Epson FX-100 User Manual download pdf (Page 177)

2. Translate the dots into their appropriate pin numbers, seven or

eight rows (depending on your computer system’s capability) at

a time.

3. Figure out the easiest way to send those numbers to the printer.

Once you get the hang of it, the whole process is easy. It does require

some patience, but sometimes, when regular patterns form your

designs, you can use the computer to do most of the tedious work. It

can calculate the pin patterns.

Follow the development of the programs in this chapter, then get

yourself some graph paper and a pencil and have a good time.

STRATA Program

This program prints (in Double-Density Graphics Mode) a sample

logo that will be used again in Chapter

17.

As shown in Figure

12-1,

we drew the design on graph paper, using six horizontal rows consist-

ing of 7 vertical dots to correspond to the 7-dot line spacing we will

use. Each of these rows corresponds to one pass of the print head,

making it easier to calculate the pin patterns.

Here is the DATA line for the first row. Be sure to enter the line

numbers exactly as shown. Type:

NEW

800 DATA 0,1,2,4,11,18,36,72,-16,16,

64,8,64,8,32,16,0,-7,0,0,128

The program’s handling of the data is fairly straightforward. In most

cases, the program merely reads a number and sends it to the printer.

To make this happen, add three lines:

610 READ N: IF N=128 THEN 650

620 IF N>=$ THEN PRINT CHR$(N;: GOTO 610

650 LPRINT

Since

127

is the largest number that can fire seven pins, you will

place a 128 at the end of each DATA line as a “stopper” number to

signal the end of the print line. Line 610 tests for a stopper. When it

reads an N of 128, it passes control to line 650, which produces the

necessary line feed. This makes line 650 the only exit from the continu-

ous loop.

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Epson FX-100 User Manual Page 177