Posted by Grant Foraker (208.57.82.141) on October 22, 2003 at 07:42:58:
In Reply to: Re: Printing Alignment posted by Stephen Auerbach on October 17, 2003 at 08:45:31:
Steven:
I think the problem is because a program like PP or NCP doesn't start with a FF like a regular print program would. I think there is a problem with a buffer after the open that causes the first check to align incorrectly. The Print (1) (TR);(FF) after the open cleans the buffer but the FF never reaches the printer. Now all the checks should stay consistently aligned without the repeated Open/Close.
Have you noticed that if you print CL (or any other standard QICBASIC/MTB/IB program that starts with a FF) that you don't get a blank page when you print directly to LP1. Where did the lead FF go? However, print CL to SP1 and then despool to LP1 and you'll get the blank page. QSPOOL is an IB program and I think it has the buffer fix in it. So the lead FF from CL isn't lost and you get the expected blank page.
And, have you considered the Margin problem. A HP4 in Win9x might have a Left and Top Margin of 1/4". From XP you might have a Left Margin of 1/4 and a Top Margin of 1/6. Inkjets are even worse. They seem to have Top Margins around 1/32 or smaller. And very large Bottom Margins. Maybe 3/4 to 1 inch. You must be prepared to accomodate all OS/printer/driver combinations.
Your fun has only begun.