Epson LX-90TM User manual

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wise, without the prior written permission of Epson Corporation. No patent liability is
assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. While every precaution
has been taken in the preparation of this book, Epson Corporation assumes no responsibility
for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of
the information contained herein.
Apple is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
Applesoft is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
Centronics is a registered trademark of Data Computer Corporation.
HomeWriter, LX-90, PIG and QX-16 are trademarks of Epson America, Inc.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
Microsoft is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
QX-10 is a registered trademark of Epson America, Inc.
0 Copyright 1985 by Epson Corporation
Nagano, Japan
Y497991200

Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
1
Installation and Operation
......................
Inserting the Printer Interface Cartridge
...........
Printing the Self Test
...........................4
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer
.........5
Control Panel
.................................6
Using Your Printer
.............................7
2
SelecType
....................................
9
SelecType Operation
...........................
9
Turning SelecType on
........................
9
Selecting typestyles
..........................
10
SelecType Exercise
.............................
11
Mode Combination
............................
13
SelecType Tips
................................
14
3Elements of Dot-Matrix Printing and
Computer /Printer Communications
..............
The Print Head
...............................
Other Pitches
.................................
NLQ Mode
...................................
ESCape and ASCII
............................
4PIC Features
..................................
19
Demonstration Programs
.......................
19
Running BASIC Programs
......................
20
Pica Printing
..................................
21
Changing Pitches
..............................
21
Cancelling Codes
..............................
22
Resetting the Printer
...........................
22
Pitch Comparison
.............................
23
Near Letter Quality Mode
......................
23
5Print Enhancements and
Special Characters
.............................
Emphasized Mode
.............................
Double-Strike
.................................
3
3
15
15
16
17
18
25
25
26
111

ExpandedMode ...............................
Mode Combinations
...........................
Underline Mode
...............................
Master Select
.................................
Superscript and Subscript
.......................
International Characters
........................
Special Graphics Character Set
..................
6 Page Formatting
...............................
37
Margins
......................................
37
Skip-Over-Perforation
..........................
38
Line Spacing
..................................
38
Paper-OutSensor
.............................
39
Justification with NLQ
.........................
39
7
User-Defined Characters
........................
Defining Your Own Characters
..................
Designing Process
.............................
Definition program 1
.........................
Running the program
........................
Definition program 2
.........................
Running the program
........................
Defining NLQ Characters
.......................
NLQgrid ..................................
NLQ definition program 1
....................
NLQ definition program 2
....................
8 Introduction to Dot Graphics
....................
Dot Patterns
..................................
The Print Head and Graphics
....................
Graphics Mode
...............................
PinLabels.. ..................................
First Graphics Program
.........................
WIDTH Statements
............................
Multiple-Line Exercise
..........................
Density Varieties
..............................
Reassigning Code
..............................
Column Reservation Numbers
...................
Designing Your Own Graphics
...................
String variables
.............................
27
27
28
29
30
31
34
41
41
42
44
45
46
47
47
48
50
51
53
54
54
55
56
57
58
58
60
61
61
62
65
iv

Appendixes
ALX-90 Characters
..............................A-l
DraftMode ..................................
A-2
NLQMode ...................................
A-4
B
Software Commands in
Numerical Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CCommand Summary
...........................C-l
Near Letter Quality Mode
......................
c-3
Character Width (Pitch)
........................
c-4
Print Enhancement
............................
c-7
PageFormatting.. .............................c-11
Margins ....................................c-11
Line Spacing ................................
c-12
Form feed and page length
....................
c-15
Tabs.. .....................................
C-16
Graphics .....................................
c-19
User-Defined Characters
........................
c-22
Other Codes
..................................
C-23
DDIP Switches and Interface
......................
DIP Switches .................................
Interface .....................................
E
Troubleshooting and Advanced Features
...........
Installation of Commercial
Software Programs
............................
SelecType Features and Solutions
................
Reset codes .................................
Cancelling modes
............................
Printing on Self-adhesive Labels
..................
Beeper Error Warnings
.........................
Applesoft BASIC Solutions
.....................
QX-10 and QX-16 Solutions
.....................
Graphics .....................................
Data Dump Mode
.............................
B-l
D-l
D-l
D-4
E-l
E-l
E-l
E-2
E-2
E-3
E-3
E-4
E-4
E-4
E-5
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Index-l

Introduction
The Epson LX-90™ printer with the PIC for parallel interface sys-
tems combines low price with the high quality and advanced capabili-
ties formerly available only on more expensive printers.
The LX-90 User’s Manual tells you how to set up your printer. This
Printer Interface Cartridge Operation Manual gives you the specific
information you need to use the LX-90 with your computer.
This manual won’t waste your time with unnecessary information,
but it also won’t neglect anything you need to know about the LX-90
and its features.
You can read as much or as little of this manual as you wish. The
first chapter tells how to test the printer and connect it to your com-
puter. The second chapter explains SelecType, a feature that offers
you five special typefaces. The other chapters explain the main fea-
tures of the LX-90, and the appendixes give technical information on
the printer.
Note
Although all references in this manual are to the Epson
LX-90 printer, this PIC can also be used with the Epson
HomeWriter™-10.

Chapter 1
Installation and Operation
After you have set up your printer and loaded the paper (following
the directions in the LX-90 User’s Manual), you are ready to plug in
your Printer Interface Cartridge (PIG™) and begin printing.
Inserting the Printer Interface Cartridge
Inserting the PIC is easy. The cartridge slides into the rectangular
opening, as shown in the LX-90 manual. Be sure the printer is OFF
when you insert the PIC. The PIC has a grounding wire. Attach it as
shown in Figure l-1.
I
Figure 1-l. Attaching the grounding wire
3

Now that the PIC is installed, you need to change the settings of
three small switches, called DIP switches, in the back of the printer,
Figure 1-2 shows where the DIP switches are.
Figure l-2. DIP switch location
The functions of these switches are explained in detail in Appendix
D, but all that you need to do now is turn three of them on. All the
others should be off. (The switches are down when they are off and up
when they are on.) Before you change any of the DIP switch settings
make sure that the power switch on the right side of the printer is
turned off.
The DIP switches are in two groups, with eight in the first group
and four in the second. Turn on switches 6, 7, and 8 in the first group.
Now you are ready to test your printer.
Printing the Self Test
It’s time to see the LX-90 in action. You’ll start with a self test. Don’t
connect the printer to your computer yet-just follow these steps:
1. Make sure that your printer has paper in it and that the power
switch (on the right side of the printer) is off.
4

2. Hold down the LF button on the control panel while you turn the
printer on with the power switch.
The LX-90 begins printing letters, numbers, and symbols in the
draft mode. It won’t stop until you turn it off or until it gets near the
end of the paper.
To see the same test in the NLQ (Near Letter Quality) mode, turn
the printer on while pressing the FF button. Figure 1-3 shows partial
results of both tests.
I
Draft
!“#$%!&’ ()*+,-./0123456789 : ; <=>?@ABCDEFGHI
! “#$%& ’ ()*+,-. /0123456789 : ; <=>?@ABCDEFEHIJ
“#$%& ’ ( ) *+, --. /0123456789 : ; <=>?@ABCDEFGHIJK
#$%& ’ ( )*+f , -. /O123456789 : ; <=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKL
$%&'()*+,-./0123456789: ; <
= >?@ABCDEFGHIJKLM
%&'()*+,-.
/0123456789 : ; <=>.. ?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMN
NLQ
! “#$%&’ ( ) *+, -. /0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHI
!"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJ
"#$%&' ( ) *+, -. /0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJK
#$%&'()a+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKL
$%&' ()*+, -.
/0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLM
%&' ()*+, -. /0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLM
Figure 1-3. Self-test printouts
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer
Now that the self test has shown that your printer is working well,
it’s time to hook it up to your computer. It is best to have both the
printer and the computer turned off when you do this.
Because different computers require different printer connections,
you need a separate cable to connect the PIC cable to your computer.
Connect the separate cable to the plug on the end of the PIC cable and
then plug the other end into your computer. Your computer manual or
your dealer will tell you what you need.
5

Control Panel
After connecting your LX-90 to your computer, turn on the printer
and look at the control panel, which is shown in Figure l-4.
I
Figure 7-4. Control panel
You have already used the control panel for a special purpose,
printing the self test. Here are the main functions of the lights and
buttons on this panel:
l The POWER light glows green when the power is on.
l The READY light glows green when the printer is ready to accept
data. Don’t worry if this light flickers somewhat during printing;
this flickering is normal.
l The PAPER OUT light glows red when the printer is out of paper or
the paper is loaded incorrectly.
l The ON LINE light glows green when the printer can receive data.
In addition to the lights, the control panel has three buttons.
l ON LINE-switches the printer between on line and off line status.
When the printer is on line, the ON LINE light glows and the printer
is ready to accept data.
6