Re: WordPerfect GS w/ DeskWriter 600

[pubpc1@library.ucla.edu]

"Joseph E. Walsh" <ransom@connect.iconnect.net> wrote:
>Howdy,
>
>I was wondering whether anyone knew the settings necessary for getting a
>DeskWriter 600 to work with WordPerfect GS.  I'm knowledgeable about the
>WordPerfect GS program (I have the books), but I don't know what the
>DeskWriter needs.

Just before WordPerfect Corp. shut down their support BBS, it was
reported that they put a DeskJet 500 driver on their site.  This
should work with your DeskWriter 600 provided you have a high speed
serial port driver operating at 57.6kbps.  That high speed is the
key.  You posted earlier that you have such a driver installed, so
you should be set.

(As you probably surmised, WordPerfect GS does not use standard
GS printer drivers like Harmonie...however, it does use the serial
port driver.)

The DeskWriter 600, contrary to what some have been professing, does
have internal fonts and in fact reacts much like a DeskJet 600, but
it will only communicate at the 57.6kbps.  The DeskJet 600 in turn
is backward compatible to the DeskJet 500.  Thus, you should be able
to use WordPerfect Corp.'s DeskJet 500 settings for your DW600.

Where to get it?  I don't know.  I wouldn't mind getting a copy (of
the driver) myself.  Could someone upload a copy to ground?  WPGS
driver files are only usable in WPGS anyways, so lets not get bogged
down in legalities here, ok?

Alternatively, consider purchasing a copy of AppleWorks GS v1.1 from
Alltech Electronics (http://www.allelec.com/).  When used in
conjunction with Pointless (an extension that allows the GS to make
use of TrueType fonts...Pointless is available from EGO Systems),
AppleWorks GS provides high resolution word processing and desktop
publishing printout.  The word processor module has a nice dictionary
and thesaurus too and the files are convertable to RTF using EGO
System's EGOed 2.0 desk accessory.  The printout of an AppleWorks GS/
Pointless w/TrueType fonts/Harmonie/HP Printer combination is
indistinguishable from printout from a Mac or PC.  (AWGS also has
a usable spreadsheet, a nice database that can handle pictures,
and a paint/draw module that can produce both bitmap and scalable
images.)

That's why even though I have a 25MHz '486 to use for Netscape and
Photopaint, I use the GS for word processing and page layout.  At
25MHz, the '486 runs word processors and DTP programs much slower
than a 13.75MHz GS.  :)

>
>BTW, I did call HP, and asked for any programming manuals and they said
>they had no such thing (although Canon had plenty of goodies for /their/
>line of printers).  They offered to send me a Mac driver, which would do
>me absolutely no good - although I couldn't make the person on the other
>end understand why that was so. :(
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>
>-Joe

Well, you could say you have a Desk_Jet_ 600 and want the codes so
that you can print from your _DOS_ based _PC_ program.  They may
understand that better.  :)

The DeskWriter is just like a DeskJet, except that it only talks
at 57.6kbps.


>Joseph E. Walsh      |  Atari 8-Bit User and Programmer Since 1982
>ransom@iconnect.net  |  Classic Traveller Referee Since 1983
>Stuck in the '80s    |  Microsoft-Free and Loving It! :)
>       .....Official Reporter of Imperium Games Product Info.....

Unfortunately, the GS has a built in BASIC that was written by
Microsoft.  The BASIC in 8-bit Atari computers were also written
by Mickysoft.

-Scott G.