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From: bruceb@amiga.UUCP (Bruce Barrett)
Newsgroups: net.micro.amiga
Subject: Re: Print.c - prints files.
Message-ID: <710@amiga.amiga.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 19-Feb-86 18:39:01 EST
Article-I.D.: amiga.710
Posted: Wed Feb 19 18:39:01 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Feb-86 05:41:09 EST
References: <332@sask.UUCP> <707@amiga.amiga.UUCP>
Reply-To: bruceb@hunter.UUCP (Bruce Barrett)
Distribution: net
Organization: Commodore-Amiga Inc., 983 University Ave #D, Los Gatos CA 95030
Lines: 60

In article <707@amiga.amiga.UUCP> andy@skipper.UUCP (Andy Finkel) writes:
>In article <332@sask.UUCP> hardie@sask.UUCP (Peter Hardie ) writes:
>>Here's the C (Lattice 3.02) source for a program that prints files.
>>It's better than using the copy command...
>>Pete
>>ihnp4!sask!hardie
>
>Not to take anything away from Pete, since its useful to try these things,
>but here's another way to to it:
>
>(from a CLI window)
>
>run copy filename1 to prt: +
>copy filename2 to prt: +
>     :
>copy filenamen to prt:
optional:
>echo > prt: "^L"
>(control L is the formfeed)
>
>to get the full, raw effect, copy to par: instead of prt:
>
>You could also make it into a DOS execute file, with parameters.
>
>				andy finkel
>				Commodore(Amiga)

Or........ even better(???) [different, at least] than Andy's solution...

You can use the "Join" command.  This makes handling multiple files even
easier (for the batch file).  Something like:
1)
	echo > :t/ff "^L"
	run join file1 :t/ff file2 :t/ff ... filen as prt:
	delete :t/ff
or 2)
	run join file1 file2 ... filen as prt:
or 3) and 4) use par: (or ser:) instead for "RawWrite".

==========PROBLEMS=============
You will please note the following problems with both Andy and my "solutions":
	1) No provision for the -nN option is made
	2) We assume (*Very* foolish us) that your printer is parallel.  OK
		so you can copy to SER: instead but this would require
		knowlege on the part of the person running/installing the
		execute file.  Not user friendly if you have 2 systems with
		2 different types of printers (like I do).
	3) Join will only handle 10 files (in this case that might be 5 files
		and 5 form-feeds) a definite limitation.
	4) Do NOT try using:
		run copy .... par:
		run copy .... par:
		run copy .... par:
	  as the 2nd and third copies may try to print before the first 
	  frees the printer.  They will just give up on the PRT: open error.

All and all I think Peter's program (although I have yet to use it) is 
quite useful in some cases.     Thanks Peter.

--Bruce Barrett (Commodore-Amiga)