How to print text file???? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

alkaloid · 09-21-2006, 10:10 AM

Hi,
I have a question about how to print a text file. It seemed like a simple problem but I can't figure it out.

I have a text file that's designed to print 133 characters wide by 66 characters long for each page. How do I, or what do I use to, print this? On top of that, whenever special character combination appears, I need to do a page-break.
(1++++++)

I would appreciate any help with this.

- alkaloid

Chamaeleontidae · 09-21-2006, 10:46 AM

well, there are a lot of variables there. What OS? what programs do you have available? How important is the formating? etc... You can just open a text file in an editor and have the editor print it. (or in Dos, or Linux just dump it to the print device)

More powerful editors will let you search and replace for the end of page string, or if the doc isn't took long you can edit it, and manually put the editors designation for end of page.

alkaloid · 09-22-2006, 10:54 AM

I'm using Windows, but willing to use others. For formatting, i need to use fixed-width fonts only. Can you recommend a font that has a short vertical dimension?I have access to Microsoft Office, Acrobat and free stuff.

I tried using jEdit but was not successful probably because I don't know how to use the macro.
I was somewhat successful with Excel. It has pretty good print control. I inserted page breaks with a simple macro I wrote in VBA.

meanSpleen · 09-22-2006, 07:32 PM

You can probably get away with doing the following:

- Open the text document up in Microsoft Word
- Set the page margins to 0.25 or 0.5 inch (remove headers + footers) and Landscape
- Select all (ctrl+a)
- Set the font to whatever fixed with font you prefer (Courier is good)
- Set the font size to 4 (it may say 8 is the smallest, but select 8 and type in 4 - go bigger if needed or if there is space)
- Do a Replace command
- Set Find to (1++++++)
- Set Replace to (1++++++) - use the "Special Characters" function and see if it will let you do a page break and put it either before or after that thing as needed (this will still print the (1++++++) thing though
*Note : You can also just go through the document and where ever you need a page break just hit Ctrl+Enter to enter a manual page break

- Print Preview to see if it looks sexy and print!

alkaloid · 09-22-2006, 08:04 PM

That actually sounds good. Thanks for the idea meanSpleen. I'll try it soon.

09-21-2006, 10:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
alkaloid Dead Inside Location: East Coast, USA	How to print text file???? Hi, I have a question about how to print a text file. It seemed like a simple problem but I can't figure it out. I have a text file that's designed to print 133 characters wide by 66 characters long for each page. How do I, or what do I use to, print this? On top of that, whenever special character combination appears, I need to do a page-break. (1++++++) I would appreciate any help with this. - alkaloid Last edited by alkaloid; 09-21-2006 at 10:24 AM.. Reason: correct wrong info

09-21-2006, 10:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
Chamaeleontidae aka: freakylongname Location: South of the Great While North	well, there are a lot of variables there. What OS? what programs do you have available? How important is the formating? etc... You can just open a text file in an editor and have the editor print it. (or in Dos, or Linux just dump it to the print device) More powerful editors will let you search and replace for the end of page string, or if the doc isn't took long you can edit it, and manually put the editors designation for end of page. __________________ "Reality is just a crutch for people who can't cope with drugs." Robin Williams.

09-22-2006, 10:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
alkaloid Dead Inside Location: East Coast, USA	I'm using Windows, but willing to use others. For formatting, i need to use fixed-width fonts only. Can you recommend a font that has a short vertical dimension?I have access to Microsoft Office, Acrobat and free stuff. I tried using jEdit but was not successful probably because I don't know how to use the macro. I was somewhat successful with Excel. It has pretty good print control. I inserted page breaks with a simple macro I wrote in VBA. Last edited by alkaloid; 09-22-2006 at 08:03 PM..

09-22-2006, 07:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
meanSpleen Squid hat! Location: A Few Miles Away From Halx	You can probably get away with doing the following: - Open the text document up in Microsoft Word - Set the page margins to 0.25 or 0.5 inch (remove headers + footers) and Landscape - Select all (ctrl+a) - Set the font to whatever fixed with font you prefer (Courier is good) - Set the font size to 4 (it may say 8 is the smallest, but select 8 and type in 4 - go bigger if needed or if there is space) - Do a Replace command - Set Find to (1++++++) - Set Replace to (1++++++) - use the "Special Characters" function and see if it will let you do a page break and put it either before or after that thing as needed (this will still print the (1++++++) thing though *Note : You can also just go through the document and where ever you need a page break just hit Ctrl+Enter to enter a manual page break - Print Preview to see if it looks sexy and print! __________________ Like TFP? Donate To Keep It Alive!!

09-22-2006, 08:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
alkaloid Dead Inside Location: East Coast, USA	That actually sounds good. Thanks for the idea meanSpleen. I'll try it soon.