Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    I tried to copy it, but it's file protection didn't allow it.��
    
    Please change the file protection.

    Whoops!  Spent too much time worrying about the directory protections
    and not enough about the files themselves.
    
    Should be able to copy now.

I was successful at printing text files with normal text, bold text, italic 
text, in all print densities.

However...I can't get it to print correctly from Professional Page 2.0.  The 
aspect ratio is all wrong, regardless of density settings.  Apparently, the 
IBM mode does not work correctly.

Randy

>However...I can't get it to print correctly from Professional Page 2.0.  The 
>aspect ratio is all wrong, regardless of density settings.  Apparently, the 
>IBM mode does not work correctly.

Thanks.  I did not get a chance to check the graphics routine thoroughly.  I do
not have ProPage.  I tested with ProWrite and the output seemed to be ok.

Perhaps I can use Deluxe Paint to debug this?  Can I assume that the LA75 does
this correctly for you when you use it "manually" set to IBM mode and you use
the EpsonX driver?  If you can suggest a method to demonstrate this problem
without using ProPage I'd appreciate it.

I will admit some confusion regarding the 1.3 graphics options in Preferences!

Using Deluxe Paint would be a good way to test the graphics printing 
capabilities of the driver.

Randy

re: -.1

Sorry for jumping in here, but I use the CBM10000 (something like that)
driver when I have my LA75 in IBM mode.

Art

Yup, I definitely have problems with the graphics-rendering code.

Unfortunately I am experiencing problems with my health right now so it'll
probably be a while before I can work on this.

My thanks for pointing out the aspect ratio problem.

Feeling better.  Not 100% yet, but was able to do a little more with this
driver.

I've changed the graphics code to something that I believe is behaving
correctly.  New bits in the same place:

	AISG""::USER$L:[LANDINGHAM.AMIGA.PUBLIC]LA75.LZH

Again, thanks for helping check this driver out...

Aspect ratio is right, but...

Professional Page prints a page a section, or strip, at a time.  To save 
memory, it divides the page into several strips.  With your new driver, as 
each strip is completed, the printer does a reset and a page advance.  I don't 
know how it behaves with other software.  I tested it in the lowest and 
highest resolution.  The problem appeared in both.  I turned the "Page Eject" 
feature off in ProPage, but the problem still occured.

Getting closer...

Randy

>memory, it divides the page into several strips.  With your new driver, as 
>each strip is completed, the printer does a reset and a page advance.  I don't 
>know how it behaves with other software.  I tested it in the lowest and 
>highest resolution.  The problem appeared in both.  I turned the "Page Eject" 
>feature off in ProPage, but the problem still occured.

I was afraid I would get bitten by this.  Sounds like ProPage is doing several
independent graphics dumps.  I put the LA75 into IBM mode to do graphics dumps,
then when a "dump finished" command is received it is put back into DEC mode. 
Unfortunately the printer seems to default to doing a page eject whenever you
switch modes.  I'll check to see if this can be disabled, although I don't think
so.

As an alternative, I could build a "manual" driver --- you would have to
manually put the printer into IBM emulation mode via the front panel pushbutton
before doing any graphics dumps, then reset it manually to get back to DEC mode
(which has a better set of alpha capabilities.  Or, it could be "one half" of
this, going into IBM mode by itself for graphics dumps, then having to be reset
manually afterwards.

I will see what I can come up with.  Thanks for testing this!

Checked the LA75 docs I have and could find no way to disable the form feed when
switching modes.  So, I have made a "semi-automatic" driver, which will put the
LA75 into IBM mode before doing a graphics dump, and leave it alone after each
dump finishes.  The printer will have to be reset manually (via the front panel
"Set-up" button) to go back into alphanumeric (DEC) mode.  New code will be in
the same place as listed in an earlier reply.

    When I did the VAX GKS driver for the LA75 I left it in DEC mode to do
    graphics dumps.  It's just a matter of generating sixels.  Can't you do
    that?
        John Sauter

    Yes, I looked at the sixel capabilities.  It seemed as though the IBM
    graphics mode had more flexibility though, in terms of densities.

    As far as I know, sixel mode will let you access all the capabilities
    of the hardware.  It may be that certain IBM modes are simulated by the
    LA75.
        John Sauter

RE: -.1

John,

Thanks for the suggestions.  I studied the LA75 programmer's manual I have to
learn more about the sixel mode.   It appeared to me that the printer implements
different aspect ratios by varying the "size" of a pixel.  To test this I wrote
a short ARexx program to print horizontal lines in sixel mode varying the Ps3
parameter.  With some values, single horizontal line were mapped to multiple
lines on the printed page.  Since it's not obvious to me how that behaviour can
be mapped to the Amigas printer density selections, I am going to stick with the
IBM emulator mode for now, albeit somewhat of a pain to use.

Appreciate your suggestions and help.

<kip

    I'm having trouble with the LA57.lzh file.  It is compressed?  when
    attempting to decompress on VMS with LZDCMP (from the toolshed) I get:
    
    	Incorrect first header byte 0x21
    	Error when decompressing "LA75.LZH" to "LA75."
    
    HELP!
    
    	...Mike

    I think VMS LZDCMP is for files crunched with COMPRESS (U*IX?) and/or
    similar utilities. What you need is LHARC for VMS, found at the usual
    places (as well as CRISTA""::AMIGA:), including:

                          CGOU01""::AMNEW:LHARC.EXE

                     TAPE""::AMIGA:[AMIGA.TOOLS]LHARC.EXE

    Pete

    hoooooo... now I get it!

    Thanks for clearing that up for me. Found LHARC on a utility disk and
    it works as advertised.

    ...Mike

    
    	Not to wade through an old topic again but...
    
    	Can somebody tell me the DECconnect part numbers you are
    	using from the Amiga SER: to the LA75.
    
    	I've tried the BC16E cable and the H8571-D adapter recommended 
    	in DECdirect, but can't seem to get any response at all, except for 
    	the "File printed" message.  Just like having nothing connected at all.
    
    	BTW, I'm using the LA50 driver under WB1.2 which works fine
    	with my LA50.  But the noise!  The paper jams!

>     
>     	BTW, I'm using the LA50 driver under WB1.2 which works fine
>     	with my LA50.  But the noise!  The paper jams!
> 

Ah Yes, the old LA50 Auto-Jam feature. Unfortunetly there's no way 
to disable it :-)


john

    
    BC16E with H8571-E seemed to do the trick...
    
    I beleive the H8571-D is the modem adapter, not the null modem 
    that I was looking for.	
    
    And now on to higher technology!
    
    Has anyone ever used the Letter Gothic or Orator font cartridges
    for the LA75 with the Amiga.  Does the LA75 driver support them?
    Are they worth their weight in ink?  Employee Purch Price s/b $26.
    
    I'm going back to school next month amd I'm trying to see just how
    much mileage I can get out of the equipment I already have.  
    The wife doesn't seem to understand my desire to spend $$$ on a 
    laser printer.  Oh well.
    
    	-- Steve

>    Has anyone ever used the Letter Gothic or Orator font cartridges
>    for the LA75 with the Amiga.  Does the LA75 driver support them?
>    Are they worth their weight in ink?  Employee Purch Price s/b $26.

I've tried the Orator font cartridge --- I wasn't very impressed.  The LA75
driver that I wrote does not support font cartridges at present; this doesn't
mean you can't go ahead and use them, of course, but the driver won't be aware
that you are and you might not get expected results.

<kip

    
    I have been out of action most of 1991 and am only just getting back to
    ye olde LA75 compatibility issue (ref 4121, 4198).
    
    Thanks a million Guy for your WBV1.3 LA75 driver, which I've just installed
    succesfully. (This now replaces a text-only one I made up with WB1.2
    PD PRTDRVGEN; as far as I could tell then there was no WB1.3 PRTDRVGEN
    PD ever released).
    
    On behalf of the undoubted millions of grateful LA75 Ami users, can I
    prevail upon you for one more favour if you get a chance?
    
    In the absence of a single-mode (DEC or IBM) graphics/text print
    driver, can I please request a "LA75.stopper" version. With this version,
    I would like it to pause (simulate a paper out, drop to offline or
    something similar ?) immediately after the switch of every graphics dump
    (IBM Mode) back to text (DEC Mode).
    
    Purpose: Enable printing of embedded graphics. Currently, as discussed
    in the preceeding replies, the LA75 does an automatic Form Feed  whenever
    the mode switches, which destroys the page sequencing. Generating an
    interrupt at this point would allow us to manually roll back the
    platten, restoring the original spacing. This interrupt neds to be
    automatic, as usually the printer is too fast to be able to get it
    offline on the front panel button at exactly the right moment.
    
    	    eg. In Kindwords, which my family uses, they have a letterhead
    		and end-of-page graphics, with  text in between.
    
    
    Any chances of a New Year's present Guy?
    
    (Even better would be a single DEC-mode driver if there's somebody out
    there who's willing and able to take up the reins. This would probably
    be one of the most utilised of all Ami s/w at DEC if anyone got it
    together).
    
    Thanks.

>    Thanks a million Guy for your WBV1.3 LA75 driver, which I've just installed
>    succesfully. (This now replaces a text-only one I made up with WB1.2
>    PD PRTDRVGEN; as far as I could tell then there was no WB1.3 PRTDRVGEN
>    PD ever released).

Glad to hear someone's using it.

>    In the absence of a single-mode (DEC or IBM) graphics/text print
>    driver, can I please request a "LA75.stopper" version. With this version,
>    I would like it to pause (simulate a paper out, drop to offline or
>    something similar ?) immediately after the switch of every graphics dump
>    (IBM Mode) back to text (DEC Mode).

I'll put this on my "things to do" list.  Hopefully there is a control sequence
for both the DEC and IBM modes which will cause the printer to put itself
offline.

>    Purpose: Enable printing of embedded graphics. Currently, as discussed
>    in the preceeding replies, the LA75 does an automatic Form Feed  whenever
>    the mode switches, which destroys the page sequencing. Generating an
>    interrupt at this point would allow us to manually roll back the
>    platten, restoring the original spacing. This interrupt neds to be
>    automatic, as usually the printer is too fast to be able to get it
>    offline on the front panel button at exactly the right moment.
>    
>            eg. In Kindwords, which my family uses, they have a letterhead
>                and end-of-page graphics, with  text in between.

This is strange.  So Kindwords mixes graphics *and* ASCII text in it's output? 
Weird.  Seems like every DTP program I've seen outputs the text in graphic form. 
I don't see how they expect ANY driver to handle this correctly.  Does the
manual tell you to "reload" each sheet to add graphics.  Weird!

Re: .23

Randall,

I assume you are reading this notesfile: contact me via Email at
AIDEV::LANDINGHAM regarding your request.

<kip