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PCL Font Support Document

This document describes how to print PCL (HP's Printer Command Language) fonts to a PCL compatible printer. PCL fonts can be used on any operating system that can send files to a PCL compatible printer in binary mode. From the Windows command prompt, this is performed by using the COPY command with the /B switch.

FONT NAMING

The Maxicode PCL font provided is a 300 DPI font named IDAMAX.SFP. When this font is used, the VMI should be set to 4.31 which ensures that white lines do not appear in the printed symbol. This command is provided in the file vmi6.txt. The factory default VMI is 8 which corresponds to 6 lines per inch.

PCL FONT PRINTING EXAMPLE

The example provided below is only one method of printing with PCL fonts. We provide this example for you to test the PCL fonts and ensure they are compatible with your printer. Your application will need to perform similar commands to copy the escape sequences and fonts to the printer as a single string of data. We cannot perform consulting services to help you with the implementation in your application because it is beyond the scope of our support policy.

In the example below, <Esc> represents the escape character. To create the <Esc> command in DOS Edit, hold down the CTRL key and press the letter "P", then release both keys and then press the ESC character. 

The following commands will download a font to the PCL printer and assign it an ID number of 70:

  1. <Esc>*c70D  - prepares the printer to receive a soft font and to assign it an ID of 70 (provided in the file c70D.txt).
  2. Copy the font file to the printer.
  3. <Esc>*c5F  - tells the printer to make this a permanent font (provided in the file data.txt).
  4. <Esc>l4.318C  - sets the printer's Vertical Motion Index (provided in the file data.txt).
  5. <Esc>(70X  - selects the font (provided in the file data.txt).

To test these commands from a Windows command prompt, run the TEST.BAT file provided. View the files c70D.txt, vmi6.txt, c5F.txt and data.txt with a standard text editor to view the commands in the files.

You may type the copy commands manually from the prompt, for example:

copy /B c70D.txt +IDAMAX.SFP +data.txt LPT1

The files may also be copied to a printer on a network, for example:

copy /B c70D.txt +IDAMAX.SFP +data.txt \\192.168.1.240\BINARY_P1

More Information:

PCL defines a standard set of commands that enable programs to communicate with PCL or PCL compatible printers. If you need further information about PCL commands, you may want to obtain the Technical Reference Manual set, part number 5021-0377. Order the manual set from HP's Support Materials Organization.

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