Graphical printing system and method using text triggers

An article of manufacture having computer readable program code means embodied therein for adding at least one special effect to the output media of a computer output device adapted to receive an input byte stream, said article of manufacture comprising:

• a) computer readable program code means for storing at least one byte string to act as a trigger for adding said at least one special effect to said output media;
• b) computer readable program code means for determining when said at least one byte string occurs in said input byte stream;
• and
• c) computer readable program code means for adding said at least one special effect to said output media in response to said at least one byte string.

A method of creating a trigger for signaling the addition of a special effect to the output media of a computer output device, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) setting the length of a input text string to serve as said trigger;
• b) setting the content of said text string;
• c) defining the location of said input text string relative to the intended location of said special effect;
• d) defining the type of said special effect to be added;
• e) defining the extent of replacement of said input text string by said special effect;
• and
• f) storing said length, said content, said location, said type, and said replacement in computer readable memory accessible by said computer output device.

A method of adding a surround graphic to legacy data printed on the output media of a computer output device, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) defining a set of surround graphic parameters identifying the type of said surround graphic, the starting column of said output media where said surround graphic will be added, the numbers of columns of said output media that said surround graphic will be surround, and the number print lines said surround graphic will surround;
• b) defining a set of print area parameters identifying the starting column on said output media where said legacy data will be printed, the numbers of columns of said output media where said legacy data will be printed, and the number of print lines of said output media where said legacy data will be printed;
• and
• c) printing said surround graphic and said legacy data on said output media according to said surround graphic parameters and said print area parameters.

A method of controlling the printing of a special effect on the output media of a computer output device adapted to receive an input byte stream from a legacy application, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) setting a feature mask having a plurality of predetermined parameters that define the intended printing characteristics of said special effect;
• b) defining a first trigger for indicating when said special effect should be disabled according to said feature mask;
• c) defining a second trigger to indicate when said special effect should be enabled according to said feature mask;
• d) detecting said first and said second triggers in said input byte stream;
• and
• e) enabling and disabling said special effect according to said first and second triggers.

A method of adding graphics to the output byte steam of a host application for a computer output device, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) delaying for a predetermined number of bytes the processing of said output byte stream;
• b) defining a plurality of byte strings of less than a predetermined maximum length to be stored in non-volatile storage;
• c) managing said non-volatile storage to hold said byte strings;
• d) ordering said byte strings into a fast response;
• f) determining whether said output byte stream contains at least one matching byte string;
• and
• g) adding said graphics into said output byte stream in response to determining said matching byte strings are in said output byte stream.