Xerox Printer User Manual
Host Forms Description Language 3.2
for IBM MVS
Creating Forms
XEROX
HFDL 3.2
August 1995
720P30610
Xerox Corporation
701 South Aviation Boulevard
El Segundo, California 90245
©1995 by Xerox Corporation. All rights reserved.
Copyright protection claimed includes all forms and matters of
copyrightable material and information now allowed by statutory
or judicial law or hereinafter granted, including without limitation,
material generated from the software programs which are
displayed on the screen such as icons, screen displays, looks, etc.
Printed in the United States of America.
Xerox® and all Xerox products mentioned in this publication are
trademarks of Xerox Corporation. Products and trademarks of
other companies are also acknowledged.
IBM® and all IBM products mentioned in this publication are
trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.
Changes are periodically made to this document. Technical
updates will be included in subsequent editions.
Table of contents
Introduction vii
About this manual vii
Contents vii
Conventions viii
Related publications viii
Xerox publications viii
IBM publications ix
1. Overview 1–1
HFDL features 1–1
Prerequisites 1–2
Operating environment 1–2
Hardware requirements 1–2
Software requirements 1–2
Xerox laser printer support 1–2
Centralized printers 1–2
Decentralized printers 1–3
Contrasting HFDL with a typical forms application 1–3
Forms you can create with HFDL 1–4
2. Planning your forms 2–1
Determining format 2–1
Page orientation 2–1
Page frames 2–2
System page 2–2
Physical page 2–3
Virtual page 2–3
Form origin 2–3
Positioning form elements 2–4
Grids 2–5
X and Y coordinates 2–5
Negative coordinates 2–6
Unit value 2–6
Data types 2–6
Forms data 2–6
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS iii
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE
Variable data 2–6
Fonts 2–7
Fixed and proportionally spaced fonts 2–7
Font orientation 2–7
Font orientation when using short–edge paper feed 2–8
Virtual keyboard and font character maps 2–9
Virtual keyboard character maps 2–10
Font character maps 2–11
Adding color to forms 2–11
Ink color availability and control 2–11
Choosing paper size 2–12
Forms design ruler 2–12
Ruler scales 2–12
Suggested uses 2–13
3. Using HFDL commands 3–1
Creating forms with HFDL commands 3–1
Available specifications 3–1
Command format 3–2
Reserved words 3–2
Special characters 3–2
Understanding the command syntax flow charts 3–3
Setting up your form 3–3
FORM command 3–4
PAPER command 3–4
LANDSCAPE/PORTRAIT command 3–5
GRID command 3–7
FONT command 3–8
ICATALOG command 3–9
PALETTE command 3–9
INK command 3–10
Inkname format 3–11
IRESULT command 3–12
Description commands 3–12
LINE command 3–13
BOX command 3–14
TEXT AT command 3–17
TEXT IN BOX command 3–21
LOGO command 3–25
GRAPHIC command 3–26
SECTION command 3–27
iv HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DO SECTION command 3–28
COLUMN command 3–30
INTERWORD command 3–30
The interword gap formula 3–30
Specifying the base gap 3–31
Specifying the interword multiplier 3–31
Using SPACING and INTERWORD together 3–31
DOT LEADER command 3–32
LET command 3–33
Relative coordinate 3–33
COMMENT command 3–34
END command 3–35
4. Creating a sample form 4–1
Setting up the form 4–2
Using the sample description command 4–3
5. Managing and printing sample forms 5–1
JCL requirements 5–1
Using the COMPILE command 5–1
Command coding conventions 5–1
Command syntax 5–1
Command syntax examples 5–5
Batch processing COMPILE commands 5–5
HFDL compiler JCL 5–6
Downloading and printing a sample 5–10
Accessing compiled forms 5–12
Editing an existing form 5–12
Specifying monochrome forms 5–12
6. Messages 6–1
Message indicators 6–1
Appendices
A. System considerations A–1
Line density limits A–1
Local density and page setup errors A–1
Boxes and their image A–2
Text in boxes A–2
Using lines within sections A–2
B. FMT grid format properties B–1
C. Approved abbreviations for reserved words C–1
D. Comparison of HFDL and FDL D–1
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS v
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE
E. Supported paper sizes E–1
Glossary GLOSSARY–1
Index INDEX–1
vi HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS
About this manual
Introduction
This manual describes the Host Forms Description Language
(HFDL) and how you use it to create an electronic version of
your form. The HFDL commands and statements you use
comprise the Forms Source Language (FSL). The host computer
compiles the FSL and stores it in the database. Using the
resources management utilities, you can access and print your
forms on Xerox laser printing systems (LPS) connected to your
host computer.
This manual is designed for users who are familiar with the MVS
operating system and have experience using Xerox printers. For
more information, refer to the “Overview” chapter.
This manual describes HFDL commands and statements, and how
to plan and lay out your forms.
Contents
Before using this manual, become familiar with its contents and
conventions.
This manual contains the following sections:
Chapter 1 “Overview” describes the HFDL features, operating environment,
and hardware and software requirements. It also lists supported
Xerox laser printing systems and common forms you can create
and manage with HFDL.
Chapter 2 “Planning your forms” describes how to plan and design forms.
It shows you how to determine page orientation and format, add
colors, select paper size, and use the design ruler.
Chapter 3 “Using HFDL commands” describes the available commands and
how to set up your forms. It also contains the command
statement conventions and definitions you use to create the FSL
and examples of the JCL.
Chapter 4 “Creating a sample form” describes how to create a form using
HFDL.
Chapter 5 “Managing and printing sample forms” describes how to compile,
store, and download forms to the printer.
Chapter 6 “Messages” lists the error messages that may appear during
forms compilation.
Appendix A “System considerations” describes the printer limitations you may
encounter during the creation of complex forms.
Appendix B “FMT grid format properties” lists the grid and origin
substitutions you can use for the supported paper sizes.
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS vii
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE
Appendix C “Approved abbreviations for reserved words” lists the
Appendix D “Comparison of HFDL and FDL” compares the commands
Appendix E “Supported paper sizes” lists the paper sizes that HFDL supports.
Conventions
“Supported paper sizes” appendix References to chapters, sections, and appendices appear in
ICATALOG Commands, operands, and parameters that you enter appear in
abbreviations you can use for reserved words.
available for FDL, HFDL 2.1D, HFDL 3.1, and HFDL 3.2.
For detailed lists of virtual keyboard maps and font character
maps used with HFDL, see the “Virtual keyboard and font
character maps” appendix in the
Xerox Print Resources
Manager/Host Forms Description Language 3.2 for IBM MVS
Managing Resources
This manual uses the following conventions:
In this manual, the word "character" refers to an "alpha-numeric
character," except where noted.
quotation marks.
bold.
manual.
Host Forms Description Language 3.2
for IBM MVS Creating Forms
Related publications
Xerox publications
Document names, library names, variable information, and user–
defined data you enter appears in
LPI System commands and parameters appear in uppercase letters.
Notes are hints that help you perform a task or understand the
text.
CAUTION: Cautions appear immediately before any action that
may destroy the data stored on your network or damage your
equipment. Make sure you understand the potential impact of
the action before you perform it.
You can find additional information related to HFDL in the
following publications.
Xerox related publications include the following:
Publication Number
italic.
Xerox 871 Communications
Module System Guide
600P86733
Xerox 3700 Laser Printing System
Release Five Series Reference Manual
720P84320
Xerox 4235 Laser Printing System
Operations Guide
720P82510
Xerox 4235 Laser Printing System Production
Print Mode PDL/DJDE Reference
720P82530
Xerox 4235 Laser Printing System Operator
Maintenance and Problem Solving Guide
viii HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS
720P82540
INTRODUCTION
Publication Number
Xerox 4235 Laser Printing System
Xerox Distributed Print Mode
XES Printer Command Reference
720P82520
Xerox 9790/8790 Laser Printing Systems
Reference Manual
720P90000
Xerox Host Forms Description Language 3.2
for IBM MVS Installation Guide
720P30600
IBM publications
Xerox LPS Forms Creation Guide
Xerox LPS Operations Reference
Xerox LPS PDL/DJDE Reference
Xerox LPS Print Descriptio
n
Language Quick Reference Card
720P90081
720P90041
720P90051
720P60681
Xerox LPS Standard
Font Library User Guide
Xerox LPS Tape Formats Manual
720P86174
720P86175
Xerox Print Resources Manager/
Host Forms Description Language 3.2
for IBM MVS Managing Resources
720P30560
Xerox Print Resources Manager/
Host Forms Description Language 3.2
for IBM MVS Installation Guide
IBM publications related to the HFDL include the following:
720P30550
IBM MVS/ESA JCL Reference
IBM MVS/ESA User’s Guide
IBM MVS/XA JCL Reference
IBM MVS/XA User’s Guide
IBM MVS/XA JCL
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS ix
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE
x HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS
HFDL features
1. Overview
The Host Forms Description Language (HFDL) operates in a
standard IBM/MVS environment that includes Xerox high–speed,
high–volume centralized printers. You use Xerox Print Resources
Manager (XPRM) to store form files and resources in the XPRM
database.
This chapter describes the HFDL features, prerequisites,
operating environment, and the supported printers. Refer to the
Xerox Print Resources Manager/Host Forms Description Language
3.2 for IBM for MVS Managing Resources
information.
HFDL, combined with XPRM, provides the following features:
manual for more
• Flexible language statement syntax. The syntax allows you
to quickly and easily develop your form electronically. The
syntax is similar to the source language that resides on the
Xerox laser printing system (LPS) printer and that the Forms
Description Language (FDL) compiler uses. HFDL also
allows additional command extensions, such as dot leaders,
which the FSL compiler does not support.
• More online printer time. Through HFDL and XPRM, you
have the ability to compile and store forms on your host
computer, freeing up your Xerox laser printer for other
printing jobs.
• Powerful utilities. The XPRM utilities allow you to manage
your resources through a system interface. These utilities
allow you to access stored forms for updating, downloading
to printers, or deleting.
• Additional flexibility. You have the ability to download
host–generated forms, which were compiled in different
formats, to specific laser printers.
• Increase in several FDL limits.
• Standard entries. You have the ability to enter standard
HFDL reserved words and identifiers in uppercase or
lowercase letters.
• Host system interface. XPRM provides an enhanced
resource management capability through a host system
interface. This allows you to take advantage of the
enhanced features offered by the new family of Xerox laser
printers such as the Xerox 4135 LPS Printer, the Xerox 4235
LPS Printer, the Xerox 4700 Color Document Printer, and
the Xerox 4850 HighLight Color LPS Printer.
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS 1–1
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE
Prerequisites
• Conversion from .FRM to metacode. This feature is
implemented as a stand-alone utility program. For details
see Appendix D.
HFDL also allows you to take advantage of the added
features of the Xerox 4650 Printer (600 dpi forms).
You should have a working knowledge of your Multiple Virtual
Storage (MVS) operating system, and be able to perform the
following procedures:
• Create and edit a text file on your system.
• Use JCL to compile a job on your system.
• Use JCL to access a file through your resource management
interface, and download your selected file to your Xerox
laser printing system.
Operating environment
Hardware requirements
Software requirements
Xerox laser printer support
The host computer, peripheral devices, printers, and software
make up your printing system. This section describes the
hardware and software requirements to operate HFDL.
HFDL 3.2 operates on IBM S/370 and S/390 series computers
running the MVS/XA or MVS/ESA operating system.
HFDL operates in batch mode under the IBM MVS/ESA and
MVS/XA operating systems. It does not use operating system
features specific to any MVS release level. Any specific
requirements for your site are provided during installation and
described in the
MVS Installation Guide.
HFDL supports Xerox centralized and decentralized printers.
Host Forms Description Language 3.2 for IBM
Centralized printers
Centralized printers are high–speed, high–volume printers
generally used in central locations for printing data processing
output from mainframe computers. They may be attached to the
host computer by an S/370 channel or attached remotely by an
871 Communications Module (CM) or BARR SNA.
Table 1–1 lists the centralized printers that HFDL supports and
the associated operating system software (OSS).
1–2 HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS
OVERVIEW
Table 1–1. Supported centralized printers
Centralized printers OSS version
4050 V2.1, V3.5, or V3.8
4090 V2.1, V3.5, or V3.8
4135 V3.6
4650 V3.5 or V3.8
4850 V3.7, V3.8, or V5.0
4890 V4.0 or V5.0
8790 V2.1 or V3.9
9790 V2.1 or V3.9
Decentralized printers
HFDL also supports some Xerox decentralized printers. These
printers are generally in remote locations away from the
mainframe. An SNA/RJE communications link or a BSC/RJE
communications link connects them to the host. Also, the Xerox
Flex Box protocol converter allows you to connect the Xerox
4235 printer to the host.
Table 1–2 lists the decentralized printers that HFDL supports and
the associated OSS.
Table 1–2. Supported decentralized printers
Decentralized printers OSS version
3700 V5.2
4235 V1.2 or V1.5
4700 V1.0 (XES mode)
HFDL 3.2 generates forms on the Xerox 4235 and Xerox 4700
printers operating in XES mode.
Contrasting HFDL with a typical forms application
HFDL allows you to create electronic versions of your forms,
compile them, store them in your system database, and
download them to your printer as needed. This eliminates the
need to stock large quantities of preprinted forms.
(XPPM and XDPM modes)
Once you download your form to a Xerox LPS, the printer
merges your form with variable data. This capability allows you
to create, store, and print any number of forms, in any order, on
plain paper.
In a typical forms application that does not use HFDL, you have
to prepare and load preprinted forms (often printed in large
quantities) on a printer connected to a computer. You can load
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS 1–3
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE
only one set of forms at a time, and must remove and replace
any forms currently loaded with the preprinted forms you want.
The typical forms application usually requires a stock of
preprinted forms. If there are different forms, storage costs can
be high. If you have to modify preprinted forms, you usually
must discard old versions, making your costs even higher.
Forms you can create with HFDL
The following list provides examples of general business forms
you can create with HFDL:
• Bar codes
• Billing statements and invoices
• Calendars
• Checklists
• Financial statements
• Floor plans
• Flow diagrams
• Marketing surveys
• Order forms
• Organizational charts
• Packing and shipping slips
• Production and inventory control forms
• Reorder lists
• Reports
• Routing forms
• Schedules
• Status report forms.
Depending on your business, you may need to create forms to
meet specific industry standards. HFDL allows you to create the
following types of specialized forms:
• Bank statements
• Government compliance forms
• Insurance forms
• Tax return forms.
1–4 HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS
Determining format
2. Planning your forms
This chapter describes the parameters you must determine and
specify when designing your form.
Careful planning and design are critical to creating electronic
versions of your forms. Form planning and design specify such
things as page size, orientation, layout, fonts, inks, and highlight
colors.
For additional information about designing complex forms and
Xerox laser printer capabilities, refer to the “System
considerations” appendix.
Before you create a form with HFDL command statements, you
must plan its layout, content, and appearance according to the
requirements described in the following sections.
Page orientation
The orientation of a page is either portrait or landscape. Figure
2–1 shows these orientations.
Figure 2–1. Page orientation
PORTRAIT
LANDSCAPE
The landscape orientation, sometimes called the horizontal
format, refers to a page whose horizontal side is longer than its
vertical side.
The portrait orientation, sometimes called a vertical format, refers
to a page whose vertical side is longer than its horizontal side.
Use the portrait orientation for text material such as letters,
manuals, reports, and forms that need the tall vertical format.
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS 2–1
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE
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Page frames
Landscape format is ideal for forms, spreadsheets, and reports
that require columns across the page. For example, the
landscape orientation is appropriate for a Gantt chart that lists six
or twelve months horizontally, and lists the tasks vertically.
Large paper size forms in short edge feed (SEF) made for the
Xerox 4135 printer require you to specify the FONTS command
in the opposite orientation. For example, for a portrait
orientation, use landscape fonts, and for a landscape orientation,
use portrait fonts. Make sure you specify the orientation you
want. For example, for a portrait form, specify PORTRAIT for the
orientation, and for a landscape form, specify LANDSCAPE.
The page frame is a set of boundaries associated with a page as a
unit of printing or imaging. There are three types of page
frames: system, physical, and virtual. Figure 2–2 shows the
relationship between the system, physical, and virtual page.
Figure 2–2. Page frames
2–2 HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS
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SYSTEM PAGE
PHYSICAL PAGE
VIRTUAL PAGE
NOTE CORRESPONDING
EDGES OF PHYSICAL AND
SYSTEM PAGES. THIS IS
IMPORTANT WHEN
CONSIDERING
EDGE–MARKING.
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For additional information about page frames, refer to the
LPS Forms Creation Guide
.
Xerox
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System page
The system page is the maximum area the printer allows you to
image graphics and text. The system page is slightly larger than
the physical page. If the default paper sizes have been
established for your printer, the system page has little bearing on
your form design.
PLANNING YOUR FORMS
If you decide to place marks along the edge of the physical page
(edge–marking) in your form, be familiar with the edge–marking
limitations. To accommodate edge–marking, the system page
must be larger than the physical page. Since the system page
boundaries correspond to at least two edges of the physical page
boundaries for all paper sizes, you can only use edge–marking on
the two edges of the physical page that do not correspond to
the system page.
The product guide for each printer contains specific information
about edge–marking.
Physical page
CAUTION: Unexpected results occur if you plan a form for a
physical page paper size that is not available.
The physical page is the actual paper size. On a Xerox LPS, you
define the default size of the physical page during system
generation (SYSGEN). During planning, you must consider the
default paper size or other paper sizes available for your printer.
See the “Supported paper sizes” appendix for more information.
Form origin
Virtual page
The virtual page is the area you specify for printing. The virtual
page can be as large as the physical page (actual paper size), but
can never be larger than the physical page. If you do not specify
the virtual page size, the defined (planned) area of the virtual
page is the same as the physical page.
Since the Xerox 4700 Color Document Printer has a limitation on
the print area of the physical page, make sure that the virtual
page does not include the area the printer grippers cover. Refer
to your printer documentation for more information on print area
limitations.
All form data described by HFDL is positioned on the page
relative to a point, called the form origin
.
The form origin is a
reference point from which you place all elements on a form
using HFDL commands. The form origin is a point that is offset
from the upper left corner of the virtual page. You can specify
this point during form description. If you do not define a virtual
page and specify a form origin, the default form origin is the
origin of the physical page.
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS 2–3
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE
Figure 2–3 shows the location of the form origin of the virtual
page in relation to the actual page size.
Figure 2–3. Form origin location
LANDSCAPE FORM ORIGIN
FORM ORIGIN OFFSET FROM
VIRTUAL PAGE
LANDSCAPE PAGE
PORTRAIT FORM ORIGIN
FORM ORIGIN OFFSET FROM VIRTUAL PAGE
Positioning form elements
VIRTUAL PAGE (USER DEFINED)
PORTRAIT PAGE
DEFAULT SIZE= ACTUAL PAPER SIZE
(PHYSICAL PAGE)
You can place the following elements on a form with HFDL:
• Boxes
• Fixed text
• Images
• Lines
• Logos and signatures
• Sections.
x
You locate an element by determining the horizontal (
y
vertical (
form. These coordinates (
) distance from the upper–left corner (origin) of the
x, y
) comprise the origin of the
) and
document. The form origin (upper left corner of the page) is
always (0,0).
Form element Element origin
Vertical ruled line Top of the line at the midpoint of the
thickness of the line.
Horizontal ruled line Left end of the line at the midpoint
of the thickness of the line.
Box (outlined) Upper–left corner of the box at the
midpoint of the thickness of the
outline.
Box (shaded) Upper–left corner of the box.
2–4 HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS
Grids
PLANNING YOUR FORMS
Form element Element origin
Fixed text (single line) Upper–left corner of the first
character cell when the line appears
upright.
Fixed text Upper edge of the topmost character
(multiple lines) cell and the leftmost edge of the
leftmost character cell when viewed
in an upright position.
Graphics Upper–left corner of the image.
Logos and signatures Upper–left corner of the first
character cell.
Sections (of a form) Upper–left corner of the section.
You specify the location of a form element (alphanumeric
character, line, or box) on a page in terms of its horizontal and
vertical displacement from the form origin. You can use these
units of measure to define this displacement:
• Characters per inch (cpi) horizontally
• Dots per inch (300 dpi)
• Linear units (inches or centimeters)
• Lines per inch (lpi) vertically
• Xdots (600 dpi).
X and Y coordinates
If you draw a horizontal and vertical line through the form origin
x
to create
expressed as
provide the
x
for
and y coordinates, the location of the form origin is
y
=0, x=0. When specifying both coordinates,
y
value first. Figure 2–4 shows the correct placement
and y coordinates.
Figure 2–4. X and Y coordinates
0,0
x
0,0
PORTRAIT
LANDSCAPE
x
y
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS 2–5
y
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE
Data types
If you draw additional lines horizontally and vertically away from
the form origin so that each additional line is one unit of
measure apart, you create a grid. You can now position form
elements by specifying a grid position.
Negative coordinates
You can use negative x and y values to place the form elements
above and to the left of the form origin. You can only specify
negative values within the system page boundaries.
Unit value
You can specify the unit of measure you want to use to position
form elements on the page. However, predefined formats
automatically select the grid values for you. The “FMT grid
format properties” appendix lists the predefined grid format
properties for various page sizes.
There are two types of data: forms data and variable data. Make
sure you consider them when you create forms for printing on
Xerox LPS printers.
Forms data
Forms data is the information on a form that remains the same,
such as form titles and column titles. Typically, fixed–length
forms data changes only when you modify the form. Forms data
is the only data you enter in the design process.
When designing a column size you must consider the amount of
variable data the column accommodates, not the size of the
fixed–length column title.
Variable data
Variable data is the data you overlay in the space provided by the
designed form. Variable data varies in length. An example of
variable data is a name and address.
You must allow sufficient space in the columns to accommodate
the variable data. Otherwise, variable data may be invalid or
unusable. For example, if you do not provide sufficient space for
an address, the zip code could be truncated. Spacing for
variable data is extremely important and is more accurately
calculated with fixed spacing of the font characters.
2–6 HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS
Fonts
Fixed and proportionally spaced fonts
PLANNING YOUR FORMS
Fonts are character sets, each having a unique typeface (Times,
Roman or Helvetica), type size (points), and type style (normal,
bold, or italic).
Fonts must reside in the host database and on the printer.
Check with your System Administrator to identify the fonts
available on your printer. If you specify a font that does not
reside in the host database, you receive an error message when
you compile the form.
You can use fixed and proportionally spaced fonts on Xerox LPS
printers. Each character occupies an area of the form cell called
a character cell. With fixed fonts, all character cells in the set are
the same width. With proportional fonts, character cells vary in
width.
Usually, you use fixed fonts for variable data and proportional
spacing for forms data. Figure 2–5 shows examples of fixed and
proportional spacing.
Font orientation
Figure 2–5. Character spacing
CHARACTER CELL
PROPORTIONAL SPACINGFIXED SPACING
In addition to typeface, style, and size, you can also define fonts
by their orientation:
• Landscape
• Portrait
• Inverse landscape
• Inverse portrait.
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS 2–7
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE
Figure 2–6 shows the font orientations relative to the physical
page.
Figure 2–6. Font orientation
PORTRAIT FONT
LANDSCAPE FONT
LANDSCAPE PAGE
PORTRAIT PAGE
Font orientation when using short–edge paper feed
Normally, stock feeds into the printer moving in the direction of
the page length. You assign each job a font with a landscape
orientation (characters align along the long edge of the page) or
a font with a portrait orientation (characters align along the short
edge of the page).
Some printers, such as the Xerox 4135 LPS, support paper sizes
up to 14.33 by 17 inches by allowing the stock to feed into the
printer moving in the direction of the page width. This is the
short edge feed (SEF) option. This reversal of the feed edge
reverses the font orientation the job must use. When printing a
landscape document using the SEF option, specify portrait fonts.
When printing a portrait document using the SEF option, specify
landscape fonts.
2–8 HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS
Virtual keyboard and font character maps
You can create virtual keyboard and font character maps and
store them in the XPRM database after installation. During the
compilation of forms, you can set the compiler to use the
character maps to enable keyboard–to–font character mapping.
Use the KEYBOARD parameter of the COMPILE command to
specify the keyboard map you want to use. The keyboard
characters are mapped to the corresponding graphic
representations of the characters in the Xerox printer fonts. For
more information on setting the compiler, refer to the “Using the
COMPILE command” section in the “Managing and printing
sample forms” chapter.
Normally, mapping is not required in the United States, but it is
required in the following situations:
• When there are differences between your terminal keyboard
configurations
• To accommodate varying character sets
• To accommodate the internal organization of characters
within different fonts.
PLANNING YOUR FORMS
Keyboard emission
Keyboard
character
"
You must use a keyboard character map to access a font
character map. In the United States, use the U.S. English
keyboard character map.
Generally, you map the keyboard character to the corresponding
character in each font used in the form. Figure 2–7 shows this
process. In the example, the neutral double quote (") on the
keyboard is mapped to the neutral double quote in the font.
Figure 2–7. Mapping process
Virtual keyboard
character map
EBCDIC
Hexadecimal
code point
7F 000/042
Keyboard
table
7F
Xerox
character
identifier
Xerox
character
identifier
Font character map
ASCII
Hexadecimal
code point
F2000/042
Font
character
that prints
"
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS 2–9
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE
Keyboard emission
You can also use the mapping process to assign a different
character to a key. Figure 2–8 shows you how to map a little
used keyboard character, such as the cent sign (¢), to a new font
character required in your form, the fraction one–half ( ).
Figure 2–8. Mapping to a different font character
Virtual keyboard
character map
Font character map
Keyboard
character
¢
Hexadecimal
code point
4A
Keyboard
table
Virtual keyboard character maps
Xerox
character
identifier
Xerox
character
identifier
000/2754A 000/275
ASCII
code point
1F
Font
character
that prints
You cannot map the following keyboard characters to a different
character: A to Z, a to z, and 0 to 9.
When you press a key on the terminal keyboard, it emits a
unique code. This special code is referred to as a hexadecimal
code point.
A specific hexadecimal code point corresponds to the same
character, regardless of the keyboard you are using. For
example, hexadecimal code point C1 always corresponds to an
uppercase A.
Keyboards may vary from country to country, so there are a few
hexadecimal code points that correspond to different characters
depending on the keyboard you are using. For example, on a
U.S. English keyboard, hexadecimal code point 4A corresponds
to the cent symbol (¢); on a UK English keyboard, hexadecimal
code point 4A corresponds to the dollar symbol ($). U.S. English
is the default keyboard, but you can customize a virtual keyboard
character map for each unique keyboard configuration you need.
A unique Xerox character identifier is assigned to each character
in the Xerox centralized and decentralized fonts. The printer
uses the Xerox character identifier to locate the graphic
representation of the character. The Xerox character identifier
matches the hexadecimal code point to the character it
represents. For example, the Xerox character identifier 0/101
corresponds to the uppercase A.
For more information on keyboard character maps, see the
“Virtual keyboard and font character maps” appendix in the
Xerox
Print Resources Manager/Host Forms Description Language 3.2
for IBM MVS Managing Resources
2–10 HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS
manual.
Font character maps
Adding color to forms
PLANNING YOUR FORMS
Once the compiler equates a keyboard code point to a Xerox
character identifier, another translation must locate the graphic
representation of the character within the font. A font character
map identifies the location of each graphic character within a
font. The graphic representation is the actual bitmap that prints
the character in the form. Usually the character is in ASCII
format. For example, hexadecimal code point 41 is the ASCII
code for the uppercase A.
Some character sets may not support all font graphic characters.
For example, Character Set E does not contain the left brace ({).
For more information on font character maps, see the “Virtual
keyboard and font character maps” appendix in the
Xerox Print
Resources Manager/Host Forms Description Language 3.2 for
IBM MVS Managing Resources
manual.
The Xerox highlight color LPS printers and the Xerox 4700 Color
Document Printer allow you to use color to emphasize important
parts of your form. With a highlight color printer, you can use
different shades of a single color to highlight parts of your form.
The 4700 printer uses full color technology, which allows you to
choose from a wide selection of colors. The following examples
show typical color enhancements for forms:
• Highlighted titles
• Highlighted columns representing totals or important results
• Lines setting off groups of columns or items or used as a
border for your form
• Boxes filled with any of the colors and tints available in the
ink catalog.
You use the HFDL command statements to control color. For
more information, refer to the “Using HFDL commands” chapter.
On a highlight color printer, text, lines, and box borders always
print in the primary color of the printer, even if you specify a
different color, tint, and so on.
You can send a form using red, blue, or green palettes to either
a highlight color printer or a full color printer. To convert red,
blue, and green highlight colors to full color versions, recompile
the form with VERSION=XC on the COMPILE command. The
full–color palette is available only on the 4700 printer.
Ink color availability and control
When planning colors, you should determine if your company
has any regulations and controls for using colors on forms. You
may need to use a specific ink list, which contains an ink catalog,
palette, and ink for items such as logos and form titles. Contact
your System Administrator to determine the available ink colors.
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS 2–11
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE
Choosing paper size
Forms design ruler
For additional information regarding default ink palettes, catalogs,
color models, ink priority and substitutions, and modifying
output, refer to the
Once you determine the actual page size (physical page)
available for your printer, you can specify any size within the
physical page size for your form.
Contact your System Administrator to determine available paper
sizes.
For a list of paper sizes for the family of Xerox laser printers, refer
to the “Supported paper sizes” appendix.
Careful spacing and form measurements can help ensure a
smooth conversion to an electronic format. As an option, a
design ruler can be ordered to measure character and line
spacing on your draft form or paper original. Contact your
appropriate Xerox customer representative for ordering
information.
Xerox LPS PDL/DJDE Reference Manual.
Ruler scales
The design ruler is approximately 15 inches long, with eight
scales, four on each side. The scales are defined as follows:
Side 1 Scale 1 (10/INCH)—Output character spacing. You can also use
this scale to measure inches, graduated in tenths.
Scale 2 (6/INCH)—Output line spacing for 6 lines per inch (lpi).
Scale 3 (8/INCH)—Output line spacing for 8 lpi.
Scale 4 (12/INCH)—Output line spacing for 12 characters per
inch (cpi) or 12 lpi.
Side 2 Scale 5 (13.6/INCH)—Default output character spacing for 13.6
characters per inch (cpi).
Scale 6 (8.1/INCH)—Default output line spacing for 66 lines per
landscape page.
Scale 7 (10.7/INCH)—Output line spacing on for 88 lines per
landscape page.
Scale 8 (15/INCH)—Output line spacing for 15 cpi or 15 lpi.
2–12 HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS
Suggested uses
PLANNING YOUR FORMS
You can use the design ruler for character spacing or line
spacing. For example, you can use scale 1 for 10 characters per
inch (cpi) or 10 lines per inch (lpi). Typically, you use side 1 of
the ruler for measuring impact–printed computer output reports
in which the character spacing is 10 cpi (scale 1) and line spacing
is 6 lpi (scale 2) or 8 lpi (scale 3). You use side 2 for measuring
LPS output.
The default spacing for the LPS is 13.6 cpi (scale 5) and 8.1 lpi
(scale 6). These defaults allow optimal readability for the
standard format of 132 columns by 66 lines.
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS 2–13
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE
2–14 HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS
3. Using HFDL commands
You use the Host Forms Description Language (HFDL) keyword
commands to translate your form design into a format for the
host computer. The command set representing your form
becomes the Forms Source Language (FSL), which the host
compiles and stores. You can download the compiled form to a
Xerox LPS or XES printer. This chapter describes the HFDL
commands and their functions.
Creating forms with HFDL commands
The HFDL command language syntax is usually the same as the
Forms Description Language (FDL) command language syntax.
You should be familiar with the FDL commands and how to use
them at the printer.
For more information on FDL commands and printer usage
to the
the “Troubleshooting syntax errors” section in the
Notes
Xerox Laser Printing Systems Forms Creation Guide
HFDL Release
.
,
and
refer
Available specifications
The “Comparison of HFDL and FDL” appendix in this manual
compares the commands for HFDL 2.1D, HFDL 3.1, HFDL 3.2,
and FDL.
The HFDL commands allow you to specify the following features:
• Form name identifies the forms you are developing.
• Page orientation specifies a page as portrait or landscape.
• Font selection specifies the fonts you want to use.
• Vertical and horizontal grid positions specify grid position
and position form elements in line printer measurements
(line number and character position) or inches, centimeters,
dots, and xdots.
• Highlight and full color enhance graphs, charts, forms, and
other publications.
• Shading mixes color with black to produce shades of a
primary color (red, green, or blue).
• Caption position specifies locations of captions on a page
or selects automatic placement within a specified area.
• Logo and graphic position specifies the location of
selected logos and graphics on a page.
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS 3–1
HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE
Command format
Each HFDL command consists of a command identifier,
parameters, and reserved words associated with the function.
The following conventions apply:
• A semicolon (;) terminates a command.
• A comment line begins with the word COMMENT, followed
by a comment and semicolon (;).
• A blank space separates reserved words and parameters.
• Commas are legal only as shown in the command syntax
flow charts.
Command information appears within the first 72 columns of
each record. Commands can continue for multiple records;
however, there is a limit of 4,096 characters allowed in one text
block. Multiple commands can appear in one record if you
separate them with semicolons.
The system ignores records containing all blanks. You can use
them to separate command statements.
Reserved words
Special characters
Reserved words appear in bold uppercase text in the command
syntax flow charts in this chapter. You can abbreviate many
n
reserved words to the first three characters (except FMT
n
you must specify the integer
abbreviations for reserved words” appendix for the list of
abbreviations you can use. Avoid using reserved words as
section or form names.
Use the following special characters to meet certain requirements
within the command statements:
• A single quote (’) encloses a text string, for example, ’This
is a font count’ produces “This is a font count” in the
printed version. When you use a reserved word such as
“font” in a string, it is not processed as a command.
• A pound symbol (#) within a text string shifts the text
between uppercase and lowercase characters, and vice
versa. Each string begins with an uppercase character. For
example, F#IRST produces “First” in the printed version.
To shift back to uppercase characters, you must enter
another pound symbol (#) character in the text string. For
example, R#EV#A produces “RevA” in the printed version.
). Refer to the “Approved
, where
You can substitute the pound symbol (#) with any other
character by using the SHIFT operand at the COMPILE
command. Refer to the "Command Syntax" section in the
"Managing and printing sample forms" chapter for
information on how to use this operand.
• An exclamation point (!) specifies a character in the font
character set, not the keyboard character. Enter an
exclamation point (!) and the ASCII hexadecimal code point
for the character you want to print. For example, 65!7B
3–2 HOST FORMS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE 3.2 FOR IBM MVS CREATING FORMS
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