When using your printer with an IBM PS/2, PC-AT or compatible, you will probably be
using PC-DOS or MS-DOS as an operating system. A number of software tricks may be
useful here. This chapter is not, however, a substitute for the operating system manuals
supplied with your computer.
To learn how to print files, etc. it is best to read the relevant parts of these manuals.
INSTALLING APPLICATION SOFTWARE WITH YOUR
PRINTER
When installing application software, you may find that your printer is not specifically
mentioned in the lists of printers given for installation. However, this should pose no
problem. Read this section, and guidelines provided with your software on printer
installation.
Choose one of the following (in order of preference) according to your selected Emulation
mode.
#
Standard mode
IBM mode
1 Star XB-2410/XB24-10 Proprinter X24E
2
Star NX-2420/LC24-200
Proprinter X24
3
Epson LQ-850
You can also select one ofNEC 24-wire printers to printgraphics in the Standard emulation
mode.
If your software package does not mention printers by name, but asks insteadwhat features
your printer is capable of, the most common questions are: “Can your printer perform a
backspace?” and “Can itdo ahardware form feed?”. You shouldanswer ’’Yes”toboth these
questions.
Other software packages may allow you to install specific features. Spreadsheet programs
will often ask for the maximum number of columns to be printed. This is given below.
CPI
Number of columns
Pica
10 80
Elite 12 96
Semi-condensed 15
120
Condensed pica 17.1
137
Condensed elite
20 160
Proportional Variable
?
Sometimes the software installation will ask you for an initialization sequence to return to
the default settings. The command for your printer is <ESC> @.
Chapter8 MS-DOS AND YOUR PRINTER 75
