THE OFFICIAL K AND G FUNCTION KEY TEMPLATE MAKER VERSION 1.10 (C) Copyright 1988 George D. Steinhoff c/o K and G Compu-Type 2502 Bona Road Wilmington, DE 19810-2220 (302) 478-6094 MICROSOFT (R) QuickBASIC Compiler Version 4.00 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp. 1982-1987. All rights reserved. THE OFFICIAL K AND G FUNCTION KEY TEMPLATE MAKER, VERSION 1.10 (C) Copyright 1988 George D. Steinhoff This is a BASIC program designed to do one thing: create a template for any program you might have. We're not talking Lotus material, but it does the job. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: IBM PC OR PC COMPATIBLE or IBM PC/AT OR COMPATIBLE or IBM PS/2 PRINTER I originally wrote the program to be used with an IBM GRAPHICS PRINTER, and the default settings are set for that printer (which should also work with an EPSON). However, the program now allows you to create your own default printer setup file. Instructions follow. The program has been compiled using MICROSOFT (R) QuickBASIC Compiler Version 4.0, Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp. 1982-1987. The following files are distributed with the version that you got: TEMPMAKR.EXE - The Working Copy of the Program. TEMPMAKR.TXT - The Manual that you are reading. TEMPLATE.015 - Sample Template data for 15 char./inch. TEMPLATE.017 - Same for 17 char./inch. TEMPLATE.020 - Same for 20 char./inch. UPDATE .TXT - Text file of update revisions. SETUP .PRT - The Default printer settings file. SETUP .MON - The Default monitor setting file. README .TXT - Additional information. PLEASE READ! The program may be distributed freely in the above format, unchanged. If you find a NONCOMMERCIAL use for it, a $5.00 usage fee is required. The $5.00 fee gives you license to use this release NONCOMMERCIALLY in ONE machine only, and does NOT give license for all future releases of the program. If used commercially, a $10.00 Registration Fee is mandatory. for a $20.00 fee, you will be entitled to one disk copy of the program and the BASIC source code, as well as a letter quality printout of the manual you are reading. Multi-user licensing is available. Mail all transactions to: George D. Steinhoff c/o K and G Compu-Type 2502 Bona Road Wilmington, DE 19810-2220 The registration fees ($10.00 and up) give you license to use all future updates when available. I will not mail them out, but will make them available via the same method you received this copy. Now that all the unpleasantries are out of the way, let me describe the program. TEMPLATE MAKER has a very simple purpose - to make Function Key Templates for those programs you have that you don't have a template for. Because of the limitations of the printer, and the fact that I didn't want to design an entirely new character set using bit mapping, there are obvious limitations. The biggest is the size of the print - especially the even-numbered Function key entries. Nonetheless, there might be a use for such a program in your library, especially for those people that design their own Function Key uses (like Communication Package users). It even has a disk printing option that creates a text file version of your template, for distribution with your own program manuals-on-disk. Realistically, I realize that this is not the most efficient program available, but it did take me some time to put together, and I hope to put more time into future enhancements. Since I am not a trained programmer, this first version is in Basic (and probably not the most efficient use of Basic at that), but hopefully with practice I will move on to more efficient and faster program languages. It really depends on the response I get from this first version. I'm really not holding my breath for a great response for this product, but at least it was fun getting my hands wet with such a program. I hope you find a use for my efforts! HOW TO RUN THE PROGRAM There is no installation of the program, it runs the way it is. Just boot you version of DOS and load the program. Make sure that both the SETUP.PRT and the SETUP.MON files are on the same disk (or in the same directory) as TEMPMAKR.EXE. Then type: TEMPMAKR And you're off ! WHAT YOU SEE.... After the introductory screen, you will see a split screen double menu. The top menu shows all the current function key assignments, and the bottom part shows all the choices available to the user. The eleven available functions are: 1) PRINTER DRIVER SETTINGS 2) PRINT SIZE 3) ENTER/EDIT DATA FROM KEYBOARD 4) RETRIEVE DATA FROM DISK 5) CHANGE PROGRAM NAME 6) STORE DATA ON DISK 7) PRINT TEMPLATE 8) CLEAR MEMORY OF CURRENT DATA 9) JUMP TO DOS 0) QUIT PROGRAM A) ANSI GRAPHICS 1) PRINTER DRIVER SETTINGS allows you to input your own printer controls for your printer. You will be given the chance to set the following: A) Choose between 1/48 or 1/72 spacing. B) Enter control code settings for 15, 17, and/or 20 CPI. Under each CPI setting (if you choose it) you can enter control codes for the following: A) The Code for the CPI currently chosen. B) The Code for either 1/48 or 1/72 spacing (depending which you chose). C) The Code to return to the original CPI setting (usually 10 CPI or 12 CPI). D) The Code for returning to 1/6 spacing. E) The Code for Form Feed. For example, on the IBM Graphics Printer, the Complete Code for 1/72 spacing is the following: ESC "A" 1 ESC "2" (the first three entries set 1/72 spacing, and the ESC "2" feed that information into the printer). When asked what the Codes are for 1/72 spacing, you would enter the following: "27 65 1 27 50" With a space between each entry, no space at the beginning or the end. The numbers represent the DECIMAL ASCII numerical equivalent to the code shown above it (ESC "A" 1 ESC "2"). If you wanted to use hexadecimal notation, you would use the following: "&H1B &H41 &H01 &H1B &H32" If you do not choose 20 Chars./Inch, or you have no control settings for this particular size, the program will ask you whether your printer is compatible with the IBM Graphics Printer. The IBM Graphics Printer does not have a control setting for 20 Chars/inch, but you can print 20 CPI by inputting the control code for 17 CPI and manually setting the printer for ELITE. If you say YES to the above question, the program will allow you that option when printing. The current SETUP.PRT is set up for the IBM Graphics Printer, but Template Maker will allow you to configure the program for any printer you own. I've tested it on a few printers, including my Diablo 630ECS, and it does work. You might want to examine Appendix A which gives a sample run- through of this particular option, demonstrating how I set up the program to run with the Diablo 630ECS Daisywheel Printer. 2) PRINT SIZE allows you to set the program for either 15, 17, or 20 characters per inch. This affects the length of the data installed as follows: 15 CHARS/INCH: ODD FUNCTION KEYS - MAXIMUM OF 10 CHARS. LONG EVEN FUNCTION KEYS - MAXIMUM OF 6 CHARS. LONG 17 CHARS/INCH: ODD FUNCTION KEYS - MAXIMUM OF 11 CHARS. LONG EVEN FUNCTION KEYS - MAXIMUM OF 7 CHARS. LONG 20 CHARS/INCH: ODD FUNCTION KEYS - MAXIMUM OF 13 CHARS. LONG EVEN FUNCTION KEYS - MAXIMUM OF 8 CHARS. LONG If there is already data entered into the upper section of the screen, it will be adjusted according to the size picked. for example, if you go from 17 to 15 chars/inch, then the entries currently in memory (showing in the top part of the screen) will be shortened by one letter (odd entries from 11 to 10 characters, even entries from 7 to 6 characters), cutting off the last letter in each word that is the maximum length (either 11 or 7 characters). In other words, save date often !! This will not affect data already saved on disk, for whenever a stored template is retrieved, the printer size will adjust to the setting of the stored template automatically. 3) ENTER/EDIT DATA FROM KEYBOARD does just that - allows you to enter new data for each function key, or to edit existing data. You move the indicator in the upper menu with the cursor keys to highlight the entry you want to enter/edit, then press the space key, type in the new entry, and press RETURN to replace the old entry, or ESCAPE to keep the old. You can then move the indicator to the next entry to change. Press ESCAPE to exit enter/edit mode. 4) RETRIEVE DATA FROM DISK allows you to get a previously saved data file and enter the data into memory to edit or print. You will be asked to press a letter for the drive letter, then input a path name and finally a file name. Each of the three entries is done separately. You don't need to indicate a path name if you want the DOS default path or there is no path, but you ALWAYS have to indicate a drive letter and a file name (the program will not accept a null entry as a file name). 5) CHANGE PROGRAM NAME allows you to replace the template program name with another if so desired. 6) STORE DATA ON DISK allows you to save existing data in memory to a disk file, using the same entry method as RETRIEVE DATA. 7) PRINT TEMPLATE is the main reason for the program. After all the data is entered and edited, this selection will print the template, either using LPT1-LPT4 or to disk. The disk file created by this option can then be printed using the DOS COPY command. This program can print in 15, 17 or 20 characters based on your default printer settings. 8) CLEAR MEMORY will clear the top part of the screen and start with a clean setting. Make sure if you want to keep the data, you save it first before using this option !! 9) JUMP TO DOS does just that - jumps to a DOS shell. Type EXIT to get back to the program. All current data in memory will remain there upon EXITing back. This way you can check file names, delete, copy, etc., while running the program. 0) QUIT THE PROGRAM, of course, ends the session. Everything is lost here, so make sure all data has been saved before invoking this command. A) ANSI GRAPHICS allows you to choose this option for monitor display. Try both settings to see which works best for you. The original SETUP.MON file is set for no ANSI Graphics. All options above (except for ENTER/EDIT DATA, ANSI GRAPHICS and JUMP TO DOS) have a verification Yes/No menu to allow you to continue function or break back to main menu. This pretty much explains the program, and the program itself should be pretty self-explanatory, so explore it and see what you can do with it. TEMPLATE.015, TEMPLATE.017 and TEMPLATE.020 are sample data patterns that you can experiment with. Call them up with the RETRIEVE option and fool around with the rest of the program and your printer to see what you can do. Good Luck !! APPENDIX A A SAMPLE RUN-THROUGH OF THE PRINTER DRIVER SETTINGS OPTION After pressing Option 1 (Printer Driver Settings) from the Main Menu, you will see the following in the bottom left corner: ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º º º º º *** SET PRINTER DRIVER SETTINGS *** º º º º ARE YOU SURE º º (Y or N) º º º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ After pressing "Y" I got the following in the bottom left corner: ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º º º DO YOU WANT: 1) 1/48 SPACING º º 2) 1/72 SPACING º º º º PICK A NUMBER (1-2) º º º º º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ For the Diablo, I pressed "1" for 1/48 spacing, and next saw the following, once again in the bottom left of the screen: ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º º º º º DOES YOUR PRINTER HAVE A CONTROL º º CODE SETTING FOR 15 CPI? º º (Y or N) º º º º º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ The Diablo does, so I pressed "Y" and got the following in the bottom right: ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º º º ENTER COMMAND STRING FOR º º SELECTING 15 CPI MODE º º (DECIMAL FORM, SEPARATE BY SPACES) º º (NO SPACE AT END) º º ? º º º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ So I enter the following: "27{space}31{space}9{return}" (words in brackets refer to keys). This is the control sequence for 15 CPI. Next I got the following in the bottom right: ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º º º ENTER COMMAND STRING FOR º º SETTING 1/ 48 SPACING º º (DECIMAL FORM, SEPARATE BY SPACES) º º (NO SPACE AT END) º º ? º º º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ I entered: "27{space}30{space}2{return}" This turns on 1/48 spacing. Next in the bottom right came the following: ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º º º ENTER COMMAND STRING FOR º º CANCELLING 15 CPI MODE OR º º RETURNING TO ORIGINAL CPI º º (DECIMAL FORM, SEPARATE BY SPACES) º º (NO SPACE AT END) º º ? º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ I entered: "27{space}31{space}13{return}" Which sets it back to 10 CPI. Then in the bottom right came the following: ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º º º ENTER COMMAND STRING FOR º º SETTING 1/6 SPACING º º (DECIMAL FORM, SEPARATE BY SPACES) º º (NO SPACE AT END) º º ? º º º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ I entered: "27{space}30{space}9{return}" Finally I got the following in the bottom right: ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º º º ENTER COMMAND STRING FOR º º PAPER ADVANCE TO NEXT PAGE º º (DECIMAL FORM, SEPARATE BY SPACES) º º (NO SPACE AT END) º º ? º º º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ I entered: "12{return}" Next came the bottom left menu that I last had before, this time for 17 CPI. After pressing "N", I got the same menu for 20 CPI. If I had pressed "Y" I would have gotten the same five right hand menus shown above for both 17 CPI and 20 CPI. Finally, after pressing "N" for 20 CPI, I got the following left hand menu: ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º º º º º IS YOUR PRINTER COMPATIBLE WITH º º THE IBM GRAPHICS PRINTER? º º (Y or N) º º º º º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ (If I had presssed "Y" for 20 CPI, I would instead see the five right hand menus, and the above menu would not be displayed). The reason for displaying this at this time (after pressing "N" for 20 CPI) is that some printers (including my Epson Homewriter 10) emulate the IBM Graphics Printer, and have no control code setting for 20 CPI. However, if these printers have a hardware printer setting for ELITE (for example, a button setting on the front of the printer), then this setting in combination with the 17 CPI control codes will produce 20 CPI. Read your printer manual for information on this setting. If you're not sure, then press "N" to be on the safe side. Remember, this question will only appear if you answer "N" for the previous question on whether or not you have a control code setting for 20 CPI. After all this, the computer will save a new SETUP.PRT file with the new default settings, and go back to the Main Menu. HINT: If you want to, you can save the original SETUP.PRT under another file, like IBMGRAPH.PRT, before you start Template Maker. If you wish, you can set up a number of printer drivers, and then copy SETUP.PRT to a printer name after each use of the First option on the main menu. For example, I have an EPSON.PRT and a DIABLO.PRT, and I just copy whatever printer I want to use to SETUP.PRT before I run Template Maker.