Multi-Copy Forms

The one major argument for impact type printers over laser printers is the multi-part or multi-copy form. While in some cases the use of these older printers is warranted, most applications where four or fewer copies are required may be implemented more effectively on a laser printer. Multiple part forms are simulated on a laser printer by printing several copies of the data with the same or different forms on single sheets of paper. There are two different ways of setting it up.

When each form part is the same

Send the PCL command to set the number of copies to the number of form parts. This command is ^es_c&l#X.

Send the form call and the data as with any other forms application.

When each part is a different form

Record the printed data. Send the PCL command to select any unused form number. For example, if no other form uses the number 5, the command would be ^es_c&f5Y. Send the PCL command ^es_c&f0X to begin recording data. After this command is sent to the printer, all further commands will be recorded but will have no effect until they are played back.

Send the print data from the application program. Nothing will print at this point. The command will be recorded under the selected macro number.

Stop recording. (Send the PCL command ^es_c&f1X.)

Play back the recorded data. (Send ^es_c&f5Y ^es_c&f2X.)

Overlay a form. (Send ^es_c&f#Y^es_c&f4X.)

Eject the page. (Send the Form Feed command.)

Repeat the previous three steps for each copy of the form, substituting each different form number as needed.

Delete the recorded data. (Send the command ^es_c&f5Y^es_c&f8X.)

Interested:

Questions:

• lhoward3@csc.com asks:

  How can get information to convert PCL string fron Eicon Gateway 27,&,l,49,48,49,A,27,(,s,1,p,1,2,v,0,s,0,b,1,6,9,0,1,T,27,&,a,4,8,L,27,&,l,3,E,27,(,s,1,S,27,&,l,6,D,27,&,l,51,53,F to HP 8000 PCL string.

  Eicon Gateway is showing you each character of the string seperated by period, and if there are two or more characters, then the value shown is the decimal ASCII value of the actual single character. For example, the 49 after 27,&,l is actually the number 1 because the ASCII code for the number 1 is 49. See and ASCII table for all the ASCII codes.

  The 27 refers to the ASCII escape character which is not a printable symbole. The keystrokes you can use to enter the escape character will be different depending on the program you are using to enter the string. See list of known environments for some common examples.

  The PCL described by your string is:

  &l101A(s1p12v0s0b16901T&a48L&l3E(s1S&l6D&l35F

  and does the following:

  [ ESC & l 101 A ]     Paper size : Custom Page Size
  [ ESC ( s 1 p ]       Proportional spacing
  [ ESC ( s 12 v ]      Primary Height : 12.00
  [ ESC ( s 0 s ]       Primary Font style : Upright
  [ ESC ( s 0 b ]       Primary stroke weight : Medium, Book or Text
  [ ESC ( s 16901 T ]   Primary Typeface : Times New
  [ ESC & a 48 L ]      Left margin at column 48
  [ ESC & l 3 E ]       Top margin : 3 lines
  [ ESC ( s 1 S ]       Primary Font style : Italic
  [ ESC & l 6 D ]       6 Lines per inch
  [ ESC & l 35 F ]      Text length : 35 lines