This is an improved version of the OS/8 'LQP' handler for use with the Diablo-based 'Letter Quality Printer'. It has the following features: 1) Backspace recognition for underlining, etc. 2) Adjustable left-hand margin offset 3) Single sheet option for printing special forms 4) No Formfeeds at the beginning or end of file 5) Adjustable pitch and line spacing (10 pitch std.) To install this handler in your system, run the BUILD program (see the OS/8 handbook for further information), and after loading the handler with the $LO command, use the $IN LQPR handler to insert it. Follow this with a $BO command and the operation is completed. You should delete the standard version (if it is active in the version of BUILD you are using) with a $DE LPT command before trying to activate this version. The 'adjustable' parameters are most easily changed with the monitor 'SET' command. To change the left-hand margin offset, use the following: .SET LPT LOC 100, octal value where 'value' is the new offset. The initial offset is 74(8) which is 60 120ths of an inch, or 1/2 inch. Other values should be set accordingly. To change the pitch setting from the normal 10 characters per inch ('pica' type), to 12 per inch ('elite' style), use the following: .SET LPT LOC 200, 24 To restore 10-pitch operation use: .SET LPT LOC 200, 30. These values are 2X the character spacing in units of 120ths of an inch. To change the line spacing from 6 lines per inch to 4 or 3 lines per inch, two consecutive locations must be changed: .SET LPT LOC 201, 30 (4lpi) or 40 (3lpi) .SET LPT LOC 202,7724 (4lpi) or 7737 (3lpi) The normal values for these two locations are 20 and 7676, respectively. One problem which can occur with this version is that the margin off- set may be lost if a printer error occurs. This difficulty appears to be due to a hardware problem. The handler tries to restore the margin setting after an error, but this does not seem to work correctly for the next line of printing, although subsequent lines are OK. Another problem is that the margin setting is lost whenever the top cover of the printer is removed. In this case the offset is not restored since no error is signaled to the handler. This is very unfortunate since it is necessary to remove the cover in order to change the (carbon) ribbon when it is exhausted. The only cure presently known for this difficulty is to remove the cover to begin with, raise the cover-interlock switch to turn the power on, and leave the cover off while printing the file. This is obviously very annoying, but should only be necessary when printing very long files with non-reusable ribbons. Two other features have been provided: the ability to stop printing at the end of a page and the ability to skip sections of the file by turning the printer off. These features are activated by typing either CTRL/L or CTRL/O on the terminal. CTRL/L (Formfeed) causes the handler to print to the end of the page and then wait for another keyboard character (just type another CTRL/L to print the next page). CTRL/O disables printing, allowing output to be aborted without returning to the monitor. This is similar to the way the TTY handler works.