One for the old timers!

Trying to "fix" a foxbase for unix program that prints delivery notes to an
OKI microline 80 col printer, just had to replace printer with a new 3320
Microline and am struggling a bit!

**Code Snippet
@ 49,1 SAY PK_SPK1_1
@ 50,1 SAY PK_SPK1_2
@ 51,1 SAY MARK1
@ 52,1 SAY DELINS
@ 59,2 SAY CHR(13) <----- This line??????
SET DEVICE TO SCREEN

Does anyone know why a carriage return is being sent to the printer?

Steve

Andrew
Fri Aug 26 06:10:33 CDT 2005

"steve" <steve.fisher@xxfernite.co.uk> wrote in message
news:afw3l577cgju$.1vjjrzima7c7k$.dlg@40tude.net...
> Trying to "fix" a foxbase for unix program that prints delivery notes to
> an
> OKI microline 80 col printer, just had to replace printer with a new 3320
> Microline and am struggling a bit!
>
> **Code Snippet
> @ 49,1 SAY PK_SPK1_1
> @ 50,1 SAY PK_SPK1_2
> @ 51,1 SAY MARK1
> @ 52,1 SAY DELINS
> @ 59,2 SAY CHR(13) <----- This line??????
> SET DEVICE TO SCREEN
>
> Does anyone know why a carriage return is being sent to the printer?

Couple of guesses,
possibly sending the CHR(13) forced the OKI to write out its buffer

....
Actually I have a manual for an OKI Microline 390/391 here, I've just looked
in it and in the miscellaneous section under "Carriage Return" it says..

"When it receives this command, the printer will print data from the print
buffer and return the printing position to the beginning of the line. If
Auto Line Feed is ON in the menu, the printer adds a line feed to each
carriage return. This command cancels one line double width printing."

The 390 supports "Epson", "IBM Proprinter" and "IBM Proprinter alternate
graphics mode" emulations and works the same in each.

I would guess this is the same for the Microline 80 too.

--
HTH
Andrew Howell

steve
Fri Aug 26 07:25:10 CDT 2005

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 12:10:33 +0100, Andrew Howell wrote:

> "steve" <steve.fisher@xxfernite.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:afw3l577cgju$.1vjjrzima7c7k$.dlg@40tude.net...
>> Trying to "fix" a foxbase for unix program that prints delivery notes to
>> an
>> OKI microline 80 col printer, just had to replace printer with a new 3320
>> Microline and am struggling a bit!
>>
>> **Code Snippet
>> @ 49,1 SAY PK_SPK1_1
>> @ 50,1 SAY PK_SPK1_2
>> @ 51,1 SAY MARK1
>> @ 52,1 SAY DELINS
>> @ 59,2 SAY CHR(13) <----- This line??????
>> SET DEVICE TO SCREEN
>>
>> Does anyone know why a carriage return is being sent to the printer?
>
> Couple of guesses,
> possibly sending the CHR(13) forced the OKI to write out its buffer
>
> ....
> Actually I have a manual for an OKI Microline 390/391 here, I've just looked
> in it and in the miscellaneous section under "Carriage Return" it says..
>
> "When it receives this command, the printer will print data from the print
> buffer and return the printing position to the beginning of the line. If
> Auto Line Feed is ON in the menu, the printer adds a line feed to each
> carriage return. This command cancels one line double width printing."
>
> The 390 supports "Epson", "IBM Proprinter" and "IBM Proprinter alternate
> graphics mode" emulations and works the same in each.
>
> I would guess this is the same for the Microline 80 too.

Thanks Andrew, I would have RTFM'd, but I think the manual for the old
printer was written on parchment and is now on show in the British Museum!
The new (to me) printer is just a loner.

Steve

Andrew
Fri Aug 26 08:10:44 CDT 2005

"steve" <steve.fisher@xxfernite.co.uk> wrote in message
news:qlik745ft5ag$.6od4nmhj5yq0.dlg@40tude.net...
> Thanks Andrew, I would have RTFM'd, but I think the manual for the old
> printer was written on parchment and is now on show in the British Museum!
> The new (to me) printer is just a loner.

Hope it's some help, in the front of 390 manual it said it was published in
1990 which must put it in a similar era to the 80. New printers never seem
to come with paper manuals any more but they usually have a PDF on the
driver CD or you can often find a URL to download one.
They're still not what they used to be though, this went into details on how
to program custom characters, how to wire various cables and things with pin
outputs etc.

Actually I kind of enjoyed computing a lot more back then, it's probably a
good thing I'm still stuck in FPW in that respect.
A guy I know said this recently (about talking with the general public)
which sums it up:

"I really used to enjoy talking about computers with people but now I find
it dislikeful because it's always them moaning about how they got blasted by
some spyware / trojan / virus or how they don't know jack about their PC and
preferably keep it that way too.

For my own sanity I don't advertise too much that I have a more than average
knowledge of PC's because that is a sign for people to unload all their
computer problems on you or ask you advice about a new machine they want to
buy and then become terribly cross when they see a more powerful machine at
a cheaper price a few weeks later. Computing was a about fun and those kind
of things are NOT FUN."

--
Regards
Andrew Howell

steve
Fri Aug 26 08:47:05 CDT 2005

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 14:10:44 +0100, Andrew Howell wrote:

> "steve" <steve.fisher@xxfernite.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:qlik745ft5ag$.6od4nmhj5yq0.dlg@40tude.net...
>> Thanks Andrew, I would have RTFM'd, but I think the manual for the old
>> printer was written on parchment and is now on show in the British Museum!
>> The new (to me) printer is just a loner.
>
> Hope it's some help, in the front of 390 manual it said it was published in
> 1990 which must put it in a similar era to the 80. New printers never seem
> to come with paper manuals any more but they usually have a PDF on the
> driver CD or you can often find a URL to download one.
> They're still not what they used to be though, this went into details on how
> to program custom characters, how to wire various cables and things with pin
> outputs etc.
>
> Actually I kind of enjoyed computing a lot more back then, it's probably a
> good thing I'm still stuck in FPW in that respect.
> A guy I know said this recently (about talking with the general public)
> which sums it up:
>
> "I really used to enjoy talking about computers with people but now I find
> it dislikeful because it's always them moaning about how they got blasted by
> some spyware / trojan / virus or how they don't know jack about their PC and
> preferably keep it that way too.
>
> For my own sanity I don't advertise too much that I have a more than average
> knowledge of PC's because that is a sign for people to unload all their
> computer problems on you or ask you advice about a new machine they want to
> buy and then become terribly cross when they see a more powerful machine at
> a cheaper price a few weeks later. Computing was a about fun and those kind
> of things are NOT FUN."

How very true, I started on ICL system 10's, then System 25's, the days
when you had to have leather elbow patches and a beard and sandalls to be
taken seriously!. Much more fun putting the system terminal into a load
state and entering a hex (or was it octal? momory is dimming fast) string
to boot it up! Windows is boring. I only turn my PC on at home to load my
ipod with new music and yes I spend a lot of time repairing friends and
family's computers - but I demand to be taken for a drink or get cooked a
meal, so I don't mind. I don't get out much these days ;)

Eee when I were a lad!

Steve

Jeff
Fri Aug 26 12:40:00 CDT 2005

Many years ago (many many years ago), a friend of mine sent me a letter in
which he was trying to express his low self-esteem and state of depression.
He said...

"I feel as worthless as a PDP-8"

It takes a real old-timer to get that one. 12 bit computers. What will they
think of next.

Jeff
"steve" <steve.fisher@xxfernite.co.uk> wrote in message
news:xln8weptfe1q.7q4wbc06f2na.dlg@40tude.net...
> On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 14:10:44 +0100, Andrew Howell wrote:
>
>> "steve" <steve.fisher@xxfernite.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:qlik745ft5ag$.6od4nmhj5yq0.dlg@40tude.net...
>>> Thanks Andrew, I would have RTFM'd, but I think the manual for the old
>>> printer was written on parchment and is now on show in the British
>>> Museum!
>>> The new (to me) printer is just a loner.
>>
>> Hope it's some help, in the front of 390 manual it said it was published
>> in
>> 1990 which must put it in a similar era to the 80. New printers never
>> seem
>> to come with paper manuals any more but they usually have a PDF on the
>> driver CD or you can often find a URL to download one.
>> They're still not what they used to be though, this went into details on
>> how
>> to program custom characters, how to wire various cables and things with
>> pin
>> outputs etc.
>>
>> Actually I kind of enjoyed computing a lot more back then, it's probably
>> a
>> good thing I'm still stuck in FPW in that respect.
>> A guy I know said this recently (about talking with the general public)
>> which sums it up:
>>
>> "I really used to enjoy talking about computers with people but now I
>> find
>> it dislikeful because it's always them moaning about how they got blasted
>> by
>> some spyware / trojan / virus or how they don't know jack about their PC
>> and
>> preferably keep it that way too.
>>
>> For my own sanity I don't advertise too much that I have a more than
>> average
>> knowledge of PC's because that is a sign for people to unload all their
>> computer problems on you or ask you advice about a new machine they want
>> to
>> buy and then become terribly cross when they see a more powerful machine
>> at
>> a cheaper price a few weeks later. Computing was a about fun and those
>> kind
>> of things are NOT FUN."
>
> How very true, I started on ICL system 10's, then System 25's, the days
> when you had to have leather elbow patches and a beard and sandalls to be
> taken seriously!. Much more fun putting the system terminal into a load
> state and entering a hex (or was it octal? momory is dimming fast) string
> to boot it up! Windows is boring. I only turn my PC on at home to load
> my
> ipod with new music and yes I spend a lot of time repairing friends and
> family's computers - but I demand to be taken for a drink or get cooked a
> meal, so I don't mind. I don't get out much these days ;)
>
> Eee when I were a lad!
>
> Steve

Gene
Mon Aug 29 16:08:24 CDT 2005

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 14:10:44 +0100, "Andrew Howell" <ajh@work> wrote:

[snip]

>For my own sanity I don't advertise too much that I have a more than average
>knowledge of PC's because that is a sign for people to unload all their
>computer problems on you or ask you advice about a new machine they want to
>buy and then become terribly cross when they see a more powerful machine at
>a cheaper price a few weeks later. Computing was a about fun and those kind
>of things are NOT FUN."

Ah! You need Chuck. See
<http://dumbentia.com/gallery_comp.html>, third item from the bottom.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko