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7.5 Using PostScript Operators to Change Trays

With the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS software, you can print ANSI documents that were created for printing on media from a specific input tray.

The DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS software recognizes escape sequences in ANSI files that select the printer input tray. If you print an ANSI file that is set up to select an input tray that does not exist on your printer, the print job fails and you receive the following error message:


%DCPS-W-RANGECHK, rangecheck: Argument out of bounds - 
offending command is setpapertray. 

If this happens, you can create a PostScript setup module to submit with the print job, and redefine the input tray settings. For example, you could create a PostScript setup module using the following PostScript operators:


/settoptray {statusdict begin 2 setpapertray end} def 
 
/setbottomtray {statusdict begin 1 setpapertray end} def 

This example selects the printer tray 2 for the top tray (settoptray), and tray 1 for the bottom tray (setbottomtray). When you create a PostScript setup module, use the operator listed in Table 7-2 that corresponds to the input tray specified in the ANSI file. Select a value for the setpapertray argument that corresponds to an input tray on your printer. Refer to your printer owner's manual for the input tray numbers supported by your printer.

Submit the setup module with your ANSI document using the PRINT command. For example, to use the setup module TRAYDEF.PS to print the file OVERHEAD.TXT, enter the following command:


$ PRINT/NOTIFY/SETUP=TRAYDEF OVERHEAD.TXT

The ANSI input tray selection sequences and the PostScript operators associated with each of them are listed in Table 7-2. The translator uses the default setpapertray value if no other value has been defined. A setup module with a different value overrides the default value.

Table 7-2 Operators for Changing Input Trays
ANSI Sequence User-Defined Operators Default setpapertray Value
CSI ! v [none] [none]
CSI 0 ! v [none] [none]
CSI 1 ! v settoptray 1
CSI 2 ! v setbottomtray 2
CSI 3 ! v setlcittray 3
CSI 4 ! v setmanualfeedtray 0
CSI 99 ! v setmanualfeedtray 0

7.6 Using ANSI Sequences to Print Duplex or Simplex

To specify one- or two-sided printing, add ANSI escape sequences to your file. The ANSI duplex sequences are listed in Table 7-3. Replace the sp value in the table with a blank character space in your ANSI file.

Table 7-3 ANSI Sequences for Printing Simplex or Duplex
ANSI Sequence Duplex Operation
CSI 0 sp x true simplex normal
CSI 1 sp x true simplex normal
CSI 2 sp x true simplex tumbled
CSI 3 sp x true duplex normal
CSI 4 sp x true duplex tumbled
CSI 5 sp x duplex master normal
CSI 6 sp x duplex master tumbled
CSI 7 sp x simplex compressed normal
CSI 8 sp x compressed tumbled

7.7 The LIST Data Type and Translator

The LIST data type feature employs a special text-to-PostScript translator (see Chapter 11). It translates 8-bit ASCII (ISO 8859-1) text to a convenient printable form, numbering the lines in the file and printing gray bars behind alternating groups of lines. The LIST translator is not an ANSI translator. It does not translate escape sequences, such as those defined by ANSI PPL3, HP-PCL, or any other printer protocol. You should continue to use the ANSI data type for printing jobs that include and require translation of DEC PPL3 data and control sequences.


Chapter 8
Printing DDIF Image Files Using the Image Interpreter

DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS software replaces DEC Image Print-PLUS Client Services, ¹ and allows you to print DDIF bitonal image files on the PrintServer 17, turbo PrintServer 20, and PrintServer 32 printers using the Image interpreter.

Note

The Image interpreter is not used if PostScript Level 2 is present.

If your print job includes one of the following parameters, the Image interpreter is not used to print the document:


/PARAMETERS=LAYUP_DEFINITION 
/PARAMETERS=NUMBER_UP 

Instead, the file is translated to PostScript for printing to provide the feature specified by the parameter value.

Image printing requires the DCPS-Plus license.

Note

¹ The product, versions 1.1 and later, is incompatible with all versions of DEC Image Print-PLUS Client Services.

8.1 Improvements to Image Printing

Two factors make printing images a relatively slow process in a standard network environment:

  1. Because a PrintServer printer in a standard environment handles only PostScript files, the files must be converted to PostScript format at the user's node, and then processed at the PrintServer printer by the PostScript interpreter software.
  2. Because PostScript Level 1 image files are large, it is time-consuming to send them across the network to the printer.

The DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS software provides faster image printing capability because it:

8.2 Examples of Printing Image Files

The following print command sends the files directly to the printer for printing:


$ PRINT/QUEUE=queue/NOTIFY file.DDIF

The following print command translates the file to PostScript for printing:


$ PRINT/QUEUE=queue/NOTIFY/PARAMETERS=NUMBER_UP=1 file.DDIF


Chapter 9
Printing PCL Files

9.1 How PCL Files Are Printed

PCL files are printed in either of two ways:

  1. PCL Translator
    DCPS--Plus includes a translator for files containing PCL4 data, as supported by the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet IID printer. DCPS does not translate the PCL5, PCL6, or HPGL printing languages. If the DECprint Supervisor software does not automatically detect your PCL files, you can explicitly specify the PCL data type using the DATA_TYPE parameter. For example:


    $ PRINT/PARAMETERS=DATA_TYPE=PCL MYFILE.PRN
    

  2. Native PCL Mode
    Some PostScript printers have a PCL mode that can be used by the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS software. Your job is automatically printed in PCL mode if the printer supports PCL and you do not specify parameters that require translation of your file to PostScript. This is referred to as "native PCL" mode.
    If your printer provides native PCL5 support, you can send HPGL files to your printer if they are surrounded by the appropriate PCL5 escape sequence.
    The DCPS--Plus license is not required for printing PCL files this way.

Figure 9-1 shows how DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS software processes PCL files.

Figure 9-1 How DCPS Processes PCL Files


9.2 Processing Files in Native PCL Mode

To take advantage of native PCL mode without jeopardizing any of its own functions, the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS software does the following:

  1. Prints the initial information about the print job (including the job and file flag pages) in PostScript mode.
  2. Sends a control sequence to the printer that changes the printer to PCL mode.
  3. Sends the PCL file directly to the printer and prints it.
  4. Switches the printer back to PostScript mode and prints the trailer page, if any.

You can include both PostScript and PCL setup modules with your print job, but the effects may vary from what you would get with a translated print job. Most of the settings in a PostScript setup module do not affect PCL printing. The settings in a PCL setup module affect the printed output as if they were included in the print job file.

Setup modules can be invoked explicitly by using /SETUP, or implicitly by using /FORM or queue defaults.

9.2.1 Printers Supported in Native PCL Mode

The following printers are among those supported in native PCL mode:

Refer to the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS SPD for a complete list of the printers that are supported in native PCL mode.

9.2.2 PRINT Parameters that Prevent Native PCL Usage

If you are printing a PCL file on a printer supported in native PCL mode, your file is sent directly to the printer unless the print job requires special PostScript processing. You cannot print PCL files directly to the printer in native PCL mode if your print job includes one or more of the following PRINT parameters:

Note

¹ Supported when the printer is in autosensing mode

² Supported when the printer is in PostScript mode

9.3 Processing Files with the PCL Translator

You can emulate the front panel settings of the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet printer, using the following methods:

9.3.1 Using Print Parameters to Modify PCL Print Jobs

Table 9-1 shows the PRINT parameters you can use to modify PCL print jobs.

Table 9-1 PRINT Parameters that Emulate PCL Front Panel Settings
LaserJet IID Front Panel Selection PRINT Parameter Reference
#copies /PARAMETERS=SHEET_COUNT Section 2.5
duplex /PARAMETERS=SIDES¹ Section 2.3
orientation /PARAMETERS=PAGE_ORIENTATION¹ Section 2.4
tray selection /PARAMETERS=INPUT_TRAY Section 5.1
paper size /PARAMETERS=SHEET_SIZE Section 12.4
manual feed /PARAMETERS=INPUT_TRAY Section 5.1


¹Instructions in the data file can override this PRINT parameter.

9.3.1.1 Using the PAGE_SIZE Parameter

You can select the page size with the PAGE_SIZE parameter. The following page sizes are supported for PCL files:

If you specify an unsupported page size, the PCL translator selects a supported size that is closest to the size you specified.

Note

Page size commands in the PCL file override the page size you specify in the PRINT parameter. You can create a PostScript setup module to be applied to the translated file that redefines the page size operators so that they are ignored when the file is printed. See Section 9.3.3 for information on creating setup modules.

9.3.1.2 Print Parameters Ignored for Native PCL

DCPS ignores the following print parameters when printing PCL files using the native PCL capability of a supported printer:

In these cases the default setting of the printer takes effect. You can manipulate PCL printer tray selection by inserting appropriate PCL escape sequences in the print file or in setup modules.

Alternatively, you can have these parameters affect your job by forcing translation to PostScript on the host. To force translation, use a DCPS feature that forces translation such as PAGE_LIMIT or NUMBER_UP.

9.3.2 Using Escape Sequences to Modify PCL Print Jobs

The format of the front panel mode escape sequence is:

Escape Sequence Format


ESC     !     `     value     P    

Decimal Values


027     033   096             080 

Note

This format shows spaces between the elements of the command for clarity. Do not include spaces in your actual command.

Specify front panel settings by following these steps:

  1. Enable front panel mode by specifying the Front Panel Mode escape sequence with 1 for value.
  2. Enter the PCL escape sequence to set the print attribute.
  3. Disable front panel mode by specifying the Front Panel Mode escape sequence with 0 for value.

Front panel mode is also disabled by the PCL reset escape sequence (ESC E).

You can include PCL escape sequences for any of the following print attributes:

PCL escape sequences allow you to specify both a primary and a secondary font. Escape sequences for both types of fonts can be included in the front panel mode escape sequence for selecting a default font.

For example, a PCL escape sequence that sets the pitch to 16.66 characters per inch (cpi) and ISO 17 Spanish symbol set is formatted as follows:


ESC ! ` 1 P ESC (s16.66H ESC (2S ESC ! ` 0 P 

Note

This format shows spaces between the elements of the command for clarity. Do not include spaces in your actual command.

This command includes escape sequences that do the following:

9.3.3 Using a Setup Module

To create a setup module, follow these steps:

  1. Create a setup module that includes the necessary escape sequences or PostScript operators.
  2. Ask your system manager to insert the setup module into a PCL device control library.
  3. Print the file, specifying the setup module and the file. For example:


    $ PRINT/QUEUE=PS$A14/PARAMETERS=DATA_TYPE=PCL/SETUP=module-name file.DAT
    

For example, the following PostScript setup module redefines the tray select escape sequence (a4tray). The PCL file contains a page size command to select A4 paper. If your printer does not support A4 paper, you must make the printing system ignore the page size command to print the file. You create a PostScript setup module that redefines the PostScript operator to select A4 paper, as follows:


statusdict begin 
/a4tray {} def 
end 

9.3.4 How the PCL Translator Differs from that in the LaserJet IID Printer

When producing a file to be printed using the PCL translator, choose the LaserJet IID printer from your application. There are incompatibilities among LaserJet printers; therefore, files created for a LaserJet model other than the LaserJet IID printer may not be printed as expected.

The PCL translator handles PCL files like the LaserJet IID printer, except in the following cases:

Documentation specifying the PCL language is available from Hewlett-Packard. The documentation specific to the LaserJet IID includes:
HP LaserJet IID Printer Technical Reference Manual HP part number 33447 90905
HP LaserJet IID Printer User's Manual HP part number 33447 90901

If the DCPS--PLUS license is installed on the system, PCL files can be automatically recognized by the DECprint Supervisor software. Files that begin with the PCL reset escape sequence (ESC E) or have a file extension identified as a PCL data type are automatically recognized as PCL files.


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