Abstract: There is disclosed an improved interface apparatus and technique for real time transfer of characters from a text processor to a magnetic card recorder. Characters retrieved from a buffer are subject to reformatting and other operations, the duration of which varies within two character output cycles. The disclosed technique permits time, in effect, to be borrowed from succeeding character cycles. A character is processed and loaded temporarily in a register. The parallel character is then transferred to a serializer register which outputs serial bits to a card writer control for recording on a magnetic card. At the same time this transfer, serialization, and output is occurring the processor is preparing the next character to be written. A character can be output in real time so long as the interval between it and the preceding character is less than two character output cycles in length.

Abstract: A method and apparatus associated with word processing equipment for producing a preliminary printout of accessible lines of intermixed text characters and code characters representative of the format of such text. The apparatus includes logic controlled gates for selectively gating text codes, instruction codes, and reference line number codes to a print control coupled to, and controlling the printing by, a printer. Specific networks enable the printing of "font change" instructions and identifications and characteristic identifier symbols indicative of the presence of an instruction code. Audit print codes representing material ones of the instruction codes are substituted for the usual printer functional response to those instruction codes, that is, a code representation of the instruction code is printed instead of the printer executing the instruction.