EPSPRTR.DOC

                           EPSPRTR.ASM
                    by David J. RAIBERT, CPA


     This program is  an adaptation of one written by  Robert  L. 
LaFara whose article "Write a Menu-Driven Utility to Set  Printer 
Options"  appeared  in  the October 1983  issue  of  Microsystems 
magazine.  I  adapted this program for my MX-100 printer;  the MX 
series of printer is so ubiquitous that this program should be of 
wide interest to others.  (And if Epson hasn't changed the ESCape 
codes,  it  should apply to the FX series as well.)   Although  I 
have  included ever possible printer option in  the program,  you 
can still pick and choose, add or delete whatever you want.  

     EPSPRTR.COM  allows you to change most of the printer  func
tions - line spacing,  type size,  etc. - directly from the term
inal  without getting up from the chair.  The program can be  en
tered either from the CP/M command line or run within WordStar or 
any  similar  word  processor.   This program  differs  from  Mr. 
LaFara's  original  in  only a few ways.   The first  is  already 
mentioned - as many options the menu could hold.   Another is  in 
the handling of the escape sequence codes.  Apparently all of his 
escape sequences are of the same length.  But the Epson MX escape 
codes can have one or two characters after the ESC (1BH).  There
fore,  "VERT"  had  to be padded out for "VSTR" so that it  could 
accept one or two characters and still provide the '$' terminator 
in the right place.   Finally,  for some reason,  several of  the 
control  characters  (LF and SI) would not pass to  the  printer;  
they were just moved up by 80H.  

     If you can,  read Mr. LaFara's original article and assemble 
the listing (which is written in 8080 assembly code and  utilizes 
CP/M BDOS I/O calls);  the .COM file should run "right out of the 
box."   But  watch out for a few possible problems.   Do NOT  use 
emphasized  print  with  either compressed  or  fine  (subscript) 
print.   The Epson manual doesn't say why,  but I get the impres
sion that the printer just might explode.  Emphasized print slows 
the printer down and doublestrike slows it even more.  The UNIDI
RECTIONAL  function was included in the event columns of  numbers 
have  to be printed in the compressed mode.   If you do not  have 
Graftrax  + in your MX printer,  the italics and subscript  (fine 
print) options will not work.
     When you are done, your menu should look like this:

PRINTER OPTIONS MENU

 3 = THREE (3) LINES PER INCH     4 = FOUR (4) LINES
 8 = EIGHT (8) LINES PER INCH     6 = RESET LINES     
 
 F = FORM FEED                    L = LINE FEED
 K = SKIP (SIX) OVER PERF         
                                  TO CANCEL OPTION
 C = COMPRESSED PRINT-17 CPI ##          >
 W = DOUBLE WIDTH-5 CPI (+C=8.5)         <
 I = ITALICS                             J
 S = FINE PRINT ##                       R & H
 D = DOUBLESTRIKE                        H
 E = EMPHASIZED **                       Z
 U = UNDERLINE                           ^
 V = UNIDIRECTIONAL L-->R                +
 @ = RESET TO POWER-UP INCL TOF
** > DO NOT USE WITH "C" OR "S" SEE ## ABOVE

 T = TEST PRINTER                 Q = QUIT



David J. Raibert, CPA   D J Raibert & Associates, PA
10 Wilsey Square, Ridgewood, NJ  07450
December 3, 1983