Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    I don't have Print Master Plus (heck, I don't even have a printer), but
    since this note is not seeing too much action, I'll throw in my 2 pesos.

>    I continually get get the error dialog "printer error: check printer 
>    and paper".  Needless to say the printer and paper are fine.

    When you say the printer is fine, I assume you can output to it without
    Print Master Plus. If this is true, are you booting from the PM+ disk
    or your regular Workbench disk? If you're booting from PM+ and it uses
    the "standard" preferences as well as it's own parameters, double check
    prefs to make sure it's set for serial, etc. If it's "hardcoded" in to
    point at PRT: or PAR:, you could maybe ASSIGN your way to the serial
    port. Sorry I don't have any answers; just trying to wake those napping
    NEXT UNSEENers...8?)

    Pete

    I should have followed up sooner, but in any case here is what I found
    out.
    
    I called Unison (the maker of Print Master +) and was rather
    disappointed to find that the program was a port to the Amiga.  It was
    written for some other machine and then just converted to 68000 code
    for the Amiga.  The program itself doesn't even look at the Preferences
    directory; it's only there to make the disk bootable.  The bottom line:
    Print Master accesses the parallel port through fixed machine code
    only!  If you have a serial printer... though.
    
    Fortunately, I was able to get the parallel interface board for the
    LA75 (just now, as a matter of fact).  I'll swap out the serial board
    tonight and see what happens.  BTW,  does anyone know what kind of a
    parallel cable I need to ask for?  Is it a standard IBM type of
    printer cable?
    
    
    Eric 

    For what it's worth, I converted my LA75 from serial to parallel and
    everything is working fine.  I had no problems printing with Print
    Master +.
    
    Just to add a note of review on Print Master + : it's not bad... for
    the price.  Unfortunatly, as I said earlier, it is a port to the Amiga
    and as such does not take advantage of the Amiga's graphic
    capabilities.  It is a bit cumbersome use and you are working "blind"
    when you place graphics on a page with text (no display of page layout
    until the end).  Also, the output uses the lowest graphic density of
    printer rather than alowing selection of density, like Pro Write.
    
    Eric 

    You are right Print Master + is brain dead.  I used it with a LA75 for
    a short while but only by redirecting the output to a file from the
    parralel port and then copying that file to the serial port.  Their is
    a program that came with 1.3 but for the life of me I can not think of
    it right now...  Any how you need to use this at all times because for
    some strange reason after you preview a image it will print it weather
    you want it to or not.  It gives you an option to exit with out
    printing but the silly program goes ahead and prints.  So unless you
    have lots of ribbons and time on your hands redirect the image to a
    file until you are sure you have it right.  To be honest the abort
    after preview does work for posters but not on anything else.
    
    
    Alan
    
    
    

    Just to resurrect an old note.  I purchases the Fonts and borders a
    little while back and it came with an updated Print Master + that ran a
    lot better.  The only external differance is the file size 147416 bytes
    on the updated version. 
    
    Also I came upon a PD/Share ware catalog that was offering lots of
    Print Master Clip art for $0.99 a floppy MSDos version.  Thinking ok since 
    the Print Master is a MSDOS port I should be able to use the files.  No
    go anybody know of a Conversion program to convert MSDos Print Master 
    graphic files to Amiga Print Master graphic files?
    
    
    Alan
    
    

    Alan,
    
    Sorry for the late reply but...  As far as I know Print Master +
    doesn't use iff clips.  Rather their image files are just data files. 
    Could you use something like CrossDOS to convert the MSDOS disc to
    Amiga disc format.  Perhaps at that point the actual data file will be
    readable by Print Master +.
    
    Also, could you enter a reply (or send me a note) describing the
    "upgrade" to PM+ that came with Fonts and Borders.  Is the user
    interface any better or is it mearly faster.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Eric

The actual data was not readable by the Amiga version of PM+.  It Crashed when 
I tried  The Amiga file format is 96 bits X 53 bits.  The PC is 88 X 53.  Plus 
a small differance in the way PC interprets words from the Amiga.  The PC sees 
%X5800 as 58 00.  The Amiga sees it as 00 58.   

I broke the format of the PC image file and the Amiga files.  I wrote a small 
program to do the conversion.  Now I have so much clip art I do not know what 
to do with it all.  There is a IFF conversion program included with the PM+ 
that will read the .SHP file and create IFF files.  Its handy to convert the 
file to clip art for any of the Amiga Paint programs.  Or any Desk top 
publishing program that reads IFF files.  The program is called PMTOIFF.

I plan on uploading the conversion program as soon as I give it a user 
interface.  The one it has now is down right prmitive and not worthy of an 
Amiga program.  I will also upload the Amigaized clip art, as it is all
freely distributable.  I will have to review the terms on the floppy I might 
not be able to send the files modified.  So you might need to download them 
and modify them yourself.  

The user interface for the new PM+ is the same.  They just fixed some 
annoying bugs.  The old program would not change the image as you went through
selecing graphics.  Also most of the time if you selected preview print then 
tried to exit without printing it would print anyways.  Oops there goes another 
ribbon, a real pain.

The file format is pretty simple.  Should not be any big deal to convert 
portions of IFF images or IFF brushes to .SHP files.  Of course these images 
are only 93 X 53 bits in resolution.   But you might be able to digitize your 
kids picture convert it to a .SHP and sort of recognize them when you are 
done. 

Waiting for the Computer widow syndrome to settle down a little before I go back 
to a all/late night play session. 

Alan