vlsi3@erato.cs.kun.nl (vlsi cursus) (10/15/90)
Hi readers,
I'm writing a small database program using Dbase, which uses the printer.
Therefore I need to send the null character, because it is part of a
printer control code. It is used in the following context:
SET PRINT ON
?? ....+CHR(0)+..
|
SET PRINT OFF
The problem is, the printer doesn't receive the null character (I checked
it with a hex-dump). Does anyone know what how to do it in another way??
BTW: it is dbase 3+.
Thanks in advance.
Greetings,
John Graat
University of Nijmegen
The Netherlands.
email: ose21@sci.kun.nl
Please don't reply to this account (vlsi3@cs.kun.nl) because it can be
closed every day now. The other one mentioned above will be in use at
least until X-mas! Thanks.av@kielo.uta.fi (Arto V. Viitanen) (10/16/90)
>>>>> On 15 Oct 90 14:14:37 GMT, vlsi3@erato.cs.kun.nl (vlsi cursus) said:
vlsi> Hi readers,
vlsi> I'm writing a small database program using Dbase, which uses the printer.
vlsi> Therefore I need to send the null character, because it is part of a
vlsi> printer control code. It is used in the following context:
vlsi> SET PRINT ON
vlsi> ?? ....+CHR(0)+..
vlsi> |
vlsi> SET PRINT OFF
I am not sure about your printer, but at least those I know can use 48
(ASCII code for 0) as 0 just because some programs don't know how to send
code 0.
If you are sending graphics, this does not help ...
--
Arto V. Viitanen email: av@kielo.uta.fi
University Of Tampere, av@ohdake.cs.uta.fi
Finlandbelt@freyr.pttrnl.nl (Evert van de Belt) (10/16/90)
Beste John, DBASE III en ook foxbase + staan het gebruik van chr(0) niet toe omdat ze die code intern in de databases gebruiken. Een oplossing is om Clipper te gaan gebruiken. Een andere oplossing is om een programmeertaal te pakken (bijv. TurboPascal) en daarin een programmatje (met twee aa's) te schrijven dat een aantal waardes meekrijgt als parameters, (C kan dit makkelijk) en dan die waarden naar de printer stuurt. Dan hoef je aan dat programma niet chr(0) mee te geven, maar gewoon 0. Je voert zo'n programma uit met RUN <prog> <parameters>. Succes. Evert van de Belt E_vdBelt@pttrnl.nl
fisher@sc2a.unige.ch (Markus Fischer) (10/18/90)
In article <2292@wn1.sci.kun.nl>, vlsi3@erato.cs.kun.nl (vlsi cursus) writes: > Hi readers, > > I'm writing a small database program using Dbase, which uses the printer. > Therefore I need to send the null character, because it is part of a > printer control code. It is used in the following context: > SET PRINT ON > ?? ....+CHR(0)+.. > | > SET PRINT OFF > > The problem is, the printer doesn't receive the null character (I checked > it with a hex-dump). Does anyone know what how to do it in another way?? > > BTW: it is dbase 3+. > I just tried it myself, and it really doesn't work! One way around this would be to use an external program to send the null character, or even better, any control code to the printer. Example (TC): #include <stdio.h> main() { FILE *prn = fopen("PRN","wb"); /* open DOS' PRN */ fprintf(prn, "\0"); /* send the code */ } something more technical like #include <io.h> main() { _write(4, "\0", 1); /* (binary) write one byte to file handle 4 (prn?) */ } works also. In dBASE, you call the external program with run <prog> [parameters] If your dBASE program uses the external very often, you could try to convert it to a "binary" (a *.BIN produced by EXE2BIN, same format as a *.COM), and use it as: load <prog> call <prog> [with <param>] but to tell the truth, I couldn't get it to work, even with the mose elementary program like "printf("Hello dBASE!\n")". I guess I'm missing some point, and as I don't have any technical docs... Sorry for the sketchy information, hope it helps some. Markus Fischer, Dpt. of Anthropology.
rreiner@yunexus.YorkU.CA (Richard Reiner) (10/20/90)
fisher@sc2a.unige.ch (Markus Fischer) writes: >In article <2292@wn1.sci.kun.nl>, vlsi3@erato.cs.kun.nl (vlsi cursus) writes: >> SET PRINT ON >> ?? ....+CHR(0)+.. >> SET PRINT OFF >One way around this would be to use an external program to send the null >character, or even better, any control code to the printer. Example (TC): If you're really using dB3, you may be stuck with this solution; if you're using Clipper, however, you can just write a little C routine which dumps data to the printer and link it in. No need for a spawn (or RUN, in dB3-speak) every time you want to initialize the printer.
ted@polyof.poly.edu (A1 ted kapela (staff) ) (10/24/90)
In article <2292@wn1.sci.kun.nl>, vlsi3@erato.cs.kun.nl (vlsi cursus) writes: > Hi readers, > > I'm writing a small database program using Dbase, which uses the printer. > Therefore I need to send the null character, because it is part of a > printer control code. It is used in the following context: > SET PRINT ON > ?? ....+CHR(0)+.. > | > SET PRINT OFF > > The problem is, the printer doesn't receive the null character (I checked > it with a hex-dump). Does anyone know what how to do it in another way?? > > BTW: it is dbase 3+. I too had the same problem. I found a solution that may or may not work. (If you have an epson or compatible, this should work) When I had the problem, I checked the printer manual to see if there was anything else I could send instead of a CHR(0). Indeed There WAS!. The printer would accept CHR(128) also! This DOES work in dBase III+. Set Print ON ?? . . . +CHR(128)+. . . instead of Set Print ON ?? . . . +CHR(0)+. . . Hope this helps. -- ............................................................................... Theodore S. Kapela (516) 755-4299 [Voice, Days] ted@polyof.poly.edu (516) 473-7746 [FAX] "Another brilliant mind corrupted by education"
paulg@bhpmrl.oz.au (Paul Gallagher) (10/29/90)
This brings back memories! I can only recall some sketchy details
but here goes:
?/?? has problems with null char for some reason related to dBase's
output string handling (can't for the life of me remember the
details!).
??? bypasses the installed printer driver and allows you to send
the null character, but maybe this command only appeared in
dbase IV? If so then this message hasn't been much use, has it!
Regards,
Paul
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