W8SDZ@Simtel20.ARPA (04/20/84)
From: Keith Petersen <W8SDZ@Simtel20.ARPA> UNSPOOL is a program that lets you print a file while you are running other programs. Paul Kelley <PLK@MC> has just released version 3.4. Here is his message detailing what's new: ----- The public domain unspooler by Gary Novosielski has been updated. The following files are now available on SIMTEL20: MICRO:<CPM.LIST>UNSPOL34.ASM MICRO:<CPM.LIST>UNSPOL34.COM ;for those without MAC MICRO:<CPM.LIST>UNSPOL34.HEX ;for those without MAC and binary ; transfer capability The following message in the file describes the update: ;3.4 84-04-17 ; Single character output to printer if either ; BIOS or BDOS keyboard status request is made ; by transient program. Output is conditional ; on no keypress and printer ready after single ; status check. Single character only to printer ; to minimize any slowdown of transient program. ; Program now works with MINCE. It can also be ; used with various modem programs, however some ; some loss of modem input may occur while the ; text to be printed is read from disk. ; Formfeed (page eject) added to printer output ; at EOF. (Paul L. Kelley) ; Additional comments - The reason the program did not work with MINCE or modem programs is that the latter generally do not call the console input function unless console status indicates a character is waiting. On my system disk I/O disables interrupts so using the UART in the interrupt mode would not prevent loss of modem input. I find the loss to be small with 5.25" floppies and very small with a hard disk. Since I use mostly use BABYL and EMACS on MC a redisplay fixes things up. It would be nice if someone would change UNSPOOL so that it has all the features of Rick Conn's PRINT. - P. L. Kelley