PCFILTER.EXE
Version 3.0
-----------Noisy telephone lines during ASCII data transfer often inject
printer control codes into the download file. Later, when
the file is printed, these extraneous control codes may put
the printer into various unwanted print modes. PCFILTER will
remove all ASCII codes below SPACE (32) except CR and LF.
Additionally, PCFILTER will optionally remove all ASCII codes
from 128 to 159 (since some editors may ignore the high bit
and interpret them as ASCII 0 to 31), restrict the file to a
particular line width, expand tabs, expand tab stops, create
output files with a maximum size limit, delete extra line
feeds and blank lines, delete extra spaces, and create a disk
file (.PRN) suitable for FILE IMPORT into LOTUS 1-2-3 for
file editing and printing.
OPERATING PCFILTERPCFILTER will create output file(s) on the default drive.
Other drives for input may be referenced but path names are
not supported in this version. Therefore, before PCFILTER is
run, make sure you have adequate space remaining for the
creation of the output file(s) on the default drive.
A typical command is 'PCFILTER IBMSIG'. This command will
create a filtered file 'IBMSIG.PRN' on the default disk drive
using the default parameters.
The default parameters values areMaximum line width (W) - 132 characters
Replacement ASCII code (R) - SPACE (ASCII 32)
Output file extension (E) - 'PRN'
Tab stop expansion (T) - every 8 print positions
Tab expansion (X) - defaults to (T), above
Filter of ASCII 128-159 (N) - these codes are filtered
Remove extra spaces (S) - extra spaces NOT filtered
Limit file size (L) - limited to approximately 63K
Delete line feeds (D) - extra line feeds NOT deleted
Parameter (T) converts TAB STOPS (ASCII 9) in a file to the
number of SPACES (ASCII 32) necessary to create tabular
columns at the specified print positions. Parameter (X)
converts TAB STOPS to the specified number of ASCII SPACES.
These parameters are MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
The general format for PCFILTER isPCFILTER [d:]filename[.ext][-Optionxxx]
where
-Wx sets maximum line width
-Rx selects replacement ASCII code
-Ex specifies output file extension
-Tx
-Xx
-N
-S
-Lx
-D
sets tab stop positions
specifies tab stop SPACE expansion
no filter of ASCII 128-159
no repeat spaces
specifies maximum output file size
no blank lines or extra line feeds
PCFILTER will now filter any size input file as long as there
is enough room for output on the default drive. Output files
are limited to a maximum of approximately 63K (or less with
the -L option). Any additional output files are named
TOOBIG1.PRN, TOOBIG2.PRN, etc.
For example, 'PCFILTER IBMSIG.DOC -W80 -R42 -ETXT -X4'
creates the output file IBMSIG.TXT on the default drive with
a maximum line length of 80 characters, ASCII 0-31 and
128-159 filtered and replaced with ASCII 42 (*), and all
tabs replaced with 4 SPACES.
'PCFILTER B:IBMSIG -T6 -N' creates the output file IBMSIG.PRN
on the default drive, with a maximum line length ot 132
characters, ASCII 0-31 filtered and replaced with ASCII 32
(SPACE), and all tabs replaced with spaces to allow tabular
column printing every 6 print positions.
'PCFILTER C:K7NTV.TXT -l58000 -d -s' creates the output file
K7NTV.PRN on the default drive with blank lines and extra
linefeeds deleted, extra spaces removed and the maximum size
of the output file(s) restricted to 58K. For example, if
K7NTV.TXT had a file size of 128k, three output files would
be generated, K7NTV.PRN(58K), TOOBIG1.PRN(58K), and
TOOBIG2.PRN(12K).
Using PCFILTER with LOTUS 1-2-3
LOTUS 1-2-3 makes a very nice editor when used with PCFILTER
files. First, create a 'dummy' .WKS file that specifies your
printer output format. For instance, this .WKS file will
have the page length, printer control codes, and optional
header or footer information specified (for example, use
'@|DATA TRANSFER FILE|PAGE #' as a header and you will get
nicely formatted pages with date and page number at the top
of every page). File Retrieve this .WKS file, then use File
Import to import your PCFILTER file to the upper left corner
of your blank .WKS file. Then edit the file with /WDR, F2,
etc., and print the file. Be sure to NOT use the '-N' option
since Lotus 1-2-3 File Import Text only looks at the lower 7
bits and ASCII 128-159 must therefore be filtered out.
Patrick E. O'Farrell K7NTV
3O9 Hillcrest Drive
Selah, Wa 98942
(5O9) 697-3133