Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ukma!xanth!lll-winken!tekbspa!optilink!cramer
From: cramer@optilink.UUCP (Clayton Cramer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Need help with Epson printer command
Keywords: nine pin graphics
Message-ID: <1293@optilink.UUCP>
Date: 2 May 89 17:59:16 GMT
References: <7967@killer.Dallas.TX.US>
Distribution: na
Organization: Optilink Corporation, Petaluma, CA
Lines: 40

In article <7967@killer.Dallas.TX.US>, bobc@killer.Dallas.TX.US (Bob Calbridge) writes:
> Can anyone tell me how to properly use nine pin graphics on an Epson printer?
> My manual only gives the abreviated description of it.  I had assumed that
> you enter the numbers in pairs with the lower byte coming first and the second
> byte representing the firing of the ninth pin.  Didn't work.  

Nope.  You can't get to the ninth pin.  You can only use 8 pins in graphics
mode.  The ninth pin is for underlining.  Note that you will have to 
change your line spacing so that you can resume graphics mode printing
directly under the 8 pins of data you have just printed.

The Epson 24-pin printers allow you to access all 24 pins of data, and
the work in the manner you describe: top 8, middle 8, bottom 8.

> Also, is there something that prevents you from using the value 255 in a 
> graphic column?  I tried and it didn't work.  It seemed to revert to test mode
> again.  

Make sure that the program you are using doesn't have some special meaning
for 255.  BASIC interpreters used to be notoriously for their peculiar
interpretations of "special" characters.

> I would also appreciate a more detailed description of how to enter user
> defined characters and how to invoke them properly.  The text on this area was
> quite limited and the Basic Examples used were no good and in some places
> contradictory.
> 
> Thanks,
> Bob

The Epson manual for the LQ series printers are quite good in this
area -- I'm surprised that the 9-pin printer manuals aren't adequate.
If you don't have the Epson manual for your printer, they are usually
available cheap or free from Epson.  Epson America is located in
Torrance, CA, in the 213 area code.
-- 
Clayton E. Cramer                   {pyramid,pixar,tekbspa}!optilink!cramer
Governments that don't trust most people with weapons, deserve no trust.
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