printing with c64
Tankgirl
I have a question for you guys...
I have been collecting c64 stuff for not such a long time... and I don't
know a lot about the commodore so I could use a little help... (NOTE: I'm
just 17, so my commodore is older than me LOL).
A week ago I've picked up a new-looking commodore printer, and now ofcourse
I want to print something..
It's a MPS803
I asked my brother, but he doesn't know the codes to print
I want to know what you can print, and how you can print (do I need a
program?)
I have to connect to the serial ports, right?
Just give me all the information you guys know about commodore printers and
I'll be veeeerrry happy ;)
greetingz,
Tankgirl
ps: sorry if my english is bad
Patrick Bosselmann
I don't know if there are any FAQs about printing with a C64 but here are
some hints from me:
You open a channel first: OPEN1,4
Then you can print anything you want using PRINT#1,"blablabla" as often as
you like.
When you are finished you close the channel: CLOSE1
There is also a way of redirecting all screen output to the printer:
OPEN1,4
CMD1
Now every command you execute will print its result on the printer instead
of the screen. You can print basic listings or floppy disc directories for
example.
When you are finished you type: PRINT#1:CLOSE1
This should help you enough testing your printer. If you use software that
has the ability to print it normally should work without any trouble.
Patrick
Michael Hunter
Yes, that would be a good start. You can also view the various manuals
which have been converted to E-text at Project 64. There you will find
enough reference material to keep you reading till your eyes can stand no
more. Check them out at:
A quick glance reveals nothing on the MPS-803, but there is a document on
the MPS-801. Now, if I remember correctly there were some differences
between the 801 and 803 in terms of graphics characters / character maps (or
am I thinking of another printer, I remember there were two odd ones). I
believe the 801 follows the standard CBM character map, while the 803
deviated slightly (again I could be wrong). But either way, the 801 manual
should tell you everything you need to know regarding communication
techniques and such. Also the C-64 reference manual would be good reading.
Michael Hunter
mhu...@videocam.net.au
"Patrick Bosselmann" <pat...@onlinehome.de> wrote in message
news:akirsu$1pg$1...@nets3.rz.RWTH-Aachen.DE...
Rocinante C64
Hi!
>I'm just 17, so my commodore is older >than me LOL).
It's nice to know that I'm not the only 17 year old commodore user ;-)
-kaji
Wildstar
"Michael Hunter" <mhu...@videocam.net.au> wrote in message
news:umq2j92...@corp.supernews.com...
> Hello,
>
> Yes, that would be a good start. You can also view the various manuals
> which have been converted to E-text at Project 64. There you will find
> enough reference material to keep you reading till your eyes can stand no
> more. Check them out at:
>
> http://project64.c64.org/
**** Get a sheet of paper and write this down or print this message out ****
If any of you have a 1526 manual or any CBM Serial Bus device's manual, make
notice of the OPEN and PRINT# commands. For the most part, all devices
hooked up to the Commodore Serial Bus and for most I/O purposes in BASIC,
these commands are among the most the most important commands you need to
know in programming in BASIC. These commands control the communication
chaanels. You always close the logical file number.
Example:
OPEN lfn,dn,[sa]
(note do not use lfn,dn, or [sa] unless it is a variable).
lfn or Logical file may be any number you choose from 1 to 255. It doesn't
matter which number you choose as long as it remains consistant throughout
your set of commands. (Note: If you use OPEN 12,4 then you close it by
CLOSE 12 and you use PRINT #2,"text" in between)
dn or Device number can be any number. (no device number above 31 - I from
what I recall) Be sure its the device
number set for that printer. Typically a printer is device 4 or 5. By
factory, most Commodore printers used Device number 4.
[sa] or secondary address is optional and is used to specify a particular
function. Typically this would be a number from 0 or 1 through 255. I will
explain this further at a later time until you have grasp the basic I/O
functions and communications with the printer.
OPEN command - This command opens a communication channel with a device
hooked up to the computer.
10 OPEN 5,4 < device number
^
logical file #
CMD command - Outputs content from screen to the printer.The lfn (logical
file number) must be the same as in the OPEN command with which it is
associated. Unlike the PRINT command or PRINT #, the line or bus to the
receiving device is left to be "listening" or *NOT* "unlisten". So you must
use PRINT # lfn before using the CLOSE lfn command
CMD lfn
example
20 CMD 5,"text"
PRINT # Command - This command works just like the PRINT command but directs
output to any device number even the screen still, where PRINT directs
output to the screen only. PRINT # will direct output to the logical file.
This command sets the serial bus device to "Unlisten" after it is used.
25 PRINT #5
CLOSE command - As it sounds it closes the logical file. When using the CMD
command, you *must* use the PRINT # command prior to using the CLOSE
command.
CLOSE lfn
or example
30 CLOSE 5
alternate (instead of having line 25, you can chain two commands on one
line, separated by a colon or :
30 PRINT #5 : CLOSE 5
Here is a list of appropriate methods to use the commands
10 OPEN 5,4
20 PRINT #5,"Hello There"
30 CLOSE 5
or
10 OPEN 5,4
20 CMD 5,"Hello There"
30 PRINT #5 : CLOSE 5
or
10 OPEN 5,4
20 CMD 5,"Hello There"
30 PRINT #5,"Hello"
40 CLOSE 5
or
10 OPEN 5,4
20 PRINT #5,"Hello"
30 CMD 5,"How Are YOU"
40 PRINT #5 : CLOSE 5
TIP: Remember to not forget a PRINT# command after CMD but ONLY ONE time is
needed. It is improper
to use PRINT # twice *after* a CMD command. One before and One after is
okay.
Here is a list of NO-NOs
10 OPEN 5,4
20 CMD 5,"Hello"
30 CLOSE 5
or
10 OPEN 5,4
20 CMD 5,"Hello"
30 PRINT #5, "How are you"
40 PRINT #5 : CLOSE 5
or
10 OPEN 5,5
20 PRINT #5,"Hello There"
30 CMD 5, "Hello There"
40 CLOSE 5
** First and last No-No example, forgot to issue a PRINT # command. The
second issued the PRINT # comman twice after the CMD command which is
improper do the state of serial device had been set to "unlisten" after the
first use of PRINT # *after* the CMD command. **
You can only use the PRINT # command only once after a CMD command. If you
don't use a CMD command, you can use as many as you want. Of course it is
possible to use multiple PRINT # as long as they have different logical file
numbers and you have those logical files OPEN and listening. Be careful, you
can only take that so far with BASIC 2.0.
I hope this helps you out in future programming with not only printers but
other devices.
Larry Anderson
operation (but not in case design by a long shot!) I've owned both.
The printer models that differ from the 1525 standard commands are the
1526 and the MPS-802 (nice matrix but only has one programmable
character for graphics!).
I mytself still advocate for getting a good epson compatible dot matrix
and an interface like the Supergraphics Jr. (actually, I recommend the
SG Jr. too) Then you will have the 1525 emulation as well as the much
finer Epson print modes and still have commodore character shapes in
your listings. :-)
Larry
Michael Hunter wrote:
>
...
> http://project64.c64.org/
>
> A quick glance reveals nothing on the MPS-803, but there is a document on
> the MPS-801. Now, if I remember correctly there were some differences
> between the 801 and 803 in terms of graphics characters / character maps (or
> am I thinking of another printer, I remember there were two odd ones). I
> believe the 801 follows the standard CBM character map, while the 803
> deviated slightly (again I could be wrong). But either way, the 801 manual
> should tell you everything you need to know regarding communication
> techniques and such. Also the C-64 reference manual would be good reading.
>
> Michael Hunter
> mhu...@videocam.net.au
--
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Larry Anderson - Sysop of Silicon Realms BBS (209) 754-1363
300-14.4k bps
Set your 8-bit C= rigs to sail for http://www.portcommodore.com/
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Tankgirl
thanx!!!!!!!!!!!
Tankgirl
Robert Bernardo
> Hi everybody,
>
> I have a question for you guys...
> I have been collecting c64 stuff for not such a long time... and I don't
> know a lot about the commodore so I could use a little help... (NOTE: I'm
> just 17, so my commodore is older than me LOL).
>
> A week ago I've picked up a new-looking commodore printer, and now ofcourse
> I want to print something..
> It's a MPS803
> I asked my brother, but he doesn't know the codes to print
> I want to know what you can print, and how you can print (do I need a
> program?)
If you want to print text documents, you can use a good Commodore
word processor, like Speedscript or the Write Stuff. If you want to
print graphics, you could use a graphics art program which prints to
the MPS-803 (however, your printed pictures will be very dotty). You
could even try GEOWrite and GEOPaint, if you'd like to point and click
(however, the printed text and pictures will be dotty again).
Truly, Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group, http://videocam.net.au/fcug