Microstepping

Hi,
Another newbie question.

I see 'full step', 'half step', 'quarter step', and 'eighth step' mentioned at various times. If the stepper motor moves for example, 1.8 deg/pulse (step) for each pulse (step) put out from the PC parallel port how does the motor move 1/2 or 1/4 or 1/8 steps? Or does it move 2, 4, or 8 steps? Or is the controller able to manipulate the motor windings to get multiple steps OR partial steps for each step output by the PC? Then how is the above effected by parallel/series windings connection?

Computer says move one step; does motor see 1, 2, 4, or 8 steps OR sees 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 step? How?
PJH

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