SUMMARY
Question:
When an LLIST or LPRINT statement (e.g. "character mode") is performed
after "graphics mode" output to the ImageWriter printer, the output is
compressed vertically. How can the output be changed back to normal
text size?
Response:
This information applies to Microsoft QuickBASIC Versions 1.00 1.00a
1.00b, Microsoft BASIC Compiler Version 1.00, and Microsoft BASIC
Interpreter Versions 1.00, 1.01, 2.00, 2.10, and 3.00 for the Apple
Macintosh.
After a graphics-mode dump, such as LCOPY or SHIFT+COMMAND+4, to the
ImageWriter printer, you will notice that an LLIST and LPRINT
(character mode output) produces 8 lines per vertical inch, which
looks compressed. The characters also appear elongated. To avoid the
compressed look, you must reset the printer before doing an LLIST or
LPRINT after a graphics-mode dump.
You can easily reset the printer back to 6 lines per inch by doing one
of the following:
- Turning the printer off, then on
- Sending the following control characters to the ImageWriter
printer:
LPRINT CHR$(27);"A" ' This gives 6 lines per inch.
We can't design BASIC to automatically compensate for this problem,
such as sending control characters to the printer, since this would
confuse the printer. (The Macintosh print manager offers no
device-independent way of resetting the printer after a graphics-mode
screen dump.)
Definitions
"Graphics mode" printer output comes from the following:
- Output to "LPT1:" or "LPT1:PROMPT" (Pages 42-43 of the "Microsoft
BASIC Interpreter for Apple Macintosh" manual for Versions 2.x and
3.00)
- LCOPY statement
- Pressing SHIFT+COMMAND+4
"Character mode" printer output comes from the following:
- Output to "LPT1:DIRECT" (Pages 42-43) or "LPT1:BIN" (not in manual)
- LPRINT statement