softalk-pc-1982-12-reduced

mode to 132 columns.If you prefer using the printer in 13densed print mode, as it is known) all of thbest to set up your DOS disks with an Aumatically initializes and adjusts the printeturn on your system. For example, if youautomatically come up ready to print 132eight lines per inch, then you could creatREM This is the Autoexec.bat file to iREM for 132 columns per line, 8 linesMODE LPTI:132,8REM Don't forget to get the date andDATETIMEAZAs is the case with most DOS commaenter parameters after the command, modyou enter all the parameters. If, however, Isecond parameter only, leaving the first ascomma before the second parameter. For ex,density from six to eight while leaving the ~mode, you'd enter the commandMODE LPTI: ,8(the space before the comma is optional).reply with the screen messagesLPTl: not redirectedPrinter lines per inch setThe only difference between this and the replyto the fUll commandused earlier is that this one doesn't say "LPTl: + 1 set for132"; it doesn't need to since you haven' t made any change to thewidth parameter.Obviously, the comma before the second parameter is the onlyway to describe accurately to DOS which parameter it is that youwish to change. If the first parameter is to be changed but not thesecond one, then it's only necessary to enter the new first parameter.It is not necessary in this case to enter a trailing comma,since one is implied. For example, if you wish to change the numberof characters per line from 80 to 132, but you do not want tochange the number of lines per inch, you need only enterMODE LPTI:132and, predictably, DOS will return the screen messagesLPTl : not redirectedLPTI: set for i32The only error condition that can exist with this version of themode command happens when you attempt to enter a charactersper-lineparameter that is neither 80 nor 132, or if you attempt toenter a lines-per-inch parameter that is not six or eight. In suchcases, the mode command will not return an error message. Neitherwill it accept the parameter. It simply will not change anything. Infact, if DOS does not accept the illegal parameter, it emits the screenmessageLPTl not redirectedand nothing else, which indicates that nothing has changed.Color TV Mode. The second use of the mode command is as ameans of setting up the video display screen. This particular use ofmode only works with computers equipped with the IBMcolor/graphics monitor adapter; it has no effect on units equippedwith the monochrome adapter. The function of the command istwofold: to align the edge of the screen so that it can be seen and toswitch between forty and eighty characters per line on the screen.Many video monitors and television sets have a particularlyhard time in gra~ping the video signal emitted by a computer such asthe pc. One of the results is a poor horizontal hold, with the resultthat one of the two sides of the screen is somewhat obscured.Cathode ray tubes (television tubes) are curved at the edges, and thiscurvature can result in one or more characters being out of sight atI II II IBUSINESS REPLY CARDFIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 673 NO. HOLLYWOOD, CAPOSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEEsoftalkfor the IBM Personal ComputerP. 0. Box 60North Hollywood, California 91603NO POSTAGENECESSARYIF MAILEDIN THEUNITED ST ATES22obviously these letters starlcl for riglifandTeft. Tfiis parameter is asignal to DOS to shift the entire display a fixed increment in onedirection or the other. For example, if you wished to reset the screento eighty-column mode and shift it to the right, you'd enter thefollowing:MODE 80,RThis would cause the screen to go blank and the entire field of viewto be moved over the equivalent of two character positions. If wehad left the screen in forty-column mode, it would have moved overby the equivalent of one forty-column character.If the display is still not far enough over to the right, we cansimply moye it over one more increment by enteringMODE ,RIf it is too far over we could move it back by enteringMODE ,LThe final parameter is a request for a test pattern that can beused for alignment purposes. The test pattern is simply a line ofnumbers across the top of the display. You would request the testpattern by issuing a command something likeMODE 80,R,TDOS would print the line of characters-in this case in eightycolumnmode-and then promptDo you see the leftmost O? (Y../N)If the leftmost 0 is clearly visible, press the Y key. If not, press the Nand DOS will adjust the screen and continue displaying the promptuntil you have it set just right.Of course, if you type the commandMODE 80,L,TDOS will do exactly the same thing, but it will move the display tothe left rather than the right.If you're having alignment problems with your monitor or televisionset, it's worthwhile to run through this exercise once to findout how many times you need to move the screen to get its mostacceptable position; then you can use that information to build anAutoexec.bat so that the display can be reset automatically everytime you turn on the system.For example, if you found that you needed to move the screentwo increments to the right in order to see the whole picture, youcould build an Autoexec.bat file that would set it up correctly everysoftalk