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5.1.3 Mapping of Print Data in the Print Area
Print data is mapped in the print area as follows:
(1) The print area is set by ESC W. When the printer has finished all of the print and paper feed actions specified
before receiving an ESC W, the ESC W sets the right end (as viewed facing the printer) as the start point (x0,
y0) of the print area. The print area is a rectangle defined by two edges extending from the start point (x0, y0):
one edge running in the “x” (Horizontal) direction by “dx” pitch (inclusive of the start point), and the other
running in the “y” (Vertical) direction by “dy” pitch. (If no ESC W is defined, the default values are used to
define the print area.)
(2) With a print area defined by ESC W and a print direction specified by ESC T, when the printer receives print
data, the print data is mapped in the print area where point A (see the Figure 4-1 “Mapping Position for
Character Data”) is used as the initial value of the start point. If the print data consists of characters, this start
point serves as the baseline.
If the print data is a downloaded bitmap image or a bar code, the print data is mapped with its lower-left point
B aligned to the baseline. (See the Figure 4-2 “Mapping Positions for Print Data”.) When attempting to map the
HRI characters of a bar code, however, the section above the standard character height will not be printed.
(3) If print data (or the space to the right of a character) extends beyond the print area before a command that
involves a line feed (for example, LF or ESC J command) is received, a line feed is automatically executed in the
print area, so that the mapping position of the print data is moved one line. The next mapping position will be
the beginning of the line. In this case, the line feed width is as defined by a command such as ESC 2 or ESC 3.
(4) By default, the line feed width is 1/6 inch, which is equ ivalent to 34 dots. If the print data for the next line
includes a vertically doubled or taller character, a downloaded bitmap image extending two or more lines, or a
bar code taller than the character height, the data, therefore, falls short of the line feed width, causing the
upper dots of the character to overlap the print data of the current line. The line feed width needs to be
increased.