Product Title: EL - Character Library Editor
Model No.: FONTGENA100
Produced By --
Output Technology Corporation
2310 North Fancher Road
Spokane, WA 99212-1381 USA
Voice: 509-536-0468
Bulletin Board (BBS): 509-533-1217
FAX: 509-533-1280
Introduction ----------------------------------------------
EL is a character (or "font") library editor for use with
the EuroLine and 2100 Series of printers manufactured by
Output Technology Corporation.
EL performs three main functions: it 1) simplifies the
creation and modification of character libraries; 2)
provides a convenient method for downloading customized
characters to the printer; and 3) allows easy generation of
library data in a format compatible with the Output
Technology EuroLine and 2100 Series font cartridges.
Character Libraries ---------------------------------------
With the exception of downloaded characters, all dot-matrix
characters used by Output Technology printers reside in
"character libraries." Each library contains characters of
a similar nature (same appearance, same language, etc.).
A printer may have one or several libraries available to it
at one time.
EL supports the creation and editing of character libraries
intended for use with Output Technology printers. The
resulting disk file may then be sent to Output Technology
for installation into a font cartridge or the printer's
EPROM.
Downloaded Characters -------------------------------------
EL may also be used to download special characters to
Output Technology printers. Once a dot pattern has been
defined, it may be substituted for any standard character
using EL's "Download" command. This feature is particularly
useful for confirming character appearance prior to
submitting a new character library for installation into a
font cartridge.
Starting EL -----------------------------------------------
EL may be invoked by typing --
EL <Enter>
You may then open a new or already existing library.
Check the *.LIB files on the diskette. You may also specify
the character library on the DOS command line by typing --
EL library <Enter>
which will cause EL to immediately confirm or create a
library by that name and proceed with normal operation.
Library Names ---------------------------------------------
You may use any DOS filename for character library
files. You should normally let the name reflect the
characteristics of the library (such as Pica, Elite, OCR-A).
By popular convention, the filename extension .LIB is
normally used for character library files; however, this is
not enforced by EL and you may use any extension you wish.
EL is designed to only access data in the current disk and
directory.
Character Quality -----------------------------------------
EL may be used to create and edit character libraries which
contain either Correspondence Quality (CQ) or Near Letter
Quality (NLQ) characters.
Selection of CQ or NLQ is made when a new library is first
created. Once created, a library may not be "changed" from
one quality to the other.
There is a direct tradeoff between the speed and the quality
of printing. Most Output Technology printers provide
several choices between maximum speed and maximum quality:
"Draft Quality" (highest speed/lowest quality),
"Correspondence Quality" (medium speed/medium quality), and
"Near Letter Quality" (slowest speed/highest quality).
Output Technology's EuroLine and 2100 Series printers
normally use Correspondence Quality (CQ) libraries, and then
"synthesize" the Draft and Near Letter Quality (NLQ)
characters. Characters in a CQ library, once downloaded or
installed in the printer's EPROM or font cartridge, can be
used for Draft, CQ, and NLQ printing. Therefore, most
character creation and editing should be performed on CQ
libraries.
NLQ libraries should only be used when character shape is
particularly critical (for example, machine readable or OCR
characters). Characters in an NLQ library can be used only
for NLQ printing; such characters are not available in CQ or
Draft modes.
Character Widths ------------------------------------------
EL displays a character on the screen and allows you to
change each dot to either "active" or "inactive". Dot
patterns are normally displayed within a grid to help you
keep track of intercharacter spacing.
As a general rule, CQ characters should be no wider than
seven dots. This leaves three dot widths for the space
between adjacent characters. NLQ characters should not
exceed 14 dots in width (since each NLQ dot column is half
the normal width, this corresponds to CQ's seven dots).
Editing Characters ----------------------------------------
The following keys may be used to edit characters:
Space Bar -
Toggles the dot at the current cursor
position.
Arrows -
Moves the cursor within the character grid.
Page Down -
Displays the next character in the library.
Page Up -
Displays the previous character in the
library.
The following mouse actions may be used to edit characters:
Button 1 -
Sets the dot at the current mouse cursor
position. If button one is held down while
on the character grid, dots are laid down
in a continuous stream behind the mouse
cursor (useful for doing quick straight
lines of dots).
Button 2 or 3 -
Clears the dot at the current mouse cursor
position.
Library Edit Commands -------------------------------------
The following commands are available by pressing the
indicated key while holding the Alt key. If a mouse is
present, EL will allow mouse clicks on the help line to
activate commands.
Alt-Q QUIT -
Terminates execution of EL. If you have
made changes to the library without saving it
to disk, EL will confirm that you truly do
wish to discard your work.
Alt-E EXIT -
Terminates execution of EL, automatically
saving the library if changes have been made
("smart Quit").
Alt-S SAVE -
Updates the disk's copy of the library
without terminating execution (should be used
occasionally during editing as a precaution).
Alt-A ADD -
Adds a new character to the library. EL will
ask for the "Character Number", which in most
cases is the decimal byte value associated
with the character (i.e. 65 would be used for
uppercase "A"). If a character by that number
already exists, EL will notify you and
automatically display the character so it may
be examined.
Alt-R REMOVE -
Removes the currently displayed character
from the library. EL will ask if you are sure
you wish to remove the character; answering
"Y" deletes it permanently.
Alt-B BASELINE -
Toggles between "ascending" and
"descending" baselines for the current
character. An ascending character's eight
rows are printed with the top eight wires of
the printhead; a descending character's eight
rows are printed with the lower eight
printhead wires.
Alt-X EXPANSION -
Toggles between "Line", "Shading", and
No Expansion. A Line expanded character
copies the eighth row into rows 9 through 12,
forcing the head to make an additional pass
to print the extra four lines. A Shading
expanded character copies its top four lines
into lines 9 through 12, again forcing a
second print pass. Expansion is normally used
only for mosaic block graphics characters;
normal alphanumeric characters should
use No Expansion.
Alt-P PASS -
Toggles between Pass 1 and Pass 2 matrix
(active only when editing NLQ libraries).
Alt-G GRID -
Toggles editing grid on and off. When
editing NLQ libraries, turning the editing
grid off causes the opposite Pass' matrix to
be displayed with small dots so that the
complete character can be seen at one time.
Alt-P may be used with the grid off to
quickly edit both passes at once.
Alt-D DOWNLOAD -
Downloads characters to a printer or
disk file. If Single Download is selected,
the currently displayed character is
downloaded and mapped into the specified data
byte value. If Global Download is selected,
all characters with numbers from 0 through
255 are downloaded and mapped to their own
character numbers. The download data may be
sent to any device or file. If a device is
specified (i.e. COM1, LPT1, etc.), the
data will be sent directly to the printer.
If a file is specified, the data will be
appended to a disk file of that name (the
file will be created if it does not already
exist).
Alt-M MOVE -
Allows exchanging of two character's
positions in the Library.
Alt-C COPY -
Allows copying of a character over another
already existing character. The character
being copied over is lost.
+/- SHIFT UP OR DOWN -
Shifts all characters from the
current character to the end of the Library
up or down one position. If a downward shift
would result in a (lower) character being
overwritten or if a shift to a position lower
than zero would result, the shift is not
allowed. Also, the last character in the
Library cannot be shifted above position 255.
Alt-F FONT CARTRIDGE -
This command switches the program
to the Font Cartridge Generation screen.
Downloading Hint ------------------------------------------
If the same characters need to be downloaded to a printer on
a regular basis, specify a file instead of a device for the
download data. The resulting disk file can then be copied
to the printer without using EL. Multiple download
characters can be placed in a single file by using the same
filename when downloading each; EL will append the new data
without deleting the previous download commands.
Font Cartridge Generation ---------------------------------
Once one or more character libraries have been created, they
can be combined into a file suitable for loading into a
EuroLine font cartridge. Enter a list of Library file
names (either manually or using Autoload) into the Font
Cartridge Generation screen and then select Generate (ALT-
G).
The file thus created can be sent or uploaded to Output
Technology Corporation for loading into a font cartridge.
Please use the handy order form included on the EL diskette.
Editing Library Names -------------------------------------
A font cartridge may contain from 1 to 8 Libraries.
The Library's LCD name will appear in the EuroLine's menu in
the same order as it is listed on the Generate screen (blank
entries are ignored).
To enter or edit a Library name in the Library list, press
the spacebar. The field next to the currently highlighted
list number lights up and a file name may be typed. Upon
pressing ENTER, the program checks that the file you have
entered actually exists in the current directory and that it
is a valid Library file. If your entry is not confirmed,
you must either re-enter the name correctly or press ESC and
blank the field. This prevents invalid files from being
included in the Font Cartridge file.
You may press ENTER while the cursor is next to any file
name to update the information about the file: the file's
LCD name, type (CQ or NLQ), and the number of characters
contained in the Library.
Commands available in the Font Cartridge screen are as
follows:
Alt-G GENERATE -
On responding to the prompt for a file
name, a new font cartridge file is generated
from Library files currently in the Library
list.
Alt-A AUTOLOAD -
This command is included as a
convenience to ease entering of Library
Lists. Valid Library files in the current
directory are automatically entered in the
List.
Alt-O OPEN -
If the cursor is next to a Library file
name, this Library is loaded into the Editor.
Alt-E EDIT -
Returns to the Editor.
045-00357-00 November 4, 1994
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.