which case you must also set the speed at which the RS232 interface
operates (also known as the baud rate) using the *FX8 command. Your
printer documentation should tell you the default baud-rate at which the
printer operates.
The available baud rates are selected as follows:
*FX8,1 --75
baud
*FX8,2
--150 baud
*FX8,3
--300 baud
*FX8,4
--1200 baud
*FX8,5
--2400 baud
*FX8,6
--4800 baud
*FX8,7
--9600 baud
*FX8,8
-- 19200 baud (not guaranteed)
Many printers have an automatic line-feed facility which can cause unwanted
blank lines to be printed; these may be eliminated by instructing the computer
not to send the line-feed character (ASCII code 10) using the command:
*Fx6,10
Software control of printing
You can instruct the computer to copy all output sent to the VDU drivers (and
so to the screen) to your printer with the BASIC VDU 2 command; a
subsequent VDU 3 command will restore output to the screen alone.
For example, to list a BASIC program which is in memory on your printer,
type:
VDU 2
LIST
VDU 3
If, for any reason, the printer is not ready to receive information for printing
(e.g. it is not connected, or is simply turned off), both the 'Caps Lock' and 'Shift
Lock' lights on the keyboard will glow. If you are unable to make the printer
ready right away, press
and re-enter the VDU 2 command again later.
The VIEW word processor provides explicit facilities for controlling printing,
including a 'PRINT' command and 'Highlight codes' which may be inserted into
the text. These facilities are discussed in the VIEW documentation earlier in
this guide-
The RS232 interface
The optional RS232 interface can serve a variety of purposes other than driving
printers as described above. 'RS232' is an electrical standard which is common
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