[Info-vax] DCPS V2.7 and Brother printers

[Dave Froble]

On 3/26/2019 9:10 AM, John E. Malmberg wrote:
> On 3/25/2019 8:23 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
>>
>> Ok, I don't get out much, so this capability might already exist.
>>
>> When I want to print, on my Brother printer, a file at 12 CPI instead
>> of the default 10 CPI, I edit the file and place a sequence of
>> characters at the front to cause the printer to switch to 12 CPI, for
>> that job.
>>
>> Sure would be nice to:
>>
>> $ PRINT /QUEUE=LASER /CPI=12
> This has been available since at least VAX/VMS 4.x.
>
> Note: Always change the default password for your printer, especially if
> it is a PostScript printer.  Most of the PostScript printers I have seen
> have a default password.
>
> I can not remember if I put the scripts for this on a freeware or Decus
> submission.
>
> Use a text editor or program to create a bunch of sample pages for
> testing your printer.
>
> Have 2 or 3 lines horizontal and vertical to show the print margins and
> the tab stops.
>
> 0000000000.....
> 0000000001.....
> 1234567890.....
> 004
> 005<tab>T1<tab>T2...
> 006
> ...
>
>
> Help init/queue/library
> Help define/form/setup
> help print/form
>
> Use one library for each unique printer model.  ANSI implementation is
> slightly different between most Digital branded printers, so you need
> different escape codes to set font size, margins, and tab stops for each.
>
> As I do not have my notes handy, you will need to do some experimentation.
>
> When you set the CPS for an ANSI printer, the horizontal tab stops are
> usually not automatically set correctly at what is now the 8 characters.
>
> You may need to use different command sequences for each ANSI printer to
> get the actual expected CPS.
>
> You will probably need to use different commands for each ANSI printer
> to get the actual expected tab stops.
>
> So far, PCL has been the same for all printers found.
>
> By having a separate library for each printer model you can use common
> form names for all printers.
>
> dcps_ansi_printlib.tlb
> dcps_pcl_printlib.tlb
> la100_printlib.tlb
> ln03_printlib.tlb
> pcl_printlib.tlb
>
> Always include a reset module to set the defaults the printer at the
> beginning of the job.
>
> If the printer is shared with MIcrosoft Windows, this module will
> probably need to set the power on defaults for the printer as printer
> drivers on Microsoft tend to change the printer power up defaults with
> every print job even though the actual documents then send down their
> own printer commands to override them.
>
> Typically the Microsoft based print driver set the printer on power up
> to default to having wider print margins on all sides of the paper, and
> will change the setting for one/sided or two sided printing for the
> printers that support it.
>
> Regards,
> -John
> wb8tyw at qsl.net_work

Ok John, I'm confused.  (Same old territory for me.)

The prefix I use to get 12 CPI is:

<ESC>(s0p12h0T

I forget where I got that info from.

Using forms isn't what I'd want, since that means changing the queue 
form for each print job, usually a page or two.

I'm going to look into the library stuff later, never used it before.

And yes, the same printer serves all computers here, including WEENDOZE.

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
DFE Ultralights, Inc.
170 Grimplin Road
Vanderbilt, PA  15486