SKOLODZIESKI@VAXB.STEVENS-TECH.EDU (09/22/89)
I have been having a problem getting my Okidata 390 to print graphics correctly with my 1040 ST. The problem seems to manifest itself most frequently in the 24 pin emulation mode. The problem is being that 3 bytes (24 bits) of data are being sent to the printer to print a single column of dots. At some random time, so it seems to me at least, one of the 3 bytes gets droped and the entire rest of the line is screwed up, beause of byte misalignment. Does anyone have the same problem or know of a fix. Scott J. Kolodzieski Stevens Institute of Tech. "skolodzieski@vaxc.stevens-tech.edu" ------------
greg@sj.ate.slb.com (Greg Wageman) (09/23/89)
Opinions expressed are the responsibility of the author. In article <89821142951.20206e76.SKOLODZIESKI> SKOLODZIESKI@VAXB.STEVENS-TECH.EDU writes: > > I have been having a problem getting my Okidata 390 to print graphics >correctly with my 1040 ST. The problem seems to manifest itself most frequently >in the 24 pin emulation mode. The problem is being that 3 bytes (24 bits) of >data are being sent to the printer to print a single column of dots. At some >random time, so it seems to me at least, one of the 3 bytes gets droped and >the entire rest of the line is screwed up, beause of byte misalignment. Does >anyone have the same problem or know of a fix. I have seen this with my Okimate 20, when printing Spectrum pictures in color. I believe it is another manifestation of the sound chip's inability to consistantly drive high loads on the printer port. One solution would be to implement the external buffering scheme that was posted here for people with DeskJet printers; in my case, I acquired an external printer buffer box, which the Atari seems to have no difficulty driving, and which seems to be able to drive the Okimate just fine. No more glitches. Another solution would be to use the serial port for printing, but if you've got a modem (who doesn't?) that would require either switching cables (yuk! phui!), or a switchbox ($$). Buffer your printer port. Copyright 1989 Greg Wageman DOMAIN: greg@sj.ate.slb.com Schlumberger Technologies UUCP: {uunet,decwrl,amdahl}!sjsca4!greg San Jose, CA 95110-1397 BIX: gwage CIS: 74016,352 GEnie: G.WAGEMAN Permission granted for not-for-profit reproduction only.