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PC-SIG Diskette Library (Disk #485)
[PCjs Machine "ibm5170"]
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Information about “ICON MAKER & FXMATRIX”
ICON MAKER is a menu-driven program that allows you to create graphical
icons and cross-stitch graphics interactively in any of three graphical
modes supported by the IBM PC family. These three modes include the
high resolution 640 X 200 two color, the 320 X 200 four color, and the
160 X 100 sixteen color. The icons you create can then be used
directly in your program data area instead of having to be accessed as
an outside file by your program.
All icons created can be saved in an ASCII file which will than be used
in a form that is acceptable by the macro assembler (in the form of dw
and db statements) and can be used in the data segment of your program
to define your shape.
Are you sick and tired of printing the same old characters over and
over again on your Epson FX or JX printer? Or maybe you've decided to
come up with your own alphabet. Well, FXMATRIX can add some spice to
your printouts.
FXMATRIX is a matrix program that permits you to design user-created
characters, store them in a file, and download them to the Epson FX and
JX dot matrix printers. These created characters can then be used from
any word processor, even if your word processor resets the
printer upon execution.
DOTGRAPH.TXT
SIXTEEN COLOR DOT GRAPHICS FOR THE PC
The PC junior is the only member of the IBM PC family that can
produce the 16 color all points addressable 320 by 200 graphics
without the recently announced but scarce enhanced graphics
boards. It seems at best that the PC will produce only a choice
of two sets of 4 colors in an all points addressable mode. I was
working on a program that required graphics and wanted it to work
on all IBM PC machines and found a compromise that I would like
to share with you in this short note.
I found that the Junior has a mode that displays all 16 colors
in 160 by 200 resolution. It requires 16000 bytes of display
memory since each byte contains two 4 bit nibbles of color data
to display two such elongated dots. In order to make anything
look well with that mode however, the dots must actually be
displayed two at a time to produce square pixels thus reducing
to a 160 by 100 display mode of 16 colors. With a little
experimenting I was able to do this on the PC as well and in so
doing, utilized the same code on both without using the ROM BIOS
support provided on the Junior.
It seems that the only way to get 16 colors with the color
display adapter is to be in one of the color text modes. This is
the only clue you need to proceed. Notice that there are some
special non ASCII characters displayed with codes from 80 to FF
hex. One of those codes is DE hex or 222 decimal and will
display an 80 column character with the left half that of the
foreground color and the right half the background color.
Fortunately both colors are defined in the attribute byte so that
the left and right halves can be controlled separately. This
produces a 160 by 25 display that is dot addressable with 16
colors. Notice that we have used two bytes for each adjacent
pair so that only one fourth of the display memory is used.
Now for the tricky part. By getting into debug and experimenting
with the 6845 video controller registers I was able to get some
rather interesting effects. I have been told that you can cause
damage to the video system by doing the wrong thing here so I was
cautious. What I wanted was a squish in the vertical direction
by a factor of four. Therefore, after setting up for the 80 X 25
color graphics text mode, I knew that something might be done to
the 6845 registers that controlled the vertical characteristics
of the display if it were to be possible at all. These are
R4,R5,R6, and R7. Then too there is R9 which has something to do
with the scan line count per character. In the 80 character mode
register 4 contains 31 meaning that there is provision for 31
rows not the 25 that we might expect. This means simply that
there are 6 rows to provide for the vertical retrace time.
Register 6 contains the expected 25 and register 7 contains 28
which is the vertical sync position. This set up allows for 3
undisplayed rows, 25 display rows and finally 3 undisplayed rows
at the bottom. Meanwhile register 9 contains 7 which actually
allocates scans zero to 7 for a total of 8 scan lines per row.
The total count on the scan lines is 248 with only 200 of them
actually displayed.
1
Thus assign 124 to register 4, 100 to register 6, 112 to register
7, and 1 to register 9. There will be 124 rows with 12 at the
top and bottom. Each row has two scan lines for a total of 248
scan lines with only 200 of them actually displayed. While in
debug I tried this and found that all of my 80 column text showed
only the top two scan lines but that I could display about four
times as many of them. So that is the solution. Actually, I
coded it in assembly language but to communicate here, I will
include a short segment of basic which does the same thing. The
assembly language program is much much faster than this routine.
10 WIDTH "SCRN:" 80 ' 80 COLUMN MODE
20 SCREEN 0,1,0,0 ' COLOR MODE
30 OUT &H3D8,9 ' DISABLES BLINK BIT
40 DEF SEG = &HB800 ' COLOR DISPLAY AREA
50 FOR I = 0 TO 80*100*2 STEP 2 ' FILL "SCREEN"
60 POKE I,222 ' HALF AND HALF CHAR
70 POKE I + 1,0 ' BLACK ON BLACK
80 NEXT I
90 OUT &H3D4,4 ' R4 SELECTED
100 OUT &H3D5,124 ' R4 VERTICAL TOTAL
110 OUT &H3D4,6 ' R6 SELECTED
120 OUT &H3D5,100 ' R6 VERTICAL DISPLAYED
130 OUT &H3D4,7 ' R7 SELECTED
140 OUT &H3D5,112 ' R7 VERTICAL SYNC
150 OUT &H3D4,9 ' R9 SELECTED
160 OUT &H3D5,1 ' R9 SCAN LINES (2)
Statement number 40 is necessary to disable the blink else color
codes larger than 7 produce a blinking display. Now you have all
of the screen filled with black foreground and black background
"dots". To draw a line of yellow dots in column 25 without
changing the other dot color in column 24, write:
1000 FOR I = 0 TO 100
1010 A = I * 160 + (25\2) * 2 + 1 ' LOCATION OF ATTRIBUTE
1020 N = PEEK(A) ' GET ATTRIBUTE BYTE
1030 POKE A,(N AND &HF0) OR &H0E ' CHANGE DOT TO YELLOW
1040 NEXT I
When you exit this program you will not be able to read the
display messages because of being in this strange graphics mode.
Just set the width to 40 to see what you are doing.
2
FILE0485.TXT
Disk No: 485
Disk Title: Icon Maker & FXMatrix
PC-SIG Version: S2.2
Program Title: Icon Maker
Author Version: 3.352
Author Registration: $10.00.
Special Requirements: CGA and an Epson-FX printer or compatible.
ICON MAKER is a menu-driven program that allows you to create graphical
icons and cross stitch graphics interactively in any of three graphical
modes supported by the IBM PC family. These three modes include the
high resolution 640 X 200 two color, the 320 X 200 four color, and the
160 X 100 sixteen color. The icons you create can then be used
directly in your program data area instead of having to be accessed as
an outside file by your program.
All icons created can be saved in an ASCII file which will than be used
in a form that is acceptable by the macro assembler (in the form of dw
and db statements) and can be used in the data segment of your program
to define your shape.
Program Title: FXMatrix
Author Version: 5.816
Author Registration: $18.00
Special Requirements: Epson FX or JX printer.
Are you sick and tired of printing the same old characters over and
over again on your Epson FX or JX printer? Or maybe you've decided to
come up with your own alphabet. Well, FXMATRIX can add some spice to
your printouts.
FXMATRIX is a matrix program that permits you design user-created
characters, store them in a file, and download them to the Epson FX
and JX dot matrix printers. These created characters can then be used
from any word processor, even if your word processor resets the
printer upon execution.
PC-SIG
1030D East Duane Avenue
Sunnyvale Ca. 94086
(408) 730-9291
(c) Copyright 1989 PC-SIG, Inc.
FXEDIT.DOC
E
Documentation for: FXMATRIX.COM
FX.COM
FXPRINT.COM
*** USER SUPPORT PROGRAMS ***
These programs were written in Turbo Pascal by
J. David Sapir [Jimmy Paris Software]
Copyrighted 1985, 1986, 1987
Please share these programs. They can be
distributed freely for private use. They are
not for commercial sale.
If the programs are of use to you, please register
with a donation of $18. Registered users will receive
at least one up-date disk and notification of further
up-dates and any new character files that have come in.
When registering please indicate the version number and
date listed at the start of the FXMATRIX program.
CP/M users should indicate your computer.
J. David Sapir
906 Old Farm Rd.
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(804) 295-5496
Revised 8.viii.88
2
Briefly:
FXMATRIX.COM, the main program, is a matrix program that
permits you design user created characters, store them in a
file, and download them to the Epson FX and JX dot matrix
printers.
FX.COM automatically downloads a designated character file.
FXPRINT.COM is a simple print driver that will print an ASCII
file that makes use of the flip from ROM to RAM of the FX and JX
printers. (CODES: <esc>%<0><0> / <esc>%<1><0>).
Accompanying these programs you should find ALPHA.FXF - that
contains the default ASCII characters as described in the FX
manual - BLOCK.FXF - a character set of block letters.
There are other FXF files as well - that are added from time
to time.
FXMATRIX.COM has been modeled after the MATRIX module of VALDOC-
2 written for the Epson QX-10 by Raising Star Industries.
However FXMATRIX (etc) are written to be portable to other
computers. There are both CP/M and MS-PC DOS versions and they
work the same. (The programs were originally formatted for the
Epson QX-10, but other CP/M versions are available - those
covered by the UNIFORM.COM program).
Versions of these programs are available for the LQ series of 24
pin printers [which will also work with the equivalent NEC
printers]. Please inquire. Untested versions exist for the
Okidata 92 and the Omni printers and I should be interested in
adapting it for other printers that permit User Defined
characters. Inquire.
3
FXMATRIX.COM
On booting up and passing by the title page you will be
asked for a file name. Enter a name of up to eight letters long.
An extension of FXF will be added to it automatically. If you
wish to use your own extension you may, but it will not appear
in the program's directory. In recalling a file already on the
disk you may see the directory of .FXF and .BAX (backups) files
by entering '?'or '/' after calling up an existing file or
starting up a new one you will move to the Main menu:
<E>dit <S>tore <N>ew <D>irectory down<L>oad file
<P>rint File Print File <#> Down<L>oad <C>ombine files so<R>t file
<A>lter Highlighting <Q>uit
The current file in memory will be noted at the top of the
screen to the left. On the right is a listing of the keys in the
file that have user made characters assigned to them.
<E>dit (enter E) takes you to the matrix - and we'll come back
to that shortly.
Store <S> stores what is in memory. If it is an old file you
will be given the option of storing under a new name or using
its current name. If the latter the file it overwrites will be
converted into a backup with the extension .BAX.
New <N>. Either to call into memory a file from disk or to start
a new file. If you have changed the current file you will be
asked if you want save it to disk, otherwise it will be erased.
If you want to save it you will go through the Save routine
afterwhich you will be asked for a new file name with the option
of calling up the directory.
Directory <D> will bring up a directory of all files with .FXF
and .BAX extensions.
Download <L> will download the current file into the printer's
RAM memory. As long as the printer remains on it will print out
these downloaded characters. The printer resets whenever a new
file is brought into memory. The new file will have to be
downloaded if it is to be in the printer's RAM.
Print File <P>. This prints out the entire file giving the ASCII
number of each character, the character in its default and then
its user created form. When using the characters it is useful to
have this print out at hand so you can remember which characters
go with which keys.
Print File <#> Grids. This will print out the complete matrix
for designated characters. You will be asked for the first
character to print, then the last character. If you want only
one character enter it twice. To print the entire file hit CR
twice. The ASCII number, the matrix and the character will be
printed. It is useful to have a matrix print out of your file in
case the disk is destroyed. But it is rather pokey to print,
taking about two minutes for eight characters.
4
<C>ombine files. This will allow you to combine two files. You
will first be asked which file you want added to the file in
memory and then, after you have combined the files, whether you
want to change the combined file's name.
so<R>t file. Although a new character is automatically put in
its proper (ASCII) place when it is saved from the editor (cf
below), a file made up of two pre-existing files is unsorted.
Entering <R> will sort that file.
<A>lter Highlighting. Allows you to adjust the high-low video
values (and color when available).
Quit <Q> to quit. If you have changed the file - edited it,
added to it or deleted from it - you will be asked before
exiting if you want to save the file. If yes, you will exit via
the Store routine.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Edit <E> - The matrix editor. On hitting 'E' you move to the
editor and the cursor moves to the 6 by 9 matrix to the upper
left and a list of options appears across the bottom of the
screen.
The cells of the matrix can be marked 'X' or left unmarked. The
X pattern forms to shape of the character you are designing and
for each column represent the printer pins to be fired. The
printer was nine print pins set vertically and it fires them 11
times for each character. There are two constraints in
designing.
1. Although there are 11 columns - spaces + lines - you may not
have two dots placed in adjacent columns. 2. Although there are
nine pins only eight can fire at one time. Thus you can either
mark the top row or the bottom row, but not both.
The menu of options looks like this:
C - Clear | CR 5 mark dot | E Erase | T Trace | N Normal
S = Save | SB 0 unmark dot | G Get char | I Import char
Move: U Up | D Down | L Left | R Right | M Mirror | F Flip
Combine characters: A And | X XOr | O Or | Q Quit
F1 Fetch with cursor |^D Delete |^X Delete with cursor
P + Print | / ASCII/Char | Z print size <Small>
The best way to learn your way around the matrix is to try it
out. The cursor arrows move you up - down - right - left. So do
the numerals:
8 : up 2 : down 6 : right 4 : left,
9 : up-right 7 : up-left 3 : down-right 1 : down-left
CR or 5 : mark a dot with an X.
SB (space bar) or 0 : erase a dot.
There are three marking modes:
N : mark or erase each cell as you go.
5
T : automatically marks a dot as you move.
E : automatically erases a dot as you move.
Hitting the SB in the Trace mode will erase the dot under the
cursor, and hitting CR in the Erase mode will mark the dot.
You can move an entire character around:
U : Up one row.
D : Down one row.
L : Left one column.
R : Right one column.
F : Flips the character over.
M : Mirrors the character.
P or + : to print out a sample of your character. You will be
asked if you want to compare it with another character. If not,
just hit CR. You can have this printed either normally or in
expanded type. Z will switch the sizes. If you want to compare
your characters with other user defined characters in the file
you must first download the file before entering the editor.
S : to save a character hit S. You will be asked to assign it a
place with either a character or an ASCII number, depending on
your setting. If the character is already in the file you will
be given the choice of assigning your character elsewhere or
overwriting what is already there.
G : to retrieve a character. When you have finished editing this
character you hit S and are given the option of updating the
character (replacing what is in the file with your new version)
or moving the character to a new position.
I : Import a character from another file. First you will be
asked what character you want imported. Then you will be asked
which file to search. If the character is in the file it will be
returned to the matrix - otherwise, if the file doesn't exist or
the requested character is not it it - you will be returned with
a "nothing found message".
F1 : retrieve a character with the cursor. The cursor moves to
the key listing in the upper right of the screen. You move the
cursor with the cursor keys (or the numbers 4, 8, 6, 2). When
you have found the character you want hit return and it will
appear in the Matrix. You will need this function when in
combined files the same character has been used twice. At such
times it is essential to reassign one of them to a new place.
Thus if there are, say, two a's then you fetch one of them with
the cursor. When it is in the matrix immediately reassign it to
another place with the S (save) command.
^D : to delete. You will be asked which character to delete. If
you are toggled for ASCII then enter its number, otherwise enter
the character. You will be given the option of changing your
mind with the warning: Deleting * char * Are you sure? <Y/N>
^X : to delete with the cursor. This works like ^F, though to
delete rather than fetch. A delete warning will appear and a
chance to change your mind will be given. This will allow you
6
to delete one of double character assignments that has resulted
from combining files.
C : Clears the matrix.
/ : Toggles Char/ASCII. You can change from the characters to
their ASCII numbers - You will know which is operating by the
listing of what is in the file (upper right of screen). When
fetching or deleting you will designate the character by either
the char or ASCII, one or the other, but not both. Use the ASCII
input for the upper ASCII numbers.
Q : Quit - gets you out of the matrix and back to the main menu.
I have added one feature to the editor (inspired by FM.COM):
Character combinations. I am not sure how useful they are, but
they display a little bit of set logic. A, X, and O. By hitting
one of these keys you will be asked for another character to
combine with what you have in the matrix.
A (And) : combines the two with what one shares with the other.
X (XOr) : combines the two with what they do not share.
O (Or) : adds the two together.
CAUTION: The O (Or) and X (XOr) combinations violate the two
constraints of the matrix: adjacent columns and top and bottom
rows. So you must edit your O and X combinations to conform to
the two contraints yourself.
Sample matrixes:
_____________ _____________ _____________
|_|X|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|X|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_|_|
|X|X|X|X|_|_| |_|X|X|X|_|_| |X|_|_|_|X|_|
|_|X|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_X_|_| |_X_|_|_X_|_|
|_|X|_|_|_|_| |_X_X_X_X_|_| |_|X|_|X|_|_|
|_|X|_|_|_|_| |X|_|_|_X_|_| |_|_X_X_|_|_|
|_|_X_X_X_|_| |_X_X_X_|X|_| |_|_|X|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_|_| |_|_X_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_|_| |_|X|_|_|_|_|
These three letters are default characters and are built into
the printer's ROM. Note that the base line is the third row up
and that the top of small letters is on the third row down. The
right two columns are best left free for better spacing between
letters.
The ALPHA.FXF file is made up of the default characters. If you
wish to alter the entire alphabet it is good to start with this
file. But be sure that you are working from a copy, for if you
save an alter ALPHA the original will first become a backup
(ALPHA.BAK) and then disappear. The best way to preserve ALPHA
is to change its name. Do it this way: Call up ALPHA.FXF then
immediately hit <S>tore. You will be asked if you want to change
the file's name. Reply yes <Y> and, when prompted, enter a new
name. You will then return to the main menu and you will notice
that the file in memory (the old ALPHA) appears under its new
name. When you come to store the altered file do it under the
new name and the original ALPHA will remain unaltered.
7
FX.COM.
When you have developed a character set to your satisfaction you
can download it without booting up the main program
FXMATRIX.COM. You do this with FX.COM from the Command line
(after the A>) by entering FX followed by the name of the file
you want downloaded. If the extension name for the file is FXF
you only enter the file's main name.
Thus to download the file BLOCK.FXF all you do is enter FX BLOCK
<cr> and that will do it. To be even more efficient rename your
file AUTO.FXF, then all you need enter from the command line is
FX <cr>. That is, if FX.COM receives nothing from the command
line it assumes that the requested file is AUTO.FXF.
You may also enter the following commands from the command line:
T : narrows spacing between lines to about 1/8th of an inch
so graph characters will touch.
P : sets the printer to proportional type.
E : sets the printer to emphasized.
0 : sets the printer to the ROM - default - characters.
You will then have to change to the user characters
from within the document. (Cf. below on using the
programs.)
These four commands may be given in any combination or in any
order. You needn't use Caps. They must be separated by a space
and they must follow the file name (if you are calling up a file
other than AUTO.FXF).
A>FX BLOCK P T gives: BLOCK.FXF with proportional and narrow
spacing.
A>FX 0 E : AUTO.FXF with default (ROM) setting and
emphasized type.
I suggest putting FX.COM and your commonly used character file
(renamed AUTO.FXF) on your data disk to be used when needed.
8
*****************************************************************
Using the programs:
Under normal circumstances you will want to use FXMATRIX in one
of two ways: To replace the entire alphabet with a design of
your own making (as with BLOCK.FXF) or to replace a few unused
characters (@, |, \) with ones of your own. To work either way
all you need do is download the set and create your document
from a word processor. (If the word processor resets the printer
on entering you will have to download from within the program
(the R option in Word Star.)
But there are times when you will have a large set of user made
characters to combine with the default alphabet. The FX printer
permits you to do this. While printing it can shift back and
forth between the ROM default characters and the RAM user made
characters.
(The codes are: <esc>%<1><0> for RAM and <esc>%<0><0> for ROM.)
How can we make use of this feature? That will depend on your
word processor. Generally, the better ones allow you to add on
some extra print codes.
For the word processors I have been able to exam here is how
they can setup:
WORD STAR 3: WS-3 permits 4 user defined print codes that are
assigned to Control letters. Here you would assign the RAM code
to one of them and the ROM code to another.
WORD PERFECT (for older versions): There are two steps. First in
the general set-up, call up the Define Alt & Ctrl key mapping
option. When there, assign to an alternate key (or control key
if you prefer) one of the available characters, from the lower
32 ASCII numbers or the upper 128-255 numbers. Do this for the
RAM call and then again for the ROM call. When done exit WP and
call up the PRINTER.COM, Printer Definition, program. There go
to the Edit or define Fonts only option and call up the Epson FX
file. Then find the character that you are to assign to the ROM
code and edit the 'String sent to printer' option so it will
read <esc>%<0><0>. Do the same for the RAM key entering this
time <esc>%<1><0>. That should do it.
Then when using WP you enter the new RAM key whenever you want
your special characters and the ROM key whenever you want to
return to the default. (Make sure that the WP print driver is
hooked up to the Epson font file.)
PC-WRITE: With the MENUPRT program you first set up a PR.DEF
file for the FX. Call up MENUPRT and follow your nose. After
running the program you will exit to the DOS (A>) and will
notice, in calling the directory (DIR) that there is now a file
called PR.DEF (not to be confused with ED.DEF). Before sending
a file to the printer the PR.EXE looks for this ruler file and
follows its customized commands. (PC-Write 3 reads the PR.DEF
file when it is first called. PR.EXE has been integrated with
9
the main program, ED.EXE.)
Enter the PC editor and call up the ED.DEF. You will see lines
like these:
#B= 2+27,69-27,70
#C= 6+15-18
.
.
#L=25+27,83,1-27,84
#B= 2 indicates that Alternate key B has been assigned to ASCII
number 2. When the print driver comes across ASCII 2 it will
start sending codes to the printer. The first time it sees
ASCII 2 it will send (after the + sign) ASCII 27 (escape) then
ASCII 69. This will turn on the bold. When the print driver
encounters 2 again in the same line it sends the codes
following the - sign, in this case 27 followed by 70. This
turns off the bold. These type of commands work for one line
only. If the bold is not turned off within the line, it will
automatically go off after the CR.
Now. Find an unused alternate key, say alternate R, which PC-
Write assigns to ASCII 30. Then enter the following code line:
#R=30 +27,37,1,0-27,37,0,0
and save the file with this new code.
With this new code line in place PC-WRITE allows you to flip
back and forth from ROM to RAM in two different ways -
Within a single line: - Enter Alt R and the printer will flip
into RAM until another Alt R or the end of the line is reached.
Within a text: - To set the print driver to use the RAM beyond
a single line you must use the Dot Command. A dot command is
written in the extreme left margin and starts for with alt G
(Ascii #11) then with a dot. To turn on a font you use the .R:
dot command followed by the assigned alternate letter which in
our case is R. To turn it off you use instead .Q: followed by
R. Thus
.R:R
turns on the RAM and
.Q:R
turns it off.
PC-Write 3 allows you to enter the RAM/ROM switches directly by
using the Alt key along with the numeric pad. Follow the
instructions below for WORD.
Rev William Moorhead supplies the following guide for using
LQMATRIX with Microsoft WORD:
In accordance with the usual "FXMATRIX" instructions, download
10
your font at the DOS prompt (A> or C>) using the command: FX
fontname (FX fontname 0 if you want to reset the printer
default ROMfont for normal printing). The download program
will signal when it is completed and return you to command
level (the DOS prompt).
Load Microsoft Word as usual.
To toggle on the downloaded custom RAMfont, send the printer
control code sequence "ESC % 1." From Word this is done by the
sequence "<Alt-27> % 1 0", where <Alt-27> means: hold down the
Alt key while entering 2 7 on the keypad, then release the Alt
key; then without spaces enter the percent sign and the numeral
one.
To toggle from the custom font back to the default, enter
"<Alt-27> % 0 0". This restores the printer to its built-in
ROMfont.
(The use of <Alt> and a keypad number sequence is the standard
way in which ASCII codes are sent to the printer from within
Word; that's how the extended character set and graphics
characters are accessed. "27" is the ASCII code for "Esc".)
You may wish to create macros to toggle the printer control
codes; this can be done in the usual way. See the Word
documentation.
Mr. Hugh Maddoxs of Reston Virginia sends these instructions
for XyWrite III+:
Download the desired font from the command line, using the
FX.COM program entering the filename and 0 to set the printer
for the default (ROM) characters.
Load up XyWrite. At the place in your text where you wish to
change to the user font (RAM) proceed as follows:
Hit F5 then write in PI, enter a space, then hit the esc(ape)
key followed % (percent key) then hit shift alternate 1, then
shift alternate 0 then hit return (CR). That will take you to
your text and you will see the funny face and a double 00.
[i.e. F5 PI <esc> % <alt-shf>1 <alt-shf>0 (CR)]
When you wish to return to the default character follow the
same routine, except you enter shift alternate 0 two times.
Two double zeros 00 00 will mark then null characters
[i.e. F% PI <esc>% <alt-shf>0 <alt-shf>0 (CR)]
PI stands for 'printer insert.'
[ I'll add more instructions as I receive information about other
word processors. ]
*******
Not all word processors allow you to enter your own codes. For
these programs I have written (am in the process of writing)
FXPRINT.COM. This program will work with straightforward ASCII
codes:
11
FXPRINT.COM
[ Cf. ADDENDUM #3 for the Upper to Lower ASCII rerouting. ]
**** This program is in the process of being developed.
Suggestions would be welcome. ****
I have written a simple print driver to go with these user
defined character programs. The reason I have done this is so
you may make use of the FX printer's ability to switch back and
forth between default characters that are set in ROM and user
defined characters that have been down loaded into the printer's
Buffer (in RAM). This will become useful whenever you wish to
define a large number of characters and use them along with the
ordinary characters.
The FXPRINT driver prints ASCII documents and prints them
responding to the following codes: (There are two separate sets
of codes and you can take your pick: ^B,^F,^S,^W,^X or (for
PC_Write) Alt: B, D, F, I, U. [Attention: outside of the PC-
Write environment the alternate keys are read respectively as
^B, ^P, ^\, ^U, ^W ]
^B or Alt B will toggle the Bold type on and off.
^W or Alt D will toggle the Wide or Expanded type.
^S or Alt U will toggle the Underline.
^X or Alt I will toggle the Italic type. (^I is reserved for
TAB in WS.) -
The Ctr keys are intended to go with Wordstar (and similiar
programs) that permit you to enter controls (with Wordstar ^P^B
enters ^B into the text. [For Word Star, be sure you are
creating a 'non-document' file.]
Finally ^F (for Funny) or Alt F. This allows you to control the
flip from ROM characters, the ones permanently in the printer,
and the user defined characters that have been down loaded into
the printer's buffer (RAM).
There are several combinations that are possible when using the
^F/Alt F, control:
1. The ^F/A F can be used as a toggle where it works like the
other controls. Use it once and it changes character sets, use
it again and you return to the original set. This manner would
be useful if you wished to switch back and forth between two
complete character sets - the one in ROM and the other in the
RAM buffer. An example would be switching between the regular
default characters and a set like block letters or more
esoterically, between Roman and Cyrillic alphabets.
2. The ^F/A F an be used on a one character at a time basis. You
would use it when you have defined a limited number of
characters and assigned them to common (and similiar letters).
The flip here works only for the following letter. Thus you
enter something like:
12
fran^Fcais
and the printer gives the RAM (user defined) alternate for c
(the French cedilla in this case). All subequent letters would
be ordinary.
3. For both 1. and 2. you have the choice of setting the Default
at either the ROM or the RAM set. For example, if you have
written a Cyrillic alphabet and wish to write something in
Russian with occasional references in English you make the
Cyrillic set, which is user defined, into the default set. If
the bulk of your writing uses the Roman alphabet you would do
the reverse.
** NB: FXMATRIX allows you to assign characters to the upper
ASCII numbers 161-255. Since these numbers, in ROM, hold the
printer's Italic characters you print them by using the Italic
toggle (A I or ^X). Thus '~a' will give you italic 'a' and '^F ~
a ' will give you whatever you have assigned to ASCII #193.
The main menu looks like this:
disk <D>irectory <P>rint File Change <C>odes
Change <V>ertical margins down<L>oad FXF file <Q>uit
<E>mphasized type - [On ]
D - shows you the disk's directory.
P - takes you to the Print driver. You will be asked to enter a
file name to print. If it is on the disk you will then be
asked for the number of copies to be printed. CR alone will
indicate only one. You can abort the printing by hitting any
key - although you have to be a bit persistent at this so as
to catch the computer's attention!
C - takes you to a menu that offers 3 yes/no selections.
1. To use the Ctl codes (indicated as <Wordstar>) or to
use the Alt <PC_write> codes.
2. To toggle between ROM or RAM default.
3. To use the ^F/A F either as a single shift to a special
character or as a Toggle to shift back and forth between
ROM and RAM. Default code will depend on the ROM/RAM
setting in 2.
--- On entering the program the Default settings are given
as: 1. Wordstar, 2. ROM, 3. Single Character. And they are
recorde across the bottom of the screen. ---
V - to change the vertical margins that have the default
setting of 6 lines Top, 5 lines Bottom and 55 lines for the
text.
L - allows you to download a .FXF file from within the program.
If you download this way the name of the file will appear
at the bottom of the scrren: [FF.FXF] has been downloaded.
Q - to quit the program.
E - Allows you to set (or unset) the Emphasized mode of printing.
13
Sometimes you will want to define graphic characters, maybe, an
entire set, allowing you to build various designs or diagrams.
Now if you do this with the default line spacing of 1/6th of an
inch your characters will not touch. In order to make them touch
the spacing must be set at 7/72th of an inch. I have made it
possible to switch back and forth between these two settings. To
do this you use the Wordstar convention of placing a dot control
code at the extreme left margin of the page (absolute column 1).
Thus:
.L1 sets the spacing at 7/72th for the graphics. When using
this be sure to double space your text, otherwise the
letters will run together.
.L2 sets the spacing at the default 1/6th of an inch. When
you enter this program you will automatically be in this
setting. You will leave the program in the last setting
given. (The printer is NOT reset.)
I am not too sure how useful this print driver is. Most word
processors that permit user entered print commands should cover
everything here (and a lot more). But you never can tell.
14
The ultimate success of these programs is the accumulation of
useful character files. Therefore, if you make any interesting
FXF files I should very much like to have copies. I will add
them to the distribution disk and return your disk with all
recent updates.
Acknowledgements:
The following procedures were taken (and somewhat modified) from
TUG Lines, the journal of the Turbo Users Group:
Brain, Marshall Fastwrite (an INLINE procedure in
machine language that permits very
fast screen writing in DOS.)
#9 1985.
Flemer, Thomas A. CP/M Directory. #4 1984.
Freeman, Scott MS-DOS Directory. #6 1985.
Taylor, Don &
R. L. Wulffson MD. MONOSPFX.INC (procedures for
manipulating the PC screen).
#6 1985.
Mr. H.L. Phillips of Vereinsstr. 8 / 6000 Frankfurt 60 / West
Germany designed these FXF fonts: SERIF, CAPS, DIGIT, GREEK,
RUSS, ROUND, ITALIC, GERMOD, and GERUND.
Mr. Jack Dodds of Aurora, Ontario created OYMPIAS.FXF that
emulates the Oympia wheel #787-304 for mathematical symbols.
My sincere thanks for everyone who has shown interest in this
program by registering for it and/or its sister, LQMATRIX.
J. David Sapir.
15
ADDENDA
#1
I have added a utility program called FXCONVERT.COM. The point
of this utility is to permit transfering character files (.FXF)
which are written in binary form from one operating system to
another (CP/M to DOS and the reverse). On entering the utility
you will be given the choice of converting a binary file (.FXF)
to an ASCII text (.FAC), or the reverse. To get from CP/M to DOS
first convert an FXF to FAC and then (via UNIFORM, etc.) copy to
DOS. There, in DOS, convert the FAC file back into a FXF file.
To do this you will need FXCONVERT in both CP/M and DOS.
FXCONVERT allows you, if you are curious, to see the byte
numbers that get downloaded to the printer. For each line you
will see 13 numbers. The first number is the ASCII number
assigned to the character. The second number is the 'attribute
byte.' This tells the printer whether it should fire the top pin
or not (if the top pin fires, the bottom pin won't), and how
much space to allow on either side of the character. The latter
is for proportional writing. The remaining 11 numbers
determine, for each column (there are 11 columns) which pins are
to be fired.
It also allows you to change the byte values and hence the shape
or locality of a character.
#2
I have written a version of FXMATRIX - currently called FXDEV -
that will make characters using more than one ASCII location.
There are five sizes: default, wide, tall, big and NLQ. Wide,
tall and NLQ use two locations and big uses four. The FX series
of printers permit you to redefine about 240 characters - thus
you can develop a large set of about 60 big characters.
Unfortunately, few of the FX clones (for example the Citizen
printers) allow you the redefine beyond the 33-125 range.
I have yet to finish developing a print driver for FXDEV and
probably won't due to lack of registered interest. But I might
with appropriate encouragement.
#3
At the request of Mr. H.L.Phillips: - an Upper ASCII rerouting
that permits one to have the IBM upper ASCII locations assigned
to accented (etc.) characters replace lower ASCII positions.
The upper ASCII (IBM) characters that have the accents acute,
grave, umlaut, tilde, circumflex and the Swedish circle reroute
as follows:
The appropriate letter is printed, the printer backspaces and
with the Epson exc 'j' n command reverse feeds a bit. The accent
is hit and the form returns with the esc 'J' n. The accent is
to be located in the RAM equivalent to the ROM accent. Umlaut is
to be assigned to the RAM of ", the acute is to be assigned to
the RAM of ' etc., along the Swedish circle is assigned to the
16
RAM of {. Only BLOCK.FXF and the default ALPHA.FXF
has been fixed up this way. Experiment and see what happens and
make chances when necessary.
French cedilla reroutes to } and the German beta to |.
#4
Until version 5.812 of FXMATRIX the proportional spacing was
figured incorrectly. [The spacing is stored in the 'attribute
byte']. If you have made FXF files with earlier versions of
FXMATRIX then the programs FIXFXF and AUTOFXF will make the
corrections. (The former corrects file by file, while the
latter does all of the files on the disk without prompting. In
the absence of either of these you can make the corrections by
loading into the editor character by character, immediately
restoring each as you go along.
GO.TXT
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ <<<< Disk No 485 Icon Maker & Fx Matrix >>>> ║
╠═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ║
║ To print the documentation on this disk, type: ║
║ MANUAL (press enter) ║
║ ║
║ To run the Icon Maker program, type: ║
║ IM (press enter) ║
║ ║
║ To run the FXMatrix program, type: ║
║ FXMATRIX (press enter) ║
║ ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
IM.DOC
ICON MAKER
I wrote this program as a result of a frustration that
I experienced in trying to put dot graphics data into a
data segment area using define byte statements. The colors
and dots just did not seem to be easy to convert into the
desired bytes. Other programs allowed the creation of
graphics which could be read from disc and displayed by a
program but I wanted to put the data directly into the
program data area. Therefore, I wrote this program to allow me
to do just that.
All three of the graphics modes are supported, the 640 X 200 two
color, the 320 X 200 four color, and the 160 X 100 sixteen color.
The first two are supported by the ROM BIOS, the later is not. I
have included a file on this disk that is a reprint of an article
that I wrote for the North Texas IBM PC News that explains how to
produce graphics for this mode.
Aditionally, as I worked with this program, it occured to me that
it could be used to produce patterns for needlework of the type
called counted cross stitch. That is why I included the print
option to allow those patterns to be created and edited on screen
and then the pattern printed.
The save option allows the data presented on screen to be saved
into an ASCII file that can be inserted into the data segment of
your MASM programs to define the graphics you have created.
I hope it will be fun for you and will help you create graphics
for your programs as it did for me.
I am releasing the program to the public domain as a user
supported program. If you like it and find that using it helps
you in your program generation or your needlework, show me that
you do by providing support. A registered user has certain
advantages. You will receive notification of all updates and a
copy of the source code. The registration fee is a ridiculously
low ten bucks. When you register, let me know if you want the
source code so that you may alter it to suit your needs. I will
send it to you for the cost of mailing which is five dollars.
The program is written in the C language and compiled with
the Lattice C compiler. There are a few assembly language
routines that are callable from C. It does not use any C
library. All of the support graphics functions are included
in the source code. This includes the three routines written
in assembly language that write the graphical data produced
by the program to the screen.
You have heard all of the good reasons that you should support
the user supported programs so I will not repeat them. All that
I ask is that you review some of those reasons in your own mind
and that if you do not wish to register, copy this disc for a
friend. Maybe that friend will support the program. In any
event, have fun with it.
REGISTRATION FORM
Mail to:
Sid Nolte
13858 Peyton Dr.
Dallas, Texas 75240
I liked the ICON MAKER program and want to be a registered user.
Registration fee ($10)_______________
Send source code ( $5)_______________
Total _______________
Your name _______________________________________________________________
Your Adress _____________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip ________________________________________________________
Comments:_________________________________________________________________
THE ICON MAKER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction................................................1
The Menus ..................................................1
Starting Menu.............................................1
The Size Menu.............................................1
The Graphics Mode Menu....................................2
Read from File Menu.......................................2
Save to File Menu.........................................2
The Quit Menu.............................................2
Graphics Creation...........................................3
The Arrow Keys.............................................3
Move.......................................................3
Erase......................................................3
Draw.......................................................3
Color......................................................3
Palette....................................................4
Invert.....................................................4
Save.......................................................4
Line Printer...............................................4
Quit.......................................................5
Background.................................................5
Graphics...................................................5
INTRODUCTION
Icon Maker is a program to allow you to create graphical icons
and cross stitch graphics interactively in any of three graphical
modes supported by the IBM PC family. These three modes include
the high resolution 640 X 200 two color, the 320 X 200 four
color, and the 160 X 100 sixteen color. The latter mode is not
supported by the ROM BIOS services. The Icon Maker will print the
graphics in a form suitable for the formation of a cross stitch
pattern. The graphics produced may be saved in such a form that
it can be directly inserted into the source of a MASM program for
use in graphical programs you may produce.
I have found that producing the dot by dot representation of data
to be included into a program is extremely tedious. I wrote the
program as an aid in that process.
Most of the features of the program may be accessed by selecting
the options displayed on the screen and by responding to the
displayed menus. However, the following short descriptions will
enable you get a quick view of the capabilities of the program.
Have fun.
THE MENUS
There are a number of options available to you in the Icon Maker
program. In order to reach any of these options such as the mode
of the graphics produced. These menus are distinguishable by the
red bordered blue boxes displayed in the 80 column color mode.
The title screen illustrates some of the graphics that might be
produced by the program. After you have seen it and it no longer
is of interest, any key will pass you on to the main selection
menu.
THE STARTING MENU
This menu provides for the selection of either creating a new
graphics shape or reading one that you have previously created
for further editing. After you have created your graphics, you
will be returned to this menu for selection of another activity
or for returning to DOS.
THE SIZE MENU
If you have chosen to create a new icon shape, you will be
requested for the height and width of the shape produced. The
graphics editing is done on screen in a 50 high by 60 wide
working area. However, you may work on one much larger, that is
100 high by 120 wide. The program will display the current 50 X
60 area in the display window.
1
THE GRAPHICS MODE MENU
After selecting the size of the icon you have created, you will
be requested to select one of the three graphics modes supported
by the program. The selections presented are the high resolution
640 X 200 two color mode, the medium resolution 320 X 200 two
color mode, or the low resolution 160 X 100 sixteen color mode.
READ FROM FILE MENU
In the event that you have determined that you wish to perform
editing on a previously defined graphics shape by selecting that
option from the starting menu, this menu will appear. You are
directed to enter the name of the file. This must be a DOS file
name of the file that contains your graphics shape. In the event
that the named file can not be found or if you have not entered a
proper file name, you will be directed to either re-enter a
proper file name or return to the starting menu by pressing the
escape key.
SAVE TO FILE MENU
At any time in the creation of your graphics forms, you may elect
to save the completed or partially completed graphics. This menu
is selected by simply pressing the 'S' or 's' key. Again, this
menu requests you to name a DOS file. If a proper file name is
selected, the return key will cause the graphics data to be saved
to the disk file named. When the file has been written, you will
be returned to the starting menu.
The file that you have saved is an ASCII file that represents the
graphics data. It represents the dimensions of the shape and the
data that will be written to the screen to display the shape. It
is in a form that is acceptable by the macro assembler (in the
form of dw and db statements) and can be used in the data segment
of your program to define your shape. It is preceded by a
comment statement which should not be disturbed if you plan to
perform further graphics editing on this file. The program uses
this comment to determine the mode of the graphics data. Each of
the three graphics modes are written to the screen in a different
manner so that those produced in one mode can not be displayed in
another.
THE QUIT MENU
The quit menu can be selected at any time in the icon creation by
simply pressing the 'Q' or the 'q' key. You will be warned that
the graphics will not be saved if you quit at that time. This
menu is provided to allow you to quit the process at any time.
2
GRAPHICS CREATION
After you have selected the graphics mode either by reading an
old file or by selecting the size and mode for a new icon, you
will have a number of options available to you at any time to
allow you to perform the creation of the graphics. Those options
are displayed to you along the right edge of the screen. Any one
of them is selected by pressing the single key as displayed.
THE ARROW KEYS
The arrow keys are the only active keys during icon generation
that are not on the display option. They direct the motion of
the cursor of course and include the four direction arrows as
well as the "corner" direction. For instance the "page up" arrow
will move the cursor up and to the right.
MOVE
The move option is selected by pressing the 'M' or 'm' key. It
with the Erase and Draw option allows you to select what will
happen when you move the cursor. The move option allows you to
move the cursor from the current location to any other screen
location without changing any of the state of any of the graphics
over which you are moving.
ERASE
The erase option is selected by pressing the 'E' or 'e' key. It
allows you to erase any area over which the cursor moves.
DRAW
The draw option is selected by pressing the 'D' or 'd' key. It
allows you to place the current active color at any area over
which the cursor moves.
COLOR
The color option is selected by pressing the 'C' or 'c' key. It
allows you to select the color of the graphics to be produced.
Pressing the key several times allows you to see that the colors
are selected in sequence. The current color is displayed so that
you might see what color is active. If the draw option is
active, that color will be left behind at each of the cursor
motions.
3
PALETTE
The palette option is selected by pressing the 'P' or 'p' key.
It is valid only for 320 X 200 four color mode since that is the
only graphics mode for which a palette selection is utilized.
This key causes a switch between the two available palettes.
When the data is saved to disc, the state of the palette switch
is not preserved with the data so that you will be required to
restore the palette after recovering your data.
INVERT
The invert option is selected by pressing the 'I' or 'i' key. It
will reveal to you three options as to how you wish to invert the
icon you have thus far produced. The 'H' key will invert the
image about the horizontal axis, that is the top row becomes the
bottom and the bottom row becomes the top. The 'V' key inverts
the image about the vertical axis. The 'C' key inverts the
color. In the two color mode, black becomes white and white
becomes black. In the four color mode, all colors represented by
the two bit value "X" becomes the two bit value "3 - X". In the
four color mode, the four bit nibble representing one of the
sixteen colors "X" becomes "15 - X".
SAVE
The save option is selected by pressing the 'S' or 's' key. It
will cause the save menu to be displayed and it will request the
file name for the file on which the icon graphics is to be saved.
The file is an ASCII file suitable to be included in a MASM
program and is of the form of the dw and db statements defining
the data represented. This not only allows you to recall your
image for further editing but also allows for the inclusion of
your graphics into your program data segment.
LINE PRINTER
The line printer option is selected by pressing the 'L' or 'l'
key. Unfortunately, it would be preferable to select the
printing by pressing the 'P' key but it is devoted to palette
selection. Selecting the printer option will produce the
graphics in two formats. One format is in the form that may be
used as a "counted cross stitch" pattern with the color legend.
The other form is simply a very small dot for dot black on white
image of the drawing.
4
QUIT
The quit option is selected by pressing the 'Q' or 'q' key. It
allows exit from the graphics production without saving the
image. It allows you to start over in the event that you have
decided not to proceed with the current activity without saving
it to disc.
BACKGROUND
The background option is selected by pressing the 'B' or 'b' key.
It has meaning only for the color graphics modes and then really
only for the 320 X 200 graphics mode.
GRAPHICS
The graphics mode is selected by pressing the 'G' or 'g' key. It
allows you to see how the image will look when displayed in the
actual mode selected. Actually the images are produced in a
dimension larger than that being produced. This option allows
you to see how it will look if placed into the data segment of
your program and displayed in the mode selected.
5
OLYMPIAS.DOC
The file OLYMPIAS.FXF, used together with FX.COM, allow the symbol wheel of
the Olympia Compact 2 (wheel number 787-304) to be emulated on the Epson FX
printers. This allows a large report containing mathematical symbols to be
printed on the FX for proofreading, before being printed on the Olympia
(which takes forever!).
The following differences between the Olympia and the FX will exist after
OLYMPIAS.FXF is downloaded.
- The alternate character set is activated and deactivated on the Olympia by
changing type wheels; on the FX, by the ESC % 01H and ESC % 00H escape
sequences. Word processors like MS WORD can handle this with an appropriate
printer definition file.
- The Olympia has a "special symbol area" which on the symbol wheel contains
six characters, four for constructing square brackets, a dagger, and an
accent. These are not included in OLYMPIAS.FXF.
- Some of the characters on the symbol wheel are designed to be combined with
half-line roll up and roll down movements to make large symbols such as
brackets, integration signs, and the like. These won't work well on the Epson
because characters seperated vertically by one line can't be made to overlap.
Acknowledgement is due to Wheatland Design Laboratory, originators of program
WXMX80. This character set was constructed using the GREEK.CHR file included
with the program WSMX80 on PC SIG 526 as a starting point. Most of the
characters have been modified to adapt to the FX printer.
Jack Dodds
Geo Acoustics Inc.
Box 772
Aurora Ontario Canada
L4G 4J9
Directory of PC-SIG Library Disk #0485
Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\
ALPHA FXF 1209 2-06-88 4:03p
AUTOFXF COM 13811 2-07-88 3:52p
BLOCK FXF 1196 2-07-88 3:47p
CAPS FXF 1222 5-30-89 12:43p
CONTENTS FX 1035 9-23-89 4:39p
DESCRIBE FX 1575 9-23-89 4:30p
DIGIT FXF 1222 5-30-89 12:46p
DOTGRAPH TXT 6272 10-17-85 7:46p
FILE0485 TXT 1689 12-06-89 12:01p
FIXFXF COM 13694 2-07-88 3:51p
FX COM 15208 1-09-88 10:59a
FXASCII COM 15100 6-07-88 9:34a
FXEDIT DOC 39796 6-06-89 12:23p
FXMATRIX COM 51729 1-05-89 5:21p
FXPRINT COM 28128 2-07-88 3:02p
GERMOD FXF 1222 2-07-88 3:47p
GERUND FXF 1222 2-07-88 3:47p
GO BAT 38 10-19-87 3:56p
GO TXT 1079 9-20-89 9:51a
GRAPH FXF 1248 2-16-86 12:15a
GREEK FXF 1209 5-30-89 2:43p
IM DOC 17280 10-17-85 7:30p
IM EXE 51072 10-17-85 7:51p
ITALIC FXF 1222 2-07-88 3:59p
MANUAL BAT 147 6-08-88 3:02p
OLYMPIAS DOC 1570 6-09-88 10:25a
OLYMPIAS FXF 1235 5-30-89 2:58p
ROUND FXF 1222 5-30-89 2:49p
RUSS FXF 1222 5-30-89 2:39p
SERIF FXF 1222 5-30-89 2:50p
SIMPLE FXF 1222 5-30-89 12:42p
THAI FXF 1170 2-07-88 3:47p
32 file(s) 277488 bytes
23552 bytes free