Commodore MPS 1200 User manual

COMMODORE
mps
@
~ M
DOTMATRIX PRINTER
users guide

FOR USERS IN UK
WARNING: THIS APPARATUS MUST BE EARTHED!
IMPORTANT The wires
in this mains lead are coloured in accordance with the fol-
lowing code:
Green and yellow Earth
Blue Neutral
Brown Live
As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this apparatus may not correspond
with the coloured marking identifying the terminals
in your plug. proceed as follows:
I
110 wire which is coloured green and yellow must be connected to the terminal in
II", pili\) which is marked by the letter E or by the safety earth symbol-or coloured
\Jlllllll
or green and yellow.
I
"" who which is coloured blue must be connected to the terminal which is
"''''KIIII willi tho leiter N or coloured black.
wit" wlllcil is coloured brown must be connected to the terminal which is
1111111,," I wit" tllll loiter L or coloured red.

Contntodore MPS 1200™
User's Manual

Copyright 1986 by Commodore Electronics Limited
Copyright 1985
by Citizen America Corporation
All rights reserved.
This manual contains copyrighted and proprietary information.
No part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise, without the prior written
permission
of Commodore Electronics Limited.
Commodore BASIC
Copyright 1985 by Commodore Electronics Limited
All rights reserved.
Copyright 1977
by Microsoft Corp.
All rights reserved.
Trademark Acknowledgements
Ep!lon
and Epson FX: Epson America, Inc.
Jane: Arktronics Corporation
Print Shop: Broderbund Software, Inc.
Commodore MPS 1200 ™ and MPS 1200 ™ are trademarks of Commodore Electronics Limited

Introduction
In this manual, you'll find out all about the MPS 1200's many
printing functions: how you can print in regular draft letters or in
near letter quality characters,
as well as expanded, compressed,
emphasized
and doublestrike print, italics, superscripts and sub-
scripts. Additional features like reverse printing, double-height and
international characters are also explained.
This printer
has eight national character sets, corresponding to the Com-
modore
128 computer. These eight national character sets are as follows:
1. USA/UK/Netherlands, 2. Denmark/Norway, 3. Sweden/Finland,
4. Germany,S. France/Belgium, 6. Italy, 7. Switzerland, 8. Spain.
You'll learn about designing your own characters and creating
graphics
on your MPS 1200, using your printer as either a Commo-
dore-compatible or Epson FX printer.
The MPS 1200 User's Manual is written not just for the program-
mer, but also for the non-programmer who wants professional
printing results.
Before you unpack your printer (no matter which type of user
you are), you should begin by reading Chapter 1. It tells you how
to unpack and set up your printer correctly.
When you have the MPS 1200 set up and connected to your
computer, read Chapter 2. It explains important things you'll need
to
know to get the most out of your MPS 1200, such as how dot
matrix printing works, how Commodore BASIC is used with
your printer, and how your printer interacts with software.
•
If you plan to use your printer just with store-bought software
and have no interest in programming, you only need to read the

parts relevant to software in Chapter 2, then you can skip ahead
to
Appendix A to learn about printer maintenance.
• If you plan to do your own programming or custom design
graphics,
you should read the entire book.
Chapters 3 through 9 explain about all the MPS 1200's features,
with examples of control codes and escape sequences in programs
you can type in and use right away. These programs demonstrate
what each effect looks like and the proper syntax for the com-
mands.
No matter what the level of your computer skills, you'll find the
MPS 1200 printer to be a versatile high-quality printer that will suit
your needs exactly.

TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Introduction
SETUP
Printer Location
Unpacking and Assembly
Installing the
Ribbon
Installing the Paper Guide
Installing the Printer
Cover
Getting Acquainted
Printer
Components
The Control Panel
Control Panel Procedure
Selecting and Loading Paper
The'Paper Select Lever
Loading Single Sheets
Installing the Tractor-Feed
Loading
Continuous Paper
Bottom-Feeding Continuous Paper
Paper Thickness
The Printer Self-Test
The Maintenance Self-Test
Connecting Your Computer
Internal (DIP) Switches
PRINTER BASICS
Dot Matrix Printing
ASCII Codes
Hexadecimal
Numbers
PET ASCII Codes
Notes on Commodore BASIC
Secondary Addresses
Choosing a Font with the Secondary Address
Control Codes and Escape Sequences
Printer Installation
Choosing the Right Configuration
Software
Printer Choices
1
1-1
2-1

Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Word Processors
Literal Characters
Spreadsheets, Databases, and
Other Programs
Initializing the Printer
PRINTING TEXT
Near Letter Quality
Character Print Width
Pitch
Pica Pitch
Elite Pitch
Expanded
Print
One-line Expanded Print
Compressed
Print
Compressed Expanded Print
Proportional
Print
Proportional Spacing
Justified Printing
Print Density
Emphasized
Print
Doublestrike Print
Special Effects
Italics
Underlining
Reverse Print
Superscript
Subscript
Character
Height
Vertically Enlarged Print
The Master Commands
Master Reset
Master Pitch
Master Print
Mode
Special Characters and Symbols
International Character Sets
Switching Configurations
PAGE FORMATTING
The End of the Line
Carriage Return
Line Feed
A
Note About BASIC
Line Spacing
Fixed Line Spacing
116 Inch Line Spacing
1/8 Inch Line Spacing
7/72 Inch Line Spacing
3-1
4-1

Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Variable Line Spacing
Line Spacing of n172 Inch
Line Spacing
of n/144 Inch
Line Spacing
of n/216 Inch
A Variable Line Spacing Example
Variable Line Feeds
Line Feed of n/216 Inch
Page
Design
New Page (Form Feed)
Page
Length
Set Page Length By Lines
Set Page Length By Inches
Margins
Top and Bottom Margins
Left Margin
Right Margin
USING TABS
Horizontal Tabs
Move to Next Htab
Set Fixed Htabs
Variable Htabs
Relative Htab
Dot Tabs
Relative Dot Tabs
Vertical Tabs (Vtabs)
Move to Next Vtab
Fixed Vtabs
Variable Vtabs
Relative
Vtab
Vtab Channels
Define Vtab Channel
Select Vtab Channel
EPSON MODE GRAPHICS
Introduction to Dot Graphics
Graphic Commands
Pin Numbers
Graphics Density
Line Length: Number of Columns
Putting It All Together
Graphics for Special Applications
Master Graphics Command
Changing Graphic Density
Nine-pin Graphics
5-1
6-1

Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix 0
Appendix E
Index
Designing Graphics
Defining Shapes
Calculated Shapes (Plotting)
COMMODORE DOT GRAPHICS
Bit Image Coding
Combining Bit Images to Form a Larger Image
All Bit Pattern Printing
Repeat Bit Image Printing
Dot Address Determination
CREATING CHARACTERS
How the MPS 1200 Prints Characters
Designing
Your Own Characters
Copying Standard Characters
Saving Character Designs in the MPS 1200's
Memory
Attribute Byte
Data Bytes
Printing Defined Characters
Special Effects
ODDS AND ENDS
Local Character Set Selection
Quote Mode
Buffer Commands
Delete
Cancel
Master Reset
Backspace
Unidirectional
Print
Continuous Unidirectional Print
One-Line Unidirectional Print
Slashed
Zero
Paper Out Sensor
The Eighth Bit
Eighth Bit On
Eighth Bit Off
Cancel Eighth Bit Control
Hex Dump
Maintenance
MPS 1200 Character Sets
Command Reference,
The Internal (DIP) Switches
Technical Specifications
7-1
8-1
9-1
A-I
B-1
C-l
D-1
E-1

Chapter 1
Setup
This chapter will explain how to set up your MPS 1200 printer.
You'll see how to pick a suitable location for your printer and
unpack its components. You'll also learn how to install the ribbon,
load paper and
connect the printer to your computer.
PRINTER LOCATION
Before you set up your printer, you should think about the best
location for it.
Near your computer is a pretty good start, but there
are a few
other considerations you should take into account:
•
Choos~ a flat, sturdy surface with enough room for the paper to
be fed freely into and flow out of the printer. If you use continu-
ous fanfold paper, you'll need enough room behind the printer
(or underneath with bottom-feeding) for a stack of paper.
•
Position the printer so its power cord and connection to the
computer won't interfere with the paper flow.
•
If you're putting the printer on a wood surface, place a protective
mat between the printer and the surface to prevent possible
damage to the surface.
•
Avoid areas subject to excessive heat (such as direct sunlight),
humidity, dust or grease.
•
Connect the printer to a steady source of electricity. Motors and
many appliances (like copiers, heaters, refrigerators and air con-
ditioners) cause fluctuations in the power line. You may want to
use a surge protector which guards against power fluctuations.
There are many good ones available.
1-1

UNPACKING AND ASSEMBLY
When you unpack your MPS 1200, save the packing materials.
They are specially designed to protect the printer, and will be useful
in the
event you need to ship it.
In
the box, you should find the items shown below (in addition to
this manual). If anything is missing or appears damaged, contact
your dealer immediately.
Make sure you take the time to fill out and send the warranty card
now, since it registers you as an MPS 1200 owner and validates
your warranty.
Figure 1-1. Inside the carton, you should find: 1) Printer, 2) tractor-
feed unit, 3) paper guide, 4) power cord, 5) serial cable, 6) User's
Manual, 7) ribbon cartridge.
1-2

Installing the Ribbon
The printer ribbon is a black plastic cartridge, and will be easy to
install. Take the printer ribbon
out of its packing materials, and open
the printer cover. Holding the cartridge so the round knob
is facing
up and
on the left side, place the cartridge in the printer as shown in
Figure 1-2. Gently push the cartridge
down until it snaps into place.
Slide the ribbon into place between the print head and the metal
ribbon guide. (To make this easier, the print head should be posi-
tioned near the center
of the printer.) Remove any slack in the ribbon
by turning the small plastic knob counterclockwise, then close the
printer cover.
Ribbon
Print head
Ink ribbon cartridge
-Protrusion
of cartridge
S101 for fixing cartridge
Figure 1-2. Installing the ribbon cartridge.
1-3

CAUTION: When replacing a ribbon cartridge, turn the power off and
slide the print head to the right edge before removing the
old ribbon, to avoid damaging the print head.
Installing the Paper Guide
The paper guide is a plastic incline with two sliding pieces on the
front.
The guide fits into a groove toward the back of the printer
and is used to lead sheets of paper into the printer. The sliding
pieces guide the paper
into the platen and keep it from getting
crooked as it advances.
To install the paper guide, slide it into the lip at the rear of the
printer at a 45 degree angle (see Figure 1-3). Once it fits securely
into the lip, let it rest on the knobs on the back of the printer.
Figure 1-3. Installing the paper guide.
1-4

Installing the Printer Cover
With the ribbon installed, you can replace the plastic cover on the
printer.
Hold the cover at a 45 degree angle (sec Figure 1-4) and
insert the two slots onto the tabs in the printer case. Now press
down on the back edge of the cover until it snaps into place.
Figure 1-4. Installing the printer cover.
The printer cover has three basic positions: completely closed (dur-
ing printer operation), completely open (to access the inside of the
printer) and halfway (for removing the cover from the printer).
1-5

GETTING ACQUAINTED
Now that we've gotten this far, it's time to take a look at the
features
and functions of some of the components of the MPS 1200.
These are shown below.
Figure 1-5. MPS 1200 printer components and controls.
Printer Components
Power switch
This switch, located on the lower left side ncar the front, is used to
turn the printer on and off.
Platen
The platen is the hard rubber cylinder that carries the paper to the
print head.
Paper feed knob
The paper feed knob, located on the right side of the printer, turns
the platen. You can manually advance the paper by turning this
knob.
1-6

Paper select lever
This lever adjusts the pressure on the platen, according to the type
of paper being used. This lever is located on the top right of the
printer, near the back.
The paper select lever has two positions, front and back.
The front position is used for single sheets or continuous paper
without the tractor-feed. The back position is used when you have
installed the tractor-feed.
Paper thickness lever
The paper thickness lever is used to adjust the distance between the
print head and the platen to accommodate forms with up to three
carbonless copies.
This lever is located in front of the platen (under
the
printer cover) on the right.
Printer cover
The printer cover serves many functions-as a dust cover, noise
buffer, paper bail
and paper cutter. It protects the MPS 1200 from
dust while reducing the sound level during printing. On the inside,
the
cover has a bar with three rollers, which holds the paper against
the platen.
And a special beveled edge serves as a paper cutter for
tearing
off sheets.
Paper guide
The adjustable sliders on the paper guide let you set the width for
the paper to be fed
into the printer. This will keep the paper flow
going
smoothly, without allowing the paper to shift or be fed
unevenly.
The Control Panel
The control panel is located on the right front of the MPS 1200. It
contains four rectangular blocks,
one panel with three status lights
and three touch switches.
D
D
D
POWER
PAPER OUT
ONLINE
LF
READY
Figure 1-6: The MPS 1200 control panel.
1-7
FFiJ.AUTO
'SHEET
DAD

Power light
The power light glows green when the printer is on.
Ready light
The ready light glows green when the printer is ready to accept
data
from the computer. During normal printing, it flickers as the
printer tells the computer to start and stop sending data. This
flicker is normal.
Paper out light
The paper out light flashes red when the printer is out of paper.
On-line Switch
The on-line switch determines whether the printer is controlled by
the computer and is able to receive data, or is controlled by the
other switches on the printer. When the ready light is green, the
printer is "on-line" and the computer controls the printer. When
this
light is off, the printer is "off-line" and the other control panel
switches can be used
while information from the computer is
suspended.
LF (Line Feed) Switch
This switch advances the paper one line each time it is pressed when
the computer is off-line. Continuously holding down the switch
allows you to advance the paper as far as you like.
FF (Form Feed) Switch
When the printer is off-line, pressing the FF switch advances the
paper to the
top of the next page.
The control panel switches are also important because they playa
key role in turning on some of the MPS 1200's special features like
the
printer and maintenance self-tests and hex dump, described
later
in this manual.
CONTROL PANEL PROCEDURE
The control panel can enable you to print in many different type
styles (known as fonts).
To enter font select mode, press and hold down the FF switch on
the control panel and press the On-line switch (while still holding
down the FF switch).
1-8

The Ready light starts flashing, and the different fonts may now be
selected.
To access each of the fonts shown below, press the On-
line switch the appropriate number of times. For example, if you
want to print in italics, press the On-line switch twice. Each time
you press the On-line switch, the Paper Out light flashes in red.
FONT
PICA
NEAR LETTER QUALITY
(NLQ)
ITALIC
EMPHASIZED
COMPRESSED
SELECT (# On-line presses)
o
1
2
3
4
When you've selected the desired font, press and release the FF
switch. Then press the LF switch, which takes the MPS 1200 out of
font select mode and back to normal printer operation, with the
Ready light
glowing green.
You can select combinations of fonts in this manner. For instance,
you can select emphasized italic by entering one font, and then
repeat
t~e procedure to enter a second style (or even third or
fourth). To return to "normal" printing, either reselect PICA by
entering font select mode and exiting without pressing On-line (0
On-line presses), or turn the printer off then on again.
You can also access the NLQ font without entering font select
mode, by pressing and holding the LF switch and then pressing and
holding the
On-line switch. When you release them, the printer
prints
in NLQ style. To print draft characters again, just repeat this
procedure.
SELECTING AND LOADING PAPER
You can use either single sheets or continuous fan-fold paper with
your MPS 1200. Fan-fold paper, also known as pin-feed or con-
tinuous paper, is probably when you think of as "computer paper."
It comes in sheafs of continuous perforated sheets with holes
punched along the side. It is available plain or with lines or stripes
in various colors.
Continuous letterheads, pre-printed forms, labels and envelopes
can also be used
with the MPS 1200. The MPS 1200 can handle any
of these, up to ten inches in width.
1-9

The Paper Select Lever
The paper select lever (shown in Figure 1-7) sets the type of paper
feed the
printer uses. In the forward position, it uses friction feed.
Friction feed increases the pressure on the platen so the paper is
automatically fed by friction as the platen turns. This is used with
single sheets, and when the tractor-feed is not in place.
The back position (labeled 'PIN') activates the tractor feed. It is
used
with continuous paper when the tractor-feed is installed. This
setting releases the pressure on the platen and allows the paper to be
fed
by the pins on the sprockets on each side of the paper. The back
position can also be used
to allow adjustment or alignment of the
paper, since it releases the pressure
on the platen that's holding
down the paper.
Paper-feed select lever
Figure 1-7. The paper select level has two positions'for loading
different types of paper.
Loading Single Sheets
This is pretty similar to loading paper into a typewriter; maybe it's
a little easier due to the
paper guide on the back of the printer.
Here's how:
1. Move the paper select lever forward.
1-10