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User-Defined Characters
With the LQ, it is possible to define and print characters of your
own design. You can design an entirely new alphabet or typeface,
create characters for special applications such as mathematical or
scientific symbols, or create graphic patterns with user-defined char-
acters to serve as building blocks for larger designs.
Below you can see samples of typefaces created with the user-
defined character function.
You can make the task of defining characters easier by using a com-
mercial software program that assists you in creating characters or
simply supplies you with sets of characters already created. Also,
some popular commercial software programs take advantage of the
LQ’s user-defined character function to enhance printouts. (These
characters are called download characters in some programs.)
The standard characters are stored in the LQ’s Read Only Memory
(ROM), and the user-defined characters are stored in the LQ’s Ran-
dom Access Memory (RAM). In order to free the LQ’s RAM for use in
storing user-defined characters be sure that DIP switch 1-4 is OFF. The
switch is set to OFF at the factory, but if you have turned it ON to use
the 7K buffer, turn it OFF before you begin this section. (See Appendix
A for instructions on changing DIP switches.)
Design grids
User-defined characters are like dot graphics because you send the
printer precise instructions on where you want each dot printed. In
fact, planning a user-defined character is like planning a small dot
graphics pattern.
To design a character you use a grid that is 24 dots high-one dot
for each wire on the LQ print head. The width of the character matrix
is dependent upon the character set in use. For draft characters, the
grid is nine dots wide. For Letter Quality it is 29 dots wide, and for
6-11