Date   : Wed, 07 Jan 1987 0839:00
From   : "When you do something well, repeat it often." <binder%fizbin.DEC@decwrl.dec.com>
Subject: Re: Query: WS continuous underline

J. Lee (hounx!jong) offers another approach to the continuous underline query:

> Well, there is a better way [than the non-break space] to do this. You can
> run install program (wsinstall, was it? it's been a while since I used the
> WS) and go to the printer configuration menu.  There, you can set it up so
> that the WS command for underscore (whatever it is) issues the control
> string to put your printer in underline mode...

Sorry, but I don't think so.  WS does underscoring in one of two ways:

1.  By printing each character to be underscored, backspacing, and printing
    the underscore.  This is for printers that do an automatic linefeed on
    receipt of a carriage return.

2.  By printing a line of characters, issuing a <CR> without a <LF>, and then
    printing the desired underscores.  This is for printers that do *not* do
    an auto-linefeed, and it's much faster.  It's also less wear and tear on
    the printer - use it if you can.

The ^PS command is a toggle command that starts WS underscoring as I've 
described.  It does *not* issue a printer control sequence and therefore can't
be made to flick the printer into continuous-underscore mode.  Even if you
could do it, what would you do to get the printer *out* of that mode?  WS
turns off its underscoring by sensing a repeat of the ^PS command. 

It is still possible, and easy, to use two of the custom printer codes ^PQ, 
^PW, ^PE, and ^PR - run WINSTALL and select the custom printer installation 
menu item, and then select the optional user-defined codes option.  Set up one 
code to turn on underscoring and another to turn it off.  I can't do this 
because I've got every one of the WS print control commands used, even ^PY.

Or you can use the ANYCODE2 patch I described in an earlier posting - it 
allows you to insert ANY printer control sequence, even if you've got WS 
loaded up with all its options used.  I'm in the process now of sending a 
softcopy of ANYCODE2 and its documentation to Keith Petersen to be added to 
the SIMTEL20 archives.  ANYCODE2 is a little more difficult to set up, but it 
gives you incredible versatility, and it's easy to use once set up.

Cheers,
Dick Binder   (The Stainless Steel Rat)

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