computer sends it by printing letters, numbers, symbols and graphics in various print modes. Even if you never use BASIC again, you will know the capabilities of your printer. If you don't want to do the exercises in BASIC , you don't have to . Many users are quite happy with their printers without ever learning any more about them than how to turn them on and off and how to load paper. Therefore, you shouldn't be intimidated by the information in this manual. In most cases the software that you use for word process- ing, business or graphics does the calculating and communicating with the printer for you .
If your computer system uses any other kind of BASIC, you may have to make a few changes; consult your computer manual to see if any modifications are necessary. In Chapter 2 you saw the enlargements of the three MPS 1000 pitches. Now you 'll learn how to produce them. Printing Text Pica Printing The first exercise is a simple program to print a sample line of charac- ters in pica, the standard pitch (or width). Type in this program for Commodore BASIC: 10 OPEN4,4 20 FORX=6S TO lOS 30 PRINT#4,CHR$(X); 40 NEXT X:PRINT#4 SO CLOSE4 The MBASIC version of this same program: 40 FORX=6S TO lOS SO LPRINT CHR$(X); 60 NEXT X: LPRINT Now run the program.
You should get the results you see below, 10 pica characters per inch. (ff · i 1.J f ;: 'L.MW)F·oi:~r:!TIJ \Jl . iJ x y 7. r: \ :1 ·· "· " '"'he df'?-f ' 'J hi 60