Note: The Tascopy tape contains different code on each side, and there are 2 copies of each file. However, the file TASCOPY.TAP contains both sides of the tape, with no duplicates files. This file, TASCOPY.TXT, contains the Tascopy printed material. ========================= COVER SPINE ========================== TASCOPY The Screen Copier TASMAN SOFTWARE LTD ========================= COVER FRONT ========================== TASCOPY The Screen Copier A Tasman Software Program for the ZX 48K Spectrum and ZX Interface 1 ========================== COVER BACK ========================== TASCOPY The Screen Copier Tascopy produces _high_resolution_ screen copies both black and white (in a choice of two sizes) _and_ large grey scale copies which produce different shadings for different screen colours. Tascopy will drive _all_ eight pin dot matrix printers with Epson type control code sequences for bit image printing and line feed settings. A full list of printers supported by Tascopy is given in the instruction manual inside this package. (c) Tasman Software Ltd. 1984 Made in England ============================ MANUAL ============================ TASCOPY The Screen Copier (C) Tasman Software Ltd 1984 INTRODUCTION The TASCOPY screen copy software is designed to produce printed screen copies when used with the following configuration of equipment: Sinclair ZX Spectrum Sinclair ZX Interface 1 Epson compatible dot matrix printer with the printer connected to the RS232 socket of ZX Interface 1. See the final page of these instructions for a full list of printers known to be compatible with TASCOPY. One side of the tape contains software that produces monochrome screen copies printed horizontally across the paper in a choice of two sizes. The other side of the tape contains software that produces large "grey scale" screen copies printed vertically on the paper. In these grey scale copies the each pixel (dot) on the screen is printed as a pattern of dots on the printer. Different colours on the screen have different densities when printed with the darker colours having greater dot densities. USING TASCOPY FOR THE FIRST TIME Unless otherwise stated these instructions apply to both the monochrome and grey scale software on each side of the tape. Position the cassette in your recorder at the beginning of the required side. Type (J key for LOAD): LOAD "" and then press ENTER and play the tape. You will see the screen copy software load in two parts: first the "program: TASCOPY" and then the "bytes: tascopy". It is the "bytes: tascopy" that is used to produce screen copies. The "program: TASCOPY" is a Basic program that enables you to configure the machine code "tascopy" to your printer and your requirements, and to save your personally configured "tascopy" onto tape or microdrive. The Basic program "TASCOPY" will start to run as soon as the load is complete. Read the instructions on the screen carefully. The first question posed by the program prompts you to press a key to specify the model of printer that you are using. Press the appropriate key. If your printer is not on the list and is "Epson compatible" then one of the choices for the printer model will almost certainly work and the correct choice will have to be determined by working through the list. Epson compatible printers use ESC K as a control code sequence for bit image printing and ESC 3 or ESC A as a control code sequence to control linefeed. If you have to use this trial and error approach then after each attempt at printing a screen copy reset your printer by turning it off, waiting a second or two, and then turning it on again. ================================================================ The grey scale software has an "OTHER" printer option which allows you to customise the software for printers not in the list. It is necessary to refer to and understand the appropriate sections of the printer manual to use this option. If using a Brother HR5 then refer to your manual to determine if the ESC A sequence produces linefeeds in increments of 1/36 or 1/72 of an inch. If you have loaded the monochrome copy software you will then be asked if you require large or small size screen copies. Note that, with some printers, large size screen copies do not reproduce the two rightmost character positions on the screen. You will then be asked if your printer is set up to: (A) do an automatic linefeed on reciept of a carriage return from the computer; or (B) require a linefeed code from the computer in addition to a carriage return. Select A or B as appropriate, or, if in doubt take the course of action suggested by the program. You will then be informed that the tascopy code is configured and you will be given the choice of saving the configured code, running the Basic program again, entering Basic, or printing a test screen copy. If you have loaded the software for the first time then try printing a screen copy. The program will ask you to enter your printer baud rate. The program will return to the menu when screen copy is printed. SAVING CUSTOMISED TASCOPY SOFTWARE Load and run the software as described above and press the appropriate key when given the option to save to cassette or microdrive. The program will prompt you to take the necessary steps. LOADING AND USING CUSTOMISED TASCOPY SOFTWARE To load your customised tascopy software from cassette execute: LOAD ""CODE or, if loading from microdrive number 1: LOAD *"m";1;"tascopy"CODE Before running the tascopy machine code for the first time after loading you must set up Interface 1 for the correct baud rate for your printer by executing: FORMAT "b";xxxx where xxxx is the baud rate your printer is set up for. It is not necessary to open a channel. ================================================================ To print a screen copy execute, either as a direct command, or from within a program: RANDOMIZE USR 23296 Note that the tascopy machine code resides in the Spectrum printer buffer and will be removed by NEW. You can save your customised tascopy machine code program onto tape or microdrive with your own program so that it loads automatically. Your own Basic program should start with the following lines: 10 GOTO 40 20 FORMAT "b";xxxx xxxx = your printer baud rate 30 LOAD ""CODE or, on microdrive: 30 LOAD *"m";1;"tascopy"CODE 40 start of your own program proper Save your own Basic program by executing: casette microdrive number 1 SAVE "name" LINE 20 SAVE *"m";1;"name" LINE 20 and save the tascopy machine code after the Basic program by executing: SAVE "tascopy"CODE 23296,256 SAVE *"m";1;"tascopy"CODE 23296,256 USEFUL POKES The monochrome screen copy software can be changed from the large version to the small and vice versa by a single POKE. Execute: POKE 23323,1 for a small screen copy POKE 23323,0 for a large screen copy NOTICE Some printer manuals warn that the continuous printing of bit image date can damage the printhead. Whilst no such damage was detected in comprehensive testing of the Tascopy software Tasman Software Ltd cn assume no responsibility for any damage so caused. COPYRIGHT NOTICE The Tascopy software in both the machine code and Basic programs is the copyright of Tasman Software Ltd both in the form that it is supplied and in any customised or amended form. Issue 1: 15/10/84 ================================================================ TASCOPY The Screen Copier For Screen Copies via ZX Interface 1 Tascopy is designed to produce high resolution screen copies, both black and white (in a choice of two sizes) and large grey scale copies which produce different dot densities for different screen colours. Tascopy will work with all eight pin dot matrix printers with Epson type control code sequences for bit image printing and line feed settings. Tascopy has been tested with the following printers: Epson FX-80 Epson RX-80 Epson MX-80 Type III Shinwa CP-80 Mannesmann Tally MT80 Star DMP 510/515 Brother HR5 +------------------------------+ |TASCOPY is now configured. | | | |Press: | | | |C Cassette save of copy code | | | |M Microdrive save of copy code| | | |R to Run again | | | |B to enter Basic | | | |T for test screen copy | | | | White Yellow Cyan Green | | +------+------+------+-----+ | | +------+------+------+-----+ | | Magenta Red Blue Black | | +------+------+------+-----+ | | +------+------+------+-----+ | +------------------------------+ Reduced Grey Scale Screen Copy ========================= TAPE SIDE 1 ========================== TASCOPY Copyright Tasman Software 1984 Monochrome Screen Copy Software For the ZX Spectrum LOAD"" ========================= TAPE SIDE 2 ========================== TASCOPY Copyright Tasman Software 1984 Grey-Scale Screen Copy Software For the ZX Spectrum LOAD"" ================================================================