Xprint Tabs

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

Been busy with Xprint.

Here's a picture of the output in a Word Search Program I am writing for my granddaughter:

http://www.SwedesDock.com/powerbasic/WS.jpg (note the scan looks grainy but the print is crisp).

And here are the Macros I used to create it:

'**********************************************************************
'                       Xprint Macros                                 *
'**********************************************************************
'
 'centering example from John Petty
'  Local DocHeight As Single
'  Local DocWidth As Single
'  Local HeadText As String
'  Local HeadWidth As Single
'  Local HeadHeight As Single
'    HeadText = "My Heading"
'    XPrint Get Client To DocWidth, DocHeight
    'Set heading font
'    XPrint Text Size HeadText To HeadWidth, HeadHeight
'    XPrint Set Pos  ((DocWidth - HeadWidth) / 2! , DistanceDownPageIWantHeading")
'
'
'
'     Sample calls using Macros:
'       'center title
'   xFont_Comic_24: t$ = caption$: x_Center_t
'   xFont_Comic_16: t$ = "(" & Trim$(Parm.File_Name) & ")": x_Center_t
'
'
 'call at top of sub
Macro x_Setup
  Local f_Letters&, F_Lines&, f_Text_Width!, f_Text_Height!
  Local x_Col_Posn!, x_Row_Posn!, x_row!, x_col! 
  Local x_Doc_Width!, x_Doc_Height!
  Local x_Left_Margin&
  XPrint Get Client To x_Doc_Width, x_Doc_Height   'Page size always 4944, 6457  regardless 
End Macro
'
Macro x_Center_t
    XPrint Text Size t$ To f_Text_Width!, f_Text_Height!
    If x_Row > x_Doc_Height - f_Text_Height Then
       x_Row = 1
       XPrint $Ff 'newpage
    End If
    XPrint Set Pos ((x_Doc_Width - f_Text_Width) / 2!, x_Row)
    XPrint t$ 
    x_Row = x_Row + f_Text_Height                           
    XPrint Get Pos To x_Col_Posn!, x_Row_Posn! 
End Macro
'
Macro x_Print_t
    XPrint Text Size Space$(x_Left_Margin) & t$ To f_Text_Width!, f_Text_Height!
    If x_Row > x_Doc_Height - f_Text_Height Then
       x_Row = 1
       XPrint $Ff 'newpage
    End If 
    XPrint Set Pos (f_Text_Width!, x_Row)
    XPrint t$ 
    x_Row = x_Row + f_Text_Height                           
    XPrint Get Pos To x_Col_Posn!, x_Row_Posn! 
End Macro
'
Macro x_Center_Bottom_t            
    XPrint Text Size t$ To f_Text_Width!, f_Text_Height!
    x_Row = x_Doc_Height - f_Text_Height
    XPrint Set Pos ((x_Doc_Width - f_Text_Width) / 2!, x_Row)
    XPrint t$
    XPrint $Ff 'start new page
    x_Row = 1
End Macro
'
Macro x_Line
    XPrint Text Size t$ To f_Text_Width!, f_Text_Height!
    If x_Row > x_Doc_Height - f_Text_Height Then
       x_Row = 1
       XPrint $Ff 'newpage
    End If
    XPrint Set Pos ((x_Doc_Width - f_Text_Width) / 2!, x_Row)
    XPrint t$ 
 
End Macro 
'
 
Macro xFont_Comic_8 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 8, 0   : f_letters = 138
Macro xFont_Comic_9 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 9, 0   : f_letters = 122
Macro xFont_Comic_10 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 10, 0 : f_letters = 111
Macro xFont_Comic_11 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 11, 0 : f_letters = 90
Macro xFont_Comic_12 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 12, 0 : f_letters = 83
Macro xFont_Comic_14 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 14, 0 : f_letters = 71
Macro xFont_Comic_16 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 16, 0 : f_letters = 63
Macro xFont_Comic_18 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 18, 0 : f_letters = 56
Macro xFont_Comic_20 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 20, 0 : f_letters = 49
Macro xFont_Comic_22 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 22, 0 : f_letters = 45
Macro xFont_Comic_24 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 24, 0 : f_letters = 41 : f_lines = 24
Macro xFont_Comic_26 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 26, 0 : f_letters = 38
Macro xFont_Comic_28 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 28, 0 : f_letters = 35
Macro xFont_Comic_36 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 36, 0 : f_letters = 27
Macro xFont_Comic_48 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 48, 0 : f_letters = 21
Macro xFont_Comic_72 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 72, 0 : f_letters = 14
' 
Macro xFont_Courier_8  = XPrint Font "Courier New", 8, 0  : f_letters = 126
Macro xFont_Courier_9  = XPrint Font "Courier New", 9, 0  : f_letters = 123
Macro xFont_Courier_10 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 10, 0 : f_letters = 102
Macro xFont_Courier_11 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 11, 0 : f_letters = 92
Macro xFont_Courier_12 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 12, 0 : f_letters = 83
Macro xFont_Courier_14 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 14, 0 : f_letters = 71
Macro xFont_Courier_16 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 16, 0 : f_letters = 63
Macro xFont_Courier_18 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 18, 0 : f_letters = 56
Macro xFont_Courier_20 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 20, 0 : f_letters = 49
Macro xFont_Courier_22 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 22, 0 : f_letters = 45
Macro xFont_Courier_24 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 24, 0 : f_letters = 41
Macro xFont_Courier_26 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 26, 0 : f_letters = 38
Macro xFont_Courier_28 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 28, 0 : f_letters = 35
Macro xFont_Courier_36 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 36, 0 : f_letters = 27
Macro xFont_Courier_48 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 48, 0 : f_letters = 21
Macro xFont_Courier_72 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 72, 0 : f_letters = 14
'Bolds
Macro xFont_Courier_8b  = XPrint Font "Courier New", 8, 1  : f_letters = 126
Macro xFont_Courier_9b  = XPrint Font "Courier New", 9, 1  : f_letters = 123
Macro xFont_Courier_10b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 10, 1 : f_letters = 102
Macro xFont_Courier_11b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 11, 1 : f_letters = 92
Macro xFont_Courier_12b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 12, 1 : f_letters = 83
Macro xFont_Courier_14b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 14, 1 : f_letters = 71
Macro xFont_Courier_16b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 16, 1 : f_letters = 63
Macro xFont_Courier_18b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 18, 1 : f_letters = 56
Macro xFont_Courier_20b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 20, 1 : f_letters = 49
Macro xFont_Courier_22b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 22, 1 : f_letters = 45
Macro xFont_Courier_24b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 24, 1 : f_letters = 41
Macro xFont_Courier_26b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 26, 1 : f_letters = 38
Macro xFont_Courier_28b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 28, 1 : f_letters = 35
Macro xFont_Courier_36b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 36, 1 : f_letters = 27
Macro xFont_Courier_48b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 48, 1 : f_letters = 21
Macro xFont_Courier_72b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 72, 1 : f_letters = 14
 
'**********************************************************************
'                       End Xprint Macros                             *
'**********************************************************************

(It's part of a Fonts.Inc I have built.) When I get a chance I will fill in the "fLines =" for the other fonts (as is in Comic 24), as well as build more font macros.

If anyone has any suggestions, it's appreciated. I really love this Xprint. Wish I had started using it years ago. Thanks again John, for that example code. It really did the trick for me.

============================================================
Applause waits on success.
Ben Franklin
============================================================

[John Petty]

Pleasure Gosta
Good printing requires the programmer understanding one basic concept, that you not only print the text but are continually calculating where that will place you on the page. For text XPRINT provides this basic functionality with XPRINT TEXT SIZE and so this should be called for each portion of text printed (or adding a fixed amount for constant font lines) so you can calculate where you are.
Windows makes no real distinction between printing to a printer and what you see on your screen and as this is the basis of the GUI provides a large variety of API calls to efficiently provide this look, ie there are functions to provide word wrap, extra character interspace for justified text and then printing the lines with this extra space added.

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

M,

While your code is clever, even succinct, it's just a little too advanced for this PB Dummy. Maybe after I get into this XPrint stuff better it will no doubt be very handy.

John,

Your code was just the thing to get me off the dime. Even solved the line spacing issue I asked about above. I've been fooling around with it and now I'm going to see if I can incorporate it into the Xprint Macros I posted above. Sort of a "one stop shopping" font macroing.

Thanks guys. I vill be bock!

=====================================
"Give me a museum and I'll fill it."
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
=====================================

[John Petty]

Still haven't been able to center {arrggghhh}. Get Client numbers never change

Getting a nice modern looking centered heading only takes a few lines of code

    LOCAL DocHeight AS SINGLE
    LOCAL DocWidth AS SINGLE
    LOCAL HeadText AS STRING
    LOCAL HeadWidth AS SINGLE
    LOCAL HeadHeight AS SINGLE
    HeadText = "My Heading"
    XPRINT GET CLIENT TO DocWidth, DocHeight
    'Set heading font
    XPRINT TEXT SIZE HeadText TO HeadWidth, HeadHeight
    XPRINT SET POS  ((DocWidth - HeadWidth) / 2! , DistanceDownPageIWantHeading")

[Michael Mattias]

>Still haven't been able to center {arrggghhh}

  StringVarToPrintAtPosition1  = CSET$ (variableLengthItem, ConsoleWidth USING $SPC)

(when using a monospaced font)

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

Xprint font Macros

Still haven't been able to center {arrggghhh}. Get Client numbers never change

       'center title
'       Local ncWidth!, ncHeight!
'     XPrint Get Client To ncWidth!, ncHeight!  ' always 4944, 6457  regardless of Font

(Just saw Paul's & John's post(s). Will play some more tomorrow maybe. Had enough for today.)


Also here's some Xprint code you may find useful. Easy enough to sdd more of your own fonts.

Sub z_Print_Sample_Page
  Local Line_Numbering$, t$, f_letters& 
Line_Numbering$ = _
"12345678 112345678 212345678 312345678 412345678 52345678 612345678 712345678 812345678 92345678 02345678 112345678 212345678 312345678 41" 
 
   Local Flag&, p&, ctr&, t1$, sz&, ln$, u$ 
   Flag = 0
   While Flag = 0
     Call z_Choose_Printer 'Choose 1 '<-- Rem this and insert a printer name
     XPrint Attach g_Parameters_Prnter 'select printer
     If Err = 0 And Len(XPrint$) > 0 Then 'Yippee
       Flag = 1
     End If
   Wend
 
   XPrint Color %Black 'RGB(0,0,255) ' Blue
 
   'Macro xFont_ = XPRINT FONT fontname$, points&, style& 'Bold = 1
 
   'comic 8 
   xFont_Comic_8  : t$ ="Comic 8" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_9  : t$ ="Comic 9" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_10 : t$ ="Comic 10" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_11 : t$ ="Comic 11" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_12 : t$ ="Comic 12" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_14 : t$ ="Comic 14" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_16 : t$ ="Comic 16" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_18 : t$ ="Comic 18" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_20 : t$ ="Comic 20" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_22 : t$ ="Comic 22" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_24 : t$ ="Comic 24" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_26 : t$ ="Comic 26" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_28 : t$ ="Comic 28" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_36 : t$ ="Comic 36" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_48 : t$ ="Comic 48" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Comic_72 : t$ ="Comic 72" : GoSub Print_It
 
   XPrint FormFeed 
   xFont_Courier_8 : t$ ="Courier 8" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_9 : t$ ="Courier 9" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_10 : t$ ="Courier 10" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_11 : t$ ="Courier 11" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_12 : t$ ="Courier 12" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_14 : t$ ="Courier 14" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_16 : t$ ="Courier 16" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_18 : t$ ="Courier 18" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_20 : t$ ="Courier 20" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_22 : t$ ="Courier 22" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_24 : t$ ="Courier 24" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_26 : t$ ="Courier 26" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_28 : t$ ="Courier 28" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_36 : t$ ="Courier 36" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_48 : t$ ="Courier 48" : GoSub Print_It
   xFont_Courier_72 : t$ ="Courier 72" : GoSub Print_It
 
  XPrint FormFeed           ' Issue a formfeed
  XPrint Close              ' Deselect the printer
 
 Exit Sub
' 
Print_It:
  u$ = "\" & Space$(Len(t$)) & "\" 'Right Length Using$
  t$ = Using$(u$, t$) 
  ln$ = Line_Numbering$
  Mid$(ln$, 1, Len(u$)) = t$   
  XPrint ln$ 
Return      
'
End Sub

And here's the Macros: I got the character count per line per font by running the above and seeing how many letters print on the page.

'Xprint Fonts by GHL
Macro xFont_Comic_8 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 8, 0   : f_letters = 138
Macro xFont_Comic_9 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 9, 0   : f_letters = 121
Macro xFont_Comic_10 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 10, 0 : f_letters = 100
Macro xFont_Comic_11 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 11, 0 : f_letters = 90
Macro xFont_Comic_12 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 12, 0 : f_letters = 92
Macro xFont_Comic_14 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 14, 0 : f_letters = 78
Macro xFont_Comic_16 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 16, 0 : f_letters = 68
Macro xFont_Comic_18 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 18, 0 : f_letters = 62
Macro xFont_Comic_20 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 20, 0 : f_letters = 100
Macro xFont_Comic_22 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 22, 0 : f_letters = 100
Macro xFont_Comic_24 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 24, 0 : f_letters = 46
Macro xFont_Comic_26 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 26, 0 : f_letters = 43
Macro xFont_Comic_28 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 28, 0 : f_letters = 41
Macro xFont_Comic_36 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 36, 0 : f_letters = 32
Macro xFont_Comic_48 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 48, 0 : f_letters = 24
Macro xFont_Comic_72 = XPrint Font "Comic Sans MS", 72, 0 : f_letters = 17
' 
Macro xFont_Courier_8  = XPrint Font "Courier New", 8, 0  : f_letters = 126
Macro xFont_Courier_9  = XPrint Font "Courier New", 9, 0  : f_letters = 123
Macro xFont_Courier_10 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 10, 0 : f_letters = 102
Macro xFont_Courier_11 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 11, 0 : f_letters = 82
Macro xFont_Courier_12 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 12, 0 : f_letters = 83
Macro xFont_Courier_14 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 14, 0 : f_letters = 71
Macro xFont_Courier_16 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 16, 0 : f_letters = 63
Macro xFont_Courier_18 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 18, 0 : f_letters = 56
Macro xFont_Courier_20 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 20, 0 : f_letters = 49
Macro xFont_Courier_22 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 22, 0 : f_letters = 45
Macro xFont_Courier_24 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 24, 0 : f_letters = 41
Macro xFont_Courier_26 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 26, 0 : f_letters = 38
Macro xFont_Courier_28 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 28, 0 : f_letters = 35
Macro xFont_Courier_36 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 36, 0 : f_letters = 27
Macro xFont_Courier_48 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 48, 0 : f_letters = 21
Macro xFont_Courier_72 = XPrint Font "Courier New", 72, 0 : f_letters = 14
'Bolds
Macro xFont_Courier_8b  = XPrint Font "Courier New", 8, 1  : f_letters = 126
Macro xFont_Courier_9b  = XPrint Font "Courier New", 9, 1  : f_letters = 123
Macro xFont_Courier_10b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 10, 1 : f_letters = 102
Macro xFont_Courier_11b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 11, 1 : f_letters = 82
Macro xFont_Courier_12b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 12, 1 : f_letters = 83
Macro xFont_Courier_14b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 14, 1 : f_letters = 71
Macro xFont_Courier_16b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 16, 1 : f_letters = 63
Macro xFont_Courier_18b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 18, 1 : f_letters = 56
Macro xFont_Courier_20b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 20, 1 : f_letters = 49
Macro xFont_Courier_22b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 22, 1 : f_letters = 45
Macro xFont_Courier_24b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 24, 1 : f_letters = 41
Macro xFont_Courier_26b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 26, 1 : f_letters = 38
Macro xFont_Courier_28b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 28, 1 : f_letters = 35
Macro xFont_Courier_36b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 36, 1 : f_letters = 27
Macro xFont_Courier_48b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 48, 1 : f_letters = 21
Macro xFont_Courier_72b = XPrint Font "Courier New", 72, 1 : f_letters = 14

============================================================
"Vote early and vote often."
Al Capone (1899-1947)
============================================================

[John Petty]

Paul
But I don't believe it will give you the average character width for a proportional font
John
Just checked apologies you are correct, no need for the API call

[Paul D. Elliott]

John,

XPrint CHR SIZE to ncWIdthCar, ncHeightChar gives the width & height of
a character. What more do you need from GetTextMetrics?

[John Petty]

Obviously a little more complicated than MCM's answer, though that is part of it.
For TAB's there are two main types, the first is like the tab in the PB IDE which jumps to the next multiple of characters that you have selected in the tab setting. First you need to determine average width of a character for the current font, this needs an API call to GetTextMetrics (no PB equivelant that I know of) then using XPrint Get Pos and XPrint Set Pos move the print position to the next multiple of the number of characters you have selected for "TAB", of course in proportional fonts this will not normally be an exact number of characters (usually it is the width of the character x) only for fonts like Courier.
The second type of TAB is like the TabStops that you set on a Word document and just moves the print to the next predifined position in your program. In Word there are 3 types of TabStops, Left Aligned, Right Aligned and Decimal Aligned.
Left Aligned is obvious, you just move to that position
Right Aligned a little harder, you first need to determine the width of the text you wish to print at the next TabStop position (Xprint Text Size) and then subtract that from from your TabStop value before using Xprint Set Pos
Decimal aligned is the hardest but probably the most useful as it allows producing neat columns of numbers even using proportional fonts (I know MCM doesn't believe it). All the numbers in True Type fonts are of equal width ie (0 is the same width as 1) so first you need to find the decimal point in your number (ie Instr) then using Xprint Text Size again determine the width of the text up to and including the decimal point and subtract it from your TabStop value before before Xprint Set Pos and then printing your text.
Line spacing is similar, a call to XPrint Text Size with your last line of text will give the height of the current font you are using in that line (for mixed fonts set the current font to the largest before the call) so again use Xprint and that value to set the position of the next line (obviously if you want 1.5 or double line spacing then you multiply)

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

Thanks, M. I hadn't thought of that.

Paul, That looks interesting. I'll play with after I get more comfortable with Zprint.

Again, a great forum.
==================================
"Woman was God's second mistake."
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)
==================================

[Paul D. Elliott]

Yes, what Michael said. If you're using something like Courier New and
10 point font then play with the following
XPrint CHR Size to ncWidthChar, ncHeightChar
XPrint Get Client to ncWidth, ncHeight

You can either multiply ncHeightChar by 1.5 to get yIncr
or divide ncHeight by 60 to get yIncr. It depends on how much
spacing between the lines you want or need. just divide ncHeight
by yIncr to get your total lines per page.

then just
yPos = yPos + yIncr
XPrint Set POS ( xPos, yPos )
XPrint "text"
for each line. Generally setting xPos to 0 prints at the left side of the
paper. If you need to print columns individually then you can figure
out the newxPos by multiplying the column you need by ncWidthChar.


Not bad and so far as I've seen, it produces the same output on different
Windows printers ( but then that's what it's supposed to do ).

[Michael Mattias]

Xprint Set Pos ?

For tabs, expand to spaces ( difference between next tab pos and current xpos) ?

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

Just started to play with Xprint today and think I am going to love it. Can print each line with a different font (maybe even each letter). Wow! Really WOW! (thanks to Chad D. Wood example in Poffs, after much exasperation trying on my own & using Samples example {sigh})

However Xprint doesn't seem to recognize $CrLf or $Tab. Is there an Xprint equivalent?

And secondly, I can't figure out how to change line spacing? Am doing a Word Search program and it would be really great to be able to increase line spacing slightly for the little kids (better letter differentiation) and fluttery pencils.

=============================================
If a man will begin in certainties
he shall end in doubts;
but if he will be content to begin in doubts
he shall end in certainties.
Sir Francis Bacon
=============================================