Category : Printer Utilities
Archive   : !PFILE31.ZIP
Filename : PFILE.DOC

PFile V3.1
(c)1991

Sid Jones
1127 Poplar Wood Drive
California, MD 20619
(301) 737-0287




PrintFile was originally written as a programming aid in
Turbo C 2.0. In developing a program it was necessary to
obtain a printout of the source code fairly often. In order to
get the long lines to fit on the page without wrapping around
or being cut off, I had to continually set the printer for
condensed print. For the final copy to be included in a
notebook, a left margin was required also. PFile is intended to
alleviate all the fuss.

*** To print the document file, set PFile for 60 lines per page. ***

PFile version 3.1 has the following features:

* Supports three default printer types or any printer the
user defines in the printer ID (.PID) file. Four sample
pid files are supplied with the program.

* Can be run from the command line or from the menu.
Everything can be changed from the menu.

* Line numbered source code. Can handle multiple line
printing from long source lines.

* Ignores formfeed characters anywhere in line. If your
page lengths don't match up, your'e not stuck with every
other page being only a few lines.

* Optionally prints title at top of each page with current
date, filename, file creation/modification date and page
numbering with page totals.

* The first 12 lines are displayed allowing you a glimpse of
the file you are printing.

* Printer ID file to customize the PFile program to any
printer. (Printer, Top/Bottom Margin, Tab expansion)

* Use DOS environment to set path for printer ID files.

* View the contents of any printable file with out leaving the
program.


BASIC OPERATION

Type PFILE at the DOS prompt to start the program. The top half
of the screen shows what the program is currently set up for. To
move around the main menu, use the up & down arrow keys or use the
space bar. When your selection is highlighted, hit the enter key.
To back out of any menu without making a choice, hit the ESC key.

PRINT FILE - Use this after you have loaded a file and
wish to send it to the printer using the
printer displayed next to PRN:.

LOAD NEW FILE - This will call up a listing of the current
directory. The directory can be changed by
moving the cursor to a sub-directory (all
capitals) or to the parent directory (..).
By doing this you can traverse the disk. To
look at a different disk, hit F2, -D,
or -D. This will display a list of the
different disks that are available. Other
keys available are: PGUP & PGDN moves the
directory 20 choices up or down. HOME or
LEFT arrow move to the beginnig of the list.
END or RIGHT arrow move to the end of the
list.

OPTIONS - This will display the options menu. Move
the cursor to the option you would like to
change and hit enter.

PRN: - Shows a list of PID files that are
available. The same three paths are
searched just like for pfile.pid
(See Printer ID File below.)

CHARS PER INCH - Toggles through choices (10, 12,
17). The printer must be set up to
use these.

LINE NUMBERING - Toggles line numbers on the output.
(On/Off). This option uses 7 spaces.

TITLE PRINTING - Toggles title printing (On/Off).
This option uses 3 lines.

LINES PER INCH - Toggles through choices (6, 7, 8).
The choice of 7 is actually 6.6.
This was mainly for the HP LaserJet
II which only has a printable page
of 10 inches or 60 lines. This
gives the LaserJet the ability to
print 66 line pages which the
standard.

TOP MARGIN - Gives a menu to choose from (0 to 6
lines)

BOTTOM MARGIN - Gives a menu to choose from (0 to 6
lines)

TAB - This sets the tab expansion.
Generally a tab is 8 characters
wide. However, when writing code,
people have their own preferences.
(0 to 12 spaces)

BORDER CHARACTER - This applies only when title
printing is on. This sets the
character that is printed across the
page to separate the title from the
body of the document. Default
choices with their decimal
equivalents in (): Ä (196), Í (205),
ß (223), - (45), = (61), * (42), ~
(126), . (46). Or you can put
anything you want there. See PID
file below.

View File - This will let you view the whole file on the
screen, 13 lines at a time. Hitting a key
will display the next 13 lines. Hitting ESC
will return to the main menu. To choose a
file or drive, see 'Load New File' option.





COMMAND LINE USEAGE


PFile [-options] [filename.ext]
PFile -h -- Displays this help screen.
PFile -r -- Displays registration information.


Options

m[-] -- Starts PFile in menu mode. (m- for command line mode)
p[e|i|h] -- Selects default printer. (Epson, Ibm, Hp)
l[6|7|8] -- Selects lines per inch.
c[10|12|17] -- Selects characters per inch.
n[-] -- Sets line numbering on. (n- turns numbering off)
t[-] -- Sets title printing on. (t- sets title printing off)


The default printer option is used when there is no default
printer id file present (pfile.pid), otherwise that parameter is
ignored. The default switch settings are: PFILE -ml6c17nt. This
is equivalent to running PFILE without any optional switches. It
will run in the menu/interactive mode. The printout will be set
for 6 lines per inch (lpi), 17 characters per inch (cpi), line
numbering and a title at the top of the page. From the main menu,
any of the options may be set. Any options set from the command
line will override those set in the id file.





PFile can be setup from the command line. By using the
appropriate command line switches, PFile can be configured to
your liking upon loading of the program. This saves you the
trouble of entering the options menu for the same choices time
after time. This includes loading the source file. See
example batch file number one.

If you already know which file you wish to print, the options
you wish to use, and the printer is ready, you can use the command
line option to bypass the interactive session. See example
batch file number two.

Ex 1 PBAT1.BAT: PFILE -n-l8ph %1
Useage: pbat1 source.c

Ex 2 PBAT2.BAT: PFILE -l8c12m- %1
Useage: pbat2 source.c

The first batch file calls PFile with the file "source.c"
already loaded. PFile will also have the following options set:
line numbering off, 8 lines per inch, and ready to use the HP
LaserJet II--if the file "pfile.pid" was not found. Of course,
once PFile is loaded the options can be changed.


The second batch file doesn't use the interactive menu at all.
PFile will set the printer for 8 lines/inch, 12 characters per
inch and will proceed with printing the file. With this option
you don't get a chance to change the options or to set your
printer to the top of the page.



PRINTER ID FILE (PID)

There are several printer ID (PID) files supplied with this
program. When PFile is run, it checks to see if "pfile.pid", the
default printer id file is in the current directory. If not, the
DOS environment is checked for the variable "PFILE=path". If it
is found, that directory is checked for the default file. Then
the root directory of the current drive is checked. If the file
still isn't found the program uses an internal set of defaults.
The printer of which can be specified through the command line
switches. To use the DOS environment, in your autoexec place the
following command:
SET PFILE=path

Where path is the path (including drive) where you want your
PID files to be found. This allows you to call PFile from other
directories or even disks while still using the same PID files.

If the program doesn't seem to
be working on your system, check the PFILE.PID file. If you don't
have one, one can be built with any text editor and the following
commands.





Command identifiers must be entered exactly as they appear.
They must begin with a period in the first column and end with a
colon. All non printable characters must be entered in the format
"\DDD" where DDD is the decimal ASCII code of the character. Three
digits must be used. Comments can be interspersed throughout this
file, however, nothing but the printer codes can be on the command
lines.

TMARGIN - The size of the top margin.

BMARGIN - The size of the bottom margin.

BORDER - A single character that is repeated across the page
forming a line between the header and the file.

PRINTER - Names the printer the codes are set for. Must be no
longer than 15 characters.

INITIALIZE - Printer initialization code. (45 characters max)

6LPI - Code for 6 lines per inch. (45 characters max)

8LPI - Code for 8 lines per inch. (45 characters max)

66LPI - Code for 6.6 lines per inch. (Listed as 7 on
the command line options) On Hp, this gives an
effective page length equal to other printers.
Very helpful when printing out doc files spaced
for normal 66 lines per page. (45 characters max)

10CPI - Code for 10 characters per inch. (45 characters max)

12CPI - Code for 12 characters per inch. (45 characters max)

17CPI - Code for 17 characters per inch. (45 characters max)


Due to all printers not having the exact same choices for
character spacing, the next three commands are required even
though they seem redundant. They basically indicate the page
size. The PICA_COL is the exact characters per inch multiplied
by the page width in inches (normally 8). For example, the
compressed print for the HP is 16.66 cpi not 17. Therefore the
number of columns per line is different then the standard 17
cpi.

PICA_COL - # of columns in 10CPI. (normally 80)

ELITE_COL - # of columns in 12CPI. (normally 96)

COMP_COL - # of columns in 17CPI. (normally 136)

TAB - Width of tabs on printout. (normally 4 or 8)

PAGESIZE - Length of page. (normally 11 -- 10 for HP)



*** If there is a problem with the file header not fitting on one
line. The problem lies in one of the column commands.

PFile History

1.0 12/89 Original program written.

2.0 5/90 Menu support added.
Ignore formfeeds in first column added.
Configuration files added.
Configureable printer drivers.
Displays the first 12 lines of loaded file.

2.0a 12/90 Streamlined Code.

3.0 1/91 New expanded printer id file.
Simplified printer option in PID file. You
only have to set up one printer-yours.
Choose from as many printers as you want to set up
from the menu.
Easier to use command line options.
Expand tabs on printout.
File directory sorted by extension. With sub
directories grouped at the top. (All .c
files grouped together)
New menu choices.
Ignore formfeeds anywhere in line.
More choices for lpi and cpi.
Use of the DOS environment variables.

3.1 11/91 Fixed problem of retrieving first file from disk.
PFile now accounts for long file lines to give the
correct page total in the print header.
Added file viewing capability




























SHAREWARE

This version of PFile is NOT public domain or free software,
but is being distributed as "shareware".

Non-registered users of this software are granted a limited
license to make an evaluation copy for trial use on a private,
non-commercial basis, for the express purpose of determining
whether PFile is suitable for their needs. At the end of this
trial period, you should either register your copy or discontinue
using PFile.

What is "ShareWare"? If you use this program, then you should
pay for your copy. That way shareware authors will be able to
provide you support and updates for current software as well as
develop new low cost software. Plus, registered users receive
update notices, technical support, and a warm fuzzy feeling that
they've helped the system. Registration entitles you to use the
program on any and all computers available to you, with the
following restriction: If other people have access to this program
or may use it, then you should purchase a site license. See the
following section for information about site licensing or quantity
discounts.


All users are granted a limited license to copy PFile only for
trial use and subject to the above limitations. This license does
NOT include distribution or copying of this software package:

1. In connection with any other product or service.
2. For general use within a company or institution.
3. For distribution in modified form; i.e., the file
containing this license information MUST be included,
along with the full PFile documentation.

Operators of electronic bulletin board systems (Sysops) are
encouraged to post PFile for downloading by their users, as
long as the above conditions are met.






















ORDERING INFORMATION

A PFile registration licenses you to use the product on a
regular basis. Registration includes notification of updates
and telephone support.


Remit to: Sid Jones
1127 Poplar Wood Drive
California, MD 20619

*** PFile version 3.1, Nov 1991 ***

I offer special prices/discounts on quantity orders,
multiple-user licenses, and dealer pricing

Please send me (check desired items):

____ PFile on disk w/o registration ... @ $3.50 ea $ ______
Format: [_] 3« [_] 5¬

____ PFile Registration ............... @ $10.00 ea $ ______

____ PFile Registration W/Disk ........ @ $12.50 ea $ ______
Format: [_] 3« [_] 5¬
Subtotal $ ______

MD Residents please add Sales Tax ....... @ 5% $ ______

Total $ ______

[__] Please send me word when the next update or other new
software products are available.

Name: ________________________________________________________

Company (ONLY if company address):____________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________

: _____________________________________________________

: _____________________________________________________

Day Phone: _________________________ Eve: ____________________


------------------------ User comments -----------------------

I acquired PFile (serial number _________) from:
[ ] - Friend [ ] - Software product
[ ] - Computer Club [ ] - Computer Store
[ ] - Data Base Service Name__________________________
[ ] - BBS Name_______________ #(____) ____-_____
[ ] - Other - Please Specify __________________________

If you have any ideas or comments that would make PFile a better
program, then please let us know.

Comments and/or suggestions:
DISCLAIMER

Use of this program acknowledges this disclaimer of
warranty: "This program is supplied as is. Casual Software
disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including,
without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of
fitness of this program for any purpose. Casual Software
assumes no liability for damages direct or consequential, which
may result from the use of this program."


CORPORATE SITE LICENSES AND QUANTITY PURCHASES

All corporate, business, government or other commercial
users of PFile must be registered. We offer quantity discounts
as well as site licensing.

Corporate site licensing agreements allow duplication and
distribution of copies within the licensed institution.
Duplication of multiple copies is not allowed except through
execution of a licensing agreement. Site license fees are
based upon estimated number of users.

Note that with a site license, only one copy of the program
will be sent. You will be responsible for distributing
additional copies.

Please call or write for more information.