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Other software
For some software you may have to consult their manuals or your
dealer to find out at what point the printer is reset. You will prob-
ably find some stage in the printing process after the resetting where
you can use SelecType.
Some of these tests may seem to take too much time and trouble,
but you need to do them only once. Then you will know exactly
what you need to do each time you use SelecType. After you have
done the SelecType procedure two or three times, it will become
quick and easy.
Beeper Error Warnings
When the GX-80's beeper sounds, it usually indicates that the prin-
ter is out of paper. The beeper can also be sounded by any program
that sends the ASCII 7 code and by certain error conditions in the
printer itself.
If the printer beeps and stops printing when it is not out of paper,
tum the printer off and check to see if the paper is loaded correctly.
If the paper is loaded correctly, tum the printer back on and try to
print again. If the printer beeps and does not print again, consult
your dealer.
Hex Dump Mode
The GX-80 has a special feature that makes it easy for experienced
printer users to find the causes of problems. Called the hex dump
mode, it gives a printout of exactly which codes reach the printer.
Tum on this mode by turning on the printer while holding down the
FF and LF buttons at the same time. The GX-80 will print the words
"Data Dump Mode." Then, when you send data to the printer, the
GX-80 prints it in a special way. Each line is printed in three parts: a
line number (four digits), the hexadecimal codes (up to 16 numbers)
of the characters sent, and a guide section (16 characters at the end
of each line except the last).
F-6
The hexadecimal numbers are the codes received by the printer.
The guide section interprets the codes where possible in normal
characters. Each character in the guide section corresponds to one
of the codes. If the code is for a printable character, that character is
printed. If the code is for a non-printable character, such as the
<ESC> code or the code for a line feed or carriage return, a dot is
printed.
Therefore, if you ran the following BASIC program while your
GX-80 was in the data dump mode, you would get the printout
shown below it. The printer will print all but the last line and then
stop. You will have to press the ON LINE button to make the
GX-80 print the last line.
10 FOR X=70 TO 73
20 PRINT CHR$(X): NEXT X
30
PRINT CHR$(27)"E"
40 PRINT "Sample text"
50 PRINT CHR$( 27)
"@".
Data Dump
MDdc:?
0000 46 00 lllA 47 00 0A •18
en
(di\
q9
Cil[I
0A lF< 45 00 01)
r .. (; ..
H •• I •.• !..
0001 53 61 61' 70 6C 65 20 /4 65 78 7'l QJD "A 1B 4t-, laD
S...;,q!:, l
1�
�-·�
i .
.
<'!.
0002 0A
You can consult Appendix A to see the meaning of the hexadecimal
codes. The following explanation of the first line will help you to
understand what is happening.
The first code in line
0000
is hex
46,
which is the same as decimal 70,
the code for the letter "F". The "F" is printed in the first position in
the guide section. Then, because there is no semicolon in line 20,
BASIC sends a carriage return and a line feed, hex codes OD and
OA. Each of these is represented by a dot in the guide section. The
program then sends the hex codes 47, 48, and 49, corresponding to
decimal 71, 72 and 73 with each followed by a carriage return and
line feed.
When the program gets to line 30, it sends <ESC> E and a carriage
return and line feed. These are hex codes lB, 45, OD, and OA,
which are represented in the guide section by a dot, an "E", and two
more dots.
Some systems change one or more codes when sending them from
BASIC to the printer. The ability of the GX-80 to dump in hexade-
cimal lets you determine which codes are creating problems for your
system.
F-7
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