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Copyright Notice '" Copyright © 1991 by Thilo Herrmann and Creative Micro Designs, Inc. All rights connected to this program (GEOS LQ Print System, HQ printer drivers, LQ fonts and font utilities) are reserved by Thilo Herrmann. The rights to the manual are reserved by Creative Micro Designs, Inc. and Thilo Herrmann. All programs and documentation included in this package are copyrighted by Creative Micro Designs, Inc. and Thilo Herrmann and are protected by United States and International copyright laws.
Table Of Contents Section 1: Preliminary Information How To Use This Manual ................................................................. 1 Introduction .................................................................................... 1 How the Perfect Print LQ System Works............................................. 2 Contents of the Perfect Print LQ Package ...........................................• 3 Perfect Print LQ and OEOS 128.........................................................
Table of Contents Section 4: The GEOS LQ Print System About the GEOS LQ Print System ................................................... 19 Simplified Installation ........................................•..•.•........•............. 19 9 pin Printers ....•...................•.....•..........•••..•........•.•.........•...•.... 20 24 pin Printers ........................................................................... 20 Making a Work Disk ..................................................................
Table of Contents Section 5: LQ Fonts How the LQ Fonts Work ............................................ ~ ................... 41 Installing LQ Fonts on your Work Disk ........................................... .42 Infonnation Concerning the LQ Fonts .......................•...................... .42 Paragraph Font ............................................................................. 42 Gothic LQ ................................................................................... 42 Uncial LQ .....
Section 1 Preliminary Information How To Use This Manual Different sections of this manual describe the two different driver systems included in the the Perfect Print LQ package. Section 3 describes the Perfect Print HQ Driver Disk with interpolation drivers, and Section 4 describes the Perfect Print GEOS LQ Print System. Either part can be read independently. If you are working mainly with geoWrite and wish to achieve the best possible printout, simply follow the instructions in Section 4.
Section 1 Gasp!) There were really only two alternatives. Either put up with the poor results, or turn to other, more complex programs which offered better print results without GEOS. Perfect Print was designed to solve this problem. This package consists of the GEOS LQ Print System for geoWrite and a collection of powerful HQ interpolation printer drivers for the other applications. The Print System expands geoWrite (the most used application in GEOS) to new printout dimensions.
Preliminary Information and somewhat fuzzy or less defined. Perfect Print offers some better solutions. The frrst improvement is to swap the normal GEOS printer driver with an interpolation driver as found on Perfect Print LQ's HQ Printer Dri,ver Disk. This driver doesn't just deliver the print data from the computer to the printer, but examines the data to create output in an entirely different way. The inferior GEOS resolution is interpolated (changed) into.
Section 1 The standard package is contained on two double-sided 1541 disks. The lllSt disk contains the GEOS LQ Print System and five LQ fonts and the second contains the HQ printer drivers with HQ fonts and two additional LQ fonts. The complete package is contained on six double-sided 1541 disks. The lllSt two are identical with the standard package and the other four contain the collection of LQ fonts.
Preliminary Information A special thanks belongs to Florian Mueller who inspired the whole project and gave much support. Customer Service and Support H you should encounter problems with Perfect Print LQ, first re-read the passages dealing with your problem before calling CMD. You may find the solution and save yourself some time and expense. You may contact CMD Technical Support at 413-525-0023.
Section 1 materials and workmanship under nonnal use for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of delivery to you as evidenced by a copy of your receipt LIMITATIONS OF REMEDIES: Creative Micro Designs, Inc. entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall be: a. the replacement of any diskettes not meeting Creative Micro Design, Inc. "Limited Warranty" and which are returned to Creative Micro Designs, Inc. with a copy of your receipt, or, b. if Creative Micro Designs, Inc.
Section 2 Printer and Connection Types The Differences in Printers With the abundance of printer manufacturers comes a variety of printers and a diversity of printer models. Suitable HQ interpolation printer drivers for most of the commonly used printers are located on the HQ Drivers disk. 'The GEOS LQ Print System does not work with printer drivers, but rather with it's own printer adaptation files, which are included on the disks. Most printers, from the computer's viewpoint, are identical.
Section 2 Printer Adjustments The DIP switches on some serial connected printers may need to be switched to an Epson, mM or "ASCll" mode before use. IT not, they may print using an inferior "Commodore" mode. (the HQ drivers and the GEOS LQ Print System do not support the use of the Commodore printing modes). Please refer to the section of your printer manual which deals with DIP switch settings before using Perfect Print.
Section 3 The HQ Drivers The HQ Driver Disk Contained in this package is a disk with an extensive collection of newly developed printer drivers. There are interpolation HQ drivers, "mega" drivers, plus some simple but fast drivers, which print in a lower quality. There may also be a "read me" file in geoWrite format located on the disk, which •explains any newly developed printer drivers. These drivers may be used in place of the printer drivers contained on your GEOS system disk.
Section 3 9 pin Printers For a 9 pin printer (including Seikosha SL-80VC) it is best to use a clriver from page two on the desktop. If your printer is serially connected, then one of the following drivers will be correct: HQ9 med Eps S5 for most Epson compatible printers with an internal or external (Xetec, Cardco, Supra) serial interface. HQ9 med IBM S5 for most IBM compatible printers with an internal or external serial interface.
The HQ Drivers If your printer is parallel connected (user port connection) use the "HQ24 low Eps GC" printer driver. Using the drivers on page 7 of the desktop will improve the print quality even more on all 24 pin printers with the exception of Epson. Those for the new Epson printers can be found on page 8. Old Epson 24 pin printers can use the drivers on pages 5 and 6.
Section 3 Type of Printer Driver The driver names begin with the abbreviation, "HQ", "MG" or "Simple". "HQ" stands for "high quality" which indicates that the driver works with the interpolation procedure. We recommend installing this kind of driver as it produces the best printout "MG" stands for "mega" and indicates a high resolution printout which is not interpolated and tends to be a bit crude. In some cases, this can be useful.
The HQ Drivers "high" squeezes the highest resolution out of your printer. A higher print density on 9 and 24 pin printers is unattainable. 9 pin printers reach an unreduced resolution of 240 x 216 dpi using six passes, and 24 pin printers attain 360 x 360 dpi using four passes. The difference between "med" and "high" is not that drastic. We recommend "high" only when uncompromised print quality is demanded, as it requires the longest printing time.
Section 3 Installing a Printer Driver Installing a printer driver is very easy, the most difficult part being the selection of the driver which best suits your printer and/or interface. What follows is an exact description of which printer drivers work best with specific printers and interfaces. Check back to the Section 2, topic "Printer Adjustments", which describes the adjustments you may need to make on your printer.
The HQ Drivers 9 pin printers, Epson-compatlble Practically all 9 pin printers such as Epson FX/LX, Commodore MPS (from 1200 up), Star, Panasonic, Citizen, Fujitsu, new Okidata, and Seikosha (from SP-1200VC up, also SL-SOVC and SP-xxxAI) Most 9 pin printers behave just like those produced by Epson and are referred to as Epson-compatible.
Section 3 printer with a parallel connection. H your printer is incompatible with Perfect Print, we will allow you to return the package for a refund, as long as it is returned complete and in original condition within 30 days of receipt. Please contact CMD to obtain a Return Authorization Number and instructions.
The HQ Drivers etc.). You might also supply us with some sample printouts, if possible. We will try to solve the problem, but we may require a copy of your printer and/or interface manual(s) if the printer and/or interface are less common. Installing the Driver Installation is relatively simple. Copy the chosen driver on to a work disk or system disk (GEOS 128). Choose "select printer" from the "geos" menu. Choose the driver from the dialog box and click "OK".
Section 4 The GEOS LQ Print System About the GEOS LQ Print System The GEOS LQ Print System expands geoWrite's printing capabilities and allows adjustment of the print quality. The system is usually started from within geoWrite by first clicking "update" in the file menu and then "StartLQ" in the geos menu. Remember that only text which has been formatted with an LQ font will be printed out in the maximum quality. You'll need, therefore, at least one LQ font on your work disk.
Section 4 9 pin Printers If you are using a serially connected 9 pin printer, no additional files are normally required, and you can begin to prinL If the printout results are incorrect, then it is likely that you will need one of the following files which are located on page two of the GEOS LQ program disk: LQConnect S7 for use with many of the serially connected Seikosha SP-xxxVC printers.
The GEOS LO Print System Making a Work Disk Before you begin, you should take time to read the "Read Me" me located on the GEOS LQ Print System disk. This file contains additional information which might not be contained in this manual.
Section 4 Printer Adaptation Most all printing programs have problems with printer adaptation and the GEOS LQ Print System is no exception. This is mostly due to the diversity of available printers and their connection possibilities. Most of the newer printers present no problems, especially newer 24 pin printers. If you've already successfully installed an HQ driver, you probably won't have much difficulty with the GEOS LQ Print System.
The GEOS LO Print System "S 1", "S4", "S5", "S7", "GC" "GCSlow" or "GCFasl" "GC" indicates a parallel connection. A parallel connected printer should use the "LQConnect GC" file. If this does not work, then try "LQConnect GCSlow". The number following the "S" in the serial connection files is the secondary address. If you've successfully installed one of the HQ printer drivers then use one of the connection files which uses the same "S" number.
Section 4 Which Adaptation for Which Printer Type The choice of the printer adaptation is extremely important. The most widely purchased printer types are listed below. The adaptation files for the printer types begin with the letters "LQA" and can be found on the desktop pages three (for 9 pin printers) and four (for 24 pin printers). When choosing an adaptation file, it is very important to discern between 9 and 24 pin printers.
The GEOS LO Print System 9 pin Printers, old Star printers (SG and others) These printers are not, or not completely Epson-compatible and can only reach a vertical resolution of 144 dpi. The main difference is in the paper feed mechanics. When using the Print System without an adaptation file with these printers, horizontal lines occur between printed lines. Using a "LQA Oldmechanics" adaptation fIle for most Epson-compatible printers or "LQA Star SG" for a Star SG printer will rectify this problem.
Section 4 If you are the fortunate owner of an LQ-550 or a new LQ-850/860 (or 1050/2550) you can use the nLQA NEW Epson Q" fIle. This adaptation functions only with these newer Epson printers. The nLQA Epson Q" will also work with all these printers. 24 pin Printers, IBM-compatible A few 24 pin printers are mM-compatible (usually very old 24 pin printers). Use the "LQA mM 24" adaptation fIle in these cases. Many new 24 pin printers can be switched to mM mode.
The GEOS LQ Print System The Documents to be Printed Generally, any geoWrite document (but not geoPublish documents) can be printed with the Print System. If LQ fonts are used, then the best possible print quality will be produced. You may also use standard GEOS fonts, but these will be interpolated by the Print System during the printing process. The supplied font utilities will allow you to create your own LQ fonts (but .this can be difficult and very time consumingI).
Section 4 From Page· To Page· With these options you are able to print one, some, or all of the pages of the document Clicking on the arrows moves the page number up or down. You may also directly write the page numbers into the broken~lined boxes beside the arrows by using the numbers and the DEL key on the keyboard. SIngle Sheets I Copies If you click on the "Single Sheet" box, this becomes filled in. The program will then ask you to insert a sheet before it begins to print a new page.
The GEOS LQ Print System With low resolution settings, best results are reached using the University LQ font. More on fonts in Section 5. A slight improvement in print quality may be reached if you set your printer transport to friction feed instead of tractor. Adjusting the print head gap may also help. Interpolation The rest of the switch boxes can be ignored if you wish to start printing. Three special functions can be switched on and off with these boxes.
Section 4 The parameters are saved directly to the "GeosLQ" file. If you need to have the default parameter settings again, you must copy the "GeosLQ" file from the distribution disk to your work disk. Print Clicking once in the Print box starts the printing process. Please ensure that your printer is online. It may be a few seconds before the printer actually begins printing. In 40 column mode, the screen will change colors. When the screen is dark, the program is "thinking" and arranging the data.
The GEOS La Print System Entering the Print System from geoWrite Its a bit awkward having to leave geoWrite, and return to the deskTop in order to start the Print System. For this reason a desk accessory named "StartLQ" has been created. Mter "StartLQ" has been copied to your geoWrite work disk, itwill appear under the "geos" menu in the upper left hand comer of the command menu in geoWrite. Mter clicking "StartLQ", the Print System is loaded and started.
Section 4 Quality, Speed and Serial Printers The Print System is an optimized and very fast assembly language program. Still, a printout in the highest resolution does take some time. 9 pin printers tend to slow down the C-64/128. 24 pin printers push both the computer and printer to their limits. The serial printer connection really puts the brakes onl Due to this, you probably won't want to print in the highest resolution every time.
The GEOS La Print System The Configuration Files You can influence the way the Print System operates by altering the configuration fdes, of which there are three different types. Two of them have already been mentioned: the connection file ("LQConnecL .• ") and the printer adaptation file ("LQA..•H). The third configuration file is called the parameter file ("LQP...H). All of the configuration fdes are simple geoWrite documents which can be opened and modified as you wish.
Section 4 "LQP Labels" sets the page height at 1 1/2 inches, which is the normal height of disk labels. Altering this file will allow the use of labels of other sizes. The number of copies is detennined in the print menu. A sample flle is located on the disk. "LQP Standard" contains the standard parameter, which the Print System will use if no parameter rue is found on the disk. Use this rue as a pattern when modifying or creating your own rues.
The GEOS LQ Print System These values set defaults for the print menu options (see Section 4, topic "Starting the Print System", sUbtopic "The Print Menu"). Generally speaking, 24 pin mode can always be on (yes). The Print System will detect the presence of a 9 pin adaptation file and switch automatically. Page size ;** Page size Yes, Yes ; Automatic page sizing (X/Y)? This should always be left as "yes, yes".
Section 4 the print menu adjustment) are used for rounding up or down the font factors. The correct value here is 0.5. This function will rarely be needed. Yes ; text-formatting according to geoWrite ; (geoWrite-emulation) ? This is the preset adjustment for geoWrite-fonnat in the print menu. A "yes" answer allows the line makeup of the Print System to be the same as that of geoWrite (if possible). "No" allows for a balanced printout, especially if the "Gradual sizing" option is chosen in the print menu.
The GEOS LQ Print System 1.5. ; Distance, in inches, between footer and ; edge of paper This distance can be made larger or smaller by inserting an inch value. Yes ; Perform form-feed? If the Print System is to perform a formfeed after every page, a "yes" is required here. A "no" will cause the pages to print without a formfeed.
Section 4 1 ; Number of identical pin strikes When using a worn out ribbon, the number of identical pin strikes can be regulated. This will, of course, result in a much longer printing time and is not practical when printing in high resolution. Yes ; Optimize printing for the left margin? The unprinted part of the left margin is cut off and replaced with spaces. This saves time and unnecessary print head movement. If your printer has trouble with this setting, switch the optimizing to "no".
The GEOS La Print System If you should have problems, it is best to turn to us for help. Let us know your exact printer type and we will see if an adaptation file exists for it Most of the time, problems with the printer are not in the adaptation, but rather in using the wrong "LQConnect" "file or incorrect DIP switch settings. Therefore, read through those sections again.
Section 5 LQ Fonts Depending upon which package you've purchased, either 7 or 45 LQ fonts have been supplied with Perfect Print LQ. These fonts, when used with the GEOS LQ Print System, provide the best possible printing results. These fonts can also be altered with the supplied font utilities. More information concerning these programs is given in Section 6. Please read these sections before attempting to alter or create your own LQ fonts.
Section 5 Installing LQ Fonts on your Work Disk You only need copy the LQ fonts on to your work disk. The Print System expects the fonts to be on the same disk drive as the "GeosLQ" fIle and geoWrite. If you use "LQP FontDisk" or if you replace "no" with "yes" in your currently installed parameter fIle as an answer to the question "Fonts on the text disk'!" (see Section 4. topic "The Configuration Files". subtopic "The Structure of the Parameter File") the system searches the fonts on the document disk.
La Fonts Uncial LQ This font is divided into two sections: "Uncial 7 LQ" and "Uncial 15 LQ". This font contains only small and capital letters as well as the period, comma and slash. Ring LQ The letters in this font were all created from circles. Ring LQ contains only capital letters, numbers and some special characters. Keyboard LQ With this font you are able to produce text resembling computer keys. The letters are typed using the SHIFT key. The small letters are reserved for the special keys.
Section 6 Modifying and Creating LQ Fonts About the LQ Fonts By using the font utilities supplied with Perfect Print, you can easily revise, adapt or create LQ fonlS to suit your needs. You can, for instance, erase unwanted point sizes, create required sizes, copy sizes from one font .to another, or change normal fonlS to LQ fonlS. You can also create a completely new LQ font by using a font editor (one has been supplied). This is, however, very difficult and requires much time.
Section 6 sizes of that same fonL GEOS LQ swaps the chosen point size with another at it's own discretion. If you wish to insert a special character in a font, be sure this character is present in all point sizes. You must at least make sure that the character is present in the point size which the Print System will use (36 if you're using 12 point in your documenL). When modifying or creating LQ fonts it is also important to match the proportion between width and height in the different point sizes.
Modifying and Creating LO Fonts Single drive users can also use these programs without restrictions, as the request for the font file is made directly before saving or loading. You then have the option to choose a font from another disk. Make sure that you never have less than one and never more than seven point sizes in a font. geoWrite will crash if it encounters an empty font or a font with eight or more point sizes.
Section 6 be the same. If the point size in the destination font already exists it will be written over. Take care in choosing an ID number for the newly created fonts. Never chose 0, as that is the ID number for BSW-9. FontCreate This program simply creates an empty font file. Using "FontSplice" and "FontZoom" you can then save single point sizes to this font.
Modifying and Creating La Fonts the width will be doubled, and "50" halves iL Then the font is loaded. H the font is to be reduced, two additional questions will be asked, which deal with the reduction process. There are actually two reduction processes. The simpler process reduces the a font by simply dropping some pixels. This can lead to unpleasant results such as the loss of the cross line in the letler H. The second process eliminates this defect, collecting all of the black pixels.
Section 6 program is very simple. Simply follow the instructions in the windows. The Print System will recognize and use these bidden point sizes. There isn't a program to restore the hidden point sizes. If this should be necessary. simple copy the point size back to itself using FontMove. FontDistance This program serves two purposes - it marks a font as an LQ font, making it acceptable for the Print System. and it adjusts the distance between the characters in a font. As already stated.
Modifying and Creating LQ Fonts separated from each other with commas. You can insert as many of these sets in a line as you wish. The next line marks either the end of the document or an additional font name with it's number values. All fonts have to be on the same disk with the files "FontAdjust" and "Adjusttxt". After the program starts, the "Adjusttxt" file is read. The program then works on the point sizes, whereby the space left and right of each letter is removed.
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Section 7 The Parallel Printer Connection Most printers purchased today are equipped with a centronics jack. This type of connection is normal for most computers. The C-64/l2S are connected to the printer via the serial port. usually to the disk drive. In order to use a centronics printer. commodore users must hook up their computer fll'St to an interface. These interfaces are little computers in themselves.
Section 7 Purchasing a Parallel Cable CMD Technical Support can provide you with infonnation on where to purchase a parallel cable (we have not printed such infonnation in this manual in case sources change). If you are thinking of purchasing your cable elsewhere, make sure the connections listed later in this section are identical with the cable you wish to purchase. When inserting the cable into the user port, make sure the computer is turned off and the user port plug-in card is inserted right side up.
Appendix A Problems and Solutions The most common problems which may occur when using Perfect Print are listed here, together with possible solutions. The Printer falls to respond. Check to see if the printer is connected correctly. It may be parallel or serial connected (but not both). Make sure the printer is plugged in, turned on and on line. You may be using the wrong connection me or a printer driver with the wrong kind of connection.
Appendix A Pans of the text are printed too far to the left. Your printer is having problems with the print optimizing factor. The solutions in the previous point can be used here as well. Wide blank spaces between unrecognizable print lines. The problem could be an extta formfeed. This problem occurs especially with the MPS-1230. See Section 2, topic "Printer Adjustments", which explains how to switch off the form feed.
Problems and Solutions Slow printing speed There are many causes for this. It could be nonnal, as high density printouts do take time. We highly recommend you connect your printer to the computer via the parallel user port. If your printer has a buffer of under 4 Kbytes, or no buffer at all, GEOS LQ is required to waiL Different fonts and font styles (especially Outline) in a document also slow down the system. Your document does not appear In the Print System's file selection box.
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Appendix B GEOS LQ Print System Error Messages The GEOS LQ Print System will let you know if it has encountered an error by showing an error message. Here you will fmd a list of possible errors with explanations~ The following errors can show up prior to display of the me selection box. They refer to errors in a modified parameter file or printer adaptation. If these errors show up continually, it might be best to erase the me and replace it with a supplied me, which can then be re-modified.
Appendix B Note: The following errors can show up during nonna! program operation: Disk error! During disk access an error has occurred. The me in which the error occurred will be shown, as well as an error number. The error numbers, together with their meaning, are listed below. Unlisted numbers suggest either structural, mechanical or magnetic damage to the disk.
Appendix C Contents of the Disks Disk 1, side A: Perfect Print LQ Print System The Print System additional information accessory to start the Print System from geoWrite LQDemo2.1 demo text, geoWrite 2.
Appendix C Disk 1, Side B: Perfect Print LQ Print System Utilities Print System font CalifomiaLQ BarrowsLQ Print System font OmamentLQ Print System font OrnamentCapsLQ Print System font font utility FontScratch FontMove font utility font utility FontCreate FontZoom font utility font utility FontSplice font utility FontHide font utility FontDistance font utility FontAdjust font utility FontSize Adjust.
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Creative Creative Micro Micro Designs, Designs, Inc. Inc. pO Box Box 646 646 PO East 01028 East Longmcadow, Longmeadow, MA MA 01028 (4 13) 525-0023 525·0023 (413) PP-300001 PP·300001 12/91 12/91 Primed Printed inin USA. USA...
