperry, PCs
Limited, and Compaq. It requires only 64k of free RAM.
Language used : Microsoft C v4.0
Editor used : Brief
Machine used : Sperry IT
Coming Attractions in PPR
-------------------------
* Wildcards in the file-spec.
* Optional highlighting of language reserved words.
* Built-in print spooler.
Software Solutions 10