Re: [Simh] Printer on TOPS-10

[Timothe Litt]

You should not need the /Device.  There may be an issue if you haven't
assigned a non-zero ANF-10 node number to the machine - I vaguely
remember a bug with that.  You can change the START PRINTER command in
SYSTEM.CMD if necessary.  But it's better to assign a node number.

Note that the LP64 RAM is upper-case only.  (It will fold lowercase to
uppercase.)  If you expect (upper and) lower case output, use LP96.RAM. 
LPTSPL will make the right choice if you MONGEN the printer correctly,
as will any application that asks for the printer type (or uses the LL
pseudo-device).


On 21-Mar-18 10:24, Quentin North wrote:
> Having fixed the LPFORMS, SYSTEM.CMD and SYSJOB.INI, and enable lp20
> in simh, I still couldn’t get it to work until I did the shutdown and
> startup as below. Now it prints. Hurrah!
>
> 14:18:09        Printer 0  -- Not available right now --
>
> OPR>shutdown printer 0
> OPR>  
> 14:18:14        Printer 0  -- Shutdown --
> OPR>start printer 0/device:lpt0
> OPR>  
> 14:18:27        Printer 0  -- Startup Scheduled --
> OPR>  
> 14:18:27        Printer 0  -- Started --
>
> 14:18:28        Printer 0  -- VFU error --
>                 Reloading RAM and VFU
>
> 14:18:28        Printer 0  -- Loading RAM with 'LP64' --
>
> 14:18:28        Printer 0  -- Loading VFU with 'NORMAL' --
>
> 14:18:28  <1>   Printer 0  -- Align Forms and Put Online --
>                 Type 'RESPOND  PROCEED' when ready
>
> OPR>respond 1 proceed
>
>> On 21 Mar 2018, at 12:43, Timothe Litt > > wrote:
>>
>>
>> On 21-Mar-18 08:24, Jordi Guillaumes Pons wrote:
>>>
>>> Jordi Guillaumes i Pons
>>> j...@jordi.guillaumes.name 
>>> HECnet: BITXOW::JGUILLAUMES
>>>
>>>
>>>
 On 21 Mar 2018, at 13:19, Timothe Litt > wrote:


 On 21-Mar-18 07:02, Jordi Guillaumes Pons wrote:
> Some years ago I wrote a note to myself:
>
> - Enable printing:
>
> 1) Create file SYS:LPFORMS:INI with the following content:
>
> NORMAL:ALL/BANNER:01/HEADER:01/LINES:66/WIDTH:132/TRAILER:01
>
> 2) In OPR: SHUTDOWN PRINTER 0
> 3) In OPR: START PRINTER 0/DEVICE:LPT0
>
>
> I don’t remember what problem I was trying to solve, but right now
> this file exists and printing works. Hope it can help you.
>
>
> Jordi Guillaumes i Pons
> j...@jordi.guillaumes.name 
> HECnet: BITXOW::JGUILLAUMES
>
>
>
 LPFORM.INI tells LPTSPL how to process forms (the paper stock on
 which a job is printed).
 The default form is "Normal".  Form names with the same 4 initial
 characters use the same stock; no operator intervention is required
 to change among them. (This is used to allow specifying soft
 parameters, such as the number of banner pages, per job.)  If a job
 requires different stock, the operator is notified.
>>>
>>> IIRC the problem was the print spooler didn’t got started on boot
>>> and a command to tell OPR it had the default form mounted was
>>> required to start printing. Defining LPFORMS.INI avoided that
>>> problem and the print spooler started automatically. Does it make
>>> sense to you?
>>>
>>> Blurred memories also tell me there was some alignement test
>>> involved. After telling OPR the printer had the form mounted it
>>> asked to confirm the form was correctly aligned.
>>>
>>> Doh, memory…
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> Not exactly.  The default form is NORMAL.  The printer is started by
>> OPR; as long as INITIA runs, it will start OPR, which will take
>> SYSTEM.CMD.  SYSTEM.CMD is what configures the galactic components.
>>
>> LPTSPL is started by QUASAR whenever it's needed - that is, a stream
>> is started and there's a job in the queue (or has been recently). 
>> QUASAR maintains the printer state, so LPTSPL doesn't have to stick
>> around when idle.  It's possible that LPTSPL prompts for a form if
>> LPFORM.INI doesn't exist - I believe there's a default LPFORM.INI on
>> the distribution tapes, and I don't recall running without one in a
>> VERY long time :-)
>>
>> Alignment is invoked when the mounted stock changes and /ALIGN is
>> specified in LPFORM.INI; it's used to match the VFU to the paper -
>> e.g., when printing labels, or pre-printed forms (e.g. invoices,
>> checks, greenbar). 
>>
>> It is likely that that without LPFORM.INI, LPTSPL conservatively asks
>> for alignment.  As I said, it's a good idea to have one.
>>
>> However, the OP wasn't getting that far - the printer status shown is
>> "not available", indicating that the stream is assigned to a device
>> that doesn't exist or is assigned to another job.  The most likely
>> cause is failing to enable it in SimH.
>>
>> I'm not inclined to read the code to refresh my memory of what
>> happens without LPFORM.INI - having one is a good idea, and I don't
>> think it relates to the OP's issue.
>>
>>
>> 

Re: [Simh] Printer on TOPS-10

[Quentin North]

Having fixed the LPFORMS, SYSTEM.CMD and SYSJOB.INI, and enable lp20 in simh, I 
still couldn’t get it to work until I did the shutdown and startup as below. 
Now it prints. Hurrah!

14:18:09Printer 0  -- Not available right now --

OPR>shutdown printer 0
OPR>  
14:18:14Printer 0  -- Shutdown --
OPR>start printer 0/device:lpt0
OPR>  
14:18:27Printer 0  -- Startup Scheduled --
OPR>  
14:18:27Printer 0  -- Started --

14:18:28Printer 0  -- VFU error --
Reloading RAM and VFU

14:18:28Printer 0  -- Loading RAM with 'LP64' --

14:18:28Printer 0  -- Loading VFU with 'NORMAL' --

14:18:28  <1>   Printer 0  -- Align Forms and Put Online --
Type 'RESPOND  PROCEED' when ready

OPR>respond 1 proceed

> On 21 Mar 2018, at 12:43, Timothe Litt  wrote:
> 
> 
> On 21-Mar-18 08:24, Jordi Guillaumes Pons wrote:
>> 
>> Jordi Guillaumes i Pons
>> j...@jordi.guillaumes.name 
>> HECnet: BITXOW::JGUILLAUMES
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On 21 Mar 2018, at 13:19, Timothe Litt >> > wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 21-Mar-18 07:02, Jordi Guillaumes Pons wrote:
 Some years ago I wrote a note to myself:
 
 - Enable printing:
 
 1) Create file SYS:LPFORMS:INI with the following content:
 
 NORMAL:ALL/BANNER:01/HEADER:01/LINES:66/WIDTH:132/TRAILER:01
 
 2) In OPR: SHUTDOWN PRINTER 0
 3) In OPR: START PRINTER 0/DEVICE:LPT0 
 
 
 I don’t remember what problem I was trying to solve, but right now this 
 file exists and printing works. Hope it can help you.
 
 
 Jordi Guillaumes i Pons
 j...@jordi.guillaumes.name 
 HECnet: BITXOW::JGUILLAUMES
 
 
 
>>> LPFORM.INI tells LPTSPL how to process forms (the paper stock on which a 
>>> job is printed).
>>> The default form is "Normal".  Form names with the same 4 initial 
>>> characters use the same stock; no operator intervention is required to 
>>> change among them. (This is used to allow specifying soft parameters, such 
>>> as the number of banner pages, per job.)  If a job requires different 
>>> stock, the operator is notified.
>> 
>> IIRC the problem was the print spooler didn’t got started on boot and a 
>> command to tell OPR it had the default form mounted was required to start 
>> printing. Defining LPFORMS.INI avoided that problem and the print spooler 
>> started automatically. Does it make sense to you?
>> 
>> Blurred memories also tell me there was some alignement test involved. After 
>> telling OPR the printer had the form mounted it asked to confirm the form 
>> was correctly aligned.
>> 
>> Doh, memory…
>> 
>> 
>> 
> Not exactly.  The default form is NORMAL.  The printer is started by OPR; as 
> long as INITIA runs, it will start OPR, which will take SYSTEM.CMD.  
> SYSTEM.CMD is what configures the galactic components.
> 
> LPTSPL is started by QUASAR whenever it's needed - that is, a stream is 
> started and there's a job in the queue (or has been recently).  QUASAR 
> maintains the printer state, so LPTSPL doesn't have to stick around when 
> idle.  It's possible that LPTSPL prompts for a form if LPFORM.INI doesn't 
> exist - I believe there's a default LPFORM.INI on the distribution tapes, and 
> I don't recall running without one in a VERY long time :-)
> 
> Alignment is invoked when the mounted stock changes and /ALIGN is specified 
> in LPFORM.INI; it's used to match the VFU to the paper - e.g., when 
> printing labels, or pre-printed forms (e.g. invoices, checks, greenbar).  
> 
> It is likely that that without LPFORM.INI, LPTSPL conservatively asks for 
> alignment.  As I said, it's a good idea to have one.
> 
> However, the OP wasn't getting that far - the printer status shown is "not 
> available", indicating that the stream is assigned to a device that doesn't 
> exist or is assigned to another job.  The most likely cause is failing to 
> enable it in SimH.
> 
> I'm not inclined to read the code to refresh my memory of what happens 
> without LPFORM.INI - having one is a good idea, and I don't think it relates 
> to the OP's issue.
> 
> 
> ___
> Simh mailing list
> Simh@trailing-edge.com
> http://mailman.trailing-edge.com/mailman/listinfo/simh

___
Simh mailing list
Simh@trailing-edge.com
http://mailman.trailing-edge.com/mailman/listinfo/simh

Re: [Simh] Printer on TOPS-10

[Timothe Litt]

On 21-Mar-18 08:24, Jordi Guillaumes Pons wrote:
>
> Jordi Guillaumes i Pons
> j...@jordi.guillaumes.name 
> HECnet: BITXOW::JGUILLAUMES
>
>
>
>> On 21 Mar 2018, at 13:19, Timothe Litt > > wrote:
>>
>>
>> On 21-Mar-18 07:02, Jordi Guillaumes Pons wrote:
>>> Some years ago I wrote a note to myself:
>>>
>>> - Enable printing:
>>>
>>> 1) Create file SYS:LPFORMS:INI with the following content:
>>>
>>> NORMAL:ALL/BANNER:01/HEADER:01/LINES:66/WIDTH:132/TRAILER:01
>>>
>>> 2) In OPR: SHUTDOWN PRINTER 0
>>> 3) In OPR: START PRINTER 0/DEVICE:LPT0
>>>
>>>
>>> I don’t remember what problem I was trying to solve, but right now
>>> this file exists and printing works. Hope it can help you.
>>>
>>>
>>> Jordi Guillaumes i Pons
>>> j...@jordi.guillaumes.name 
>>> HECnet: BITXOW::JGUILLAUMES
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> LPFORM.INI tells LPTSPL how to process forms (the paper stock on
>> which a job is printed).
>> The default form is "Normal".  Form names with the same 4 initial
>> characters use the same stock; no operator intervention is required
>> to change among them. (This is used to allow specifying soft
>> parameters, such as the number of banner pages, per job.)  If a job
>> requires different stock, the operator is notified.
>
> IIRC the problem was the print spooler didn’t got started on boot and
> a command to tell OPR it had the default form mounted was required to
> start printing. Defining LPFORMS.INI avoided that problem and the
> print spooler started automatically. Does it make sense to you?
>
> Blurred memories also tell me there was some alignement test involved.
> After telling OPR the printer had the form mounted it asked to confirm
> the form was correctly aligned.
>
> Doh, memory…
>
>
>
Not exactly.  The default form is NORMAL.  The printer is started by
OPR; as long as INITIA runs, it will start OPR, which will take
SYSTEM.CMD.  SYSTEM.CMD is what configures the galactic components.

LPTSPL is started by QUASAR whenever it's needed - that is, a stream is
started and there's a job in the queue (or has been recently).  QUASAR
maintains the printer state, so LPTSPL doesn't have to stick around when
idle.  It's possible that LPTSPL prompts for a form if LPFORM.INI
doesn't exist - I believe there's a default LPFORM.INI on the
distribution tapes, and I don't recall running without one in a VERY
long time :-)

Alignment is invoked when the mounted stock changes and /ALIGN is
specified in LPFORM.INI; it's used to match the VFU to the paper - e.g.,
when printing labels, or pre-printed forms (e.g. invoices, checks,
greenbar). 

It is likely that that without LPFORM.INI, LPTSPL conservatively asks
for alignment.  As I said, it's a good idea to have one.

However, the OP wasn't getting that far - the printer status shown is
"not available", indicating that the stream is assigned to a device that
doesn't exist or is assigned to another job.  The most likely cause is
failing to enable it in SimH.

I'm not inclined to read the code to refresh my memory of what happens
without LPFORM.INI - having one is a good idea, and I don't think it
relates to the OP's issue.




smime.p7s
Description: S/MIME Cryptographic Signature
___
Simh mailing list
Simh@trailing-edge.com
http://mailman.trailing-edge.com/mailman/listinfo/simh

Re: [Simh] Printer on TOPS-10

[Jordi Guillaumes Pons]

Jordi Guillaumes i Pons
j...@jordi.guillaumes.name
HECnet: BITXOW::JGUILLAUMES



> On 21 Mar 2018, at 13:19, Timothe Litt  wrote:
> 
> 
> On 21-Mar-18 07:02, Jordi Guillaumes Pons wrote:
>> Some years ago I wrote a note to myself:
>> 
>> - Enable printing:
>> 
>> 1) Create file SYS:LPFORMS:INI with the following content:
>> 
>> NORMAL:ALL/BANNER:01/HEADER:01/LINES:66/WIDTH:132/TRAILER:01
>> 
>> 2) In OPR: SHUTDOWN PRINTER 0
>> 3) In OPR: START PRINTER 0/DEVICE:LPT0 
>> 
>> 
>> I don’t remember what problem I was trying to solve, but right now this file 
>> exists and printing works. Hope it can help you.
>> 
>> 
>> Jordi Guillaumes i Pons
>> j...@jordi.guillaumes.name 
>> HECnet: BITXOW::JGUILLAUMES
>> 
>> 
>> 
> LPFORM.INI tells LPTSPL how to process forms (the paper stock on which a job 
> is printed).
> The default form is "Normal".  Form names with the same 4 initial characters 
> use the same stock; no operator intervention is required to change among 
> them. (This is used to allow specifying soft parameters, such as the number 
> of banner pages, per job.)  If a job requires different stock, the operator 
> is notified.

IIRC the problem was the print spooler didn’t got started on boot and a command 
to tell OPR it had the default form mounted was required to start printing. 
Defining LPFORMS.INI avoided that problem and the print spooler started 
automatically. Does it make sense to you?

Blurred memories also tell me there was some alignement test involved. After 
telling OPR the printer had the form mounted it asked to confirm the form was 
correctly aligned.

Doh, memory…





signature.asc
Description: Message signed with OpenPGP
___
Simh mailing list
Simh@trailing-edge.com
http://mailman.trailing-edge.com/mailman/listinfo/simh

Re: [Simh] Printer on TOPS-10

[Timothe Litt]

On 21-Mar-18 07:02, Jordi Guillaumes Pons wrote:
> Some years ago I wrote a note to myself:
>
> - Enable printing:
>
> 1) Create file SYS:LPFORMS:INI with the following content:
>
> NORMAL:ALL/BANNER:01/HEADER:01/LINES:66/WIDTH:132/TRAILER:01
>
> 2) In OPR: SHUTDOWN PRINTER 0
> 3) In OPR: START PRINTER 0/DEVICE:LPT0
>
>
> I don’t remember what problem I was trying to solve, but right now
> this file exists and printing works. Hope it can help you.
>
>
> Jordi Guillaumes i Pons
> j...@jordi.guillaumes.name 
> HECnet: BITXOW::JGUILLAUMES
>
>
>
LPFORM.INI tells LPTSPL how to process forms (the paper stock on which a
job is printed).
The default form is "Normal".  Form names with the same 4 initial
characters use the same stock; no operator intervention is required to
change among them. (This is used to allow specifying soft parameters,
such as the number of banner pages, per job.)  If a job requires
different stock, the operator is notified.

The :ALL is a locator; it specifies which printer(s) the line refers
to.  E.g. LPTnnn, or the reserved words 'LOC' or 'REM'.  The switches
define the job format - BANNER is # of job header pages; HEADER is
number of header pages written before each file.  TRAILER is the job
trailer.  The rest in your example are self-explanatory.  There are more
options; see the operator's guide and operator's command language
reference. for more detail.

I don't believe that LPFORM .INI is required, but it's a good idea to
have one.  Mine contains:

NORMAL/BANNER:1/HEADER:1/TRAILER:1/RAM:LP96/VFU:NORMAL
NARROW/BANNER:1/HEADER:1/TRAILER:1/WIDTH:80/RAM:LP96/VFU:NORMAL
LABELS/BANNER:1/HEADER:1/TRAILER:1/WIDTH:100/RAM:LP64/VFU:LABELS
66LINE/BANNER:1/HEADER:1/TRAILER:1/RAM:LP96/VFU:66LINE

With respect to the START command, /DEVICE is not required when writing
to the default printer.  It's used when you have multiple printers or
want to redirect printer output to some other device - usually a magtape
-- e.g. when producing microform.

With remote (ANF-10) printers, it's qualified by /node

SYS:SYSTEM.CMD usually starts the printer; mine contains these lines
related to the printer:
set printer 0 page-limit 2000
start printer 0

The OP's issue is likely that the printer isn't ENABLEd in SimH.



smime.p7s
Description: S/MIME Cryptographic Signature
___
Simh mailing list
Simh@trailing-edge.com
http://mailman.trailing-edge.com/mailman/listinfo/simh

Re: [Simh] Printer on TOPS-10

[Jordi Guillaumes Pons]

Some years ago I wrote a note to myself:

- Enable printing:

1) Create file SYS:LPFORMS:INI with the following content:

NORMAL:ALL/BANNER:01/HEADER:01/LINES:66/WIDTH:132/TRAILER:01

2) In OPR: SHUTDOWN PRINTER 0
3) In OPR: START PRINTER 0/DEVICE:LPT0


I don’t remember what problem I was trying to solve, but right now this file 
exists and printing works. Hope it can help you.


Jordi Guillaumes i Pons
j...@jordi.guillaumes.name
HECnet: BITXOW::JGUILLAUMES





signature.asc
Description: Message signed with OpenPGP
___
Simh mailing list
Simh@trailing-edge.com
http://mailman.trailing-edge.com/mailman/listinfo/simh