Cabling pinouts for a custom cable:
IBM PC
(use female DB-25) | ImageWriter II or ImageWriter LQ
(use circular 8 connector) |
| 5,6 (CTS, DSR) | 1 (DTR) |
| 20 (DTR) | 2 (DSR) |
| 3 (RxD-) | 3 (TxD-) |
| 7 (SG) | 4,8 (SG, RxD+) |
| 2 (TxD-) | 5 (RxD-) |
IBM PC
(use female DB-25) | ImageWriter/15"/Scribe
(use male DB-25) |
| 3 (RxD-) | 2 (TxD-) |
| 2 (TxD-) | 3 (RxD-) |
| 5 (CTS) | 4 (RTS) |
| 7 (SG) | 7 (SG) |
| 6 (DSR) | 20 (DTR) |
Reference: RS232 Signal (DB-25 DTE)
| 1 | Sig Gnd | Normally Shield or Chassis Ground |
| 2 | TXD | Transmit Data |
| 3 | RXD | Receive Data |
| 4 | RTS | Request to Send |
| 5 | CTS | Clear to Send |
| 6 | DSR | Data Set |
| 7 | GND | SIGNAL Ground |
| 8 | DCD | Data Carrier Detect |
| 20 | DTR | Data Terminal Ready |
| 22 | RI | Ring Indicate |
Set printer switches to the following settings for this configuration:
- U.S. Character set
- 66 lines per page
- 8 data bits (1 stop bit, no parity)
- pica character pitch
- no LF after CR
- 9600 Baud
- Data Terminal Ready Protocol
ImageWriter I Switch Settings:
Switch 1
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Closed (On) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Open (Off) | X | x | x | x | X | x | x | x |
Switch 2
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Closed (On) | x | x | - | |
| Open (Off) | - | - | X | |
ImageWriter II Switch Settings:
Switch 1
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Closed (On) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Open (Off) | X | x | x | x | X | x | x | x |
Switch 2
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5* | 6* |
| Closed (On) | X | x | - | - | | |
| Open (Off) | - | - | X | X | | |
* NOTE: DO NOT CHANGE SWITCH 5 AND 6.
ImageWriter LQ Switch Settings:
Switch1
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Closed (On) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Open (Off) | X | x | x | x | X | x | x | x |
Switch2
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Closed (On) | X | x | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Open (Off) | - | - | X | X | X | x | X | x |
Switch 3: DO NOT TOUCH!
Finally, configure the serial port of the computer to match the printer configurations as above and assign the port to LPT1 by running this autoexec program:
mode COM1:96,N,8,1,P
mode LPT1:=com1
Software Drivers
These Apple printers were designed for use with Apple II and Macintosh computers, and contain many useful design features accessible only by those systems. Some of the printers have some similarity in design with printers that were designed, tested, and sold for PC users. Therefore, there is a remote possibility that PC drivers may control some of the functions on these printers. We have no knowledge which drivers may or may not work. If you wish to pursue this, some starting points:
| Printer | PC Driver |
| ImageWriter II | Epson FX or similar driver |
| StyleWriter | Canon BJ-20 |
| StyleWriter II | Canon BJ-200 (possibly also the BJ-200e) |
| Color StyleWriter (early models) | Canon Color BJ-600 |