;
BPRINTe� 4.0
Copyrigh� (c� 198� Alph� Systems
Al� right� reserved
1� Introductio� 3� Syste� Requirements
2� Usin� BPRINTe� 4� Ho� BPRINTe� Works
Pres� numbe� fo� desire� topic
(Control-� Quit� HELP)
Alph� System� Corporation
71� Chatswort� Place
Sa� Jose� California 95128
(408)297-5594
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Introductio� t� BPRINTe� 4.0
BPRINTe� �(Backgroun� Printer� i� � Ne� �-Syste� IO� whic� allow� printin� �� �
particula� �fil� a� � 'background� tas� whil� runnin� a� applicatio� �progra� �
i� �th� 'foreground'� An� ASCI� o� prin�-formatte� fil� ma� b� sen� �t� �th� �
LIS� �device� Printin� take� plac� withou� interferenc� wit� an� �subsequen� �
program.
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Usin� BPRINTe� 4.0
BPRINTe� �consist� �o� tw� files� BPRINT.CO� contro� an� loade� �progra� �an� �
BPRINTER.REL� �th� �IOP� I� BPRIN� i� invoke� fo� anythin� �excep� �specifi� �
Hel� �(BPRIN� //)� i� check� t� se� i� BPRINTE� i� alread� loade� a� �a� �IO� �
and� �i� �not� close� th� curren� IOP� load� BPRINTER.RE� �an� �execute� �th� �
command� Ther� ar� fou� command� associate� wit� BPRINTer:
BPRIN� O� [DIR:][FILE.TYP]
Star� �backgroun� printing� Th� defaul� Printe� fil� i� PRINTER.FI� �i� �th� �
curren� �directory� � BPRIN� O� ma� selec� anothe� director� �and/o� �anothe� �
fil� �t� b� sen� t� th� printer� Th� fil� i� sen� verbatim� Whil� �BPRINTE� �
i� �printing� �an� �applicatio� outpu� t� th� LIS� devic� �i� �lost� � Typin� �
Cntr�-� wil� suspen� BPRINTe� an� allo� norma� LIS� outpu� t� th� printer� � �
subsequen� Cntrl-� wil� caus� BPRINTe� t� resum� printing.
BPRIN� OFF
Sto� printin� an� clos� th� Prin� file� � subsequen� BPRIN� O� wil� �r�-ope� �
th� prin� fil� an� star� agai� fro� th� top.
BPRIN� D
Se� th� defaul� Printe� fil� t� PRINTER.FI� i� th� curren� directory.
BPRIN� F
Repor� th� filespe�, DIR:FILE.TY�, fo� th� currentl� define� Prin� file.
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Syste� Requirements
BPRINTe� �require� � Z8� base� �-Syste� (ZRDO� o� ZSDOS� wit� a� �leas� �1.5� �
IO� �spac� �declared� � Th� cod� sectio� o� BPRINTE� require� �seve� ��f �th� �
twelv� �record� o� th� standar� IOP� Th� remainin� fiv� record� ar� use� �a� �
th� �Printe� �buffer� I� fact� th� printe� buffe� i� �dynamicall� �size� �b� �
BPRINTE� �an� �i� �yo� declar� a� IO� large� tha� 1.5k� �th� �printe� �buffe� �
become� tha� muc� larger� an� therefor� require� fewe� dis� accesse� t� �rea� �
i� � particula� file.
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Ho� BPRINTe� Works
BPRINTe� i� � Ne� �-Syste� IO� (Input/Outpu� Processor)� I� trap� �virtuall� �
al� �call� �t� BIO� an� BDOS� Whe� firs� turne� ON� i� �open� �th� �selecte� �
Prin� file� check� LISTS� an� i� th� printe� i� ready� read� character� �fro� �
th� �selecte� �fil� �an� send� the� t� th� printe� �unti� �LISTS� �show� �th� �
printe� �t� b� bus� (printing)�
Whil� �th� �printe� i� busy� thes� call� ar� passe� t� th� �BIOS� � Whe� �th� �
printe� �i� �onc� agai� free� character� ar� sen� t� i� unti� �i� �goe� �bus� �
again� Mos� printer� hav� a� leas� � 'line� buffe� an� wil� accep� u� t� 13� �
character� �a� �� tim� o� unti� � CR� L� o� F� characte� �whic� �ar� �usuall� �
'print� command� t� th� printe� whic� caus� i� t� g� 'busy� again�
Assumin� � paralle� printe� interface� mos� BIOS'� ca� shi� character� t� th� �
printer'� buffe� a� 5,00� character� pe� secon� o� faster� Thi� mean� tha� � �
10�-characte� lin� o� prin� (betwee� CR's� i� sen� t� th� printe� withi� �20� �
milliseconds� �s� �fas� �tha� th� WordSta� use� perceive� �n� �dela� �a� �al� �
betwee� his/he� keystrokes�
