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| 9th Feb 2003 | KEN ABOUT... GEOS AGAIN AND PRUNING |
Ken Ross |
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With a bit of a gap since my last entry into this series! In a domestic situation dot matrix printers aren't well received at times so the use of my Star LC10 with my GEOS set up was somewhat limited. Along with some paper feed problems as well, this made the use of a more modern printer an item on a wish list. GEOS can use a variety of Commodore compatible printers through the serial port, or by using a 'GEOCABLE' from the user port to a centronics (parallel) printer. There are limitations as some of the more modern printers will only work if they're told to by the Bill Gates empire, but any printer which has a good Epson emulation will work okay. The cable itself is easy to make if you have the parts to hand. If not contact Mr Bairstow at Commodore Scene who may be able to help you out via the import service.
In my case the printer turned out to be a HP420. ICPUG paper journal readers may recall a certain Panasonic daisy wheel printer, 'inherited' by chance, to be used with my 8096. This HP420 came to me via the same means so I had the cable that just needed double checking before going back into service. The GEOS archive at Funet.fi On the standard GEOS 'okay to print' window there was the choice of 'single sheet' or 'tractor paper' and after a while I realised that the 'tractor' option was the one to use, even though the HP420 uses single sheets from its paper tray - otherwise it kept asking me to put the next sheet in. The tractor option let the beastie do its own biz. CUT TO FIT There are times when, for various reasons, I've encountered programs on my Macs that required a screen size larger than the one I've got. Using RESEDIT (freeware) it's possible to explore the program in question to see its components, but it's always best to work on a copy of anything in case of 'oh dear'. Looking into the window sub section of the main Resedit window a process of elimation will turn up the window that's key to the situation. You'll find in Resedit that sometimes there's a simple X & Y for the position and size of the window. This will just prune the thing to size and shift without repositioning any 'radio buttons' etc. On my LCII I'd got a 12" screen and an Encyclopedia wanted 13", so looking into the section installed on my hard disk turned up an entry entitled "main window". After a few attempts the fancy left border was trimmed away enough to enable the 'missing' menu items & scroll bar to get on screen. Then it was crept upwards to repeat the process in the Y axis. My 7300 is fixed at 640*480, (poverty), and the JamCam wanted 800*600. Firing up Resedit, the pruning process by chance 'unlocked' the screen position in question so that I could drag it across to reach the exit control without fiddling around further. Resorcerer (shareware) is a much more powerful tool but it's not so simple to use as Resedit. It can alter the size & position of things to click. It's possible to undertake major surgery on things with it so it's even more important to work on copies. CHINESE WHISPERS As yet another telly series, (Ed - 'Taken'?), uses certain events as part of its plot, let's all have a reality check? |
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