rcf@inuxd.UUCP (R Fitch) (02/18/85)
My Cardco +G never worked with graphics so I copied a ROM from a freinds and now appears to work. The problem is with the Music Construction Set software print command. The print head cycles rapidly back and forth approximately one inch as if it were scanning. It takes over 15 minutes just to draw the Bass and Treble Cleff symbols and much wear and tear on the printer mechanism. I am using an Epson RX-80 printer. Has anyone else seen this problem or have I not got the correct ROM yet ????? Thanks in Advance! R. C. Fitch
aronov@csd2.UUCP (Boris Aronov) (02/21/85)
I have a Microline 92 and use it with Cardco/G+. It prints OK all non-graphics (standard ASCII). All PET graphics is printed in a weird way: the printhead scans back and forth over the character to be printed a couple of times. This repeats for EACH graphics character. I suspect that G+ tries to emulate Commodore graphics including the 8x8 dot format. For this it sometimes has to print in two (or more) passes. It does a CR and a dot-addressed TAB before each pass. Because of shortest-pass seeking of the printer the head only moves about 1/2" to each side. (Note: Okidata M92 does NOT have 8-bit graphics, only 7-bit. Hence multiple passes. It also uses (I suspect) enhanced/emphasized mode to get denser, more readable graphics characters. Epson probably does multiple density graphics, hense multiple passes.) Cure -- Unknown to me. I prefer (when programming myself & using packaged programs) to declare that I have an ASCII printer and do everything in transparent mode. (Obvious disadvantage -- I don't use the "G" in G+ -- it behaves as a dumb interface) B.A. ARPA:aronov@nyu-csd2 P.S. Okidata (whatever is the number) color graphics printer supposedly directly compatible with Commodore is said to print the same way. ( I cannot guarantee that, for it might just be doing a pass for each color ).