Many printers have special features that the computer signals by sending
command codes. To send codes to a printer from an Apple III with Apple Writer,
you must insert the codes into the Apple Writer file you want printed. The
manual of the printer may list the codes by several names: decimal,
hexadecimal, teletype abbreviations (SOH, ETX, DC1, DC3, etc.), standard keys,
and combinations of the above.
Using the chart "ASCII characters, values, and keystrokes", you have to
translate from the name of the code in the printer manual into the name of the
corresponding keystroke or keystrokes on the keyboard of the Apple III.
Some keystrokes put so-called control characters into the Apple Writer file.
These control characters are not part of the conventional English character
set; while screen shows them, the printer intercepts and does not print them,
instead recognizing them as signals to turn special functions on and off or to
change printer settings.
With these considerations in mind, here is a list of codes and methods for
inserting them in an Apple Writer file on an Apple III.
NOTE: In the descriptions of the keystrokes, the characters greater than and
less than, < and >, are used to contain one keystroke, which can mean
that:
1. You must simultaneously hold down the control key, the shift key, or
both as you press the other key, or
2. You must press a special key, such as ESC or RETURN.
Null (ASCII value 0):
Because Apple Writer III uses the null character to mark the end of a file,
Apple Writer does not allow a null to be inserted into the file. The inserted
null would effectively delete any text after it.
Apple Writer does send a null in the place of a Control-Underline
character:
<CTRL-V><CTRL-UNDERLINE><CTRL-V>
Control-A through Control-Z (ASCII decimal values 01 through 26):
Example: Control-Z (ASCII decimal value 26): <CTRL-V><CTRL-Z><CTRL-V>
Exception: Control-V (ASCII decimal value 22) can't be entered.
See "Missing Characters" below.
Escape (ASCII value 27): <CTRL-V><ESC><CTRL-V>
Other Control characters: These can be entered in the manner of Control-A
through Control-Z.
Missing Characters:
You can't directly enter a Control-V in Apple Writer. To use this character in
Apple Writer, it is necessary to use an Apple Writer glossary file. You will
find such a file on the Apple Writer III master diskette.
Apple Writer doesn't send a Control-Underline as such.
Business BASIC can be used to send a Control-Underline to your printer.
1. Create your Apple Writer document as usual, but substitute a unique
character in each place that you want a Control-Underline character.
2. Type <CTRL-P> to display the Print/Programs Command menu.
3. Type PD.Volume/Filename, Apple Writer's setup for printing to disk on an
Apple III.
4. Type NP to begin printing.
6. After the printing to disk is finished, exit Apple Writer and start up
Business BASIC.
7. Run the following program:
100 HOME
110 PRINT TAB(10);"APPLE WRITER TO PRINTER"
120 VTAB=5
130 INPUT"PATHNAME OF APPLE WRITER FILE PRINTED TO DISK: ";F$
140 IF F$="" THEN 900
145 VTAB=12
146 INPUT"CHARACTER TO REPLACE: ";X$
147 IF X$="" THEN 145
150 VTAB=10
160 INPUT"Driver Name: (e.g. .PRINTER) ";S$
170 IF S$="" THEN 900
200 ON ERR GOTO 800
210 UNLOCK F$
220 OFF ERR
230 VTAB=12:PRINT SPC(75)
240 PRINT
265 OPEN#1 AS OUTPUT,S$
270 OPEN#2 AS INPUT,F$
280 ON ERR GOTO 400
290 INPUT#2;LINE$
300 A$=""
302 L=LEN(LINE$)
304 FOR Q=1 TO L
306 C$=MID$(LINE$,Q,1)
315 IF C$=CHR$(12) THEN 310
320 IF C$=CHR$(13) THEN 350
330 IF C$=X$ THEN C$=CHR$(31)
340 A$=A$+C$
345 NEXT Q
350 OUTPUT#1
355 PRINT A$
390 GOTO 290
400 OFF ERR
410 CLOSE
430 VTAB=15
440 PRINT TAB(5);"FILE ";F$;" HAS BEEN PRINTED."
450 GOTO 900
800 OFF ERR
810 VTAB=12
820 PRINT CHR$(7);"I CAN'T FIND THE FILE ";F$;"."
830 INPUT"";Z$
840 GOTO 100
900 END