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, 1994Download 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.
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