Epson Apex-80 User Manual

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT

FOR AMERICAN USERS

This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed and used prop erly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio and television reception. It has been type tested and found to comply with the limits

for a Class B computing device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart J of part 15 of

FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference in a residential installation. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television recep tion, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to

try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

- Reorient the receiving antenna

- Relocate the printer with respect to the receiver

- Plug the printer into a different outlet so that the printer and receiver are on different branch circuits.

If necessary, the user should consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for additional suggestions. The user may find the following booklet prepared by the Federal Communications Commission helpful:

This booklet is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Stock No. 004-000-00450-7.

The connection of a non-shielded printer interface cable to this printer will invalidate the FCC Certification of this device and may cause interference levels which exceed the limits estab-

lished by the FCC for this equipment. If this equipment has more than one interface connector, do not leave cables connected to unused interfaces.

“Television Interference Handbook.”

WARNING

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Seiko Epson Corporation. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, Seiko Epson Corporation assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

Graphic on page 6-2 created with EPSON 3D-Graph. Apex is a trademark of Epson America, Inc.

Apple is a registered trademark and Applesoft is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Centronics is a registered trademark of Centronics Data Computer Corporation. Epson is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Contents

Introduction..

Apex80 Features About This Manual Where to Get Help

Chapter 1

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Setting Up

Identifying Printer Parts

Selecting a Place for the Printer Installing the Paper Feed Knob Installing the Ribbon Replacing the Ribbon Plugging in the Printer Using Continuous-feed Paper

Using Single-sheet Paper

Operating the Control Panel

Connecting the Apex80 to Your Computer

Chapter 2

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Using the Apex80 with Application Programs

Printer Selection Menus

Computer-Printer Communication

Word Processors

Spreadsheets Graphics Programs Programming Languages

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1 2 2

1-1 1-2 1-3 1-3 1-6 1-7 1-7

1-15 1-19 1-23

2-1 2-2

2-3

2 -4

2-6 2-6

Chapter 3

SelecType

SelecType Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

SelecType Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3

Contents

iii

Chapter 4

Apex80 Printer Features

Quality and Fonts Print Size and Character Width

Special Effects and Emphasis

Using Different Character Sets

Page Layout and Other Commands

Chapter 5

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4-1

4-2 4-4

4-5

User-defined Characters

Defining Your Own Characters

Designing Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2

Defining NLQ Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7

Chapter 6

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . .

Introduction to Dot Graphics

The Print Head Pin Labels Graphics Commands

Simple Graphics Programming

Density Varieties

Designing Your Own Graphics

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6-3

6-4

5-1

6-2

6-6

6-10

Appendix A

Command Summary

Commands in Numerical Order Printer Operation Data Control Vertical/Horizontal Motion

Overall Printing Style Print Size and Character Width Print Enhancement Word Processing Character Sets Userdefined Characters Graphics

Appendix B

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A-4 A-7 A-10 A-11

A-19 A-20 A-23 A-26 A-26 A-29

A-30

Character Tables

International Character Sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-8

Contents

Appendix C

Problem Solving and Maintenance

Problem/Solution Summary beeper Error Warnings Data Dump Mode

Coding Solutions Solutions for Specific Systems Maintaining Your Printer

Appendix D

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C-1 C-4

C-6 C-7 C-9

Defaults and DIP Switches

Default and Initialization Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1

DIP Switch Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-2

International Character Sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-3

Appendix E

Choosing and Setting Up Optional Interfaces

Compatible Interfaces

Choosing an Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . E-1

Installing an Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-2

Serial Interface Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-8

Appendix F

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-1

Technical Specifications

Printing Paper Mechanical

Electrical

Environment ...........................................

Parallel Interface Data Transfer Sequence

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F- 1

F-1 F-2

F- 2

F-3 F-3 F-5

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Index-1

Contents

Introduction

The Epson Apex80 printer combines low price with high quality

printing and advanced features.

Apex80 Features

In addition to the high performance and reliability you’ve come to

expect from Epson printers, the Apex80 offers the following:

l Draft mode for quick printing. The speed of draft printing is 150

characters per second in pica and 180 in elite.

l Near Letter Quality (NLQ) mode for top quality printing. When you

have perfected a document, you can switch to one of two NLQ fonts-Roman or Sans Serif.

A variety of print styles, including emphasized, double-strike, condensed, italic, and double-wide.

l Selection of typestyles with the control panel. l Userdefinable characters so you can create and print your own

symbols or characters.

Dot graphics for charts, diagrams, and illustrations.

Easy paper loading.

l A ribbon cassette for quick and clean ribbon changing.

l The Epson Character Graphics set, which includes character

graphics that are used on IBM® and compatible computers as well as international characters used by IBM software.

Introduction

About This Manual

Chapter 1 gives you step-by-step instructions on setting up your new printer, and Chapters 2 through 6 cover the basic and advanced functions. The appendixes contain reference information, including all the details you need to use any of the printer’s commands, and some

advice on solving problems.

Inside the back of the manual is a pull-out Quick Reference card containing the information you need most.

Where to Get Help

If you need assistance with your Apex80 printer, just call the toll-free

Epson number: 1-800-421-5426.

You can also call the 800 number for the location of your nearest

Epson Service Center.

To purchase accessories such as ribbons and option cards, check with

your dealer.

Introduction

Chapter 1

Setting Up

To set up your Apex80 printer, simply follow the steps in this chapter.

Identifying Printer Parts

First, see that you have all the parts you need. In addition to this manual, the printer box should contain the items shown in Figure 1-1.* The paper feed knob is packed into an indentation in the white foam material.

Figure 1-1. Printer parts

*Note: The tractor unit for your printer may be preinstalled.

Setting Up

1-1

In addition to the items in the box, you need a proper shielded cable to connect the printer to your computer. You may also need an interface board, which is necessary only for those computers that can’t use the Centronics® parallel interface. Your computer manual can tell you which cable you need and whether or not you require a special interface.

Selecting a Place for the Printer

The main consideration in selecting a good location for the printer is placing the printer close enough to your computer for the cable to reach. Also remember the following:

l Use a grounded outlet, and do not use an adapter plug.

Avoid using electrical outlets that are controlled by wall switches. Accidentally turning off a switch can wipe out valuable information

in your computer’s memory and disrupt printing.

l Avoid using an outlet on the same circuit breaker with any large

electrical machines or appliances. These can cause disruptive power

fluctuations.

Keep your printer and computer away from base units for cordless

telephones.

l Protect the printer from direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, and

dust. Make sure that it is not close to a heater or other heat source.

If you are going to use the tractor unit and continuous-feed paper, clear enough space around the printer so that the paper has an unobstructed path into and out of the printer. There are three common methods of arranging a printer and continuous-feed paper:

l Using a printer stand with the paper stacked behind it. (Because of

the cable, it is usually best for the paper that feeds into the printer to be stacked somewhat behind the printer instead of directly beneath it.)

l Putting the printer on a desk or table and stacking the paper behind

the printer.

l Using a desk or table as a stand, with the printer near the back edge

and the paper on the floor or on a shelf,

1-2

Setting Up

Installing the Paper Feed Knob

Now that you have decided where to locate your Apex80 printer, the first step in setting it up is installing the paper feed knob. Follow these steps:

1. Locate the paper feed knob, which is packed into an indentation in the white foam material.

2. Insert the knob into the hole on the right side of the printer, as shown in Figure 1-2. Gently rotate the knob until it fits over the shaft.

Figure I-2. Paper feed knob

installation

3. Push the knob in until it is flush with the printer case.

Installing the Ribbon

The Apex80 printer uses a continuous-loop, inked fabric ribbon. It is enclosed in a cartridge that makes ribbon installation and replacement a clean and easy job.

Setting Up

1-3

To install the ribbon, follow these steps:

1. Remove the lid at the front of the printer by lifting the handles. Removing the lid enables you to see the print head, which is shown in Figure 1-3.

Figure 1-3. Print head

Caution

The power must be off when you move the print head because moving

the print head when the power is on may damage your printer. Also, if you’ve been using your printer, be careful not to touch the print head because it becomes hot during use. Let it cool for a few minutes.

2. Move the print head by hand to the center of the printer so that

the other parts of the printer will not get in your way.

3. Grasp the ribbon cartridge by its handle and hold the cartridge so

that the exposed strip of ribbon is facing away from you.

1-4

Setting Up

4. Insert the cartridge by placing the black hooks on each side of the

cartridge into the slots located inside the printer in the right and left front corners. Push down until the cartridge snaps into place. (See Figure 1-4.)

Figure 1-4. Ribbon cartridge installation

5. Turn the knob on the cartridge in the direction of the arrow to tighten the ribbon. As you turn the knob, see that the ribbon slips down into its proper place between the print head and the ribbon guide. (See the figure on the ribbon cartridge itself.) You may want to use a pencil to direct the ribbon, as shown in Figure 1-5.

Setting Up

1-5

Figure 1-5.

Directing the

Replace the front lid by inserting its legs into the slots near the front

corners of the printer. Lay the lid down and press to snap it into place.

ribbon

Replacing the Ribbon

When your printing becomes light and you need to replace the

ribbon, follow these steps:

1. Remove the front lid.

2. Grasp the ribbon cartridge handle and pull out the cartridge.

3. Follow the ribbon installation instructions above to insert the new ribbon cartridge.

Plugging in the Printer

Now plug in your Apex80. Make sure that the power switch on the

left side of the printer is off before you plug in the printer.

1-6

Setting Up

Using Continuous-feed Paper

The following section covers use of continuous-feed paper with your

tractor unit. If you plan to use single-sheet paper, skip to the Using

Single-sheet Paper section later in this chapter.

The tractor unit for the Apex80 allows you to use paper with pin feed holes along the sides (continuous-feed paper). You can adjust the tractor unit to accommodate widths of paper ranging from 4 to 10 inches, including the pin feed holes.

Installing the tractor unit

You will need to install the tractor unit each time you wish to load continuous-feed paper after using single-sheet paper, which can only be loaded when the tractor unit is removed.

If you have received your printer with the tractor unit installed, simply install the paper rest by fitting it into the slots along the top edge of the back of the printer and snapping it into place. (See Figure

1-7.) Then see the instructions later in this chapter for loading

continuous-feed paper.

To install the tractor unit, follow these steps:

1. If the paper guide is installed, remove it by tipping it toward you and pulling it out.

2. Pop out the tractor unit slot cover, which is located above the indicator lights. It may help to use the flat edge of a screwdriver, as shown in Figure 1-6. Store the cover in a safe place while you use

the tractor unit, and replace it when you remove the tractor unit.

Setting Up

1-7

Figure 1-6.

Removing the tractor unit slot cover

Fit the paper rest into the slots along the top edge of the back of the

printer and snap it into place. See Figure 1-7.

1-8

Setting UP

Pull the paper release lever forward. (See Figure 1-8.) The double-

arrow icon in front of the lever marks the position the lever should be in for using continuous-feed paper (or for releasing paper).

Now install the tractor unit. First, hold the unit so that its black

legs are facing downward, as shown in Figure 1-8.

Figure 1-8.

Preparing to install the tractor unit

Setting Up

1-9

6. In each tractor slot, located at each side of the paper slot, is a peg that fits into the notch on each of the rear tractor legs. Tilt the tractor back so that the rear notches fit over these pegs. See Figure 1-9.

Figure 1-9. Installing the tractor unit

7. Then tilt the unit forward until the front legs snap into place.

Loading continuous-feed paper

Once the tractor unit is installed, load continuous-feed paper as

follows:

1. Make sure that the printer is turned off.

2. Remove the front lid of the printer.

3. Move the print head to the center of the printer. Remember, the printer must be turned off whenever you move the print head. Also, if you’ve been using the printer, the print head may be hot. Be careful not to touch it unless you let it cool for a few minutes.

1-10

Setting

4. Using Figure 1-10 as a guide, pull the locking levers on each side of the pin feed holders forward so you can move the pin feed holders.

Figure 1-10. Locking lever fur pin feed holder adjustment

5. Place the left holder approximately 3/4 of an inch from the far left

position and then push the locking lever back to fasten that holder into place. Leave the other holder unlocked.

6. Open the pin feed covers as shown in Figure 1-1.

Figure 1-11.

Opening the pin feed

covers

Setting Up

1-11

7. Feed the paper into the paper slot. Push and maneuver the paper through the slot until it comes up between the ribbon guide and the platen.

8. Pull the paper up until the top is above the pin feed holders. Fit the holes along the left edge of the paper over the pins in the left holder, as shown in Figure 1-12, and close the pin feed cover.

Figure 1-12.

Fitting the

paper into the left pin feed holder

9. Fit the right side of the paper into the right holder, moving the holder as needed to match the width of the paper. Close the second pin feed cover.

10. Make sure that the paper has no dips or wrinkles, then push the locking lever back to lock the right holder in place.

Installing the paper guide

Install the paper guide, which is used here as a paper separator, as described below. Note that the guide is installed in one of two different positions depending on the type of paper you use. It lies flat when you

use continuous-feed paper, as described here, and sits upright for loading single-sheet paper.

1. If the edge guides are not yet in place, install them by hooking the tab on the back of each guide over the top of the paper guide, as shown in Figure 1-13. Snap the bottom of each guide into place.

1-12

Setting Up

For continuous-feed paper, move the edge guides to the far right and left positions on the paper guide. You won’t be inserting paper through the edge guides unless you use single-sheet paper.

2. Insert the legs of the paper guide into the slots behind the tractor unit, keeping the guide tilted backward as you do so. (See Figure 1-14.)

Setting Up

1-13

3. When the legs are in the slots, lean the guide all the way back. The guide should rest atop the paper entering the printer, separating it from paper exiting the printer.

Setting top of form

Now you are ready to set the top of form position. Follow these

steps:

1. Turn the paper feed knob to advance the paper until a perforation between pages is just below the top of the ribbon,

2. Now replace the front lid.

Your printer should now be set up as shown in Figure 1-15.

Figure 1-15.

The

printer with

continuous-feed paper

When you turn on your Apex80, it remembers this top of form

setting and uses it when any program tells it to move to the top of the next page. If you later find that your word processing or other application program prints too high or too low on the page or is printing on the perforations, check to see that your top of form setting

is correct.

1-14

Setting Up

Once you have set the top of form, each time you finish printing a document, push the and then push the sheet. This enables you to tear off your just-printed pages and leave th paper in the correct position to begin the next document.

Note

Make sure that the front lid is in place whenever you print. (Always

snap the lid shut when replacing the lid.) The front lid doubles as a

paper bail, holding the paper against the platen.

Removing the tractor unit

It is necessary to remove the tractor unit before you use single-sheet

paper. To remove the unit, follow these steps:

1. Remove the front lid.

ON/OFF LINE

FORM FEED

button once to advance the paper one

button to put the printer offline

2. Open the pin feed the paper over the front of the printer so you can reach the tractor

feed unit.

3. Grasp both sides of the tractor unit and gently lift up the front end. This action unsnaps the front legs of the tractor unit and enables you to lift off the unit.

4. Pull the paper guide toward you until it settles into an upright position for single-sheet paper.

5. Make sure that the paper release lever is forward, and remove the paper.

6. Replace the front lid.

covers and pull the paper off the pins. Then lay

Using Single-sheet Paper

The automatic loading feature handles individual sheets quickly and

easily.

Before you load single-sheet paper, you must prepare the printer by installing the paper guide in an upright position. If the tractor unit is installed, remove it by following the above instructions. After following those instructions, you can skip the following section on paper guide installation, except for step 3 on aligning the left edge guide.

Setting Up

1.15

Installing the paper guide

Install the paper guide as follows:

1. If you have not already done so, install the edge guides on the paper guide by hooking the tab on the back of each guide over the top of the paper guide, as shown in Figure 1-13. Snap the bottom of each

edge guide into place.

2. Hold the paper guide so that it is in an upright position. Then insert the legs of the guide into the slots on either side of the printer behind the paper slot, as shown in Figure 1-16.

Figure 1-16. Installing the paper guide

1-16

Setting Up

3. Align the left side of the left edge guide with the guide mark on the paper guide. See Figure 1-17. You may later wish to adjust this edge guide depending on the margin setting in your application program.

Figure 1-17.

Guide mark for paper alignment

Automatic paper loading

Now you are ready to load single-sheet paper using the Apex80’s

AUTO LOAD

feature.

To load paper automatically, just follow these steps:

1. Push back the paper release lever. (See Figure 1-16.) The single-arrow icon behind the lever marks the position the lever should be in for loading single-sheet paper.

2. Turn on the printer.

3. Make sure that the

touch-sensitive panel labeled ON/OFF LINE.

4. Adjust the right edge guide to fit the sire of the paper.

5. Slide the paper down through the edge guides until it meets

resistance. Press down on the paper a bit more to make sure that it is firmly in place, as shown in Figure 1-18.

Setting Up

ON LINE

indicator is off. If it is not off, press the

1-17

Figure 1-18. Apex80 ready for automatic paper loading

6. Press and release the

DRAFT/LINE FEED

top of the page.

7. Push the data.

Note

Make sure the front lid is in place whenever you print. (Always snap

the lid shut when replacing the lid.) The front lid doubles as a paper

bail, holding the paper against the platen,

8. If the paper is crooked and needs to be reloaded, pull the paper release lever forward, pull out the paper, push the lever back, turn the printer off, and reload by beginning again at step 1 in the

Automatic paper loading section above. If the paper just requires minor adjustment, then pull the paper release lever forward, open the front lid, adjust the paper, and push the lever back. Then close

the front lid.

1-18

ON/OFF LINE

AUTO LOAD

button). The paper is automatically loaded to the

button so that the printer is ready to accept

button (the same button as the

Setting Up

Reloading during printing

When you print a document more than one page long using singlesheet paper, there are two ways your software can enable you to load a new sheet at the end of a page:

If your software sends characters in a continuous stream, the printer stops printing when it reaches the bottom of the paper. When this happens, the ON LINE light goes off automatically.

If your software handles printing page by page, it probably stops

sending characters at the end of a page and prompts you to insert more paper. In this case, the the first thing you should do is press the

ON LINE

light may remain on. If it does,

ON/OFF LINE

button once

to turn it off.

Once the

ON LINE

light is off, remove the sheet that has just been

printed and load a new sheet in the same way as before.

Printing multi-part forms and copies

If you wish to print multi-part forms or carbon copies, use no more than three sheets or parts at a time, with a total thickness of no more than 0.01 inches. The factory setting for the paper thickness lever, located inside the front lid on the left side, accommodates both single sheets and multiple forms. There is no need to adjust the lever.

Operating the Control Panel

Now that your paper is loaded, it is time to see what the indicators and buttons on the control panel do. First, see that the power switch on the left side of the printer is on. Then take a look at the control

panel. (See Figure 1-19.)

Setting Up

1-19

Figure 1-19.

Control panel

There are four indicator lights and three buttons on the control

panel.

Indicator lights

The indicator lights give you information on the printer’s status:

The

POWER READY

light glows green when the power is on. light glows green when the printer is ready to receive

data. This light flickers somewhat during printing.

The

PAPER OUT

light glows red to indicate that the printer is out of paper or the paper is loaded incorrectly. If you try to print and the printer does not respond, check to see if this light is on.

The

ON LINE

(The

ON LINE light is located on the ON/OFF LINE button.)

light glows green when the printer can receive data.

Buttons

The buttons, or touch-sensitive panels, have several functions,

including selecting draft or NLQ (Near Letter Quality) printing. Draft is good for quick printing of ordinary work, and NLQ has more

1-20

Setting Up

fully-formed characters for final copies or special purposes. NLQ is available in both Roman and Sans Serif fonts.

The printout below shows the differences among draft, NLQ Roman, and NLQ Sans Serif so that you can compare the different styles and densities:

See Chapter 4 for more information on these modes and ways to

select them.

ON/OFF LINE.

This button switches the printer between on line and

off line status.

NLQ/FORM FEED.

When the printer is off line, pressing this button

advances continuous-feed paper to the top of the next form or ejects

a single sheet. When the printer is on line, pressing this button

selects NLQ (Near Letter Quality) printing. Pressing the

alternates

FORM FEED

button when the printer is

ON LINE

the NLQ font between Roman and Sans Serif. When

NLQ Roman is selected, the beeper sounds twice. When NLQ Sans

Serif is selected, the beeper sounds three times.

DRAFT/LINE FEED. When the printer is off line, pressing this button

advances the paper one line. When the printer is on line, pressing this button selects draft printing. When you select draft printing the

beeper sounds once. This button also controls the

AUTO LOAD

feature.

The control panel buttons also control the SelecType feature. This feature enables you to select among emphasized, double-strike, condensed, and elite typestyles. See Chapter 3 for more information.

Performing self test

Now you’ll see your Apex80 print something even though it’s not yet

connected to a computer. Follow these steps:

1. Make sure that your printer has paper in it.

Setting

1-21

2. Turn the power switch off, then hold down the DRAFT button on

the control panel while you turn the power back on. The Apex80 begins printing letters, numbers, and other characters that are stored in its ROM (Read Only Memory) in draft mode. (If DIP switch 1-5 has been turned on, the test will be performed in NLQ mode, as in step 4 below.)

3. When printing starts, you can release the DRAFT button; the

printing continues until you turn the printer off or until the printer

runs out of paper.

4. To perform the same test in the NLQ mode, load another sheet of paper. Turn the printer off, then turn it back on while holding down the NLQ button. Sans Serif and Roman fonts alternate for this test. Partial results of both tests are shown in Figure 1-20.

Figure 1-20. Test pattern

DRAFT

NLQ

1-22

Setting

Connecting the Apex80 to Your Computer

Now that the test pattern has shown that your printer is operational,

it’s time to hook it up to your computer.

Remember that computer systems communicate with printers in a variety of ways. If your computer expects to communicate through a Centronics parallel interface, all you need is the proper shielded cable. If your computer requires any other kind of interface, you also need an interface board.

If you don’t know what a Centronics parallel interface is, your computer manual or your dealer can tell you what you need. Then, once you have plugged your printer cable into your printer and computer, you will probably never think about interfaces again. (If you do want the technical specifications, however, you can find them in Appendix F.)

Follow these steps and refer to Figure 1-21 to connect your printer and computer:

1. Make sure that both your printer and computer are turned off.

2. Plug the appropriate end of your printer cable into the cable

connector of your Apex80 printer. The plug is shaped so it fits the connector only one way.

Figure 1-21. Cable connection

Setting Up

1-23

3. Secure the plug to the printer with the wire clips on each side of the connector. Press the clips into the metal clasps at each side of the plug. These clips ensure that your cable will not be loosened or

unplugged accidentally.

4. If your cable has a grounding wire, fasten it to the grounding screw

below the connector.

5. Connect the other end of the printer cable to your computer. On most computers you can easily find the correct connector for the printer cable, but if you are not sure, consult your computer manual.

1-24

Setting Up

Chapter 2

Using

using it with your application programs.

the Apex80 with Application Programs

Now that you’ve set up and tested the printer, you need to start

Printer Selection Menus

Most application programs let you specify the type of printer you’re

using so that the program can take full advantage of the printer’s features. Many programs provide an installation or setup procedure that presents a list of printers to choose from. If your application program has a printer selection menu, use the instructions below.

The rest of this chapter covers word processors, spreadsheets,

graphics programs, and programming languages.

selections

If your software has a printer selection menu, simply choose Apex80. If the menu does not list this printer, choose one of the following. They are listed in order of preference.

LX-800 FX-86e EX-800 LX-86 LX-80 FX-85 FX-80 RX-80 Epson printer

Draft printer

Note

If your application program does not list the Apex80, you may want to contact the manufacturer to find out whether an update is available.

Using the Apex80 with Application Programs

2-1

A quick test

After setting up your application program, print a sample document to be sure the program and the Apex80 are communicating properly. If the document doesn’t print correctly, recheck the program’s printer selection and installation procedure. If you’re still having trouble printing, consult Appendix C.

Computer - Printer Communication

Computers and printers communicate by using codes to represent characters and commands. To be sure the two devices use the same codes, almost all manufacturers of computers, printers, and software use the American Standard Code for Information Interchange, which is usually referred to by its abbreviation, ASCII.

The ASCII standard includes codes for printable characters (letters, punctuation marks, numerals, and mathematical symbols) and 33 other codes called control codes. The control codes are for such functions as sounding the beeper and performing carriage returns. Because the 33 control codes are not enough to control all possible printer functions, most printer commands are actually a sequence of two or more codes.

One of the 33 control codes, the escape code, signals the beginning of a sequence of codes. Therefore, most printer commands are sequences of codes, the first of which is the escape code. This manual uses the ASCII abbreviation ESC for this code.

When using control codes to select printer functions for an application program or programming language, check the manual for the program or language to find the appropriate method of inserting the code into the program. Further details on the methods to use are in the rest of this chapter.

Naming and using commands

The most common way of naming codes or commands is with one of two numbering systems, decimal or hexadecimal.

The decimal system is the standard numbering system based on units of ten, using the numerals 0-9.

2.2

Using the

Apex80

with Application Programs

The hexadecimal, or hex, system is based on units of 16 and is often used by programmers. Instead of using only the numerals 0 through 9, the hex system also uses the letters A through F. For example, the decimal numbers 9, 10, 11, and 12 are 09, 0A, 0B, and 0C in hex.

Since the most frequently used hexadecimal numbers are between 0

and FF hex (0 to 255 in decimal), it’s common to write hexadecimal

numbers that are less than 16 with a zero in front, as shown above.

In this book, hex numbers are distinguished from decimal numbers by the word hex after them (for example, 1B hex). Other common ways of denoting a hexadecimal number are the following:

1BH $lB &1B &H1B (1B)H

The Command Summary and the Quick Reference card give both

the decimal and hex numbers for each command.

Word Processors

In many ways, word processors demand the most from your printer. When you create and print a document, you may use many print styles

and fonts, add headers and footers, and use bold, italic, and other

effects.

Once you have installed your word processor by using the lists on

page 2-1, you can ordinarily use a fixed set of printer features by using a word processor command to place markers around the text to be altered. When the document is printed, the markers are recognized and translated into suitable commands for your printer. On your screen some programs show the markers; others display the text as it will appear-for example, in bold or italics.

This method is normally restricted to features that can be found on

almost all printers, such as bold and underlining.

Some programs also provide a way of placing complete printer

commands in the text. These commands may or may not be visible on your screen. This method has the advantage of allowing you to use any printer command, not just a limited set. To make use of it, however,

you need to understand how to use the printer’s commands.

Using the Apex80 with Application Programs

2.3

Check the manual for your word processor to see if you can place printer commands in your text. If this is possible, use the Command Summary (Appendix A) in this manual to find the command, and use the manual for your word processor to find how to assign the command.

If your Apex80 is not printing correctly, check both the printer and

your word processor and do the following:

Make sure you’ve selected the correct printer.

Carefully read the printer setup and installation information in your word processor’s manual.

l Check the printer options that may be part of the installation or

setup section (line feeds, interface, etc.).

Make sure your word processor is capable of sending the proper

commands to your printer.

If you’re still having difficulty printing, check the troubleshooting section in your word processor’s manual and Appendix C of this manual.

Spreadsheets

Although spreadsheets seldom use as many printing styles as word processors, they do have some very specific requirements.

Installation and column width

If your spreadsheet program provides a list of printers, use the list on

page 2-1 to find the proper selection. If your spreadsheet doesn’t have a printer setup routine, carefully read the program’s manual for information on printing.

A major concern for printing spreadsheets is the width of the printer. The Apex80 is an 80-column printer, but you can increase the number of characters on a line by using one of the modes in Table 2-1. You can turn on elite, condensed, and condensed elite using buttons on the control panel (see SelecType in Chapter 3). See Chapter 4 for

information on other methods for selecting these modes.

2.4

Using the Apex80 with Application Programs

Table 2.1. Characters per line

Normal

Elite

Condensed

Condensed Elite

132

160

Therefore, if your spreadsheet asks the number of columns your printer can print, decide which mode you will use and supply the appropriate number from Table 2-1.

Printer commands

Unlike word processors, spreadsheet programs usually don’t let you change printer commands within a spreadsheet. Instead, one style or mode of printing is used for the whole spreadsheet. With the Apex80, there are two main ways of sending commands to control the printing of a spreadsheet.

First, almost all spreadsheets have the capability of sending commands to a printer. Look in the manual for your spreadsheet to find out how to send printer commands. Then look in the Command Summary (Appendix A) in this manual to find the proper codes to

send.

For example, your spreadsheet might use a “setup string” to-send printer commands. To prepare a setup string for condensed elite, you

would look up the proper command in the Command Summary.

The command for elite is ESC M, and the command for condensed

is SI. Because most spreadsheets use the decimal equivalent for the commands, (also given in the Command Summary), a setup string for condensed elite might look like this:

/027/077/015

The number 027 is for the escape code, 077 is for M, and 015 is for SI (condensed).

The second method to choose condensed is one of the SelecType con-

trol panel buttons. The use of these buttons is described in Chapter 3.

If your spreadsheet is not printing correctly, be sure you have selected

the correct printer if the program asks you to select one.

Using the Apex80 with Application Programs

2.5

If you’re using the program’s print facility, recheck the Command

Summary to make sure you’re sending the correct commands.

If you’re still having difficulty printing, check the troubleshooting

section in your spreadsheet program’s manual or Appendix C of this

manual.

Graphics Programs

The Apex80 is capable of producing finely detailed graphic images. Although Chapter 6 gives specific information on the graphics commands, the easiest way to take advantage of the Apex80’s capabilities is with one of the many graphics programs available.

When buying graphics software, always make sure it has a suitable option to allow printouts on an Apex, LX, EX, or FX printer. Any program with an option for one of these printers should give excellent results, using different dot densities to produce a realistic scale of grays.

Most graphics programs have a printer selection procedure, in which case you should check the list on page 2-1 to find the proper selection.

Programming Languages

Most users rely on application programs to send commands to the printer. An awareness of programming languages, however, can be

helpful in exploring a printer’s potential or troubleshooting a printing problem.

For example, if you want to set up your application program to send

a command for italic printing, you can use a programming language, such as BASIC or Pascal, to do a quick printout before setting up the program.

If, on the other hand, you’ve set up a program to send a certain command to the printer, but it’s not printing correctly, you can send the same command with a programming language to find whether the problem lies with your application program, the command, or the printer.

2.6

Using the Apex80 with Application Programs

Sending printer commands with BASIC

You can send printer commands with any programming language. The examples in this manual are written in BASIC, because BASIC is included with most computer systems.

In most forms of BASIC, and in particular Microsoft® BASIC, the normal method of producing printed output is to use the LPRINT statement followed by the text to be printed enclosed in quotation marks, as shown below:

100 LPRINT "This text will be printed."

Individual printer control codes can be sent by using the CHR$ function with the LPRINT statement:

110 LPRINT CHR$ (27); CHR$ (69);

This line sends ASCII codes 27 and 69 to the printer, selecting

emphasized printing.

Most versions of BASIC permit the ASCII codes in the CHR$ function to be given in either decimal (as above) or hexadecimal. Also,

if the code corresponds to a printable character, the character itself can

be used in quotation marks in the LPRINT statement. The command

shown above could therefore be given in two other forms:

LPRINT CHR$ (27); "E" LPRINT CHR$ (&H1B); CHR$ (&H45)

As you can see, Microsoft BASIC uses &H to denote hexadecimal numbers.

If you have another version of BASIC or a different programming language, consult the manual for the language to find the correct formats for these commands. Also see Appendix C.

Using the Apex80 with Application Programs

2-7

Chapter 3

SelecType

The Apex80’s SelecType feature can produce four special typestyles:

SelecType Operation

Using SelecType is easy. You turn on SelecType and select a

typestyle, then turn off SelecType and print.

Turning SelecType on

1. Make sure that the printer is on line.

2. Hold down the

button. (See Figure 3-1.) When you turn on SelecType, a short beep

sounds and the SelecType mode.

SelecType

ON/OFF LINE

ON LINE

light blinks to indicate that the printer is in

button and press the

FORM FEED

3-1

Selecting typestyles

In SelecType, each button has a function:

ON/OFF LINE

FORM FEED sets the styles.

LINE FEED turns SelecType off.

selects typestyles.

After turning on SelecType, follow these steps to select a typestyle:

1. Find the typestyle you want in Table 3-1. All of the typestyles listed in the table are available for draft mode. If you are in NLQ mode,

only emphasized and elite are available.

Table 3-1. SelecType modes

2. Press the

ON/OFF LINE

button the number of times indicated in the

mode column. Be sure that the printer beeps each time you press the ON/OFFLINE button.

Press the

FORM FEED

LINE FEED

button to set the typestyle.

button to turn SelecType off. The control panel

returns to its normal functions, but the printer is off line.

5. Press the ON/OFF LINE button, and you are ready to print.

You can combine any of the modes listed in Table 3-1 when you are

in draft mode, except for emphasized and condensed. In NLQ, the two

available modes (emphasized and elite) may be combined.

If you wish to combine two modes, follow steps 1 through 3 above,

then return to step 1 and follow the entire sequence (steps 1 through

5). (Do the same thing to combine three modes, but repeat steps 1 through 3 for each of the first two modes you enter.) Always select the lowest mode number first.

3.2

SelecType

When you press the mode, start counting again where you left off. That is, if you have selected emphasized and wish to combine that with elite, press the

ON/OFF LINE

example, follow these steps to combine emphasized and elite:

ON/OFF LINE

button three more times, not four, to select elite. For

button to select an additional

1. Press the

2. Press the

3. Press the

mode is four, but remember that you have already pressed the

ON/OFF LINE

4. Press the

5. Press the LINE FEED button.

6. Press the

Note

Some application programs are designed to control all typestyle

functions. These programs cancel previous typestyle settings by sending

certain printer codes before printing. Because these codes cancel SelecType settings, you will have to use the program’s print options function instead of SelecType to select your typestyles. Therefore, if SelecType does not work with a particular application program, consult its manual on how to select typestyles.

ON/OFF LINE FORM FEED

button.

ON/OFF LINE

button once.)

FORM FEED

button.

ON/OFF LINE

button once to select emphasized.

button three more times to select elite. (The

button, and you are ready to print.

SelecType Tips

Once you have learned the simple technique for controlling print styles with SelecType, you can use it whenever you wish. You should be aware of a few points, however.

l SelecType is designed to control the printing of an entire file or

document, not an individual line or word.

l If you are using the NLQ mode, remember that the following

SelecType modes are not available: double-strike and condensed.

SelecType

3-3

l If there are print codes in the document or file you are printing,

those codes will override your SelecType settings. This seldom happens, since you usually won’t use SelecType with files that have such codes, but if your Apex80 follows the SelecType instructions for only part of a document, print codes in the document may conflict with the SelecType modes.

l After you turn on a mode with SelecType, it stays in effect until the

printer is turned off or until you send a software command that overrides it. (In general, software commands override SelecType settings.) If, for example, you use SelecType to print a document in emphasized type, anything you print after that will be emphasized unless you first turn the printer off and back on.

3.4

SelecType

Chapter 4

Apex80 Printer Features

You can obtain many different printing effects with the Apex80

printer, from arranging the printout on the paper to giving extra emphasis to particular words and phrases. This chapter shows you the features you may want to select with your software. Once you have

read about the features, you can find their commands in the

Command Summary.

SelecType, as you know, controls the printing style of a whole document. Software commands, on the other hand, can change anything from a single character to the entire document.

Quality and Fonts

The most fundamental changes you can make to printing on the

Apex80 are in the print quality and NLQ fonts.

The Apex80 has two levels of print quality: draft and NLQ (Near Letter Quality). Draft printing is fast, making it ideal for drafts and other preliminary work. NLQ printing takes a little longer, but it produces more fully-formed characters for presentation-quality documents.

The printout below shows the differences between draft, NLQ Roman, and NLQ Sans styles and densities:

Draft printing is extremely fast.

Serif so that you can compare the different

NLQ Roman is clear and typewriter-like.

NLQ Sans Serif is crisp and distinctive.

The buttons on the control panel give you an easy way of changing the print quality and NLQ font, but if you prefer to print in NLQ Roman most of the time, you can select it with a DIP switch (see Appendix D). You can also choose the print quality and NLQ font with software commands.

Apex80 Printer Features

4-1

Print Size and Character Width

To add greater variety to your documents, the Apex80 has two

pitches and condensed printing. All can be selected either with

SelecType or a software command, and software commands also offer another option: double-wide.

Pitches

The two pitches are pica and elite. Pica is 10 characters per inch (cpi) and elite is 12 cpi. The printout below shows the difference between the two

Double-wide and condensed

In addition to the basic pitches, the Apex80 offers two other modes that change the size of your printing. These modes are double-wide and condensed.

The double-wide mode doubles the width of any size of characters. This mode is useful for such purposes as emphasizing headings in reports and making displays, but is usually not suitable for large amounts of text.

Pica and elite are reduced to about 60% of their normal width with the condensed mode. This mode is particularly useful for printing wide spreadsheets because condensed elite allows you up to 160 characters on an 8-inch line.

Condensed can be selected with SelecType, by setting a DIP switch

(see Appendix D), or with a software command. Even if you turn

condensed on with the DIP switch, you can still turn it off with

SelecType or the software command.

Condensed pica gives more characters on a line.

condensed elite gives you even more.

4-2

Apex80 Printer Features

Widening or narrowing the characters also widens or narrows the spaces between words and letters. Because word processors usually create a left margin by printing spaces, you may need to change the number of characters on a line to keep the margins correct if you change widths. For example, a left margin of five pica characters is the same as one of six elite characters.

Special Effects and Emphasis

The Apex80 offers two ways of emphasizing parts of your text and

also allows you to use underlining, superscripts, and subscripts. Most of

these features can be controlled only by software commands, but many

application programs can produce them if they are properly installed.

Emphasized and double-strike modes, both of which can be chosen

with SelecType, slow the printer down slightly to produce bolder text. In emphasized mode, the Apex80 prints each character twice as the print head moves across the paper, with the second slightly to the right

of the first. This produces darker, more fully-formed characters.

In double-strike mode, the Apex80 prints each line twice, with the second slightly below the first. This makes the characters bolder. While NLQ is in use, however, double-strike is ignored because NLQ characters are already formed by two passes of the print head.

This is normal NLQ printing.

This is emphasized NLQ printing,

Superscripts and subscripts are valuable for such purposes as printing footnote numbers or parts of mathematical formulas, and the underline mode provides an automatic way of underlining fully any piece of text. It underlines spaces, subscripts, and superscripts without a break.

The example below shows underlining with text and combined with superscripts and subscripts in a mathematical formula.

Apex80 Printer Features

4.3

Using Different Character Sets

The Apex80 incorporates a new character set: Epson Character Graphics. This set allows you to take advantage of the power of the Epson mode commands and still print out the character graphics used

by IBM and compatible computers and by much commercial software.

For example, if your word processor can include the characters to draw boxes and shade areas, you can produce some very professional effects.

President

and CEO

V.P.

Finance

You can select the Epson Character Graphics set with your software or by setting DIP switch 1-3 ON. For many applications it is best to use the DIP switch instead of the software command because the character

graphics are then available as soon as you turn the printer on.

The other important change you can make to the standard character set is to change some characters for ones commonly used in other languages-chiefly European and Scandinavian-such as accented characters and symbols. Eight international character sets can be selected by setting DIP switches 1-6 to 1-8: USA, French, German, UK, Danish, Swedish, Italian, and Spanish. See Appendix D for the DIP switch settings.

These eight, and five more, can also be selected by a software command. The additional character sets are the following: Norwegian, a second Danish set, Japanese, a second Spanish set, and Latin American. A complete list of these characters is in Appendix B.

Also, all text characters can be printed in italics. You can use this typestyle for special emphasis or as an alternative typeface.

V.P.

Sales

Italics give emphasis to words.

They are an attractive alternative style.

4-4

Apex80 Printer Features

Page Layout and Other Commands

The remaining commands in the Command Summary are not normally needed when using commercial software. You may need some of them if you are using a printer installation program provided with an application package, but most deal with features (such as tabs, margins, and line spacing) that are provided directly by commercial programs and are therefore only useful to you if you want to program the printer using a programming language such as BASIC.

Apex80 Printer Features

4-5

Chapter 5

User-defined Characters

The Apex80 has several hundred different characters stored in its

ROM (Read Only Memory

Although this number includes draft,

italic, international, Character Graphics, and NLQ (Near Letter

Quality) characters, sometimes you may want to have a few more. For

those occasions when you need a special character or a few letters in a different typeface, the Apex80 allows you to create your own characters and print them just as if they were ordinary letters.

Defining Your Own Characters

The printout below displays a few such characters to give you an idea of what can be done, but remember that these characters are truly user-defined; you create what you need or want.

The procedure for designing a character is a simple three-step process:

l Plan your character l Run one program to test your work and calculate the required

DATA numbers

l Run another program to put the character in your printer’s RAM

(Random Access Memory) for use whenever you need it.

Because the high-resolution NLQ mode uses many more dots per character than the draft mode, defining NLQ characters is somewhat more complex than defining draft characters. You can find the programs for defining NLQ characters at the end of this chapter.

After you have created your own characters with these programs,

certain keys that you seldom use generate the user-defined characters. For example, you can type ( to print .

User-defined Characters

5-1

You can create any type of character. The only restriction is that the characters you define must follow the same rules that govern the rest of the characters printed by the Apex80. They must fit into an 11 x 9 matrix, no dot can overlap another, and either the top or the bottom row must be empty.

Designing Process

Suppose you want to print the scientific symbol for the planet Mercury. Although the Apex80 has a number of special symbols, that is not one of them. First, use a grid like the one in Figure 5-1 to plan

‘where to place the dots.

Figure 5-1.

Grid

for designing draft characters

Because the last two columns are reserved for the space between characters, they are not included in the grid. And since most characters do not use the bottom two rows, there is a heavy line to indicate the usual lower limit for an Apex80 character.

When you place your dots on this grid, remember that dots cannot go on horizontal lines, but they can go on vertical lines so long as they do not overlap any other dots. As you design your characters, draw

5.2

User-defined Characters

the dots as large as you see them in the example on the left in Figure

5-2. If you draw them smaller, you may have overlapping dots without realizing it.

Figure 5-2. Correct and

incorrect designs

overlapping dots

dot on horizontal

line

If you do accidentally overlap dots, don’t worry. The program will

still work, but only one of the dots will be printed.

First definition program

Once you have drawn your dots on the grid, type in the following BASIC program and run it. If you are using Applesoft™ BASIC, see Appendix C.

100 DIM F(9) 110 FOR I=1 TO 9 120 PRINT "WHICH ROWS HAVE DOTS IN COLUMN"; 1

130

INPUT R: IF R=0 THEN

140

F(I)=F(I)+2^(R-1)

150

150 IF R=0 THEN NEXT I ELSE GOTO 130 160 LPRINT CHR$(27)

“:“CHR$(0)CHR$(0)CHR$(0);

170 LPRINT CHR$(27)"%"CHR$(1)CH$(0); 180 LPRINT CHR$(27)"&"CHR$(0)CHR$(60)CHR$(60); 190 LPRINT CHR$(128);

User-defined Characters

5-3

200

FOR X=1 TO 9 210 LPRINT CHR$(F(X));:NEXT X 220 LPRINT CHR$(0)CHR$(0);

230

LPRINT "YOUR CHARACTER IN PICA: < < <" 240 LPRINT "IN DOUBLE-WIDE EMPHASIZED PICA: "; 250 LPRINT CHR$(27)"!*< < <(" 260 LPRINT CHR$(27)"!"CHR$(0) "YOUR DATA NUMBERS:" 270 FOR K=1 TO

LPRINT F(K);: NEXT K

300 LPRINT: END

The next few sections explain the steps used to create the symbol for

Mercury. First, Figure 5-3 shows the grid used to design the character.

Figure 5-3.

Design for character

Running the program

Now run the program. For each of the nine columns, the program

asks for the numbers of the rows in which you want dots to appear. Enter the row numbers one at a time, pressing the each one. When you have entered all the numbers for a column or when you want no dots in a column, press Remember that the vertical lines in the grid are the even-numbered

columns.

5-4

Enter

without a number.

User-defined Characters

key after

To see program 1 produce the character in Figure 5-3, run the

program and follow these instructions:

1. When the screen message asks what rows have dots in column 1,

press Enter to indicate that no dots go in that column.

2. For column 2 (the vertical line) press 7,

to indicate that you want dots in rows 7 and 5. Then press Enter alone to indicate that no more dots go in column 2.

3. For column 3 press 8, 6, 4, and 2, and Enter after each of them. Press Enter to finish with column 3 and go on to column 4.

4. For column 4 press Enter only (The. that you know to press Enter after each number and one extra

time to end the entries for each column.)

5. For column 5 enter 6, 4, 3, 2, and 1.

6. For column 6 press

7. For column 7 enter 8, 6, 4, and 2.

8. For column 8 enter 7 and 5.

9. For column 9 press Now wait a moment for your computer to calculate the dot patterns

and your LX-800 to print the new character in two different typestyles.

Your printout also gives you nine numbers, which you use in the next

program. You should get the printout you see below:

Enter

only.

Enter,

rest of the directions assume

5, and

Enter

again

When you get to this point with a character of your own, you see how it looks. If you want to make any changes, move the dots as needed and re-run the program.

If you want to put dots in the bottom row, change the number in line 190 from 128 to 0. Then the usable rows are those shown in Figure

5-4

below.

User-defined Characters

5.5

Figure 5-4.

Using the

bottom eight rows

Second definition program

Once the character looks the way you want it to, you can enter,

modify, and run the next program. The program as listed creates the

Mercury character, but you can use it for any characters you create if

you make one or two changes, as explained after the program listing.

90 FOR P=58 TO

LPRINT

63:

LPRINT CHR$(P);" ";: NEXT P

100 K=l: IF K>3 THEN A=58 ELSE A=60 110 LPRINT CHR$(27):

""CHR$(0)CHR$(0)CHR$(0); 120 LPRINT CHR$(27)"%"CHR$(l)CHR$(0); 130 LPRINT CHR$(27)"&"CHR$(0)CHR$(A)CHR$(A-1+K);

140

FOR Z=l TO K 150 LPRINT CHR$(128); 160 FOR X=1 TO 9 170 READ R 180 LPRINT CHR$(R);: NEXT X 190 LPRINT CHR$(0)CHR$(0); 200 NEXT Z

210 DATA 0,80,170,0,47,0,170,80,0

290 FOR P=58 TO 63: LPRINT CHR$(P);" ";: NEXT P

To use this program for your own character or characters, change the DATA numbers in line 210 by substituting the numbers generated by the first program when you created your own character. If you have

5-6

User-defined Characters

created more than one character, put the DATA numbers for each character on a separate line as you see in the example below:

210 DATA 112,8,0,138,116,138,0,8,112 220 DATA 56,68,146,40,130,40,130,68,56

Check your work by making sure there are nine numbers in each line and the numbers are separated by commas. Also make the change in line 100 explained below.

Line 100 states K= 1; to define more than one character, use the total number of characters you are defining instead of the 1 in that line. (You can define as many as six characters. Just run the first program several times and enter all the DATA numbers in this program.)

Running the program

When you run this second program, it prints six characters, then redefines some or all of them and prints them again, as in the example below.

When printed by your own program, these two lines provide you with a key to the characters your Apex80 can now print. When you press the key for one of the characters in the top row, the printer prints the corresponding character in the bottom row. In the example above, if you type < your Apex80 prints to show the character <).

(although your screen continues

Because the program puts these new definitions in your printer’s Random Access Memory (RAM), it prints the new characters (the ones in the bottom row) unless it is turned off.

If you have designed a few characters and want to use them with your word processing program, for example, just run the second definition program before you start using your word processing program. Then use the two-line printout as your guide to tell you which keys to press for your new characters.

Defining NLQ Characters

Since NLQ characters use many more dots than draft characters,

defining NLQ characters is more complex than designing draft ones. If

User-defined Characters

5.7

you use the grid and the programs in this section, however, you can design your own NLQ characters.

NLQ grid

Because the NLQ characters can use as many as 18 dots vertically

and 12 dots horizontally, you plan your designs on a different grid than

the one you used for draft characters. See Figure 5-5.

Figure 5-5.

Grid for

NLQ

characters

On this grid you can use any numbered line or space. As you can see, that includes the bottom line and the line on the right side. You should remember to leave one or two columns blank for space between characters, however.

5.8

User-defined Characters

Each NLQ character definition requires 36 data numbers. Therefore, each vertical column must be divided into three sections for the calculation of data numbers. The process is not difficult once you get some practice using it.

Figure 5-6 shows a single column to make clear how the data numbers are calculated. Notice that in designing NLQ characters circles are used instead of dots to make it easier to keep track of overlapping dots.

Figure 5-6.

Data numbers for one

column

To calculate the data numbers for this column, you see which dots are used in the top group (the top eight positions) and add their values together. Then you go down to the middle group (the next eight

User-defined Characters

5.9

positions) and add the values of any dots that are used there. Finally, you look at the bottom group (two dot positions) and add together the values used there.

If no dots are used in a group, the data number for that group is zero. All zeros must be entered in the DATA statements for the NLQ definition programs.

Now you can learn how to use the NLQ character definition with a simple arrow design. Figure 5-7 shows the design drawn on a grid and the data numbers printed at the top or bottom of each column.

Figure 5-7. Arrow design and data numbers

5.10

User-defined Characters

If you look at each column individually, you can see how the data

numbers were calculated.

First NLQ definition program

Now type in and run the following program. It has the data numbers for the arrow design. For a character of your own, change the data numbers in lines 130-150.

10 LPRINT CHR$(27);"x1"; 20 LPRINT CHR$(27);":";CHR$(0);CHR$(0);CHR$(0); 30 LPRINT CHR$(27);"%";CHR$(1);CHR$(0); 40 LPRINT CHR$(27);"&";CHR$(0);"< <";

50 LPRINT CHR$(0);CHR$(12);CHR$(0);

FOR X=1 TO

70 READ C: LPRINT CHR$(C);

80 NEXT X

90 LPRINT "YOUR CHARACTER IN PICA: < < <"

100 LPRINT "IN DOUBLE-WIDE EMPHASIZED PICA: ";

110 LPRINT CHR$(27);"!*< < <"

120 LPRINT CHR$(27);"!";CHR$(0);

130 DATA 4,0,0,8,0,0,16,0,0,32,0,0

140

DATA 64,0,0,255,255,192,64,0,0,32,0,0

150 DATA 16,0,0,8,0,0,4,0,0,0,0,0

YOUR CHARACTER IN PICA:

IN DOUBLE-WIDE EMPHASIZED PICA:

When you run this program for your own character, you can see if it looks right. If not, move the dots as needed, recalculate and change the data numbers, and run the program again.

Second NLQ definition program

When you are satisfied with the character you have created, enter

and run the next program. Use your data numbers instead of the ones in lines 140-160. If you want to define more than one character, change line 10 so that J equals the total number of characters you are defining

(the maximum is six) and enter the extra data numbers (36 for each

character).

User-defined Characters

5-11

10 J=l: IF J>3 THEN A=58 ELSE A=60 20 LPRINT CHR$(27)"x"CHR$(1) 30 FOR X=58 TO 63: LPRINT CHR$(X)" ";: NEXT X 40 LPRINT 50 LPRINT CHR$(27)

:""CHR$(0)CHR$(0)CHR$(0) 60 LPRINT CHR$(27)"%"CHR$(1)CHR$(0); 70 LPRINT CHR$(27)"&"CHR$(0)CHR$(A)CHR$(A-1+J);

FOR Y=1 TO J

90 LPRINT CHR$(0)CHR$(12)CHR$(0);

100 FOR X=1 TO 36 110 READ C: LPRINT CHR$(C); 120 NEXT X: NEXT Y 130 FOR X=58 TO 63: LPRINT CHR$(X)" ";: NEXT X

140 DATA 4, 0, 0, 8, 0, 0, 16, 0, 0, 32, 0, 0 150 DATA 64, 0, 0, 255, 255, 192, 64, 0, 0, 32, 0, 0 160 DATA 16, 0, 0, 8, 0, 0, 4, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0

When you run this program, it prints six characters, then redefines one or more of them and prints them again. As with the draft characters, you use this two-line printout as a guide to the new characters your Apex80 can print. You can use them with an application program or a program you write yourself.

5-12

User-defined Characters

Chapter 6

Introduction to Dot Graphics

The dot graphics mode allows your Apex80 to produce pictures, graphs, charts, or almost any other pictorial material you can devise. Because many commercial software programs use graphics, you may be able to print pictures and graphs like the ones on this page and the next by simply giving your software a few instructions.

The quickest and easiest way to print graphics on your Apex80 is to

use a commercial graphics program. With such programs you usually create an image on your monitor and then give a command to send

the image to the printer.

Introduction to Dot Graphics

6-1

If you use commercial software that produces graphics, all you need

to know about dot graphics is how to use the software. If, on the other

hand, you wish to do your own programming or merely wish to understand how the Apex80 prints graphics, read on.

The Print Head

To understand dot graphics you need to know a little about how the

Apex80’s print head works.

The Apex80's print head has nine pins. As it moves across the page, electrical impulses cause the pins to fire. Each time a pin fires, it strikes the inked ribbon and presses it against the paper to produce a small dot. As the head moves across the paper, the pins fire time after time in different patterns to produce letters, numbers, or symbols.

6.2

Introduction to Dot Graphics

Dot patterns

The Apex80’s print head is able to print graphics in addition to text

because graphic images are formed on the Apex80 about the same way that pictures in newspapers and magazines are printed.

If you look closely at a newspaper photograph, you can see that it is

made up of many small dots. The Apex80 also forms its images with

patterns of dots, as many as 240 dot positions per inch horizontally and

72 dots vertically. The images printed by the Apex80 can, therefore, be as finely detailed as the one on the first page of this chapter.

In its main graphics mode the Apex80 prints one column of dots for each code it receives, and it uses only the top eight of the nine pins. Therefore, your graphics program must send codes for dot patterns, one number for each column in a line. For each of those columns the print head prints the pattern of dots you have specified.

To print figures taller than eight dots, the print head makes more than one pass. The printer prints one line, then advances the paper

and prints another, just as it does with text.

To keep the print head from leaving gaps between the graphics lines

as it does between the text lines, the line spacing must be changed to eliminate the space between lines. With a change in line spacing, the Apex80 can print finely detailed graphic images that give no indication that they are made up of separate lines, each no more than 8/72nds of

an inch tall.

Each pass of the print head prints one piece of the total pattern,

which can be as tall or short and as wide or narrow as you desire. You

don’t have to fill the whole page or even an entire line with your

graphics figures. In fact, you can use as little or as much space as you

like for a figure and put it anywhere on the page.

Pin Labels

The graphics mode requires a method to tell the printer which pins to fire in each column. Since there are 256 possible combinations of eight pins, you need a numbering system that allows you to use a single number to specify which of the 256 possible patterns you want. This numbering system is shown in Figure 6-1 on the next page.

Introduction to Dot Graphics

6.3

To fire any one pin, you send its number. To fire more than one pin

at the same time, add up the numbers of the pins and send the sum to the printer. Therefore, with these labels for the pins, you fire the top pin by sending 128. To fire the bottom pin, you send 1. If you want to fire only the top and bottom pins, you simply add 128 and 1, then send 129.

By adding the appropriate label numbers together, you can fire any combination of pins. Figure 6-1 shows three examples of how to calculate the number that fires a particular pattern of pins.

Figure 6-1 Pin numbering system

With this numbering system, any combination of the eight pins adds

up to a decimal number between 0 and 255, and no numbers are duplicated. Before you can put these numbers in a graphics program, however, you need to know the format of the graphics commands.

Graphics Commands

The graphics mode commands are quite different from most other

commands. For most of the other modes, such as emphasized and double-wide, one command turns off. For graphics, the command is more complicated because the command that turns on a graphics mode also specifies how many columns of graphics will be printed. After the printer receives this command, it interprets the next numbers as pin patterns and prints them on the paper.

6.4

the

mode on and another turns it

Introduction to Dot Graphics

The graphics command format

There are several different graphics commands giving different

horizontal dot

almost the same for all the commands, however, the example here keeps things simple by using only the single-density graphics command, ESC K. In single-density graphics, there are 60 dots per inch horizontally.

The command to enter single-density graphics mode is ESC K nl n2.

In BASIC the command is given in this format:

densities

and printing speeds. Because the format is

LPRINT CHR$(27);"K";CHR$(n1);CHR$(n2);

ESC K specifies single-density graphics, and the next two numbers

(nl

and

n2)

specify the number of columns reserved for graphics.

Column reservation numbers

Even in single-density graphics mode, one 8-inch line can accommodate 480 columns of graphics; in quadrupledensity, almost 2000 columns can fit on the same 8-inch line. Since the printer does not use decimal numbers larger than 255, the graphics commands use two numbers for reserving columns.

Because the commands are set up for two numbers, you must supply two even if you need only one. When you need fewer than 256 columns, it is easy to determine n1 and n2: n1 is the number of

columns you are reserving and

200 columns of graphics, n1 is 200 and n2 is 0.

is zero. For example, to send data for

For more than 256 columns of graphics data, n2 is the number of complete groups of 256 columns, and n1 is the number of columns to complete the line. For example, to send 1632 columns of graphic data, nl is 96 and n2 is 6 because 96 + (6 x 256) = 1632.

You can calculate both nl and n2 by dividing the total number of columns by 256. The quotient is n2 and the remainder is nl. If you are using a programming language with MOD (modulus) and INT (integer)

functions, you can use the following formulas, in which n is the total

number of columns.

nl = n MOD 256

n2 = INT (n/256)

Introduction to Dot Graphics

6.5

Graphics data

After receiving a graphics command such as ESC K nl n2, the printer prints the number of codes specified by data, no matter what codes they are. This means that you must be sure to supply exactly the right amount of graphics data. If you supply too little, the printer will stop and wait for more data and will seem to be locked. The next data sent will then be printed as graphics, even if it is really text. On the other hand, if you supply too much graphics data,

the excess will be printed as regular text.

and n2 as graphics

Simple Graphics Programming

The first example in this section shows how a graphics command,

column reservation numbers, and data can be used to print a single line of graphics. The example is a BASIC program. If you prefer another programming language, Therefore, you can easily adapt the program to the language you prefer.

The first line of the program specifies single-density graphics for 40

columns:

100 LPRINT CHR$(27);"K";CHR$(40);CHR$(0);

The second line is the data that is printed as pin patterns. It uses the number 74 to produce one of the patterns shown in Figure 6-1. The FOR-NEXT loop sends 40 columns of data.

the

principles are exactly the same.

200 FOR X=1 TO

That is the whole program. In BASIC, semicolons at the ends of the

lines are very important; they prevent the computer from sending

other codes after the ones you specify. In other languages you may have

to use a special command to send a single code at a time. Run the program to see the result below. Although it is not as interesting as the examples at the beginning of this chapter, it shows exactly how the mode works.

6.6

40:

LPRINT CHR$(74);: NEXT X

Introduction to Dot Graphics

WIDTH statements

Some software (including most versions of BASIC) automatically

inserts carriage return and line feed codes after every 80 or 130

characters. This is usually no problem with text, but it can spoil your

graphics. Two extra columns of graphics are printed in the middle of

the ones you send, and are left over and printed as text.

In some versions of BASIC you can prevent unwanted control codes in graphics by putting a WIDTH statement at the beginning of all graphics programs. The format in many forms of BASIC is either

WIDTH “LPT1:“, 255 or WIDTH LPRINT 255. Check your software

manual for the proper format.

Printing taller patterns

The next example shows how several lines of graphics can be formed into a figure taller than eight dots. It uses programming techniques for producing textured or repetitive patterns.

The program is listed below. The lines inside each pair of FOR and NEXT statements have been indented so that you can see how the program works; the spaces are not needed for the program to run.

100

WIDTH "LPT1:", 255

110

LPRINT CHR$(27);"A";CHR$(8);

120

FOR R = 1 TO

130

LPRINT

140 150

160

170

180

FOR X = 1 to

LPRINT CHR$(170);CHR$(85);

NEXT X: LPRINT NEXT R LPRINT CHR$(27);"@"

CHR$(27);"K";CHR$(100);CHR$(0);

If you run the program, you will see how it combines six print lines

into a pattern.

There are five basic steps that the program goes through to produce

this kind of pattern.

Introduction to Dot Graphics

6.7

1. The computer is prevented from adding any extra characters by the WIDTH statement (line 100).

2. The line spacing is changed to 8/72 of an inch-the height of the dot patterns used in the program (line 110).

3. The program goes through the graphics commands the required number of times (lines 120 and 170).

4. A new graphics command is used for each line printed (lines 130-

160). This part of the program is similar to the last example, but two

columns are printed each time through the loop making a total of

100.

5. The last important thing to do is to reset the printer to its default settings, including the normal line spacing (line 180).

Notice that the graphics command (ESC K) can be in effect for only one print line. To print more than one line of graphics, the graphics command must be issued before each line.

Density Varieties

Although all the examples so far in this chapter have been in the singledensity graphics mode, there are six other eight-pin densities and two that use all nine pins. Nine-pin graphics is not necessary for most uses, but you can find the command (ESC ^) in the Command Summary (Appendix A).

The four most common eight-pin modes are ESC K, ESC L, ESC Y, and ESC Z. There is also a general-purpose command for any of the eight-pin graphics modes: ESC way as the individual commands, except that before nl and n2 you must send the code for the graphics mode required. The different modes are summarized in Table 6-1.

The following example shows how to use the ESC * command to reserve 40 columns for single-density graphics. This uses mode number 0 from the table to achieve exactly the same effect as the first example using ESC K.

*. This command is used in the same

LPRINT CHR$(27);"*";CHR$(0);CHR$(40);CHR$(0);

6.8

Introduction to Dot Graphics

Table 6-1. Graphics modes

Modes 4-6 in the table are special modes that alter the horizontal density to give proportions of a computer monitor (the CRT modes), or to match the vertical density so as to give round circles (the plotter mode).

In two modes, high-speed double-density and quadruple-density, the print head cannot print two consecutive dots with the same pin, so that it can print dots in only half the possible dot positions in any one row. The higher density means that the resolution of the pattern is better than in single-density mode. When you design patterns in these two modes, however, you must see that no dots overlap.

Reassigning a graphics mode

Another graphics command lets you assign a different eight-pin graphics mode to one of the specific eight-pin graphics commands. You can use it with graphics software programs to quickly change the density and proportions of your printouts. Changing the graphics option changes the width without changing the height.

The command for reassigning a graphics mode is ESC ? c m. In this command, c is a letter designating one of the four alternate graphics codes (K, L, Y, or Z) and m is the mode number of the new mode, as listed in Table 6-1.

For example, to change the ESC K command to select the CRT I screen graphics mode, the command in BASIC would be the following:

LPRINT CHR$(27);"?K";CHR$(4);

Introduction to Dot Graphics

6.9

A little experimentation should tell you whether the reassigning code

can improve your graphics printouts.

Designing Your Own Graphics

This section takes you through the development of a graphics program. The example is not especially complicated, but it does include the same steps you would use for a more complex figure.

You should plan your figure with dots on graph paper, but before beginning to place the dots, you must decide which graphics density you want. Figure 6-2 shows the differences between three common modes so that you can choose the one you want.

In this figure you can see the main rules for graphic design in the three densities:

In single-density no dots can be placed on vertical lines.

In high-speed double-density, dots can be placed on vertical lines, but

no dots can overlap.

In double-density, dots can be placed on vertical lines, and they can

overlap.

Figure 6-2. Designing in different

densities

6-10

Introduction to Dot Graphics

Now look at the high-speed doubledensity design in Figure 6-3. It

should point you in the right direction for your own work.

Figure

6-3.

Arrow

design

After plotting the dots on a grid, you calculate the numbers for each

pin pattern by dividing the design grid into separate print lines. For the

arrow design, the grid was divided into two lines, each seven dots high.

Then each column was examined to calculate the graphics data. The

results for the first line are shown in Figure 6-4. The pin values are on

the left and the sums at the bottom of each column.

Figure 6-4.

Calculating data

Introduction to Dot Graphics

6.11

The numbers for the second line were calculated in the same way. Once the numbers for the pin patterns are calculated, they are put in the program in DATA statements, separated by commas.

The program works in a similar way to the last example. This time it

selects 7/72-inch line spacing because only seven pins are used. Because the data is not repetitive, each column of graphics data is read from the DATA statements and sent to the printer. The design is 41 dot positions wide. Therefore both lines 130 and 140 use the number 41.

100

WIDTH "LPT1:", 255

110

LPRINT CHR$(27);"A";CHR$(7);

120

FOR ROW = 1 TO 2

130

LPRINT CHR$(27);"Y";CHR$(41);CHR$(0);

140

FOR COLUMN = 1 TO 41

150 160 170

180 190

200

210

220 DATA 64, 0, 64, 0, 32, 0, 16, 0, 8, 0 230 DATA 8, 0, 8, 0, 8, 0, 8, 0, 8, 0, 8, 0, 8, 0

240

250 DATA 8, 16, 40, 64, 136, 0, 8, 0, 8, 0 260 DATA 8, 0, 8, 0, 16, 0, 32, 0, 64, 0, 64, 0

270 280

READ

LPRINT CHR$(N);

NEXT COLUMN

LPRINT

NEXT ROW

END

DATA 64, 32, 80, 8, 68, 2, 64, 0, 64, 0

DATA 184, 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2

DATA 64, 0, 64, 0, 64, 0, 64, 0, 64, 0, 64, 0

DATA 116, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 0

When you run this program, it produces the following printout:

If you want to see the figure in other densities, change the Y in line

130 to L or Z.

6.12

Introduction to Dot Graphics

Appendix A

Command Summary

This appendix lists and describes all the commands available on the

Apex80.

The first part of this appendix lists all commands in numerical order and gives the page number where each is fully described. If you know which command you are looking for, consult the numerical list to find the page number where it is described.

The Quick Reference card at the end of the book also contains a list of the commands divided by topic, with page number references that

direct you to full explanations of the commands.

The second part of this appendix lists and describes the commands. They are divided into the following subjects:

Printer Operation

Data Control

Vertical/Horizontal Motion

Overall Printing Style Print Size and Character Width Graphics

In this appendix each command has a format section and a comment section. The format section gives the ASCII, decimal, and hexadecimal values for the command; the comment section describes the effect of the command and gives any additional information necessary for using it.

All three formats are equivalent, and it should be easy to pick the one most suited to your purpose.

Note

Some application programs can use control key sequences. See the Control Key chart on page A-3 for information on using these.

Print Enhancement Word Processing

Character Sets

User-defined Characters

Command Summary

A-1

For the following commands that use only 0 or 1 for the variable,

either the ASCII cocks 1 and 0 or the characters 1 and 0 can be used:

ESC S, ESC U, ESC X, ESC W, ESC S, ESC-

, and

ESC %

For example, in BASIC you can turn on double-wide with either of

these statements:

LPRINT CHR$(27);"W";CHR$(1)

LPRINT CHR$(27);"W";"1"

The simplest type of command consists of a single character to be sent to the printer. For instance, to print in condensed mode the code format is:

ASCII code: SI

Decimal: 15

Hexadecimal: OF

More complex commands consist of two or more character codes.

For example, to print in elite mode the code format is the following:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

In this case n can be either 1 or 0, to begin or end elite printing. You can use either of the following commands to turn ON elite print from

BASIC:

ESC M n

27 77 n 1B 4D n

A-2

LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(77);CHR$(1) LPRINT CHR$(27);"M";CHR$(l)

Command Summary

Control key chart

Some application programs can use control key codes for decimal

values O-27. The table below gives you the proper values. The Control Key column indicates that you press the control key at the same time you press the key for the letter or symbol in that column, For example, you press the control key and A at the same time to send the value 1.

Some programs that use this system cannot use control-@, and

many programs use the control keys for other purposes.

Dec.

1 2 3

7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

Hex.

01 02

04 05 06

08 09

0B 0C 0D

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Control Key

B C D

F G H

T U V W

[

Command Summary

A-3

Commands in Numerical Order

This section lists all the Apex80 commands, with their decimal and hexadecimal values. The numbers in the columns on the right are the page numbers in this appendix where a complete description of the command can be found.

ASCII Dec Hex Description

BEL

BS HT

FF CR

SI DC1 DC2 DC3 DC4 CAN DEL

7 8 08

9 09 10 11 12 13

15 17 18 19

20 24

127 ESC SO 14 0E ESC SI ESC EM

ESC ! ESC % ESC & ESC *

ESC -

ESC / ESC 0 ESC 1 ESC 2 ESC 3

15 0F 25 33 37 25 38 26 42 2A 45 2D 47 2F 48 30 49

Beeper

Backspace

Tab horizontally

Line feed

Tab vertically

Form feed

Carriage return

Select double-wide (1 line) Select condensed mode

Select printer

Cancel condensed mode

Deselect printer

Cancel double-wide (1 line)

Cancel line

Delete character

Select double-wide (1 line) Select condensed mode Cut sheet feeder on/off

Master select

Select user-defined set Define user-defined characters Select graphics mode Turn underlining on/off Select vertical tab channel Select l/8-inch line spacing Select 7/72-inch line spacing

Select l/6-inch line spacing

Select n/2l6-inch line spacing

Page

A-10 A-17 A-18 A-13 A-15 A-11 A-10 A-22 A-21

A-7

A-21

A-7

A-22

A-10 A-11 A-22 A-21

A-9 A-20 A-29 A-29 A-3 1 A-25 A-16 A-13 A-13 A-14 A-14

A-4

Command Summary

ASCII Dec Hex Description

ESC 4 ESC 5 ESC 6

ESC 7 ESC 8 ESC 9 ESC : ESC < ESC ? ESC @ ESC A ESC B ESC C 67 43 ESC CO ESC D ESC E ESC F ESC G ESC H ESC J ESC K 75 4B ESC L ESC M ESC N 78 4E ESC O 79 4F ESC P ESC Q ESC R ESC SO ESC Sl 83 53 ESC T ESC U 85 55 ESC W ESC Y ESC Z 90 5A ESC ^ 94 5E

ESC a 97 61 ESC b

ESC e 101 65 ESC f ESC k

52 34 53 35 54 36 55 37 56 38 57 39 58 3A 60 3C 63 3F 64 40 65 41 66 42

67 43 68 44

69 45 70 46 71 47 72 48 74 4A

76 4C 77 4D

80 50 81 51 82 52 83 53

84 54 87 57

89 59

98 62

102 66 107 6B

Select italic mode Cancel italic mode Printable code area expansion

Cancel ESC 6 Disable paper-out sensor

Enable paper-out sensor

Copy ROM into RAM

Select unidirectional mode (1-line) Reassign graphics mode

Initialize printer

Select n/72-inch line spacing

Set vertical tabs

Set page length in lines

Set page length in inches

Set horizontal tabs

Select emphasized mode

Cancel emphasized mode

Select double-strike mode

Cancel double-strike mode

Perform n/216-inch line feed

Select single-density graphics

Select double-density graphics

Select elite pitch

Set skip-over-perforation

Cancel skip-over-perforation

Select pica pitch Set right margin International character set

Select superscript mode Select subscript mode Cancel superscript/subscript Turn unidirectional mode on/off Turn double-wide on/off

High-speed dbl-density graphics

Quadruple-density graphics

Select 9-pin graphics

NLQ justification

Set vertical tabs in channels

Set tab increments

Horizontal/vertical skip

Select NLQ font

Page

A-27 A-27 A-28 A-28

A-9 A-9

A-29

A-8

A-31

A-7

A-14 A-15 A-11

A-12 A-18 A-23 A-23 A-24 A-24 A-15 A-30 A-30 A-21 A-12 A-12 A-20 A-17 A-28

A-24 A-25 A-25

A-8 A-23 A-30 A-31 A-32

A-26 A-16 A-17 A-18

A-19

Command Summary

A-5

ASCII Dec Hex Description

ESC 1 ESC s ESC t

108 6C Set left margin 115 73 Turn half-speed mode on/off 116 74 Select character table

ESC x 120 78 Select NLQ or draft

Page

A-16

A-8 A-26 A-19

A-6

Command Summary

Printer Operation

Initialization ESC @

Initialize Printer

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

ESC

27 64

1B 40

Comments:

Resets the printer mode and clears the buffer of printable data on

the print line preceding the command.

Selection

DC1

Select Printer

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 11

DC1

Comments:

Returns the printer to the selected state if it has been deselected by

oes

not select the printer if it has

the printer deselect code (DC3). been switched off line by pressing the

ON/OFF LINE

button.

DC3 Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 13

DC3

Deselect Printer

Comments:

Puts the printer into the deselected state until select printer code (DCl) is received. The printer cannot be reselected with the

LINE button.

Command Summary

ON/OFF

A-7

Speed ESCs

Turn Half-speed Mode On/Off

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

ESC

175 n

1B 73 n

Comments:

The following values can be used for n:

1: Mode is turned ON.

0: Mode is turned OFF.

(The characters “0” and “1” can also be used.)

Printing direction ESC<

Select Unidirectional Mode (one line)

Format:

ASCII code: ESC < Decimal: Hexadecimal:

Comments:

Printing is normally bidirectional. This command selects

unidirectional printing for one line only. (It is cancelled by a carriage

return.) The print head moves to the extreme left (home) position,

and printing takes place from left to right.

ESCU Turn Unidirectional Mode On/Off Format:

ASCII code: ESC U n Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B 55 n

27 85 n

Comments:

The following values can be used for n:

1: Mode is turned ON.

0: Mode is turned OFF. Text printing is normally bidirectional. This command selects

unidirectional printing for more accurate positioning.

A-8

(The characters “0” and “1” can also be used.)

Command Summary

ESC8

Disable Paper-out Sensor

Format:

ASCII code: ESC 8 Decimal: Hexadecimal:

27 56

1B 38

Comments:

Turns off the paper-out sensor so that you can print to the end of a

single sheet of paper.

ESC 9

Enable Paper-out Sensor

Format:

ASCII code: ESC 9 Decimal: Hexadecimal:

Comments:

Cancels ESC 8. Therefore, the printer beeper sounds and printing stops when the printer reaches a point approximately 3/4 of an inch

from the end of the paper.

ESC EM

Turn Cut Sheet Feeder Mode On/Off

Format:

ASCII code: ESC EM n

Decimal:

Hexadecimal: 1B 19 n

27 25 n

Comments:

The following values can be used for 4: Mode is turned ON. 0: Mode is turned OFF.

The variables are the characters “0” (48 decimal or 30 hex) and “4”

(52 decimal or 34 hex). Do not use 1 decimal, 01 hex, 4 decimal, or

hex.

The command should not be used unless the optional cut sheet feeder is installed. It is ignored if any value other than “0” or “4” is used for n. The command overrides the setting of DIP switch 2-2.

Command Summary

A-9

Beeper BEL

Beeper

Format:

ASCII code:

Decimal:

Hexadecimal:

BEL

Comments:

Sounds the printer’s beeper.

Data Control

CR Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 0D

Comments:

Prints the data in the buffer and returns the print position to the left

margin. A line feed may be added if DIP switch 2-4 is ON or the AUTO PEED XT line on the parallel interface is held LOW.

Carriage Return

CAN

Cancel Line

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

CAN

Comments:

Removes all text on the print line, but does not affect control codes.

A-10

Command Summary

DEL

Delete Character

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

DEL

127

Comments:

Removes the last text character on the print line but does not affect control codes.

Vertical/Horizontal Motion Form feeding

Form Feed

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

Comments:

Prints the data in the print buffer and advances the paper to the top of the next form according to the current page length.

ESC C

Set Page Length in Lines

Format:

ASCII code: ESC C n Decimal: Hexadecimal:

27 67 n

1B 43 n

Comments:

Sets the page length to n lines in the current line spacing. The value of n must be from 1-127. The top of form position is set to the current line.

Command Summary

A-11

ESC C 0 Set Page Length in Inches Format:

ASCII code: Decimal:

Hexadecimal:

ESC

27 67 0 n

1B 43 00 n

C NUL n

Comments:

Sets the page length to n inches. The value of n must be from 1-22.

The top of form position is set to the current line.

ESC N

Set Skip-over-perforation

Format:

ASCII code: ESC N n Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B 4E n

27 78 n

Comments:

The variable n is the number of lines skipped between the last line printed on one page and the first line on the next page. For example, with the standard settings for line spacing (l/6-inch), and page length (66 lines), ESC N 6 causes the Apex80 to print 60 lines

and then skip 6. DIP switch 2-3 performs the same function. This setting is cancelled by ESC O and also by ESC C or ESC C NUL. The value of n must be from 1-127.

ESC O

Cancel Skipover-perforation

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal:

Hexadecimal: 1B

ESC O

27 79

Comments:

Cancels the skip-over-perforation set by ESC N. Overrides the

setting of DIP switch 2-3.

A-12

Command Summary

Line feeding

Line Feed

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal:

Hexadecimal: 0A

Comments:

‘When this command is received, the data in the print buffer is printed and the paper advances one line in the current line spacing.

ESC 0

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

ESC 0

27 48

1B 30

Select 1/8-inch Line Spacing

Comments:

Sets the line spacing to l/8 of an inch for subsequent line feed commands. The 0 is the character zero and not ASCII code 0.

ESC l

Select 7/72-inch Line Spacing

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B

ESC 1

Comments:

Sets the line spacing to 7/72 of an inch for subsequent line feed commands. The 1 is the character one and not lowercase L or ASCII code 1.

Command Summary

A-13

ESC 2

Select 1/6-inch Line Spacing

Format:

ASCII code: ESC 2 Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B

Comments:

Sets the line spacing to l/6 of an inch for subsequent line feed commands. The “2” is the character two and not ASCII code 2. This is the default at power on.

ESC 3

Select n/216-inch Line Spacing

Format:

ASCII code: ESC 3 n

Decimal:

Hexadecimal: 1B

33 n

Comments:

Sets the line spacing to n/216 of an inch for subsequent line feed commands. The “3” is the character three and not ASCII code 3.

The value of n must be from O-255.

ESC A

Select n/72-inch Line Spacing

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B

ESC A n

27 65 n

41 n

Comments:

Sets the line spacing to n/72 of an inch for subsequent line feed commands. The value of n must be from O-85.

A-14

Command Summary

ESC J

Perform

n/216-inch

Line Feed

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

ESC J n

27 74 n

1B 4A n

Comments:

Advances the paper n/216 of an inch. The value of n must be from O-255. This command produces an immediate line feed but does not affect subsequent line spacing and does not produce a carriage return.

Vertical tabbing

Tab Vertically

Format:

ASCII code: VT Decimal: Hexadecimal: 0B

Comments:

Advances the paper to the next tab setting in the channel selected by ESC/. If no channel has been selected, channel 0 is used. If no vertical tabs have been selected, the paper advances one line.

ESC B

Set Vertical Tabs

Format:

ASCII code: ESC B n1 n2 . . .

Decimal:

Hexadecimal:

27 66 n1 n2 ... 0

1B 42 n1 n2 ... 00

NUL

Comments:

Sets up to 16 vertical tabs in the current line spacing. Tab settings are not affected by subsequent changes in line spacing. The tab settings are entered as nl, n2, etc., all from 1-255, in ascending order. The NUL character indicates the end of the command. All settings are stored in channel 0 (see ESC b). ESC B NUL clears the tab settings.

Command Summary

A-15

ESC b

Set Vertical Tabs in Channels

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

ESC b

27 1B

98 62

c c

n2 n2 n2

...

... ...

NUL

Comments:

Functions the same as ESC B, except that the variable c selects a channel for the vertical tabs, which must be between O-7. Therefore, up to eight sets of vertical tabs can be set. The channels are selected by ESC /. To clear the tabs in channel c use ESC b c NUL.

ESC / Select Vertical Tab Channel Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

ESC / c

27 47 c 1B 2F c

Comments:

This command is used to select the vertical tab channel, with the value of c from O-7. All subsequent VT commands use the channel selected by this command.

Margins ESC l

Set Left Margin

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

ESC I n

108 n

1B 6C n

Comments:

Sets the left margin to n columns in the current pitch. This command clears previous tab settings and all previous characters in the print line. Use lowercase 1 (for left), not the numeral one. The minimum space between the margins is the width of one doublewide pica character.

A-16

Command Summary

ESC Q

Set Right Margin

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B 51

ESC Q n

27 81 n

Comments:

Sets the right margin to n columns in the current pitch. This

command clears previous tab settings and all previous characters in

the print line. The minimum space between the margins is the width of one double-wide pica character.

Print head movement

Backspace

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 08

Comments:

Prints out data in the print buffer, then moves the print position one

space to the left. Backspacing can be performed up to, but not beyond, the left margin setting. The BS code is also ignored if ESC a, 1, 2, or 3 has been sent. If this code is received immediately

after graphics printing, the print position of subsequent data cannot be assured.

ESC e

Set Tab Increments

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B 65 n s

ESC

101 n s

Comments:

This command sets the horizontal or vertical tab increments. When

n is 0, the horizontal tabs are set at intervals of s spaces. Maximum

values are 21 .in pica, 25 in elite and 36 in condensed text modes.

When n is 1, the vertical tabs are set to s line feeds.

Command Summary

A-17

ESC f

Horizontal/Vertical Skip

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B

ESC f n s

102 n s

66 n s

Comments:

Prints spaces or line feeds without carriage returns. When n is 0, s spaces will be inserted up to a maximum of 127. If n is set to 1, s line feeds will be performed.

Horizontal tabbing HT

Tab Horizontally

Format:

ASCII code: HT Decimal: Hexadecimal: 09

Comments:

Advances the print position to the next horizontal tab setting. The default settings are at intervals of eight characters in the default pitch, and tab positions are not affected by subsequent changes in character pitch.

ESC D

Set Horizontal Tabs

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal:

Hexadecimal:

ESC

27 68 1B

n1 n1

n2 n2

...

NUL

Comments:

This command allows setting of up to 32 horizontal tabs, which are

entered as nl, n2, n3, etc. (from 1-137) with the NUL character or any value less than the previous one terminating the command. ESC D NUL clears all tabs. The settings on power up or after an ESC @ command are every eight characters. The tab settings do not change if the character pitch is changed.

A-18

Command Summary

Overall Printing Style ESC x

Select NLQ or Draft

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal:

Hexadecimal:

ESC

120 n

1B 78 n

Comments:

The following values can be used for n:

0: Selects the draft mode.

1: Selects the Near Letter

Quality (NLQ) mode.

ESC k

(The characters “0” and “1” can also be used.)

Select NLQ Font

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

ESC k n

107 n

1B 6B n

Comments:

This command affects only the Near Letter Quality (NLQ) mode,

not draft.

The following values can be used for n:

0 = Roman

1 = Sans Serif

Command Summary

A-19

ESC!

Master Select

Format:

ASCII code:

Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B

ESC ! n

27 33 n

21 n

Comments:

Selects any valid combination of the modes in the table below. The variable n is determined by adding together the values of the desired modes from the table.

Table A-1. Master Select numbers

Mode Dec Hex

Pica

Elite

Condensed

Emphasized

Double-strike

Double-wide

Italic

Underline

Pica cannot be combined with elite, and emphasized cannot be condensed. If both emphasized and condensed are selected, emphasized overrides condensed.

0 00

16 10

128

20 40 80

Size and Character Width

ESC P

Select Pica Pitch

Format:

ASCII code: ESC P Decimal: Hexadecimal:

27 80 1B 50

Comments:

Selects pica pitch (10 characters per inch). Because pica is the default pitch, this command is normally used to cancel elite.

A-20

Command Summary

ESC M Format:

ASCII code: ESC M

Decimal: Hexadecimal:

27 77

1B 4D

Comments:

Selects elite pitch (12 characters per inch).

Select Elite Pitch

Select Condensed Mode

Format:

ASCII code: SI

Decimal:

Hexadecimal: 0F

Comments:

Prints characters at about 60 percent of their normal width. For example, the condensed pica mode has 17 characters per inch.

ESC SI

Select Condensed Mode

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B

ESC SI

Comments:

Duplicates the SI command.

DC2

Cancel Condensed Mode

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

DC2

18 12

Comments:

Cancels condensed printing set by SI, ESC SI, SelecType, or DIP switch 1-1.

Command Summary

A-21

Select Double-wide Mode (one line)

Format:

ASCII code: SO Decimal:

Hexadecimal:

Comments:

Double-wide mode doubles the width of all characters. This mode is cancelled by a carriage return or DC4.

Esc so

Select Double-wide Mode (one line)

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B 0E

ESC SO

27 14

Comments:

Duplicates the SO command.

DC4

Cancel Double-wide Mode (one line)

Format:

ASCII code: DC4

Decimal:

Hexadecimal:

Comments:

Cancels one-line double-wide printing selected by SO or ESC SO, but not double-wide printing selected by ESC W or ESC !.

A-22

Command Summary

ESC W

Turn Double-wide Mode On/Off

Format:

ASCII code:

Decimal:

Hexadecimal: 1B

ESC W n

27 87 n

57 n

Comments:

The following values can be used for n:

1: The mode is turned ON.

0: The mode is turned OFF. Double-wide mode doubles the width of all characters.

(The characters “0” and “1” can also be used.)

Print Enhancement

EXE

Select Emphasized Mode

Format:

ASCII code: ESC E Decimal: Hexadecimal:

27 69

1B 45

Comments:

Makes text bolder by printing each dot twice, with the second dot

slightly to the right of the first.

ESC F

Cancel Emphasized Mode

Format:

ASCII code: ESC F Decimal: Hexadecimal:

27 70

1B 46

Comments:

Cancels emphasized, the mode selected by ESC E.

Command Summary

A-23

ESC G

Select Double-strike Mode

Format:

ASCII code: ESC G Decimal: Hexadecimal:

27 71 1B 47

Comments:

Makes text bolder by printing each line twice, with the second printing slightly below the first. In but is not cancelled.

NLQ

the mode is not available

ESC H Cancel Double-strike Mode Format:

ASCII code: ESC H

Decimal:

Hexadecimal: 1B

27 72

Comments:

Turns off the double-strike mode selected by ESC G.

ESC S O

Select Superscript Mode

Format:

ASCII code: ESC S Decimal: Hexadecimal:

27 83 0

1B 53 00

NUL

Comments:

Prints characters about two-thirds of the normal height in the upper part of the character space. The ASCII code 0 or the character “0” can be used in this command. It is cancelled with ESC T.

A-24

Command Summary

ESC S l

Select Subscript Mode

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B

ESC

27 83

S SOH

53 01

Comments:

Prints characters about two-thirds of the normal height in the lower

part of the character space. The ASCII code 1 or the character “1” can be used in this command. It is cancelled with ESC T.

ESC T

Cancel Superscript/Subscript

Format:

ASCII code: ESC T Decimal: Hexadecimal:

27 84

1B 54

Comments:

Cancels either superscript or subscript.

ESC - Turn Underlining Mode On/Off Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

ESC - n

27 45 n

1B 2D n

Comments:

The following values can be used for n:

1: Mode is turned ON.

0: Mode is turned OFF. This mode provides continuous underlining, including spaces.

(The characters “0” and “1” can also be used.)

Command Summary

A-25

Word Processing

ESC a

NLQ Justification

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

ESC

27 a n

1B 61 n

Comments:

The following values can be used for n:

0: Selects left justification.

1: Selects centering. 2: Selects right justification. 3: Selects full justification.

The default setting is n = 0. Full justification (n = 3) is performed when the buffer becomes full or when one of the following is received: CR, VT, LF, FE The commands HT and BS are invalid except in n = 0 mode. For n = 3 there must be no carriage returns within a paragraph. Justification can be used in NLQ only, not draft.

Character Sets

ESC t

Format:

ASCII code:

Decimal:

Hexadecimal: 1B 74 n

ESC t n

116 n

Select Character Table

Comments:

The following values can be used for

0: Selects italic character set.

1: Selects Epson Character Graphics.

Selects which character table is to be used by codes 128-255. Selecting Epson Character Graphics does not disable italic printing. Italic printing can still be selected by ESC 4. Duplicates the function of DIP switch 1-3. Note that the value of n must equal 00 hex or 01 hex; the characters “0” and “1” cannot be used.

A-26

Command Summary

ESC 4

Select Italic Mode

Format:

ASCII code: ESC 4 Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B

27 52

Comments:

Causes characters from the italic character set to be printed. This command is valid even if the Epson Character Graphics set has been selected by ESC t or DIP switch 1-3, but character graphics cannot be italicized.

ESC 5 Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B

ESC 5

Comments:

Cancels the mode selected by ESC 4.

Cancel Italic Mode

Command Summary

A-27

ESC R

Select an International Character Set

Format:

ASCII code: ESC R n Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B 52 n

27 82 n

Comments:

See Appendix B for more information on international character sets. The following values can be used for n:

0=USA

1 = France 6 = Italy 2 = Germany 7 = Spain I 3=UK 4 = Denmark I

= Sweden

8=Japan

= Norway 10 = Denmark II ll = Spain II 12 = Latin America

ESC 6 Printable Code Area Expansion Format:

ASCII code: ESC 6 Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B

Comments:

Enables the printing of codes 128 through 159 (decimal) as characters, not control codes. See Appendix B for the characters that are printed when this command is used.

ESC 7

Cancel ESC 6

Format:

ASCII code:

Decimal:

Hexadecimal:

ESC 7

1B 37

Comments:

This code causes codes 128 through 159 to be treated as control

codes. This is the default.

A-28

Command Summary

User-defined Characters

Note: See Chapter 5 for sample programs and full information on this

topic.

ESC &

Define User-defined Characters

Format:

ASCII code:

Decimal:

Hexadecimal: 1B 26 00 d1 d2 ... dn

ESC &

27 38 0 d1 d2 ... dn

NUL d1 d2 ... dn

Comments:

This command allows characters to be redefined in the currently selected mode. The variables dl and d2 must be between 58 and 63 (3A through 3F hex).

Esc:

Copy ROM into RAM

Format:

ASCII code: ESC :

Decimal:

Hexadecimal:

27 58 0 0 0 1B 3A 00 00 00

NUL NUL NUL

Comments:

This code copies the characters in the ROM into RAM so that specific characters can be redefined.

ESC %

Select User-defined Set

Format:

ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal:

ESC

% 27 37 n 1B 25 n

Comments:

ESC & is required to define the character set before ESC % can be used. For ESC % the following values can be used for n: 0: Selects the normal set.

1: Selects the user-defined set.

Command Summary

A-29

Epson Apex-80 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Introduction

Apex80 Features

About This Manual

Where to Get Help

Identifying Printer Parts

Selecting a Place for the Printer

Installing the Paper Feed Knob

Installing the Ribbon

Replacing the Ribbon

Plugging in the Printer

Using Continuous-feed Paper

Using Single-sheet Paper

Operating the Control Panel

Connecting the Apex80 to Your Computer

Printer Selection Menus

Computer - Printer Communication

Word Processors

Spreadsheets

Graphics Programs

Programming Languages

SelecType Operation

SelecType Tips

Quality and Fonts

Print Size and Character Width

Special Effects and Emphasis

Using Different Character Sets

Page Layout and Other Commands

Defining Your Own Characters

Designing Process

Defining NLQ Characters

The Print Head

Pin Labels

Graphics Commands

Simple Graphics Programming

Density Varieties

Designing Your Own Graphics

Commands in Numerical Order

Printer Operation

Data Control

Print Enhancement

Word Processing

Character Sets

User-defined Characters