QPp65t1b64l0r80
     I am attempting to setup a scanner program for my Epson EX-1000 printer.
I would appreciate any help I can get to accomplish this task.
I am working with the following equipment.

Atari 800XL w/256 up-grade installed.
Atari 1050 Disk Drives, 1 w/USD & 2 Happy.
Zenith Data Systems Color Monitor.
Atari 850 Interface
Avatex 1200 Modem connected to R1.
Epson EX-1000 connected to 850.
              Color Option Kit.
              Scanner Option Kit.

     This Scanner Kit included "INSET" a Graphics and text integrator program.
  However, INSET is for an IBM or compatible computer.  I would like
to run this scanner on the Atari system.  I have been told that an Atari
can not handle this scanner, by an IBM user.  I would like to prove otherwise,
if possible.

The Example Software Control is as follows.
                  start
       Check the scanner I.D.(Esc I)
          set data format (Esc D)
        set data bit order (Esc E)
       select the half-tone process (Esc B)
       set intensity (Esc L)
       set gain curve (Esc Z)
       set resolution (Esc R)
       set read area (Esc A)
       confirm setting (Esc S)
       start scan operation (Esc G)
                    l
     l>>>>>>>>>>>>>>l
     l              l
     l    receive image data block
     l            error >>>>>>>> yes >>>>l
     l          area end ? >>>>> yes >>>>l
     l   abort scan operation ?>>yes >>>>l
     l              l             l      l
     l<<<<<<<<<<send ACK      send CAN   l
                             l      l
              l<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<l
            Exit 

ACK = dec. 6,  NAK = dec. 21,  STK = dec. 2,  CAN = dec. 24

Data format for i =
i = 01H (Data format) = 1 bit/pixel (8 pixel/byte: default)

 MSB  n  n+1 n+2 n+3 n+4 n+5 n+6 n+7 LSB
      D   D   D   D   D   D   D   D

i = 04H (Data format) = 4 bit/pixel (2 pixel/byte)

             n              n+1
      D3  D2  D1  D0  D3  D2  D1  D0

i = 06H (Data format) = 6 bit/pixel (1 pixel/byte)
      D5  D4  D3  D2  D1  D0  0   0

i = 16H (Data format) = 6 + 1 bit/pixel (1 pixel/byte)
      D5  D4  D3  D2  D1  D0  0   DX


The format of the data block is:
Sequence   #(Bytes) Description
  1st         1     Header, STX(02H)
  2nd         1     Status (See below)
  3rd         2     #of data byte n(binary) (Lower byte is first)
  4th         n     n bytes of data

The format of the status byte is:
Function                 when 0    when 1
bit 7: Fatal error flag Normal    Error
bit 6: Reserved           -          -
bit 5: Area end flag    Continue  End flag
bit 4: Reserved           -          -
bit 3: Reserved           -          -
bit 2: Reserved           -          -
bit 1: Reserved           -          -
bit 0: Reserved           -          -
    (bit 7 = MSB, bit 0 = LSB)

Scanner Color Codes are:
0 = Black          8 = Dark Gray
1 = Blue           9 = Light Blue
2 = Green          A = Light Green
3 = Cyan           B = Light Cyan
4 = Red            C = Light Red
5 = Magenta        D = Light Magenta
6 = Brown          E = Yellow
7 = Light Gray     F = White

Printer Color Codes are:  (Esc r n)
(n)        Color          Combination
 0         Black          Black
 1         Red            Red
 2         Blue           Blue
 3         Violet         Blue + Red
 4         Yellow         Yellow
 5         Orange         Yellow + Red
 6         Green          Yellow + Blue

     I have an Action Cartridge, a Basic XE & Basic XL Cartridges and the
Mac 65 Cartridge plus the Tool Kit for each.  I am used to programing in
Basic, but assume it would be better to use the Action language or Mac 65, for
a program of this nature.

     The communication between the scanner and the host computer is
performed by exchanging control codes and data under specified formats.  For
both the scanner and the computer, two codes, ACK and NAK, are used to confirm
correct interpretation of commands and data.  Therefore, when programming
software, the host computer should wait for the ACK or NAK codes from the
scanner before attempting further control.  Also, the host computer
should send ACK or NAK codes to the scanner whenever required.
     If the host computer receives a NAK code for its command or parameter,
it is probable that the format or the contents of the command is incorrect.
     When a control code requires data to be sent back from the scanner, only
the control code should be sent first.  The scanner sends back the required
data in a specified format.  After the data is received by the host, the host
should send an ACK code to the scanner indicating a request of the next data.
If more data is to come, this process continues until the data transfer is
either completed or terminated.



     Except for the last data block, the response of ACK from the host is
necessary before the next data block is sent.  If CAN is received, ACK is sent
to the host instead of the data block, and this handshaking is terminated.
     The data block containing the status byte with the error flag set
indicates that the scanner will not send another data block.
     The data block containing the status byte with an area end flag set
is only used during scanner operation.  If this data block is received from the
scanner, the host recognizes it as the last one.

ESC I, the scanner sends back a data block that includes the identification
and some properties of the scanner.

Data      Description                                      Data Var.
STX       Header byte
**        Status byte
d1, d2    Amount of data (2 bytes)                                13
i1, i2    Identification of control code(2 bytes)     i1=41H & i2=32H
"R",r1,r2 Readable resolution(pixel/inch)               72
"R",r3,r4 Readable resolution(pixel/inch)              144
"R",r5,r6 Readable resolution(pixel/inch)LQ-2500 only  N/A
"A",x1,x2 Maximum horizontal area in dots at max. resolution  1584
    y1,y2 Maximum vertical area in dots at maximum resolution   1152

ESC S, this command requests the scanner to send a data block listing the current scanner settings, as shown below.  These settings indicat
Data        Description
STX         Header
**          Status byte
26          Number of data(2 bytes)
"C",0       Monochrome setting(fixed value)
"R",m, n    Indicates horizontal m & vertical n resolution(See ESC R)
"A",k,l,m,n Indicates read area(See ESC A)
"D",i       Indicates data format(See ESC D)
"B",i Indicates whether the 1 bit data is processed or not(See ESC B)
"E",i       Indicates image data bit order(See ESC E)
"L",i       Indicates intensity(See ESC L)
"Z",i       Indicates gain curve(See ESC Z)
NOTE:  The value of i is substituted for 1 byte binary.  The variables k,l,m,n are substituted individually for 2 byte binary, with the low

ESC R, This command sets the horizontal and vertical reading resolution of the scanner.  The value of m determines the horizontal resolutio
NOTE:  When the scanner accepts this control code, the read area is reset to its default values.
     m     n
    144   144
    144   72
    72    144
    72    72

ESC A, This command sets the readable area of the scanner in units of pixels
at the current resolution.  The variables are:
  k = Horizontal offset data(2 bytes)
  l = Vertical offset data(2 bytes)
  m = Horizontal read area data(2 bytes)
  n = Vertical read area data(2 bytes)






ESC B, This command sets or cancels the half-tone process of 1 bit/pixel
scanned data.  The values for i are:
    0 : Sets half-tone process (default)
    1 : Cancels half=tone process.
This setting is available only when ESC D 01H or 16H is specified.  The
half-tone process automatically compares the data of the scanned pixel
with those of the surrounding pixels already scanned, and determines the 1
bit value for the pixel.  This decreases the intensity error between
the source image and scanned data.

ESC E, This command sets the image data bit order.  The value of the variable
i is 0 or 1.  This setting is available only when ESC D 01H (data format
1 bit/pixel) is specified.

ESC L, This command sets the output intensity level.  Seven values for
i are available: 00H, 01H, 02H, 03H, FFH, FEH, and FDH.

lighter                        darker
  03H  02H  01H  00H  FFH  FEH  FDH

     The following are specific questions that I have regarding the
scanners operation and control.
    1.  Can the Atari Computer preform a formal handshake operation?

    2.  Where in memory is the handshake information stored.  If more
than one location is involved please give in detail?

    3.  Which of the above languages should be used to attempt to program
the scanner?

    4.  Can the color be determined by the scanner, or will it be necessary
to use a program to paint it after the scanner has read the image.  If so what
programs are available?

    5.  Are any programs currently available to operate a scanner on the 8
bit systems?

    6.  Should any of the existing programs on Compuserve be utilized as a
base for the program?  Such as Dump programs etc.

    7.  What is the horizontal and vertical offsets?  What does the offset
mean? (Re: Esc A)

    8.  How is the Esc S used?  How is the settings confirmed?  What memory
register would be used?

    9.  How would the error checking be accomplished during receiving image
data?

   10.  Am I asking to much of the 8 bit Atari Computer, to expect this to
be accomplished by it?

                    Larry G. Bettes
                     # 76456,1544