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Escape sequences, Printer commands

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your printer and other peripherals. These ASCII characters do not usually have corresponding keys on the keyboard and cannot be printed as characters by your printer. Escape sequences Although there are more than 30 control codes available to control the operation of your printer, many more codes are required to run today's sophisticated printers. Therefore, ASCII codes are grouped in sequences to represent certain functions. These code sequences use the ASCII codes with decimal values of 32 through 255, normally reserved for characters and punctuation, to control printer functions. This is done by first sending a standard code to tell the printer that the codes that follow are to be used as control codes, not as characters or punctuation. The standard code that is sent at the beginning of one of these code sequences is the Escape code, decimal value 27. Any sequence of codes starting with the Escape code is called an Escape sequence. You will probably see Escape written in different ways-such as ESC, ESC, and ESCape-in various manuals. In this manual it is in the form of ESC when used within a command. Printer commands In order for the printer to recognize the instructions it receives, ASCII codes must be sent in a specific format, called a command. An Escape sequence is a command, as is any ASCII code or sequence of codes that instructs the printer to carry out a particular function. Your software continually sends commands to your printer and your computer screen. These commands instruct the printer to perform such actions as print in a particular typeface, feed the paper a certain amount after printing each line, and start printing on a particular spot on the page. Some software programs let you send these commands yourself. This is a powerful feature because it allows you to enhance your text in ways that may not normally be available through the software. For example, many word processing programs do not offer italics. By inserting a command in your document, however, you can use italics anywhere you like. The 4-6 Using Software and Graphics

Section	Page
FRONT MATTER	1
TABLE OF CONTENTS	4
INTRODUCTION	6
Features	6
options	7
About This Guide	7
CHAP 1-SETTING UP THE PRINTER	9
Unpacking the Printer	10
Removing the protective materials	11
Choosing a Place for the Printer	13
Assembling the Printer	14
Installing the platen knob	14
Installing the ribbon cartridge	16
Attaching the paper guide	19
Testing the Printer	20
Plugging in the printer	21
Loading a sheet of paper	21
Running the self test	24
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer	26
Connecting the parallel interface cable	26
CHAP 2-PAPER HANDLING	29
Using Single Sheets	30
Reloading during printing	32
Using Continuous Paper	32
Positioning your continuous paper supply	37
Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets	38
Switching back to continuous paper	41
Adjusting the Loading Position	42
Using Micro- Adjustment	42
Using Short Tear-Off	43
Printing on Special Paper	45
The paper thickness lever	45
Multi-part forms	46
Labels	47
Envelopes	47
CHAP 3-USING THE PRINTER	49
Operating the Control Panel	50
Lights	50
Buttons	51
SelecType	52
Other control panel features	53
Setting the DIP Switches	53
DIP switch functions	54
Selecting Typestyles	58
Using SelecType	59
Character fonts	59
Characters per inch	60
Condensed mode	60
If SelecType does not work	61
Enhancing Your Printing	61
Character size	61
Emphasized and double-strike printing	62
Italic printing	63
Underlining	63
Superscripts and subscripts	63
Selecting typestyles with Master Select	63
CHAP 4-USING SOFTWARE AND GRAPHICS	66
Using the FX with Application Programs	67
Using printer selection menus	67
A quick test	68
Using word processors	68
Using spreadsheets	68
Using graphics software	70
Computer-Printer Communication	70
Escape sequences	71
Printer commands	71
Using the Command Summary	72
Sending printer commands from within your software program	72
Dot Graphics	73
The print head	74
Pin labels	75
Graphics commands	76
Graphics programming	77
User-Defined Characters	84
Defining your own characters	85
CHAP 5-MAINTENANCE	92
Cleaning the Printer	93
Replacing the Ribbon	94
Transporting the Printer	97
CHAP 6-TROUBLESHOOTING	100
Problems and Solutions	101
The printer does not print	101
The printer stops printing	101
The printout is spaced incorrectly	102
The printout is faint or uneven	102
The printout is not what you expect	102
Single sheets do not feed properly	103
Continuous paper does not feed properly	103
Cut sheet feeder does not load paper correctly	104
Data Dump Mode	104
CHAP 7-USING PRINTER OPTIONS	106
The Cut Sheet Feeder	107
Installation	107
Setting the sheet feeder mode	109
Recommended paper	110
Paper loading	110
Envelope loading	113
Using the cut sheet feeder	113
Software operation	114
Setting up your software	114
Control panel operation	116
Testing the printer in the cut sheet feeder mode	116
Switching from the cut sheet feeder to continuous paper	117
Single sheet insertion	119
The Pull Tractor	120
Installation and use	120
When you are finished printing	126
Using the pull tractor alone	126
Removing the pull tractor	126
Interface Boards	127
Choosing an interface	127
Compatible interfaces	128
Removing the upper case	128
Using Printer Options	129
Installing the board	133
Attaching the upper case	136
CHAP 8-COMMAND SUMMARY	139
Commands in Numerical Order	142
Epson (ESC/P) Commands	146
Printer Operation	146
MSB control	149
Data Control	151
Print Enhancement	167
Word Processing	170
Character Sets	171
User-Defined Characters	173
IBM Emulation Mode Commands	179
Commands that Duplicate Epson Commands	179
Commands That Are Different from Epson Commands	180
APPENDIX A-TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS	189
Printer Specifications	190
Interface Specifications	193
Initialization	196
APPENDIX B-TABLES	198
Proportional Width Table	199
Character Tables	203
GLOSSARY	205
INDEX	212
QUICK REFERENCE	215

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your printer and other peripherals. These ASCII characters do not

usually have corresponding keys on the keyboard and cannot be printed

as characters by your printer.

Escape sequences

Although there are more than 30 control codes available to control the

operation of your printer, many more codes are required to run today’s

sophisticated printers. Therefore, ASCII codes are grouped in sequences

to represent certain functions. These code sequences use the ASCII codes

with decimal values of 32 through 255, normally reserved for characters

and punctuation, to control printer functions. This is done by first

sending a standard code to tell the printer that the codes that follow are

to be used as control codes, not as characters or punctuation.

The standard code that is sent at the beginning of one of these code

sequences is the Escape code, decimal value 27. Any sequence of codes

starting with the Escape code is called an Escape sequence. You will

probably see Escape written in different ways-such as ESC, E

, and

ESCape-in various manuals. In this manual it is in the form of ESC

when used within a command.

Printer commands

In order for the printer to recognize the instructions it receives, ASCII

codes must be sent in a specific format, called a command. An Escape

sequence is a command, as is any ASCII code or sequence of codes that

instructs the printer to carry out a particular function. Your software

continually sends commands to your printer and your computer screen.

These commands instruct the printer to perform such actions as print in

a particular typeface, feed the paper a certain amount after printing each

line, and start printing on a particular spot on the page.

Some software programs let you send these commands yourself. This is a

powerful feature because it allows you to enhance your text in ways that

may not normally be available through the software. For example, many

word processing programs do not offer italics. By inserting a command

in your document, however, you can use italics anywhere you like. The

4-6

Using Software and Graphics