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Subj:	Code to stop LATSYM printing blank pages

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Date: Wed, 15 May 91 8:52 BST
From: Nick de Smith <NICK@ncdlab.ulcc.ac.uk>
To: INFO-VAX <@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk:INFO-VAX@CRVAX.SRI.com>
Subject: Code to stop LATSYM printing blank pages

Hi,

I have had a very large number of requests for this, so I'm going to post it.

LATSET.%_OF_3 will follow soon after this message. The code is in C, but a
capable programmer should be able to convert it into anything (COBOL?-).

For those that don't remember what this is all about, this code makes LATSYM
stop outputting trailing and leading <FF> characters, so that a program can
directly control the printer without the symbiont getting in the way. This is
*very* important if you are using packages such as PCSA and WordPerfect which
expect to do their own form control, and/or if you are using a non-DEC printer,
such as an HP LaserJet. A PRINT/PASSALL will then really mean just that.

This code does not replace LATSYM, it merges with it when the symbiont starts.
It uses an undocumented feature of LATSYM that is really designed for setting
device characteristics, but works equally well in this mode.

Documentation is included, as are all source files and the code is heavily
commented. I would suggest, though, that LATSYM should support this feature
itself.

DEC CSC in the UK are using this fix from me, and it may well make its way
elsewhere. If you prefer a supported solution, ask your CSC to hassle DEC CSC UK
in Basingstoke. The comms group there are deciding what to do with it.

PLEASE! let me know if you use this code. If there are any problems with it, I
would like to know. Equally, I would like to distribute fixes if they are
needed. If you convert it into another language, I would also like a copy.

The code as shipped should work with any VMS V5.x system, and may well work with
earlier versions (I just can't face looking at fiche that old, and I don't have
any systems that old any more).

Regards,

nick	NICK@NCDLAB.ULCC.AC.UK