############################# #|||||||||||||||||||||||| #|::::::::::::::: #|:........ #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. MicroPrint #|:. ---------- #|:. Canon #|:. BubbleJet #|:. Printing #|:. Utility #|:. #|:. #|:. (C)1993 Lee Lorenz #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:. #|:........ #|::::::::::::::: #|||||||||||||||||||||||| ############################# DISCLAIMER ---------- This software is provided "AS-IS". The author of this program should not liable for any damages that may occur as a direct or indirect result of the execution of this program. No warranty of any kind is expressed or implied. The author is not obligated to take any action other than that specified in this document. REQUIREMENTS ------------ - Any PC Compatable computer running MS-DOS 3.3 or later - Any Canon BubbleJet Printer connected to LPT1-4 (This program has been tested on the BJ-200 and BJ-330 printers) INTRODUCTION ------------ MicroPrint is a utility I created to squeeze a little more out of my new Canon BJ-200 printer. With True 360dpi at my disposal, I wanted to use this capability to save time, money, and trees... What would you say if I told you you could print 36 pages on a single side of a single sheet of paper? If you use both sides, that amounts to 72 pages on a single 8.5"x11" sheeet of paper!! Is it readable? You bet! The font, at 6x9, is quite readable with the naked eye. I won't claim that you will enjoy reading print this size for any extended period of time, but it will give you a alot of print for a little paper and ink. How does all this work? Well, the first step is to load in up to 36 pages of a file we are going to pring, then, create a "bitmap,"or picture inside the computer's memory, using our own font. This bitmap can then be sent to the printer. The printing area on my BJ-200 for an 8.5"x11" sheet is about 8.0"x10.2" (Top and bottom margins are needed due to the sheet- feeder) - at 360dpi, that gives us 2880 horizontal dots x 3672 vertical dots per sheet. The average "page" for computer documentation is usually 80 columns x 66 lines; since we need to seperate the text from one page to another, we will add an extra line and column, giving us a page of 81x67 characters. If we go back to our small font of 6x9, we get 510 columns by 408 rows, or, 6 by 6 pages! Once I did the hard part of getting the text file into graphical format, it was a matter of slight adjustment to make it work at different sizes, such as 5x5 or 3x3 pages. Also, since we were including a spaced border, it was easy enough to add borders and page numbering. PERFORMANCE ----------- I use 486 systems both at home and work, so I won't guarantee this program will print very quick on a slower system. I was able to print 108 pages in 3 minutes in 6x6 mode. There are also a few optimizations I have not implemented yet, since that might have delayed getting this out. At any rate, output should be decent on most systems, since the Canon printers have healthy buffer sizes, and more time should be spend printing, rather than calculating the data. This program supports all IBM ASCII characters above 31... Including the line-drawing and block characters. REGISTRATION ------------ There are many good reasons to register ANY shareware you use on a regular basis, but many people don't. Why? Many people get full functionality out of the un-registered version, and have no compulsion to get an un-enhanced registered version. While I can't stand CRIPPLEWARE, I also felt I had to leave something for registered users. Thus, while the un-registered version is fully functional as a basic program, there are many ENHANCEMENTS available in the registered version (Such that I'll call it "MicroPrint BJ PLUS"). These enhancements include, but are not limited to: - Improved fonts (Included fonts do not have international chars.) - Landscape mode printing - .INI file support - User configurable page layouts and sizes - A font editor - A single "Best Fit" parameter for ease of use To make it simple, a single user registration only costs $20, multi-user fees are $20+$5 for each additional user on-site. This will get you the latest version of MicroPrint BJ Plus, and notification of any future releases. Any upgrades will only cost an additional $7.50, (barring runaway inflation). If user response is strong, I will adapt the program for more printers. I also welcome any suggestions from users who register... A product cannot be improved without consumer input. To register, simply send a check or money order, along with your name and address to: Lee Lorenz 12037 Juniper Way #505 Grand Blanc, MI 48439 In addition, phone support will be made available with the PLUS package. Source is available for a reasonable fee. Contact me for details. INSTALLATION ------------ This is easy... Just make sure the .FNT files are located in the same place as the MPBJ.EXE file. These files do not have to be in the path. (You could call it from a batch file, like 'C:\MPBJ\MPBJ -S2 -L1 %1' and C:\MPBJ does not have to be in the path) USING MICROPRINT BJ ------------------- During Printing, Pressing 'X' (Must be capital X) will stop printing and formfeed current page. By typing "MPBJ -?" you will get the following screen: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MicroPrintBJ Version 1.0 - UNREGISTERED (C)1993 Lee Lorenz To Use MicroPrintBJ: MPBJ [options] filename Options: -S0 6x6 pages, (default mode) -S1 5x5 pages -S2 4x4 pages -S3 3x3 pages -S4 2x2 pages -B Include borders (defaults to OFF) N/A on some modes -P Number Pages (defaults to OFF) -H Horizontal Layout (defaults to VERTICAL) -L0-3 LPT port (defaults to 0, LPT1:) -? This Screen ---------------------------------------------------------------------- While there are many options, it may be called with only one argument, the filename to print. This will cause the program to output the file in 6x6 page format to LPT1:. Options may use any case, i.e. -B is the same as -b. If the borders are turned on, a line will be added between adjacent pages. On some modes, there is not enough space to add the extra column required for the border. In such cases, the border is written to column 80, and overwritten by any characters occuring there. Page numbering is placed at the top of each page. If borders are turned on, this is the line where the border will appear. Horizontal layout will place the pages ACROSS, such that the first row will contain the first pages. Normally, the orientation is vertical, meaning the pages are in sequence going down each column. This is the easiest to read. Vertical +-----------+-----------+ Horizontal +-----------+-----------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | Page 1 | Page 3 | | Page 1 | Page 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +-----------+-----------+ +-----------+-----------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | Page 2 | Page 4 | | Page 3 | Page 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +-----------+-----------+ +-----------+-----------+ MODES Currently there are 5 printing modes, supporting from 2x2 to 6x6 pages per sheet in portrait mode. Mode 0: +---+---+---+---+---+---+ Mode 1: +----+----+----+----+----+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6x6 | | | | | | | 5x5 | | | | | | pages +---+---+---+---+---+---+ pages +----+----+----+----+----+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+ +----+----+----+----+----+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+ +----+----+----+----+----+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+ +----+----+----+----+----+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+ +----+----+----+----+----+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+ Mode 2: +-----+-----+-----+-----+ Mode 3 +------+------+------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4x4 | | | | | 3x3 | | | | pages +-----+-----+-----+-----+ pages | | | | | | | | | +------+------+------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +------+------+------+ | | | | | | | | | +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +-----+-----+-----+-----+ +------+------+------+ Mode 4: +-----------+-----------+ | | | | | | 2x2 | | | pages | | | | | | | | | | | | +-----------+-----------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +-----------+-----------+ WHAT'S NEXT - Support for DeskJet printers and various Lasers. Possible support for 24-pin impact printers. - More robust text formatting capability - Batched printing - Background processing Thanks for trying MicroPrint BJ! Feel free to distribute this version, provided it is accompanied by the complete file set. Commercial vendors, however, must contact me before including it in any shareware collections such as CD-ROMs, or diskettes. Canon is a registered trademark of Canon Computer Systems Inc. ----------------end-of-author's-documentation--------------- Software Library Information: This disk copy provided as a service of Public (software) Library We are not the authors of this program, nor are we associated with the author in any way other than as a distributor of the program in accordance with the author's terms of distribution. Please direct shareware payments and specific questions about this program to the author of the program, whose name appears elsewhere in this documentation. 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