Filling remaining lines of a page in a Quiz report

Hoppe, Eric EP Eric.Hoppe@steelscape-inc.com
Thu, 18 Jul 2002 17:04:13 -0700


All-

We have been replacing the Dec line printers with Epson LQ-570+ dot-matrix
printers for the reason of cost and availability.  We are using these
printers to print multipart Bill of Lading forms.  We have the Epson
printers set up as 'push' tractor feed.  It appears the Epson printers
accelerate the feed to the top of the next sheet when the report is complete
which is causing these multi-part forms to get all bunched up.

What does all this have to do with PH?
Is there a way to tell Quiz to 'fill' in the remaining lines of a page with
a period "." at the beginning of the line to force the printer to keep a
constant speed to the end of the form?  I know Quiz keeps tabs of how much
space is left because of the RESERVE statement.

The following is purely supplemental, non-critical info-
As I am sure you are all wondering... Why not look at other solutions: 
Why not use a different printer? We haven't found a decent one that does
multi-part forms.
Why not print 4 copies on a LaserJet? We thought about this and the users
would freak if they had to do this... I am sure some of you are aware of
users in a manufacturing arena.
Why not stay with the DEC printers?  They are easily 3x as expensive, are no
longer produced, and are VERY expensive to repair, and they are very moody
Why not use the tractor feed to 'pull' the form?  This wastes forms, causing
us to throw one away for every one printed.

Thanks for any input... even if it is to comment on the other solutions.

---ehops

Eric Hoppe
Steelscape, Inc.
Senior Systems Analyst
360.673.8247