HOWTO.BOX This file contains 8-bit characters. It is necessary to download it using an 8-bit TELCOM parameter, or to download with the Xmodem (or other) protocol. Tandy portable character codes that will produce single and double-line boxes on the Epson X-series of Printers, compatible with the IBM graphic character set produced by PC's, and possibly usable on other printers in their IBM or Epson Graphic Emulator Modes. Copyright 1991 Tony B. Anderson All Rights Reserved One of the nice features of the PC's are their ability to draw box graphics and generate forms using the "IBM graphics character set", which is also used to draw box and line graphics on the screen in TEXT mode. Interestingly, this ability relies primarily on the printer, rather than on the computer's ability to create or display the characters. Use of box graphic characters with the Tandy portables has been somewhat limited, due to the fact that the characters used to draw lines and boxes on the screen are not the same characters that can produce lines and boxes on paper. This is how to create double and single-line box graphics on the Epson X-series of printers (MX, RX, FX, etc.), using the Epson extended graphics character set, and other printers using the IBM or Epson graphics set, by embedding Code and Graphic characters in text files produced on the Tandy portables. Use the following keystroke combinations, and save or send your text to the printer via the F3 button, or under program control. This method will not work with the Shift-Print file dump method. Interstingly, the same keystroke combinations in the 100/102 and the 200 don't always produce the same character, so pay attention to which keys are indicated to produce the graphic character you want. To test whether your printer is currently set up for the extended graphic character set, load this file into TEXT, press the F3 button, and "Save" the file to "LPT:". If the last column does not show the box-drawing characters on paper, check your printer manual for the correct dip-switch setting or software command that will enable the extended character set. If you get italic characters, the printer is set for italic mode, rather than graphic mode, and there is probably a dip-switch that will change modes. Note that these are not the same characters as those produced on the Model 100/102 or 200's screen when drawing screen boxes with the graphic characters having ascii values from 240-250. Character: CHR$ 200 Keys 100/102 Keys Produces ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Double Line Boxes: ------------------ Upper Left Corner: 201 Code-k Code-k É Upper Right Corner: 187 Code-d Code-d » Lower Left Corner: 200 Code-a Code-q È Lower right Corner: 188 Code-m Code-comma ¼ Horizontal double bar: 205 Code-n Code-n Í Vertical double bar: 186 Code-Shift-T Code-Shift-T º Left Vertical Joint: 204 Code-Shift-1 Code-y Ì Right Vertical Joint: 185 Code-Shift-S Code-Shift-S ¹ Top double bar joint: 203 Code-j Code-j Ë Bottom double bar joint: 202 Code-l (sm L) Code-l (sm L) Ê Double cross bar: 206 Code-v Code-z Î Single Bar Interconnects: Top single bar joint: 209 Code-x Code-Shift-# Ñ Bottom single bar joint: 207 Code-b Code-period Ï Left single bar joint: 199 Code-i Code-i Ç Right single bar joint: 182 Code-q Code-a ¶ H. Single crosses double: 215 Code-Shift-D Code-Shift-D × V. Single crosses double: 216 Code-Shift-A Code-Shift-Q Ø Single Line Boxes: ------------------ Upper Left Corner: 218 Code-Shift-L Code-Shift-L Ú Upper Right Corner: 191 Code-Shift-F Code-Shift-F ¿ Lower Left Corner: 192 Code-1 Code-a À Lower Right Corner: 217 Code-Shift-K Code-Shift-K Ù Horizontal single bar: 196 Code-7 Code-7 Ä Vertical single bar: 179 Code-Shift-U Code-Shift-U ³ Left Vertical Joint: 195 Code-9 Code-9 à Right Vertical Joint: 180 Grph-6 Grph-6 ´ Top single bar Joint: 194 Code-8 Code-8  Bottom single bar Joint: 193 Code-3 Code-3 Á Single cross bar: 197 Code-hyphen Code-hyphen Å Double Bar Interconnects: Left vertical to double Joint: 198 Code-e Code-e Æ Right vertical to double Joint: 181 Code-[ Code-[ µ Top double bar Joint: 210 Code-Shift-W Code-Shift-* Ò Bottom double bar Joint: 208 Code-Shift-X Code-Shift-! 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