Date   : Fri, 20 Apr 1984 07:08:00 MST (Fri)
From   : Keith Petersen <W8SDZ@Simtel20.ARPA>
Subject: UNSPOL34 - an improved background printer spooler

UNSPOOL is a program that lets you print a file while you are running
other programs.  Paul Kelley <PLK@MC> has just released version 3.4.
Here is his message detailing what's new:

-----
       The public domain unspooler by Gary Novosielski has
been updated. The following files are now available on SIMTEL20:

       MICRO:<CPM.LIST>UNSPOL34.ASM
       MICRO:<CPM.LIST>UNSPOL34.COM      ;for those without MAC
       MICRO:<CPM.LIST>UNSPOL34.HEX      ;for those without MAC and binary
                                       ;       transfer capability

The following message in the file describes the update:

;3.4   84-04-17
;      Single character output to printer if either
;      BIOS or BDOS keyboard status request is made
;      by transient program. Output is conditional
;      on no keypress and printer ready after single
;      status check. Single character only to printer
;      to minimize any slowdown of transient program.
;      Program now works with MINCE. It can also be
;      used with various modem programs, however some
;      some loss of modem input may occur while the
;      text to be printed is read from disk.
;      Formfeed (page eject) added to printer output
;      at EOF. (Paul L. Kelley)
;

Additional comments -

       The reason the program did not work with MINCE or modem
programs is that the latter generally do not call the console
input function unless console status indicates a character is
waiting.

       On my system disk I/O disables interrupts so using the
UART in the interrupt mode would not prevent loss of modem input.
I find the loss to be small with 5.25" floppies and very small
with a hard disk. Since I use mostly use BABYL and EMACS on MC a
redisplay fixes things up.

       It would be nice if someone would change UNSPOOL so that
it has all the features of Rick Conn's PRINT.

       - P. L. Kelley