HP Pcl 5 Manual

ENSyntax of Escape Sequences 1-5
Syntax of Escape Sequences 
There are two forms of PCL escape sequences: two-character 
escape sequences and parameterized escape sequences.
Two-Character Escape Sequences
Two-character escape sequences have the following form:
? X
where “X” is a character that defines the operation to be performed. 
“X” may be any character from the ASCII table within the range 
48-126 decimal (“0” through “~” - see Appendix A). For a list of the 
two-character escape sequences supported...

1-6   Introduction to HP PCLEN
Parameterized Escape Sequences
Parameterized escape sequences have the following form:
?  X  y  z1  #  z2  #  z3  ...  #  Zn[data]
where y,  #, zi (z1, z2, z3...) and [data] may be optional, depending on 
the command.
XParameterized Character - A character from the 
ASCII table within the range 33-47 decimal 
(“!” through “/”) indicating that the escape sequence is 
parameterized.
yGroup Character - A character from the ASCII table 
within the range 96-126 decimal (“ ‘ ”...

ENSyntax of Escape Sequences 1-7 The following is an example of an escape sequence with a 
termination character and no parameter character. This escape 
sequence performs a single function.
NotesSome escape sequences shown in this manual contain spaces 
between characters for clarity. Do not include these spaces when 
using escape sequences.
Also, in the escape sequence a script “
l” is used to indicate a lower 
case “l” for clarity. 
The following is an example of an escape sequence with a parameter...

1-8   Introduction to HP PCLEN
Use these three rules to combine and shorten printer commands:
1The first two characters after “?” (the parameterized and group 
character) must be the same in all of the commands to be 
combined. In the example above, these are “
&” and “l”.
2All alphabetic characters within the combined printer command 
are lower-case, except the final letter which is always upper-case. 
In the combined example above, “O” becomes “o”. The final 
character in the printer command must...

ENIntroduction 2-1
2
The Page 
Introduction
This chapter describes the PCL coordinate system. It defines 
the logical page and the printable area; it introduces the HP-GL/2 
(vector graphics) picture frame, and identifies the boundaries of each. 

2-2   The PageEN
Logical Page 
The PCL logical page (also referred to as the PCL addressable area) 
defines the area in which the PCL cursor can be positioned. Although 
the printer does not actually have a cursor (like the blinking underline 
character used on most computer terminals), the cursor position 
refers to the Currently Active Position of the cursor (also referred to as 
the CAP). The location of the “cursor” is the position on the logical 
page where the next character will be positioned. The...

ENPrinted Dots 2-3
Printed Dots 
The high quality output achieved by HP LaserJet printers is due in 
part to the ability to lay down a fine grid of “dots” on the page. The 
density of this grid is referred to as the printer’s resolution. From  
the first HP LaserJet (the “LaserJet Classic”) until recently, all 
HP LaserJet family printers printed at a resolution of 300 
dots-per-inch. In a one inch square, the printer could print a dot 
anywhere in a grid of up to 300 dots horizontally by 300 dots...

2-4   The PageEN
PCL Coordinate System 
The PCL coordinate system is defined as shown in Figure 2-2. 
Figure 2-2 X,Y PCL Coordinates 
The point (0,0) is at the intersection of the left edge of the logical page 
and the current top margin position. 
NoteSince the point (0,0) is always at the intersection of the left edge of 
the logical page and the current top margin position, it moves if the 
top margin is changed, and rotates around the page if the orientation 
is changed.  

ENUnits of the PCL Coordinate System 2-5
Units of the PCL Coordinate System 
The units of the X-axis of the PCL coordinate system may be PCL 
Units, decipoints, or columns. The units of the Y-axis may be PCL 
Units, decipoints, or rows.
PCL Units 
These are user-definable units of measure which are used in PCL 
commands affecting various PCL cursor moves. The number of 
units-per-inch used in PCL cursor moves is determined by the current 
setting of the Unit of Measure command (see “Unit of Measure...

2-6   The PageEN
HP-GL/2 Picture Frame 
In addition to text and raster graphics, HP-GL/2 vector graphics 
can be placed on the PCL logical page. HP-GL/2 vector graphics 
are incorporated using the concept of the HP-GL/2 picture frame 
(see Figure 2-3). Within this picture frame, HP-GL/2 uses its own 
coordinate system and units of measure. The HP-GL/2 coordinate 
system and units are described in detail in Chapter 17, An 
Introduction to HP-GL/2 Vector Graphics, and Chapter 18, The 
Picture Frame.
NoteIf...