DJ_BothSides for Windows User Guide Version 1.0 demo A versatile utility for the Hewlett-Packard Deskjet 500 printer David Tilley January 1992 This document contains printer text enhancement which makes it unsuitable for viewing with an editor. It's better to use the MS-DOS command: TYPE bothside.txt | MORE Program and document (0NŠ(10U Copyright David Tilley, 1991. This is a demonstration version of DJ_BothSides. It will not process more than 16 pages or 45,000 bytes of text. For the unlimited version, send a cheque for 15 pounds sterling or 30 US dollars (or banknotes in another currency equivalent to 30 US dollars) to: David R. Tilley, 67 Tolworth Park Road, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 7RJ, UK. Don't forget to complete and send the registration form at the back of this guide. This will ensure you receive information on upgrades and a product which better suits your needs. Freely distribute the demo version to your friends and colleagues. AAcckknnoowwlleeddggmmeennttss Windows is a trademark of MicroSoft Corporation. The Deskjet 500 printer is a product of the Hewlett-Packard Company. CG Times, a product of AGFA Corporation, is based upon Times New Roman under licence from Monotype Corporation plc. Garamond, CG Century Schoolbook and CG Triumvirate are licensed from AGFA Corporation. AGFA is a registered trademark of Agfa-Gevaert AG. Prestige Elite and Letter Gothic are licensed from URW. Sol Guber of St. Louis, Missouri for his HP LaserJet II report. DDIISSCCLLAAIIMMEERR:: whilst every effort has been made to ensure that this software works as documented, the author accepts no liability for damage or loss that may occur in its use. ii DDJJ__BBootthhSSiiddeess ffoorr WWiinnddoowwss UUsseerr GGuuiiddee VVeerrssiioonn 11..00 ddeemmoo CCoonntteennttss 0 Introduction ........................................ 1 1 Requirements ........................................ 1 2 Installation ........................................ 1 3 Facilities .......................................... 1 4 Limitations ......................................... 2 5 Comments ............................................ 2 6 Running DJ_BothSides ................................. 3 6.0 The `Document' Menu .............................. 3 6.1 The `Port' Menu .................................. 6 6.2 The `Help' Menu .................................. 6 7 Loading the Paper ..................................... 6 8 Hints ............................................... 7 Appendix A Error Messages .............................. 8 Appendix B Problems ................................... 8 Appendix C Registration ............................... 9 iii iv v1.0 demo DJ_BothSides for Windows page 1 00 IInnttrroodduuccttiioonn Welcome to the demonstration version of DJ_BothSides for Windows. DJ_BothSides prints ASCII text files on both sides of the paper, saving the time-consuming business of using a wordprocessor or DTP program. It will save many trees and as much as 5 pounds for each 500-sheet pack. You'll save even more with the `double-column' and `folded' options. These can also extend the life of your print cartridges. It's ideal for program listings, READ.ME files, on-line magazines and help, e-mail, etc. Its facilities - and limitations - are summarised in Sections 3 and 4. 11 RReeqquuiirreemmeennttss To run DJ_BothSides, you need: * a Hewlett-Packard Deskjet 500 (or compatible) printer, * a IBM PC-compatible computer, * Windows 3.0 or later, and the following five files: FFiillee nnaammee DDeessccrriippttiioonn BOTHSIDE.TXT This document BOTHSIDE.EXE The DJ_BothSides executable program BOTHSIDE.HLP On-line help (binary) BOTHSIDE.SET Default options (binary) READ.ME Changes from previous versions 22 IInnssttaallllaattiioonn Copy all the above files into a directory of your choice. DJ_BothSides is installed like other Windows applications. If you don't know how to do this, consult section `Changing the Contents of Groups' on pages 88-91 in chapter 3 of your Microsoft Windows Version 3 User's Guide. 33 FFaacciilliittiieess DJ_BothSides provides the following facilities: * Automatic selection of an appropriately sized typeface (Courier or Letter Gothic) and page orientation (portrait or landscape) page 2 DJ_BothSides for Windows v1.0 demo * Support for A4, US letter and US legal paper sizes * One-inch left-hand margins for easy filing, or optional page centering * Numbered pages for files without form-feeds * Prints files up to 171 characters wide * Optional double-columning * Optional `folded' booklet output * Optional CG Times output * Optional use of cartridge fonts * Optional partial printing * Optional page footers * User-specifiable tab character expansion 44 LLiimmiittaattiioonnss DJ_BothSides should not be used with non-ASCII, wordprocessor-specific or PostScript files, nor with files containing graphical images. (Note that many wordprocessors can export an ASCII file, which DJ_BothSides can print.) It performs reasonably on files containing characters which are displayable on the screen, together with backspace, form-feed and tab. Many European accented symbols are printed also. Only the PC-8 character set is supported at present. It will not print files containing form-feeds which are more than the maximum page depth apart. Some loss of columniation may occur when a proportionally-spaced typeface is selected. 55 CCoommmmeennttss This is the first version of DJ_BothSides for Windows, which means there could still be bugs; those I know about are listed in Appendix B. Please report others you find. Since DJ_BothSides has not been tested on other Hewlett-Packard printers (except the LaserJet II, with which it doesn't work), reports on how it behaves with these are also welcome. E-mail your bug and printer reports - and suggestions for improvement - to: drt10@uk.ac.cam.phx on JANET v1.0 demo DJ_BothSides for Windows page 3 or drt10%phx.cam.ac.uk@cunyvm.cuny.edu on Internet or post them to the address on page ii. 66 RRuunnnniinngg DDJJ__BBootthhSSiiddeess Double click on DJ_BothSides' `book-and-disk' icon. You will then see the titles of three pull-down menus whose functions are described below. Although not shown here, most items are accessible via accelerator keys. 66..00 TThhee ``DDooccuummeenntt'' MMeennuu The `Document' menu looks something like the following: ---------- | Document | |--------------- | File... | | Print | | Report | | Options... | | Save options | |---------------| | Exit | --------------- The `Print' menu item is disabled on first entry. FFiillee...... Use this item to bring up the Windows file selector. Choose the name of the file you wish to print. The `Print' item is enabled once you've selected a file. PPrriinntt Click on this item to print the selected file using the default (or previously selected) options. DJ_BothSides takes a second or two to locate the document's left and right margins, during which the `margins cursor' is displayed. The `diskette cursor' is shown while a page to be printed is being read and the `printing cursor' is shown whilst a page is sent to the printer. A dialogue form appears prompting you to reinsert the paper between the printing of the back and front pages; see Section 7. The `Options' menu item is used to select print options different from the defaults. RReeppoorrtt Click on this menu item to obtain a running commentary on your print run. (The margins, diskette and printing cursors are disabled when reports are requested.) page 4 DJ_BothSides for Windows v1.0 demo OOppttiioonnss...... When you click on this item, a dialogue form appears with numerous buttons and entries subdivided into groups as follows: __PP__rr__ii__nn__tt __qq__uu__aa__ll__ii__tt__yy DDrraafftt||LLeetttteerr Radio buttons which select draft or letter-quality output. (I recommend high-grade paper with the latter.) __PP__aa__pp__ee__rr __ss__ii__zz__ee AA44||UUSS lleetttteerr||UUSS lleeggaall Radio buttons which select European A4 (210 x 297 mm), US letter (8.5 x 11 in) or US legal (8.5 x 14 in) paper size. __CC__oo__ll__uu__mm__nn __ff__oo__rr__mm__aa__tt SSiinnggllee||DDoouubbllee||FFoollddeedd Radio buttons which select single- or double-columned or booklet output (which you fold in half). N.B: proportionally-spaced fonts and centred output are unavailable when double-columned or folded output is requested; double-columned output is unavailable for files containing form-feeds; folded output has half-inch margins. __MM__aa__rr__gg__ii__nn 11--iinncchh LLHH||CCeennttrreedd Radio buttons which select a one-inch left-hand margin or centred output. (Centering is unavailable when a proportionally-spaced font is selected.) __FF__oo__nn__tt MMoonnoossppaacceedd||PPrrooppoorrttiioonnaall||PPrreessttiiggee EElliittee||GGaarraammoonndd CCoolllleeccttiioonn Four radio buttons which select the font to be used. Those which come as standard with your Deskjet 500 are: * The Courier and Letter Gothic monospaced fonts. Which of Courier and Gothic is used depends upon the maximum line width of the document. * The CG Times proportional font. Those available on cartridge from Hewlett-Packard and which are supported by DJ_BothSides are: * The Prestige Elite monospaced font. * The Garamond proportional font collection. You are invited to choose a character size from 10-, 12- or 14-point if you select this font. The other cartridge fonts, CG Century Schoolbook, Helvetica, Times Roman and CG Triumvirate, are not implemented and their v1.0 demo DJ_BothSides for Windows page 5 buttons are greyed out. Results could be unsatisfactory if you select a font cartridge which isn't plugged in. __PP__aa__gg__ee __nn__uu__mm__bb__ee__rr __ff__oo__oo__tt__ee__rr PPaaggee ##||PPaaggee ##//##||NNoonnee Radio buttons which cause page numbers to be printed at the foot of each page - or not at all with `None'. When `Page #/#' is selected, the total number of pages is also printed, separated from the page number by the solidus `/'. `Page #/#' is unavailable when the `Start' or `End' entry is changed. __DD__aa__tt__ee __ff__oo__oo__tt__ee__rr FFiillee ddaattee||SSyysstteemm ddaattee||NNoonnee The `File date' radio button causes the date of creation or most recent amendment for the file being printed to appear at the foot of the page. `System date' causes the current date, as known to your system, to be printed instead. No dates are printed when you select the `None' radio button. __FF__ii__ll__ee __nn__aa__mm__ee FFiilleennaammee ffooootteerr Check this box to cause the name of the file being printed to appear at the foot of the page. None of the above page footer options is available for files containing form-feeds. __PP__aa__gg__ee __rr__aa__nn__gg__ee __aa__nn__dd __tt__aa__bb __ee__xx__pp__aa__nn__ss__ii__oo__nn ``SSttaarrtt'' aanndd ``EEnndd'' These entries are used to print some of the pages of a document. By default, all pages are printed. ``TTaabbss'' This entry specifies the expansion of tab characters (default: 4). OOKK Confirms your options selection. CCaanncceell Cancels your options selection. SSaavvee ooppttiioonnss...... Select this menu item to save your choices for the next time you use DJ_BothSides. EExxiitt Exit DJ_BothSides. page 6 DJ_BothSides for Windows v1.0 demo 66..11 TThhee ``PPoorrtt'' MMeennuu The `Port' menu looks something like the following: ------- | Port | |-------- | LPT1 | | LPT2 | | LPT3 | |--------| | COM1 | | COM2 | | COM3 | | COM4 | -------- These menu items enable you to identify the parallel port (from LPT1 to LPT3) or the serial port (from COM1 to COM4) to which your Deskjet is connected. 66..22 TThhee ``HHeellpp'' MMeennuu The `Help' menu looks something like the following: ------ | Help | |------------------------ | Index... | | About DJ_BothSides... | ------------------------ IInnddeexx...... Click on this menu item to access DJ_BothSides' on-line help information. AAbboouutt DDJJ__BBootthhSSiiddeess...... Displays the program's version number and copyright notice. 77 LLooaaddiinngg tthhee PPaappeerr Load your Deskjet's input hopper as normal. DJ_BothSides will pprriinntt tthhee bbaacckk ppaaggeess ooff yyoouurr ddooccuummeenntt ffiirrsstt.. WWhheenn tthhee DDeesskkjjeett''ss bbuussyy lliigghhtt ssttaayyss ooffff,, remove the paper (possibly including a blank page on top) from the output hopper. N.B: once you are familiar with using DJ_BothSides, this is the time to check for unexpected, completely blank pages in case the Deskjet had fed two pages at once. Remove any before you reload the paper. Reinsert the sheets wwiitthhoouutt cchhaannggiinngg tthheeiirr oorrddeerr all together into the iinnppuutt hhooppppeerr (on top of any unused sheets), making sure that the pprriinntteedd ssiiddee iiss oonn tthhee ttoopp,, and: v1.0 demo DJ_BothSides for Windows page 7 * if DJ_BothSides selects ppoorrttrraaiitt mmooddee,, make sure the top edge of the paper (nearest the first line) goes into the hopper first (turn the paper through 180 degrees), or * if llaannddssccaappee mmooddee is selected, make sure the left-hand edge of the paper (nearest the first column) goes into the hopper first (no rotation is necessary). N.B: with portrait mode, lines are printed parallel to the shortest edge of the paper; with landscape mode, they're printed parallel to the longest edge. Ensure that the paper is nicely stacked and then press the [Enter] key. The document arrives in the output hopper the right way up in the correct order. Very occasionally, the Deskjet will feed two sheets at once, messing up the whole process. It's best to start again from scratch if this occurs. 88 HHiinnttss Whilst DJ_BothSides' operation is essentially automatic, I recommend the following text widths for single-column output and all paper sizes: PPrreessttiiggee oorr GGaarraammoonndd CCoouurriieerr LLeetttteerr GGootthhiicc CCGG TTiimmeess 1100--pptt 1122--pptt 1144--pptt 67 80 ~86 ~100 ~86 ~74 Unless CG Times, Garamond or Prestige is selected, landscape orientation is triggered for particularly wide documents. I recommend the following page sizes (depth in single-spaced lines, width in characters) for paginated, pre-formatted text intended for folded output (which is always in 6- or 12-point Courier): PPaappeerr 1122--ppooiinntt,, 66 llppii 66--ppooiinntt,, 1100 llppii MMaaxxiimmuumm ssiizzee DDeepptthh WWiiddtthh DDeepptthh WWiiddtthh wwiiddtthh A4 47 50 76 81 85 US letter 47 46 76 75 78 US legal 47 60 76 100 105 Reduce the chance of double-feeding by using high-grade paper (greater than 80 gsm). page 8 DJ_BothSides for Windows v1.0 demo AAppppeennddiixx AA EErrrroorr MMeessssaaggeess "A line in the document is too long." The length of at least one line in the document exceeds the maximum permitted (> 400). SSoolluuttiioonn:: reduce the tab size. "A printed line will be too long." The length of two adjacent lines `across the fold' exceeds the maximum permitted (> 400). This is often due to the combination of underline and bold. SSoolluuttiioonn:: reduce the text enhancement. "Document is too wide for folded output." or "Document is too wide for two columns." or "Your document is too wide for printing." SSoolluuttiioonnss:: reduce the tab size and/or select single-column output. "Double-columning is unavailable for files containing form-feeds." SSoolluuttiioonnss:: select single-column or folded output. "Final page is before start page." or "Start is after last page." or "You can't start at page 0." SSoolluuttiioonn:: refill the `Start' and `End' entries. "Form-feed position exceeds the maximum page depth." The page depth of a pre-formatted document is too large for the paper. SSoolluuttiioonn:: read the hints in Section 7 and reformat the document. "The demo doesn't print files larger than 45000 bytes. Buy the full version." or "The demo doesn't print more than 16 pages. Buy the full version." Self-explanatory. AAppppeennddiixx BB PPrroobblleemmss * It is easy to crash DJ_BothSides - and Windows - if you do strange things with the communications ports, like switching the printer off before or during a print run or selecting a modem port. (Windows' File Manager can behave similarly.) * Unexpected, backspaced characters occasionally appear in Courier 6-point, double-columned and folded output. * When the program is LOADed from WIN.INI, the minimised icon only appears once it's covered by the mouse. v1.0 demo DJ_BothSides for Windows page 9 AAppppeennddiixx CC RReeggiissttrraattiioonn RReeggiissttrraattiioonn aanndd UUsseerr RReessppoonnssee FFoorrmm Send me right away the _full_ version of DJ_BothSides. I enclose a cheque payable to D.Tilley for 15 pounds sterling or 30 US dollars (or banknotes in another currency equivalent to 30 US dollars). Your name: ________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________ Post/zip code: ___________ E-mail: _______________________________ Network: _________________ Diskette size: 5.25-inch / 3.5-inch Invoice? Yes / No The remaining questions are optional: Where did you obtain DJ_BothSides? ________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Your computer: ____________________________________________________ Monitor: __________________________________ Hard disk? Yes / No Windows: version ____ Your printer: _____________________________ Your cartridges (include make if it's not Hewlett-Packard): ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ How could DJ_BothSides or the User Guide be improved? Continue overleaf if necessary. Post the completed form together with your remittance to: David R. Tilley, 67 Tolworth Park Road, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 7RJ, UK. Windows 3.0a v1.0 1/1/92