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Print To Hardware Port - Guidelines |
The information in this document applies to:
WordPerfect® 5.1 for DOS
Problem
Solutions: Print to Hardware Port (PTHP) This is a new feature in WP 5.1 as of 06/29/90 release on the Program 1/2 disk. Normally, when WordPerfect sends data to a printer, it does so though the BIOS (Basic Input/Output Services) serial and parallel services. Using the BIOS services allows compatibility with a very wide range of hardware configurations. The fastest way (as much as 30% faster) for a program to send data to a directly-attached printer is for the program to bypass the BIOS services, and print directly to the serial or parallel port using interrupts (the hardware). How WordPerfect sets up Print to Hardware port: WordPerfect will read a table, that the IBM PC BIOS keeps, of base port addresses for serial and parallel ports. Normally, WordPerfect can read this table and use the addresses to know how to communicate with the serial and/or parallel ports. Unlike the Base Address WordPerfect automatically sets up the IRQ levels to the following: LPT Ports = IRQ 7 COM1 = IRQ 4 COM2 = IRQ 3 COM 3&4 are not setup automatically. (If they are used then the user must go into the Advanced Setup and set the IRQ level to their manufacturer's setting.) It is possible that the BIOS might not be able to find certain expansion boards and enter the Base Address in the table. In this case, the user must use the Print to Hardware Port Advanced Setup menu and tell WordPerfect what the Base Address is for the serial or parallel port in question. This information can be obtained from the I/O(Input Output) card board documentation (ie... in the index under I/O port, parallel, serial, com, I/O (base) address). Guidelines 1. If the user cannot print from DOS or with PTHP set to no, choosing Yes for print to hardware port may now allow them to print. This will enhance printing if they are already able to print. 2. Print to Hardware Port cannot be used with capture, print spooling programs, or TSR printing programs. (ie...Glyphix, PowerPak) 3. If PTHP is set to yes, and Printer Control says the status is printing but nothing ever prints, you probably need to go into Advanced Setup and change the IRQ level. In many cases, WordPerfect has sent a character but is not receiving the interrupt to continue printing. To find out the proper IRQ level and base port address, users will have to refer to the documentation for the parallel/serial I/O card. Printing to a parallel port using an AT compatible Computer: If the base address defaults to 278h try IRQ 5. 4. If users have referred to the documentation and everything seems to be correct with the base port address and IRQ level, and it still doesn't work there are several options: a. Boot vanilla and make sure there is nothing conflicting (eg. network boards use an interrupt that might conflict.) b. Contact the manufacturer of the board to see if there is any known problem with interrupt handling. (Some of the original IBM monochrome graphics adapters and their clones do not consistently generate interrupts.) 5. Choosing incorrect interrupt levels in Advanced Setup may cause the computer to lock. Note: Generally, the BIOS will find the Base Address of most LPT and COM ports. However, there is no easy way of determining what the IRQ level is if the IRQ level is not the default. If the user does not know what the IRQ level is for the board, and it is a board that allows the IRQ level to be configured, the only way to determine the IRQ level is to remove the board and look at the jumper/switch block settings and compare them with the illustrations or descriptions in the board manual. |
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