********************************************************************** * * * MIRAPRINT V1.3 README FILE * * * ********************************************************************** Topics covered: PRINTER COMPATIBILITY FAULTFINDING LEFT AND RIGHT MARGINS WITH MIXED FONTS USE OF IBM EXTENDED CHARACTER SETS ====================================================================== PRINTER COMPATIBILITY This section on non-Epson printers is mainly based on information received from manufacturers - where possible, you should verify it using your printer manual. We would appreciate notification of any errors in this section for the benefit of other users. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Amstrad LQ3500 Epson LQ code emulation: YES Proportional widths: N/A Download buffer size: N/A Maximum character data width: N/A Graphics: Does not have 360 dpi graphics, so font editor cannot be used to print out fonts. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Citizen Swift 24 Epson LQ code emulation: YES Proportional widths: As per Epson except Roman Script (which is on a font card). Download buffer size: Approx 8k Maximum character data width: 36 Graphics: 360 dpi available ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NEC P6, P7, P2200 Epson LQ code emulation: YES but also uses non-standard FS codes. Avoid using these in the middle of a justified line. Proportional widths: Non-standard. When you run INSTALL, select NECBOLD.WID. The subscript/superscript widths are not known and therefore are not correct in NECBOLD.WID - use FINDWID to determine them if necessary. Download buffer size: N/A Maximum character data width: 37 Graphics: 360 dpi ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NEC P6+, P7+ Epson LQ code emulation: YES but also uses non-standard FS codes. Avoid using these in the middle of a justified line. Proportional widths: Non-standard and vary with font used. When you run INSTALL, select NECBOLD.WID, NECTIMES.WID or NECHELV.WID if you are using the Bold PS, Times PS or Helvetica PS fonts respectively. Note that selection of proportional fonts can be via panel switches as long as the word processor sends the codes to select proportional mode. The subscript/superscript widths are not known and therefore are not correct in the width tables - use FINDWID to determine them if necessary. Download buffer size: 32k Maximum character data width: 37 Graphics: 360 dpi ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Panasonic KX-P1124 Epson LQ code emulation: YES Proportional widths: As per Epson Download buffer size: No download buffer as supplied; with memory upgrade 18k Maximum character data width: 30, so the full-size fonts supplied with Miraprint cannot be used, only the narrow and small versions. Graphics: 360 dpi ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Star LC24-10 Epson LQ code emulation: YES Proportional widths: As per Epson for normal-size characters but subscript/superscript widths different. When you run INSTALL, select LC24COUR.WID for use with Courier subscripts (or LC24PRES.WID for use with Prestige Elite subscripts). Download buffer size: Approx 6k (50 chars max); with memory card 221 chars Maximum character data width: 35 Graphics: 360 dpi ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Star XB24-10 Epson LQ code emulation: YES Proportional widths: As per Epson Download buffer size: 15k Maximum character data width: 35 Graphics: 360 dpi ====================================================================== FAULTFINDING Problem: Miraprint is not justifying the fixed-pitch font selected by the printer on power-up. Answer: Check that the font is 10-pitch letter-quality. Some printers initialize in a draft font which also may not be 10-pitch. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem: Miraprint justifies fixed-pitch fonts correctly but not proportional ones. Answer: (a) The proportional width tables are incorrect for your printer's character set. This may be because you are not using the UK character set. Check your printer manual for the correct values and use SETWID to change CHARS.WID accordingly. (b) You have set proportional mode using panel switches on the printer and not via software. (c) The proportional printer control characters or codes are preceding the Miraprint justification control on the same line. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem: When a paragraph of condensed-mode text is justified, it is to the left of the other text with wide gaps between words. Answer: The movement to the left is a consequence of the smaller size of the space character, so either indent the paragraph to compensate or reset the printer's left margin as described in the next section. The large gaps are present because Miraprint is still trying to justify to the same width, so put more text on each line to absorb the surplus intercharacter space. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem: When a Protext download file is printed, it just prints what is on the screen. Answer: (a) Miraprint has not been loaded. (b) Protext is in program mode. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem: A font has been downloaded but has made no difference to the printed text. Answer: (a) The download file does not select the font in character RAM - you must get your word processor to send the correct codes to do this (codes 27 37 1). Also, the printer must first be in proportional letter-quality mode. (b) Your printer may not be set up correctly for downloading. ====================================================================== LEFT AND RIGHT MARGINS WITH MIXED FONTS It will be found that documents containing mixed fonts will have varying left and right margins, due to the difference in character space width between the fonts. In the case of the left margin, the simplest way of overcoming this is to have no left margin spaces at all, but this is only practicable if the document is intended as artwork for printed reproduction. The correct way of establishing the left margin is to set the word processor to give zero left margin and set the printer to do this instead, using Epson codes ESC l n, where n is the number of 10-pitch spaces from the printer's left margin. Note that the second code is lower-case l, not 1, ie the codes in decimal are 27 108 n. Be careful using this code sequence - it should be placed at the beginning of a line, as any data following it on the same line will be lost. The right margin is dependent on the justification control and the width of a character space, ie the column width is the product of the two. Consequently fonts of different size will appear to have different column widths, even when justified using the same justification control. The solution is to increase the column width of the text set in the smaller font, and increase the justification control to suit. For example, suppose it is necessary to set a footnote in the small Senator font below some text 70 columns wide set in the normal Senator font. The normal font has a character space width of 28 dots, while the small font has one of 20 dots. So you need to set the footnote to 70 columns multiplied by 28, divided by 20 = 98 columns, and also use {98 as the justification control (assuming zero left margin). For reference, the Miraprint fonts supplied have the following character space widths: Senator: small 20; narrow 26; normal 28; headline 30 York: small 20; narrow 24; normal 26; headline 30 The printer's resident fixed-pitch fonts have the following character space widths: 10-pitch (pica): 36 12-pitch (elite): 30 15-pitch: 24 For the character space widths of the printer's resident proportional fonts, consult your printer manual. ====================================================================== USE OF IBM EXTENDED CHARACTER SETS In some printers, printing of the IBM extended character set with codes over 127 is only possible if the printer is switched to emulate an IBM model. Certain ESC code sequences are different in IBM printers, and this is why the Miraprint manual advises that the printer should normally be switched into Epson mode rather than IBM mode. In practice, there are unlikely to be problems unless extensive use is made of ESC code sequences. In other printers, eg the Epson and NEC models, the IBM character set can be selected without emulation of IBM ESC codes, and this is preferable for Miraprint operation. If the use of the IBM extended character set is important to you, check your printer manual to see which of the above applies to your printer. ======================================================================