TYPER Version 1.3 CP/M-86 Typewriter Emulator Program [For IBM-compatibles] Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995 by Kirk Lawrence. All rights reserved. While the author retains all rights to the program, permission is hereby granted for private individuals to use TYPER on their personal computer, for their own personal use, at no charge. Use of TYPER.CMD in educational, commercial, industrial, governmental, or non-in-home venues is strictly pro- hibited. Transgression of this restriction is a violation of copyright laws. The source code to TYPER.CMD remains proprietary, and is not publicly released. TYPER allows you to use your computer and dot-matrix printer together as an "electric typewriter." You type lines of text on the screen, and they're sent directly to the printer. But UNlike a typewriter, each character is not printed as you press each key. TYPER waits until you finish a complete line of text and press the ENTER key, before printing that line. This gives you an advantage over a traditional typewriter: if you see a mistake in the line before you've pressed ENTER, you can go back...using the BACKSPACE key...fix the mistake, retype the remainder of the line, and THEN send the corrected line to the printer. Result: fewer mistakes on the printed page! TYPER will work on any IBM-compatible computer running "CP/M-86 For The IBM PC and IBM PC XT, Version 1.1." TYPER displays in color if the computer has a color video system, yet is fully compatible with all monochrome video systems. *** IMPORTANT NOTE: *** In order for TYPER to function properly, your print- er MUST be Epson-compatible. Most printers manufactured in recent years are, or may be set to Epson emulation by changing a DIP switch, or by using an on-board set-up menu. See your printer's manual for instructions. TYPER will NOT work correctly with printers which emulate the IBM Proprinter. The IBM Proprinter does not recognize ASCII 127 as the control code to delete the last character sent -- and this ability is critical to the proper operation of TYPER. TYPER does not send a RESET instruction to your printer, so whatever print characteristics you've activated (NLQ, boldface, italics, etc.) will remain in effect for the entire TYPER typing session. TO RUN THE PROGRAM: First, make sure that your printer is ready to print. See that the power is turned on, that the cable is properly attached, that paper is correctly loaded, and that the printer is set ON LINE. If you try to run TYPER without the printer being totally ready, an error message will appear on the CP/M-86 status line. If this happens, correct the printer problem then (R)etry. At the prompt, type TYPER and press the ENTER key. A program indentification line and copyright notice will appear at the top of the screen. The cursor will be in the lower left corner of the screen. This is where you'll begin typing. Now type your text, just as you would on a regular typewriter...and press ENTER ("carriage return") at the end of each line. That's all there is to it. Each time you press ENTER, the line of text you've just typed scrolls up a line on the screen, so you can continue to see the lines you previously typed. As you type the 66th character on any line, a warning "beep" sounds, to alert you that you're approaching the end of the line. TYPER allows you to type a maximum of 78 characters per line. If you try to continue typing past the end of a line, TYPER will "beep" at you, and will not accept what you type. You MUST manually press ENTER at the end of each line, just as on a typewriter; your text will NOT automatically "wrap" to the next line. This is a plus, because it prevents you from splitting words at odd places, in case you're not paying attention! To exit TYPER at any time, press the ESC key. TYPER "presses the ENTER key" for you as you exit the program. This is done to make sure that the printer's buffer is cleared. So if there's a line of text on the screen which hasn't yet been sent to the printer, it's sent as you exit. If you don't want your last line of typed text sent to the printer, BACKSPACE over it before you exit TYPER. COPYRIGHT NOTICE: The executable program TYPER.CMD, the source code from which the executable program is compiled, and this documentation file are copyright 1993, 1994, 1995 by Kirk Lawrence. All rights reserved. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: TYPER.CMD is offered strictly "as is." The author makes absolutely no warrantees of any kind whatsoever regarding this program and its accompanying documentation; including, but not limited to, implied warrantees of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. You use TYPER.CMD solely at your own risk. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY: Under no circumstances shall the author be liable to you or to any third party for losses or damages of any kind, type or descrip- tion whatsoever, including but not limited to pecuniary losses, and including but not limited to incidental and/or consequential damages, arising from the use of, or inability to use, TYPER.CMD. AGREEMENT TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS: By using the program TYPER.CMD, you thereby agree to the following terms and conditions: All disputes shall be adjudicated under the Laws of, and in the Courts of, the state of residence of the author. In no case shall awarded damages exceed the amount originally paid for the use of the program (no payment is required to use TYPER.CMD). If any part of this agreement, the Disclaimer of Liability, or the Disclaimer of Warranty is sub- sequently found to be invalid by a court of proper jurisdiction, all other terms and conditions contained in these documents shall remain in effect. By using TYPER.CMD, you thereby agree to hold the author harmless from any and all consequences that result from such use. Your use of TYPER.CMD shall be prima facie evidence under law that you have read these terms and conditions, understand them, and agree to be bound by them.