 x&                                                                 , newsletter of the Edmonton (Alberta Canada) ADAM Users Group.
   One of the things that I get asked about a lot is regarding parallel interfaces for the THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL WAS SUPPLIED TO THE ADAM NEWS NETWORK BY 
"The ADAM's LEAF of the EDMONTON (ALBERTA,CANADA) ADAM USERS GROUP" 
THE WRITER/AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE IS INDICATED BELOW.  WE APPRECIATE THEIR COOPERATION AND CONTRIBUTION(S) TO ADAM NEWS NETWORK AND TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAPABILITIES OF ADAM BY OTHER ADAMITES.


         By Stan Wong
    This article originally appeared in the ADAM's LEAF, newsletter of the Edmonton (Alberta Canada) ADAM Users Group.
   One of the things that I get asked about a lot is regarding parallel interfaces for the ADAM.  There have been a number of these that have been around.  I believe that Eve Electronics, which has since gone down the toilet, came up with the first one.  Orphanware came up with the best known one, the now famous PIA2.  A couple of other companies have produced interfaces as well, but it now appears as though their designs were swiped from Orphanware.  In any event, there are a number of places where you can purchase an interface, including NIAD, M.W.Ruth and ADAM's House and the price generally runs around $30-$40 U.S.  The interface is printed circuit board that plugs into the middle expansion slot on the inside of the memory console.  Wherever you buy the interface, it is now standard practice to include software with it that will allow you to access your dot matrix printer from SmartWRITER, SmartBASIC and a few other Coleco programs.  There is also software included that will allow it to run from CP/M.  In addition to this, you also need a parallel interface cable.  This can be purchased at any Radio Shack store.  Just ask for the Model 100 parallel printer cable.  The important thing to remember is that you must read all documentation that comes with the software so that you know what will and what will not work with your second printer.
   I've also been asked about running programs off the ramdisk.  For those that do not know, the 64K memory expander can be set up as a ramdisk, an electronic drive on which you can store and retrieve with lightning speed (the drawback being that you lose everything on the ramdisk whenever you turn the computer off).  When you first pick up one of these memory expanders and plug it into the far right expansion slot, it doesn't seem to do very much.  It instantly increases your workspace in SmartWRITER, but that's about it.  AdamCALC lets you use it as a printer buffer (it will store one spreadsheet and feed the data to the printer while you begin work on another spreadsheet). However, most other Coleco software simply does not make use of this extra memory.  CP/M lets you use it as a ramdisk by designating it as drive M.  It has only been over the last year or so when software has begun appearing that allows you to set up a ramdisk for EOS (ADAM's original operating system) applications. The one that comes to my mind is SmartDSK by Walters Software.  I've never used it, but apparently it sets up a ramdisk for use with a few Coleco programs such as SmartBASIC and AdamCALC. They have now come out with PrBOOT as well.  This allows you to transfer 6 self-booting Coleco programs to one tape and then gives you the option to transfer a program to ramdisk.  Once the program has been transferred to ramdisk, it can be run via SmartDSK.  For more information, contact Walters Software Co., Rd#4 Box 289-A, Titusville, PA 16354 (phone 814-827-3776).  They will be able to tell you whether or not their programs are suited to your needs or not.
    For those with dot matrix printers, as far as I know, there is no program available for the ADAM yet that will print out a graphic letterhead AND a form letter in one sweep.  You can do it clumsily with PowerPAINT, but the quality of print will not be very good.  Your best bet, so far, is to run a graphics program and print out a bunch of sheets with the letterhead, then run it through the printer again and use the word processor of your choice to enter the letter.  With the tractor feeds on the dot matrix printers, getting things to line up shouldn't be too difficult, although it will take a bit of experimentation to get the spacing just right.
   Finally, people have asked me which printer I am using now.  I have a Roland PR-1012 which I believe is the Canadian equivalent of the Panasonic 1080i.  It is a good all purpose printer with near letter quality and graphics modes.  The output from this printer, using the proper software, is phenomenal. I use it to make up signs and handouts for my office.  I picked up this printer at Future Shop for under $300 a year or two ago.  It works perfectly with the ADAM.  Don't let the salesman try to sell you a higher priced STAR printer. I understand that some of those do not work properly with the current parallel interfaces that are available.
   If you have any questions, write to the LEAF.  There will be someone here that can help you.  And remember, we're always on the lookout for new articles!  ###
 
trix printers, getting things to line up shouldn't be too difficult, although it will take a
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