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OKI - by Justin Boyan ~~~ Version 2A documentation How to Use this Documentation: This program is extremely easy and fun to use. However, some of the more powerful commands may be better understood if you have this manual handy as you run the program. Therefore, you may want to print out the manual (you can use the "copy oki.doc prn" command) and follow along. Purpose: OKI is a powerful utility for the Okidata 92/93 series of printers. Its two main functions are 1) the editing and implementation of user-definable typestyles, or FONTS; and 2) the quick configuration of printer options such as letter size, line spacing, etc. These are incorporated into as small an amount of disk space as possible, and commands may be given on the DOS calling line to speed up program execution. License Agreement: The author of OKI spent many hours in writing and perfecting his program. You will undoubtedly find much of the program valuable for everyday activities. A small contribution of $10-$20 would be much appreciated. When your contribution is received, you will be sent formal printed documentation of the latest version of OKI. You will also get a newsletter containing information about how to get the most out of the OKI program and your Okidata printer. New and improved versions of this program and others are written frequently; by supporting the author, you will encourage these improvements. As contributing users, you will receive first notice of these. Updates, of course, are free. Author: Justin Boyan 9458 Two Hills Ct. Columbia, MD 21045 System Requirements: IBM-PC or compatible MS-DOS computer Okidata Microline 92 or 93 printer MS-DOS or PC-DOS 2.00 (others may work but are untested) 40- or 80-column monitor Files Present: OKI.COM (main program file) OKI.DOC (this documentation) ********.F92 (any file with the .F92 suffix is a font data file) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Getting Started: Before describing OKI's commands in detail, this manual will lead you through a sample OKI session so you can "get the feel" of how the program works. The OKI.COM and SCRIPT.F92 files should be on the default drive at first. 1. Turn on the printer. Serious errors may occur if an attempt to print is made while the printer is off. 2. Making sure that OKI.COM is on the default drive, type "OKI". A one-page help screen showing the licensing agreement and command list should pop up. 3. Send a form feed to the printer with the "OKI F" command. From now on, everything you are expected to type in to the computer will be in double quotation marks. You may use lower or upper case. If you entered the command correctly, the printer should have advanced to the next page. 4. The data for cursive print is stored in the 'SCRIPT.F92' file. Install this data on the printer now by typing "OKI I SCRIPT". 5. The font has been installed in the printer memory, but the printer is still configured to print normally. Verify this by typing "OKI T" for a test pattern. 6. To use the script font, you must configure the printer mode. Call up the PRINTER MODE SELECT module by entering "OKI M". 7. At the Letter Style menu, type "A" - alternate font. There is no need to hit the Enter key. At the Letter Size menu, touch "2" for 12 characters/inch. At the Print Enhancements menu, select "B" - boldface printing. At the Line Spacing menu, select the default of 6 lines/inch by pressing the space bar. Finally, if you haven't made any mistakes, touch the space bar again to send your choices to the printer. If you erred along the way, no problem -- just type "R" and redo step 7. When the choices are sent to the printer, the printer may skip a few lines. This is normal. 8. Now the printer is set up for printing cursive. Verify this by typing "OKI T" as you did before. 9. From DOS, type "COPY CON PRN". Type in several lines of text, hitting Enter to return to the beginning of a new line. When you are done, press the "F6" key and Enter. Your text should be printed, in cursive, on your Okidata. 10. Now create your own character. It will be part of a new font, which we will name 'TEST.F92'. Call it up with "OKI C TEST". A full-screen editor will appear. In the computer's memory, a font containing only blank characters is organized. 11. The editor is described in detail later. In any event, suppose you want to edit the lowercase 'c' to be the cents symbol. First, select 'c' for editing by pressing "+", then "c". The screen above the rectangular character grid should now say "EDITING: c 99". 12. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor around the grid. When you reach a box where you want a dot plotted, press the space bar. Continue to move around the grid, plotting with the space bar, until a rough cents symbol takes shape. Misplaced dots may be erased by an additional tap of the space bar; if you need to erase the entire grid, use the "C" command. 13. Test the character on the printer by pressing "P". If you are satisfied with it, you may select another character to edit by pressing the "+" key, then pressing the character itself, and then following the directions from step 12. 14. When you have completed your entire editing session, you may save your 'test' font by pressing "S". Understand that the font now contains only those characters which you have just modified. Then exit back to DOS by pressing the "X" key. 15. To use your 'TEST' font, type "OKI U TEST". This is the same as the 'OKI I TEST' command, except the printer is automatically configured to use the font after the font is implemented. 16. Test the font with "OKI T". Notice that the computer is printing mostly blank characters, except for those which you defined otherwise. 17. You have now gained some experience with many of OKI's major features, and gotten a glimpse of its power. Later you will discover how to make up entire fonts, as well as how to use individual character symbols from within your normal text printing. 18. If you like what you see of the OKI program, your contribution as described above would be appreciated. Thank you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Program Use: OKI.COM is activated from the DOS command prompt '>' by typing OKI, a one-letter command, and (sometimes) a filename. If no command is given, a brief help screen will be shown. Otherwise, the command you have indicated will be carried out. Here is a list of the available one-letter commands and their functions: M Printer Mode Select. This allows you to completely configure the printer's style, more so than any other program in the Public Domain. Defaults are used for quick, easy mode selection. Example of calling line: "OKI M" T Test Printer Mode. This simply sends each of the 96 printable ASCII characters to the printer in a pattern, so that you can see the currently-selected font. It does not affect any of the changes which were selected with the "M" option. Example of calling line: "OKI T" C Create a New Font. You use this option to clear the program's font memory and allow the input of new printer characters. After the "C" command letter, type a space followed by a filename. Legal OKI filenames consist of only letters and are no longer than eight characters long. Your characters' data will be saved under a file of the name you enter plus the '.F92' suffix. The methods for entering and editing characters are described in later sections. Example of calling line: "OKI C ITALICS" E Edit an Existing Font. The same format is used for this option as for the "C" option. Be sure that the file you specify is present on the current disk (there is no need for you to include the '.F92' suffix). The font will automatically will load and place you in edit mode, described later. Example of calling line: "OKI E GREEK" I Implement Font on Okidata. This command loads the font data file into memory, translates it into binary printer-readable characters, and sends it to the Okidata. This takes several seconds. Make sure the printer is on when this option is selected. Note: when the font is sent to the printer, the mode that the printer is in does not change -- if you were in Correspondence Quality print before the "I" option, you will remain in Correspondence Quality. The next option, 'U', should be used when you want to use the font immediately without reconfiguring with the "M" option. Example of calling line: "OKI I SCRIPT" U Use Font on Okidata. This is identical to the "I"mplement command, except that after the font is sent to the printer, the printer is automatically configured to use that font at 10 characters per inch, emphasized printing, 6 lines per inch. If you would prefer a different default configuration, include a note about it with your contribution and the author will write it up as soon as possible. Example of calling line: "OKI U COMPUTE" F Perform Form Feed. When the printer is on, this option quickly sends a form feed character (^L) to the printer. Example of calling line: "OKI F" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Usage of the PRINTER MODE SELECT Module: The module is activated by entering (from DOS): "OKI M" The first options you have concern the style of lettering used. You may select "C" for Correspondence Quality -- it prints relatively slowly but is very nice-looking for letters, etc. Another choice is "A" for Alternate Font. Any font which you have set up with the "I" or "U" main command option may be activated with this command. For example, if you have used the "OKI I SCRIPT" command to send the data from 'SCRIPT.F92' to the printer, you may use the MODE SELECT module to actually activate the font so that subsequent printing will be in script. Finally, you may choose "D" for Data Processing Quality. This is used for printing quickly. Since it is the default (marked with a star on the menu), any key on the keyboard besides "C" or "A" will select this option. The use of defaults is a convenient feature that makes going through the MODE SELECT module very rapid. The next menu deals with Letter Size. This menu varies depending on the letter style selected above. If you selected either Data Processing Quality or Alternate Font mode, then you will be presented with SIX options for letter size, all selectable with one keypress. Since Correspondence Quality only works with 10 characters/inch and 12 characters/inch, however, only two options are given here if Correspondence Quality was chosen in the previous menu. In either case, 10 characters/inch is the default -- it can be selected with a simple touch of the space bar or other unused key. The next menu will not even show if you selected Correspondence Quality. The program knows which options will cancel each other out, so this menu is simply skipped. It WILL show if you picked either Data Processing or Alternate modes. It allows you to select from Emphasized, Normal, or Enhanced text. See your Okidata manual for details -- or, experiment and find out what they look like on your own! The "OKI T" option makes it easy. The line spacing menu shows no matter what letter style you selected. You may pick 9 lines per inch, 8 lines per inch, 4 lines per inch, or the default, 6 lines per inch. Six lines per inch is standard spacing. Nine lines per inch may be used if you really have to pack a lot of text onto one page. Four lines per inch is a nice, unexaggerated double-spacing. Remember, six lines per inch may be selected with just a touch of space or Enter. The final menu checks to make sure that you really want to go through with all of the changes you have selected. This is your chance to abort everything that you have done so far without affecting the printer. You may press "X", which completely exits the MODE SELECT module, or "R", which restarts the module from the beginning for reconfiguration. Finally, the 'Send selections to printer' default option puts all of the options you have marked into effect, then exits the module. Note: if you want to check your new configuration, simply type the command "OKI T". As described above, OKI obligingly prints a test pattern of the current printer mode. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Usage of the FONT EDITOR Module: The ability to create, edit, manipulate, and implement your own fonts is the heart of the OKI program. The Font Editor Module is used to do all these things. It is called up with the "OKI C FILENAME" or the "OKI E FILENAME" command, both of which were described above. A full-screen layout appears after the command is entered. Screen Layout: The top left hand corner contains program information, the author's address, etc. The middle left box contains EDITOR COMMANDS. The bottom left boxes contain FONT COMMANDS and GENERAL COMMANDS. The top right box contains font and character information, as well as a drawing of the character currently being edited. The bottom right box lists the CHARACTER COMMANDS. The Editor: To define characters which will be printed by the Okidata, each dot in each character must be plotted, on or off. The characters are defined in an 11 (horizontal) by 7 (vertical) grid. The horizontal and vertical centers of the grid are noted by the short lines in the border. The space character, ASCII code number 32, is automatically the first one loaded by the editor. EDITOR COMMANDS: These are used to select the character you wish to edit. This may be done in three ways. One way is to change directly to the desired character. To do this, press the "+" key (the big gray one at the right side of the keyboard), followed by the actual character you wish to edit. If you want to select a character by ASCII value, then press "+", then hold down "Alt" while typing the ASCII character code on the numeric keypad. Usually, you will just press "+" and the character you want edited. Notice how both the character and its corresponding ASCII code are continually updated on the screen. The second way is to use the "N" option -- next character. This lets you conveniently edit the character with the next highest ASCII value; for example, if you were editing "J", it would automatically change you to "K". The third way is the "F" option for former character. As expected, it takes you down one in ASCII value; that is, from "K" to "J". Please keep in mind that when you change characters using any of these three options, the character you are leaving is not lost. On the contrary, the data for all 96 characters (ASCII 32-127) is kept in memory at all times and is not lost until you exit the program. CHARACTER COMMANDS: These are used to edit the character once you have selected it. To move around in the grid, you may use the following keys: up arrow, to move the cursor up; Home, to move the cursor to the upper-left corner; left arrow, to move the cursor left; End, to move the cursor to the lower-left corner; down arrow, to move the cursor down; PgDn, to move the cursor to the lower-right corner; right arrow, to move the cursor right; and PgUp, to move the cursor the upper-right corner. When you have reached a position at which you would like a dot plotted, press the space bar - the dot will be automatically inserted. Likewise, if you have reached a position where there is currently a dot and you would like it removed, press the space bar again. The space bar toggles the dot underneath the cursor on and off. If you want to start editing the character from scratch, the "C"lear option will erase the whole character grid. You will be asked to verify the clear by pressing the "Y" key. Some characters, such as the comma and lowercase g,y,j,p,and q, must go below the line during printing. These 'DESCENDER' characters are selected with the "D" option. Notice that the short horizontal lines indicating the center of the grid move up -- they are still showing the middle of the normal text line, for reference. Pressing the "D" key again removes the 'DESCENDER' option. The final character command is "P" - print character. Obviously, the printer must be on to use this option. This shows you exactly how the character would look in printing, when the screen grid doesn't give you a clear idea. This does alter the printer mode selected -- all options are reset to the default after the test print. This option may be extremely valuable in perfecting your characters. FONT COMMANDS: These are simple and self-explanatory. "I"mplement font is identical to saying "OKI I FILENAME" from the command line, except that the font being edited is automatically the filename selected. Remember that this does not select it for use; use the "M"odify printer mode command for that. "S"ave font is the command that translates your editing session into a permanent disk file. BE SURE TO SAVE YOUR FONT BEFORE YOU EXIT THE PROGRAM with the "X" option or load a new font with the "L" option! Loading a new font ("L") does erase the font in memory; also, be sure that the font is in the default disk drive. GENERAL COMMANDS: These, too, are easy yet convenient. "T"est pattern prints the same sample printer pattern as "OKI T" does. "M" calls up the PRINTER MODE SELECT module -- don't worry, exiting the module returns you to the editing stage with all of your character changes intact. Finally, the ubiquitous "X" option exits the program and returns you to DOS. Be sure that your file is saved before you exit. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Use of Fonts with Other Programs Using your defined fonts with other programs is not hard at all. For programs which do not reset the printer themselves, simply use the command "OKI U FILENAME" to configure the printer automatically. If your program does reset the printer, you will need to send an <Esc>-2 sequence to activate the font. Often you want to be able to mix characters from your own font with normal text characters. This may be effected by sending <Esc>-2 every time you want your OKI-defined characters, <Esc>-1 every time you want Correspondence Quality text characters, and <Esc>-0 every time you want normal Data Processing Quality characters. The following is an example of a short BASIC program which uses the Greek font. Before running it, implement the Greek font with "OKI I GREEK". 10 N$ = CHR$(27)+"0": REM Select Data Processing 15 GK$= CHR$(27)+"2": REM Select Greek Font 20 LPRINT N$;"CIRCUMFERENCE OF A CIRCLE FORMULA" 30 LPRINT " C = 2"GK$"p"N$"r" 40 REM In the greek font, "p" is lowercase pi The author may be able to help you with specific problems. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROGRAM NOTES: Please, don't hesitate to call (by modem) to either of the following phone numbers for help or information: Elkridge IBM-PC TComm (301)-796-1223 Fyl's Pholli IBM RBBS (301)-498-7283 Messages to "Justin Boyan" will be answered promptly. The author sincerely hopes that this program will be valuable enough to you to make you want to contribute for his efforts. Please, feel free to distribute the OKI.COM program and OKI.DOC documentation to any and all bulletin boards and/or user groups that you participate in. He is looking forward to many suggestions for program improvement. Thank you very much. 4/8/85: As of today, three fonts are available to use with the OKI program: GREEK.F92 - contains data for all non-standard Greek letters, all subscripted numbers (for chemical equations), many mathematical symbols, and many miscellaneous and useful symbols and graphics characters. SCRIPT.F92 - Yes! New! A nice-looking cursive font for the printer. It especially looks nice when selected at 12 characters per inch and boldfaced (emphasized). COMPUTE.F92 - This is interesting and fun -- a "computer" style of lettering. It looks nice for computer-related messages.