mike2@lcuxa.UUCP (06/02/87)
Am I the only WordPerfect 4.2 user who dumps the printer output to disk, and later copies the (LaserJet-compatible) file to a LaserJet? As a result of my conversations with WordPerfect Corp., I'm beginning to doubt my own sanity, and thought I'd see if others have the problem I'm experiencing. Specifically, the LaserJets are on the company's MICOM ports, accessible directly through the MICOM digital PBX or from UNIX 'lp'. I have, for over a year, used WP 4.1 with this by setting its printer driver for LaserJet-B, and setting the "device" as a disk file. Thereafter, I usually Kermit the file into the UNIX system, and 'lp' it to one of the LaserJets. It's worked perfectly for over a year. Then I bought WP 4.2. Everything was fine until I used the tab key to block indent some paragraphs, and several other capabilities like changing the margins or centering at the start of a line. Text started to appear at the wrong place, for example at column 0 rather than 10 (the margin setting). Since I already had the file on the UNIX system, it was simple to do an od -c and see what was going on. The result: proper horizontal motion index (HMI) codes were being sent to place the print head at margin 10 on all lines but the offending ones; on the bad ones, the HMI either wasn't there, or was the wrong one. Simple, right? Look at the LaserJet manual to see what the HMI codes should have been (ESC&a+1080H to get to column 10) and see an absent one, or the wrong one, on the bad lines. Aha, I thought. WP screwed up the program when enhancing WP 4.1 to 4.2, and must know it by now, given the plethora of LaserJets out there. Not so. Spent 3 hours so far on the phone with "customer support." First two people didn't understand what was being said. Third said send in a disk with the files and problems. Did so. Called them after 3 weeks to see why they hadn't called me. Was told "we tried it and it worked perfectly; must be your printer driver." When I told them that the driver was theirs, taken virgin off their printer disk, they sort of said "well we can't see the problem." Finally got to a supervisor who was willing to look at the files themselves, and he agreed that the HMI code was not there, and that he could duplicate this. He also said, however, that with the LaserJet-plus hooked up, notwithstanding that the file itself appeared bad, the printed output was right. Said he would roust an older LaserJet and try a COPY FILE LPT1 with it. That was yesterday. Have not heard further yet. It occurs to me that I simply **can't** be the only one who has seen this. Has anyone else had the problem? Is there something intrinsic to the LaserJet-plus, not intrinsic to the LaserJet, that could cure the absence of a line-start HMI code (e.g., some form of default margin setting other than column 0)? Any help, by mail or otherwise, would be appreciated. Thanks. Mike Slomin bellcore!lcuxa!mike2