Re: Timeout: Sidespread Question

[o9938156@unicorn.it.wsu.edu (mark lyon)]

DONALD CY LEE (leed@sfsu.edu) wrote:
: Hi!
: 	I just purchased a used copy of Timeout: Sidespread, and while 
: doing the configuration, the program asked whether about 7 or 8 bits for 
: the printer and card setup.  At first I put 8, and it seemed to work 
: fine, but then later, the print quality seemed to go down (that's 
: probably due to a old ribbon) but when I reset the bit to 7 everything 
: seemed to be fine again.  I have an Epson MX-80 and a Grappler+ parallel 
: card, and I checked the Grappler manual, and it seems the Epson can use 
: the 8th bit for special characters, but my question is when it comes to 
: Sidespread, does it matter that I set the program for 7 or 8 bits?  I 
: don't plan to use any special characters, and since Sidespread doesn't 
: allow for special codes for condensed, etc.  it wouldn't seem to matter, 
: but this is just for peace of mind.  Thanks!

I'm not positive on this, but I would guess that Sidespread directly
sends graphics codes to the printer to get the words to print sideways,
so sending 8 bits as opposed to 7 would allow the printer to print 8
lines of dots at a time instead of 7.  If you try printing with 8
bits when your interface will only send 7, you will get thin blank
lines in your printout.  It doesn't hurt to send 7 bits when you
could send 8, but the printing might take a little longer.

: -Don