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TI-GRAPH LINK for Windows Help Contents

Overviews

Give you a brief description about TI-GRAPH LINK.

How To...

Contains step-by-step procedures for using TI-GRAPH LINK.

Index

Enables you to find a help topic using an alphabetical index.


Overviews

About TI-GRAPH LINK for Windows

About the Data Window

About the Edit Window


About Graph Link for Windows
About TI-GRAPH LINK for Windows

TI-GRAPH LINK for Windows connects the TI-86 to an IBM-compatible PC running Windows. The connecting cable and PC software enable you to exchange TI-86 programs and data, print TI-86 programs and data, create and edit programs, and print and save TI-86 screens.

TI-GRAPH LINK for Windows is a Windows-based integrated communications link and data manager for the PC. You can use TI-GRAPH LINK for Windows to:

•	Transfer data between the TI-86 and a PC.

•	Save TI-86 screen images on the PC for use in word processing, desktop publishing, or page-layout applications.

•	Print TI-86 screen images; save and get TI-86 memory images.

•	Create, edit, save, and print TI-86 programs on the PC.

•	Save, load, edit, and print programs created with the TI-86.

•	Import and export TI-85 and TI-86 programs and data files via the Internet.

•	Work on several program files at the same time.

 Note


Note: About Graph Link for Windows
TI-GRAPH LINK for Windows does not emulate the TI-86. It is designed for you to use in conjunction with the TI-86 -- not in place of it. The software does not perform on-screen computations nor does it have graph functions.


About the Data window

The Data window is a supplement to the Edit window. It is used for viewing data files or as a temporary workspace when opening files other than program or graphic files such as lists and matrices.

The features of the Data window allow you to:

•	Open multiple Data windows at the same time.

•	Drag Data windows to any location on the desktop display.

•	Minimize Data windows.

•	Display the contents of open files, other than program or graphic files, in a Data window.

•	Copy the contents of a Data window to the Windows Clipboard.


About the Edit Window

The Edit window is your working area on the desktop display in which to create and edit programs. Click on the following field items in the sample Edit window below: Name, Comment, Send, Protected, and the editing area.

Features

•	You can display multiple Edit windows at the same time and access them directly by:

-	Clicking on the file name in the Window menu.

-	Clicking anywhere in the desired Edit window to make it active (when you have multiple Edit windows positioned on the desktop display).

•	You can drag Edit windows to any location on the desktop display.

•	You can minimize Edit windows.

•	You can import a program from a TI-86 and save the program as a DOS file, then open the program in an Edit window to make changes.

•	You can open a TI-85 program in the Edit window to make changes and save it as a TI-86 program.

•	The Edit window can contain up to 32,000 characters.

•	You can save the revised program file, print it, or send it back to the TI-86.


Title
Filename: Contains the file name that you assign when you save a new program.


Name
Name: Contains the name that you assign when you create a new program or open an existing TI-85 or TI-86 program.


Edit Window
Editing area: This is the main area in which you enter program instructions. It can contain up to 32,000 characters.


Comment
Comment: This field lets you enter special comments (40 characters maximum) about your programs.


Edit Lock
Protected: This field lets you lock a program to prevent accidental editing when it is sent and used on a TI-86.


Edit Send
Send: Clicking on this button enables you to send the program in the active Edit window to a connected TI-86.


How To...

Install, Start, Test, and Exit the Program

Print a File, Program, or Captured Screen

Receive Items from the TI-86

Send Items to the TI-86


Printing a Captured Screen

To print a captured TI-86 screen on a printer connected to your PC:

1.	Display the screen on the TI-86 that you want to print.

2.	Open the Link menu and click on Get Screen.

3.	Click on Get Screen to display the captured screen.

4.	Click on Print to open the Print window.

5.	Select the number of copies if more than one copy is desired.

6.	Click on OK to send the captured screen to the printer.

7.	Click on Done to return to the desktop display.


Copying a Captured Screen to the Clipboard

You can copy a captured TI-86 screen to the Windows clipboard for pasting into other Windows applications that support graphics.

To copy a captured TI-86 screen to the Windows clipboard:

1.	Display the screen on the TI-86 that you want to print.

2.	Open the Link menu and click on Get Screen.

3.	Click on Get Screen to display the captured screen.

4.	Click on Clipboard to copy the screen to the clipboard.

5.	Click on Done to return to the desktop display.


Saving a Captured Screen to a PC File

To save a captured TI-86 screen to a PC file:

1.	Display the screen on the TI-86 that you want to print.

2.	Open the Link menu and click on Get Screen.

3.	Click on Get Screen to display the captured screen.

4.	Click on Save to open the Save As window.

5.	Click on the TIFF (Tagged Image Format) or EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) radio button to select the file format.

6.	Enter a file name and correct file name extension.

 Note

7.	Select the directory in which to save the file.

8.	Click on OK to save the file.

9.	Click on Done to return to the desktop display.


Note: Save captured screen
Be sure that the file name extension is the same as the selected format type that was selected in step 5.


Installing, Starting, Testing, and Exiting the Program
Installing, Starting, Testing and Exiting the Program

Follow the procedures listed below to connect the TI-86 to your PC and to test the connection and software.

Connecting the TI-GRAPH LINK Cable

Installing the TI-GRAPH LINK Software

About TI-GRAPH LINK Fonts

Starting and Testing the Program

Exiting the Program


Connecting the TI-GRAPH LINK Cable

Gray Cable

To connect the gray TI-GRAPH LINK cable between your PC and the TI-86:

1.	Connect one end of the TI-GRAPH LINK cable to the PC serial port you will be using.

(If necessary, use the 25-pin to 9-pin adapter.)

2.	Connect the other end of the cable to the port on the TI-86.

3.	Insert in all connectors firmly.

Black Cable

To connect the black TI-GRAPH LINK cable between your PC and the TI-86:

1.	Connect the cable with the 9-pin connector to the PC serial port you will use.

(If necessary, obtain a 9-pin to 25-pin adapter.)

2.	Connect the other end of the black cable to one end of the unit-to-unit cable.

3.	Connect the other end of the unit-to-unit cable to the port on the TI-86.

4.	Insert all connectors firmly.

 Note


Note about gray and black cables.
Note:

Gray Cable: Windows or Macintosh (Windows 3.1x or later).

Black Cable: Windows only (Windows 95/98/NT 4.0 or later).


Installing the TI-GRAPH LINK Softare
Installing the TI-GRAPH LINK Software

1.	Start Microsoft Windows.

2.	Insert the CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive and follow the displayed instructions about installing the software.

•	Win 3.1x users need to run the TICD31 program from the TI Resource CD.

•	For 3½-inch diskette installations, proceed to step 3.

3.	Insert the TI-GRAPH LINK for Windows diskette in drive A.

4.	Windows 3.1x: From Program Manager, open the File menu and choose Run.

-or-

Windows 95: Open the Start menu and choose Run.

5.	Type a:\Ti86usa.exe.

6.	Press ENTER and follow the instructions that appear on your display.


Installing the TI-GRAPH LINK Fonts
About the TI-GRAPH LINK Fonts

The font files were copied to the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM subdirectory by the installation software. These fonts are necessary to print TI-86 programs correctly on your PC.

To verify that these fonts are active on your PC:

1.	Open the Windows Control Panel and select Fonts.

2.	Scroll down the font list to locate the following TI-GRAPH LINK fonts:

•	TI86PC (TrueType)

•	TI86PCBold (TrueType)

3.	Open the TrueType window and ensure that TrueType fonts are enabled.


Starting and Testing the Program

To start TI-GRAPH LINK for Windows and to test the cable connection and communication setup:

1.	Open the TI-GRAPH LINK group, then double-click on the TI-86 program icon to start the application. The TI-86 Menu Bar, TI-86 Keypad, and Edit window are displayed.

2.	Turn on the TI-86 and press the MODE key.

3.	Open the Link menu and select the communications serial port (Com Port 1, Com Port 2, Com Port 3, or Com Port 4) to which the cable from the TI-86 is connected.

4.	Open the Link menu to select the cable type: select Windows/Mac (Gray Cable) or Windows Only (Black Cable).

5.	Re-open the Link menu and select Get Screen....

The Get Screen window is displayed.

6.	Click on Get Screen.

The contents of the TI-86 display appear in the window indicating that the communications link between the TI-86 and the PC is OK.

7.	Click on Done to close the window.


Exiting the Program

You can close the application in either of the following ways:

•	Open the File menu and select Exit.

•	Press Alt+F followed by X on the PC keyboard.


Printing a Program, Saved Files, or a Captured Screen

TI-GRAPH LINK enables you to print programs, lists, matrices and other data stored in the TI-86. You can print individual files that have been saved as PC files. You can also capture a TI-86 screen, then print it or save it as a PC file.

Printing a Program

Printing Saved Files

Printing a Captured Screen


Printing a Program

To print a TI-86 program from the active Edit window:

1.	Open a program file in an Edit window if you have not already done so.

2.	Open the File menu and select Print Document.

3.	Click on OK to send the program in the Edit window to the printer.

 Hint

To print a TI-86 program file:

1.	Open the File menu and select Print....

2.	Select the file filter for TI-86 programs *.86p and click on OK.

3.	Select the program file that you want to print and click on OK.

4.	Click on OK to send the program file to the printer.


Hint: Printing a program.
You can print a section of a program by highlighting the area in the Edit window and selecting Print Document in the File menu. Then choose Selection in the Print dialog box.


Printing Saved Files

To print saved TI-86 files:

1.	Open the File menu and select Print....

2.	Select the file filter for the type of file that you want to print and click on OK.

Go to the directory where your TI-86 files are located.

3.	Select the TI-86 file that you want to print and click on OK.

4.	Click on OK to send the program file to the printer.


Printing a Captured Screen

To print a captured TI-86 screen to a printer connected to your PC:

1.	Display the screen on the TI-86 that you want to print.

2.	Open the Link menu and click on Get Screen....

3.	Click on Get Screen to display the captured screen.

4.	Click on Print to open the Print window.

5.	Select the number of copies if more than one copy is desired.

6.	Click on OK to send the captured screen to the printer.

7.	Click on Done to return to the desktop display.


Receiving Items from the TI-86

TI-GRAPH LINK enables you to receive and save TI-86 items (such as programs, matrices, lists and variables) on the PC. You can receive and save the items as individual files or consolidate the items into group files.

To receive items from a TI-86 on your PC:

1.	Open the Link menu and click on Receive....

The Receive TI-86 Files window opens and displays the data contents of the TI-86.

2.	Select the TI-86 item that you want to receive on the PC and click on Add. Repeat this step if you want to receive multiple items or click on Add All to receive all listed TI-86 items.

3.	(Optional) Click on the To Group box if you want to consolidate the selected files into a group file.

4.	Click on OK when you have selected all the files that you want to receive.

5.	Select the directory in which you want to save the TI-86 files, then click on OK.

 Note

6.	The Receiving Files from TI-86 window on the PC will display a list of files as they are received.

 Note 1	    Note 2

7.	If a file with the same name already exists in the target desktop directory, select an option from the Duplicate Found window.

8.	Click on OK to return to the desktop display.


Note: Receive only if active application.
Once the TI-86 begins to transmit files, TI-GRAPH LINK will continue to receive data in the background if another application is made active.


Note: Receiving special characters.
Note

If a TI-86 name contains special characters (such as α or β), TI-GRAPH LINK prompts you to enter a substitute name for the PC file. The TI-86 file name will remain the same.


Note about duplicate files
Note

If an incoming TI-86 item has the same name as an existing PC file, the File Already Exists window opens and prompts you to do one of the following:

•	REPLACE, replace the existing file

•	REPLACE ALL, replace all existing files

•	RENAME, rename the file

•	SKIP, skip to the next item

•	STOP, quit without saving


Sending Individual and Group Files to the TI-86
Sending Individual and Group  to the TI-86

You can send individual or group files to the TI-86. (A group file is received by the TI-86 as multiple individual items.)

Important!: TI-GRAPH LINK for the TI-86 uses a new "Silent Link" technology. All linking commands are processed from your computer. Therefore, it is important that you do not place your TI-86 in the LINK/SEND or LINK/RECEIVE mode. If you do, you will receive a transmission error when you attempt to send or receive data from your computer.

To send Individual and Group files from your PC to a TI-86:

1.	Open the Link menu and click on Send....

The Send Files to TI-86 window opens to display a list of TI-86 files.

2.	Go to the directory in which your TI-86 files are located.

3.	Select a file and click on Add to add the file name to the File Selected window. Repeat until all the files that you want to send have been selected.

4.	Click on OK when you have selected all the files that you want to send.

The Sending Files to TI-86 window will display a list of the files that were received by the TI-86.

 Note

5.	Click on OK to return to the desktop display.


Note about duplicate files
If an incoming PC file has the same name as an existing TI-86 item, the Duplicate Found window opens and prompts you to do one of the following:

•	REPLACE, replace the existing variables

•	REPLACE ALL, replace all existing variables

•	RENAME, rename the variables

•	SKIP, skip to the next item

•	STOP, quit without saving


Index

-C-

cable type

communications port setup

connecting the TI-GRAPH LINK cable

-E-

Edit Lock box

exiting the program

-F-

features, product

-G-

group files, receiving

-I-

individual files, receiving

individual files, sending

installing and testing the program

-P-

printing a TI-86 program

printing saved files

printing the TI-86 screen

product description and features

-R-

receiving file names with special characters

receiving items as a group

receiving individual files

-S-

sending items to the TI-86

setting the communications port

starting the program

-T-

testing the TI-GRAPH LINK connection