OKI ML280 User Guide

IMPORTANT

You have just bought the best printer, so be sure to use only the ribbons recommended for it. Original OKI ribbons are the only ones that the manufacturers recommend. Ask for them by name.

Please remember that if you buy any other ribbon your warranty may be invalidated.

Purchasing inferior ribbons really does not make sense. They do not last as long. What is more, they are prone to shredding, which can cause damage to your printhead. Any short term savings on cheap ribbons are quickly lost.

So do not waste your time and money . . . insist on OKI consumables for your OKI printer.

You can order them from your printer supplier.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1: Setting Up Your Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Connecting To Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9

Setting the Internal Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12

Optional Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15

Chapter 2: Operating Your Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Buttons, Levers and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Paper Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6

Rear Feed Paper Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6

Bottom Feed Paper Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7

Loading Single Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9

Chapter 3: Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Basic Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3

If you have a Software Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7

Programming the ML280 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9

Programming Bit-Image Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22

Appendix A: Programming Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Appendix B: Character Code Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1

Appendix C: Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C-1

SPECIAL NOTE

This manual will help you install and use your new OKI printer. It contains everything you need to know to print with your MICROLINE’s special features. If you still need assistance after reading this book, please contact your dealer for fast personal service. If your dealer cannot answer your questions, please ask us.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this document is complete, accurate, and up-to-date. OKI assumes no responsibility for the results of errors beyond its control. OKI also cannot guarantee that changes in software and equipment made by other manufacturers, and referred to in this book, will not affect the applicability of the information in this book.

IBM, IBM PC XT , PC AT, and Graphics Printer are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corp. MS-DOS is the trademark of Microsoft Corporation. WordStar is the trademark of WordStar International Limited. Lotus, Lotus 1-2-3, are registered trademarks of Lotus Development Corporation.

iii

IMPORTANT

The wires in this mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code:

GREEN AND YELLOW EARTH BLUE NEUTRAL BROWN LIVE

As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this apparatus may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug — PROCEED AS FOLLOWS:

The wire coloured GREEN AND YELLOW must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked with the letter E or by the safety earth symbol or coloured GREEN or GREEN AND YELLOW. The wire coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal marked with the letter L or coloured RED. The wire coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal marked with the letter N or coloured BLACK.

WARNING: THIS APPARATUS MUST BE EARTHED

Ensure that your equipment is connected correctly. If you are in any doubt consult a qualified electrician.

Chapter 1

Setting Up Your Printer

Your new OKI printer is packed in a protective container along with this manual and some extra items you will need. These items include:

Paper separator

1. Do not plug in your printer until the following steps have been completed.

AC cable

Platen knob (fitted)

E 280

LIN

I M

9 PIN PRINTER

Ribbon cartridge

2. Remove the access cover by inserting your hand in the top cover slot (see figure below) and lifting.

Slot

I M

1 H

Access cover

Setting Up 1 – 1

3. Remove the carriage shipping restraint that keeps the print head in place.

Carriage shipping restraint

➡

4. Gently slide the print head to the middle of the printer or to the lefthand side so that it is away from the rollers on the column indicator bar.

Print head

Column indicator bar

1 – 2 Setting Up

5. Place the black ribbon cartridge on the ribbon cartridge holder. The easiest method is to tilt the back of the cartridge so that it slides into the area of the plate that is nearest the front of the printer, then lower the top of the cartridge (where the plastic ribbon shield is located) over the print head. The tabs on both sides of the cartridge should align perfectly with the inserts on the print head plate.

Important: Only use genuine OKI ribbon cartridges in your printer. Do not remove the ribbon shield.

Ribbon cartridge

Ribbon shield

Holding position

Print head

Ribbon cartridge holder

Ribbon shield

Column indicator

Setting Up 1 – 3

6. Press gently on the cartridge until you feel it snap into place. To remove the ribbon cartridge, make sure the print head is moved away from the edge of the platen, then grasp the cartridge on both sides of the print head and lift up.

7. The three-position blue lever located to the left of the ribbon cartridge is used to adjust the print head gap for single or multi-part paper. When single part paper or two part paper is in the printer, slide the blue lever forwards towards the print head. To print on three or four part paper, slide the lever away from the print head.

Column indicator bar

Print head gap lever

Paper release lever

1 – 4 Setting Up

8. The platen knob should already be fitted to the right hand side of the printer. However, if this is not the case, or if it has been removed for any reason, align its slot with the spigot on the platen shaft.

9. Try running a self test to make sure your new printer is working correctly. Insert a piece of computer paper (with sprocket holes) or a single sheet of typing paper into the printer as you would insert it in a typewriter. If you are unfamiliar with typewriters, here is the method:

a. Open the paper release lever by sliding it towards you.

b. Insert the paper as far as you can into the slots provided by the

black paper guides.

Paper guides

Setting Up 1 – 5

c. Close the paper release lever.

d. Turn the platen knob clockwise away from you to pull the paper

around the platen and behind the column indicator bar.

e. Move the column indicator bar back on to the platen so that the

rollers rest on the paper you have just inserted.

10. Advance the paper, using the platen knob, until 1 inch of paper appears above the column indicator bar.

11. Replace the access cover:

a. Insert the three tabs in the edge of the access cover into the holes

on the top front edge of the printer.

b. Lower the access cover on to the printer.

12. Grasp the paper and pull it through the opening in the access cover. Use the platen knob if you need more paper.

13. Insert the connector end of the power cord into the socket at the rear of the printer.

14. Make absolutely certain that the ON/OFF power switch on the side of the printer is OFF. (A sudden power surge can damage the printer.)

15. Plug the power cord into an earthed (three-pronged) electrical socket.

Important: The printer must be earthed at all times.

1 – 6 Setting Up

16. To print the self test, hold down the LINE FEED button and turn the

power switch ON. When the printer is powered on (indicator lights), release the LINE FEED button.

9 PIN

Line feed

OKI MICROLIN

NLQ

UTILITY

PITCH

POWER

ALARM

SELECT

TOF SET.

FORM

FEED LINE FEED

SELECT button

SELECT indicator

HSD

17. The following test pattern will be printed, beginning with a printer revision number that is followed by a rolling character pattern .

4YR4100–7200

Note: During self test printing the SELECT indicator is not lit.

Setting Up 1 – 7

18. To stop the test, press the SELECT button or turn the power switch OFF.

After the printer has shown that it is functioning correctly, it is ready to be connected to your computer using an interface cable. If you do not have one, see your computer dealer or, if you have the equipment and the technical expertise, make your own cable using the instructions in Appendix C.

1 – 8 Setting Up

Connecting to your computer

You will need either a parallel or serial interface cable to connect your computer to your printer. Before you connect the cable, make sure both printer and computer power is OFF.

Connecting a Parallel Interface

1. Insert the 36-pin plug into the appropriate socket on the rear of the printer.

Parallel interface cable

Locking tab

Setting Up 1 – 9

2. Snap the two wire locking tabs on to the plug.

3. Insert the other end of the cable into your computer. You may also connect it to another peripheral device, such as a disk drive, if your equipment is designed for daisy chain connection.

4. Turn on the equipment and try the one line BASIC program shown below, using the proper print statement for your computer (the example uses LPRINT). Make sure you have paper and ribbon in the printer.

5. Type: LPRINT “EVERYTHING’S OKAY” and then run the program.

6. Your printer should print this at 10 characters per inch.

EVERYTHING’S OKAY

Note: If the printer did not print, make sure you entered the program correctly. Some computers require that you assign a number to the printer and specify that number in your print statement; for example OPEN # 3 means the printer is on line # 3 to the computer.

7. Now try this BASIC program (change it, if necessary, to suit your computer’s requirements):

10 LPRINT “THIS IS LINE ONE” 20 LPRINT “AND THIS IS LINE TWO”

8. The printout should look like this:

THIS IS LINE ONE AND THIS IS LINE TWO

1 – 10 Setting Up

If it is overprinted, make a small adjustment to the printer switch settings so that a line feed is automatically inserted at the end of a line. (See Page 1-12 for details.)

Setting Up 1 – 11

Setting the internal DIP switches

Before altering the settings of the eight DIP switches, please read the instructions on Page 1-14. These DIP switches are under the small cover on the top of the printer. They allow the selection of a specific language and to make the printer meet the requirements of your computer. This section describes the switches and their factory settings.

Circuit board control switches

Function switch access hole

Switch cover

Note: If you have the optional interface board installed, this switch is located on the lower board.

1 – 12 Setting Up

Switches 1 to 5 work in combination to select a foreign language (or computer character set). The following table shows the correct switch settings for all available languages.

Language Switch Number Page

Length

1 2 3 4 5 (inches)

USA OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF 12 French ON OFF OFF OFF OFF 12 German OFF ON OFF OFF OFF 12 British ON ON OFF OFF OFF 12 Danish 1 OFF OFF ON OFF OFF 12 Swedish 1 ON OFF ON OFF OFF 12 Italian OFF ON ON OFF OFF 12 Spanish ON ON ON OFF OFF 12 Japanese OFF OFF OFF ON OFF 12 Norwegian ON OFF OFF ON OFF 12 Danish 2 OFF ON OFF ON OFF 12 Dutch ON ON OFF ON OFF 12 Swedish 2 OFF OFF ON ON OFF 12 Swedish 3 ON OFF ON ON OFF 12 Swedish 4 OFF ON ON ON OFF 12 Turkish ON ON ON ON OFF 12 Swiss 1 OFF OFF OFF OFF ON 12 Swiss 2 ON OFF OFF OFF ON 12 USA OFF ON OFF OFF ON 11 French ON ON OFF OFF ON 11 German OFF OFF ON OFF ON 11 British ON OFF ON OFF ON 11 Danish 1 OFF ON ON OFF ON 11 Swedish 1 ON ON ON OFF ON 11 Italian OFF OFF OFF ON ON 11 Spanish ON OFF OFF ON ON 11 Japanese OFF ON OFF ON ON 11 Norwegian ON ON OFF ON ON 11 Danish 2 OFF OFF ON ON ON 11 Dutch ON OFF ON ON ON 11 Swedish 2 OFF ON ON ON ON 11 Swedish 3 ON ON ON ON ON 11

Setting Up 1 – 13

It is recommended that you set the printer for the language or character set you use most. You can use a program command (see Page 3–9) to change to another language within a document, so it is not necessary to change these switch settings if you use more than one language.

Switch 6 is the automatic line feed selection. Before shipment, it is set to OFF. If you discover that your text is being overprinted, it may be because your computer does not send a line feed at the end of a line. In that event, set this switch to ON and the printer will insert an automatic line feed at the end of each line. If your computer automatically sends a line feed at the end of every line you can use this feature to double space a document by setting it to the ON position.

Switch 7 selects the slashed or unslashed zero font. The slashed zero font should be chosen when it is important to distinguish between a zero and a capital O. The switch is set to OFF to select the unslashed zero and to ON to select the slashed zero.

Switch 8 selects the roll paper stand (RPS) or the cut-sheet feeder (CSF) To select the cut-sheet feeder move this switch to the ON position.

Changing the DIP-switch settings

All the switches are set to OFF when the printer leaves the factory.

To reset the switches, proceed as follows:

1 . Make sure the printer is OFF and the power cable is unplugged.

2. Using a Phillips-head screwdriver, remove the screw on the switch cover at the back of the printer and remove the cover.

3. Use a sharp tipped instrument, such as a ballpoint pen or toothpick, to slide the appropriate switch(es) to the required new setting.

4. Replace the switch cover and tighten the screw.

1 – 14 Setting Up

Optional Accessories

Roll paper stand

Tractor feed option kit

Tractor feed unit

Access cover

Acoustic cover

Setting Up 1 – 15

Cut Sheet Feeder

Left paper guide

Rear sheet support

Front sheet support

Cut-sheet feeder unit

Paper test lever

Interface Equipment

Front sheet guide

RS-232C serial board

1 – 16 Setting Up

Chapter 2

Operating Your Printer

Buttons, levers and indicators

Before using your printer, it is worth familiarising yourself with the buttons, levers and indicators on the printer and to understand the various methods of loading paper.

The front panel of the printer has six buttons, two of which were briefly introduced in the setup procedure. In addition, there are nine indicator lights that show the status of the printer, mode and pitch selected.

POWER

ALARM

SELECT TOF SET.

FORM

FEED LINE FEED

OKI MICROLINE 280

UTILITY

HSD

PITCH

LINE FEED

FORM FEED

TOF SET

BUTTONS INDICATORS

SELECT

ALARM POWER

PITCH

MODE

10 12 17

NLQ UTILITY HSD

POWER Indicator: Indicates that the printer power is turned ON .

SELECT Button: Pressing this button after the printer power is

ON places the printer in deselect mode. In this mode the computer cannot communicate with the printer. To return to select mode, simply press this button again. Turning the printer ON whilst holding down the SELECT and FORM FEED buttons switches on the HEX-dump mode.

Operating Your Printer 2 – 1

Hex mode generates data rather than text, and a sample is shown below. To terminate this mode, switch the printer supply off and on again.

Switching on the printer supply whilst holding down the SELECT and LINE FEED buttons will generate a rolling ASCII character display. Pressing the SELECT button stops this test. A sample is shown below.

TOF SET Button: To set the first line position on each page (Top of

Form), deselect the printer, hold down the TOF button and press the FORM FEED to move the paper up, or the LINE FEED to move the paper down until the print head is in the desired position.

2 – 2 Operating Your Printer

Release and then press the TOF SET button to record the position, then reselect the printer by pressing the SELECT button.

17.1 character per inch can be selected by holding down the TOF SET button when switching the printer supply on.

SELECT Indicator: Works together with the SELECT button. Lights

when the printer is selected (ready to receive data from the computer). It is not lit when the printer is deselected or during self tests. If an abnormal status is detected during the self test, the indicator flashes.

FORM FEED Button: Pressing this button advances the paper to the

top of the next page, as set by the TOF SET button. NLQ (Near Letter Quality) print can be selected with this button by holding it down whilst switching on the printer supply.

ALARM Indicator: Lights when paper runs out (unless the alarm

disable command has been used). Printing stops until the paper supply is replenished. It also lights if a jam is detected whilst using the CSF. It also flashes if high temperatures are detected in the printhead or space motor. Allow the printer to cool down before re-using.

LINE FEED Button: Advances the paper one line when the printer is

deselected. A demonstration page illustrating the print styles available on your printer can be generated by holding down this button whilst switching on the printer supply. When the demonstration page is completed, the printer will automatically revert to 10 cpi Utility mode. An example of this printout is on the next page.

Operating Your Printer 2 – 3

2 – 4 Operating Your Printer

PITCH Button: This button allows manual character pitch

selection. The appropriate lamp lights upon selection. The lamps also light as software changes are implemented, for example, normal to condensed.

MODE Button: Similar function to above, but this refers to the

print quality selected: NLQ, Utility or High Speed Draft.

The levers on the printer allow you to adjust the paper.

PAPER LOCK/ Open (slide forwards) for inserting paper, and RELEASE LEVER:

adjusting paper, and when using tractor fed computer paper. Close (slide back) for use with roll paper and for single sheets.

PAPER GAP This lever selects the use of fan-fold or single ADJUSTMENT:

sheet paper, as shown by the symbols at the two extremities of its slot.

Move the lever to:

for fan-fold paper

for single sheet paper.

Operating Your Printer 2 – 5

Paper loading

Three types of paper can be used with your printer:

• Single sheet paper — with/without the optional cut-sheet feeder

• Roll paper — using the optional roll paper stand

• Fan-fold paper — with without the optional tractor feed unit.

Illustrations on the installation and use of the above mentioned optional extras follow later in this chapter.

When using fanfold paper, adjust the distance between the sprocket pins at the ends of the platen to correspond to the holes in the paper. See Page 2-16 for full details.

Fan-fold paper can be fed from the rear of the printer, or, if a slotted printer stand is available, from the bottom.

Rear Feed Paper Loading:

1. Put the printer on a desk or table.

2. Place the box of paper behind the printer.

3. Remove the access cover and lift the column indicator bar.

4. Open the paper release lever.

5. Insert the first sheet of paper in the paper guides.

6. Push the paper in just enough so that its sprocket holes engage the sprocket pins located on the platen ends.

2 – 6 Operating Your Printer

7. Turn the platen knob to advance the paper until it appears in front of the platen.

Paper guides

Column indicator bar

Paper release lever

Platen knob

8. Lower the column indicator bar.

9. Use the platen knob to advance the paper to the first printing line.

10. Replace the access cover.

Bottom Feed Paper Loading

1. Place the printer on a slotted printer stand, carefully aligning the slot in the stand with the opening in the base of the printer.

2. Place the box of paper under the printer stand.

3. Remove the access cover and lift the column indicator bar.

4. Pull the paper release lever towards the fan-fold paper symbol.

5. Insert the first sheet of paper through the opening in the bottom of the printer.

Operating Your Printer 2 – 7

➡

6. Slide the paper up until it appears in front of the platen.

7. Lower the column indicator bar.

8. Use the platen knob to advance the paper to the first printing line.

9. Replace the access cover.

2 – 8 Operating Your Printer

Loading single sheets

Your printer can accomodate single sheets of 216 by 297 or 355mm (8.5 by 11-inch or 14-inch) paper. Only one copy, with no carbons, can be printed at a time.

Remove the tractor feed unit and any other accessories before using the paper separator.

Operation

1. Place the paper release lever in its closed (rear) position.

2. Switch the printer OFF-LINE (press the SELECT switch).

3. Close the paper bail lever (To its rearward position).

4. Raise the paper separator as shown in the figure below.

5. Adjust the cut sheet guide on the paper separator to position the left edge of the paper sheet.

Single sheet

Stay

Cut sheet guide

Paper bail lever

Paper separator

Operating Your Printer 2 – 9

Line mark

Cut sheet guide

NOTE: When letter-size paper is used, set the cut sheet guide to the line mark on the paper separator. 80-character width text (10 CPI) is then positioned centrally on the paper.

6. Insert a single sheet along the cut sheet guide until it reaches the pinch roller. Be sure to keep the paper inside the platen ends otherwise the built-in sprocket pins will tear it.

7. Open the paper bail lever by pulling it towards the front of the printer. The sheet of paper will be pulled around the platen.

8. Close the paper bail lever, ensuring that the paper has been positioned correctly.

9. Press the SELECT button to bring the printer ON-LINE.

2 – 10 Operating Your Printer

Chapter 3

Programming

Now that you are familiar with the outside of the printer, you can begin printing documents using the default settings of the printer, that is, the kind of printing your printer is set up to do when you turn it on:

Utility Mode* 10 characters per inch 6 Lines per inch Horizontal tabs at every eighth character Vertical tabs at one inch intervals

This may be all you ever need.

If you plan to print tables, charts, graphics, or documents with indented text, subscripts, superscripts, etc., you should read this chapter to learn how and when to use the special printing features.

First, here are the available printing options:

Carriage Return: If your computer does not automatically

add a carriage return at the end of a line, you may add one to your program.

Unidirectional Printing: With this method, characters are printed

from left to right, which is useful for tables and charts where accuracy is important.

Horizontal Tabs: Sets tabs at predetermined intervals;

perfect for accounting reports, tables, and

charts. Line Spacing: Gives you a choice of 6 or 8 lines per inch. Formatting: Adjusts printing to a particular paper size,

controls the line where printing begins,

and automatically advances the paper

when less than 1 inch remains at the bottom

of a page. See skip over perforation

function.

* NLQ mode will be selected by pushing the FORM FEED switch during power-up.

Programming 3 – 1

Skip Over Perforation: If you use fanfold paper with your printer,

you may need to use this command to instruct the printer to automatically advance the paper over the perforations.

Character Pitch: You can change from 10 to 12 or 17.1

characters per inch and you can also double the character width (10 characters per inch to 5 characters per inch, 12 characters per inch to 6 characters per inch and 17.1 characters per inch to 8.5 characters per inch).

Enhanced/Emphasized: Prints characters in a bolder type,

commonly used for titles and subtitles.

Underlining: Underlines a word or group of words.

Character Sets: Choose from two different character sets;

IBM character set one or two is selectable. There is also a switch selection which enables you to power up the printer in either set and to establish the default character set.

APA Graphics: Enables you to draw graphs, charts, and

pictures.

Cancel: Clears the data in the print buffer.

What you do next depends on whether you have invested in a software package. If you have, skip to page 3-17 for advice on how to add these features to your prepackaged software. If you do not have a software package, continue reading.

3 – 2 Programming

The printer will not do certain things unless you specifically tell it to. You instruct the printer to change the way it prints by sending special codes through your computer. When you write a program, you include the codes for printing features you want in your program. In BASIC, for example, include them in an LPRINT statement.

Basic Programming

If you are familiar with programming, skip this section and go straight to the control codes.

Although we wrote our examples in Microsoft’s BASIC programming language, the principles are similar for other languages. The examples demonstrate how to select a few of your printer’s special features and try them. Later the features are explained in detail.

An LPRINT statement, or print statement, tells the computer to send information to the printer. Take a minute to check your BASIC manual to find out what form this takes in your version of BASIC.

Make sure your printer is ready to print (ribbon in, paper loaded, power ON, SEL indicator lit) and experiment a little with the print commands.

Type the following one-line program:

LPRINT “WHO YOU GONNA CALL?”

2. Press RUN, then RETURN or CR.

3. The printer will then print:

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

Programming 3 – 3

Computers cannot understand letters. They use only numbers, more specifically, binary numbers (1s and 0s). When carrying out an LPRINT command, the computer sends the printer a code number for each character (letter, symbol, punctuation mark) within the quotation marks. As the printer receives each number, it prints the dot pattern associated with that number.

The American Standard Code for Information Interchange (better known as ASCII) is the standard code used by computers. Appendix D gives the ASCII code numbers along with their hexadecimal, binary, and decimal equivalents. You can enter these ASCII numbers directly in your LPRINT statement by using the CHR$ (Character String) function.

The CHR$ command sends the ASCII command in parentheses to the printer. For example, we can write a program this way:

LPRINT CHR$(79);CHR$(75);CHR$(73)

This is obviously a tedious way to write, but you need to understand the concept when you want to use certain commands.

Keep in mind that there is a big difference between ASCII code numbers and numbers that are printable characters. For example, if you want to print the number 1 using an LPRINT statement, you would type this:

LPRINT CHR$(49)

You can also print numbers and symbols by putting them within quotes, like this:

LPRINT “1”

So far, we have discussed printable characters, ASCII codes located between decimal 32 and decimal 127. Non-printable codes, located between 0 and 31, do not tell the printer to print something. They instruct the printer how to print something. The ASCII chart in the back of this handbook shows that these codes have abbreviations, such as FF and US. Some of these abbreviations make sense (FF, for instance, stands for form feed) but others do not unless you are a telecommunications expert.

3 – 4 Programming

Let us try a few, starting with the ASCII non-printable code US. When the printer receives the SO command, it will print the next data with double width.

10 LPRINT “HELLO” 20 LPRINT CHR$(14); “HELLO”

Now run the program. This is what you should get:

ASCII code SO is non-printable, so you must use the decimal or hexadecimal form of the command within a CHR$ statement. Nothing in quotes will work. Like most commands that change the way the printer is printing, the SO (double width) command remains in effect until either the end of a line is reached or you send a command to cancel it. See what happens if you run the sample program a second time:

Programming 3 – 5

The second time, the first line is printed standard width. Because the SO command is not in effect by the end of a line. To return to standard size printing (10 characters per inch) you have to put in CHR$(20), like this:

10 LPRINT“HELLO” 20 LPRINT CHR$(14);“HELLO”;CHR$(20); “ _ _ _ HELLO AGAIN”

Note: _ means space.

That is what you should get:

To avoid any unpleasant surprises, you may want to insert codes at the end of a document to cancel whichever feature(s) you selected and to reset the printer to the normal start-up condition.

3 – 6 Programming

If you have a Software Package

Software packages make the printer’s special features, such as smaller type fonts, subscripts, underlining, etc., much easier to use. To add the features to your package, read your software documentation for instructions, paying particular attention to any limitations—for example, some software packages let you select a printing feature for an entire document but do not allow you to change features within a document. Other packages may not accept the page formatting commands, such as horizontal tabs, which are available with your printer.

When you install your package, you probably need to select the features you are going to be using from a list called a menu. Several software packages actually list names of printers on the menu, so that all you need to do is select the IBM Graphic printer from that list—the software package will then automatically use the commands for your printer. If they are not on the menu, pick the closest general description; “Teletype printer that does not backspace” is often the best.

With some software packages, such as WordStar, you can easily modify or install your program to accept your printer’s commands by inserting codes into the program. Still other packages let you embed commands within a document itself by preceding the command with “/OUT” or something similar. VisiCalc is a popular package that provides a setup option as part of the printing procedure—you simply specify at the beginning of a document what printing features you will be using.

Programming 3 – 7

If your computer is equipped with BASIC, you have an alternative to selecting features. After you load BASIC, run a simple one or two line program telling the printer to change a feature(s).

Without turning the printer off, load and run your software package. For example, suppose you wanted to print at 12 characters per inch:

1. Load BASIC

2. Type the command: LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(58)

Note: You do not have to know how to program to do this, but be sure to check your computer documentation to see what statement to use (we use LPRINT) before each command. Not all versions of BASIC are the same.

3. Press RUN, then RETURN or CR.

4. Without turning the printer off, enter your software package.

What you have just typed causes the computer to send a command to the printer to go into 12 characters per inch mode. When you load and run your software, all printing thereafter will be at 12 characters per inch until you turn the printer off or send a command to change the characters per inch setting.

There is one exception to this method, however: You cannot use this method if your computer sends an I-Prime signal before you load a program. An I-Prime signal is sent by some computers to cancel any special commands that were previously in effect so that you can start fresh with each new document.

3 – 8 Programming

Programming the printer

For each printing feature explained in this chapter, three different forms of each code are listed as follows:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC 1 27 49 1B 31 Standard abbreviation Standard presentation Hexadecimal code used by in ASCII-used for of Decimal Code. A some software packages to reference variation of the same enter printing commands.

command is A variation of the same CHR$(27);CHR$(49) command is CHR$(&H1B);

CHR$(&H31)

Carriage return and line feed

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

CR 13 0D

Carriage return tells the printer to print the line of data and returns the print head to the left side of the page. IBM PC adds a line feed after a carriage return unless 128 is added to the command. If you send a CHR$(141), therefore the result is just a carriage return; for IBM SET 1 only.

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

LF10 0A

VT 11 0B

Line feed advances the paper one line; line spacing is 1/6 inch unless it is reset.

Programming 3 – 9

Horizontal Tabulation

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC D 0 27 68 0 1B 44 00

Horizontal tabs are set at every 8th character when power is first switched ON. To eliminate the tab settings, use the ESC D 0 command.

Horizontal Tabbing

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

HT 9 09

Advances to the next tab position which occurs every 8th character. The command is ignored if it exceeds the right margin or the maximum number of settings.

20 LPRINT “TAB”; 30 LPRINT CHR$(9);“TAB AGAIN”

3 – 10 Programming

Line Spacing

The default line spacing for the printer is 6 lines per inch. This means that when the printer power is turned on, the spacing from the bottom of one line to the bottom of the next line on the same page is automatically set to 1/6 inch. This is also the normal spacing of a standard typewriter.

The line spacing can be changed to 8 lines per inch to fit more lines of printing per page, and for special effects, you can also vary line spacing in multiples of 1/72 or 1/126 inch. This affects space between lines only, not the height of the characters.

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC 0 27 48 1B 30

The ESC 0 command sets line spacing to 1/8 inch.

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC 1 27 49 1B 31

The ESC 1 command sets line spacing to 7/72 inch.

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC A n 27 65 1-85 1B 41 01-55

The ESC A command is a user-selectable line space setting that enables you to choose a setting in increments of 1/72 inch. You can select a maximum line space setting of 85/72 inches, which is the equivalent of one printed line every 1-13/72 inches.

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC 2 27 50 1B 32

Programming 3 – 11

The ESC 2 command implements the line spacing set by the ESC A command. Should no ESC A command precede the ESC 2 command, the default line spacing (6 LPI) will be activated by the ESC 2 command.

Fine Line Spacing

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC 3 n 27 51 1-255 1B 33 01-FF

The ESC 3 command is a user-selectable line space setting command that lets you choose a setting in increments of 1/216 inch. You can select a maximum line space setting of 255/216 inches, which is the equivalent of one printed line every 1-39/216 inches. (See Note).

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC J n 27 74 1-255 1B 4A 01-FF

The ESC J command allows you to interrupt the set line spacing and reset the line spacing for a single line to a multiple of 1/216 inch. You can select a maximum space setting of 255/216 inches, which is the equivalent of a 1-39/216 inches line space. Upon receipt of the ESC J command, the printer prints out the line containing the command and advances the paper the distance specified by the command. Line spacing then returns to the previous setting, and the printer continues to print. (See Note).

Note: (For ESC 3 and ESC J) The standard IBM printer advance is expressed in multiples of 1/216 inch. IBM-compatible MICROLINE hardware performs paper advances in multiples of 1/144 inch rather than 1/216 inch; therefore, MICROLINE software automatically multiplies the number specified in ESC 3 and ESC J statements by 2/3 to perform the most precise IBM emulation.

3 – 12 Programming

If the multiples specified in your ESC 3 or ESC J statements are not evenly divisible by 3, fine line spacing may be slightly more or slightly less than you specified. If the number you selected leaves a remainder of 1 when it is divided by 3, spacing will be slightly less than specified. If the number you selected leaves a remainder of 2, spacing will be slightly more than specified. When the number you select is evenly divisible by 3, fine line spacing is always exact.

The ESC A line spacing selection, which selects line spacing in multiples of 1/72 inch, is always accurate.

Page Length Setting

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC C n (in lines) 27 67 1-127 1B 43 01-7F

ESC C NUL n (in inches) 27 67 0 1-22 1B 43 00 01-16

The printer page length set is user selectable in either inch or line increments where n is either a two or three digit number. Selectable line length settings range between 1 to 127; selectable inch length settings range between 1 to 22. The line length default setting is 66 lines per page (11 inches) with a 6 LPI line spacing. You can also set page length using the internal switch setting.

Top of Page

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC 4 27 52 1B 34

The top margin on a page can be set by issuing this command.

Wherever the print head is at the time this command is given will be the first printing line. You can also set the top of page using the TOF switch on the outside panel.

Programming 3 – 13

Form Feed

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

FF 12 0C

Prints the data in the print buffer, returns the carriage, then advances the paper to the top margin of the next page.

Note: (TRS-80 owners only.) This command is not valid with your computer.

Skip Over Perforation

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC N n 27 78 n (n = 1-127) 1B 4E n (n= 01-7F)

ESC O 27 79 1B 4F

If n is any value between 1 and 127, the printer automatically advances to the top margin of the next page when there is only 1 inch left at the bottom of a page. (This command is ignored if the value of n is more than page length.)

In order to deselect Skip Over Perforations use the command ESC O. In BASIC format, the value of n must appear in a CHR$ statement.

Changing Character Size

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

DC2 (10 CPI) 18 12

ESC : (12 CPI) 27 58 1B 3A

SI (17.1 CPI) 15 0F

SO (double width) 14 0E

DC4 (cancels double 20 14 width before line end)

ESC W 1 27 87 49 1B 57 31

ESC W 0 27 87 48 1B 57 30

3 – 14 Programming

The character size switches to 10 characters per inch (CPI) after the printer receives the DC2 command. The character size becomes 12 CPI when the ESC: command is received and 17.1 CPI when the SI command is received.

Note: When the power is turned on while the TOF switch is depressed, the printer is set to 17.1 CPI. You can also set the printer to 17.1 CPI at power ON by setting internal switch 2 to the condensed print mode. The printer will print in 17.1 CPI until power is turned OFF or a command is sent to change the character size.

You can double the width of 10, 12, and 17.1CPI print by inserting the US command after the character size you want doubled. This command doubles the size of characters that follow the command on one line. The DC4 command can also be implemented on the same line as an SO command. The DC4 command cancels double width printing before the end of a line. This enables you to emphasize specific words or characters within a single line, and to automatically return to your preselected type size.

The ESC W 1 and ESC W 0 commands override both DC4 and SO commands, and can be utilized to either permanently implement or cancel double-width printing within a program or document. The ESC W 1 command implements double-width printing; the ESC W 0 command cancels it.

Character size can be changed in the middle of a line unless your software package does not allow you to do that. The table below indicates the maximum number of characters per line in each character size:

Size Command Maximum Characters per line

10 CPI DC2 80 12 CPI ESC : 96

17.1 CPI SI 132 5 CPI DC2 SO 40 6 CPI ESC : SO 48

8.5 CPI SI SO 66

Note: Some forms of BASIC will not allow you to print more than 80 characters on a line. Check your BASIC manual to see if you can override this limitation by using a WIDTH statement.

Programming 3 – 15

10 LPRINT CHR$(18);“PICA pica 10 cpi” 20 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(58);“ELITE elite 12 cpi” 30 LPRINT CHR$(15);“CONDENSED condensed 17 cpi” 40 LPRINT CHR$(18);“Back to 10 cpi” 50 LPRINT CHR$(14);“Double pica” 60 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(58);CHR$(14);“Double elite” 70 LPRINT CHR$(15);CHR$(14);“Double condensed”

Underlining

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC - 1 27 45 49 1B 2D 31 (n: odd)

ESC - 27 45 48 1B 2D 30 (n: even)

Use the ESC - command to start underlining a word or group of words. Use the ESC - command to stop underlining. The printer will continue to underline until the command is given to stop it (either ESC - 0, or the printer is powered down). (Because the underline is drawn by the ninth dot, the last dot in some descender characters will be overlapped.)

3 – 16 Programming

Underlining under the spaces designated by horizontal tabs is also available.

10 LPRINT “This line is not underlined” 20 LPRINT CHR$(27);“-”;CHR$(1);“but this line is underlined” 30 LPRINT CHR$(27);“-”;CHR$(0);“This line is not underlined”

This is not underlined but this is underlined This line is not underlined

Superscript and Subscript

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC S 0 27 83 48 1B 53 30

ESC S 1 27 83 49 1B 53 31

ESC T 27 84 1B 54

If you want to print superscript characters (characters appearing above the normal print line), send the ESC S 0 command before the characters, symbols, or word(s) you want printed in superscript. To return to printing on the normal print line, use the ESC T command.

Programming 3 – 17

If you want to print subscript characters (characters appearing below the normal print line), use the ESC S1 command before entering the characters. To return to printing on the normal print line, use the ESC T command.

Superscript and subscript characters are printed in normal characters.

10 LPRINT “This is ”; 20 LPRINT CHR$(27);“S”;CHR$(0);“superscript” 30 LPRINT CHR$(27);“T”;“This is ”; 40 LPRINT CHR$(27);“S”;CHR$(1);“subscript” 50 LPRINT CHR$(27);“T”;“This is back to normal.”

This is This is

superscript

subscript

This is back to normal

Enhanced and Emphasized Printing

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC E 27 69 1B 45

ESC F 27 70 1B 46

ESC G 27 71 1B 47

ESC H 27 72 1B 48

3 – 18 Programming

Enhanced printing provides a deeper resolution of each character because each dot contained in a normal character is doubled vertically, creating a darker impression. The ESC G command is a good feature to use for headlines and subtitles and can be used in conjunction with doublewidth characters.

Emphasized printing, obtained by entering the ESC E command, causes each character to be doubled horizontally, creating a bolder image for titles, subtitles, or emphasizing word(s) within a document.

To return to the normal character set from emphasized mode, enter the ESC F command. To return to the normal character set from enhanced mode, enter the ESC H command. Neither feature is available for subscripts or superscript characters nor in line graphics.

Emphasized and enhanced printing can also be done simultaneously for special effects.

10 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(71);“ENHANCED” 15 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(72) 20 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(69);“EMPHASIZED” 25 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(70) 30 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(71);CHR$(27);CHR$(69); “ENHANCED/EMPHASIZED” 35 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(72);CHR$(27);CHR$(70)

Programming 3 – 19

Character Sets

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal Character Set

ESC 6 27 54 1B 36 II

ESC 7 27 55 1B 37 I

If you use Spanish for all your documents it is better to make the selection on the internal switches so that the printer normally uses that language.

Cut Sheet Feeder

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC EM I 27 25 73 1B 19 49

ESC EM R 27 25 82 1B 19 52

If you are printing program outputs using the Cut-Sheet Feeder, you must include the Cut-Sheet Feeder insert and eject commands. When the printer receives the PRINT command, it inserts a sheet of paper and starts printing. Each time the printer receives the Cut-Sheet Feeder insert command, it ejects the printed sheet then inserts a new sheet. Use the Cut-Sheet Feeder eject command at the end of your program if you want the printer to eject the printed sheet without inserting a new sheet.

You can use the CHR$(27); CHR$(25); “I” command to insert a new sheet of paper from the hopper. If paper is already in the printer this sheet will be ejected first before the new sheet is fed in. (In normal use this is achieved by using the FF code).

Should you wish to eject a sheet then use the CHR$(27); CHR$(25); “R” command.

Note: A LF command at the end of a page also causes the next sheet to be loaded.

3 – 20 Programming

Bit Image Graphics

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC K 27 75 1B 4B

ESC L 27 76 1B 4C

ESC Y 27 89 1B 59

ESC Z 27 90 1B 5A

Using bit image graphics, you can draw almost any kind of illustration with your printer.

Bit image graphics mode enables your printer to draw almost any kind of illustration by printing a dot at any location on the page. Your IBMcompatible MICROLINE will work properly with any graphics software package designed for the IBM Personal Computer and IBM Graphics Printer. No software modification is required; images will be printed without distortion.

If you have IBM DOS you can use a software package (or BASIC commands such as CIRCLE, LINE, and DRAW) to create an image on the display screen (your software or BASIC manual will explain how), then dump it on to the page via the Prt Sc command key on your computer. The next section, Screen Dumps, gives some examples.

The section called Programming Bit Image Graphics explains what you need to know in order to write your own graphics programs in BASIC without using the screen dump method.

Screen Dumps

This feature lets you print a reproduction of any image on your display screen. Simply press the SHIFT key and the Prt Sc key at the same time; whatever is on the screen will be printed on the page.

Programming 3 – 21

Programming Bit Image Graphics

You can also write a program that prints a graphics image directly, without transferring it from the display screen. This section explains how to do this using BASIC statements.

Your printer prints graphics images in successive columns of eight dots. The LPRINT statement that tells the printer to do this has three components:

● The control code sequence that puts the printer into graphics mode,

● The number of columns to be printed, and

● The coded data that tells the printer which dots to print in each

column.

First, we discuss each part separately, then put them together.

There are four modes of bit image graphics available with the IBMcompatible MICROLINE. They differ in horizontal resolution, or density. This indicates how close together the dots are; it is measured by the number of dots per inch. All modes have a vertical resolution of 72 DPI. For reference, the diameter of a dot is 1/72 inch. The modes are discussed in more detail in the next section on control codes.

The maximum width of a graphics image is 8 inches for the printer.

1. Control Codes

A graphics LPRINT statement begins with a control code that tells the printer to print a graphics image. Each graphics mode has a different control code.

3 – 22 Programming

ESC K 27 75 1B 4B (hex)

Single Density 60 x 72 DPI

Max. dots/line 480

ESC L 27 76 1B 4C (hex)

Double Density, half speed 120 x 72 DPI

Max. dots/line 960

In this mode, the printhead slows down so it can print dots that overlap by about 1/2 dot width.

ESC Y 27 89 1B 59 (hex)

Double Density, normal speed 120 x 72 DPI

Max. dots/line 960

This mode has the same density as ESC L and prints at normal speed; however, you cannot print dots in the same row in adjacent columns. In other words, after you have printed a dot in one particular row, you cannot print on that row in the next column.

ESC Z 27 90 1B 5A (hex)

Quadruple Density 240 x 72 DPI

Max. dots/line 1920

This mode prints dot columns that overlap by about 3/4 dot width. It can print only every other dot on the same row. In other words, after you have printed a dot in one particular row, you cannot print on that row in the next column.

Note: Take a minute to think through the restrictions on the ESC Y and ESC Z graphics modes. Basically, it means that you cannot print a horizontal line with fully overlapping dots. Even with the skips, dots on the same row are close enough together so that a line will appear solid. You can, however, print dots in other rows. This allows you to create much finer curves and diagonal lines in these high-density modes.

Programming 3 – 23

2. Number of Columns

The start graphics code is followed by two numbers telling the printer how many columns to print. For ease of reference, call these numbers n1 and n2.

To find the value of these numbers, determine how many columns you want to print, then divide it by 256. The value of n2 is the integer portion of the quotient, and the value of n1 is the remainder expressed as an integer.

3 – 24 Programming

Example:

Suppose you want to print 400 columns of graphics:

n2 = 1

256 400

256

n1 = 144

If you want to print in single density graphics mode, the beginning of your statement should look like this:

LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(75);CHR$(144);CHR$(1)

ESC K

IBM BASIC includes two functions that make calculating nl and n2 very easy:

● MOD divides two numbers and returns the integer remainder,

● FIX removes the fractional portion of a numeric expression without

rounding it off.

See your BASIC Manual for details.

Using these functions, you can express our sample numbers this way:

10 NDOTS = 400 20 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(75);CHR$(NDOTS MOD 256);

CHR$(FIX(NDOTS/256))

Note: The number of dot columns expressed by n1 and n2 cannot be greater than the maximum number of dot columns per line allowed for the graphics mode you are using (see table below).

Programming 3 – 25

Maximum Graphics Columns Per Line

Graphic’s mode

ESC K 480 (Single Density)

ESC L/ESC Y 960 (Double Density)

ESC Z 1920 (Quadruple Density)

If the value entered is greater than the allowed maximum, the proper maximum value will automatically be entered.

3. Graphics Data

The last part of the graphics statement contains numeric data that tells the printer to print dots at specific positions in each column. It is easiest to lay out your image on graph paper, filling in the squares where you want a dot to appear. (If you want to use higher density graphics, keep in mind that the columns will overlap, and remember any restrictions that may apply.) Then divide the image into strips of eight rows. Each row will be programmed as a separate LPRINT statement.

Each position in the column has a numeric value as shown in the table below. Simply add the values of the column positions where you want dots to appear, then enter the total in your LPRINT statement.

Note: (For people familiar with binary numbers.) Each column is represented by an 8bit binary number. A dot represents a 1 and a space is 0; the top dot is the MSB (most significant bit) and the bottom dot is the LSB (least significant bit.) The bit positions are shown in the table for reference. You can use the ASCII code chart in Appendix D as a conversion table.

3 – 26 Programming

Column Position Values

Column Position Decimal Value Bit

128 2

64 2

32 2

16 2

Example:

64 16

8 4 1

Enter 93 as CHR$(93)

If we call the number for each column C1, etc., then the complete statement looks like this:

LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(75);CHR$(144);CHR$(1);CHR$(C1);

CHR$(C2); ... ;CHR$(C400)

column data col. 1 ...col. 400

The format is the same for all density modes; the only differences are in the start graphics code and in the maximum amount of column data that can follow. The number representing any particular pattern of dots in a column is the same regardless of graphics mode.

Programming 3 – 27

Putting it Together

Now we can work through a simple example. Suppose we want to draw two diagonal lines. As drawn on graph paper, they look like this:

Step 1. Begin with LPRINT and the start graphics code for single

density graphics:

10 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(75);

Step 2. Count the columns in the image. There are 11, so we calculate

n1 and n2:

n2 = 0

256 11

n1 = 11

and add them to the statement:

10 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(75);CHR$(11);CHR$(0)

3 – 28 Programming

Step 3. Next add the dot values for each column and insert them in the

statement:

10 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(75);CHR$(11);CHR$(0);CHR$(1);CHR$(2)

CHR$(4);CHR$(9);CHR$(18);CHR$(36);CHR$(72);CHR$(144); CHR$(32);CHR$(64);CHR$;(128)

Step 4. Now run the program. The result should look like this:

If it does not, check your arithmetic and typing, then try again.

Now go back and change the start graphics code to double density, half speed (ESC L):

20 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(76);CHR$(11);CHR$(0);CHR$(1),CHR$(2)

CHR$(4);CHR$(9);CHR$(18);CHR$(36);CHR$(72);CHR$(144); CHR$(32);CHR$(64);CHR$(128)

Run the program and compare:

Programming 3 – 29

Notice that the angle is steeper and the two lines are closer together. This is because each individual column now overlaps the next one. Notice also that it prints more slowly, although with this amount of printing the difference in speed may be hard to detect.

Now try double density, normal speed (ESC Y):

30 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(89);CHR$(11);CHR$(0);CHR$(1);

CHR$(2);CHR$(4);CHR$(9);CHR$(18);CHR$(36);CHR$(72); CHR$(144);CHR$(32);CHR$(64);CHR$(128)

Aside from printing speed, there should be no difference, because the pattern does not include adjacent dots; if it had, some dots would have been skipped.

Finally, try quadruple density (ESC Z):

40 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(90);CHR$(11);CHR$(0);CHR$(1);

CHR$(2);CHR$(4);CHR$(18);CHR$(36);CHR$(72); CHR$(144); CHR$(32);CHR$(64);CHR$(128)

Compare the results:

The angle is even steeper, and the two lines have merged into one thick line because of even greater overlap.

3 – 30 Programming

Here is another sample program that uses a FOR-NEXT loop to print all the possible combinations of dots and spaces in numeric order:

10 REM SAMPLE 2 20 WIDTH “LPT1:”,255 30 NDOTS = 256 ‘MAXIMUM POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS 40 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(75);CHR$(NDOTS MOD 256);

CHR$(FIX(NDOTS/256)); 50 REM START GRAPHICS 256 COLUMNS 60 FOR I=0 TO NDOTS-1 70 LPRINT CHR$(I); 80 NEXT I 90 PRlNT:REM LINE FEED

A word of explanation about line 20. The IBM Personal Computer is set for a maximum line length of 80 characters, so it adds a Carriage Return and Line Feed after the 80th character. Because the data for each column is treated as a character, your computer will send CR and LF codes after the data for the 80th column, and the printer will interpret these codes as graphics information and print them. A WIDTH statement changes the maximum length of a line, and placing the number 255 in a WIDTH statement eliminates any length restriction. (See your IBM BASIC Manual for details.)

The printout looks like this:

Programming 3 – 31

You can vary the length of the graphics line by changing the value of NDOTS.

Try changing the density in this program and see what happens. Save this program; you will need it later.

Combining Text and Graphics

You can mix normal text printing and graphics on the same line. Here is an example using the image coded in the last section:

05 ‘SAMPLE 3 10 LPRINT “TEXT PRINTING ”;CHR$(27);CHR$(75);

CHR$(11);CHR$(0);CHR$(1);CHR$(2);CHR$(4);CHR$(9); CHR$(18);CHR$(36);CHR$(72);CHR$(144);CHR$(32); CHR$(64);CHR$(128); “ TEXT PRINTING AGAIN”

Here is the result:

The printer prints normally until it receives the start graphics code. It then prints the number of graphics columns specified by n1 and n2 and automatically returns to normal printing.

Note: Be careful to enter the amount of graphics data you told the printer to expect; otherwise the results will be garbled

3 – 32 Programming

Printing Multiline Graphics

One LPRINT statement cannot print more than one line of graphics, so you have to enter a separate LPRINT statement for each subsequent line of graphics.

To illustrate this, add these lines to the SAMPLE 2 program:

40 FOR J = 1 TO 4

75 NEXT J

This loop causes the LPRINT statement to be repeated four times. Here is the result:

Notice that there is a space between each pair of lines. This is because the standard distance from the top of one line to the top of the next is 1/6 inch, but a column of graphics is only 1/9 inch high (8 dots x 1/72 inch per dot = 8/72 inch = 1/9 inch). To print a continuous image with no gaps between the lines, you must use the ESC A command to change line height to 8/72 inch and ESC 2 to activate the change. Add these lines:

30 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(65);CHR$(8)

35 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(50)

Programming 3 – 33

The modified program now looks like this:

10 REM SAMPLE 2 15 WIDTH “LPT1:”,255 20 NDOTS = 256 25 REM MAXIMUM POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS 30 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(65);CHR$(8) 35 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(50) 40 FOR J = 1 TO 4 45 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(75);CHR$(NDOTS MOD 256);

CHR$(FIX (NDOTS/256)); 50 REM START GRAPHICS 256 COLUMNS 55 FOR I=0 TO NDOTS-1 60 LPRINT CHR$(I); 65 NEXT I 70 LPRINT : REM LINE FEED 75 NEXT J

The result looks like this:

3 – 34 Programming

Reminders

1. Make sure you have entered column data for the same number of columns as specified by n1 and n2 in your LPRINT statement. If you enter too much or too little data, the results will be garbled.

2. You can print no more than the maximum number of columns for your graphics density mode. If more data is contained in the LPRINT statement, the excess will simply be ignored.

3. Observe the limitations on dot placement in these graphics density modes:

Double density, normal speed (ESC Y) and quadruple density (ESC Z) skip at least one dot position between dots on the same horizontal row. The printer will not print a dot placed closer than this.

Hints

The ways you can use features of BASIC to program graphics are limited only by your imagination and your programming experience. In this section we summarize the tricks used in the examples and suggest a few new ones.

MOD and FIX can be very helpful in calculating the number of columns of graphics data.

You can use the type of FOR-NEXT loop shown in sample 2 in some cases where the dot pattern can be described by a mathematical function; a straight line or a sine wave, for example.

Programming 3 – 35

To simplify typing the column data, you can enter the values in a DATA statement, then use a READ statement in a loop to print it. Here is a model:

. . .

30 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(75);CHR$(NDOTS MOD 256);

CHR$(FIX(NDOTS/256); 40 FOR I = 1 TO NDOTS 50 READ C 60 LPRINT CHR$(C): 70 NEXT I

100 DATA 2, 4, 8, 16, 32...........

This method makes it easier to check and modify your data. Using a variable such as NDOTS helps to make sure the amount of data in the program matches the number of columns you have specified.

Cancel Function

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

CAN 24 18

The cancel code clears the printer buffer. All control codes remain in effect until you give a specific command to change them or turn the printer off, with the exception of SO (double-width), which is cancelled.

3 – 36 Programming

Line Feed

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

LF10 0A

VT 11 0B

Execution of the VT or LF command causes one line of data to be printed, and also causes the paper to advance one line.

Paper Out

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC 8 27 56 1B 38

ESC 9 27 57 1B 39

If you want to disable the paper out alarm (the paper indicator will not light when paper is low) enter the ESC 8 command. If you want to be signaled by the printer when paper is low or out, (this is the default setting) use the ESC 8 command.

Near Letter Quality Mode

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC I ETX 27 73 3 1B 49 03

When you want to make a good impression with a memorandum or letter, use OKI’s special near letter quality mode. In this mode the printer prints over each line twice. On the second pass, the printer fills in the dot pattern to form a sharp, crisp letter. You get great results when you print your word-processing files in this mode.

Programming 3 – 37

Utility Mode

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC I SOH 27 73 1 1B 49 01

The first time you turn your printer on, it will automatically print in utility mode. In this mode, the printer prints bidirectionally. This printing method increases the printer’s speed, so it prints 200 characters per second.

HSD Mode

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

ESC # 0 27 35 48 1B 23 30

This printing method increases the printer’s speed, so it prints 240 characters per second.

3 – 38 Programming

Appendix A

Programming Commands

Description ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

Carriage Return

Prints data and returns CR 13 0D print head to the left margin position

Character Sets

Selects Character Set One ESC 7 27 55 1B 37 Selects Character Set Two ESC 6 27 54 1B 36

Character Size

10 CPI DC2 18 12 12 CPI ESC : 27 58 1B 3A

17.1 CPI SI 15 0F Double width SO 14 0E Turns off double width DC4 20 14 before end of line Turns double width ESC W 1 27 87 49 1B 57 31 on permanently Turns double width ESC W 0 27 87 48 1B 57 30 off permanently

Clear Buffer

Resets normal width CAN 24 18

Cut Sheet Feeder

Single sheet insert ESC EM I 27 25 73 1B 19 49 Single sheet eject ESC EM R 27 25 82 1B 19 52

Emphasized/Enhanced Printing

Doubles characters ESC G 27 71 1B 47 vertically (enhanced) Doubles characters ESC E 27 69 1B 45 horizontally (emphasized) Cancels emphasized ESC F 27 70 1B 46 printing Cancels enhanced printing ESC H 27 72 1B 48

Appendix A: Programming Commands A – 1

Description ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

Formatting

Specifies the length of a page ESC C n 27 67 n 1B 43 n

ESC C NUL m 27 67 0 m 1B 43 00 m Skip over perforation ESC N n 27 78 n 1B 4E n advances paper when less than 1 inch remains at bottom of page Cancels skip over perforation ESC O 27 79 1B 4F

Form Feed

Prints data in buffer, returns FF 12 0C the carriage, then advances paper to the top of the next page

Graphics

Prints data in single-density ESC K 27 75 1B 4B bit image graphics mode; 60 x 72 DPI Prints data in half-speed, ESC L 27 76 1B 4C double-density bit image graphics mode; 120 x 72 DPI. Prints data in normal-speed, ESC Y 27 89 1B 59 double-density bit image graphics mode; 120 x 72 DPI. Prints data in quadruple- ESC Z 27 90 1B 5A density bit image graphics mode; 240 x 72 DPI

Horizontal Tab

Tabs to next horizontal HT 9 09 tab stop Cancel tabs ESC D NUL 27 68 0 1B 44 00

Line Feed

Advances paper one line LF 10 0A Advances paper one line VT 11 0B

A – 2 Appendix A: Programming Commands

Description ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal

Line Spacing

Loads variable fine line ESC A n 27 65 n 1B 41 n spacing Sets line spacing to variable ESC 2 27 50 1B 32 fine line spacing Set the line feed to 7/72 inch ESC 1 27 49 1B 31 8 LPI ESC 0 27 48 1B 30 Sets the specified line space ESC 3 n 27 51 n 1B 33 n Line spaces n/216 inch ESC J n 27 74 n 1B 4A n

Paper Out Alarm

Paper indicator lights ESC 9 27 57 1B 39 whenever paper is low or out. Printer will not respond to ESC 8 27 56 1B 38 a paper out condition. Printer will continue printing even if paper is out

Print Mode

NLQ mode ESC I ETX 27 73 3 1B 49 03 UTILITY mode ESC I SOH 27 73 1 1B 49 01 HSD mode ESC # 0 27 35 48 1B 23 30

Superscript and Subscript

Selects superscripts ESC S 0 27 83 48 1B 53 30 Cancels superscript and ESC T 27 84 1B 54 subscripts Selects subscripts ESC S 1 27 83 49 1B 53 31

Underlining

Begin underlining ESC - 1 27 45 49 1B 2D 31 Stop underlining ESC - 0 27 45 48 1B 2D 30

Appendix A: Programming Commands A – 3

Appendix B

Character Sets

Standard Code Table (selected by ESC ! 0)

0123 6701 345

SP SP

DC1

DC2

DC3

DC4

(

CAN

)

ESC

45 2 67

3 4

;

DC1

DC2

DC3

DC4

CAN

ESC

(

)

3 4

;

Note: See Page 1-17 for Character Set Table, and description of national characters,

i.e. ➂.

Character Sets B – 1

Block Graphics 8-Bit Code Table (selected by ESC ! 1)

0123

DC1

DC2

DC3

DC4

BS CAN

ESC

(

)

3 4

;

56789ABCD

B – 2 Character Sets

Appendix C

Specifications

1. Performance

Print Speed

Utility mode (UTL) 200 cps at 10, 12, and 17.1 CPI Near Letter Quality (NLQ) mode 50 cps at 10 and 12 CPI High Speed Draft (HSD) 240 cps at 10 and 17.1 CPI Super Speed Draft (SSD) 300 cps at 12 CPI

Resident fonts High Speed Draft, Utility,

Print Technique Bidirectional/short line seeking

2. Printing

Dot Matrix, standard characters 9 x 17 (NLQ)

Characters per line 80 standard size

3. Media

Courier (NLQ mode)

9 x 9 (UTL) 7 x 9 (HSD)

132 condensed size

Number of sheets Original + 3 copies Paper feed Top with paper separator

Top with optional cut sheet feeder Rear with pin platen feed

Bottom with optional pull tractor Paper thickness 0.011in (0.28mm) maximum Paper weight 14-20lb. (53-75g/m2 (fanfold)

16-21lb. (60-81g/m2 (cut sheet) Continuous paper width 3 to 9.5in (76 to 241mm)

Ribbon Cartridge with 3 million character

life

Seamless ribbon with reinking

4. Interfaces

Parallel Centronics Serial RS-232C

Appendix C: Specifications C – 1

5. Reliability

Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) 6,000 hours Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) 15 minutes Print head life 200 million characters

6 . Operating Conditions

Operation Temperature 5˚ to 40˚C

Humidity 20 to 80% RH without

condensation

Storage Temperature -40˚ to 70˚C

Humidity 5 to 95% RH without

condensation

7. Electrical Requirements

Voltage 230 VAC (+6%, -14%)

240 VAC ( ± 10%)

Frequency 50/60 Hz (± 2%)

8. Noise Level 58 dBA

9. Physical Specifications

Width 360 mm Depth 275 mm Height 80 mm Weight 4.5 kg

10. Accessories and Consumables

Pull tractor kit Automatic cut sheet feeder Roll paper stand 19.2kb RS–232C serial interface

9.6kb Current Loop serial interface Black fabric ribbon cartridge

C – 2 Appendix C: Specifications

Hexadecimal Conversion Table

0123 6789 BCD

32 64

45 A EF

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

112

113

114

115

116

117

118

119

120

121

122

123

124

128

129

130

131

132

133

134

135

136

137

138

139

140

144

145

146

147

148

149

150

151

152

153

154

155

156

160

161

162

163

164

165

166

167

168

169

170

171

172

176

177

178

179

180

181

182

183

184

185

186

187

188

192

193

194

195

196

197

198

199

200

201

202

203

204

208

209

210

211

212

213

214

215

216

217

218

219

220

224

225

226

227

228

229

230

231

232

233

234

235

236

240

241

242

243

244

245

246

247

248

249

250

251

252

109

110

111

125

126

127

141

142

143

157

158

159

173

174

175

189

190

191

205

206

207

Note: Hexadecimal values are represented in the first row and column.

For a hexadecimal value of 9A, look along the top row for the first digit (9). Look down the left-hand column for the second digit (A). The decimal equivalent value will be found where column 9 and row A intersect. Therefore: 9A (hex.) = 154 (decimal).

Character Sets B – 3

221

222

223

237

238

239

253

254

255

OKI ML280 User Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual