BEX INTERFACE GUIDE

BEX Version 3.0 -- October 87 Edition Copyright 1987 by Raised Dot Computing, Inc. 408 South Baldwin Street, Madison WI 53703

Business: 608-257-9595; Technical: 608-257-8833

How To Use This Manual

The Interface Guide explains how to connect a variety of devices to your Apple computer so that BEX can recognize and work with them. Some devices are standard items that are designed for and sold in the mainstream computer marketplace. Other devices are specialized sensory aids for the blind. Raised Dot Computing provides detailed interfacing information to fully support its software products. The Interface Guide does not attempt to explain how the Apple computer or other devices work; refer to your Owner's Manual for that information.

The first three Sections provide basic background concepts: read these to obtain an overview of the interfacing process. Section 5, the Interface Cookbook, provides quick recipes for each interface: what sort of interface card and cable is required, and, when appropriate, how to set switches on the external device. Section 6 provides a basic understanding of controlling the Super Serial Card, Apple IIc ports and Apple IIgs ports. Section 14 provides wiring diagrams and RDC code numbers for all the cables mentioned in the Interface Guide. The remaining Sections address specific devices in more detail.

Raised Dot Computing publishes the monthly RDC Newsletter in print, audio, and disk formats. We publish updates and corrections to interfacing information in the Newsletter. Your BEX purchase includes a complimentary one-year subscription: please return your registration card to start your subscription. If you have worked out a new interface, please provide us with the details so we can share it with others.

Contents


Section 1: Computers
  Apple IIe Computer  --  1:1
    The Disk Drives  --  1:1
    The Apple IIe Slots  --  1:2
    The Extended 80 column card  --  1:2
    Slot 3 WARNING  --  1:2
    Echo Synthesizer  --  1:3
  Apple IIc  --  1:3
    Cricket Synthesizer  --  1:4
    Software Upgrade  --  1:4
    Second Disk Drive for the IIc  --  1:4
  Apple IIgs  --  1:5
    Slots and Ports  --  1:6
    Apple IIgs built-in functions  --  1:6
    Apple IIgs System Speed  --  1:6
    Apple IIgs disk drives  --  1:7
    Apple IIgs System Memory  --  1:7
    Apple IIgs Echo Synthesizer  --  1:8
    No Braille Keyboard  --  1:8
  Apple IIgs Performance Updated from an Apple IIe  --  1:8
  Apple II Plus  --  1:9
    Slots on the Apple II Plus  --  1:9
Section 2: Sorting Out The Devices
  Remote Keyboard  --  2:1
  Echo or Cricket Speech  --  2:1
  SlotBuster Speech  --  2:1
  Voice Output of the Entire Computer Dialogue  --  2:1
  Braille Output of the Entire Computer Dialogue  --  2:2
  Tape-based VersaBraille  --  2:2
  Remote serial device to input through slot  --  2:2
  Printers  --  2:3
    G - Generic Printer  --  2:3
    S - Specific Printers  --  2:3
    L - Large Print Output  --  2:3
    B - Braillers  --  2:3
    V - Voice Output  --  2:4
    P - Paperless Brailler  --  2:4
    R - Review Class Printer  --  2:4
    A - Apple LaserWriter Postscript Driver  --  2:4
  Disk Drives  --  2:4
  Extended Disk Systems  --  2:5
    3.5 inch disk drive  --  2:5
    RAM drives  --  2:5
    Sider Hard Disk  --  2:5
Section 3: Serial Cards and Ports
Section 4: Printers
  Troubleshooting Your Printer  --  4:1
    No Output  --  4:1
    Garbled Output  --  4:2
    Bad Format  --  4:2
  Vertical Alignment  --  4:2
  Horizontal Alignment  --  4:4
  Generic Printer  --  4:4
  Specific Printers  --  4:5
    Dot Matrix Printers  --  4:6
    Letter Quality Printers  --  4:6
  Large Print  --  4:7
    Large Print with an ImageWriter or ImageWriter II  --  4:8
    Large Print on Other Printers  --  4:8
    Troubleshooting Large Print Problems  --  4:10
  Braille Output  --  4:10
Section 5: Interfacing Cookbook
  Apple Memory Card  --  5:1
  Cranmer Brailler  --  5:2
  Cricket Synthesizer  --  5:2
  DECtalk  --  5:2
  DEST scanner  --  5:3
  Dipner Dots  --  5:3
  Disk Drives (5.25 inch)  --  5:3
  Disk Drive (3.5 inch)  --  5:4
  Disk Drive (RAM)  --  5:4
  Echo Synthesizer  --  5:4
  Echo GP  --  5:5
  IBM-PC  --  5:5
  ImageWriter  --  5:5
  ImageWriter II  --  5:6
  Kurzweil Reading Machine  --  5:6
  LaserWriter  --  5:7
  LED-120  --  5:7
  Microbrailler  --  5:7
  MBOSS-1 Brailler  --  5:8
  MultiRAM  --  5:8
  MultiRAM-CX  --  5:8
  Ohtsuki Brailler  --  5:8
  PED Plate Embosser  --  5:9
  Personal Brailler  --  5:9
  RamWorks  --  5:10
  Romeo Brailler  --  5:10
  Sider Hard Disk  --  5:10
  SlotBuster  --  5:11
  TED-600  --  5:11
  Thiel Brailler  --  5:11
  VersaBraille (tape-based)  --  5:13
  VersaBraille (disk-based)  --  5:13
  VersaPoint  --  5:14
  Votrax synthesizers  --  5:15
  Z-RAM  --  5:15
Section 6: Controlling Apple Serial Interfaces
  Three Apple Serial Interfaces  --  6:1
    Super Serial Card  --  6:1
    Apple IIc Serial Ports  --  6:1
    Apple IIgs Serial Ports  --  6:2
  Serial Command Sequences  --  6:2
    Determining the command character  --  6:3
    Baud Rate  --  6:4
    Data bits and stop bits  --  6:4
    Parity  --  6:5
  Additional Super Serial Card-Specific Controls  --  6:5
  Additional Command Sequences  --  6:5
    Super Serial Card Switch Settings  --  6:5
    Apple IIc Additional Sequences  --  6:7
    Apple IIgs Additional Sequences  --  6:7
Section 7: Cranmer Brailler
  The Serial Card and Cable  --  7:1
  Setting the BEX Configuration  --  7:2
  Operation of the Brailler  --  7:2
  Reprinting Pages on the Cranmer  --  7:2
Section 8: Tape-Based VersaBraille
  The Equipment  --  8:1
    The Serial Interface  --  8:1
    Cable Adapter  --  8:1
    Interfacing to the Apple IIc  --  8:1
    Connecting Things Together  --  8:1
  Setting Up an Overlay  --  8:2
    Communications Parameters  --  8:3
    Saving the Overlay  --  8:4
  Using the VersaBraille as a Computer Terminal  --  8:4
    Troubleshooting  --  8:5
  Setting Up Two More Overlays  --  8:5
  Using the VersaBraille with BEX  --  8:6
    Setting up your Configurations  --  8:6
    Transferring from the VersaBraille  --  8:6
    Transferring to the VersaBraille  --  8:7
    The VersaBraille as a Computer Terminal (Again)  --  8:8
Section 9: Disk-Based VersaBraille
Section 10: Kurzweil Reading Machine
  Controlling Data with Series 400 KRM'S  --  10:1
  Controlling Data with Model 3 KRM'S  --  10:2
  Reformatting scanned data  --  10:2
  Troubleshooting  --  10:3
Section 11: Apple LaserWriter
  Diablo Emulation Mode  --  11:1
  PostScript Driver  --  11:2
Section 12: Dipner Dots
  Dipner Dots Embossed  --  12:1
  Printed Braille Dots  --  12:2
Section 13: Sider Hard Disk
  Equipment Requirements  --  13:1
  Fundamental Concepts  --  13:1
  Installing the Hardware  --  13:1
  Check for Recognition  --  13:1
  Formatting the Sider  --  13:1
  Copying BEX onto the Sider  --  13:4
  Setting Up the BEX Configuration  --  13:5
  Using the Sider  --  13:6
  Operating System Differences  --  13:8
Section 14: Cable List
  Cable Adapter 1F  --  14:1
  Cable Adapter 1M  --  14:1
  Cable 2F  --  14:1
  Cable 2M  --  14:1
  Cable Adapter 3F  --  14:2
  Cable Adapter 3M  --  14:2
  Cable 4F  --  14:2
  Cable 4M  --  14:2
  Cable 5F  --  14:2
  Cable 5M  --  14:3
  Cable 6F  --  14:3
  Cable 6M  --  14:3
  Gender Adapter 7F  --  14:3
  Gender Adapter 7M  --  14:3
  Cable 9F  --  14:4
  Cable 9M  --  14:4
  Cable 10F  --  14:4
  Cable 10M  --  14:4
  No Cable Used  --  14:5
Section 15: Forcing Card Recognition
  Cards and devices BEX already knows about  --  15:1
  When Not to Use Recognition of Cards  --  15:1
  The Fussy Interfaces  --  15:2
  How Recognition of Cards Works  --  15:2
  Why Recognition of Cards?  --  15:3
  The Circuit Cards BEX Recognizes  --  15:3
  Recognize one card at a time  --  15:4
  Recognizing an Unknown Card  --  15:4
  Undoing a Recognition  --  15:6
  Using FID to Start Over  --  15:6

Section 1: Computers

There are three models of Apple II computers available on the market: The Apple IIgs, Apple IIe, and the Apple IIc. The Apple II Plus, predecessor to the Apple IIe, is no longer manufactured, but many are still in use.

Apple IIe Computer

The Apple IIe computer looks like a beige flattened typewriter with no printing mechanism. It is a low profile box with a keyboard in front. In back, there is a power switch, a jack for the power cord, and a jack for the video signal. There are also places in the back to feed in cables to circuit cards which are plugged into the computer. The lid pops off very easily to allow access into the interior.

The easiest part about setting up the Apple computer is connecting the power cord and the video monitor. Look at the back of the Apple. The power cord goes in the lower right hand corner. Immediately to the left of the power cord is the power switch. On the lower left hand corner of the back is a female RCA phono plug jack (male connectors have prongs, female connectors have holes). This is the video output jack. Use the video cable supplied with the computer to connect the video signal to your monitor. Plug the monitor into a wall socket. You have just interfaced your video monitor. Turn on the computer with the power switch. You should see a close bracket symbol (]) on the screen. Now turn off the computer so you can plug in the disk drives.

The Disk Drives

The first part of the DOS Manual explains how to plug in your disk drives. Either one or two disk drives may be plugged into a single controller card. The disk that is plugged into the top jack of the controller card is disk drive one. The other disk is drive two.

Do not plug anything into the Apple when the power is on. Plug the controller card into slot six of the Apple. Once the disk drive is plugged in, the computer will load material from a disk each time the computer's power is turned on. Insert the BEX Boot disk in drive one. Turn on the computer. When everything is working right, a greeting appears on the screen. If nothing, or garbage appears on the screen, you may have inserted the disk improperly. When in doubt, consult the Apple manual. Make sure that all the plugs are tightly connected. If it still doesn't work, try to find someone who knows how to connect an Apple. Read the first section of the DOS Manual to find out how to take proper care of the disks and of the disk drives.

The Apple IIe Slots

Inside the Apple IIe there are 8 slots. Seven slots are in a row in the back, numbered 1 through 7. An additional slot, located near the brick-shaped power supply, is called the auxiliary slot. It is used for the 80 column card. There are literally dozens of different types of cards which can plug into the Apple. A different interface circuit card may be placed in each numbered slot.

The Extended 80 column card

The Apple IIe is usually sold with a special circuit card called the extended 80 column card. This card plugs into the auxiliary slot. It allows the computer to display 80 vertical columns on the screen. It also doubles the memory of the computer, from 64K to 128K. BEX functions best with the extended 80 column card. If your computer does not have an extended 80 column card, seriously consider purchasing one.

Be aware that Apple also make an 80 column text card. This card allows 80 column display but does NOT contain the 64K of memory that BEX is hungry for. If you have an 80 column text card, consider replacing it with an extended 80 column card.

Slot 3 WARNING

Outputting to slot three on the Apple IIe engages the card in the auxiliary slot. You can only use slot 3 if you don't have a card in the auxiliary slot. The only exception is the Echo synthesizer. The Echo works in slot 3 only if the card in the auxiliary slot is an 80 column card. The Echo does not work in slot 3 if you are using a RAM drive in the auxiliary slot.

Echo Synthesizer

The Echo synthesizer adds speech to the Apple IIe. You can plug the Echo into any free slot. When you boot up, BEX recognizes that an Echo is present, and voices the opening Enter Configuration prompt.

The Echo requires software called TEXTALKER in order to operate. There is a copy of TEXTALKER on your BEX disk. Raised Dot Computing also distributes two double sided disks called the EchostCricket Training Set. These disks contain instructions on the use of TEXTALKER. This material is especially useful when you want to use TEXTALKER without BEX.

Apple IIc

The Apple IIc has a single built-in disk drive included in a nice compact package. The Apple IIc uses an AC adapter to run off a wall socket. The keyboard's layout is similar to that of the Apple IIe. There are no slots for circuit cards in the Apple IIc: it has the equivalent of several circuit cards built-in.

There are two ports on the IIc. These ports are treated as if there were two serial cards in "slots" 1 and 2. The Apple IIc has 128K of memory. It is equivalent to the memory in an Apple IIe with an extended 80 column card in the auxiliary slot. The built-in disk drive is treated as if it was connected to slot 6.

More recent Apple IIc computers can contain additional RAM. It is also possible to hook up a 3.5 inch disk drive to an Apple IIc. For more information, see the Apple Memory Card, Z-RAM, and disk drive (3.5 inch) in the Cookbook section of this Interface Guide.

The Apple IIc also has a speaker with volume control knob and earphone jack, a game control plug, a plug for adding an external disk drive, a phono plug for an external video monitor, and a connector for an external color monitor.

Cricket Synthesizer

The Cricket synthesizer adds speech to the Apple IIc. It must be plugged into port two of the Apple IIc. You must turn on the Cricket before you boot BEX in order for BEX to recognize that the system includes a Cricket.

The Cricket requires software called TEXTALKER in order to operate. There is a copy of TEXTALKER on your BEX disk. Raised Dot Computing also distributes two double sided disks called the EchostCricket Training Set. These disks contain instructions on the use of TEXTALKER. This material is especially useful when you want to use TEXTALKER without BEX.

Software Upgrade

In the spring of 1986, Apple introduced the 3.5 ROM version of the Apple IIc. If you got your Apple IIc earlier, you can get a 3.5 ROM upgrade from your authorized Apple dealer. Contact them for details. You must have the 3.5 ROM version of the Apple IIc to work with DECtalk or the Apple LaserWriter.

There's a very simple test to discover if your IIc has the 3.5 ROM feature. At any BEX menu, type Q. At the BASIC prompt, get into the Apple monitor by typing the following ten characters exactly:
]CALL -151 <CR>
The monitor now prompts you with a single asterisk character. Respond by entering two characters: exclamation point followed by <CR>.
* ! <CR>
The Apple IIc can respond in two ways. If it beeps and reprompts with a single asterisk, then it lacks the 3.5 ROM upgrade. On the other hand, if you are prompted with a single exclamation point, then the IIc does have the 3.5 ROM upgrade.

Second Disk Drive for the IIc

A second disk drive can be connected to the Apple IIc. The connector is located in the middle on the back. A second disk drive is strongly recommended for use with BEX.

PPI Apple IIgs

The Apple IIgs is the most recent addition to the Apple II family. The Apple IIgs is a very sophisticated, flexible, and powerful computer that has the capability of emulating an Apple IIe. The Apple IIgs has some similarities to both the Apple IIe and the IIc. We recommend you read about both those computers to deepen your understanding of the IIgs.

The Apple IIgs is a large box with a separate keyboard. It can be purchased with a monochrome or a color monitor and 5.25 inch or 3.5 inch disk drives. Your Apple IIgs system must have at least one 5.25 inch floppy drive to use BEX.

On the back of the IIgs, there is a power switch, a jack for the power cord, and a number of connectors. These connectors are for the keyboard, a monochrome monitor or a color monitor, a smart disk port, a joystick, two serial ports, and a headphone jack. When you have an Apple IIgs color monitor, use the connector labeled with the Apple logo. When you have a monochrome monitor, use the RCA phono jack.

Built in to the Apple IIgs is a program called the Control Panel. As its name suggests, the Control Panel lets you set a variety of functions for the Apple IIgs, including its built-in slots and built-in ports, the speed at which the computer operates, the colors on the color monitor, how fast the keys repeat when held down, and a host of other functions. Any changes you make to the Control Panel are stored in a battery-backed memory chip, so you don't have to reset the Control Panel every time you turn on the IIgs.

The built-in Control Panel program is incompatible with a speech synthesizer. Included with your BEX package is a talking control panel program written by Computer Aids Corporation. To use the built-in Control Panel program, simultaneously depress the command (or open-Apple) key, the control key, and the Escape key. You must set some Control Panel functions yourself, in particular, the slots and ports and the system speed.

Slots and Ports

For a begining computer user, how the Apple IIgs controls its slots and ports can be confusing. The Apple IIgs is a hybrid between the Apple IIe (with its 7 real slots) and the Apple IIc (with its four ports). The Apple IIgs has 7 Apple IIe-style slots. (The IIgs also has a memory expansion slot, which shares some of the characteristics of the Apple IIe's auxiliary slot.) In addition to the slots, the IIgs also has ports. To quote the Apple IIgs manual, "Each of the ports on the back of the IIgs impersonates a particular slot with an interface card. The IIgs assumes you want the ports to be active unless you activate a particular slot by using the Control Panel."

Using the Control Panel, you tell the IIgs whether it should pay attention to the port, or to a circuit card that you have plugged into to the actual slot. For example, the IIgs has two serial ports, which are referenced as "slot 1" and "slot 2." When you insert an Apple Super Serial card in slot 1, you must change the Control Panel setting for slot 1 from Printer Port to Your Card. When you install an Echo synthesizer in slot 4, the Apple IIgs won't acknowledge that it exists until you specify that slot 4 is Your Card and not the Mouse Port.

The What is in your computer option at the Starting Menu states for each slot whether it is Your card or a IIgs port. Use this option to understand how your IIgs is set up.

Apple IIgs built-in functions


Slot Number    Built-in function
slot 1    serial printer port
slot 2    serial modem port
slot 3    80 column card
slot 4    mouse port
slot 5    smart disk drive port
slot 6    disk drive port
slot 7    AppleTalk port

Apple IIgs System Speed

The Apple IIgs can operate more than twice as fast as the Apple IIe or IIc. It can be switched between fast and normal speed, using the control panel program. BEX can operate at fast speed, so make sure the Control Panel is set this way.

Apple IIgs disk drives

To use BEX with an Apple IIgs, you must have one 5.25 inch disk drives.

You can use both 5.25 inch and 3.5 inch disk drives on the IIgs, and they can be connected in two different ways. When you use 5.25 or 3.5 inch disk drives that connect to an actual disk controller card, you must plug that card into a slot, and set the Control Panel so that slot is Your Card.

Newer 5.25 and 3.5 inch disk drives may be daisy chained. These drives come with DB-19 connectors and a plug in the back (a good example is the external disk drive for the Apple IIc.) You plug one of these drives into the IIgs' smart disk port, and subsequent drives are plugged into the back of the previous drive. The important rule to follow is that 3.5 inch drives are plugged in first, closest to the computer in the daisy chain. Any 5.25 inch drives must be at the end of the daisy chain. Set the Control Panel so that slot 5 is Smart disk port.

The maximum capacity for the smart Disk Port is two 3.5 inch disk drives plus two 5.25 inch disk drives. Even though all the drives are physically connected in a line, the Apple IIgs references these drives as if they were in two different slots. The 3.5 inch drives are treated as though they are connected to slot 5, and the 5.25 drives are treated as though they were connected to slot 6.

() Warning! If you have a second 3.5 inch disk drive, you must set the size of the RAM drive in the control panel to zero. Failure to do this will result in the Apple IIgs automatically hiding the drive in a place where BEX cannot find it.

Apple IIgs System Memory

The Apple IIgs comes with 256K, twice as much as a 128K Apple IIe or IIc. Most of the extra memory is used to support the emulation of the Apple IIe inside the Apple IIgs. BEX uses some of this memory to expand the Ready chapter to 20 pages for the IIgs. When you install more memory in an Apple IIgs by plugging a memory card into its memory expansion slot, BEX uses this memory as a RAM drive. BEX sets up a RAM drive no matter what size you give the control panel's ProDOS RAM drive.

() Warning! BEX will wipe out any other programs or data you have stored on the Apple IIgs. BEX uses all the memory that it finds.

Apple IIgs Echo Synthesizer

We recommend the Echo IIb voice synthesizer for the Apple IIgs. The Apple IIgs comes equipped with advanced sound generation hardware; it can play beautiful music and you may have heard excellent sounding speech--but only in a demonstration. That type of speech is similar to a tape recording--the IIgs can only speak pre-programmed messages. TEXTALKER provides the Echo IIb with unlimited text-to-speech rules; the Echo can pronounce absolutely anything you ask it to say. Although its pronounciation may not be as good as a human's, the Echo's unlimited text-to-speech is what makes the Apple accessible to a person with visual impairments.

You may plug the Echo IIb into either slot 4 or slot 7. You must then be sure to use the Control Panel program to indicate that the Echo's slot is Your Card. Do not plug the Echo IIb in slot 3 if uou have expansion memory.

No Braille Keyboard

BEX's Editor has a braille keyboard mode, where you can use six keys plus the spacebar for braille data entry. The braille keyboard mode does not and can not work with the Apple IIgs keyboard. It is a hardware limitation. If you plan to make extensive use of BEX's braille keyboard, do not use an Apple IIgs.

Apple IIgs Performance Updated from an Apple IIe

An Apple dealer can perform a board-lift on an Apple IIe that turns the older machine into a IIgs. In our tests, this updated machine functions exactly like an Apple IIgs with just one exception: you still have the Apple IIe's keyboard. As far as BEX is concerned, this is a benefit. A true Apple IIgs can not use BEX's braille keyboard mode. An Apple IIe that has been updated to an Apple IIgs can use BEX's braille keyboard mode. For further information about the slots and ports, read the previous material on the Apple IIgs.

Apple II Plus

The Apple II Plus is one of the oldest Apple computers. While BEX can run on an Apple II Plus, its performance is limited.

The Apple II Plus keyboard cannot produce lower case letters. To get around this limitation, many Apple II Pluses have a wire going between the keyboard and the game port. This wire is called a shift key modification. BEX works with or without a shift key modification.

The keyboard buffer in BEX doesn't work with an Apple II Plus. Because of memory limitations, an Apple II Plus cannot be operated at BEX's Master Level.

Slots on the Apple II Plus

The Apple II Plus has eight slots, labeled 0 through 7. There is no auxiliary slot (as there is on the Apple IIe). Slot 0 can only contain a memory card. This card is either called a language card or a 16K RAM card. BEX won't function on the Apple II Plus without this card. BEX requires 64K of memory to function. The Apple II Plus main board has 48K. The language card contains enough memory to bring the system up to the required 64K. There are additional RAM memory cards available for the Apple II plus, but BEX does not support the use of any of these.

For information about connecting a video monitor and a set of disk drives to the Apple II Plus, read the section on the Apple IIe.

Section 2: Sorting Out The Devices

The purpose of this section is to define the different catagories of devices encountered in the BEX configuration questions.

Remote Keyboard

This feature is not available at Learner Level. Some users may want to use something other than the Apple keyboard. They may want to use their VersaBraille keyboard as a substitute keyboard. If you want your device to be used for both input and output for the entire computer dialogue, answer YES to both Do you have a remote keyboard? AND Do you have a braille device for all the material going to the screen?

Echo or Cricket Speech

If you have an Echo or a Cricket in your computer system, then BEX asks you if you want Echo or Cricket speech. If your configuration has Echo speech or Cricket speech, then the computer speaks the entire computer dialogue.

SlotBuster Speech

If you have an SlotBuster in your computer system, then BEX asks you if you want SlotBuster speech. If your configuration has SlotBuster speech the computer speaks the entire computer dialogue.

Voice Output of the Entire Computer Dialogue

This feature is not available at Learner Level. If you do not have Echo or Cricket speech, you are asked, Do you have a voice device for all the material going to the screen? You can indicate that you want the entire computer dialogue directed to your serial voice device. Examples of serial voice devices are: an Echo GP, a Votrax, or a DECtalk.

Braille Output of the Entire Computer Dialogue

This feature is not available at Learner Level. When you configure, you are asked Do you have a braille device for all the material going to the screen? You can indicate that you want the entire computer dialogue directed to your serial braille device. This is useful for a deaf-blind person, or someone who prefers working through their braille computer terminal. Examples of devices that can be used in this way are the VersaBraille, the Microbrailler, or the Cranmer Brailler.

Tape-based VersaBraille

This feature is not available at Learner Level. BEX has special software to transfer chapters between the Apple and the VersaBraille. By answering yes to the configuration question about the tape-based VersaBraille, you are providing information required by these VersaBraille-only options on the Main Menu. See the separate section on the tape-based VersaBraille for more information.

Remote serial device to input through slot

This feature is not available at Learner Level. You can send text directly from a serial device into a BEX chapter. For example, the output from an optical scanner (such as the Kurzweil Reading Machine) can be used to create a BEX chapter. The remote serial device has to be serial, it has to obey Xon/Xoff or hardware handshakes, and it has to be able to be initiated by some external switch or command. Examples of download devices are an IBM-PC (cabled to the Apple), a Kurzweil Reading Machine, a disk-based VersaBraille, or any other computer system that has a serial output port. More information is available later in this manual: Section 9 talks about the disk-based VersaBraille; Section 10 explains the KRM.

Printers

In conventional computer systems, a printer is primarily a device which accepts text from the computer and produces hard-copy inkprint on paper. BEX is designed to produce regular inkprint on dot matrix or daisy wheel printers, large-print on certain dot matrix printers, braille on most embossers, and text output on various serial devices such as braille displays and serial voice synthesizers.

When you begin using BEX, you must first define your system configuration. When you answer the configuration questions about a printer, you are asked for a printer class. Here are the eight possible choices:

G - Generic Printer

A generic printer is an inkprint device. By generic, we mean that BEX does not know what model of printer it is dealing with. BEX ignores any $$eX commands in your text. (The $$eX commands send out command sequences for specific brands of printers.)

S - Specific Printers

A specific printer means that you declare the brand name and model of the printer. BEX executes any $$eX commands in your text. BEX accepts only one kind of specific printer in any one configuration.

L - Large Print Output

BEX is able to generate Large Print on certain dot matrix printers when they are used with certain interface cards. See Section 4 on Printers for details on these important restrictions. BEX uses special graphics software to generate large print. Large print is also possible using the Apple LaserWriter Postscript Driver (see below).

B - Braillers

BEX can output to a wide variety of braille output devices. Most braillers are described in Section 5, the Interfacing Cookbook.

V - Voice Output

A voice output printer is just a shortcut to get voice output of larger sections of text. BEX supplies values for carriage width and form length. An example of a voice output printer is a DECtalk reading an entire chapter.

P - Paperless Brailler

BEX has very special software for the tape-based VersaBraille. However, you can output to OTHER paperless braillers by indicating that you are printing to a paperless brailler. Examples are: Microbrailler or the disk-based VersaBraille 2. When you define a printer as a paperless brailler then BEX sends text without formatting it at all. This may be appropriate for sending information to other, print-oriented computers as well as to paperless braillers.

R - Review Class Printer

The review class printer allows an Echo or Cricket user to find out exactly how a document will look when sent to a printer. You must configure to slot 3 (your 80 column card). See Section 5, Part 4 in the Learner Level DOX for more details.

A - Apple LaserWriter Postscript Driver

BEX provides special software capable of making virtually typeset quality output (in normal or large print) when interfaced to an Apple LaserWriter. See Section 11 for more details on the Apple LaserWriter.

Disk Drives

There are two kinds of disk drive for the Apple computer. One kind is the 5.25 inch floppy disk drive. The other is the 3.5 inch disk drive. At the Learner and User Levels, BEX can only work with 5.25 inch floppy drives. At the Master Level, BEX can read or write data to a 3.5 inch disk drive. Even at the Master Level, BEX requires at least one 5.25 inch drive to boot the BEX program.

Extended Disk Systems

This feature is available at the Master Level only. At the Master Level, you can configure with up to 8 different disk drives. These can be 5.25 inch floppy disk drives, 3.5 inch disk drives, RAM drives, or a Sider hard drive. See the Master Level DOX, Section 4.

This feature is available at the Master Level only. A 3.5 inch disk can hold 800k of information. BEX uses a program called AmDOS 3.5, written by Gary Little to read and write to a 3.5 inch disk. BEX cannot be loaded onto a 3.5 inch disk, so you must have at least one 5.25 inch floppy drive in your system.

RAM drives

This feature is available at the Master Level only. A RAM drive is a circuit card for the Apple containing a large block of memory. The memory (called RAM) is treated like one or more disk drives. BEX works with the RamWorks, MultiRAM, Apple Memory Card, and Apple IIgs memory expansion. RAM drives greatly speed up your system, and allows you to use a larger memory.

Sider Hard Disk

This feature is available at the Master Level only. A Sider hard drive provides 10 or 20 megabytes of storage for your system. BEX can only work with one Sider unit. The Sider is the only hard disk supported by BEX.

Section 3: Serial Cards and Ports

BEX is designed to work with the Apple Super Serial Card, the Apple IIc ports, and the Apple IIgs ports. Whenever possible, we recommend using a Super Serial Card, an Apple IIc port, or an Apple IIgs port.

Two applications must use either a Super Serial Card, a IIc port, or the modem port on the SlotBuster II card:

When you are configuring a printer, BEX is much more flexible. BEX accepts any interface card for a printer. The only exception is large print output. BEX can generate large print output only with one of the following: an Apple Super Serial Card, an Apple IIc serial port, an Apple IIgs serial port, an Apple parallel card, a Grappler Plus parallel card, a Pro Grappler parallel card (version 2.0 or above) or a Slotbuster (serial or parallel).

Raised Dot Computing uses a standard set of interface parameters. These parameters are 9600 baud, 2 stop bits, no parity, auto linefeed, and hardware handshakes. Don't worry if you do not have to have a precise understanding of the technical talk about interfacing parameters. The most important information for computer novices is that an interface involves setting a series of communications parameters. Each device accepts or transmits data in a specific electronic form, which is defined by the communications parameters. Unless these parameters match in the two devices, then things may not work. If the parameters don't match, you may get garbage or no communications at all or missing chunks of your text.

The Apple IIc ports are set to the standard values when BEX is booted.

The Apple IIgs ports have circular, 8 pin jacks. Apple sells a short cable called the Apple IIgs Adapter Cable. This cable plugs into the IIgs port and presents a female RS-232 25 pin jack.

The parameters of the Apple IIgs ports are set by using the Control Panel program. Port 1 needs one change from its default parameters. Set the data bits/stop bits to 8/2. Port 2 needs three changes in the Control Panel: set the baud rate to 9600, set add LF after CR to yes, and set data/stop bits to 8/2. To cable a device to a IIgs port, follow the instructions for cabling to the Super Serial Card. Plug the appropriate cable to the Apple IIgs Adapter Cable.

The Super Serial Card has 14 little switches and a special switch called the jumper block. The jumper block is a "chip" with a white triangle on it. If the jumper block is pointing to the word modem, pull out the chip, turn it around, and re-insert it.

Unless you are instructed otherwise, always set the switches on your Super Serial Card this way. When you use the What is in this computer option in BEX's Starting Menu, you are told whether a Super Serial Card is set to standard or non-standard parameters.

Section 4: Printers

BEX does its best to make nice output, but you have the responsibility of making sure that your printer is ready to print. Since every printer is slightly different, we can't tell you exactly how to set up yours. Your best guide will be the manual for your printer. However, here are some general principles to keep in mind.

Troubleshooting Your Printer

No Output

There are many reasons why you cannot get output to a printer. The printer may be defective. You may have the wrong cable. You may have the wrong switch settings on your interface card. You may have the wrong switch settings on your printer.

Before we take apart your computer system trying to diagnose your problem, lets deal with a common problem. When you configure BEX, you can describe up to four different printers. The BEX printer numbers, one through four, represent the order the printers were defined and not the slot numbers that the printers are connected to. If you have a printer attached to slot 2, do not answer 2 to the Which printer: prompt unless BEX printer number 2 is configured as the printer in slot 2. At the Which printer: prompt, enter a question mark followed by a carriage return to find out what printers are in your configuration.

If you cannot get BEX to send output to a printer, find out if the problem is with BEX or with the printer. For example, let's say that your printer is attached to slot 1. Press Q to Quit from BEX. Enter the following five characters: PR#1 <CR> Anything you type on your computer keyboard should go to the printer. This method of sending text to the printer completely avoids using BEX. There is a problem with your printer or with your interface card if typing PR#1 <CR> does not get text to your printer. Please do not call RDC. All we can do is tell you to call your computer dealer.

Garbled Output

If the output on your printer is gar4, chances are that the switch settings on the interface card and/or your printer are wrong. Make sure the baud rate, data bits, and stop bits match on both devices.

Bad Format

One common problem is fail to configure a brailler as a brailler. Be aware that none of the supplied configurations contain a brailler. If you have a brailler you must set up your own configuration.

A common problem is to configure with the wrong carriage width and form length. When you configure, BEX supplies suggested carriage widths and form lengths (just press return to these questions). If you give too long a carriage width, then some lines will be chopped in the middle of a word, while others will be quite short. If you give too long a form length, then every other page will be very short.

If you have problems with large print output, read the section on Large Print in this manual. Ask yourself the following questions: Have I set the switches in the printer correctly? Have I set the printer for 8 data bits? Have I configured properly?

Vertical Alignment

The printer itself keeps track of where it is printing on the page. When you enter the printer number at the Which printer: prompt, BEX assumes that you have set the top of form correctly. Some printers have a top of form button you push to tell the printer: "OK, remember your current position as the top of the sheet." Less expensive printers use the position of the printhead when you turn the machine on. If you're visually impaired, you have to establish a landmark to use for setting top of form. An example is: the fold at the top of the sheet is even with the bottom of the tear bar.

Once you have established top of form, BEX swings into action. Using the form length you defined in your configuration, BEX keeps track of every carriage return it sends to your printer. If you have defined a form length of 58, for example, BEX knows that after sending 57 carriage returns, it's time to send a form feed character to the printer. This form feed character makes the printer advance to the next top of form, where BEX starts counting carriage returns again.

It's very tempting to use the platen knobs to roll your paper out, but it confuses the dickens out of your printer. Suppose you have a printout that's two and one-half sheets long. When BEX is done printing, the third sheet is halfway through the printer. As far as the printer knows, there are still around 30 lines left on that sheet. If you manually roll the paper out, the printer has no way of accounting for the 30 lines. If you manually roll the paper so it looks like it's set for the right top of form and you use your printer before turning it off, the next time your output will only fill part of the sheet. The printer itself will generate a bogus form feed after it counts 30 lines.

The best way to proceed is to always use the printer's form feed button that advances the sheet to the next top of form. That way both the printer and BEX are operating from the same assumptions.

The form length is the maximum number of printed lines on each page. Generally, single spaced printer output is 6 lines per vertical inch (see your printer's manual). Double or triple spaced text counts the spacing lines as if they were printed. To figure out what form length to specify, first decide how long you want your top and bottom margins. As a rule of thumb, subtract your desired top and bottom margins from the paper length and multiply the resulting length by the number of lines per vertical inch to get the form length. For example, if you want top and bottom margins of 1 inch each on 11 inch paper, that would be 9 inches of printing. Nine inches of printing times 6 lines per vertical inch is 54. Use 54 to define your form length.

Horizontal Alignment

The carriage width is the maximum number of characters on each line. Standard character output on printers is 10 or 12 per horizontal inch (see your printer's manual). You may be able to specify exactly which on your printer. If you specify a carriage width of 72 and you get 12 characters per inch output on your printer, then you can have 1-1/4 inch of margin of each side of the page. Of course, the exact margin depends on where the printing starts on the line.

When you define a carriage width of 72 for a printer in your configuration, you are actually telling BEX: "Print as many complete words as will fit in without exceeding 72 characters in this line, then send the printer a carriage return." Exactly where the first character on the line shows up depends on your printer. If the place that the printhead returns to is too far to the left for your taste, then tell BEX to use a left margin. See Learner Level Section 6.

Again, printers differ. On some printers, you can physically move the spot to which the printhead returns. Then, when you set top of form, you are also setting a left margin. If this is the case, then BEX (and you) don't need to worry about a margin. On many other printers, the printhead's lefthand resting place is very close to the edge of the paper. In this case, you do need to define a margin to make your output look standard.

Generic Printer

When you configure a generic printer, BEX does not know the model of printer. This means that BEX does not use any special codes which are peculiar to certain printers.

Configure as follows:
Enter printer slot: # <CR>
Enter printer class: G <CR>
Enter carriage width: 72 <CR> (or whatever)
Enter form length: 56 <CR> (or whatever)
Do you want pause on form feed? N <CR>
Do you want auto line feed? N <CR>
Do you want to give an automatic set up sequence for this printer? N <CR>

The question Do you want pause on form feed? is really asking if you need to stop the computer from sending text to the printer at the end of a page. If you are manually inserting each sheet into the printer, answer YES. If you have tractor feed and continuous form paper, answer NO.

The question Do you want auto linefeed? is asking if you want BEX to add a line feed (a special control character) each time it sends out a carriage return. The first time you configure, answer NO. Most printers advance to the next line when they receive a carriage return. If the resulting printouts are all overstriking, then re-configure, answering YES to the auto linefeed question.

Unless your printer needs a special sequence of control characters to properly wake up, answer NO to the question Do you need a set up sequence for this printer? For information about your printer, check your printer manual.

Specific Printers

A specific printer means that you declare the brand name and model of the printer. BEX then executes any $$eX commands in your text. The only difference between specific and generic is that you can use these $$eX commands to change pitch, use boldface, use the printer's underlining, and have superscripts and subscripts. Please note that the Apple ImageWriter does NOT support superscripts and subscripts.

Configure as you would for a generic printer, only answer S for the printer class. You are asked if you have a dot matrix printer. The tables in BEX contain entries for the following printers:

Dot Matrix Printers

Letter Quality Printers

There are hundreds of printers on the market. Obviously, this list only covers a small number of printers. There is hope if you have a printer which is not in this list. Your printer is probably compatible with a printer that is on this list. Check your printer manual. You may find a statement that the printer is "compatible with the FX-80" or "compatible with the Diablo 630." If so, then configure as an FX-80 or Diablo 630, and things should work.

If your printer manual is lacking any statement of compatibility, it still may be compatible. You will have to do some research in your printer manual. Look up the control codes for underlining and bold face printing.

If you have a letter quality printer, compare your printer's codes with the Diablo 630 and the Qume Sprint (the two most imitated letter quality printers). Here are the codes for Diablo 630: <ESC> E - underline; <ESC> R - stop underline; <ESC> W - shadow on; and <ESC> and - shadow off. Here are the codes for the Qume Sprint: <ESC> I - underline; <ESC> J - stop underline; <ESC> Kn - bold face on; and <ESC> M - bold face off. If your printer has identical codes, then configure as a Diablo 630 or as a Qume Sprint.

If you have a dot matrix printer, there is a good chance that your printer is compatible with the Apple ImageWriter or the Epson FX-80. Here are the codes for the Apple ImageWriter: <ESC> X - underline; <ESC> Y - stop underline; <ESC> to - bold face on; and <ESC>? - bold face off. Here are the codes for the Epson FX-80: <ESC> G - emphasized print on; and <ESC> H - emphasized print off.

If your printer does not match any of these combinations, do not panic. You can add to the table in BEX that contains the specific printer control codes. When you configure at the Master Level, you can use option P at the Starting Menu to list the contents of chapter PRINTERS on the Boot side. Page one is for letter quality printers, page two is for dot matrix printers. Each printer name starts with a backslash. The end of the table is indicated by two backslashes. Each item in the table is separated by a delete character. Use the P option to learn the sequence of items in the table. Use the Editor to modify chapter PRINTERS. You can add a new printer to the list with the escape sequences of your printer. More details on this are in the Master Level, Section 5, Part 6.

Large Print

BEX can produce Large Print on some dot matrix printers at 14 or 18 point using special graphics software. Raised Dot Computing has extensive experience with the Apple ImageWriter. We find that it gives fast and high quality Large Print. Because Raised Dot does not have extensive experience with Large Print on many printers, we are at this time unable to give explicit instructions on any printer other than the ImageWriter. We would be very grateful to any BEX user that provided us with detailed notes on their equipment. In addition, BEX can also generate Large Print with a wide variety of font sizes on an Apple LaserWriter--see Section 11 for details.

Large Print with an ImageWriter or ImageWriter II

The ImageWriter or ImageWriter II can be connected to an Apple Super Serial Card, an Apple IIc port, or an Apple IIgs port. Set the switches on the Super Serial Card to the standard. See the Cookbook section for the switch settings on the ImageWriter.

When you configure BEX, press carriage return to get the suggested values for all the spacing parameters. There are some new questions you are asked. Giving a character spacing greater than zero spreads out the letters on a line. The line spacing determines how close the lines are to each other. Start with the recommended values. Changing the font size changes the carriage width, form length, and line spacing. Here is a sample configuration using the 18 point font:
Enter printer slot: # <CR>
Enter printer class: L <CR>
Enter Large Print printer code: 1 <CR> (1 is for ImageWriter)
Enter font size: 18 <CR>
Enter line spacing: 27 <CR>
Enter extra spacing between characters: 0 <CR>
Enter carriage width: 42 <CR>
Enter form length: 24 <CR>
Do you want pause after form feed: N <CR>
Do you need a set up sequence for this printer? N <CR>

Large Print on Other Printers

We are sorry that we cannot provided detailed instructions on working with other printers. We do know that the three biggest hurdles are getting the right interface card, getting auto linefeed right, and getting the data bits set right.

BEX can only generate Large Print with a small group of interface cards. You CANNOT make Large Print unless you have one of these interface cards:

If you do not have one of these interface cards and you want to generate Large Print, you will have to purchase a supported interface card. Please do not call us and ask us to support additional cards. We would need a circuit card in-house, extensive technical reports, and lots of time to support additional cards.

One distinct possibility is that you have a genuine supported card (such as a Grappler Plus), but BEX refuses to recognize it. Use the W option at the Starting Menu. If BEX says the card is unidentified, then use option R at the Starting Menu to force BEX to recognize the card. Please read Section 15 for more information about how to use this option.

We designed the Large Print driver for two kinds of printers, the Apple ImageWriter and the Epson FX-80. If you have a dot matrix printer, it is quite likely that your printer emulates the graphics mode of one of these two printers.

If your printer manual has an entry "<ESC> G nnnn - Print 1x8 graphics corresponding to the following nnnn data bytes" then it emulates an Apple ImageWriter. Just answer the question about Large Print printer code with 1 for Apple ImageWriter.

If your printer manual has an entry "<ESC> L n1 n2 - Sets bit image graphics in the 960 mode, the next n1 + n2 bytes will be printed in dot graphics" then it emulates an Epson FX-80. Answer the question about Large Print printer code with 2 for the Epson FX-80.

Troubleshooting Large Print Problems

If you get a small corner of good printout, but then it garbles characters, you have a high bit problem. If there is a thin band of white in each sweep, you also have a high bit problem. Search through your printer manual for any reference to a switch to control data bits. Set the switch to 8 data bits.

If your Apple makes a continuous squeal, then the carriage width you have specified is too great. Reconfigure your printer with a smaller number for carriage width.

If your Interface card is a Pro Grappler, make sure that it is marked version 2.0 or above. If not, obtain a new firmware chip from your dealer.

Braille Output

BEX can generate braille on a wide variety of braille devices. To configure for a braille device, answer the printer class question with B for braille output. You are asked for a brailler type. Unless otherwise noted, each choice is discussed in Section 5, the Interfacing Cookbook. Here is the list of choices:
1 - Braille Previewer
2 - Braille Previewer with voice
3 - Cranmer Brailler (see section 7)
4 - MBOSS-1
5 - Thiel Brailler
6 - LED-120 using control-K
7 - LED-120 not using control-K
8 - recent LED-120
9 - Personal Brailler
10 - TSI VersaPoint
11 - Ohtsuki brailler
12 - Dipner Dots embossed (see section 12)
13 - Dipner Dots printed (see section 12)
14 - ETF-80 and IBM typewriter (write for instructions)
15 - Camwill typeball (write for instructions)
16 - PED plate embosser

The Braille Previewer (braille device 1) and the Braille Previewer with voice (brailler device 2) are designed to allow the user to check braille format on the screen before committing the file to paper braille. Braille Previewer is designed for a sighted user, Braille Previewer with voice is designed for a visually impaired user. Configure to slot 3 (your 80 column card). Give the carriage width and form length of your physical braille output device. When you output to these printers, the material is displayed on the screen in the same pagination as it would have if you output to a physical brailler. You can save a lot of braille paper by checking your material on the screen before brailling it. The Braille Previewers are useful for setting up a table of contents. Further details are in User Level, Section 6, Part 3.

When you output to a brailler, the paragraph symbol, centering, page numbering, and underlining adjust to braille standards. If you need more advanced braille formatting, Raised Dot Computing has developed the TranscriBEX module for BEX. If your applications require difficult braille formats (such as textbook braille format or literary braille format), please ask about TranscriBEX.

Section 5: Interfacing Cookbook

This section gives an abbreviated guide to interfacing a number of common devices. Devices are listed in alphabetical order. Many devices are covered in more detail in later sections of this interface guide.

Unless otherwise specified, any Super Serial Card should be set at our standard switch settings (see Section 3). Unless otherwise specified, any Apple IIc port should be left at the parameters set when BEX is booted.

The primary means of getting data from the Apple to another device is the Print option on the Main Menu. The action of the print program is affected by the configuration and by the use of formatting indicaters. The behavior of the printer can be affected by special control sequences.

Unless otherwise specified, the primary means of getting data from another RS-232 device is Input through Slot on the Second Menu. This is described in Section 12 of the User Level DOX.

Raised Dot Computing sells the Apple Super Serial Card and all the cables mentioned here. Some cables are widely available elsewhere. For example, the 6M cable is a 9-wire straight male-to-male cable, and the 6F is a 9-wire straight male-to-female cable. Both are available from most computer stores. The cable codes herein are used only by Raised Dot Computing. Refer to Section 14 for the specifications of these cables.

Apple Memory Card

The Apple Memory Card is a card that can go in a regular slot of a IIe or IIgs. A variation on this circuit card can be placed in the Apple IIc. It is usually placed in slot 5. Slot 7 and slot 4 are other likely candidates if slot 5 must have another card. If BEX does not recognize your card as a Regular slot memory card, then use option R at the Starting Menu. The Apple Memory Card cannot be used in the same system that has a Sider hard disk. At the Master Level, you can configure an Apple memory card as one of your disk drives (as a RAM drive). You can load the Main side software on the RAM drive. See Section 3 of the Master Level.

Cranmer Brailler

A 6M cable connects the Cranmer to a Super Serial card. A 2M cable connects the Cranmer to an Apple IIc. See Section 7 for more information on using the Cranmer.

Cricket Synthesizer

The Cricket adds speech to the Apple IIc. It must be plugged into port two of the Apple IIc. The Cricket also works in port 2 of the Laser 128. You must turn on the Cricket before you boot BEX in order for BEX to recognize that the system includes a Cricket.

The Cricket requires software called TEXTALKER in order to operate. There is a copy of TEXTALKER on your BEX disk. Raised Dot Computing also distributes two double sided disks called the EchostCricket Training Set. These disks contain instructions on the use of TEXTALKER. This material is especially useful when you want to use TEXTALKER without BEX.

() Warning! Do not place the Cricket directly on top of your computer or disk drive. Operation of the Cricket will interfere with the data transfer and your files may be scrambled.

DECtalk

Do not use the cable that comes with the DECtalk; this enclosed cable does not work with Apple computers. Instead, use a 6F cable to connect a Super Serial Card to DECtalk. If you have an Apple IIc, it must have the 3.5 ROM upgrade. Use a 2F cable to connect the Apple IIc to DECtalk.

Cable to the outer port (the one closest to the corner) on DECtalk. This port works at 1200 baud with Xon/Xoff handshakes. When you declare your serial voice device to be DECtalk in your configuration, BEX automatically sets the Super Serial Card or IIc port to these parameters. In other words, set the Super Serial Card to the standard parameters, and BEX takes care of the baud rate and the handshakes.
Do you want Echo speech? N <CR>
Do you have a voice device for all the material going to the screen? Y <CR>
Enter voice device slot? # <CR>
Is this DECtalk? Y <CR>

You can also configure DECtalk as one of your printers so you can dump long files to DECtalk for recording purposes. Here's how:
Enter printer slot: # <CR>
Enter printer class: V <CR>

DEST scanner

Use a 6M cable to connect the DEST to the Super Serial Card. Use a 2M cable to connect the DEST to the Apple IIc. There are two sets of DIP switches on the DEST. Set the switches in group 1 to: off off off on on off on on (9600 baud, no parity, 8 data bits, Xon/Xoff, asynchronous communications.) Set group 2 to: all on. If you want to flag possible errors, set S2-6 to off.

Dipner Dots

Dipner Dots is a method of producing braille on a slightly modified letter quality printer. You can also produce "printed" (simulated) braille dots on either a letter quality printer or a dot matrix printer. BEX contains all the necessary software to produce Dipner Dots. See Section 12 on Dipner Dots for more information.

Disk Drives (5.25 inch)

BEX requires at least one floppy (5.25 inch) disk drive to boot the software. The Apple IIc has one built-in 5.25 inch disk drive. You can plug an additional drive into the Apple IIc. The Apple IIe and Apple II Plus require a separate disk controller card to run the disk drives. Each controller card can work with two disk drives. It is typical to have two disk drives interfaced in slot 6.

On an Apple IIgs, you can plug a floppy disk controller card in slot 6. Or you can plug disk drives to the Smart Disk Port on the back of the IIgs. The Smart Disk Port can attach up to a maximum of four disk drives in a daisy chain: two 3.5 inch drives and two 5.25 inch drives.

Disk Drive (3.5 inch)

() Warning! BEX requires at least one 5.25 inch disk drive to boot the software.

At the Master Level, BEX can read and write data onto 3.5 inch disks. BEX can only handle one or two 3.5 inch disk drives attached to one controller card. If BEX does not recognize the controller card as a 3.5 inch disk drive, then use option R at the Starting Menu. On the Apple IIgs, you have to set the control panel RAM drive size to zero in order to use a second 3.5 inch drive.

At the Master Level, you can read ProDOS textfiles from 3.5 inch disks. BEX uses a software patch called AmDOS 3.5 to be able to use 3.5 inch disks. For more information about using 3.5 inch disks, see Master Level Section 3.

Disk Drive (RAM)

At the Master Level, BEX can use a variety of RAM drives. BEX can use regular slot cards like the Apple Memory card, auxiliary slot cards, like the RamWorks card, or Apple IIgs expansion memory. For more information about using RAM drives, see Master Level Section 3.

Echo Synthesizer

There are several models of Echo synthesizer. The Echo 2, Echo Plus, and Echo IIb have a slot card that connects to an external speaker. They all work the same with BEX. The Echo GP is a serial voice synthesizer (see below). The Echo card plugs into any free slot (including slot 3). Do not use an Echo in slot 3 in an Apple IIe if you also have an auxiliary slot RAM drive. When you boot up, BEX recognizes that an Echo is present, and voices the opening Enter Configuration: prompt. Make sure that a speaker is connected to the Echo card.

The Echo requires software called TEXTALKER in order to operate. There is a copy of TEXTALKER on your BEX disk. Raised Dot Computing also distributes two double sided disks called the EchostCricket Training Set. These disks contain instructions on the use of TEXTALKER. This material is especially useful when you want to use TEXTALKER without BEX.

Echo GP

Plug the Echo GP directly into the Super Serial Card. You need a 2F cable to connect the Apple IIc to the Echo GP. There are four switches on the bottom of the Echo GP. Set them all to on. Follow the configuration questions in the DECtalk section, except answer NO to Is this DECtalk?

IBM-PC

You can send text from the IBM-PC to the Apple computer by cabling the two computers. Use a 9F cable to connect an IBM serial port to an Apple Super Serial Card. If you are using an Apple IIc, use a 10F cable.

To use Input through Slot on the Apple, configure with a Download Device. Use Input through Slot, and give a new chapter name. Enter the following on the IBM-PC:
A> MODE COM1:96,N,8,2,P
A> MODE LPT1:=COM1:

As the IBM begins to transmit, you should hear the Apple squeal. Press Q on the Apple when the transmission is finished.

ImageWriter

Use a 6M to connect the Super Serial Card to the ImageWriter. Use a 2M to connect an Apple IIc to the ImageWriter.

The switches on the ImageWriter are located under a plastic flap near the print head. When you face the front of the the machine, the switch assembly is upside down. In the chart of switch settings that follows, "op" is short for open; "cl" is short for closed.

ImageWriter II

You must purchase an Apple peripheral cable to connect an Apple IIc or IIe to the ImageWriter II. This cable is available from your local Apple dealer.

The switches on the ImageWriter II are located in front of the print head. Switches 2-5 and 2-6 should not be changed from their factory settings--that's why "dc" (don't change) appears in the chart below.

Kurzweil Reading Machine

Select the appropriate cable as follows:

Connect the cable to the lower port on the Model 3 Reading Machine, or the middle port on the Series 400.

When you declare your download device to be a Kurzweil Reading Machine, BEX automatically sets the interface to 4800 baud and 1 stop bit. This is the most common setting for the Kurzweil Reading Machine. See Section 10 on the Kurzweil Reading Machine for more information.

LaserWriter

Use a 6M cable to connect a Super Serial Card to the Apple LaserWriter. If you have an Apple IIc, it must have the 3.5 ROM upgrade. Use a 2M cable to connect the Apple IIc to the Apple LaserWriter.

BEX can either work with the special Diablo emulation mode, or directly generate Postscript files. See Section 11 on the LaserWriter for more information.

LED-120

Use a 6M cable to connect an LED-120 to the Super Serial Card. Set the baud rate on the Super Serial Card to 1200 baud by setting the first four switches in bank one to: OFF ON ON ON. Use brailler code number 8.

Older LED-120 braillers require time delays at the end of a line and at the end of a page. Use brailler code number 7. You are asked Do you need a time delay for each page? Answer YES.

Very old LED-120 units do not advance to a new page without receiving a control-K. Use brailler code number 6 if you have one of these collector's pieces.

Microbrailler

Use a 6F cable to connect the Microbrailler to the Super Serial Card. Use a 2F cable to connect the Microbrailler to the Apple IIc. Connect to the DTE port on the Microbrailler. Set all the switches on the Microbrailler for the DTE port to ON. Use the input through slot and print to a paperless brailler features of BEX to transfer information between the MicroBrailler and BEX, described in Section 9 on the disk-based VersaBraille.

MBOSS-1 Brailler

The MBOSS-1 can be ordered as either parallel or serial. Order the serial version. Use a 6M cable to connect the MBOSS-1 to the Super Serial Card. Use a 2M cable to connect the MBOSS-1 to the Apple IIc. In the chart of switch settings that follows, "op" is short for open; "cl" is short for closed.

MultiRAM

A MultiRAM is a memory card that acts just like a RamWorks. See the text on the RamWorks card.

MultiRAM-CX

A MultiRAM-CX is a memory card that acts just like a Z-RAM. See the text on the Z-RAM.

Ohtsuki Brailler

The Ohtsuki Brailler can use either serial or parallel interfaces. The parallel interface seems to be the most straightforward. A Grappler Plus parallel card works fine. Set the Ohtsuki bank one to: on on off on off off

To connect the Ohtsuki brailler to a Super Serial Card, use a 6M cable. The serial card needs non-standard switch settings.

The Ohtsuki responds to a variety of useful escape sequences (see the Ohtsuki manual). The set up sequence <ESC> l T sets the line spacing so 25 lines of print and braille fit on a page.

PED Plate Embosser

Use a 6F cable to connect the PED to the Super Serial Card. Use a 2F cable to connect the PED to the Apple IIc. BEX automatically sets the port to 1200 baud and 1 stop bit. BEX also generates the extra spaces and control characters required by the PED. Answer Yes to the pause on form feed and auto linefeed configuration questions. You have to generate one page (plate) at a time. When a new plate is set in the machine, press the Apple spacebar to punch the next plate.

Personal Brailler

Use a 6F cable to connect the Personal Brailler to the Super Serial Card. Use a 2F cable to connect the Personal Brailler to the Apple IIc.

Care must be used in setting the switches on the Personal Brailler, since Enabling Technology has reversed the conventional meaning of on and off for a rocker switch. A rocker switch has two ends. One is always flush with the surface, the other is raised from the surface. When the end of the switch on the side marked on is raised, the switch is on.

The Personal Brailler has 4 banks of switches, with 8 switches per bank. The fourth bank is set by the factory to control timing the unit. Never change bank four unless you know what you are doing. Here are the switch settings for the other three banks:

To find out if you have set the switches correctly, hold down the on line button as you power up. You will get a status report. This report should say (among a list of entries): 9600 baud, parity marking, and duplex full. The report also contains the software version for the Personal Brailler. We have tested this with Personal Brailler version 2.4. Field reports indicate that these switch settings do not work on earlier versions of the Personal Brailler. Contact Enabling Technology Company for assistance.

RamWorks

RamWorks is a memory expansion card for the Apple IIe. It fits in the auxiliary slot (where the 80 column card goes). You can retire your 80 column card. Don't worry: the RamWorks card performs all the functions of an extended 80 column card. If you have an Echo in slot 3 then move it: the use of a RamWorks card clashes with an Echo in slot 3. See Master Level DOX Section 4 for information about using an auxiliary slot RAM drive.

Romeo Brailler

A 6M cable connects the Romeo to a Super Serial card. A 2M cable connects the Romeo to an Apple IIc. There are a number of built-in configurations in the Romeo, choose "Apple serial". Use the keypad on the Romeo to set up the Romeo. Because different units may vary, consult your manual for the appropriate sequences. When you configure BEX, choose 9 for Personal Brailler.

Sider Hard Disk

You must have an Apple IIe or Apple IIgs to use a Sider with BEX. Only one Sider unit can work with BEX. A Sider cannot be used in the same system that has an Apple Memory Card (an auxiliary slot RAM card is no problem). The Sider Interface Card is usually installed in slot 7. The installation procedure is very complicated and requires the services of a sighted person. See Section 13 for the details.

SlotBuster

The SlotBuster is a multifunction card for the Apple IIe or Apple IIgs. A SlotBuster can contain a voice synthesizer, a serial port, a parallel port, a modem port. The serial and parallel ports can have memory buffers.

When you boot up, BEX recognizes that a SlotBuster is present, it uses the voice synthesizer and voices the opening Enter Configuration prompt. BEX works with the SCAT screen review software for the SlotBuster. BEX treats the SlotBuster as a built-in voice device, like the Echo or Cricket.

The serial and parallel ports are output only. They can be used for printers, including large print. You cannot use the SlotBuster serial port for VersaBraille transfers or Input through Slot. The serial port acts like a Super Serial Card set at the standard parameters.

The SlotBuster modem port cannot be used to output to printers. The modem port works with VersaBraille transfers and Input through Slot. The serial port acts like a Super Serial Card set at the standard parameters. To cable a device to the modem port, use the cable appropriate for the Super Serial card, and add a 3F cable adapter.

TED-600

We have no cabling or switch setting details for working with the TED-600. We would appreciate receiving a detailed field report.

Configure BEX as a brailler type 7 (an LED-120 not using control-K). You will be asked Do you need a time delay for each page? Answer No.

Thiel Brailler

Use a 6F to connect the Thiel to a Super Serial Card. Use a 2F cable to connect a Thiel to an Apple IIc. Plug the cable into the Thiel connector marked host computer. Configure a class B printer, type 5. Establish the carriage width and form length that you want; the values here override the values you set in the Thiel's internal configuration.

To set the parameters on the Thiel, you have to go through a configuration dialogue in braille. All the critical parameters on the Thiel are set from a simple YES/NO keyboard. Set the line-local switch to local. To begin the dialogue, hold down the YES button for a few seconds and then release. The Thiel dialogue has gone through several revisions; this is how we answer the questions on our unit:
Start of the setup-program:
Dialog in deutscher sprache?
Outprint in german language? NO
Display parameters? NO
Select Fixed Parameters? NO
Change Character Set? YES
Character system ASCII? YES
Character system German? NO
Character system US-ASCII? YES
Change format of printing? YES
6-dot presentation? YES
Continuous Print? NO
Page length 13 inches? NO
Page length 12 inches? NO
Page length 11 inches? YES
Change line spacing? NO
26 lines per page is possible, change number? NO
Number of characters per line: 42; change number? NO
Word Wrap? YES
indent following line overflow? YES
Paperfeed at end of page? YES
Change computer connection? YES
Allow escape sequences? YES
Change baudrate? YES
9600 baud? YES
Change data format? YES
Parity on? NO
Number of stopbits 1? NO
Number of stopbits 1/2? NO
Number of Stopbits 2? YES
Change Synchronization? YES
Synchronization: Xon/Xoff? NO
Synchronization DTR? YES
Synchronization DTR-positive? YES
Half-Duplex? YES
Change mode of read key? NO
Selftest? NO

The Thiel displays all the selected parameters and ask Save Parameters? Answer YES.

These parameters are remembered even if you turn off the power. Use the wheel on the side of the unit to set the top of form. Feed in the paper until the page perfor Not is just above the printing bar. Press the TOF (top of form) key while still in local. Now flip the switch to line. The Thiel is ready to emboss.

VersaBraille (tape-based)

Setting the parameters on the VersaBraille requires setting up several overlay chapters on VersaBraille tape. See Section 8 on the tape-based VersaBraille for much more information. Here is the cable chart:

VersaBraille II (disk-based)

Use a 6M cable to connect the VersaBraille II DTE port to the Super Serial Card. Use a 2M cable to connect the VersaBraille II DTE port to the Apple IIc. See Section 9 on the disk-based VersaBraille II for more information.

VersaPoint

Use a 9M cable to connect the VersaPoint to the Super Serial Card. Use a 10M cable to connect the VersaPoint to the Apple IIc. If you have any questions about the cables between the Apple and the VersaPoint, contact Raised Dot Computing.

There are no parameter switches on the VersaPoint. You configure it by answering questions. Once configured, the parameters are retained even if the power is turned off. Put the unit on-line. Hold down the LF switch as you turn on the unit. The prompting message TSI VersaPoint Set Up Menu is displayed. For each communications parameter, the VersaPoint displays a default setting. To change the displayed value for a communications parameter, press the LF button. To accept the displayed value and go on to the next parameter, press the FF button. When you have specified all the parameters, press the TF button.

Configure as follows:

Braille output: Yes

Recall default set up: No

Language: English

Page Length: 11

Line Length: 42

Lines/Page: 25 or 26

Auto wraparound: off

Auto line-feed: off

Interface: Serial

Baud rate: 9600

Bits/char: 7

Xon/xoff: off

DTR: high

DSR: off

After you press the TF button, you are asked Store set up: yes Press the FF button to permanently save the communications parameters in the VersaPoint.

Votrax synthesizers

Call Votrax for interfacing information. Their toll-free line is (800) 521-1350. Ask for technical assistance. You probably need a special cable. Get the information on the cable and have a local computer store make it for you.

Z-RAM

A Z-RAM is a memory card for the Apple IIc. Despite the instructions that come with the device, have a trained technician install the card for you. The Z-RAM is treated as an auxiliary slot RAM card. See Section 4 of the Master Level DOX for more information.

Section 6: Controlling Apple Serial Interfaces

On the Apple II computer, there are three primary methods to establish a serial interface connection: the Super Serial Card, which can be plugged into a slot in the II plus, IIe, or IIgs; the two serial ports built-in on the IIc; and the two serial ports built-in on the IIgs.

Three Apple Serial Interfaces

Super Serial Card

The Super Serial Card can be controlled in two ways: by changing the switch settings, or by sending it special command sequences. When the SSC is powered up, it follows the parameters set by the switches. You can override these parameters with command sequences. RDC recommends that you set the jumper block to terminal; set bank one to: OFF OFF OFF ON OFF ON OFF; and set bank two to: OFF OFF ON ON ON OFF OFF. This sets the SSC for 9600 baud, 8 data bits, 2 stop bits, no parity, auto linefeed, and hardware handshakes. The Super Serial Card uses a 35 pin D-style connector. RDC has an assortment of 25-pin cables designed to connect the Super Serial Card to a wide variety of peripheral devices.

Apple IIc Serial Ports

There are two serial ports on the back of the Apple IIc. These ports are actually two built-in serial cards set up as if they were in slots 1 and 2. The serial ports have circular, five-pin DIN jacks. Raised Dot Computing has an assortment of five-pin DIN cables designed to connect the Apple IIc to a number of voice and braille devices.

Apple IIc ports do not have any switches. Their behavior is determined by internal memory locations. Ordinarily, these internal settings are very difficult to modify. BEX is designed to make it easy for you to change the parameters. When you boot BEX, the ports are both set as communication ports with these parameters: 9600 baud, 8 data bits, 2 stop bits, no parity, and auto linefeed. These settings work with all the interfaces described in this manual.

Apple IIgs Serial Ports

There are two serial ports on the back of the Apple IIgs. As far as BEX is concerned, these ports work just like a Super Serial Card except for Input through Slot, and tape-based VersaBraille transfers. For these functions, you must use a Super Serial Card.

The Control Panel program determines how the ports behave, and whether the IIgs is using the actual port or an interface card in its companion slot. Port 1 is called the Printer Port. Port 2 is called the Modem Port. The default setting for the printer port is 9600 baud with auto linefeed--the same as RDC'S standard parameters (except data/stop bits should be set to 8/2). The default setting for the modem port is 1200 baud with no auto linefeed. To set port 2 to match the RDC standard parameters, use the Control Panel program to set the baud rate to 9600 baud and data/stop bits to 8/2. Answer the yes to the question add LF after CR? Use the What is in this computer option in the Starting Menu to determine if you have set the IIgs ports to the standard values.

The IIgs serial ports have strange, circular, eight-pin jacks. Raised Dot Computing does not sell cables that plug directly to the Apple IIgs eight-pin jacks. Apple sells a short cable called the Apple IIgs Adapter Cable. One end fits the 8-pin Apple IIgs port; the other end is just like the tail on the Super Serial Card. Plug a cable designed for the Super Serial Card into the Adapter Cable.

Serial Command Sequences

A command sequence is a series of characters sent to the serial interface that sets or changes its mode of operation. The command sequences for the SSC are the same or very similar to the command sequences for the Apple IIc ports and the Apple IIgs ports. We'll first list all the command sequences common to all three interfaces, and then provide information that's specific to each one.

Determining the command character

All these sequences start out with a single special character called the command character. The command character is a control-I on the Super Serial Card with the switches set according to RDC standards. By changing the switches, you can change the command character on the SSC to control-A.

() Caution! On the Super Serial Card, the command sequences must finish with <CR>.

BEX sets the command character to control-A on the Apple IIc.

The command character for the IIgs is either control-I or control-A, depending on the Control Panel setting. Within the Control Panel, you may select either Printer Port or Modem Port. When you do, you are presented with a list of parameters about the port. The first item is Device connected: You can toggle the answer here between Printer and Modem. When the device connected is a printer, then the IIgs port command character is control-I. When the device connected is a modem, then the command character is control-A. BEX finds out how you have defined your ports when it builds in control sequences into your configuration. If you modify the device connected parameter after your create a configuration, you may confuse BEX. It is best to leave port 1 as a printer port and port 2 as a modem port.

Here's a quick sample of a command sequence: To set the baud rate, enter the command character, followed by a number from 1 to 15, followed by an uppercase But, and for an Apple Super Serial card, finish with a carriage return. For example, control-I8B <CR> sets the baud rate to 1200 for the SSC. For an Apple IIc port, control-A8B sets the baud rate to 1200.

There are several ways of passing this command sequence to the serial card. You can write a chapter that contains the command sequence. Use the Control-C Editor command followed by a letter to enter a control character into your chapter. For the IIc sample, you'd press four keys: control-C A 8 B.

Or you can configure with an automatic set up sequence. For a set up sequnce, just enter the sequence directly (no control-C). Finally, you can enter the sequence at the BASIC prompt. First enter PR#N followed by the sequence.

Baud Rate

Use these codes to control how fast information flows through the serial interface.
Baud Rate    Sequence
50 baud    <command> 1 B
75 baud    <command> 2 B
110 baud    <command> 3 B
135 baud    <command> 4 B
150 baud    <command> 5 B
300 baud    <command> 6 B
600 baud    <command> 7 B
1200 baud    <command> 8 B
1800 baud    <command> 9 B
2400 baud    <command> 10 B
3600 baud    <command> 11 B
4800 baud    <command> 12 B
7200 baud    <command> 13 B
9600 baud    <command> 14 B
19200 baud    <command> 15 B

Data bits and stop bits

To set the data bits and stop bits, enter the command character, followed by a number from 0 to 7, followed by the letter D. For example, enter control-I0D to set the port for 8 data bits and 1 stop bit. The codes are as follows:
Data Bits    Stop Bits    Sequence
8    1    <command> 0 D
7    1    <command> 1 D
6    1    <command> 2 D
5    1    <command> 3 D
8    2    <command> 4 D
7    2    <command> 5 D
6    2    <command> 6 D
5    2    <command> 7 D

Parity

To set the parity, enter the command character, followed by a number from 0 to 7, followed by the letter P. For example, to set even parity, enter control-I3P. The codes are as follows:
Parity    Sequence
None    <command> 0 P
Odd    <command> 1 P
None    <command> 2 P
Even    <command> 3 P
None    <command> 4 P
Mark (1)    <command> 5 P
None    <command> 6 P
Space (0)    <command> 7 P

Additional Super Serial Card-Specific Controls

Additional Command Sequences

The SSC has many features; check its manual for the full details.

Super Serial Card Switch Settings

In switch bank one, the first four switches control the baud rate. The following chart lists all the possibilities.
Baud Rate    SW 1-1    SW 1-2    SW 1-3    SW 1-4
50    ON    ON    ON    OFF
75    ON    ON    OFF    ON
110    ON    ON    OFF    OFF
134.5    ON    OFF    ON    ON
150    ON    OFF    ON    OFF
300    ON    OFF    OFF    ON
600    ON    OFF    OFF    OFF
1200    OFF    ON    ON    ON
1800    OFF    ON    ON    OFF
2400    OFF    ON    OFF    ON
3600    OFF    ON    OFF    OFF
4800    OFF    OFF    ON    ON
7200    OFF    OFF    ON    OFF
9600    OFF    OFF    OFF    ON
19200    OFF    OFF    OFF    OFF

The sixth switch in bank one determines if you are emulating eariler Apple serial cards (ON for no; OFF for yes). Assuming that you are not emulating obsolete equipment, the fifth switch determines if you are in communications mode (ON) or printer mode (OFF). The RDC standard switch setting is for printer mode. This switch determines if your command character is control-A or control-I. The last switch in both banks together determines the hardware handshaking lines.

In bank two, switch 2-1 is for stop bits: ON for one bit, OFF for two stop bits. When switch 2-2 is ON, then there is a .25 second time delay at each carriage return. This is a last resort for primitive printer interfaces.

Switches 2-3 and 2-4 control the carriage width and the video screen. Here's a chart of the possibilities:
Line Width    SW 2-3 SW    2-4
40    ON    ON    ON
72    OFF    ON    OFF
80    OFF    OFF    ON
132    OFF    OFF    OFF

Auto linefeed is controlled by switch 2-5. When switch 2-5 is on, then a linefeed is sent after each carriage return. Switch 2-6 controls interrupts. Unless you know to how to play with interrupts, leave this alone.

Apple IIc Additional Sequences

Remember that the control character for the Apple IIc is control-A. A carriage return is not required at the end of a sequence. Here are some additional sequences for the Apple IIc that are not on the Super Serial Card:

Xon/Xoff handshaking only works if your Apple IIc has the 3.5 ROM. Read section 1 to find out if your Apple IIc has the 3.5 ROM.

Apple IIgs Additional Sequences

Remember that the control panel determines the command character for the Apple IIgs. A carriage return is not required at the end of a sequence. If a sequence has a space on it, the space can be omitted. Here are some additional sequences for the Apple IIgs that are not on the Super Serial Card: