Every time you start the FORMS EASY program, a setup file "FM.STP" is read in, which defines various printer commands. I have cooked up a few setup file for several printers and they are listed below. To setup for a particular printer, simply replace FM.STP by the appropriate XXXX.STP file. (Type "copy xxxx.stp fm.stp" at DOS prompt.) If your printer is not on printer port LPT1, you should also modify the number "1" under "LPT:" in the setup file to the port number (use any text editor). By default, direct video mode is turned on, this gives best performance. However, if your computer is not 100% compatible with IBM, this may cause problems. In this case, you may change the number "1" under "DIRVD:" to "0". File Printer PROPRINT.STP IBM Proprinter KXP1180.STP Panasonic KX-P1081 KXP1524.STP Panasonic KX-P1524 KXP1080I.STP Panasonic KX-P1080i HPLASER.STP HP LaserJet, use letter size paper tray. HPLASER2.STP HP LaserJet, letter size, manual feed. HPLASER3.STP HP LaserJet, legal size, paper tray. HPLASER4.STP HP LaserJet, legal size, manual feed. (If you have to fill a mixture of letter size and legal size forms, it is better to setup the printer for legal size, manual feed. In this setup you may also feed letter size papers.) If your printer is not in the above list, you may also try using the above files to see if it works. If it does not, you have to make your own setup file. If you feel it is too hard, I am willing to make it for you if you can send me a copy of your printer manual. (I only want to borrow it for a few days and will return it to you.) I want to encourage printer manufacturers or dealers to cook up the setup files for their printers and send them to me, or simply send their manuals to me. This will enable me to include more setup files in later releases of this shareware. The setup file consists of a series of definitions. Each definition starts with a NAME and a ":" and followed by some data on the next line. The following example setup file explains what each definition means. The words in brackets are my explanations and are not present in the actual setup file. The definitions may appear in any order. Missing definitions will cause the default definitions to be used. Comment lines starting with "#" can be entered between definitions, but NOT WITHIN a definition. DIRVD: (Direct video mode) 1 (1=Direct video mode, 0=not direct video) LPT: (Printer port to be used) 1 (1=LPT1,2=LPT2 .. etc.) ID: (Printer type ID) 0 (less than 50 for dot matrix printers, greated than 50 if laser printer) PRNAME: (Printer name) Panasonic KX-P1080i (Just put the printer name here) # must reset printer, disable paper out detection, disable skip perforation # disable automatic line feed, select fonts and paper source. ( In the following, each definition is a byte string for a printer ) ( command. All bytes are written in decimal numbers. The first number ) ( is the total number of bytes in the string not including itself. ) INITSTR: (The string to initialize pinter. See NOTE at the end) 14 (Total number of bytes in the string.) 27 64 27 56 (The byte string can span several lines as ) 27 79 27 53 0 (long as the total number of bytes is correct. ) 27 109 2 27 55 HOMEHD: (Put the printer head at leftmost position.) 2 27 60 (Put 0 if this function is not available.) DRAFTMD: (Set the printer in draft mode.) 3 27 120 0 (Put 0 if this function is not available.) NLQMD: (Set the printer in near letter quality mode.) 3 27 120 1 (Put 0 if not available.) SETLSP0: (Set line spacing to be 0. No line feed after printing.) 3 27 51 0 (Put 0 if not available.) SETLSP6: (Set line spacing to 1/6 inches) 3 27 51 36 SETLSP12: (Set line spacing to 1/12 inches) 3 27 51 18 DOWNLOAD: (Command to download fonts into the printer) 0 ENDPRINT: (Executed at the end of printing. Normally just a reset.) 2 27 64 ====================End of Setup File==================================== NOTE: The initializing string should first reset the printer and then put the printer into the following status: 1) The paper out detection is disabled so that the printer can print to the end of a single sheet of paper. 2) The skip perforation should be disabled so that no page breaking could occur in the middle of print. 3) Automatic line feed on carriage return is disabled. 4) The printer should be in a mode in which all the other command strings (such as SETLSP6, SETLSP12 etc.) function correctly. 5) A character set compatible with IBM extended character set is selected so that the box drawing characters are available as codes from 179 to 218. 6) Proper paper size and paper source are selected, if necessary.