..USE END OF FILE FOR TESTING - SAFER IF YOU HIT A ^L AND SET OFF AN OLD ..FIND AND REPLACE COMMAND. .. .. NOW CONTAINS FANCY.FNT, FRACT.FUN, ACCNTMRK, DAVID.FNT, NEW.FNT, BDAY.= .. AND STARS .. USE ^QF ".PA" TO FIND THEM. .. .op .mb0 Printer Tricks by Steve Wilson I'm a writer. I got my computer as a writing tool. Oh, I dabbled in basic for one afternoon. Eventually I got Personal Pearl to add. But when I found I could make my printer do tricks by varying Wordstar's print commands I finally had something frivolous enough to pass as fun, rather than work. Below are some of the things I've discovered. Most are silly. But a few may be of legitimate use to some of you. If nothing else they make for cheap greeting cards. Note: all of the effects were achieved with an MD II using a virtually unmodified Wordstar 3.0 (only the help level, justi fication, and hyphen defaults have been changed), with the MP200 (Silvereed 550) printer using the Courier 10 print wheel. If you attempt any of the stunts below with some other configuration, only machine language can say what will happen. ..BELOW HERE IS ACCNTMRK AN ACCENT MARK You can get a comma to print as an accent mark by using a .sr command in conjuntion with the "overprint character" (^PH) and superscript (^PT) commands. The .sr command controls how much the platen roller turns when doing a subscript or superscript. The default setting is .sr 3. .SR5 Here's the word "resume,." To get this to print properly, this is what I had on my screen: .sr5 Here's the word "resume^H^T,^T. .sr3 Note that the line in which "resume," appears is preceded by a line with the command ".sr5." The ^PH after the 'e' causes the next character, in this case a superscripted comma, to be printed .sr3 on the same space as the 'e'. Don't forget that a dot command must be put on a line of its own, as it will cause any text on the line to be ignored (it won't put a blank line in your text). Also, if using an effect like this in a body of text, it's a good idea to follow it with a .sr3 command, to return the setting to default in case you call for other sub or superscripts like H2O. (If you did happen to leave the .sr5 in effect, H2O would print .sr5 as H2O.) .sr3 .PA .he Printer Tricks - Steve Wilson # .op ..THIS IS "STARS" WORD IN BOX One can get rather carried away with subscripts, superscripts and overprints. I set out one day to see if I could put a word in a box. I succeeded: .sr5 ***S*T*A*R**** .sr1 ****** .SR3 But on my screen it looked like this: .sr5 *^H^V*^V^H^T*^TS^H^T*^TT^H^T*^TA^H^T*^TR^H^T*^T*^H^V*^V^H^T*^T .sr1 ^T******^T .sr3 ..THIS IS "FRACT.FUN" FRACTIONS Here's one that may actually be useful. You can create fractions using subscript, superscript, and overprint. All of the following were printed using .sr4 (on the line preceding them). .SR4 1_16_, 1-8, 3_16_ 1-4, 1-2 The 1_16_ appears as "^T1^T^H^T-^T^H^V16^V^H^T-^T" on the screen. One can turn off screen display of the control characters using ^OD. This will show you which characters are actually going to print, and give you a rough idea how much space they will actually take up in the line (though it will still be less than it appears, since they are being overprinted on the same space. .sr3 These fractions don't fit well in single spaced text. Also, they don't print very reliably with my tractor-feed, because the paper placement isn't precise when the tractor goes up and down in executing the sub and superscript commands. These pages were fed singly, without using the tractor-feed. When I have occasion to create a fraction like those above, I save it in a file, complete with dot commands. Then I don't have to go through the laborious process of recreating it each time I need it. .PA ..BELOW THIS IS DWNARROW .op .ujoff ARROWS  .cw9  .cw12 I noted that an "up" arrow could be created using '|' with over printed '^', yielding "|^." One can get right and left arrows using hyphens and the '< >' symbols: ----> <---- (Overprint the '<' or '>' with the hyphen nearest it.) Now, you can fine-tune the right and left arrows to get a more pleasing look. This requires some new commands: .cw (set pitch), ^PA, (select alternate pitch) and ^PN (return to standard pitch). The .cw command changes the pitch (amount of space alotted per character). Default is .cw12 for normal printing (ten characters per inch). The lower the number in a cw command, the more compressed the characters become. Here are ---> and <--- printed at .cw 9. To do this, enter the following against the left margin at the head of your document: ^PA .cw9 ^PN .cw12 These commands "set" the alternate and standard pitch. (They also add two blank lines to the text.) From that point on in the document the printer will start printing at .cw9 wherever you enter ^PA and will return to .cw12 wherever you enter ^PN. Think of ^PA and ^PN as similar to the underlining command, ^PS, which you use to turn underlining off and on. You can set ^PA and ^PN to any value you want within the ranges indicated in your Wordstar manual. Also, you can change .cw settings as often as you like within a document. I am about to switch to .cw4 below, for example.  .cw4 Life was not complete until I could create a "down" arrow. I used '\' and '/' separated by a superscripted '|' (using .sr2). Thus, .sr2 '\|/' becomes: ' \|/ ' when printed using cw4. You can of course get a similar up arrow by using '/|\' and .cw4, (sub scripting the '|') for '/|\'. Finally, you can add some vertical '|'s to lenghen the arrows: .cw4 | | \|/ .sr3 .cw12 Truth be known, I have not been able to get the extended down arrow to print properly using ^PA and ^PN. So I simply enter a cw4 and .sr2 above the lines on which I want the down arrow, and a .cw12 and .sr3 below (to return to default settings). Then, however, getting the little devil to print where you want it on the page becomes quite a chore, because a straight .cw command compresses all characters in a line, including spaces. Thus the arrow's position on your screen will have little relation to it's position on the paper (the above arrow is out at column 95 on my screen). Furthermore, anything on the same lines as the arrow will also get printed at .cw4. One solution is to run the paper through the printer twice, printing the arrow by itself, from its own file, on the second run. Another solution is to assume that the whole exercise is pointless and get a system capable of graphics. .PA .uj on FANCY FONTS Rather unuusal things happen when you vary pitch and line height together. Line height is contolled with .lh commands, (also in your Wordstar manual). With both .cw and .lh set at minimum (1), periods are printed so close together (both vertically and horizontally that they form solid forms. (This information first came to me via the North Hollywood LAMUG.) Here are periods printed as they appear on the screen, using the default settings of .cw12 and .lh8: . . . . . . . . . . . ............. . . . . . . And here they are again, printed using .cw1, .lh1. (Reminder: both 'A's will look the same on your screen. Only the print-out will be different. .cw1 .lh1 .po 200 . . . . . . . . . . . ............. . . . . . . .cw12 .lh8 .po 10 So, if you've a mind to, you can print things like: .lh 1 .cw 1 .po 150 ................. . . ................ . ............. ................ . ... . ............ ................ . ................ ................ ................ ... . . ................ ................ ... . . .. . .. .. .. . . . . . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . . . .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . .. . ................. ............. . . . ............... . . . .. . . ............. . ............. ............... ................ . . . ............. ................ . .. .. .. . . . .. . . . .. . . .. . .. .. .. .. . . . .. .. .. . . . . . . . . ............. . .. . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . .. . . ... . . ................ ................ ............. ................ . . . ... ............ ................ ................. ................ ................ . . ... . ................ . . .cw12 .lh7 .po10 On screen the above phrase extends clear out to colum 389. Only "The" is visible in the first 80 columns. This sort of things takes getting used to. What you see on the screen is not what will be printed. The dot commands become all important. One misplaced command and your printer may put everything on the platen. .pa .he Printer Tricks - Steve Wilson (Fancy Font, cont.) # .cw10 .lh7 .sr7 .po6 One can play with this concept, varying the settings and using different print characters, yeilding some rather nice looking letters: Character used (as it appears on screen)-----> .lh 3 .cw 3 .po 110 O * / $ # > OOOOOOOOOOOO ************ //////////// $$$$$$$$$$$$ ############ >>>>>>>>>>>> OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO **************** //////////////// $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ################ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> OOOO **** //// $$$$ #### >>>> OOOOO ***** ///// $$$$$ ##### >>>>> OOOOOOOOOOOOOO ************** ////////////// $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ############## >>>>>>>>>>>>>> OOOOOOOOOOOO ************ //////////// $$$$$$$$$$$$ ############ >>>>>>>>>>>> OOOOO ***** ///// $$$$$ ##### >>>>> OOOO **** //// $$$$ #### >>>> OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO *************** /////////////// $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ############### >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> OOOOOOOOOOO *********** /////////// $$$$$$$$$$$ ########### >>>>>>>>>>> .cw12 .lh7 .po10 These were printed using the following settings. .lh 3 .cw 3 .po 110 The .po setting is "page offset." It simply tells the printer how many spaces to indent before starting with column number one of your document. Trial and error led me to .po 110 ( one hundred ten spaces compressed to .cw3) to get the 'S's to print where I wanted them on the page. .. do not use R or S below for anything esle - they has be messed with for .. '<>' symbol ONLY -- read a new one in to start with next time. .. use .lh4 .cw6 to print these Using pairs of characters can result in still other effects. .lh4 .cw6 .po 40 <> <> <><><><><><><><> <><><><><><> <><> <><> <><><><><><><><> <> <> <><> <><> <><> <><> <><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><> <><> <><> <><><><><><><> <> <> <><> <> <> <><> <> <> <><><><><><><><> <> <> <><><><><><> .cw10 .lh7 .po10 Settings: .lh4 .cw6 Working from this last idea, I did one year's Christmas card: .lh 3 .cw 3 .po 62 .UJ off {}{} {}} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}} {}{} {} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}} {}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{} {{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {{} {}{} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {{} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {{} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{}{}{}-{}-{}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{} {} {}{} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}} {}{} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}} {{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {{}{}{}{}{}{}{}} {}{}{} {}{}} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{}{}} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {{} {}{} {}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {{} {}{} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {{} {}{} {}{} {}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {{} {}{} {}{} {}{}{} {}{} {}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{} {} {}{} {}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}} {}{} {}{} {}{} {}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} {}{} {}{}{} {}{} {{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} {}{}{}{}{}{} .cw10 .lh7 .po10 Settings: .lh 3 .cw 3 .po 62 .UJ off .pa I got very involved at one point, creating a letter with alternating overprinted lines of characters. .lh 3 .cw 4 .op .po 60 O + OOOOOOOOOOOOOO ++++++++++++++ OO OO ++ ++ O O + + OO OO ++ ++ OOOOOOOOOOOOOO ++++++++++++++ OO OO ++ ++ O O + + O O + + O O + + O O + + .cw10 .lh7 .po10 Settings: .lh 3 .cw 4 .po 30 Lines of "+" printed over lines of "O" using ^PM line-overprint command. (This letter took a very long time to create and I quickly abandoned the idea of making a whole alphabet of them.) Print characters don't always have to overlap, and the choice of character makes a difference. Here are some '='s printed at .lh2, .cw4; followed by "To David" with '#'s at .lh3, .cw3. .lh 2 .cw 4 .po 80 = = = === === = = = = = = = = = = = = ===== = = = === === = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = === = === ===== = = === = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = === = === = ===== = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = === = = = = = = === = = = .lh 3 .cw 3 .po 100 ################# ############# ### ## ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## ## ### ############# ############# # # # ### ############# ## # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ############# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # ## # ############# # # # ### ############# .cw12 .lh7 .po10 A couple of final notes: These letters take a long time to create. I have a master file of letters done in periods. I read the master file into the one I'm working on and work on the letters there. If I make a mistake, I can always return to the master file. I use mass find-and-replace to change the periods to other characters for experimentation. Unfortunately I do not have time at present to explain in detail how to assemble the letters into words. I use Smartkey, which makes much of the repetitive find-mark-move a lot easier. Once the letters are created, one must move them into position one at a time, in column mode (^KN), but be aware that when you are in this mode you cannot move the cursor off the screen, that is past about column 90. If you attempt it, Wordstar will probably crash and you will lose any work not saved at that point. (This is a probably a "bug" in Wordstar.) Briefly, the safe approach is to build the words in reverse. For "FRED" I would make the 'D' first and move into positon. Next I would make the 'E' and move it up (in column mode, letting it push the 'D' aside, toward the right margin. Then make and move the 'R', pushing the 'ED' over, and so on. This way you can build words that extend beyond the right margin without taking the cursor into that "forbidden zone" in column mode.