README file for 4print2 version 0.3
26-oct-2002

Pieter Bras
pbras@pobox.com


INTRODUCTION

4print2.cmd is an OS/2 shell for the DOS-era 4Print.exe program.

4Print.exe outputs text files to HP LaserJet/DeskJet (or compatible) printers
in 2-up and other formats, in single-sided or duplex mode, and does so better
than any other program I've ever seen.  For details, please refer to the
excellent 4Print documentation (*.doc in the 4Print archive).

Unfortunately, the authors of 4Print stopped development many years ago
and did not port the program from DOS to other platforms.

My goal was to maintain as exactly as possible the functionality and
user interface of 4Print.exe, while adapting it to the OS/2 environment.
The following enhancements are provided:

1. Ability to work with long HPFS filenames;
2. Fix for a Y2K bug in the page header;
3. Fix to prevent 4Print.exe from using 100% of CPU cycles while
   waiting for keyboard input.


WHAT'S IN THE PACKAGE

The 4print2.zip archive includes the following files:

4print2.cmd        OS/2 REXX program
README.4P2         this file
4p415shr.zip       DOS 4Print version 4.15 (unregistered shareware version)
tktos2.zip         DOS keyboard TSR which works under OS/2
STFKEY40.ZIP       DOS keyboard-stuffer TSR

If you already own a registered version of 4Print.exe, you can use that
instead of the version provided here.  You should then also set an OS/2
environment entry to indicate this fact to the 4print2 program (see below).


QUICK INSTALLATION

1. Unzip the archive 4print2.zip to create the files listed above.
   Place the file 4print2.cmd somewhere on your OS/2 PATH.
2. Unzip the file 4p415shr.zip.  Place the files 4PRINT.EXE and 4PRINT.OVL
   somewhere on your DOS PATH.
   (Ignore this step if you already have the registered version of 4Print.)
3. Unzip the file tktos2.zip.  Place the file TKT.COM somewhere on your DOS
   PATH.
4. Unzip the file STFKEY40.ZIP.  Place the file STUFFKEY.COM somewhere on
   your DOS PATH.


RUNNING 4PRINT2

You will need to have a LaserJet or DeskJet, or compatible printer.
It can be either directly attached to your computer or networked.
It should be addressable from the DOS environment as LPT1.
At an OS/2 command line, type:

4print2 [options] [filespecs]

Any number of options and filespecs may occur in any order.
Options are processed in left-to-right order and apply to all files.
For a detailed description of the 4Print options, please refer to
the file 4Print.doc included in the 4Print archive.
Filespecs may be any valid HPFS filespec including ? and * wildcards.

To see the 4Print help screen, just type '4print2' with no parameters.


CONFIGURATION

4print2 run-time configuration is accomplished via OS/2 environment entries
which are defined in your CONFIG.SYS file.  However, it is not necessary to
take this step unless you want to change the default behavior of 4print2.

All of 4Print's defaults can be overriden by entering command-line options.
You can also pass always-used options to 4print2 via the OS2 environment.
The built-in default is equivalent to:  SET 4PRINT2_OPT=-oLPT1
For instance, if you have a DeskJet printer on LPT2, and to print single-
sided and unattended, you could enter:

SET 4PRINT2_OPT=-oLPT2 -dj -s -u

Note: These option values can still be overridden from the command line.

4print2 uses a work directory for its temporary files.  This directory's
path must be compatible with FAT 8.3 rules, though it need not necessarily
reside on a FAT partition.  The default name for this work directory is
C:\TMP but this can be changed via another environment entry, for example:

SET 4PRINT2_TMP=f:\tmp


TKT.COM

I've thrown in a small freeware utility to keep 4Print.exe from hogging the
CPU while waiting for keyboard input.  It is called TKT.COM (stands for
"trivial keyboard tamer").  This will also work with most other DOS progams
that exhibit similar behavior under OS/2.  Instructions for its use are in
the included README.TKT file.

If you are already using some other utility that accomplishes the same thing
in your DOS AUTOEXEC.BAT file, then you may not need to run TKT.  If so,
remove TKT.COM from your DOS PATH.


UNATTENDED vs. ATTENDED PRINTING

In its default mode 4Print.exe is interactive.  It will process the file and
then wait for a keystroke before sending the formatted data to the printer.
It will then wait for another keystroke before printing to the other side
of the paper (default is duplex printing on a non-duplex printer).

If the printer is at some distance from your computer this may be a problem.
The solution is to print in unattended mode (-u option).  Single-sided output
can always be printed in unattended mode; duplex output requires a duplex
printer for unattended double-sided printing.

If you run 4Print in unattended mode, it will not prompt for any keyboard
input (except for the nag screen in the shareware version). The 4Print DOS
sessions will be run in the background, minimized, and concurrently.

In attended mode, the DOS sessions will be run in the foreground, one after
another (sequentially).


SHAREWARE vs. REGISTERED OPERATION

After the shareware version of 4Print.exe has completed printing its files,
it displays a 'nag' screen which requires a couple of keystrokes to dismiss.
The registered version doesn't present this nag screen and exits once the
data has been sent to the printer.  There is no other functional difference.

4print2.cmd is configured to assume unregistered (shareware) mode by default.
If you are running a registered (paid-for, that is) copy of 4Print.exe, then
add the following entry to your CONFIG.SYS file:  SET 4PRINT2_REG=1


WARRANTY DISCLAIMER

This is no warranty for 4print2.  If you have any problems using 4print2,
then your only recourse is to stop using it.  The author disavows
responsibility for any problems that may arise from its installation/use.


SHAREWARE NOTICE

Note that the the 4Print.exe program is copyrighted by Korenthal Associates.
Included with 4print2 is the unregistered shareware version of 4Print.
Please note the restrictions on its use.
Registered copies of 4Print (for DOS) may be ordered from:

Korenthal Associates, Inc.
511 Avenue of the Americas #400
New York, NY  10011
USA

Phone 1-212-242-1790
Fax   1-212-242-2599

