PROPR V1.11 Copyright (c) 1992-1993 Copy Con Incorporated Page 1


DESCRIPTION
-----------
PROPR is a command-line utility which allows you to send ANY commands
to your IBM Proprinter compatible printer. PROPR has over 50 built-in
commands, and it also gives you the ability to create and store your
own, using binary, octal, decimal, hex, and text codes. Commands can
be stacked, and they can be sent to any device or file.


REQUIREMENTS
------------
PROPR will run on any PC compatible running DOS 3.0 or better, with an
IBM Proprinter compatible printer (which, while not actually required,
would make the program a bit more useful... ;^). If you wish to add
new commands, an ASCII text editor will also be needed.


DISCLAIMER
----------
PROPR is distributed on an "AS IS" basis without warranty, expressed
or implied. Considerable testing effort has been expended, but the
user is advised to check the program's suitability before relying on
it. The user assumes full risk as to the results of using this
program. In no event shall the author be liable for any incidental or
consequential damages arising from the use, or inability to use this
program.

All product names mentioned in this document are either Copyright or
Trademark of respective owners.


REGISTRATION
------------
PROPR is freely distributable and fully functional, and may be used
for a 30-day trial period. If you plan to continue using PROPR, you
are obligated to pay the modest registration fee of $10, which
entitles you to unlimited free upgrades (to be distributed through
standard Shareware channels). Upgrades obtained directly ($5 shipping)
will have an individual serial number and no registration reminders.

All registration information is contained in the PROPR.REG file. If
that file is missing, register by sending your name, address, and a
check or money order for $10 ($15 for the registered version) in US
dollars to:

Copy Con Incorporated
PO Box 23255
Baltimore MD 21203-5255

MD residents add 5% sales tax. If ordering the registered version,
please specify 3.5" or 5.25" diskette.

Thank you for supporting Shareware.



PROPR V1.11 Copyright (c) 1992-1993 Copy Con Incorporated Page 2


INSTALLATION
------------
To install, copy both PROPR.EXE and PROPR.DAT into your path. To add
new commands to PROPR, you will also need an ASCII text editor to edit
PROPR.DAT (see CREATING NEW COMMANDS).


OPERATION
---------
PROPR is activated from the command line, using the format

PROPR [/device] command[-] [command[-]]...

By default, PROPR sends commands to the LPT1 device; to specify
another, use the /device switch, specifying a valid device or
filename; for example,

PROPR /lpt2 reset

sends the reset command to the device connected to LPT2.

PROPR has over 50 built-in commands, and they can be sent individually
or combined with other commands. A command directly followed by a -
(minus sign) disables the command, where applicable; for example,

PROPR italic underline-

enables italics and disables underlining.

Commands do not need to be typed out in their entirety; only as much
of the command that distinguishes it from other commands is needed;
for example, when sending subscript and superscript commands,
"PROPR su" would send subscript because it alphabetically precedes
superscript; "PROPR sup" would send superscript. When using PROPR
inside batch files, it is a good idea to use the full command, as
future versions of PROPR may have more built-in commands that may be
similar to existing commands.


BUILT-IN COMMANDS
-----------------
Following are the commands that are built into PROPR, along with their
descriptions. (Some commands are not supported on some printers.)

Command Description

1/6 Sets paper feed amount to 1/6 inch
1/8[-] Sets paper feed amount to 1/8 inch
7/72[-] Sets paper feed amount to 7/72 inch
AutoLF[-] Automatically send a LF after a CR
BackSpace Prints buffer and backspaces one space
Bell Sounds buzzer
BoldPS[-] Selects Bold PS font
Cancel Clears all data in the buffer



PROPR V1.11 Copyright (c) 1992-1993 Copy Con Incorporated Page 3


BUILT-IN COMMANDS (continued)
-----------------------------

Command Description

Char Print continuously from All Character Chart
Char1 Print next character from All Character Chart
Compressed[-] Sets printing to 17 CPI
Courier[-] Selects Courier font
CR Prints buffer and starts next line at left margin
DeSelect[-] Disables printer from receiving data
Double[-] Sets double printing
Draft[-] Selects Draft font
Elite[-] Sets printing to 12 CPI
Emphasized[-] Sets printing to twice the original dot density
Escape Sends the escape ($1B) code
FF Prints buffer and feeds paper to next TOF position
Flush Prints all data in buffer
HalfLF Prints buffer and feeds paper 1/12 inch
IBM1 Selects IBM 1 character set
IBM2 Selects IBM 2 character set
Italic[-] Selects Italic font
LF Prints buffer and executes a single line feed
Multilingual Selects Multilingual character set
NLQ[-] Selects NLQ font
Null Sends the null ($00) code
Overline[-] Sets continuous overlining of characters
PaperOut[-] Enables paper out detector
Pica[-] Sets printing to 10 CPI
Prestige[-] Selects Prestige font
Proportional[-] Sets proportional spacing between characters
Reset Resets printer to initial state
Roman[-] Selects Roman font
SansSerif[-] Selects Sans Serif font
Script[-] Selects Script font
Select[-] Enables printer to receive data
Single[-] Sets single direction printing mode
SubScript[-] Selects subscript font
SuperScript[-] Selects superscript font
Tab Sends the horizontal tab ($09) code
TabClear Sets all tabs to initial settings
Tall[-] Sets double height character printing
TOF Sets top of form
Underline[-] Sets continuous underlining of characters
USA Selects USA character set
VTab Sends the vertical tab ($11) code
Wide[-] Sets double width character printing
Wide1[-] Sets double width character printing for one line



PROPR V1.11 Copyright (c) 1992-1993 Copy Con Incorporated Page 4


CREATING NEW COMMANDS
---------------------
If you want to send a code that is not already built-in, you can
create your own using binary, octal, decimal, hex, and text codes.
Binary codes must be preceded with the % symbol, octal with the &
symbol, + for decimal, $ for hex, and ' for text; for example,

PROPR $1b 'P +1

sends 1B in hex, 'P' in text, and 1 in ASCII decimal. To send an
entire text string, you still use the ' symbol, but you must also
enclose the entire string in quotes; for example,

PROPR bold "'one two three" bold-

prints "one two three" (without the quotes) in bold.

Strings of codes can be assigned a command name and stored in a
separate data file called PROPR.DAT, which must be kept in the same
directory as PROPR.EXE. PROPR.DAT will be searched first in case you
wish to redefine the internal commands. The format of each line of the
data file is as follows:

command_name code [code]... [ - code [code]... ]

The command name must be left-justified (no left margin), and it
cannot contain any spaces. Following the name are the codes that
enable the command. If the command can be disabled, the enabling codes
are followed by a minus sign and the codes that disable the command.
The name, codes, and minus sign must be separated by spaces and/or
tabs. There is no limit to the number of commands, but there can only
be one command per line.

For example, let's create a new command called SkipPerf. The codes to
skip six lines at the bottom of each page are $1b, 'N, and +6. Using
an ASCII text editor, create PROPR.DAT with the first line reading:

SkipPerf $1b 'N +6

Now, if you type "PROPR skip", $1b, 'N, and +6 will be sent. What if
you want to disable perforation skip? First, edit PROPR.DAT to read:

SkipPerf $1b 'N +6 - $1b 'O

Now, if you type "PROPR skip-", $1b and 'O will be sent, which are the
codes to disable perforation skip.



PROPR V1.11 Copyright (c) 1992-1993 Copy Con Incorporated Page 5


EXAMPLES
--------
PROPR
will show a help screen and a list of built-in commands.

PROPR ff
sends a formfeed to the printer attached to LPT1.

PROPR /lpt2 ff
sends a formfeed to the printer attached to LPT2.

PROPR bold under- italic-
enables bold text, and disables underlining and italics.

PROPR esc 'W +1
sends the escape code, the letter W, and ASCII character 1.

PROPR "'line one" cr lf wide "'line two" wide- cr lf
prints two lines, the second one being of double width.

PROPR /hi.txt tall wide bold under "'hello there" cr lf
sends "hello there" in tall, wide, bold, underlined characters, to
the file HI.TXT, which can be printed by typing "copy hi.txt LPTx",
where x is the number of the printer port to be used.


SUPPORT
-------
If you have questions, comments, suggestions, bug reports, et cetera,
feel free to contact me by one of the following methods:

1: By modem at The Programmer's Corner (301-596-7692 or 410-995-6873).
Send a message to RD Thomas in the General conference, and check
back in a couple of days for a reply.

2: By modem in the RIME Shareware conference (RD Thomas ->1520). If
you do not recieve a reply within a week, it is because there are
still some kinks to be worked out at this node; try contacting me
via methods 1 or 3.

3: By US Mail at the address given on the first page. If you would
like a reply, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Looking forward to hearing from you.


This document can be printed by typing "copy propr.doc LPTx" at the
DOS prompt, where x is the number of the printer port to be used.