Solutions For Specific Systems; Apple Ii Solutions - Epson FX Series User Manual

Solutions for Specific Systems

The next four sections illustrate dealing with interface puzzles on
four types of computers: the Apple II, the TRS-80, the IBM-PC, and
the QX-10.

Apple II solutions

There are two types of problems that you who own Apple II com-
puters will need to address. The first is that the Apple II is an 8-bit
computer, but its printer interface only handles seven bits. The second
is that there is one problem code number: nine.
The printer interface card furnished with the Apple II computer
only passes seven bits to the FX, which means that you have a 7-bit
system. Should you need an 8-bit system, the simplest solution is to
purchase a new printer interface card from your computer dealer.
Such a card is available for the Apple II.
Or you can use software to solve any problems that arise from the
limitation to seven bits. You can POKE codes to memory as discussed
above, you can write your own printer driver, or you can avoid the
types of programs that require eight bits.
A routine to POKE codes to the memory of an Apple II Plus is given
above.
The Apple II uses CHR$(9) to "initialize" the printer. This code and
the following character or characters are intercepted by the printer
interface card and used to change modes (in somewhat the same way
that the printer uses ESCape codes). You can divert all output to the
printer instead of to the screen by sending the following line to the
printer interface card:
PR#l
PRINT CHR$(9)"80N"
Then type anything, followed by RETURN.
The CHR$(9)"80N" code directs all subsequent output to the
printer, up to 80 characters per row. You can cancel this by typing:
PRINT CHR$(9)"1" or
The problem is that the FX uses CHR$(9) to activate horizontal tabu-
lation and can also use it in graphics programs. When you send this
code, however, your system will interpret it as a printer initialization
312
PR#0