IntelliTech Intellibar M48, Intellibar M412, Intellibar M88 Reference Manual

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Advancing the way the world prints labels…

M Series Label Printer

Models M48, M412, and M88

Programmer’s Reference Guide

2013 Revision 2.1

PROPRIETARY NOTICE AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER

The information disclosed in this document, including all designs and related materials, is the valuable property of IntelliTech International Incorporated (IntelliTech) and/or its licensors. IntelliTech and/or its licensors, as appropriate, reserve all patent, copyright and other proprietary rights to this document, including all design, manufacturing, reproduction, use, and sales rights thereto, except to the extent said rights are expressly granted to others.

The IntelliTech product(s) discussed in this document are warranted in accordance with the terms of the Warranty Statement accompanying each product. However, actual performance of each such product is dependent upon factors such as system configuration, customer data, and operator control. Since implementation by customers of each product may vary, the suitability of specific product configurations and applications must be determined by the customer and is not warranted by IntelliTech.

To allow for design and specification improvements, the information in this document is subject to change at any time, without notice. Reproduction of this document or portions thereof without prior written approval of IntelliTech is prohibited.

IntelliBar is a trademark of IntelliTech International, Inc.

IntelliTech International Inc.

43 Broad Street, Section B404

Hudson, MA 01749-2557

http://www.intellitech-intl.com

Contents

Preface ............................................................................................................................. xi

Abbreviations .................................................................................................................. xiii

Section 1 PCL Background

Page Characteristics ........................................................................................................ 1-1

Addressable Area ..................................................................................................... 1-1

PCL Coordinate System ........................................................................................... 1-1

Printable Area .................................................................................................................. 1-2

Orientation ............................................................................................................... 1-3

Range ................................................................................................................ 1-4

PCL Portrait Orientation Print Area ................................................................. 1-5

Landscape Orientation Print Area ..................................................................... 1-5

Character Clipping ............................................................................................ 1-6

Raster Graphic Clipping ................................................................................... 1-7

Section 2 IntelliBar Extensions to HP PCL Commands

Print and Format Command Extensions ......................................................................... 2-1

Variable Form Length .............................................................................................. 2-2

Setting Variable Form Length .......................................................................... 2-2

Disabling Variable Form Length ...................................................................... 2-4

Print Speed ............................................................................................................... 2-4

Print Density ............................................................................................................ 2-5

Print and Tear ........................................................................................................... 2-5

Print and Cut ............................................................................................................ 2-6

Pcl Bar Code Command Extensions ............................................................................... 2-6

Set Bar Code Type ................................................................................................... 2-7

Supported Bar Codes ........................................................................................ 2-7

Set Bar Code Height (Decipoints) ........................................................................... 2-7

Set Bar Code Height (Dots) ..................................................................................... 2-8

Set Bar Code Width (Dots) ...................................................................................... 2-8

Set Bar Code Ratio (Code 39, Extended 3 of 9, and Interleaved 2 of 5) ................. 2-8

Set Bar Code 128 Subset Mode ............................................................................... 2-8

Set UPC-E Bar Code Method .................................................................................. 2-9

Contents

Print Human-Readable Text .................................................................................... 2-9

Human-Readable Positioning with Bar Code ................................................... 2-9

Positioning after Printing a Bar Code ............................................................... 2-9

Printing in Notched Bar Code ........................................................................... 2-10

Calculate Optional Check Digit ............................................................................... 2-10

PDF417 Bar Code .................................................................................................... 2-11

Print Bar Code .......................................................................................................... 2-12

Auto Incrementing/Decrementing Fields ................................................................. 2-12

Bar Code Generation Example ................................................................................ 2-14

Section 3 HP PCL Print Commands

Reset ................................................................................................................................ 3-1

Number of Copies ........................................................................................................... 3-1

Long-Edge (Left) Offset Registration ............................................................................. 3-2

Short-Edge (TOP) Offset Registration ............................................................................ 3-2

Section 4 HP PCL Page Format Commands

Page Size ......................................................................................................................... 4-1

Page LENGTH ................................................................................................................ 4-2

Paper Source .................................................................................................................... 4-4

Orientation....................................................................................................................... 4-4

Print Direction ................................................................................................................. 4-5

Left Margin ..................................................................................................................... 4-6

Right Margin ................................................................................................................... 4-7

Top Margin ...................................................................................................................... 4-7

Clear Horizontal Margins ................................................................................................ 4-8

Text Length ..................................................................................................................... 4-9

Perforation Skip .............................................................................................................. 4-9

Horizontal Motion Index ................................................................................................. 4-10

Vertical Motion Index ..................................................................................................... 4-10

Line Spacing .................................................................................................................... 4-11

Section 5 HP PCL Cursor Position Commands

Absolute/ Relative Position ............................................................................................. 5-1

Cursor Addressing Units ................................................................................................. 5-2

Horizontal Control (Columns) ........................................................................................ 5-3

Contents

Horizontal Control (Decipoints) ..................................................................................... 5-3

Horizontal Control (Dots) ............................................................................................... 5-4

Horizontal Control (Control Codes) ............................................................................... 5-4

CR – Carriage Return ............................................................................................... 5-4

SP – Space................................................................................................................ 5-4

BS – Backspace ........................................................................................................ 5-4

HT – Horizontal Tab ................................................................................................ 5-5

Vertical Control (Rows) .................................................................................................. 5-5

Vertical Control (Decipoints) .......................................................................................... 5-6

Vertical Control (Dots)) .................................................................................................. 5-6

Half-Line Feed) ............................................................................................................... 5-7

Vertical Control (Control Codes). ................................................................................... 5-7

LF – Line Feed ......................................................................................................... 5-7

FF – Form Feed ........................................................................................................ 5-7

Line Termination). .......................................................................................................... 5-7

Push/Pop Control). .......................................................................................................... 5-8

Section 6 HP PCL Font Characteristics

Font Selection By Characteristic ..................................................................................... 6-1

Priority of Characteristics ........................................................................................ 6-2

Location ................................................................................................................... 6-2

Orientation ............................................................................................................... 6-2

Number of Fonts ...................................................................................................... 6-3

Font Specification .................................................................................................... 6-3

Primary and Secondary Fonts .......................................................................................... 6-4

Symbol Set ...................................................................................................................... 6-4

Iso Symbol Sets ............................................................................................................... 6-6

Spacing ............................................................................................................................ 6-7

Pitch ................................................................................................................................ 6-8

Set Pitch Mode ................................................................................................................ 6-9

Height .............................................................................................................................. 6-9

Style ................................................................................................................................. 6-10

Stroke Weight.................................................................................................................. 6-10

Typeface .......................................................................................................................... 6-12

Orientation....................................................................................................................... 6-13

Font Selection Example .................................................................................................. 6-13

Selection of the Default Font .......................................................................................... 6-15

Contents

Transparent Print Data .................................................................................................... 6-15

Underline Command ....................................................................................................... 6-16

HPGL/2 Font Selection ................................................................................................... 6-16

Primary Font (FI) ..................................................................................................... 6-16

Secondary Font (FN) ................................................................................................ 6-17

Scalable or Bitmap Fonts (SB)................................................................................. 6-18

Select Standard Font (SS) ........................................................................................ 6-19

Select Alternate Font (SA) ....................................................................................... 6-19

Absolute Direction (DI) ........................................................................................... 6-19

Relative Direction (DR) ........................................................................................... 6-21

Absolute Character Size (SI) .................................................................................... 6-21

Relative Character Size (SR) ................................................................................... 6-22

Character Slant (SL) ................................................................................................. 6-23

Extra Space (ES) ...................................................................................................... 6-24

Standard Font Definition (SD) ................................................................................. 6-25

Alternate Font Definition (AD)................................................................................ 6-26

Character Fill Mode (CF) ......................................................................................... 6-27

Label Origin (LO) .................................................................................................... 6-28

Label (LB) ................................................................................................................ 6-29

Define Label Terminator (DT) ................................................................................. 6-30

Character Plot (CP) .................................................................................................. 6-30

Transparent Data (TD) ............................................................................................. 6-31

Define Variable Text Path (DV) .............................................................................. 6-32

Section 7 HP PCL Font Management and Soft Font Downloading

Downloading Soft Fonts ................................................................................................. 7-1

Temporary/ Permanent Fonts .......................................................................................... 7-2

Font Control .................................................................................................................... 7-2

Font Selection By Id ........................................................................................................ 7-3

Section 8 HP PCL Soft Font Design

Coordinate System .......................................................................................................... 8-1

Font Descriptor Format ................................................................................................... 8-2

Font Descriptor Size (UI) ......................................................................................... 8-4

Font Type (UB) ........................................................................................................ 8-4

Descriptor Format .................................................................................................... 8-4

Baseline Distance (UI) ............................................................................................. 8-5

Contents

vii

Cell Width (UI) ........................................................................................................ 8-5

Cell Height (UI) ....................................................................................................... 8-5

Orientation (UB) ...................................................................................................... 8-5

Spacing (B) .............................................................................................................. 8-5

Symbol Set (UI) ....................................................................................................... 8-5

Pitch (UI).................................................................................................................. 8-7

Height (UI) ............................................................................................................... 8-8

x#Height (UI) ........................................................................................................... 8-8

Width Type (SB) ...................................................................................................... 8-8

Style (UB) ................................................................................................................ 8-8

Stroke Weight (SB) .................................................................................................. 8-8

Typeface ................................................................................................................... 8-9

Serif Style (UB) ....................................................................................................... 8-9

Underline Distance (SB) .......................................................................................... 8-9

Underline Height (UB) ............................................................................................. 8-10

Text Height (UI) ....................................................................................................... 8-10

Text Width (UI) ....................................................................................................... 8-10

Pitch Extended (UB) ................................................................................................ 8-10

Height Extended (UB) ............................................................................................. 8-10

Font Name (ASC16) ................................................................................................ 8-10

FONT Descriptor (Font Header) COMMAND ............................................................... 8-10

CHARACTER DESCRIPTOR AND DATA FORMAT......................................... 8-12

Format (UB) ............................................................................................................. 8-13

Continuation (B) ...................................................................................................... 8-13

Descriptor Size (UB) ................................................................................................ 8-14

Class (UB) ................................................................................................................ 8-14

Orientation (UB) ...................................................................................................... 8-14

Left Offset (SI) ......................................................................................................... 8-14

Top Offset (SI) ......................................................................................................... 8-14

Character Width (UI) ............................................................................................... 8-14

Character Height (UI) .............................................................................................. 8-14

Delta X (SI) .............................................................................................................. 8-15

Character Data.......................................................................................................... 8-15

Character Code ................................................................................................................ 8-16

Download CHARACTER ............................................................................................... 8-16

Contents

viii

Section 9 HP PCL Graphics Commands

Raster Graphics ............................................................................................................... 9-1

Raster Graphics Resolution ...................................................................................... 9-3

Raster Graphics Presentation ................................................................................... 9-3

Raster Height Command .......................................................................................... 9-4

Raster Width Command ........................................................................................... 9-5

Start Raster Graphics ............................................................................................... 9-5

Raster Y Offset Command ....................................................................................... 9-6

Set Compression Method Command ....................................................................... 9-6

Transfer Raster Data ................................................................................................ 9-7

End Raster Graphics ................................................................................................ 9-7

Raster Graphics Example ................................................................................................ 9-8

Fill Graphics .................................................................................................................... 9-10

Horizontal Rectangle Size (Decipoints) ................................................................... 9-10

Horizontal Rectangle Size (Dots) ............................................................................ 9-11

Vertical Rectangle Size ............................................................................................ 9-11

Vertical Rectangle Size (Dots) ................................................................................. 9-11

Area Fill (Pattern ID) ............................................................................................... 9-12

Fill Rectangle Area .................................................................................................. 9-15

Rectangle Area Fill Examples.................................................................................. 9-15

Pcl Print Model ............................................................................................................... 9-18

Select Source Transparency Mode ........................................................................... 9-19

Select Pattern Transparency Mode ........................................................................... 9-20

Select Pattern Command .......................................................................................... 9-20

Vector Graphics .............................................................................................................. 9-20

HPGL/2 Plot Horizontal Size................................................................................... 9-20

HPGL/2 Plot Vertical Size ....................................................................................... 9-21

Set Picture Frame Anchor Point .............................................................................. 9-21

Picture Frame Horizontal Size (Decipoints) ............................................................ 9-22

Picture Frame Vertical Size (Decipoints) ................................................................ 9-23

HPGL/2 Graphics ............................................................................................................ 9-23

Enter HPGL/2 Mode ................................................................................................ 9-24

Enter PCL Mode ...................................................................................................... 9-24

Line and Fill Attributes Group ................................................................................. 9-24

Line Type (LT) .................................................................................................. 9-24

Line Attributes (LA) ......................................................................................... 9-25

Contents

Number of Pens (NP) ........................................................................................ 9-26

Pen Width (PW) ................................................................................................ 9-26

Pen Width Unit Selection (WU) ....................................................................... 9-26

Select Pen (SP) ................................................................................................. 9-27

Symbol Mode (SM) .......................................................................................... 9-28

Fill Type (FT) ................................................................................................... 9-29

Anchor (AC) ..................................................................................................... 9-30

Raster Fill Definition (RF) ................................................................................ 9-30

User Defined Line Type (UL) ........................................................................... 9-31

Screened Vectors (SV) ...................................................................................... 9-32

Transparency Mode (TR) .................................................................................. 9-33

Vector Group Commands ........................................................................................ 9-34

Arc Absolute (AA)............................................................................................ 9-34

Arc Relative (AR) ............................................................................................. 9-35

Absolute Arc Three Point (AT) ........................................................................ 9-35

Plot Absolute (PA) ............................................................................................ 9-36

Plot Relative (PR) ............................................................................................. 9-36

Pen Down (PD) ................................................................................................. 9-37

Pen Up (PU) ...................................................................................................... 9-37

Relative Arc Three Point (RT).......................................................................... 9-38

Polyline Encoded (PE) ...................................................................................... 9-39

Polygon Group Commands ...................................................................................... 9-40

Circle (CI) ......................................................................................................... 9-40

Edge Rectangle Absolute (EA) ......................................................................... 9-41

Fill Rectangle Absolute (RA) ........................................................................... 9-41

Fill Rectangle Relative (RR)............................................................................. 9-42

Edge Rectangle Relative (ER) .......................................................................... 9-43

Fill Wedge (WG) .............................................................................................. 9-43

Edge Wedge (EW) ............................................................................................ 9-44

Polygon Mode (PM) ......................................................................................... 9-44

Fill Polygon (FP) .............................................................................................. 9-45

Edge Polygon (EP) ............................................................................................ 9-46

Configuration and Status Group .............................................................................. 9-46

Scale (SC) ......................................................................................................... 9-46

Input Window (IW) .......................................................................................... 9-47

Input Relative P1 and P2 (IR) ........................................................................... 9-48

Default Values (DF) .......................................................................................... 9-49

Contents

Initialize (IN) .................................................................................................... 9-50

Rotate Coordinate System (RO) ....................................................................... 9-51

Advance Full Page (PG) ................................................................................... 9-52

Replot (RP) ....................................................................................................... 9-53

Section 10 HP PCL Macro Commands and Programming Hints

Creating a Macro ............................................................................................................. 10-1

Controlling a Macro ........................................................................................................ 10-1

Temporary/Permanent Macros ........................................................................................ 10-2

Macro Id .......................................................................................................................... 10-3

Macro Control ................................................................................................................. 10-3

Macro Example ............................................................................................................... 10-4

Programming Hints ......................................................................................................... 10-5

End of Line Wrap ..................................................................................................... 10-5

Display Functions Mode .......................................................................................... 10-5

Section 11 IntelliBar SAP Device Types

SAP Printing with IntelliBar PCL Command Extensions ............................................... 11-1

IntelliBar SAP Device Types .......................................................................................... 11-1

Installation of IntelliBar SAP Device Types ................................................................... 11-1

IntelliBar ABAP List and SAPScript Format Types ....................................................... 11-2

SAP Standard Bar Code Print Controls .......................................................................... 11-3

IntelliBar SAP Device Type Print Control Commands................................................... 11-5

Index

Figures

1-1 PCL Coordinate System .................................................................................... 1-2

1-2 Printable Area ................................................................................................... 1-3

1-3 Orientation Examples ....................................................................................... 1-4

1-4 PCL Portrait Orientation Print Area ................................................................. 1-5

1-5 Landscape Orientation Print Area ..................................................................... 1-6

1-6 Character Clipping ............................................................................................ 1-6

1-7 Raster Graphic Clipping ................................................................................... 1-7

2-1 Internal Bar Code Example ............................................................................... 2-14

Contents

4-1 Orientation Features .......................................................................................... 4-5

4-2 Top Margin Cursor Position ............................................................................. 4-8

5-1 Cursor Positioning ............................................................................................ 5-2

8-1 Physical Coordinate System ............................................................................. 8-1

8-2 Character Cell ................................................................................................... 8-2

8-3 Character Descriptor and Data Format ............................................................. 8-12

8-4 Character Descriptors/Data Continuation Block .............................................. 8-13

8-5 Portrait Character Example ............................................................................... 8-15

8-6 Landscape Character Example .......................................................................... 8-16

8-7 Portrait Character Data Example ...................................................................... 8-18

8-8 Landscape Character Data Example ................................................................. 8-20

9-1 Star-Shaped Raster Image ................................................................................. 9-2

9-2 Dot Translation ................................................................................................. 9-3

9-3 Raster Graphics Presentation ............................................................................ 9-4

9-4 Example of Raster Graphic Image Data ........................................................... 9-9

9-5 Example of Raster Graphic ImageTransfer ...................................................... 9-10

9-6 Shading Levels .................................................................................................. 9-13

9-7 Fill Patterns ....................................................................................................... 9-14

9-8 Solid Fill Example ............................................................................................ 9-16

9-9 Shaded Fill Example ......................................................................................... 9-17

9-10 Patterned Fill Example ..................................................................................... 9-18

9-11 Print Model Imaging ......................................................................................... 9-19

11-1 IntelliBar Initialization Format Types ............................................................... 11-1

11-2 IntelliBar Device Type Variable Form Length Command Values ................... 11-2

11-3 IntelliBar Device Type Default Print Speed Command Values ....................... 11-3

11-4 Standard SAP Bar Code Commands ................................................................ 11-4

11-5 PCL Command Cross Reference to SAP Z Print Control Command Codes.... 11-5

Preface

This IntelliBar M Series Programmer’s Reference Guide contains programming and hardware interface information written for programmers who want to generate labels from a data stream.*

An understanding of the HP PCL language, ASCII coding, hexadecimal numbers, and BASIC programming is useful when referencing several of the sections in this manual.

The manual is organized as follows: A list of the abbreviations used in this manual follows the preface. Section 1 HP PCL Background describes page characteristics, the HP PCL coordinate

system, and the printable area of a label. Section 2 IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands describes print and

format command extensions and bar code generation command extensions. Section 3 HP PCL Print Commands describes standard HP PCL commands you can use

to control the printing operation. Section 4 HP PCL Page Format Commands describes page format commands you can

use to set page length, margins, orientation, and other features. Section 5 HP PCL Cursor Position Commands explains commands you can use to set

the active print position (or cursor position) in the printable area of the label. Section 6 HP PCL Font Characteristics discusses the characteristics of a font and the

commands you can use to select a font for printing. It also describes primary and secondary fonts.

Section 7 HP PCL Font Management and Soft Font Downloading describes the

commands you use to download soft fonts to the printer’s virtual memory, as well as

commands for deleting a font. Section 8 HP PCL Soft Font Design explains the commands and criteria you use to

design a soft font. Section 9 HP PCL Graphics Commands provides the commands you use to create raster

images and fill (or shade) graphics. Section 10 HP PCL Macro Commands and Programming Hints explains how you can

create and control temporary and permanent macros to make more efficient use of your printer. This appendix also contains information useful for PCL software development.

Section 11 IntelliBar M Series SAP Device Types a reference for programming the custom SAP device types for IntelliBar M Series printers.

xxii Preface

RELATED DOCUMENTS

The following documents provide detailed information about the IntelliBar M Series printer and PCL 5:

 IntelliBar M Series User’s Guide

describes the operation of the IntelliBar M Series printer. Available from IntelliTech International, Inc.

 PCL Printer Language Technical Reference Manual

describes the PCL 5 language codes and escape sequences for experienced users and programmers. Available from Hewlett-Packard (Part number 5961-0509)

 Printer Job Language Technical Reference Manual

describes the printer job language (PJL) for experienced users and programmers Available from Hewlett-Packard (Part number 5961-0509)

 PCL/PJL Technical Quick Reference Guide

Available from Hewlett-Packard (Part number 5961-0512)

NOTE: For updates on IntelliBar M Series printer specifications and other information about Intellitech International, Inc. products, visit our Web site at http://www.intellitech-

intl.com.

"This information is subject to change without notice. This information is provided "as is" without either express or implied warranty. IntelliTech International, Inc. disclaims any and all warranties with regard to this information. IntelliTech shall not be liable in any event for any special, indirect or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever

Preface xxiii

resulting from loss of data, profits or use, for any reason or in any action, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of this information. "

Section 1

PCL Background

PAGE CHARACTERISTICS

This section describes the system and page characteristics. The IntelliBar printer defines a label (or page) by using the HP PCL coordinate system.*

Addressable Area

The addressable area describes the area within which the active printing position (or cursor) can move to print. By using the cursor positioning commands (see Section 4), you can move the cursor to different locations within the addressable area. You cannot move the cursor outside the area.

PCL Coordinate System

The PCL coordinate system uses an x-y axis with its origin (point 0,0) on the left edge and at the top margin of the addressable area. Figure 1-1 shows the coordinate system. The position of the origin can change if the top margin position is changed through a printer command.

1-2 PCL Background

Figure 1-1 PCL Coordinate System

Points within the PCL coordinate system can be expressed in dots, decipoints, columns (for the x-axis) and rows (for the y-axis).

The dot represents the smallest printable point with a size equal to 1/300 inch. Printer resolution refers to the number of dots per inch.

PRINTABLE AREA

The printable area refers to that part of the label where printing is possible. Within the area, the printer can position at least one dot. Figure 1-2 shows the printable area.

PCL Background 1-3

.08 Inches

(2mm) Min. gap for die-cut labels

4.625 Inches (117.475 mm) maximum web width (Model 48 and 412)

.52 Inches (13mm)

Min. Label Length for die-cut labels

Max. Label Length for die-cut labels

98.8 Inches (2.51m)

Unprintable Area

Top and Bottom

.08 Inches (2mm)

AAAAAAA.......................................AAAA

4.5 Inches

(114.3 mm) maximum (Model 48 and 412)

9.625 Inches (244.475 mm) maximum web width (Model 88)

Label Web Width

8.75 Inches

(222.25 mm) maximum (Model 88)

Printable widths:

Orientation

The printable area defined in PCL can have either of two standard orientations: portrait or landscape. The relationship between the printable area and the two orientations is shown in following figures. Portrait orientation can be used for most printing applications. Landscape orientation is useful for printing larger labels.

Figure 1-2 Printable Area

1-4 PCL Background

Range

The IntelliBar printer can print in four different orientation ranges:

 portrait (0 degrees rotation)  landscape (90 degrees rotation)  reverse portrait (180 degrees rotation)  reverse landscape (270 degrees rotation).

This range of orientations provides tremendous versatility for printing complex label designs. Figure 1-3 provides an example of each orientation.

Figure 1-3 Orientation Examples

PCL Portrait Orientation Print Area

Figure 1-4 shows the PCL portrait orientation print area.

PCL Background 1-5

Figure 1-4 PCL Portrait Orientation Print Area

Landscape Orientation Print Area

Figure 1-5 shows the landscape orientation print area.

1-6 PCL Background

Release Paper Edge

Resulting Print

Figure 1-5 Landscape Orientation Print Area

Character Clipping

The printable area has tightly defined boundaries. If any part of a character falls outside of the printable area, it will not print. The printer will treat the character as a space (see Figure 1-6).

Figure 1-6 Character Clipping

PCL Background 1-7

Raster Graphic Clipping

If raster graphics or rules are being printed and the cursor is initially positioned within the printable area, only that portion of the image that is outside the printable area will be clipped (see Figure 1-7).

Figure 1-7 Raster Graphic Clipping

"This information is subject to change without notice. This information is provided "as is" without either express or

implied warranty. IntelliTech International, Inc. disclaims any and all warranties with regard to this information. IntelliTech shall not be liable in any event for any special, indirect or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of data, profits or use, for any reason or in any action, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of this information. "

Section 2

IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands

This section describes IntelliBar M Series HP PCL print and format command extensions and bar code generation command extensions.*

PRINT AND FORMAT COMMAND EXTENSIONS

The following print and format extension commands have been added to the existing IntelliBar HP PCL5 command set to take full advantage of features found in the printer.

NOTE: If you are using multiple print and format extension commands to control the printer, the IntelliBar M Series PCL5 Extension Commands should be sent in the following order.

 Variable Form Length— defines printable area on labels longer or shorter than 11

inches, clarifies label length and character clipping

 Print Speed — controls the IntelliBar M Series printing speed  Density — controls print density (lightness/darkness of printed image)  Print and Tear — executes the tear command  Print and Cut — controls the operation of the optional cutter bar

You can easily control printer operation using these five extension commands (plus the standard HP PCL reset, number of copies, and text position commands described in Section 3).

In the following sections, the name of the command is followed by the escape sequence, its decimal and hex formats, and a description of how to use the command.

2-2 IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands

Variable Form Length

ESC !f1Z Decimal: 027 033 102 049 090 Hex: 1B 21 66 31 5A

Use the Variable Form Length command to define the size of printable area on the label, clarify the label length, and eliminate character clipping.

This command enables variable form length and sets the job (page) size to the last selected value (Letter, Executive, A4, Legal, COM-10, Monarch C5, or DL).

Variable Form Length consists of a command group used to define labels longer or shorter than 11-inches. The command group includes

 Setting Variable Form Length  Disabling Variable Form Length

In all cases, the top of the logical page corresponds to the top of the printable area.

If “Ignore Margins” is set using the control panel menu buttons, or if a host command is

received to set the top margin to zero (0), the vertical cursor position of 0 is printable as the first printable scan line on the page. (Vertical cursor positioning in PCL is relative to the top margin). The exact location of this scan line varies with the setting of the Print Position command in the Adjustment Menu (+ 3 mm).

See “Left Margin,” “Right Margin,” and “Top Margin” in Section 3 for information on

margin settings for standard label sizes. Use the following software command group to define the printable area of labels larger or

smaller than 11 in. The allowable range of values is 0.5 in. to 99 in.

Setting Variable Form Length

This command is used to define labels longer or shorter than 11-inches. The allowable range is 0.5 inches to 99 inches.

ESC !f#Z Decimal: 027 033 102 #..# 090 Hex: 1B 21 66 #..# 5A

#: 1 = enables variable form length and sets job (page) size to the last selected value. # = enables variable form length and sets page length to #, where # is the form length in printer scan lines. There are 300 scan lines per inch. 0 = disables the variable form feature

This command sets the form length by measuring the length of the label and multiplying by

300. For example, a five-inch label has 1500 scan lines (5 x 300).

IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands 2-3

Continuous Media For continuous media, setting the Variable Form Length command causes a soft engine

reset to be executed with the label pitch length set to the form length +2 mm gap. Therefore, the logical paper length (bitmap size) and the paper movement are always synchronized.

If Variable Form Length is not set, or the form length is set to 0, or a reset (ESC E) is received, the logical paper length and paper movement are set from the control panel using the “Operator Panel” parameter under “Label Menu.”

NOTE: Under “Label Menu”, there exists a

“Label Measurement” selection that contains three choices: “Automatic”, “Fixed,” or “Operator Panel.” This selection determines how

the printer synchronizes form length and label

length. For example, when set to “Automatic,”

the printer advances a certain number of die-cut labels during power-up in order to calculate label

and label gap lengths. When set to “Fixed,” the value calculated from the last “Automatic”

measurement is stored and used at power-up. This prevents feeding of blank labels. When set

to “Operator Panel,” you must manually enter

the label length and label gap length into NVRAM for use during power-up calculations.

“Operator Panel” is primarily used for

continuous label, ticket, or tag media.

Die Cut Media For die-cut media, the Variable Form Length command changes the logical paper length

(bitmap size) to the specified length. However, the pitch length in the printer remains as

“Measured” (read by the “Fixed” control panel setting) or it can be set using the “Operator Panel” parameter under “Label Menu.” If the specified form length is less than the printer’s

value, white space shows in each label. If the specified form length is greater than the printer’s value, the page will be formatted internally as specified, but all printing outside the engine printable area will be clipped. This is consistent with the PCL command language and allows relative movements from the bottom of the edge of the logical page to position correctly.

Within “Label Menu” exists a “Label Measurement” selection that contains three choices: “Automatic”, “Fixed”, and “Operator Panel”. These selections determine how the printer

synchronizes form length and label length.

2-4 IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands

### Value

Print Speed

15 mm/sec (0.6 in/sec)

20 mm/sec (0.8 in/sec)

30 mm/sec (1.2 in/sec)

40 mm/sec (1.6 in/sec)

60 mm/sec (2.4 in/sec)

80 mm/sec (3.1 in/sec)

100

100 mm/sec (3.9 in/sec)

120

120 mm/sec (4.7 in/sec)

150

150 mm/sec (5.9 in/sec)

200

200 mm/sec (7.9 in/sec)

250

250 mm/sec (9.8 in/sec)

300

300 mm/sec (11.8 in/sec)

If no Variable Form Length command is received, or the form length is set to 0, or a reset (ESC E) command is received, the logical paper length and the paper movement are

determined by the value measured by the control panel’s “Automatic” or “Fixed” or

“Operator Panel” parameters. (The self-test is printed under these conditions.)

In PCL, Line Feeds off the bottom of the logical page cause a form feed, but vertical cursor positioning commands off the bottom of the logical page position the cursor to the logical page limit without printing the page.

Disabling Variable Form Length

ESC!f0Z Decimal: 027 033 102 048 090 Hex: 1B 21 66 30 5A

This command disables the Variable Form feature.

Print Speed

ESC !p###S Decimal: 027 033 112 ### 83 Hex: 1B 21 70 ## 53

where ### is a number (mm) that represents increasing print speeds (see Table 2-1). This command controls the IntelliBar M Series printing speed. For example, ESC !p15S

sets the printing speed to 15 mm/sec (0.6 in/sec).

Table 2-1 IntelliBar M Series Print Speed Command Codes

IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands 2-5

Print Density

ESC !d##A Decimal: 027 033 100 ## 65 Hex: 1B 21 64 ## 41

##: print head voltage adjustment value This command lets you adjust the black/white contrast between the output and the label

(print density) by adjusting the temperature of the print head. ESC!d##A sets the print density for all subsequent printing, where ## = -15 to +15 (default

is 0). Positive values for ## increase voltage and result in darker print; negative values decrease voltage and result in lighter print.

For example, ESC!d-3 sets the print density to a value of -3.

Print and Tear

ESC !n##T Decimal: 027 033 110 ## 084 Hex:: 1B 21 6E ## 54

where ## equals the tear-off frequency (1 to 99, default = 1) This command instructs the printer to print (##) labels, and then the printer pauses (with

the “Tear Off Label” instruction appearing in the control panel LCD). The bottom of the

last printed label is positioned at the tear bar for easy tear off. After you tear off the label stock, printing resumes automatically for the next ## labels.

For example, ESC !n3T issues a pause after every 3 labels.

NOTE: If the number of labels in the print job is less than the tear-off frequency (##), the “Tear

Off Label” instruction is not displayed on the

control panel LCD, and the bottom of the last printed label is not positioned at the tear bar.

For example, if the tear-off frequency is set to 15 (ESC!n15T) and the total number of labels to be printed is 20, you are prompted to tear off labels after the 15th label. After you have torn off the label, the remaining five labels print to the bottom of the 20th label positioned under the print head, not the tear bar.

2-6 IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands

Print and Cut

ESC !n##C Decimal: 027 033 110 ## 067 Hex: 1B 21 6E ## 43

where ## equals the cut-off frequency (1 to 99, default = 1) Use this command to control how many labels pass through the output slot before a cutting

action occurs. For example, ESC !n3C issues a cut after every 3 labels.

NOTE: If the number of labels in the print job is less than the cut-off frequency (##), the last printed label is not cut.

For example, if the cut-off frequency is set to 15 (ESC!n15C) and the total number of labels to be printed is 20, cutting occurs after the 15th label. The remaining five labels will print, but no cutting occurs after the 20th label.

PCL BAR CODE COMMAND EXTENSIONS

Use the following command extensions to create bar codes with the printer’s internal bar

code capability. Familiarity with HP PCL is required.

NOTE: When using multiple bar code commands, send them in the following order:

First command = Set Bar Code Type Second command = Set Bar Code Height, Width, etc. (specific order does not matter Third command = Print Bar Code

IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands 2-7

Set Bar Code Type

ESC!b#C Decimal: 027 033 098 # 067

where # is a number that sets the bar code type as follows: 0 only print text (default)

1 UPC-A 2 UPC-E 5 Code 39 12 Code 93 ... etc (see below).

Supported Bar Codes

The type of bar code that you wish to produce is passed to Bar Code Library as a number in the Bar Type parameter. The following is a list of numbers to use for each bar code type:

1 UPC-A 2 UPC-E 3 EAN/JAN-13 (with or without 2 or 5 digit supplements) 4 EAN/JAN-8 (with or without 2 or 5 digit supplements) 5 3 of 9 (Code 39) 6 Extended 3 of 9 7 Interleaved 2 of 5 8 Code 128 9 Codabar 10 Zip + 4 Postnet 11 MSI Plessey 12 Code 93 14 UCC-128 15 HIBC 16 UPC/EAN extension (2 or 5 digit supplemental) 17 PDF 417

Set Bar Code Height (Decipoints)

ESC!b#H Decimal: 027 033 098 # 072

where # is a number that sets the bar code height in decipoints (1/720 inch) Default = 720 decipoints (1 inch)

2-8 IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands

Set Bar Code Height (Dots)

ESC!b#J Decimal: 027 033 098 # 074

where # is a number that sets the bar code height in picture elements (pixels) (1/300 inch) Default = 300 pixels (1 inch)

Set Bar Code Width (Dots)

ESC!b#N Decimal: 027 033 098 # 078

where # is a number that sets the width of a narrow bar in dots (1/300 inch for IntelliBar) Default = 2 dots

Range 1 to 6

Set Bar Code Ratio (Code 39, Extended 3 of 9, and Interleaved 2 of 5)

ESC!b#R Decimal: 027 033 098 # 082

where # is a number that sets the ratio of wide to narrow bars as follows: 1 Ratio of 2 to 1

2 Ratio of 5 to 2 (narrow bar is double setting of width) 3 Ratio of 3 to 1 (default)

Set Bar Code 128 Subset Mode

ESC!b#S Decimal: 027 033 098 # 083

where # is a number that sets subset mode for Code 128 bar codes as follows: 0 Automatic subset switching (default)

1 Subset A (upper case/control characters) 2 Subset A (upper and lower case characters) 3 Subset A (double density numbers)

IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands 2-9

Set UPC-E Bar Code Method

ESC!b#E Decimal: 027 033 098 # 069

where # is a number that sets the UPC-E bar code method as follows: 0 Requires 11 digits to print 6 digit bar code (default)

1 System 0 (6 digit input string) 2 System 1 (6 digit input string)

Print Human-Readable Text

ESC!b#T Decimal: 027 033 098 # 084

where # is a number that determines the position of human-readable text as follows (printed with the currently selected font):

0 Disable (default) 1 Enable printing below barcode with check digit 2 Enable printing below bar code with check digit 3 Enable printing above bar code without check digit 4 Enable printing above bar code without check digit 5 Enable printing in NOTCHED bar code with check digit 6 Enable printing in NOTCHED bar code without check digit

The following symbologies print the human-readable check digit in the text (if enabled): UPC-A Code 39 Interleaved 2 of 5

EAN/JAN-8 Extended 3 of 9 Codabar EAN/JAN-13 Code 93 HIBC UCC-128 Extended 93 MSI Plessey (Mod 10)

Human-Readable Positioning with Bar Code

The text is centered horizontally above or below the bar code. Text printed above the bar code has a baseline at 1/4 of the vertical motion index (VMI) + 5 scan lines above the top of the bar code. This leaves space for decenders and 5 blank scan lines. Text printed below the bar code has a baseline at 1 VMI below the bottom of the bar code.

Positioning after Printing a Bar Code

The horizontal position is restored. The vertical position is at the scan line after the bottom of the bar code if no text is printed or if the text is printed above the bar code. The vertical position is a VMI (line feed) below the text if text is printed below the bar code.

2-10 IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands

Printing in Notched Bar Code

The NOTCHED option only applies to UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, and EAN-13 bar code types (and only if 2 or 5 supplemental digit code is not included). If the supplemental digits are included in these four bar code types, NOTCHED printing is ignored and printing defaults to below the bar code.

It is important that the application selects an appropriate size font and set the vertical motion index (VMI) accordingly when using the NOTCHED option. The depth of the NOTCH is 1/2 of the VMI and the characters are printed with the baseline at 3/4 of the VMI from the top of the notched area. The characters are evenly spaced within the notched area.

Calculate Optional Check Digit

ESC!b#K Decimal: 027 033 098 # 075

where # is a number that enables/disables optional check digit calculation as follows: 0 Disable(default)

1 Enable 2 Enable optional second check digit

The following symbologies print the human-readable check digit in the text (if enabled): UPC-A Code 39 Interleaved 2 of 5

EAN/JAN-8 Extended 3 of 9 Codabar EAN/JAN-13 Code 93 HIBC UCC-128 Extended 93 MSI Plessey (Mod 10)

The following symbologies always calculate a checksum: UPC-A Code 128

UPC-E UCC-128 EAN/JAN-8 MSI Plessey (Mod 10) EAN/JAN-13 Zip+4 Postnet

The following symbologies calculate a checksum if Optional Check Digit is enabled: Code 39 Extended 39

HIBC Code 93 Extended 93 Interleaved 2 of 5 Codabar (Mod 16) MSI Plessey 2 (Mod 10)

IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands 2-11

Setting the Optional Check Digit to 2 has the following effect: Codabar calculates Mod 10 checksum. MSI Plessey calculates 1 Mod 11 and Mod 10 checksum.

PDF417 Bar Code

PDF417 bar code capability is implemented with the following features. Additional # for Bar Code Type selection: ESC!b#c – Set Bar Code Type, where # is: 17 = PDF417 type bar code Escape sequences: ESC!b#B – Enable/disable Binary Only Mode, where # is:

0 – disable Binary Only Mode (default) 1 – enable Binary Only mode (determinant symbol size)

ESC!b#D – Set RESOLUTION for encoding data to printer. Default = 100 DPI Range: 75, 100, 150, 300

ESC!b#F – Enable/Disable TRUNCATED PDF symbols. 0 – disable Truncated Mode (default) 1 – enable Enable Truncated Mode

ESC!b#L – Set ECC (Error Correction Code) LEVEL Default = 0 (i.e. Use Percentage command “ESC!b#P”). Range: 0 through 8

ESC!b#P – Set ECC LEVEL as a PERCENTAGE of data code words Default = 10 (10% of data code words). Range: 0 through 400

ESC!b#Q – Set mode for stripping bits to compensate for bleeding. 0 – no reduction (default) 1 – reduce Bar Height (only valid if Y SCALE > 1) 2 – reduce Bar Width (only valid if X SCALE > 1) 3 – reduce both Bar Height and Bar Width(valid as above)

ESC!b#U – Set Row count used for sizing a PDF symbol. Default = 0 Range: 0, 3 through 90

2-12 IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands

ESC!b#V – Set Column count used for sizing the PDF symbol. Default = 0 Range: 0 through 30 If both ROW and COLUMN count are defaulted to 0, the bar code aspect ratio is set to 1:2, i. e., the bar code will be twice as wide as it is high

ESC!b#X – Set X Scale, also known as X Element Size (multiple of Resolution) in mils (thousandths of an inch) Default = 1 Range 1 through 20 An X Scale of 1 with a Resolution of 100 DPI generates an X Element Size of 10 mil.

ESC!b#Y – Set Y Scale (also known as module aspect ratio), which sets the row height as an integer multiple of the X element size. Default = 3 Range 1 through 10

Print Bar Code

ESC!b#W [data] Decimal: 027 033 098 # 087

Prints the bar code for the given # of characters of ASCII data at the current position. Prints only text if the Bar Code Type is 0.

If a bar code is being printed, the top, left corner of the bar code will be at the current position. If only text is being printed, the left, baseline of the first character will be at the current position. (The only reason for using this command to print only text is in order to utilize the auto-incrementing option (see below).

Auto Incrementing/Decrementing Fields

This feature lets you automatically increment or decrement fields when multiple copies of a page are requested. The following two extension commands are available:

ESC!b#I where # is a number that increments/decrements subsequent bar code or string fields as

follows: 0 Disables incrementing fields (default)

1 to 32767 Increments field by the specified number

-1 to -32767 Decrements field by the absolute value of the specified number. The field is scanned from right to left until a numeric character is encountered to use as a starting value. The width of the field remains constant. Therefore, leading spaces or zeroes should be used as place holders for the largest number expected (see the following).

IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands 2-13

ESC!b#Z where # is a number that enables/disables printing of leading zeroes in incrementing fields

as follows: 0 Disable (default). Use spaces as placeholders. When the field value is zero, the

final zero is not suppressed. 1 Enable (use zeroes as placeholders).

In addition, the following standard PCL macro commands must be used:

 Specify Macro ID

ESC&f0Y 027 038 102 # 089

 Start Macro Definition

ESC&f0X 027 038 102 048 088

 Stop Macro Definition

ESC&f1X 027 038 102 049 088

 Enable Macro for Automatic Overlay

ESC&f4X 027 038 102 052 088

The application must specify the Macro ID (see Section 10), download the entire page into the macro, enable the macro for automatic overlay, set the copy count, and issue a form feed. The first copy of the page will print the macro exactly as downloaded. Subsequent copies will print with appropriately modified incrementing or decrementing fields within the macro. Incrementing/decrementing fields is limited to 20 characters each, and the number of auto-incrementing fields is limited to 10 per page.

2-14 IntelliBar M Series Extensions to HP PCL Commands

Bar Code Generation Example

The following programming example produces the label shown in Figure 2-1 using the IntelliBar M Series Model 48 and 412 internal bar code fonts.

E&130&18D

3 of 95 to 2 Ratio

Ladder Bar Code

!b5C!b150J!b3N!b2R!b4W1234

x = 3 Dots

!b5C!b150J!b4N!b2R!b2W12

x = 4 Dots

Test

Figure 2-1 Internal Bar Code Example

"This information is subject to change without notice. This information is provided "as is" without either express or

Section 3

HP PCL Print Commands

You can easily control printer operation using four standard HP PCL print commands.* These commands, or escape sequences, allow you to:

 restore user default settings (reset)  select the number of copies needed for each label  adjust text position across width of page (long-edge offset registration)  designate text position across length of page (short-edge offset registration)

In the following sections, the name of the command is followed by the escape sequence, its decimal and hex formats, and a description of how to use the command.

For information on the IntelliBar M Series extension commands used to control printer operation, see Section 2.

RESET

ESC E Decimal: 027 069 Hex: 1B 45

Use this command at the beginning and end of each print job. The command deletes any temporary fonts and macros, prints any pages remaining in the printer buffer, and restores user default settings. This allows the next job to start with the default settings as a known base. Starting with the default environment at the beginning of each print job eliminates the need to set every feature each time a job is run.

Do not perform a printer reset within a job.

NUMBER OF COPIES

ESC &l#X Decimal: 027 038 108 #...# 088 Hex: 1B 26 6C #...# 58

#: number of copies (maximum = 32,767) Use this command to set the number of copies printed for each page in a job. The com-

mand can occur anywhere on the page. Thus, it will be invoked for the current page and remain in effect for subsequent pages. The factory default setting is 1 copy.

3-2 HP PCL Print Commands

LONG-EDGE (LEFT) OFFSET REGISTRATION

ESC&!#U Decimal: 027 038 108 #...#085 Hex: 1B 26 6C #...# 55

#: number of decipoints (1/720 inch) Default = 0

Range = -32767 to 32767 This command designates the position of the logical page across the width (short side) of

the physical page. This command can be used to adjust the text position on the page to allow room for the page binding.

The value (#) is a signed number valid to 2 decimal places. The units are decipoints. Positive values cause the logical page, regardless of orientation, to move right along the width of the physical page, except on the back side (duplex print) of sheets printed in long-edge binding duplex mode, where positive values cause it to move left.

Negative values cause the logical page, regardless of orientation, to move left along the width of the physical page, except on the back side of sheets printed in long-edge binding duplex mode, where negative values cause it to move right.

SHORT-EDGE (TOP) OFFSET REGISTRATION

ESC&!#Z Decimal: 027 038 108 #...#090 Hex: 1B 26 6C #...# 5A

#: number of decipoints (1/720 inch) Default = 0

Range = -32767 to 32767 This command designates the position of the logical page across the length (long side) of

the physical page. The value (#) is a signed number valid to 2 decimal places. The units are decipoints. Posi-

tive values cause the logical page, regardless of orientation, to move down along the length of the physical page, except on the back side of sheets printed in short-edge binding duplex mode, where positive values cause it to move up.

Print Commands D-3

Negative values cause the logical page, regardless of orientation, to move up along the length of the physical page, except on the back side of sheets printed in short-edge binding duplex mode, where negative values cause it to move down.

"This information is subject to change without notice. This information is provided "as is" without either express or

Section 4

HP PCL Page Format Commands

In addition to using print commands to control printer operation, you can use page format commands to set up all your labels.* These commands or escape sequences allow you to:

 select page size and length  select the page source  select orientation (portrait or landscape)  select the print direction  set margins and text length  set row and column dimensions  set line spacing

This section lists the page format commands by subsection. The name of the command is followed by the escape sequence, its decimal and hex formats, and a description of how to use the command.

For information on the IntelliBar M Series extension commands used to control printer operation, see Section 2.

PAGE SIZE

ESC &l#A Decimal: 027 038 108 # 065 Hex: 1B 26 6C # 41

#: Paper 1 = Executive (7.25 in. x 10.5 in.) 2 = Letter (8.5 in. x 11 in.) 3 = Legal (8.5 in. x 14 in.) 26 = A4 (210 mm x 297 mm) Envelopes 80 = Monarch (Letter – 3 7/8 in. x 7 1/2 in.) 81 = Commercial 10 (Business – 4 1/8 in. x 9 1/2 in.) 90 = International DL (110 mm x 220 mm) 91 = International C5 (162 mm x 229 mm)

The page size command sets the page size installed in the printer. This also sets the size of the addressable print area.

4-2 HP PCL Page Format Commands

NOTE: The IntelliBar M Series does not respond to this command.

When the printer receives the page size command, it will print subsequent labels using the user default settings for the top margin, text length, and left and right margins. The macro overlay is disabled and the cursor position moves to the left edge of the addressable print area on the top margin of the next label.

If a page size other than the size set by the command is installed, the printer shows an error message on the control panel display.

The factory default setting is for letter-sized labels.

PAGE LENGTH

ESC &l#P Decimal: 027 038 108 # 080 Hex: 1B 26 6C # 50

#: number of lines. Use the page length command to set the number of lines on a page. The value field (#) sets

the length of the addressable print area in lines. The printer ignores the page length command if the command is set for a value greater than the maximum supported page size or if the Vertical Motion Index (VMI) is set at 0.

If a page length other than the size set by the command is installed, the printer shows an error message on the control panel display.

When the printer receives the page length command, it prints subsequent pages using the user default settings for the top margin, text length, and left and right margins. The macro overlay is disabled, and the cursor position moves to the left edge of the addressable print area on the top margin of the next page.

The factory default setting is for a letter-sized page. Table 4-1 and Table 4-2 provide page length values for the standard page sizes in portrait

and landscape orientations. Determine the number of lines per page by multiplying the line spacing setting (lines per

inch) times the length of the page in inches

HP PCL Page Format Commands 4-3

Page Size

LINES PER INCH 6 8

Letter

66 88

Legal

84 112

70 93

Executive

63 84

Page Size

LINES PER INCH 6 8

Letter

51 68

Legal

– –

49 66

Executive

43 58

Table 4-1 Page Lengths for Portrait Orientation

Table 4-2 Page Lengths for Landscape Orientation

You can print a legal-size page in landscape orientation by starting in portrait orientation and setting the page length using ESC&l84P. Next, set the orientation to landscape using ESC&l1O.

4-4 HP PCL Page Format Commands

PAPER SOURCE

ESC &l#H Decimal: 027 038 108 # 072 Hex: 1B 26 6C # 48

#: 0 = print the current label 1 = feed paper from paper cassette 2 = feed paper from manual feed slot

Use this command to select either the paper cassette or the manual feed feature.

NOTE: The IntelliBar M Series does not respond to this command.

ORIENTATION

ESC &l#O Decimal: 027 038 108 48 079 (portrait) 027 038 108 49 079 (landscape) 027 038 108 50 079 (reverse portrait) 027 038 108 51 079 (reverse landscape) Hex: 1B 26 6C 3# 4F

#: 0 = portrait orientation 1 = landscape orientation 2 = reverse portrait 3 = reverse landscape

Use this command to set the page orientation. The command sets user default values for page length, top margin, text length, left and right margins, horizontal motion index (HMI), and vertical motion index (VMI). Any data in the print buffer received before the command will be printed, followed by a form feed and carriage return. The cursor moves to the left edge of the top margin on the addressable print area of the next page.

The factory default setting is portrait orientation. You can select landscape orientation through the control panel.

NOTE: You can use only one orientation per page. To print multiple directions per page, use

the Print Direction command (see “Print Direc- tion”).

The printer automatically rotates all fonts to the currently selected orientation. Figure 4-1 shows the features of portrait and landscape orientation modes.

HP PCL Page Format Commands 4-5

Figure 4-1 Orientation Features

PRINT DIRECTION

ESC &l#P Decimal: 027 038 097 #...# 080 Hex: 1B 26 61 #...# 50

#: 0 = 0o rotation 90 = 90 o counterclockwise rotation 180 = 180o counterclockwise rotation 270 = 270o counterclockwise rotation

Default = 0 Range = 0, 90, 180, 270 (all other values ignored)

This command rotates the logical page coordinate system with respect to the current orien- tation without performing a page eject. This rotation is performed in 90o degree increments in a counterclockwise direction. This allows printing in four directions on the same page.

4-6 HP PCL Page Format Commands

Changing the print direction causes the following to occur:

 The print origin moves with the logical page rotation. For example, rotating a de-

fault page (Portrait orientation, 0o print direction) 90o causes data to print in the landscape direction across the “portrait” page.

 The margins are translated (when the print direction changes by 90

gin becomes the new top margin, the former top margin becomes the new right margin, etc.)

 The cursor position remains at the same physical location.  All subsequent printing (characters, area fill patterns, raster images) is rotated to

coincide with the new print direction.

 Any current raster graphics end when the print direction changes.

NOTE: This command does not affect HPGL/2 vector graphic images. HPGL/2 graphics can be rotated only with the Orientation command (see “Orientation”) or the HPGL/2 “RO” command.

 The Print Direction command does not default HMI.

LEFT MARGIN

ESC &a#L Decimal: 027 038 097 #...# 076 Hex: 1B 26 61 #...# 4C

, the left mar-

#: column number Use the left margin command to set the left margin to the left edge of a column you speci-

fy. The default first column is column 0, located at the left edge of the addressable print area.

If you specify a value greater than the current right margin, the printer ignores the escape sequence.

The HMI sets the distance between columns. Because margins are a physical position, they will not change once set even though the HMI may change.

If a new left margin is set within the existing left margin, the cursor shifts to the new left margin.

Column 0 is the factory default setting for the left margin.

HP PCL Page Format Commands 4-7

RIGHT MARGIN

ESC &a#M Decimal: 027 038 097 #...# 077 Hex: 1B 26 61 #...# 4D

#: column number Use the right margin command to set the right margin to the right edge of a column you

specify. The maximum default right column is located at the right edge of the addressable print ar-

ea. If you specify a value greater than the right margin of the addressable print area, the printer uses the right margin of the addressable print area. If you specify a column value less than the left margin, the printer ignores the escape sequence.

The HMI sets the distance between columns. Because margins are physical positions, they will not change when set even though the HMI may change.

If a new right margin is set to the right of the existing right margin, the cursor shifts to the new right margin.

The factory default setting for the right margin is the right edge of the addressable print area.

TOP MARGIN

ESC &l#E Decimal: 027 038 108 #...# 069 Hex: 1B 26 6C #...# 45

#: number of lines Use the top margin command to set the number of lines between the top of the addressable

print area and the top of the text area. The printer ignores this escape sequence if you specify a value greater than the length of

the current addressable print area or if the current VMI is 0 (VMI sets the space between lines of text). When the printer receives a valid top margin command, it resets the text length according to the following equation:

Text length = addressable print area length (in inches) – top margin (in inches) – 1/2 inch.

Because the top margin is a physical position, it will not change once set, even though the VMI or line spacing may change.

The current values of the top margin and VMI determine the vertical cursor position through the following equation:

First line (in inches) = top margin (in inches) + (72/100 * VMI)

4-8 HP PCL Page Format Commands

This position will be at the baseline of a character to provide the correct character position in a character cell. Figure 4-2 shows the relationship of the cursor position to the top margin and the VMI.

NOTE: The first line of the addressable print area is 0.

Figure 4-2 Top Margin Cursor Position

CLEAR HORIZONTAL MARGINS

ESC 9 Decimal: 027 057 Hex: 1B 39

Use the clear horizontal margin command to reset the left and right margins. The printer will set the left margin to the left edge (column 0) of the addressable print area and the right margin to the right edge of the addressable print area.

HP PCL Page Format Commands 4-9

TEXT LENGTH

ESC &l#F Decimal: 027 038 108 #...# 070 Hex: 1B 26 6C #...# 46

#: number of lines Use the text length command to set the number of lines available for printing text within

the addressable print area. Text length in lines is set by the value field (#) starting from the top margin. If you specify

a value greater than the addressable print area minus the top margin, or if the VMI is 0, the printer ignores the command. The default text length is used if values for orientation, page length, page size, or top margin change.

The printer calculates the user default text length according to the following equation:

Text length (in lines) = Integer portion (of addressable print area (in inches) – top margin (in inches) – 1/2 inch) x 48/VMI

The factory default is as follows:

Text length (in lines) = ((addressable print area length (in inches) – 1 inch) x 6).

You must select the user default VMI through software commands.

PERFORATION SKIP

ESC &l#L Decimal: 027 038 108 # 076 Hex: 1B 26 6C # 4C

#: 0 = disable 1 = enable

Use the perforation skip command to move the cursor from the bottom line on the page to the top of the text area on the following page.

The perforation region starts at the bottom of the text area on a page and ends at the top of the text area on the next page. When the skip is enabled, a line feed or half-line feed moves the cursor to the top of the text area on the following page. When the skip is disabled, a line feed or half-line feed moves the cursor into the perforation region where printing will continue.

4-10 HP PCL Page Format Commands

HORIZONTAL MOTION INDEX

ESC &k#H Decimal: 027 038 107 #...# 072 Hex: 1B 26 6B #...# 48

#: number of 1/120 increments Use the horizontal motion index (HMI) to set the distance between columns. You can spec-

ify a value from 0 to 840. Values can be set to four decimal places. No horizontal motion will occur if the HMI is 0.

If you use fixed pitch fonts, all printable characters including the space and backspace characters, are affected by the HMI. If you select proportional fonts, the HMI affects only the control code space character.

The HMI defaults if any font characteristics change and if shift in and shift out are used to switch between primary and secondary fonts.

The pitch value in the font header equals the default HMI value. The factory default font HMI value is 12 to give 10 characters per inch (12/120 = 1/10).

VERTICAL MOTION INDEX

ESC &l#C Decimal: 027 038 108 # 067 Hex: 1B 26 6C # 43

#: number of 1/48 inch increments between rows Use the vertical motion index (VMI) to set the space between rows. You can specify a val-

ue from 0 to 336. If you specify a VMI value greater than the current addressable print area length, the printer ignores the command. You can specify a value up to four decimal points. A zero value indicates no vertical motion.

The VMI command affects the spacing of both line feed and half-line feed. The factory default VMI value is 8. This is the same as six lines per inch.

HP PCL Page Format Commands 4-11

LINE SPACING

ESC &l#D Decimal: 027 038 108 #...# 068 Hex: 1B 26 6C #...# 44

#: 1 = 1 lines per inch (lpi) 2 = 2 lpi 3 = 3 lpi 4 = 4 lpi 6 = 6 lpi 8 = 8 lpi 12 = 12 lpi 16 = 16 lpi 24 = 24 lpi 48 = 48 lpi

Use the line spacing command to set the number of lines printed per page. This command functions like the VMI command; however, it sets the VMI in lines per inch.

The factory default setting is six lines per inch.

"This information is subject to change without notice. This information is provided "as is" without either express or

Section 5

HP PCL Cursor Position Commands

The IntelliBar M Series prints with an active printing position typically referred to as the cursor position. You can use several commands to move the cursor for customized applications.*

 Cursor position commands deal with the following features.  Absolute/relative position  Cursor addressing units  Horizontal control  Vertical control  Half-line feed  Line feed  Line termination  Push/pop

In this section, cursor position commands are listed by subsection. The name of the command is followed by the escape sequence, its decimal and hex formats, and a description of how to use the command.

ABSOLUTE/ RELATIVE POSITION

You can specify either absolute or relative cursor motion to position the cursor. Absolute motion specifies movement to a physical position from the left edge of the top margin (position 0,0). Relative motion specifies the distance to move from the current cursor position. Figure 5-1 shows the relationships of cursor movement.

5-2 HP PCL Cursor Position Commands

Figure 5-1 Cursor Positioning

CURSOR ADDRESSING UNITS

All position commands are expressed in PCL coordinate system units on an x-y axis. The x-axis units can be dots, decipoints, or columns. The y-axis units can be dots, decipoints, or rows.

The dot (or PCL typographic point) represents the smallest printable point with a size equal to 1/300 inch. Printer resolution refers to the number of dots per inch.

The decipoint equals 1/720 inch. It is one-tenth of a PCL typographic point. Column width or distance between consecutive characters is expressed by the current hori-

zontal motion index (HMI). Row values (the distance between the rows or the lines) are given through the current vertical motion index (VMI) or lines per inch (lpi).

HP PCL Cursor Position Commands 5-3

HORIZONTAL CONTROL (COLUMNS)

ESC &a#C Decimal: 027 038 097 # 067 Hex: 1B 26 61 # 43

#: number of columns Use this horizontal control command to move the current horizontal cursor (or active print

position) to a new column position on the current line. The column width is defined by the current HMI value. If you specify a positive value (us-

ing a plus sign (+)) in the value field (#), the new position will be to the right of the current cursor position. If you specify a negative value (using a minus sign (–)) in the value field (#), the new position will be to the left of the current cursor position. By not specifying a sign, you obtain an absolute distance that is referenced from the left edge of the addressable print area.

The printer recognizes the first column in a line as column 0. The printer ignores margins when this escape sequence is used, so you can set the cursor position to any point along the current line using this sequence.

If you specify a location outside of the addressable page area, the cursor moves to the edge of the addressable page area.

You can specify a value to four decimal places.

HORIZONTAL CONTROL (DECIPOINTS)

ESC &a#H Decimal: 027 038 097 # 072 Hex: 1B 26 61 # 48

#: number of decipoints (1/720 inch). Use this horizontal control command, or escape sequence, to move the current horizontal

cursor (or active print position) to a new position on the current line. If you specify a positive value (using a plus sign (+)) in the value field (#), the new position

will be to the right of the current cursor position. If you specify a negative value (using a minus sign (–)) in the value field (#), the new position will be to the left of the current cursor position. By not specifying a sign, you obtain an absolute distance that is referenced from the left edge of the addressable print area. The extreme left position is 0 and the extreme right position is the right edge of the addressable print area.

If you specify a location outside of the addressable page area, the cursor will move to the edge of the addressable page area.

You can specify a value to two decimal places.

5-4 HP PCL Cursor Position Commands

HORIZONTAL CONTROL (DOTS)

ESC *p#X Decimal: 027 042 112 # 088 Hex: 1B 2A 70 # 58

#: number of dots Use this horizontal control command to move the current horizontal cursor (or active print

position) to a new position on the current line. If you specify a positive value (using a plus sign (+)) in the value field (#), the new position

If you specify a location outside of the addressable page area, the cursor will move to the edge of the addressable page area.

HORIZONTAL CONTROL (CONTROL CODES)

You can also use the four control codes described below to position the cursor horizontally on the current line.

CR – Carriage Return

The CR control code moves the cursor to the left margin of the current line. Its use is affected by the line termination command (explained later in this section).

SP – Space

The SP control code moves the cursor one column position to the right. You can define space as a printable character or a control code. When used with proportionally spaced fonts, the SP control code moves the cursor by the current HMI value. As a printable character, however, the cursor moves the width of a character. When used with fixed fonts, cursor movement is according to the HMI value, regardless of how space is used.).

BS – Backspace

The BS control code moves the cursor to the left a distance that is equal to the width of last printed character or space. No movement occurs if the cursor is already at the left margin.).

The backspace distance equals the HMI value when used with fixed pitch fonts.

HP PCL Cursor Position Commands 5-5

When used with proportionally-spaced fonts, the backspace centers the overstriking character on the character being overstruck. After printing the overstrike character the cursor position will be at the same position before the backspace. Each movement back equals the distance of the last symbol or space. If the cursor is on the left margin, no movement occurs.

HT – Horizontal Tab

The HT control code moves the cursor to the next tab stop on the current line. Tab stops start on the left margin and occur at every eighth column to the right edge of the addressable print area. If the right margin is crossed by a new tab request, the new value is set at the right margin. When the HMI value is 0, the command is ignored.).

VERTICAL CONTROL (ROWS)

ESC &a#R Decimal: 027 038 097 # 082 Hex: 1B 26 61 # 52

#: number of rows Use this vertical control command to move the current vertical cursor (or active print posi-

tion) along the current column position on a new line. If you specify a positive value (using a plus sign (+)) in the value field (#), the new position

will be down from the current cursor position. If you specify a negative value (using a minus sign (–)) in the value field (#), the new position will be above the current cursor position. By not specifying a sign, you obtain an absolute distance that is referenced from the top margin of the addressable print area.

If you specify an absolute or negative relative value outside of the addressable page area, the cursor will move to the edge of the addressable page area. You can specify a positive relative value to move the cursor down and off the current page. You can move the cursor into the perforation region because this command allows the printer to ignore the perforation skip mode. The printer, however, will only advance the cursor to the top of form of the page following the next page (thus, form feeding a blank page).

You can specify a value to four decimal places.

5-6 HP PCL Cursor Position Commands

VERTICAL CONTROL (DECIPOINTS)

ESC &a#V Decimal: 027 038 097 # 086 Hex: 1B 26 61 # 56

#: number of decipoints (1/720 inch) Use this vertical control command to move the current vertical cursor (or active print posi-

tion) along the y-axis. If you specify a positive value (using a plus sign (+)) in the value field (#), the new posi-

tion will be down from the current cursor position. If you specify a negative value (using a minus sign (–)) in the value field (#), the new position will be above the current cursor position. By not specifying a sign, you obtain an absolute distance that is referenced from the top margin of the addressable print area. The uppermost position is the top margin with a value of 0. The lowermost position is the bottom of the addressable print area. If you specify an absolute or negative relative value outside of the addressable page area, the cursor will move to the edge of the addressable page area.

You can specify a value to two decimal places.

VERTICAL CONTROL (DOTS))

ESC *p#Y Decimal: 027 042 112 #...# 089 Hex: 1B 2A 70 #...# 59

#: number of dots. Use this vertical control command to move the current vertical cursor (or active print posi-

tion) to a new position along the y-axis. If you specify a positive value (using a plus sign (+)) in the value field (#), the new posi-

HP PCL Cursor Position Commands 5-7

HALF-LINE FEED)

ESC = Decimal: 027 061 Hex: 1B 3D

Use the half-line feed command to move the cursor down one-half line feed to the same character position. The distance is one-half of the current VMI or line spacing setting.

VERTICAL CONTROL (CONTROL CODES).

You can use two control codes, described below, to position the cursor vertically.

LF – Line Feed

The LF control code moves the cursor to the same horizontal position on the next line. The space between the lines is set by the last VMI or line spacing setting. The line termination command affects the use of this control code.).

FF – Form Feed

The FF control code moves the cursor to the same horizontal position at the top of the text area on the next page. The line termination command affects the use of this control code.).

LINE TERMINATION).

ESC &k#G Decimal: 027 038 107 # 071 Hex: 1B 26 6B # 47

#: 0 = CR=>CR; LF=>LF; FF=>FF 1 = CR=>CR-LF; LF=>LF; FF=>FF 2 = CR=>CR; LF=>CR-LF; FF=>CR-FF 3 = CR=>CR-LF; LF=>CR-LF; FF=>CR-FF

Use the line termination command to control the printer's interpretation of the CR, LF, and FF control codes.

5-8 HP PCL Cursor Position Commands

PUSH/POP CONTROL).

ESC &f#S Decimal: 027 038 102 # 083 Hex: 1B 26 66 # 53

#: 0 = push (store cursor position) 1 = pop (recall cursor position)

Use the push/pop command to store or recall the cursor position. Using the value 0 pushes the cursor position onto the first in last out (FILO) stack while keeping the current cursor position. Using the value 1 pops the cursor off the stack, restoring it as the current cursor position.

You can push up to 20 positions. Any more than 20 are ignored. If you pop more positions than you pushed, the command is ignored. If you reset the printer, the current cursor position is placed on the top of the stack and all other pushed are lost.

If a position is outside of the addressable print area, the cursor is positioned at the edge of the addressable print area.

"This information is subject to change without notice. This information is provided "as is" without either express or

Section 6

HP PCL Font Characteristics

You can print documents using a variety of fonts. For example, you can use a large font for the title or company name, a standard-size font for the body of the label, and a bold or italic font to highlight key words or phrases.*

A number of fonts are supplied with the printer; these fonts are referred to as internal fonts. Additional fonts are available for the printer as downloadable fonts on diskettes.

These diskettes are inserted into the personal computer disk drive, and the font files downloaded (transferred) from the disk into the printer's RAM memory. Once the font has been downloaded into the printer, it may be selected for printing.

Any internal font or downloadable font may be selected for printing. Fonts are selected using font selection commands. This section describes how to select fonts.

There are several characteristics (or attributes) used to identify a font. A font is selected by specifying these characteristics: symbol set, spacing, pitch, height, style, stroke weight, and typeface.

The printer maintains a font selection table that contains the values of the currently specified characteristics. Whenever the printer receives an escape sequence specifying a font characteristic, the printer records that characteristic in the table.

NOTE: For detailed information on the commands described in this section, refer to the PCL5 printer language document set available from Hewlett-Packard.

FONT SELECTION BY CHARACTERISTIC

The printer selects a font based on its priority of characteristics, its physical location in the printer, and finally its orientation.

6-2 HP PCL Font Characteristics

Priority of Characteristics

The printer first selects a font based on the priority of the characteristics. The priority of the characteristics, from highest to lowest, is shown in the following list.

Symbol Set Spacing Pitch Point Size (Height) Style Stroke Typeface

When selecting a font, the printer compares the highest priority characteristic in its font selection table to the corresponding characteristic of the available fonts. If only one font is available that matches, that font is selected. However, when several fonts match, the printer compares the next highest priority characteristic to the corresponding characteristic of the available fonts and so on down the list. When only one font remains, that font is selected. However, if after comparison of all the font characteristics, more than one font still remains, then the location of the fonts is considered.

Location

There are two locations in which a font may be stored: printer ROM (internal font) and printer RAM (soft font). The priority of the two font locations, from highest to lowest, are shown below. The font that matches the font characteristics is selected from the highest priority location.

Internal Font Soft font, lowest ID

Orientation

Orientation refers to the direction of print on a page. Portrait orientation is across the page width, while landscape orientation is across the page length. The IntelliBar printer can print in either orientation. When the orientation is changed, the printer will select a font in the new orientation that has attributes closely resembling the currently selected font of the other orientation..

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-3

Font Source

Maximum Number of Fonts

Number of Fonts Per Label

Download Internal

Up to 32 fonts 8 fonts

The IntelliBar M Series can print up to 80 fonts per page from a mixture of these font sources.

Characteristic

Selection

Symbol Set

Roman-8

Spacing

Fixed

Pitch

Point Size

12 point

Style

Upright

Stroke

Bold

Typeface

Courier

Number of Fonts

Table 6-1lists the maximum number of fonts that the IntelliBar M Series can manage from the three font storage locations..

Table 6-1 Number of Fonts

NOTE: The printer will select only one symbol set from internal fonts or fonts that support multiple symbol sets.

If you download 33 or more fonts, the printer will discard any subsequent downloaded data without producing an error message.

Font Specification

The initial font specification in a job should be made using all of the font characteristics.. To select a Roman-8, fixed-spaced, 10 pitch, 12 point, upright, bold, Courier font, for the

current page orientation, specify each of the characteristics using font selection escape sequences. Once the characteristics have been specified, the printer will have the following font select table (see Table 6-2).

Table 6-2 Font Characteristics

6-4 HP PCL Font Characteristics

Characteristic

Selection

Symbol Set

Roman-8

Spacing

Fixed

Pitch

Point Size

12 point

Style

Upright

Stroke

Medium

Typeface

Courier

To subsequently select a font with the same characteristics except in stroke weight (medium rather than bold) only the stroke weight characteristic must be specified. Note the following change to the printer’s font select table: (see Table 6-3).

Table 6-3 Font Characteristics (Medium Stroke Weight)

Even though only the characteristics of the new font that differ from those of the previously designated font must be sent, IntelliTech recommends that all of the characteristics be sent to ensure that the correct font gets selected.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY FONTS

The printer maintains two independent font characteristic tables for use in selecting a primary font and a secondary font. All of the characteristics previously described apply to both tables. This provides access to two distinct fonts, only one of which is selected at a given time. To alternate between the primary and the secondary font, the control codes "SI" and "SO" are used. The font described by the primary table is designated by the "SI" control code; the font described by the secondary table is designated by the "SO" control code.

SYMBOL SET

A symbol set identifies the specific symbols and/or characters in a font. Characters refer to the alphabetic, numeric, punctuation symbols, and/or any other symbols that may be included.

Symbol sets and their identification (ID) numbers are listed in Table 6-4. Commands are used to designate symbol sets as a primary or secondary. To select symbol sets, send the following commands.

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-5

Symbol Set Name

Symbol Set ID

ECMA–94 Latin 1

*HP German

HP Roman–8

Spanish

*ISO 2: International Reference Version

ISO 4: United Kingdom

ISO 6: ASCII

*ISO 10: Swedish

ISO 11: Swedish

*ISO 14: JIS ASCII

ISO 15: Italian

*ISO 16 Portuguese

ESC(ID Primary symbol set ID = Symbol Set ID number Decimal: 027 040 ID Hex: 1B 28 ID

ESC)ID Secondary Symbol Set ID = Symbol Set ID number Decimal: 027 041 ID Hex: 1B 29 ID

If the specified symbol set does not exist, the default symbol set will be used. The factory default primary and secondary symbol set is Roman-8. However, you can

select a user default symbol set from the printer control panel printing menu. The primary and secondary user default symbol sets are implicitly set when the user default

font is selected using the control panel printing menu (refer to Section 3 in the user’s

guide). For example, to select ASCII as the symbol set for the primary font, send: ESC(0U To select Roman-8 as the symbol set for the secondary font, send: ESC)8U

Table 6-4 Defined Symbol Sets

*Not recommended for future use.

6-6 HP PCL Font Characteristics

Symbol Set Name

Symbol Set ID

*ISO 17: Spanish

*ISO 21: German

*ISO 25: French

*ISO 57 Chinese

*ISO 60 Norwegian version 1

*ISO 60 Norwegian version 2

ISO 69 French

*ISO 84 Portuguese

*ISO 85: Spanish

PC–8

10U

PC–8 (Danish/Norwegian)

11U

PC850

12U

Table 6-4 Defined Symbol Sets (cont’d)

*Not recommended for future use.

ISO SYMBOL SETS

The printer provides several ISO (International Standards Organization) symbol sets to support European languages. Given the correct PCL commands, the printer automatically generates the requested ISO symbol set which is a unique ordering of symbols contained in the Roman-8 symbol set (see Table 6-5).

To select the ISO 69 French symbol set for the primary font, send: ESC(1F

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-7

Table 6-5 ISO Substitution Characters

SPACING

Inter-character spacing can be specified as either proportional or fixed by sending the following commands.

ESC(s#P Primary spacing Decimal: 027 040 115 049 080 (proportional spacing) 027 040 115 048 080 (fixed spacing) Hex: 1B 28 73 31 50 (proportional spacing) 1B 28 73 30 50 (fixed spacing)

ESC)s#P Secondary spacing Decimal: 027 040 115 049 080 (proportional spacing) 027 040 115 048 080 (fixed spacing) Hex: 1B 28 73 31 50 (proportional spacing) 1B 28 73 30 50 (fixed spacing)

#: 0 = Fixed spacing 1 = Proportional Spacing

6-8 HP PCL Font Characteristics

When proportional spacing is specified and a proportionally-spaced font is not available, a fixed pitch font with the current pitch specification is selected.

The factory default primary and secondary spacings are fixed. The user default primary and secondary spacings are implicitly set by selection of a user

default font from the control panel (refer to Section 3). For example, to specify proportional spacing for the primary font, send: ESC(s1P To specify fixed spacing for the secondary font, send: ESC)s0P

PITCH

Pitch designates the horizontal spacing of a fixed-spaced font in terms of the number of characters per inch. The following commands designate pitch for primary fonts.

ESC(s#H Primary pitch Decimal: 027 040 115 #..# 072 Hex: 1B 28 73 #...# 48

ESC)s#H Secondary pitch Decimal: 027 041 115 #..# 072 Hex: 1B 29 73 #...# 48

#: Pitch in characters/inch The value field (#) is valid to two decimal places. For example, to specify 10 pitch for the primary font, send: ESC(s10H To specify 16.66 pitch for the secondary font, send: ESC)s16.66H If a pitch is specified that is not available, the next greater available pitch is selected. If no

greater value is available, the closest available lesser value is selected The factory default primary and secondary pitches are ten characters per inch. The user default primary and secondary pitches are implicitly set by selection of a user

default font from the control panel (refer to Section 3 in the user’s guide).

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-9

SET PITCH MODE

ESC&k0S 10.0 characters per inch Decimal: 027 038 107 048 083 Hex: 1B 26 6B 30 53

ESC&k2S Compressed Mode (16.5 - 16.7 character per inch) Decimal: 027 038 107 050 083 Hex: 1B 26 6B 32 53

ESC&k4S Elite Mode (12.0 characters per inch) Decimal 027 038 107 052 083 Hex: 1B 26 6B 34 53

HEIGHT

Height specifies the height of the font in points. ESC(s#V Primary Height

Decimal: 027 040 115 # 086 Hex: 1B 28 73 # 56

ESC)s#V Secondary Height Decimal: 027 041 115 # 086 Hex: 1B 29 73 # 56

#: Height in points The value field (#) is valid to two decimal places. If the requested height is unavailable, the

closest height is selected. All fonts whose heights are within a quarter point of the specified height are considered to have the specified height.

The factory default primary and secondary heights are 12 point. A PCL typographic point is 1/72 (0.01389) inch.

The user default primary and secondary heights are implicitly set by selection of a user default font from the control panel (refer to Section 3 in the user’s guide).

For example, to specify a height of 12 points for the primary font, send: ESC(s12V To specify a height of 14.4 points for the secondary font, send: ESC)s14.4V

6-10 HP PCL Font Characteristics

Value (#)

Typeface

STYLE

Style designates either upright or italic font. ESC(s#S Primary Style

Decimal: 027 040 115 # 083 Hex: 1B 28 73 # 53

ESC)s#S Secondary Style Decimal: 027 041 115 # 083 Hex: 1B 29 73 # 53

#: 0 = Upright 1 = Italic

If the requested style is not present, this characteristic is ignored during font selection. The factory default primary and secondary styles are upright.

The user default primary and secondary styles are implicitly set by selection of a user default font from the control panel (refer to Section 3 in the user’s guide).

For example to specify an upright style for the primary font, send: ESC(s0S To specify an italic style for the secondary font, send: ESC)s1S

STROKE WEIGHT

Stroke weight designates the thickness of the strokes that compose the characters of a font.. ESC(s#B Primary stroke weight

Decimal: 027 040 115 # 066 Hex: 1B 28 73 # 42

ESC)s#B Secondary stroke weight Decimal: 027 041 115 # 066 Hex: 1B 29 73 # 42

The value field (#) specifies the thickness of the strokes used in the design of the font. The supported stroke weight values are -7 through 7. The thinnest font available is -7; the thickest font available is +7. The standard stroke weight for a medium font is 0; the standard stroke weight for a bold font is 3; the standard stroke weight for a light font is -3. Table 6-6 lists the values for the stroke weights.

Table 6-6 Stroke Weights

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-11

–7

Ultra Thin

–6

Extra thin

–5

Thin

–4

Extra light

–3

Light

–2

Demi light

–1

Semi light

Medium, Book, or Text

Semi bold

Demi bold

Bold

Extra bold

Black

Extra black

Ultra Black

If the specified stroke weight is greater than or equal to 0 and is not available, the next thicker available stroke weight is selected. If no thicker stroke weight is available, the closest available thinner stroke weight is selected.

If the specified stroke weight is less than zero and is not available, the next thinner available stroke weight is selected. If no thinner stroke weight is available, the closest available thicker stroke weight is selected.

The factory default primary and secondary stroke weights are zero. The user default primary and secondary stroke weights are implicitly set by selection of a

user default font from the control panel (refer to Section 3). To specify a bold stroke weight for the primary font, send: ESC(s3B To specify a medium stroke weight for the secondary font, send: ESC)s0B

6-12 HP PCL Font Characteristics

TYPEFACE

Typeface designates the design of the font.. ESC(s#T Primary typeface

Decimal: 027 040 115 # 084 Hex: 1B 28 73 # 54

ESC)s#T Secondary typeface Decimal: 027 041 115 # 084 Hex: 1B 29 73 # 54

#: Typeface value (see Table 6-7). If the value field (#) specifies a typeface that is unavailable this characteristic is ignored

during font selection. The factory default primary and secondary typefaces are Courier. The user default primary and secondary typefaces are implicitly set by selection of a user

default font from the control panel (refer to Section 3 in the user’s guide). For example, to specify Univers for the typeface of the primary font, send: ESC(s4148T To specify CG Times for the typeface of the secondary font, send: ESC)s4101T

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-13

Value (#)

Typeface

Line Printer

Courier

Letter Gothic

4148

Univers

4101

CG Times

Table 6-7 Typeface Values

ORIENTATION

The orientation command designates the position of the logical page and direction of print with respect to the physical page.

ESC&l#O #: 0 = portrait 1 = landscape 2 = reverse portrait 4 = reverse landscape

Note that this command applies to both the primary and secondary fonts. The printer automatically rotates all fonts to the currently selected orientation.

For further details, see “Orientation” and “Print Direction” in Section 4.

FONT SELECTION EXAMPLE

Table 6-8 illustrates how to select a primary font with the following characteristics (note that all of the font characteristics are specified):.

6-14 HP PCL Font Characteristics

Characteristic

Value

Escape Sequence

Symbol set

ASCII

ESC(0U

Spacing

Fixed

ESC(s0P

Pitch

10 cpi

ESC(s10H

Height

12 point

ESC(s12V

Style

Upright

ESC(s0S

Stroke weight

Bold

ESC(s3B)

Typeface

Courier

ESC(s3T

Table 6-8 Font Selection

The following escape sequences could be sent to the printer to select a primary font with the above characteristics:

ESC(0U ESC(s0P ESC(s10H ESC(s12V ESC(s0S ESC(s3B ESC(s3T

The previous sequence should be shortened by combining sequences that have the same two characters following the ESC character.

ESC(0UESC(s0p10h12v0s3b3T Once the font has been selected as explained above, selecting another font with similar

characteristics only requires changing the characteristics that are different.For example, to specify a font differing only in style (italic) and stroke weight (medium), only style and stroke weight need to be specified, as shown below:

ESC(s1S ESC(s0B or shortened: ESC(s1s0B

NOTE: If an escape sequence does not contain a value field, the printer assumes a value of zero; therefore, the sequence ESC(sB could be sent to the printer instead of ESC(s0B.

When several fonts with similar characteristics are available in the printer at the same time, you should use full character description strings to select the desired fonts.

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-15

SELECTION OF THE DEFAULT FONT

Default font sets all of the font characteristics to those of the user default font.. ESC(3@ Default primary font characteristics

Decimal: 027 040 051 064 Hex: 1B 28 33 40

ESC)3@ Default secondary font characteristics Decimal: 027 041 051 064 Hex: 1B 29 33 40

NOTE: If the user default font is a proportionally-spaced font, the pitch characteristic is not affected by the default font command.

TRANSPARENT PRINT DATA

Transparent print data provides printing access to all characters in a font including those defined as unprintable..

ESC&p#X [Transparent Print Data] Decimal: 1B 027 038 112 # 088 Hex: 1B 26 70 # 58

#: Number of bytes of transparent print data. Each transparent print data byte is interpreted as a single character code. The appropriate

character is printed if one exists; otherwise, a space is processed. For example, control codes such as LF, CR, FF are treated as print data while in Transparent Print Data mode.

Assuming the currently selected symbol set is PC-8, send the following to print a left arrow (decimal code 27):

ESC&p1X[27]

NOTE: The ESC character is decimal code 27 in the ASCII symbol set. Decimal code 27 is the left arrow in the PC-8 symbol set.

6-16 HP PCL Font Characteristics

UNDERLINE COMMAND

The Underline commands control automatic text underlining.. ESC&d#D Enable underline

Decimal: 027 038 100 # 068 Hex: 1B 26 64 # 44

#: 0 = Fixed position 3 = Floating position

ESC&d@ Disable underline Once underlining is enabled, any positive horizontal movement causes an underline to be

drawn. Positive horizontal movement includes the printing of text and positive horizontal cursor motion.

When fixed position underlining is enabled, the underline is drawn five dots below the baseline and is three dots thick. The baseline is an imaginary dot row on which all of the characters in a given line stand. When floating position underline is enabled, the underline position is determined by the greatest underline distance below the baseline of all of the fonts printed on the current line. The underline distance is defined in a font's descriptor (see Section 9).

The factory default is underline disabled.

HPGL/2 FONT SELECTION

In addition to selecting fonts using the PCL font selection commands, fonts can also be selected and printed in HPGL/2 mode using the following HPGL/2 commands. The HPGL/2 font selection commands allow you to print text within vector graphic images.

Primary Font (FI)

FI font_ID[;] This command allows any accessible font that has been assigned a font ID number to be

selected as the primary (standard) font (the font characteristics are assigned to the standard font). The font must be assessible to the printer as either a resident font or a downloaded font. To be selected, the font must have been previously assigned a font ID number in PCL mode. Also, for scalable fonts, the FI command must be accompanied by an SD command

(standard font definition) specifying the font’s point size or pitch. When the printer

receives this command and the requested font is present, the primary font characteristics are set to those of the requested font. If the selected font is proportionally spaced, the pitch characteristic is not changed.

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-17

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

font_ID

integer

0 to 32767

None

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

font_ID

integer

0 to 32767

None

Table 6-9 Primary Font Command Parameters

This command does not select the font for text printing if you are currently using the secondary (alternate) font.

The FI (and FN) commands implicitly change the value of the SB command (scalable or bitmapped fonts). For example, if SB = 0 and FI selects a bitmap font, SB is set to 1. This affects the performance of certain HPGL/2 commands. See the SB command later in this section.

Secondary Font (FN)

FN font_ID[;] This command allows any accessible font that has been assigned a font ID number to be

selected as the secondary (alternate) font (the font characteristics are assigned to the secondary font). The font must be assessible to the printer as either a resident font or a downloaded font. To be selected, the font must have been previously assigned a font ID number in PCL mode. Also, the FN command must be accompanied by an AD command

(alternate font definition) specifying the font’s point size. When the printer receives this

command and the requested font is present, the secondary font characteristics are set to those of the requested font. If the selected font is proportionally spaced, the pitch characteristic is not changed.

Table 6-10 Secondary Font Command Parameters

This command does not select the font for text printing if you are currently using the primary (standard) font.

The FN (and FI) commands implicitly change the value of the SB command (scalable or bitmapped fonts). For example, if SB = 0 and FN selects a bitmap font, SB is set to 1. This affects the performance of certain HPGL/2 commands. See the following description of the SB command.

6-18 HP PCL Font Characteristics

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

clamped integer

0 or 1

Affected Commands

Limitation

Bitmapped characters cannot be edged.

DI, DR

Bitmapped characters can be printed only with orthogonal directions (0o, 90o, 180o, or 270o).

SI, SR

Sizes of bitmapped fonts are approximate only.

The slant command is ignored for bitmapped fonts.

AD, SD, CP, LB

—

Scalable or Bitmap Fonts (SB)

SB [n;] or SB [;]

n: 0 - Scalable fonts only 1 - Bipmap fonts allowed No parameter - Defaults to scalable fonts. Equivalent to SB0.

This command specifies which types of fonts are used for text printing commands. It allows you to restrict font selection to only scalable fonts, disregarding bitmap fonts.

Table 6-11 Scalable or Bitmap Fonts Command Parameters

This command is defaulted by the DV command (default value). The SB command takes affect immediately, changing both the the standard (primary) and alternate (secondary) fonts to be scalable only or bimap, as requested.

The FN and FI commands implicitly change the value of the SB command. For example, if SB = 0 and FN selects a bitmap font, SB is set to 1.

When (SB1;) is set, all fonts obey the same restrictions as bitmapped fonts regarding character fill, orientation, size, and slant.

Scalable fonts respond more accurately to some HPGL/2 commands. The choice of scalable or bitmap fonts can affect the performance of the following HPGL/2 commands (see Table 6-12).

Table 6-12 Commands Effected by Choice of Scalable or Bitmapped Fonts

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-19

Select Standard Font (SS)

This command selects the standard font (already designed by the Standard Font Definition (SD) command) for subsequent text printing. Use the SS command to shift from the currently selected alternate font to the designated standard font.

SS [;] The SS command tells the printer to print subsequent text printing commands using

characters from the standard symbol set designated by the SD command. The SS command is equivalent to using the Shift In control character (SI, ASCII decimal code 15) within a text printing string.

The default designated standard font is the Stick font, which uses symbol set 277 (Roman-8). This font is in effect when the printer is initialized or set to its default conditions. The SS command remains in effect until an SA command is executed.

Select Alternate Font (SA)

This command selects the alternate font (already designed by the Alternate Font Definition (AD) command) for subsequent text printing. Use the SA command to shift from the currently selected standard font to the designated alternate font.

SA [;] The SA command tells the printer to print subsequent text printing commands using

characters from the alternate symbol set designated by the AD command. The SA command is equivalent to using the Shift Out control character (SO, ASCII decimal code

14) within a text printing string. The default designated alternate font uses symbol set 277 (Roman-8). The alternate font

remains in effect until an SS command is executed, a Shift In control character (SI, decimal

15) is encountered, or the printer is initialized or set to its default conditions.

Absolute Direction (DI)

This command specifies the the angle (slope or direction) at which you want to print text characters, independent of the location of scaling points P1 and P2. The DI (and DR) command allows you to print text at any angle with the letters in their normal side-by-side orientation. Use the DI command to change the printing direction when you are printing text labeling curves in line charts, schematic drawings, blueprints, and survey boundaries.

DI run,rise [;] or DI [;]

6-20 HP PCL Font Characteristics

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

run (or cos Ø)

clamped real

-32768 to 32767

rise (or sin Ø)

clamped real

-32768 to 32767

NOTE: Bit map characters are always printed orthogonally to the page. Scalable characters print in the direction specified. Using the DI (and DR) command, you can therefore place text anywhere on the page in any orientation.

Table 6-13 Absolute Direction Command Parameters

The DI command updates the carriage return point to the current location. While the DI command is in effect, with or without parameters, the text printing direction is not affected by changes in the locations of P1 and P2.

No parameters - Defaults the text printing direction to absolute and horizontal (parallel to X-axis). Equivalent to (DI1,0).

Run or Cos Ø - Specifies the X-component of the text printing direction. Rise or Sin Ø - Specifies the Y-component of the text printing direction. Together, the parameters specify the slope and direction of the printed characters. You can express the parameters in measured units as rise and run, or using the

trigonometric functions cosine and sine according to the following relationship: Where: run and rise = number of measured units Ø = the angle measured in degrees sin Ø/cos Ø = rise/run Ø = tan –1 (rise/run) and tan Ø = sin Ø/cos Ø

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-21

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

run

clamped real

-32768 to 32767

1% of P2X – P1X

rise

clamped real

-32768 to 32767

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

width

clamped real

-32768 to 32767

Dependent*

height

clamped real

-32768 to 32767

Dependent*

Relative Direction (DR)

This command specifies the the direction in which text characters are printed, relative to the location of scaling points P1 and P2. The text printing direction is adjusted when P1 and P2 change so that the printed text maintains the same relationship to the scaled data. Use the DR command to change the printing direction when you are printing text labeling curves in line charts, schematic drawings, blueprints, and survey boundaries.

DR run,rise [;] or DR [;]

Table 6-14 Relative Direction Command Parameters

The DR command updates the carriage return point to the current location. While the DR command is in effect, with or without parameters, the text printing direction is affected by changes in the locations of P1 and P2.

No parameters - Defaults the text printing direction to relative and horizontal (parallel to X-axis). Equivalent to (DR1,0).

Run - Specifies the percentage of the distance between P1X and P2X. Rise - Specifies the percentage of the distance between P1Y and P2Y.

Absolute Character Size (SI)

This command specifies the size of text characters in centimeters. Use the SI command to establish character size independent of scaling points P1 and P2.

SI width, height[;] or SI [;]

Table 6-15 Absolute Character Size Command Parameters

Dependent on the current pitch and font height set by the AD or SD commands.

While the SI command is in effect, with or without specifying parameter values, the size of characters in the currently selected font are not affected by changes in P1 and P2.

6-22 HP PCL Font Characteristics

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

width

clamped real

-32768 to 32767

0.75% of P2X – P1X

height

clamped real

-32768 to 32767

1.5% of P2Y – P1Y

No parameters - Character size is as specified by the SD (standard font definition) and AD (alternate font definition) commands.

Width - Specifies the width of the nominal character in centimeters. A negative width parameter mirrors text characters in the right-to-left direction.

NOTE: Changing character size also changes the width of line used to draw Stick font characters.

Height - Specifies the cap height in centimeters. A negative height parameter mirrors text characters in the top-to-bottom direction.

Note that in most languages the width of a letter is typically less than the height. If you set your characters to have a different ‘aspect ratio’, they may look odd in terms of readability.

An SI command remains in effect until another SI command is executed, an SR command is executed, or the printer is initialized or set to its default conditions.

Relative Character Size (SR)

This command specifies the size of characters as a percentage of the distance between P1 and P2. Use the SR command to establish relative character size so that if the P1/P2 scaling point distance changes, the character size adjusts to occupy the same relative amount of space.

SR width, height[;] or SR [;]

Table 6-16 Relative Character Size Command Parameters

While the SR command is in effect, with or without specifying parameter values, the size of characters in the currently selected font are affected by changes in P1 and P2.

No parameters - Defaults the relative character width to 0.75% of the distance (P2X – P1X) and the height to 1.5% of the distance (P2Y – P1Y).

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-23

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

tangent of angle

clamped real

-32768 to 32767

NOTE: Changing character size also changes the apparent stroke weight of text characters; the printer adjusts characters relative to changes in P1/P2. As long as the aspect ratio remains the same with changes in P1/P2, characters will have the same appearance relative to the new P1/P2 rectangle.

Width - Sets the character height to the specified percentage of the distance between the X-coordinates of P1 and P2. A negative width parameter mirrors text characters in the right-to left direction.

Height - Sets the character height to the specified percentage of the distance between the Y-coordinates of P1 and P2. A negative height parameter mirrors text characters in the topto bottom direction.

The character size you specify with the SR command is a percentage of P2X – P1X and P2Y – P1Y. The printer calculates the actual character width and height from the specified parameters as follows:

actual width = (width parameter/100 x (P2X – P1X) actual height = (height parameter/100 x (P2Y – P1Y)

Character Slant (SL)

This command specifies the slant at which text characters are drawn. Use the SL command to create slanted text for emphasis, or to re-establish upright text characters after an SL command with parameters has been in effect. (Note that the SL command has no effect when an (SB1;) command is in effect.

SL tangent of angle[;] or SL [;]

Table 6-17 Character Slant Command Parameters

The printer interprets the parameters as follows: No parameter - Defaults the slant to zero (no slant). Equivalent to (SL0). Tangent of angle - Interpreted as an angle Ø from from vertical. The base of the character

always stays on the horizontal plane.

6-24 HP PCL Font Characteristics

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

width

clamped real

-32768 to 32767

height

clamped real

-32768 to 32767

The SL command only affects each character relative to an imaginary line beside the text characters. The direction or placement of the text on the drawing does not affect the SL command; neither do the settings of the P1 and P2 scaling points. (The DI and DR commands, however, do affect the slant direction, since the base of a character always stays on the baseline of the text.

You can specify the actual tangent value, or you can use the TAN function available in most computer languages.

An SL command remains in effect until another SL command is executed, or the printer is initialized or set to its default conditions.

Extra Space (ES)

This command adjusts space between characters and lines of text without affecting character size.

ES width[,height;] or ES [;]

Table 6-18 Extra Space Command Parameters

The printer interprets the parameters as follows: No parameters - Defaults the spaces and lines between characters to no extra space.

Equivalent to (ES0,0). Width - Specifies an increase (positive number) or decrease (negative number) in the space

between characters. For maximum legibility, do not specify more than one extra space or subtract more than half a space.

Height - Specifies an increase (positive number) or decrease (negative number) in the space between lines. For maximum legibility, do not specify more than two extra lines or subtract more than half a line.

An ES command remains in effect until another ES command is executed, or until the printer is initialized or set to default conditions.

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-25

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

kind

clamped integer

1 to 7

None

value

clamped real

Kind dependent*

Kind

Characteristic

Default Value

Description

Symbol set

277

Roman-8

Font spacing

fixed spacing

Pitch

characters per inch

Height

11.5

font point size

Posture

upright

Stroke weight

medium

Typeface

Stick (fixed vector)

Standard Font Definition (SD)

This command defines the standard font and its characteristics: symbol set, font spacing, pitch, height, posture, stroke weight, and typeface.

SD kind,value ... [,kind,value;] or SD [;]

Table 6-19 Standard Font Definition Command Parameters

See Table .

The printer interprets the parameters as follows: No parameters - Defaults the standard font characteristics. Kind - Specifies the characteristic for which you are setting a value (see Table ).

Table 6-20 Kind Parameter Characteristics

Value - Defines the properties of the characteristic specifed by the kind parameter.

NOTE: When selecting fonts, the different characteristics (symbol set, spacing, pitch, etc.) are prioritized as shown in Table , with symbol being the highest priority and typeface being the lowest. The font selection priority is the same for HPGL/2 as for PCL font selection.

6-26 HP PCL Font Characteristics

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

kind

clamped integer

1 to 7

None

value

clamped real

Kind dependent*

Kind

Characteristic

Default Value

Description

Symbol set

277

Roman-8

Font spacing

fixed spacing

Pitch

characters per inch

Height

11.5

font point size

Posture

upright

Stroke weight

medium

Typeface

Stick (fixed vector)

Alternate Font Definition (AD)

This command is similiar to the Standard Font Definition (SD) command that defines the primary HPGL/2 font. In addition the AD command defines an alternate HPGL/2 font and its characteristics: symbol set, font spacing, pitch, height, posture, stroke weight, and typeface. It allows the font characteristics to be assigned to the secondary (alternate) font definition.

AD kind,value ... [,kind,value;] or AD [;]

Table 6-21 Alternate Font Definition Command Parameters

See Table 6-22.

The printer interprets the parameters as follows: No parameters - Defaults the alternate font characteristics to that of the Stick font (see

Table 6-21. Kind - Specifies the characteristic for which you are setting a value (see Table 6-22).

Table 6-22 Kind Parameter Characteristics

Value - Defines the properties of the characteristic specifed by the kind parameter.

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-27

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

fill mode

clamped integer

0, 1, 2, or 3

0 (solid fill)

edge pen

integer

-(2)30 to 230 – 1

0 (no edging)

Character Fill Mode (CF)

The character fill mode command specifies the way scalable fonts are filled and edged; bitmap and Stick fonts cannot be edged and can be filled only with raster fill, shading, or PCL cross-hatched patterns. Scalable characters may be filled with any of the fill patterns specified by the FT command (shading, hatching, cross-hatch, and user-defined raster fill patterns).

CF fill mode[,edge pen[;] ] or CF [;]

Table 6-23 Character Fill Mode Command Parameters

No parameters - Defaults characters to solid fill with no edging. Equivalent to (CF0,0). Fill mode - Specifies how the printer renders filled characters according to the following

parameter values:

0: Specifies solid f using the current pen and edging with the specified pen (or

current pen if the edge pen parameter is not specified).

1: Specifies edging with the specified pen (or current pen if the edge pen

parameter is not specified). Characters are filled only if they cannot be edged (bitmap or stick characters) using the edge pen.

2: Specifies filled characters using the current fill type (refer to the FT command

in Section 9. The currently selected pen is used. Characters are not edged. If the edge pen parameter is specified, it is ignored.

3: Specifies filled characters using the current fill type (refer to the FT command

in Section 9. The currently selected pen is used. Characters are edged with the specified pen (or current pen if the edge pen parameter is not specified).

6-28 HP PCL Font Characteristics

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

position

clamped integer

1 to 9, 11 to 19, or 21

Edge pen - For characters that are not to be edged, this parameter indicates the pen that is used to edge the character (black or white).

0: No edging 1: Black edging. The outline pen width is not selectable, but varies in thickness in

proportion to the point size of the font. Note that the absolute direction (DI) and relative direction (DR) commands do not cuase

rotation of fill patterns. Fill patterns remain fixed with respect to the current coordinate system. The CF command remains in effect until another CF command is executed or the printer is initialized or set to its default conditions.

Label Origin (LO)

This command positions text characters relative to the current pen location. Use the LO command to center, left justify, or right justify text. The text can be drawn above or below the current pen location and can also be offset by an amount equal to 0.25 times the point size (or 16 grid units [0.33 times the point size] for the Stick font.

LO position[;] or LO [;]

Table 6-24 Label Origin Command Parameters

The printer interprets the parameters as follows: No parameters - Defaults the text origin. Equivalent to (LO1). Position - Position numbers correspond to dots which graphically represent the current pen

location. Positions LO 11 through LO 19 differ from position LO 9 only in that the text is offset from the current pen location. Position 21 provides a PCL-compatible text origin. Characters are printed in the same location as in PCL.

The LO command does not change the text path. To change the text path, use the DV command.

Each time the LO command is sent, the carriage return point is updated to the location the pen was in when the LO command was received. The current pen location (but not the carriage return point) is updated after each character is drawn, and the pen automatically moves to the next character origin. If you want to return a pen to its previous location prior to the next label (LB) command, you can send a carriage return after the text but before the label terminator.

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-29

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

text ... text

character

any character(s)

None

When you embed carriage return characters in text, each portion of the text character is positioned according to the text origin, just as if they were written as separate label (LB) commands.

An LO command remains in effect until another LO command is executed, or the printer is initialized or set to its default conditions.

Label (LB)

This command prints text using the currently defined font. Use the LB command to annotate drawings or create text-only charts.

LB text ... text label terminator

Table 6-25 Label Command Parameters

The LB command includes an automatic pen down function. When the LB command completes, the original pen up/down status is restored.

text ... text - ASCII characters are drawn using the currently selected font. (Refer to the AD, SA, SD, and SS commands in this section for details on specifying and selecting fonts).

You can include non-printing characters such as the carriage return (CR - decimal code 13) and line feed (LF -decimal code 10). These characters invoke the specified function, but are not drawn.

The text begins at the current pen location (unless altered by the LO command). After each character is drawn, the pen location is updated to be the next character origin.

Label terminator - Terminates the LB command. You must use the special label terminator (refer to the DT command in this section) to tell the printer to exit the LB command mode. If you do not use the label terminator, everything following the LB mnemonic is printed as text characters, including other commands. The default label terminator is the non-printing, end-of-text ETX (decimal code 3) sequence. You can define a different terminator using the DT command.

6-30 HP PCL Font Characteristics

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

label terminator

text

Any character except NULL, LF, ESC, and ; (decimal codes 0, 5, 27, and 29 respectively.

ETX (decimal code 3)

mode

clamped integer

0 or 1

1 (non-printing)

Define Label Terminator (DT)

This command specifies the character to be used as the label terminator and whether it is printed. Use the DT command to define a new label terminator if you desire a different one or if your computer cannot use the default (ETX, decimal code 3) sequence.

DT label terminator[,mode;] or DT;

Table 6-26 Define Label Terminator Command Parameters

The character immediately following DT is interpreted to be the new label terminator. You must terminate all LB commands following a DT command with the specified label terminator.

No parameter - Defaults the label terminator to ETX (not a semicolon) and the mode to non-printing (1).

Label terminator - Specifies the label terminator as the character immediately following the DT mnemonic. (If you use a space between the mnemonic and the label terminator parameter, the space becomes the label terminator.

Mode - Specifies whether the label terminator is printed.

0: The label terminator prints if it is a printable character and performs its function if

it is a control code.

1: (Default) The label terminator does not print if if it is a printable character and

does not perform its function if it is a control code.

A DT command remains in effect until another DT command is executed, or the printer is initialized or set to its default conditions.

Character Plot (CP)

This command moves the pen the specified number of spaces and lines from the current pen location. Use CP to position text for indenting, centering , and so on.

CP spaces,lines [;] or CP [;]

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-31

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

spaces

clamped real

-32768 to 32767

None

lines

clamped real

-32768 to 32767

None

Table 6-27 Character Plot Command Parameters

The CP command includes an automatic pen down function. When the CP command completes, the original pen up/down status is restored.

The CP command moves the pen position in relation to the current position. CP is a movement command and does not affect the margin; to repeat the same movement for subsequent text, you must issue new CP commands.

No parameters - Performs a carriage return and line feed (moves one line down and returns to the carriage return point.

Spaces - Specifies the number of spaces the pen moves relative to the current pen location. Positive values specify the number of spaces that the pen moves to the right of the current pen position; negative values specify the number of spaces that the pen moves to the left. Right and left are relative to the current text direction. The space width is uniquely defined for each font; use the ES command described earlier in this section to adjust the width.

NOTE: If you are using a proportionally-spaced font, the width of the Space control code is used.

Lines - Specifies the number of lines the pen moves relative to the current pen location. Positive values specify the number of lines that the pen moves up from the current pen position; negative values specify the number of lines that the pen moves down (a value of 1 is equivalent to a line feed). Up and down are relative to the current text direction. The line feed distance is uniquely defined for each font; use the ES command described earlier in this section to adjust the height.

When you move the pen up or down a specific number of lines, the carriage return point shifts up or down accordingly.

Transparent Data (TD)

This command specifies whether control codes perform their associated functions or print as characters during text printing. Use the TD command to print characters that function only as control characters in normal mode.

TD mode[;] or TD [;]

6-32 HP PCL Font Characteristics

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

mode

clamped integer

0 or 1

0 (normal)

Parameter

Format

Functional Range

Default

path

clamped integer

0, 1, 2, or 3

0 (horizontal)

line

clamped integer

0 or 1

0 (normal line feed)

Table 6-28 Transparent Data Command Parameters

The printer interprets the parameters as follows: No parameters - Defaults the text printing mode to normal. Equivalent to (TD0). Mode - Selects the normal or transparent data mode for text printing.

0: Normal. Control codes with an associated functionality perform their function and

do not print..

1: Transparent. All characters print and perform no other function (except the

currently defined label terminator, which terminates text printing). The printer prints a space for non-printing or undefined characters.

Transparent data mode must be enabled to access printable characters that have character codes with an associated functionality in normal mode. For example, the left arrow in the PC-8 symbol set has a character code of 27. In normal mode, a character code of 27 is interpreted as an escape character (ESC); in transparent data mode, a character code of 27 prints a left arrow.

Define Variable Text Path (DV)

This command specifies the text path for subsequent text characters and the direction of

line feeds as either left or right, up or down. Use the DV command to “stack” characters in

a column. DV path[line;] or DV [;]

Table 6-29 Define Variable Text Path Command Parameters

The DV command determines the text path, which is the direction that the current location moves after each character is drawn and the direction that the carriage return point moves when a line feed is included in the text string.

No parameter - Defaults the text path to horizontal (not stacked) with normal line feed. Equivalent to (DV0,0).

HP PCL Font Characteristics 6-33

Path - Specifies the location of each character with respect to the preceding character, relative to the labeling direction defined by the DI or DR commands. The text path set by the DV command is not affected by changes in scaling points P1 and P2.

0: 0 degrees. (Right) Within a label, each character begins to the right of the

previous character. This is a horizontal text path (unless altered by the DI or DR commands).

1: 90 degrees. (Down) Within a label, each character begins below the previous

character. This is a vertical text path (unless altered by the DI or DR commands).

2: 180 degrees. (Left) Within a label, each character begins to the left of the

previous character. This is a horizontal text path (unless altered by the DI or DR commands).

3: 270 degrees. (Up) Within a label, each character begins above the previous

character. This is a vertical text path (unless altered by the DI or DR commands).

Line - Specifies the location of each character with respect to the preceding character relative to the text printing direction defined by the DI or DR commands.

0 to –90 degrees. (Normal Line Feed) Sets the direction of line feeds –90 degrees

with respect to the text path.

0 to +90 degrees. (Reverse Line Feed) Sets the direction of line feeds +90 degrees

with respect to the text path.

"This information is subject to change without notice. This information is provided "as is" without either express or

Section 7

HP PCL Font Management and Soft Font Downloading

The IntelliBar M Series printers have eight internal fonts.* You can add more fonts by downloading soft fonts. Font management provides mechanisms for downloading and using soft fonts while providing the means for controlling which soft fonts are saved in user memory (RAM) or deleted. You can download and print up to 32 fonts per page. Each time you download a font, user memory is decreased.

Soft fonts are usually packaged on a diskette. In order to use your soft fonts you need to copy them from the diskette to your printer. This is termed downloading. Some applications download fonts for you, so refer to your application documentation. If not, follow the instructions (for MS-DOS systems) in this section.

DOWNLOADING SOFT FONTS

The process of transferring soft fonts from a host computer to the printer’s user memory

(RAM) is called downloading. You must designate a unique identification (ID) number prior to downloading the font. This number is then associated with the soft font. This number is assigned using the font ID command described later in this section. Subsequent manipulation of the soft font is accomplished using the font’s ID number. If a font is already associated with this ID number in the printer, the existing font is deleted during the download..

Several commands are required to define a font before downloading it to the printer. These commands are described in Section 8. HP font files include the necessary commands that define the symbols of a font, including the typeface, style/weight, point size, orientation, and symbol set. Assigning a font ID number and then copying the font file to the printer downloads the font. Scalable fonts and typefaces may be prepared by font management software. Once prepared, scalable fonts are downloaded in much the same way as bit map fonts.

Once downloaded, the soft font occupies a portion of user memory (RAM). The number of soft fonts that can be stored in user memory is limited by the amount of available RAM.

7-2 HP PCL Font Management and Soft Font Downloading

 Make sure there is sufficient space in the printer memory before downloading

fonts. Because you cannot determine exactly how much memory is free, you should initialize the printer to clear memory whenever possible before downloading soft fonts.

 Always remain within the same directory when working with fonts.  Do not alter the font file names in any way.

TEMPORARY/ PERMANENT FONTS

The printer automatically designates a font as a temporary font after downloading. The font is deleted from memory during a printer reset. The font can be designated as a permanent font so it will remain after a printer reset. The status of the font is determined by the font control escape sequence and the font ID value..

NOTE: Temporary and permanent fonts do not remain in the user memory whenever printer power is turned off.

FONT CONTROL

Font control provides several ways for you to use fonts.. ESC *c#F

Decimal: 027 042 099 ### 070 Hex: 1B 2A 63 3# 46

# (ESC) 0 = Delete all soft fonts 1 = Delete all temporary soft fonts 2 = Delete soft font (last ID and character code specified) 3 = Delete character code (last ID and char acter code specified) 4 = Make soft font temporary (last ID speci fied) 5 = Make soft font permanent (last ID specified) 6 = Copy/assign the currently invoked font as temporary

NOTE: If you delete a primary or secondary font, a new primary or secondary font is automatically selected from the remaining fonts.

For example, to remove all soft fonts from the user memory, send ESC*c0F To remove temporary soft fonts, send ESC*c1F

HP PCL Font Management and Soft Font Downloading 7-3

To delete a soft font with an ID of 1, send ESC*c1d2F You can select soft fonts by using their ID numbers (see “Font Selection by ID). If the designated font is available, it is selected as the primary/secondary font and all pri-

mary/secondary font characteristics are set to match the selected font. If the selected font is proportionally spaced, the pitch characteristic is not changed.

FONT SELECTION BY ID

ESC(# X designates the soft font # as primary Decimal: 7 040 # 088 Hex: 28 # 58.

ESC)# X designates the soft font # as secondary Decimal: 7 041 # 088 Hex: 29 # 58

For example, to select a font with an ID number of 7 as the primary font, send ESC (7X To select a font with an ID number of 5 as the secondary font, send ESC )5X The current font remains in use if designated font is unavailable.

NOTE: In shared or networked operations, soft fonts should be selected by characteristics rather than the font ID number.

"This information is subject to change without notice. This information is provided "as is" without either express or

Section 8

HP PCL Soft Font Design

A font descriptor and one or more character descriptors define a soft font. A font descriptor is a block of data used to communicate font characteristics to the printer.*

A character descriptor specifies the position and shape of an individual character and the implied movement of the cursor after printing the character. Following each character descriptor is a block of raster data containing the dot-per-inch image of the character.

COORDINATE SYSTEM

Characters of a font are designed within a rectangular area called a cell. The dimensions of the cell are in PCL Coordinate system dots and are therefore page orientation-independent (refer to “Page Characteristics” in Section 2 for a complete description of the PCL coordinate system).

Character design dimensions within the cell are in physical coordinate system dots (rather than PCL Coordinate System dots). The physical coordinate system is defined in terms of the directions of raster scan (X) and paper motion (Y) as illustrated in Figure 8-1.

Figure 8-1 Physical Coordinate System

Since the raster scan and paper motion directions of a device are fixed, the physical coordinate system is page-orientation dependent. Character design dimensions within the cell are in physical coordinate system dots and therefore depend on the print orientation.

8-2 HP PCL Soft Font Design

PORTRAIT

Figure 8-2 shows a character cell.

Figure 8-2 Character Cell

FONT DESCRIPTOR FORMAT

A unique ID number should be designated prior to the download of a font descriptor. If an existing font is already associated with the ID, the existing font is deleted during the download of the font descriptor. Unless otherwise specified, inappropriate values in a font descriptor field invalidate the font download process; a font is not created and the associated font data is discarded.

Those font descriptor fields identified as "reserved" should be set to 0. Table 8-1 describes the format of the font descriptor.

HP PCL Soft Font Design 8-3

Byte

15 (MSB) 8

7 (LSB) 0

Font Descriptor Size (64)

2 Header format (0)

Font type

Style MSB

Reserved

Baseline position

8 Cell width

Cell height

Orientation

Spacing

Symbol set

Pitch (default HMI)

Height

x - Height

Width type

Style LSB

Stroke weight

Typeface LSB

Typeface MSB

Serif style

Quality

Placement

Underline position (Distance)

Underline thickness (height)

Text height

Text width

First code

Last code

Pitch extended

Height extended

Cap height

44 - 47

Font number . . .

48 - 63

Font name . . .

Table 8-1 Font Descriptor Format

8-4 HP PCL Soft Font Design

Value

Font Type

7-bit (96 characters) – character codes 32 to 127 [decimal] are printable.

8-bit (192 characters) – character codes 32 to 127 [decimal] and 160 to 255 [decimal] are printable.

8-bit (256 characters) – All characters are printable, however 0, 7 to 15, 27, and 28 [decimal] must be in transparency mode to print.

NOTE: The following notation is used to define the data type of each field in the font descriptor described in the following subsections.

(B) :Boolean (0,1) (UB) :Unsigned Byte (0 # 225) (SB) :Signed Byte (-128 # 127) (UI) :Unsigned Integer (0 # 65535) (SI) :Signed Integer (-32768 # 32767) (ASCxx) :ASCII string array (0 # xx-1) of characters

Font Descriptor Size (UI)

Specifies the number of bytes in the font descriptor. The standard font descriptor size is 64 bytes.

Font Type (UB)

Specifies one of the font types defined in Table 8-2. The font type should be set appropriately for the font's symbol set.

Table 8-2 Font Type Values

Use the transparent print data command to access those codes that are unprintable, yet have a character defined.

Descriptor Format

The descriptor format byte should be set to zero.

HP PCL Soft Font Design 8-5

Baseline Distance (UI)

Specifies the distance from the top of the cell to the baseline. The baseline is an imaginary dot row on which all of the characters in a line stand. The measurement of this distance is in PCL coordinate system dots. The valid range for the baseline distance is 0 to cell height minus 1.

Cell Width (UI)

Specifies the width of the cell in PCL coordinate system dots.

Cell Height (UI)

Specifies the height of the cell in PCL coordinate system dots.

Orientation (UB)

Specifies the orientation of the font. All characters within the font must have the same orientation; otherwise they are discarded as they are downloaded. Zero specifies portrait and one specifies landscape.

Spacing (B)

Specifies the spacing of the font. Zero specifies fixed spacing and one specifies proportional spacing.

Symbol Set (UI)

Specifies the symbol set for the font. This value (shown in Table 8-3) is computed by taking the "value field" value for the symbol set, multiplying it by 32, adding the ASCII decimal value of the escape sequence termination character, and subtracting 64.

For example, the ISO Symbol Set 61 has a value field of 0 and a termination character of D (ASCII decimal 68). Therefore the symbol set value for ISO 61 is

(0 x 32) + 68 - 64 = 4 The valid range of symbol set values is 0 to 2047. Refer to Table 8-3 for the font descriptor

symbol set values. The Hewlett-Packard emulation uses the font descriptor symbol set values from 0 to 1023. Symbol set escape sequence value field values 1024 to 2047 are available for use by independent font vendors. Symbol set escape sequence termination characters can be any uppercase ASCII character "A" through "V".

8-6 HP PCL Soft Font Design

Symbol Set Name

Value Field

Termination Character

Symbol Set Value

HP Math–7

0 A 1

HP Line Draw

0 B 2

ISO 60: Norwegian version 1

0 D 4

*ISO 61: Norwegian version 2

0 D 36 HP Roman Extensions

0 E 5

ISO 4: United Kingdom

1 E 37

*ISO 25: French

0 F 6

ISO 69: French

1 F 38

*HP German

0 G 7

ISO 21: German

1 G 39

HP Greek–8

8 G 263

ISO 15: Italian

0 I 9

Table 8-3 Symbol Set Values

*Not recommended for future use.

HP PCL Soft Font Design 8-7

Symbol Set Name

Value Field

Termination Character

Symbol Set Value

*ISO 14: JIS ASCII

0 K 11

*ISO 57: Chinese

2 K 75

Technical–7

1 M 45

HP Math–8

8 M 269

ECMA–94 Latin 1

0 N 14

OCR A

0 O 15

OCR B

1 O 47

ISO 11: Swedish Names

0 S 19 *HP Spanish

1 S 51

ISO 17: Spanish

2 S 83

*ISO 10: Swedish

3 S 115

*ISO 16: Portuguese

4 S 147

*ISO 84: Portuguese

5 S 179

*ISO 85: Spanish

6 S 211

ISO 6: ASCII

0 U 21

HP Legal

1 U 53

*ISO 2:Intl Reference Version

2 U 85 OEM–1

7 U 245

HP Roman–8

8 U 277

PC–8

10 U 341

PC–8 (Danish/Norwegian

11 U 373 HP PI Font

15 U 501

Table 8-3 Symbol Set Values (cont’d)

* Not recommended for future use.

Pitch (UI)

Specifies the pitch of the font in quarter-dot units (four quarter-dot units equal one dot). This defines the default HMI for the font. The IntelliBar M Series printers support a pitch range of 0 to 16,800 quarter-dots. Any values greater than 16,800 are set to 16,800.

IntelliTech Intellibar M48, Intellibar M412, Intellibar M88 Reference Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual