NOTE !!! ======== For this Laser 'Loper 1.11, I could ask for $75.00, but I won't. I could ask for $35.00, but I won't. I won't even ask for $1.98. All I ask is some feedback, so I can find out if: -you were/weren't able to load it and get it working. -you do/don't understand how it works. -you do/don't find it useful. -any suggestions. My Compuserve address is below. LASER 'LOPER COPYRIGHT 1991 JOHN PEDERSEN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. LASER 'LOPER Version 1.11 John Pedersen CompuServe 76547,357 RR #2, Orangeville, Ontario Canada L9W 2Y9 ***NOTE - Your comments, good or bad, and any suggestions, would be MUCH APPRECIATED. INSTRUCTIONS FOR LASER 'LOPER =============================== Abstract: When you need to kick out an envelope quickly, this enveloper starts printing in seconds. It uses template files you create with Pagemaker (or equivalent). You select from a listbox any of your fancy envelope types (personal, business, spouse...), and paste in the address from the Windows clipboard, or from your word processor. Runs under Windows 3, and needs VBRUN100.DLL (MSBASIC Forum, Visual Basic Lib). Introduction: Print envelopes with fancy-artwork/logo return addresses, but very fast. On my system it inhales the envelope within 8 seconds after I click the "PRINT" button. It takes care of switching the printer into manual mode (so it waits for you if your envelope is not inserted), and landscape, so you can just shove in an envelope, print it up, and go right back to writing your next letter. The program relies on having a template file on disk that it can quickly dump out to the printer, only inserting the desired address. The user can select from a number of templates, so there can be specific envelopes for yourself personally, and for your dog-washing business, your spouse, and so on. A test template called DEMOPRNT.BIN is included with this program. The address (destination) to be spliced onto the envelope template can be automatically set up by your word processing program when you typed the letter, or transferred via the clipboard from, for instance, the "Windows Cardfile" program, or, heaven forbid, the address lines can even be typed in by hand. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Zipped Files: ENVDEMO.BIN - Example template file for LaserJet printer ENV.EXE - Executable file (needs VBRUN100.DLL) DEMOLETR.DOT - WinWord Example Template File with fixed AUTONEW MACRO README.TXT - Documentation notes ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: ====== a) The program expects the envelope template filenames to end with a .BIN extension, and the macro output filename to end with a .TXT extension. b) The program places a ENV.INI file in your Windows directory. c) The printer is expected to be connected to, and is accessed by dumping a binary file directly to, LPT1. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The template(s): This is the factor that makes this method very quick, because no manipulation of graphics is required--the entire template file is sitting there, ready to go. However, you do have to get this file in place to begin with. These instructions relate to Pagemaker running on an IBM-type machine, outputing to an HP LaserJet II, but it should be possible to handle other combinations in a similar manner. Even with the same combination of hardware and software, there are probably many ways to accomplish the same results, but the following worked well for me. 1. Compose an envelope on Pagemaker (importing a logo created with Corel, Designer, or whatever), and get it looking the way you want. On my page setup, I used a custom paper size of 9.5" x 4.125", with orientation set to "Wide". 2. On the envelope, put an address of 6 lines, each line being "aaa" (no quotes, just the three lowercase letters). I made sure that the font was one which was built into the printer (Courier 12). 3. Print it out on the LaserJet, to make sure it is exactly what you want. Remember, on the Printer Setup, put "Paper Source" to "Manual", and "Orientation" to "Landscape". 4. After you make sure that it prints out exactly the way you want, go back to the Control Panel in the Windows Program Manager, and change the printer connection from LPT1 to FILE. 5. You may have to reset the printer to "Landscape" mode, and to "Manual Feed" again. Then print the envelope once again, but this time it will print to a filename that you will specify. You will have to tell the enveloper program the name of the file, and that's it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A WinWord Macro: I refer to a WinWord Macro output file (ie a file created by a macro that I set up in Word for Windows) but in fact this program will just print whatever address it finds in a certain file, and doesn't care how it got there. No doubt there are many ways, and many word-processing programs that can do the same. I found it very handy to create a macro such that every time I wrote a letter, using a .DOT template that put my logo on the letterhead and such, that the address was automatically written into a certain file, replacing whatever had been there previously. This is the address used by the enveloper program. You open your template file (.DOT extension, MS provides examples with WinWord), presumably in the tmplates directory. From the menu, select Macro/Edit, then select Template (not Global), and then select AutoNew from the choices presented. Assuming you use input boxes to get the address from the user, just add a few lines of Basic (WordBasic) to open a file for output, and print the address lines to the file. I have taken a copy of LETTER.DOT in the TEMPLATES directory of WinWord as supplied by MICROSOFT, modified it to show the general idea, and included it in the package as DEMOLETR.DOT.