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.
Copyright 1998-2013
IntelliTech International Inc.
43 Broad Street, Section B404
Hudson, MA 01749-2557
http://www.intellitech-intl.com
All Rights Reserved
Contents
Preface ............................................................................................................................. xi
Abbreviations .................................................................................................................. xiii
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)
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:
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
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.
#: 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
15 mm/sec (0.6 in/sec)
20
20 mm/sec (0.8 in/sec)
30
30 mm/sec (1.2 in/sec)
40
40 mm/sec (1.6 in/sec)
60
60 mm/sec (2.4 in/sec)
80
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.
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 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.
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
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)
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
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
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#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
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 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.
#: 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.
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.
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
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 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.
#: 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.
#: 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
A4
70 93
Executive
63 84
Page Size
LINES PER INCH
6 8
Letter
51 68
Legal
– –
A4
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.
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.
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.
#: 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.
#: 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.
#: 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.
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.
#: 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).
#: 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.
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
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 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).
#: 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.
#: 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.
#: 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
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.
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.).
#: 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).
#: 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.
#: 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-
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.
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.).
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
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 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
10
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
10
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
0N
*HP German
0G
HP Roman–8
8U
Spanish
1S
*ISO 2: International Reference Version
2U
ISO 4: United Kingdom
1E
ISO 6: ASCII
0U
*ISO 10: Swedish
3S
ISO 11: Swedish
0S
*ISO 14: JIS ASCII
0K
ISO 15: Italian
01
*ISO 16 Portuguese
4S
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
2S
*ISO 21: German
1G
*ISO 25: French
0F
*ISO 57 Chinese
2K
*ISO 60 Norwegian version 1
0D
*ISO 60 Norwegian version 2
1D
ISO 69 French
1F
*ISO 84 Portuguese
5S
*ISO 85: Spanish
6S
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.
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.
#: 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
#: 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
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
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
0
Medium, Book, or Text
+1
Semi bold
+2
Demi bold
+3
Bold
+4
Extra bold
+5
Black
+6
Extra black
+7
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
#: 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
0
Line Printer
3
Courier
6
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.
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:
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
#: 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
n
clamped integer
0 or 1
0
Affected Commands
Limitation
CF
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.
SL
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
1
rise (or sin Ø)
clamped real
-32768 to 32767
0
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
0
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
0
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
0
height
clamped real
-32768 to 32767
0
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 dependent*
Kind
Characteristic
Default Value
Description
1
Symbol set
277
Roman-8
2
Font spacing
0
fixed spacing
3
Pitch
9
characters per inch
4
Height
11.5
font point size
5
Posture
upright
upright
6
Stroke weight
0
medium
7
Typeface
48
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 dependent*
Kind
Characteristic
Default Value
Description
1
Symbol set
277
Roman-8
2
Font spacing
0
fixed spacing
3
Pitch
9
characters per inch
4
Height
11.5
font point size
5
Posture
upright
upright
6
Stroke weight
0
medium
7
Typeface
48
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)
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.
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
1
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.
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
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 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
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 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
0
Font Descriptor Size (64)
2 Header format (0)
Font type
4
Style MSB
Reserved
6
Baseline position
8 Cell width
10
Cell height
12
Orientation
Spacing
14
Symbol set
16
Pitch (default HMI)
18
Height
20
x - Height
22
Width type
Style LSB
24
Stroke weight
Typeface LSB
26
Typeface MSB
Serif style
28
Quality
Placement
30
Underline position (Distance)
Underline thickness (height)
32
Text height
34
Text width
36
First code
38
Last code
40
Pitch extended
Height extended
42
Cap height
44 - 47
Font number
.
.
.
48 - 63
Font name
.
.
.
64
Copyright (optional)
Table 8-1 Font Descriptor Format
8-4 HP PCL Soft Font Design
Value
Font Type
0
7-bit (96 characters) – character codes 32 to
127 [decimal] are printable.
1
8-bit (192 characters) – character codes 32 to
127 [decimal] and 160 to 255 [decimal] are
printable.
2
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.
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.
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