Digital Equipment LA 120 User manual

USER GUIDE

EK-LA120-UG-003 '

1 st Edition, September 1978
2nd Edition, January 1979
3rd Edition, June 1979
Copyright © 1978, 1979 by
Digital
Equipment Corporation
The material in
this manual is for informational
purposes and is subject to change without
notice.
Digital Equipment Corporation assumes no
responsibility for any errors which may appear
in
this manual.
Printed in U.S.A.
This document was set on DIGITAL's DECset-
8000 computerized typesetting system.
The following are trademarks of Digital Equip-
ment Corporation, Maynard, Massachusetts:
DIGITAL
DEC
PDP
UNIBUS
DECSYSTEM-20
DIBOL
VAX
VMS
DECsystem-10 MASSBUS
OMNIBUS
OS/8
RSTS
RSX
lAS

CONTENTS
INTROD UCTION
CHAPTER 1
OPERATOR INFORMATION·
PART 1 GENERAL USER INFORMATION ...................................................1
Operator's Console.........................................................................................1
Lights................................................................................................................
3
Numeric Display..............................................................................................3
Local Control Keys..........................................................................................3
SET-UP Keys...................................................................................................4
Control Character Keys..................................................................................5
Control Keys....................................................................................................6
Other Keys.......................................................................................................6
Optional Numeric Keypad .............................................................................7
Power On/Off Switch .....................................................................................7
Cover Interlock Switch ...................................................................................7
Paper Adjust Knob..........................................................................................8
Carriage Adjustment Lever ...........................................................................8
Tractor Adjust Knobs .....................................................................................8
Alarm Indicators .............................................................................................9
Testing and Troubleshooting the LA 120 ................................................. 10
Operator's Troubleshooting Table............................................................. 11
Sample LA 120 Operators' Card ................................................................13
PART 2 DESCRIPTION OF LA 120 FEATURES ........................................ 15
FORM SET-UP FEATURES................................................................................. 15
Recommended Sequence for Setting Up a New Form.......................... 15
SET-UP Mode ...............................................................................................18
Selecting Lines Per Inch..............................................................................19
iii

Setting Form Length.................................................................................... 20
Top of Form (TO F) ........................................................................................ 21
Top and Bottom Margins and Vertical Tabs ............................................ 22
Displaying Line Number of a Vertical Tab or Margin ............................. 22
Setting Top Vertical Margin ....................................................................... 23
Setting Bottom Vertical Margin ................................................................. 23
Clearing Vertical Margins ............................................................................ 24
Setting Single or Multiple Vertical Tabs................................................... 24
Clearing a Single Vertical Tab .................................................................... 25
Clearing all Vertical Tabs............................................................................. 25
Characters Per Inch (Horizontal Pitch)...................................................... 25
Horizontal Margins and Tabs ..................................................................... 27
Displaying Column Number of a Horizontal Tab or Margin .................. 27
Setting Left and Right Margins .................................................................. 28
Clearing Left and Right Margins ................................................................ 28
Setting Horizontal Tabs............................................................................... 29
Clearing a Single Horizontal Tab ............................................................... 29
Clearing all Horizontal Tabs........................................................................ 29
OPERATOR COMFORT FEATURES.................................................................. 30
Auto Repeat.................................................................................................. 30
Last Character View ..................................................................................... 31
Bell Volume ................................................................................................... 31
Key Click........................................................................................................ 32
COMMUNICATION FEATURES......................................................................... 32
Line/Local...................................................................................................... 33
Baud Rate (Speed)....................................................................................... 34
Answerback .................................................................................................. 36
Transmitting or Printing the Answerback Message ............................... 36
Entering/Deleting Answerback Message................................................. 37
Auto Answerback ......................................................................................... 37
Buffer Control ............................................................................................... 38
Keyboard and Printer Character Set ......................................................... 39
Printer Character Set ................................................................................... 39
Auto Disconnect........................................................................................... 40
Local Echo ..................................................................................................... 41
Auto New Line at Right Margin ................................................................. 41
Auto Line Feed ............................................................................................. 42
Modem ........................................................................................................... 42
Half Duplex (HDX) Initial Calling State.................................................... .43
Secondary Channel...................................................................................... 43
Parity and Data Bits ..................................................................................... 44
Printer New Line Character....................................................................... .45
XON/XO FF .................................................................................................... 45
Alternate Keypad Mode .............................................................................. 46
Alternate Character Set .............................................................................. 47
Selecting Alternate Character Set............................................................. 47
Manually Selecting APL.............................................................................. 47
Manually Deselecting APL ......................................................................... 48
Break Action ................................................................................................. 48
iv

STORE, RECALL, AND STATUS FEATURES .................................................. 49
Factory Stored Settings .............................................................................. 50
Store/Reca II .................................................................................................. 51
Status ............................................................................................................. 52
Self-Test Feature..........................................................................................53
PART 3 RIBBONS, FORMS, AND IMPRESSIONS ................................. 54
Installing Ribbon .......................................................................................... 54
Print Impression Adjustment ..................................................................... 54
Loading Paper/Forms.................................................................................. 55
Reloading Paper/Forms.............................................................................. 56
CHAPTER 2
INSTALLATION, INTERFACE, AND
SPECIFICATIONS
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION......................................................... 59
Unpacking and Inspection.......................................................................... 60
Packing Procedures ..................................................................................... 61
Voltage Selector Switch .......................................................................... 61
Checkout Procedure .................................................................................... 62
Answerback Jumper .................................................................................... 62
INTERFACE INFORMATION .............................................................................. 63
EIA Interface................................................................................................. 63
EIA Cables ..................................................................................................... 63
1M PEDANCE OF TERMINATOR ........................................................................ 65
Rise and Fall Times ...................................................................................... 65
Open Circuit Voltages.................................................................................. 65
LA 120 SPECIFICATIONS ................................................................................... 66
CHAPTER 3 PROGRAMMER INFORMATION
GENERAL............................................................................................................... 71
ESCAPE SEQUENCE............................................................................................ 72
Printer Character Sets............................................... '" ............................... 73
Optional Cha racter Sets.............................................................................. 74
Active Column and Active Line.................................................................. 74
Linefeed Newline Mode .............................. '" ............................................. 75
Horizontal Pitch ............................................................................................ 75
Horizontal Margins ....................................................................................... 76
HorizontaI Tabs............................................................................................. 76
Vertical Pitch................................................................................................. 77
Form Length........................................................................ '" ....................... 78
Vertical Margins ........................................................................................... 78
Vertical Tabs ................................................................................................. 78
PRODUCT IDENTIFiCATION.............................................................................. 79
Alternate Keypad Mode .............................................................................. 79
Control Characters...................... '" .............................................................. 80
APL Character Set....................................................................................... 83
Sample Form SET-UP Using Escape Sequences.................................... 84
Synchronization............................................................................................ 84
v

FILL TIME FORMULAS ....................................................................................... 85
Horizontal Movement .................................................................................. 85
Vertical Movement ....................................................................................... 86
Keyboard Operation..................................................................................... 86
Auto Repeat.................................................................................................. 86
Printable Character Keys ............................................................................ 86
Control Character Keys ............................................................................... 87
Optional Auxiliary Keypad .......................................................................... 89
CHAPTER 4 COMMUNICATIONS
FU LL DUPLEX (FOX)............................................................................................ 93
Full Duplex Connection Requirements..................................................... 93
Full Duplex Break......................................................................................... 93
Full Duplex Disconnect Conditions........................................................... 93
Restraint Mode vs Speed Control Mode .................................................. 94
HALF DUPLEX (HDX) .......................................................................................... 94
Initial Direction Determination .................................................................. 94
Reverse Channel........................................................................................... 95
Modem Delay ............................................................................................... 95
Request to Send Delay................................................................................ 95
Turnaround Characters................................................................................ 95
Half Duplex Break........................................................................................ 95
Loss of Data Set Ready............................................................................... 96
Half Duplex Disconnect.............................................................................. 96
MODEM SET-UP FEATURE DESCRIPTION.................................................... 96
GeneraL.......................................................................................................... 96
Half Duplex.................................................................................................... 97
EFFECTS OF PAPER OUT ................................................................................... 98
CHAPTER 5
OPTIONS
20 mA LA 12X-AL ...............................................................................................101
Installation..................................................................................................10 1
Test
After Installation................................................................................ 103
LA 12X-DL EXPANDED BUFFER .................................................................... 103
CHAPTER 6
SUPPLIES AND ACCESSORIES
GENERAL............................................................................................................ 107
WARRANTY ...........................................................................................Back Cover
vi

~NT~ODUCT~ON
Your LA 120 DECwriter is designed to work very much like a typewriter.
If you can type, this guide will help you learn how to use your LA 120.
The LA 120 is also easy to integrate with most systems. It is compatible
with both EIA and ANSI standards.
Besides
the many standard features built into your basic LA 120
DECwriter III, there are a number of options and accessories that may be
added
to your terminal to make it useful in an even wider range of
applications.
vii

Operator ~n~ormation

CHAPT[E~ ~
OP[E~ATO~ ~NFO~MAT~ON
The LA 120 DECwriter III terminal is basically a typewriter with a wide
range of features that communicates with a computer.
Part 1
of the operator's chapter is for the general user or user already
familiar with the features of a terminal.
• Description
of the operator's console
• Description
of alarm and bell signals
•
Operator Testing and Troubleshooting.
• Summary of LA 120 DECwriter III features (Operator Reference
Card)
Part 2 is for the new LA 120 DECwriter III user. It explains each feature
and provides a
step-by-step procedure for using the feature.
The features have been grouped
to help the user understand when a
feature is used:
• Setting up a form
• Operator comfort
• Communication
• Store, Recall. and Status
• Self Test.
Part 3 describes
how to load forms, change ribbons, and adjust the print
impression.

2 OPERATOR INFORMATION
PART 1
GENERAL USER INFORMATION
OPERATOR'S CONSOLE
The LA 120 operator's console contains an office typewriter-style key-
board. The keyboard contains a
four digit numeric display and eight
indicators. There is provision for an optional. field installable numeric
keypad.
To
better understand the LA 120 keyboard think of the LA 120 as two
things. First, it is an input device to a computer; that is, pressing a key sends
/1 PRiNTER
11
"\
~
ILOCAL
,COpy
i
CODE TO BE
PRINTED
CODE
(GENERATED
WHEN A KEY
IS PRESSED)
I
COMPUTER
information (a code) to a
computer. Second,
it is a
printer;
information is sent
from the computer to the
printing portion of the
LA 120. However, you can
set up
your system to send
information from the key-
board
to the printer and
computer at the same time.

OPERATOR INFORMATION 3
Lights
ALT CHAR
ON LINE LOCAL SET CTS DSR
SETUP PAPER OUT
o 0 0 0 o 0 0 0
SET T~~EARCL~~::LL TOF [~:T MAR ~~T
MAR STORE
CLEAR STATUS RECALL BAUD
ON LINE
The LA 120 is on-line. Data is transmitted and received only while on
line.
LOCAL
The LA 120 is in local mode. In local. the LA 120 operates as a typewriter
and does not transmit or receive data.
ALT CHAR SET
An optional alternate character set such as APL is in use.
CTS
Transmission of data is enabled (clear to send).
DSR
The modem is in data mode (data set ready).
SET UP
Flashes to indicate that the LA 120 is in SET-UP mode.
PAPER OUT
Flashes to indicate that the printer is not ready due to any of the
following conditions.
• Paper out
• Cover open
• Print head jam
Numeric Display
The numeric display indicates the next column number during normal
operation. In SET-UP mode the numeric display may also indicate line num-
ber, baud rate, form length, etc.
Local Control Keys
I~"I LINE/LOCAL
Switches the LA 120 from line to local and vice versa as indicated by the
LINE and LOCAL lights.
I~' I HERE IS
Transmits the answerback message. This key is not active in SET-UP
mode.
It~ I LOCAL FORM FEED
Performs a form feed without transmitting a code to the host computer.

4 OPERATOR INFORMATION
I~I LOCAL LINE FEED
Advances the paper one line at a time without transmitting a code to the
host computer.
SET-UP Keys
SET-UP
Used to examine or change the LA 120 features. For a detailed
description refer to the SET-UP mode in Part 2 of this chapter. In SET-UP
mode the numeric display indicates line number. baud rate. or form length.
etc. Most keys on the keyboard perform a SET-UP command function.
SET-UP command functions for the top row of keys are briefly discussed
below'
[]J SET TAB
Sets a horizontal tab stop at the current column. When used with SH IFT
sets a vertical
tab stop at the current line.
[IJ CLEAR TAB
Clears the horizontal tab stop at the current column. When used with
SH IFT clears the vertical tab stop at the current line.
IfJ~1 CLEAR ALL
Clears all horizontal and vertical tab stops.
[]] TOF
Shifted or unshifted designates the current paper position as top of form.
If top of form is not the same as the top margin. the paper will move to the
top margin (first printable line).
[IJ TOP/LEFT MAR
Sets left margin at the current column. When used with S HI FT sets top
margin at the current line.

OPERATOR INFORMATION 5
[I] BOT/RT MAR
Sets right margin at the current column. When used with SH IFT sets
bottom margin at the current line.
[I] MAR CLEAR
Clears left and right margins. When used with SH IFT clear.s the top and
bottom margins. Left or top margin becomes 1. Right or bottom margin
becomes
the maximum allowable in the current characters per inch (pitch)
or form length.
I f:i I STATUS
Prints status message containing currently selected values of SET-UP
features.
[]] STORE/RECALL
Recalls the stored SET-UP parameters. When used with SHIFT stores
the current SET-UP parameters.
[I] BAUD
Selects receive and transmit baud rates. When used with S HI FT selects
split
transmit baud rates.
Control Character Keys
I~!> I ESC
Generates the code for escape (Chapter 3).
~ TAB
Generates the code for horizontal tab.
SPACE BAR
Generates the code for space.
'_I BACK SPACE
Generates the code for backspace.
14!.L"ffi1 DELETE
Generates the code for delete.
I ~'I RETURN
Generates the code for carriage return or the codes for a carriage return
and line feed sequence (in auto line feed mode).
In half duplex, the return key can also generate a turnaround character
in addition
to its normal code or codes. The turnaround character tells the
computer that it's the computer's turn to send data.
I~I LINE FEED
Generates the code for line feed.

6 OPERATOR INFORMATION
ALT CHAR
ON LINE LOCAL SET CTS DSR SETUP PAPER OUT
I "If·~ I SETTACBLEARCLETAARBOSAll TOiOF TLEDF?T MAR?ROTT 10 10 0 0 I~ II ,rriJ, II~ II~I
C~::R STATUS ::g:L~ BAUD ~ '!:'f. ~ IfUlI
6.[I]~rn[IJ[]][I][[][]][]].II.~El
GII.IIII •••• IIIIIIDn8
EJ~ •• IIIItj]II.IIII •• G:J.
81 L~~ I •••• II ••••• ~~
Control Keys
CTRL Key
I~\ CTRL
When held down. modifies the function or codes generated by other
keys.
tj]
Hold CTRL down and press G to generate the code for the bell. G is also
used in SET-U P mode to change bell volume.
00
Hold CTRL down and press K to generate the code for the vertical tab.
K is also used in SET-UP
mode to turn keyclick on or off.
00
Hold CTR L down and press L to generate the code for form feed. L is
also used in SET-UP mode to select auto line feed.
Other Keys
G SHIFT
Functions the same as the shift key on a typewriter. When in SET-UP
mode SH IFT can also be used with other keys to select LA 120 features.
Ie \ CAPS LOCK
Causes the alphabetic keys to transmit shift (uppercase characters)
codes. regardless
of the position of the SH IFT key. CAPS LOCK does not
affect numeric or other keys.
\QTiTE.\ BR EA K
Causes the LA 120 to transmit a short break signal (233 ms). When used
with SH IFT causes the LA 120 to transmit a long break disconnect signal
(3.5 seconds).

OPERATOR INFORMATION 7
EJ VIEW
Allows the operator to view the last character printed. For additional
detail refer to the last character view feature in Part 2 of this chapter.
Optional Numeric Keypad
The numeric keypad allows numbers to be entered in adding machine
fashion. Each number key, the minus key, and the comma key normally
generate the same codes as the corresponding unshifted keys on the main
keyboard. The
SH IFT key does not affect the numeric keypad.
In the alternate keypad mode, the keys generate escape sequences
which may have special meanings (Chapter 3).
These keys generate escape sequences
which may have special mean-
ings (see Programmer's chapter).
Immr·1 ENTER
ENTER normally corresponds to the RETURN key. In alternate keypad
mode E NTE R generates an escape sequence which may have a special
meaning (Chapter 3).
Power On/Off Switch
The power switch controls power application to the LA 120.
Cover Interlock Switch
This switch is a safety feature which prevents operation of the LA 120
when the cover is open.
Ul
I
o
I
POWER /' ~ ___ ----I
ON/OFF
SWITCH
1
COVER INTERLOCK
SWITCH (UNDER
COVER)
MA-2317

8 OPERATOR INFORMATION
Paper Adjust Knob
Advances the paper 1/12 of an inch at a time. Pressing in and turning
the paper adjust knob enables the paper to be rolled freely in either
direction and allows precise vertical forms positioning.
MA-2308
Carriage Adjustment Lever
The carriage adjustment lever controls the print head gap for single or
multipart forms.
MA-2316
Tractor Adjust Knobs
The tractor adjust knobs allow fine horizontal adjustment of forms.
LEFT TRACTOR
ADJUSTING KNOB RIGHT TRACTOR
ADJUSTING KNOB
MA-2309
NOTE
This knob should only be
used when setting up the
form.
To advance the paper
use LOCAL LINE FEED or
LOCAL FORM FEED

OPERATOR INFORMATION 9
ALARM INDICATORS
The LA 120 produces several different alarm and bell signals. The
operator should become familiar with these signals to determine the correct
response.
BELL and Flashing PAPER OUT Light
These alarm indications will occur under the following conditions.
Cause
PAPER OUT
NOTE
Action/Comments
Load paper (part 3 of this
chapter). Printer will resume normal
operation after paper is loaded and
cover is closed.
When out of paper, bell will turn off after five seconds. If PAPER OUT light
continues to flash after cover is closed paper fault still exists.
Head jam
Cover open
BELL Only
Open top cover and clear
obstruction causing head jam (see
operator's troubleshooting table).
Reload paper by aligning perforation
with print head line indicator. Close
cover.
(Flashing light only) Close cover.
The bell will beep under the following conditions:
Cause
Action/Comments
Low Pitch Bell Tones
Keyboard buffer overflow
Typing faster than the com-
munication line can handle will
cause a buffer overflow. This condi-
tion is indicated by a bell tone each
time a key is pressed. Under these
conditions data will not be lost.
I nput buffer overflow Inputs to the LA 120 faster than
1200 baud (without XON/XOFF or
its equivalent) can cause a buffer
overflow. This condition is indicated
by a bell tone. a special symbol
printout. and loss of data.