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Epson LQ-2550 User Manual - Page 111

Escape Sequences, Printer Commands, a particular typeface, feed the paper

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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 commands that your printer recognizes are listed in the Command Summary in Chapter 8 and on the Quick Reference card at the back of this manual. 4-6 Using Software and Graphics

Section	Page
FRONT MATTER	1
TABLE OF CONTENTS	4
INTRODUCTION	6
Features	6
Options	7
About This Guide	8
Where to Get Help	9
CHAP 1-SETTING UP THE PRINTER	10
Unpacking the Printer	11
Removing the Protective Materials	11
Choosing a Place for the Printer	15
Assembling the Printer	16
Installing the Platen Knob	16
Installing the Ribbon Cartridge	18
Attaching the Paper Guide	21
Testing the Printer	24
Connecting to a Power Supply	24
Running the Self Test	25
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer	31
The Parallel Interface	31
The Serial Interface	33
Setting Up Your Application Software	36
Choosing from a Menu	37
CHAP 2-PAPER HANDLING	38
Using Single Sheets	39
Loading a Sheet	39
Reloading During Printing	42
Using Continuous Paper	42
Positioning your Continuous Paper Supply	42
Loading Continuous Paper	43
When You Have Finished Printing	50
Reversing the Paper to the Standby Position	51
Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets	53
Switching to Single Sheets	53
Switching Back to Continuous Paper	56
Printing on Special Paper	59
Multi-Part Forms	59
Labels	60
Envelopes	63
CHAP 3-USING THE PRINTER	65
Operating the Control Panel	66
The Display	66
The Lights	67
The Buttons	68
Other Control Panel Features	72
SelecType Settings	72
Using SelecType	74
Selecting a Main Menu Mode	76
LOAD MACRO	77
CHANGE MACRO	79
CHANGE DEFAULTS	82
PRINT OUT SETTINGS	87
CLEAR OUT MACROS	88
Page Length	90
Skip Over Perforation	92
Setting the Loading Position	94
Adjusting the Loading Position	94
Short Tear-Off	95
Selecting Typestyles	97
Fonts	98
Pitch	101
Condensed Mode	102
Choosing an International Character Set	103
Choosing a Character Table	104
CHAP 4-USING SOFTWARE AND GRAPHICS	106
Using the LQ-2550 With Application Programs	107
Using Printer Selection Menus	107
A Quick Test	107
Using Word Processors	108
Using Spreadsheets	108
Using Graphics Software	109
Computer-Printer Communication	110
Escape Sequences	111
Printer Commands	111
Using the Command Summary	112
Sending Printer Commands from Within Your Software Program	112
Enhancing Your Printing	112
Character Size	113
Special Effects and Emphasis	113
Selecting Typestyles with Master Select	116
Graphics	118
The Print Head	118
Dot Pattern	119
Color Graphics	119
Twenty-Four-Pin Graphics	120
Pin Labels	120
The Graphics Command	121
Column Reservation Numbers	122
A Simple Graphics Program	123
Using Hand-Calculated	123
Individual Graphics Option Commands	127
The Reassigning Command	127
User-Defined Characters	128
Designing Your Characters	128
Design Grids	129
Data Numbers	131
Sending Information to Your Printer	132
Printing User-Defined Characters	134
Copying ROM Characters to RAM	135
Letter Quality Characters	135
Proportional Mode Characters	136
Superscripts and Subscripts	136
Mixing Print Styles	137
CHAP 5-MAINTENANCE AND TRANSPORTATION	139
Cleaning the Printer	140
Replacing the Ribbon	141
Transporting the Printer	145
CHAP 6-TROUBLESHOOTING	148
Troubleshooting	149
Problems and Solutions	149
The Printer Does Not Print	149
The Printer Stops Printing	149
The Printout is Spaced Incorrectly	150
The Printout is Faint or Uneven	150
The Printout is Not what You Expect	151
Single Sheets Do Not Feed Properly	151
Continuous Paper Does Not Feed Properly	151
Cut Sheet Feeder Does Not Load Paper Correctly	152
The Short Tear-Off Feature Does Not Work Properly	152
Color Printing Is Not What You Expect	152
Data Dump Mode	153
CHAP 7-USING PRINTER OPTIONS	154
The Cut Sheet Feeder	155
Installation	155
Loading Paper	159
Testing the Printer In The Cut Sheet Feeder Mode	162
Loading Envelopes	164
Using the Cut Sheet Feeder	166
Switching between the Cut Sheet Feeder and Continuous Paper	170
Loading Single Sheets	171
Removing The Cut Sheet Feeder	173
The Pull Tractor	174
Installation	174
Loading Paper	177
Removing the Pull Tractor	184
Interface Boards	186
Choosing an Interface	186
Compatible Interfaces	186
Installing the Interface Board	187
The Multi-Font Module	198
Installation	198
Selecting a Font	200
CHAP 8-COMMAND SUMMARY	201
Commands in Numerical Order	205
Commands Arranged by Topic	208
Printer Operation	208
MSB Control	211
Data Control	212
Vertical Motion	213
Horizontal Motion	218
Overall Printing Style	221
Print Size and Character Width	223
Print Enhancement	227
Word Processing	230
Character Tables	231
User Defined Characters	232
Graphics	234
APPENDIX A-TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS	237
Printer Specifications	238
Double-Bin Cut Sheet Feeder (Optional)	242
Interface Specifications	245
Initialization	249
Default Settings	250
GLOSSARY	259

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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

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

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

commands that your printer recognizes are listed in the Command

Summary in Chapter 8 and on the Quick Reference card at the back of

this manual.

4-6

Using Software and Graphics