PCBOOK


Jay Munro October 16, 1990 (Utilities)

Purpose: Prints README and similar ASCII files in booklet format on an
HP LaserJet II, IIp, or III printer. Uses two-sided printing in landscape
mode, with Line Printer font so that four standard pages of 80
characters/line, 66 lines/page are printed on each sheet without formatting
changes.

Format: PCBOOK [path] filename [/F] [/P] [/D] [/C] [/2] [/A] [/W] [/S] [/H]

Remarks: The filename can designate any ASCII text file in which each
line is terminated with a Carriage Return/Line Feed combination. Page Feed
characters can be added to force breaks in addition to those implicit in the
60-line (68-line if a header is used) page length.

Any or all of the /F, /P, and /D command-line switches can be used to
create a one-line header that prints the filename, page number, and date,
respectively, on all but blank pages. The /W switch causes lines exceeding 80
characters to wrap; by default such lines are truncated. Adding the /2 switch
causes PCBOOK to print to LPT2 rather than the default LPT1. (Use the DOS
MODE command to implement serial connection, if desired.) The /A switch can
be used to direct output to a file.

PCBOOK sequences the page printing so that all side-one pages are
printed in one pass. The sheets are then put back in the LaserJet paper tray
and all side-two pages are printed. The finished booklet can then be created
with a single fold. When using the normal (top) LaserJet output bin the pass-
one sheets should be reinserted in the paper tray without any relative change
in orientation. If rear output from the printer is used, the sheets must be
turned over as a group before reinsertion. To determine how many sheets will
be required without automatically starting the print operation, use the /C
switch.

The /H switch provides on-screen help for the program, and the /S
switch sounds a beep as each printing pass is successfully completed.

The source code for PCBOOK.EXE is written in QuickBASIC, and
modifications will require Microsoft QuickBASIC 4.0b or 4.5, or the BASIC
compiler, Version 6.0 or 7.0. Both the executable and the source files for
PCBook can be downloaded from PC MagNet.