INTRODUCTION TM The Grappler Interface is a Centronics compatible parallel interface for the Apple II/II+ Computer. In addition to advanced text features, it offers high resolution dot graphics (HIRES) dump routines located in firmware. These are easily invoked using simple control commands. There is no standardization among printer manufacturers for dot graphics. Therefore a specific version of the Grappler interface was developed for each type of printer.
5. Be sure the power is off. Insert the Grappler card into slot #1 (or any other slot except zero) with a gentle rocking motion until fully seated. 6. Pass the cable through one of the vertical openings in the back of the Apple case. 7. Replace the Apple’s cover. Slide the front edge of the cover into place, and then press down on the rear corners until they pop into place. 8. Connect the Grappler cable to the printer.
To type a control character, hold down the control key (marked “CTRL’ on the Apple) and then press the appropriate letter. Then release the letter key, and then the control key. Control characters do not appear on the screen as they are typed. You may also use the CHR$ function found in Applesoft Basic (consult your Apple manual and Appendix A). TEXT COMMANDS Spaces have only been used to make the commands easier to read: do not type the spaces when issuing the command.
CTRL-I X Don’t output the high order bit to the printer. This puts the printer back in standard text mode. CTRL-InN Set line length to n characters from left side of page (not from left margin). After issuing this command, characters will only be printed on the printer, and not on the Apple video screen. A carriage return will automatically be generated after n characters have been printed.
lines per page (this may vary with the type of printer). Therefore if you specify a printed page length of 6Ø lines (CTRL—I 6ØP), your printer will print 6Ø lines and automatically skip over the perforation with 6 line feeds. CTRL—I B Turn on bell. This allows a CTRL—G to ring the printer bell. Many printers do not have a bell so check your printer manual to see if this feature is available. CTRL-I C Turn off bell. CTRL—I S Duplicate the present text screen on-the printer.
GRAPHICS FEATURES AND COMMANDS The Grappler Interface can output the HIRES screen to the printer by using simple commands. All graphics commands consist of the command character (usually CTRL—I) followed by a “G", and any options described below. If no other options are used (i.e. CTRL—I G [carriage return]), HIRES page 1 will be printed horizontally with every white dot on the screen printed as a black dot on the paper.
R — Rotate the picture 90 degrees in a clockwise direction. Some printers require this option when printing the image doublesize. (See D above.) An example of a graphics command would be CTRL-I GDIR2 followed with a carriage return. This will print the inverse of HIRES page 2, double size, rotated 90 degrees. Options may be listed in any order, as long as they are preceded by a CTRL-I G and followed by a carriage return. Care should be used when using the L” specifier.
PASCAL AND CP/M COMPATIBILITY The Grappler is compatible with both PASCAL and CP/M. PASCAL l.Ø and CP/M will both recognize the card as a serial interface. Entry points have been provided to mimic a serial interface so that the card will function properly with these systems. PASCAL 1.1 will correctly interpret that it is a firmware printer interface and access it accordingly. In either case the card will function normally with a few minor exceptions as detailed on the following page.
FOR ADVANCED PROGRAMMERS: MEMORY LOCATIONS USED BY THE GRAPPLER The Grappler Interface uses those RAM locations set aside for its particular slot and the slot scratchpad area common to all slots. The ROM is turned on using the standard ROM expansion protocol and resides in locations $C8ØØ to $CFFF. The entry points and the various RAM variables are listed below (N=Slot number): Cold Entry Warm Entry Left Margin Right Margin Line Length Page Length Character Counter Line Counter Current Cmd. Char.
CUSTOM DRIVERS If you are writing your own drivers the following locations are used to access the card CY = NO where N = slot#) Printer Status Output Latch Strobe Low Strobe High — — — $CØSl,Y $CØ8l,Y $CØ82,Y $CØ84,Y (READ) (WRITE) (WRITE) (WRITE) The following routine gives an example of how to output a character using these locations: PHA LDY PAPER? LDA AND BNE SLCT? LDA AND BEQ BUSY? LDA AND BNE OUTPUT? PLA STA STA STA RTS lØ $CØ8l,Y Ø4 PAPER? $CØ8l,Y Ø2 SLCT? $CØSl,Y Ø8 BUSY? $CØ81,Y $CØ82,Y SCØ84,
APPENDIX A TM USING GRAPPLER CONMANDS WITHIN A PROGRAM The following table illustrates how a few Grappler commands would be used within a program: INTEGER BASIC DESCRIPTION 1Ø PRINT “CTRL-D”;”PR#l” 10 PRINT CHR$(4);”PR#l" 2Ø PRINT “CTRL—I”: “8ØN" 20 PRINT CHR$(9);”8ØN” 3Ø PRINT “TESTING” 3Ø PRINT “TESTING” TM Turns on Grappler If you are not using DOS (disk operating SYSTEM) thEn enter the line as: 1Ø PR#1 Set line length to 8Ø columns and turn off Apple video Prints “Testing” on the printer 4Ø P
The following prograas allow you to rest the graphics capability of the Grappler.
For Pascal Users: PROGRAM DEMO, USES TURTLEGRAPHICS, APPLESTUFF, VAR ANGLE, DISTANCE: INTEGER; PRINT, TEXT, BEGIN ANGLE;8-Ø; INITTURTLE; PNNCOLOR(NHITE); FOR DISTANCE:= TO 99 DO BEGIN MOVE (2*DISTAMCE); TURN ANGLE); END, REWRITE (PRINT,’PRINTER;"), NRITELN (PRINT,CHR(25),G');(*USE CHR(25) [CTPL—Y]IN PASCAL*); END.
The following program will allow you to print a graph that has been previously saved to the disk. For e,~as~ple, after saving the qreph created by one of the popular graphing programs for the Apple, run this program to print it on your printer. Note: If your Grappler is not in slot #1 change line 5 so that S equals the clot number of your Grappler.
APPENDIX B DIP SWITCH SETTINGS FOR YOUR PRINTER All printers must configure to a Centronics type psrallel interface. ANADEX 95ØØ — 93Ø1 All switches on S—3 must be off. Set switches on S-1 snd S—2 appropriately. CENTRONICS 739—1 All four switches oust be off. EPSON MX-7Ø Shorting plug must be hooked up to the red post for no auto—line feed. EPSON NX—8Ø; NX—SOFT with Graftrax—8Ø All switches on S-2 should be off. Dip switch S-l, switch 8 must be on and switch 3 must be off.
TM GRAPPLER PIN ASSIGNMENTS Function -STE Dl D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 -ACK BUSY -P.E. SLCT N/C GND Normal GRAPPLER IDS GRAPPLER* 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 5 2 25 23 21 19 17 4 -- 19 21 18 12 23 25 -all others 22,26 7 10,20 all others *GRAPPLERs designed for use with IDS Paper Tiger printers may be identified by a white asterisk on the upper right hand corner of the board.
LIMITED WARRANTY Every GRAPPLER INTERFACE is fully tested and quality checked before shipment and is warranted to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 90 days from date of purchase. During that time period. Orange Micro will, at no charge, repair or replace any defective unit returned to its Service Department in accordance with the instructions below.
