Commodore CBM 4023 User manual

Commodore
CBM Bi-Directional
Printer
User’s Manual
Model 4023
f i c o m m o d o re
COMPUTER

“WARNING — This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not insta ed
and used in accordance with the instructions manua , may cause interference to radio communications. It
has been tested and found to comp y with the imits for a C ass A computing device pursuant to Subpart J of
Part 15 of FCC Ru es, which are designed to provide reasonab e protection against such interference when
operated in a commercia environment. Operation of this equipment in a residentia area is ike y to cause
interference in which case the user at his own expense wi required to take whatever measures may be
required to correct the interference.”

Commodore
CBM Bi-Directiona
___________ Printer
User’s Manua
Mode 4023
Part Number 4023025
Cr commodore
© 1983 Commodore Business Machines, Inc.

Tab e Of Contents
Page No.
ection 1: GENERAL INFORMATION
........................................................................... 1
DE CRIPTION ................................................................................................................. 1
Printing Characteristics ............................................................................................ 1
IEEE-488 Interface .................................................................................................... 3
Paper Feed Mechanisms.......................................................................................... 3
Printer Ribbon Cartridge
.......................................................................................... 3
Internal Microprocessor ystem 3
pecifications ........................................................................................................... 3
UNPACKING YOUR PRINTER ....................................................................................... 5
ection 2: PREPARING TO U E YOUR PRINTER ....................................................... 7
CONNECTING THE PRINTER TO YOUR COMPUTER
............................................. 8
PERFORMING THE POWER-ON TE T 9
IN TALLING THE PAPER .............................................................................................. 10
Loading Model 4023 ................................................................................................ 10
PERFORMING THE PRINT HEAD TE T 11
ection 3: U ING YOUR PRINTER ............................................................................... 13
PECIAL PRINTER-A OCIATED COMMAND ......................................................... 14
The OPEN Command 14
The CMD Command ................................................................................................ 14
The PRINT # Command
.......................................................................................... 15
The CLO E Command ............................................................................................ 15
PRINTING IN THE DIRECT MODE ............................................................................... 16
PRINTING UNDER PROGRAM CONTROL.................................................................. 17
FORMAT CONTROL ....................................................................................................... 21
Printing Data Exactly as Received: sa= 0................................................................ 21
Printing Data According to a Previously Defined Format: sa=1
.......................... 22
toring the Formatting Data: sa=2
......................................................................... 23
The Formatting Characters ..................................................................................... 23
Numeric: ............................................................................................................. 23
Alpha ( tring Data):
.......................................................................................... 26
kip (Blank): ...................................................................................................... 26
Literals in Format trings ......................................................................................... 26
etting the Number of Lines Per Page: sa = 3......................................................... 27
Enabling the Printer Diagnostic Messages: sa=4
................................................. 28
Defining a Programmable Character: sa=5
.......................................................... 29
etting pacing Between Lines: sa=6 .................................................................... 31

electing Upper or Lower Case: sa=7 .................................................................... 31
electing A CI I/Graphics: sa=8 ............................................................................. 32
uppress Diagnostic Message Printing: sa=9 ....................................................... 32
Resetting the Printer: sa=10..................................................................................... 32
PECIAL CHARACTER FUNCTION
........................................................................... 33
Enhanced Characters
........ *..................................................................................... 33
Paging ........................................................................................................................ 33
pecifying Individual Upper- and Lowercase Characters .................................... 33
Reversing a Field ...................................................................................................... 35
The Carriage Return .......................................................... 35
Quotation Marks ........................................................................................................ 35
APPENDIX
IMPLE TRING FORMATTING ........................................................................... A-2
LEADING ZEROE FORCED ................................................................................ A-4
IGNED NUMBER ............................................................................................... A-5
DECIMAL FRACTION PECIFICATION
............................................................... A-6
FIXED AND FLOATING $ FIELD ....................................................................... A-7
MIXED FORMAT FIELD TYPE ............................................................................. A-8
FORMATTING WITH LITERAL ........................................................................... A-9

Section 1
GENERAL INFORMATION
With the purchase of a Commodore CBM Printer, you have added a great deal of versatility
and convenience to the use of your Commodore Computer. You have purchased the
FRICTION/ PROCKET FEED Model 4023. While this manual contains all the information
you need to check out, connect, and operate your printer, you should also refer to other
Commodore manuals to get the most out of your computer system.
NOTE TO BU INE KEYBOARD U ER ONLY: If you wish to duplicate
the examples in this manual and you are using the CBM Business Keyboard
computer, you should type the BA IC command POKE 59468,12 at the
beginning of each session with your computer and printer.
DESCRIPTION
This printer is designed to operate through software control. It prints upper- and lower
case alphabetic characters, numeric characters, and all the graphic characters available
on your Commodore computer, and even a custom user-defined character. Additionally,
your printer has considerable formatting capability owing to its own internal
microprocessor system.
Printing Characteristics
Your printer employs a HINWA print head. The wire heavy-duty jeweled head has a life
expectancy of 50 million characters. If a print head malfunction should occur, obtain
authorized technical assistance. Failure to do this may void your warranty.
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Figure 1. Feed Mechanism and Ribbon Cartridge
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IEEE-488 Interface
This printer conforms to IEEE-488 interface requirements and may be connected directly
to your Commodore computer. The printer, designed to be used with the Commodore
CBM Floppy Disk Drive, may be daisy-chained with other IEEE-488 devices.
Paper Feed Mechanisms
The Model 4023 Printer employs FRICTION/ PROCKET feed mechanism that involves
the use of sprocket holes in the paper edges. This model is especially useful for the printing
of business forms. ee Figure 1.
Normal paper without sprocket holes is useable, too.
Printer Ribbon
The printer ribbon (shown in Figure 2) is an easily-loaded cartridge.
Interna Microprocessor System
Your printer contains a microprocessor system that resets and executes a diagnostic and
initialization sequence when power is applied. In addition, it contains a random access
memory (RAM) in which you can store formatting data. Because your printer is an
“intelligent” peripheral, it uses none of your computer’s memory.
Specifications
Table 1 shows the specifications for the Model 4023 Printer.
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TABLE 1
Mode 4023 Printer Specifications
Printing Method erial Impact Dot Matrix
Print Rate 45 Ipm with 80 columns printed
78 Ipm with 40 columns printed
124 Ipm with 20 columns printed
Print Direction Bi-directional
Column Capacity 80
Character Font 8 X 8
Line pacing Programmable
Character ize 0.094" high, 0.08" wide
Copies 3, including original
Ribbon Type Cartridge
Ribbon Life 1.2 X 106 characters
Ribbon Cartridge Commodore P/N 613160550
Paper Width 10" computer folded paper
Forms 7.5 + (0.5 X 2 sprocket margins)
Pin-to-pin distance: .5" longitudinally
9.5" laterally
5/32" diameter
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UNPACKING YOUR PRINTER
Before you unpack your printer, inspect the shipping carton for signs of damage. If it
appears to be damaged, be especially careful when you inspect its contents. DON’T throw
away any of the packaging material until you have located all the contents of the carton!
The package should contain:
1. Commodore Printer, Model 4023
2. User Manual Number 4023025
3. Warranty card
4. Printer ribbon cartridge
If any of the these is missing or damaged, notify your Commodore dealer immediately.
Additionally, you must obtain the appropriate cable from your Commodore dealer to
connect your printer to your computer. ee ection 2, page 8, for information about which
IEEE cable to get.
Setting up
Before starting to use your printer, you should make sure that it is in working condition.
This procedure includes checking for obstructions in the path of the printer head or paper
feed and that the printer ribbon is properly in place. Follow this procedure.
1. Lift and remove the plastic top cover to expose print head and mechanism.
2. Remove shipping screws.
Carefully lift front of printer unit and make it stands as the bottom of case be vartically
face to you and hold the unit by the one of your hand on the soft surface. Then, remove
the shipping screws with a Phillips-head screw driver. After it is removed, gently back
the unit to lay flat on a firm surface, position the printer front be face to you.
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-6-

Section 2
PREPARING TO USE YOUR PRINTER
Before starting to use your printer, you should make sure that it is in working condition.
This procedure includes checking for obstructions in the path of the print head or paper
feed and that the printer ribbon is properly in place. Follow this procedure:
1. Lift the plastic paper cover gently to expose print head and mechanism.
2. Carefully remove any foreign material that may have strayed into the mechanism or
electronics.
3. Install the printer ribbon cartridge as shown in Figure 2.
4. Replace the plastic paper cover.
5. Insert the wire paper rest in the two holes in the rear of the cabinet. Do not attempt to
load the paper at this time.
Figure 2. The Printer Cartridge

CONNECTING THE PRINTER TO YOUR COMPUTER
One of two connector cables is required to connect the printer to the computer:
1. PET-to-IEEE cable, P/N 320202
Use this cable if the printer is to be the only (or first) IEEE device connected to your
computer.
2. lEEE-to-IEEE cable, P/N 905080
Use this cable if you will be using your printer in conjunction with the Dual Drive Floppy
Disk.
Follow these steps to connect your printer to your computer:
1. Turn off the AC power to your computer.
2. Place the printer in a convenient location close to the computer. DO NOT connect the
printer to an AC outlet at this time.
3. If you are using the PET-to-IEEE cable, connect the cable between the IEEE-488
interface connector on your computer and the connector on the printer as shown in
Figure 3. If you are using the lEEE-to-IEEE cable, connect the printer in a configuration
similar to that shown in Figure 4.
4. Connect the printer’s power cord to an AC outlet. DO NOT turn on the power at this
time.
Figure 3. Printer to Computer Hookup
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COMMODORE CBM PRINTER,
MODEL 4023
Figure 4. Mu tip e Hookup
PERFORMING THE POWER-ON TEST
You are now ready to proceed with the power-on part of the checkout:
1. Turn on the AC power to your computer and verify that it is working correctly.
2. To turn on the power to the printer, press the rocker switch at the rear of the printer so
that the white dot is visible. In response to the application of AC power, the printer’s
microprocessor should move the print head all the way to the right, then to its home
position at the far left. If this does not happen (and that’s highly unlikely), turn off both
machines, check all connections and try again. If you still get no response, contact your
Commodore dealer.
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INSTALLING THE PAPER
Now that you have gotten a positive response to all the previous steps, you can load the
paper. ee Figures 5 and 6.
PLATEN
Figure 5. Paper Path
Loading Mode 4023
The tractor feed printer accepts standard fan-folded pin feed paper. You can purchase this
paper from your local Commodore dealer.
The paper drive in this printer may be adjusted to accept varying widths of paper. This is
done by sliding the pin feed mechanism it to the desired position. Depress the paper feed
button in the upper right-hand top panel to advance the paper after it is loaded. To remove
the paper, open the feed mechanism retainers and pull the paper out.
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Figure 6. Inserting Paper Into Mode 4023
PERFORMING THE PRINT HEAD TEST
You can test the print head (and the ribbon cartridge as well) after you have inserted the
paper. NEVER allow any printing to occur when there is no paper in the printer. To do so
may result in damage to the print head. To perform this test, simply turn off the printer, then
turn it back on while pressing the paper feed button.
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You know how to connect your printer to your computer, how to check it out and how to
insert the ribbon and paper. You are now ready for the next step: putting your Commodore
printer to work.
-11-

-12-

Section 3
USING YOUR PRINTER
Your printer does much more than just give you clean, fast copy. ince it has its own
internal microprocessor system, it is very versatile. In this section you will learn howto use
your printer to print out listings, program results, and graphic displays. You will learn how
to use it to format data and enhance character size. You will even be able to create your
own custom character.
Before you attempt to use your printer, make sure you know how to do the following:
1. Operate your Commodore computer.
2. Do elementary programming in BA IC.
3. Write files to and from a peripheral device such as the tape cassette recorder or the
Commodore Floppy Disk Drive.
4. Open and close files.
You should refer to your computer User Manual for this information.
This section uses certain conventions to indicate certain actions or requirements:
Examp e Description
dn Italicized lowercase letters in a syntax indicate that
you should enter something (a variable) in place of
the letters.
[ ] Brackets indicates optional usage.
NOTE: The commands described in this manual apply specifically to use
with the printer. Certain of the commands may follow a slightly different
general form or produce different results from those described here when
they are used for the computer or other peripheral devices. Consult the
appropriate manual for the exact usage of these commands in other
contexts.
-13-

SPECIAL PRINTER-ASSOCIATED COMMANDS
When want to print something on your printer, essentially what you are doing is
transferring the video screen function to the printer. A few special BA IC commands allow
you to make this transfer. Most other BA IC considerations and rules remain the same.
Always remember to press the RETURN key after you type each command.
The OPEN Command
The syntax of the OPEN command is:
OPEN Ifn, dn, [sa]
This command sets a correspondence between a file number and a physical device. The
Ifn or logical file number may be any number you choose to assign to your file from 1 to
255. It doesn’t matter which number you choose as long as you remain consistent
throughout your set of commands. The dn or device number (also known as the primary
address) refers to the device to which you wish to send the file. In the case of the printer,
the number must be 4 since that is the number assigned to it at the factory.
NOTE: If you should want to change a printer number, you can have it
changed by an authorized Commodore technician. ee your Commodore
dealer about this. (You might want to have a printer’s device number
changed if you have two printers attached to your computer. You need to
refer to each of them individually: hence, the need to change one of the
device numbers.)
The sa or secondary address is somewhat of a unique concept. It alerts the printer’s
microprocessor system that formatting is to occur. econdary addresses are thoroughly
discussed starting on page 21, under FORMAT CONTROL.
The CMD Command
The syntax of this command is:
CMD Ifn
CMD transfers control from the computer to the printer. The Ifn must be the same as that in
the OPEN statement with which it is associated. Unlike a PRINT command, the line or bus
to the receiving device is left open. The line or bus to the receiving device (in this case, the
printer) is said to be “listening.” When you give the CMD command, the printer prints
READY and the red LED in the paper feed button lights up to indicate the printer is waiting
for further commands. If you follow a CMD command with a PRINT or a LI T command,
the output is directed to the printer.
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