Compaq P5000 Series setup guide Protocols and Emulations, Graphics and Vertical Formatting

Chapter 1 The P5000 series with DEC LG Emulation

Graphics and Vertical Formatting

Several graphics and vertical formatting features are available:

•Four built-in graphics generators:

1)IBM Proprinter III XL bit-image graphics

2)Epson FX dot graphics mode

3)P-Series Plot

4)LG Sixel Graphics

•Programmable electronic vertical formatting provides rapid vertical paper movement to specified lines for printing repetitive and continuous forms. You can choose from the following methods:

1)Vertical tabbing in Proprinter III XL and Epson FX emulation modes

2)Electronic Vertical Format Unit (EVFU) in P-Series emulation mode

3)Centronics Vertical Format Unit (CVFU) in P-Series

4)Dataproducts Vertical Format Unit (DVFU) in P-Series

Built-in Diagnostic Tools

The following diagnostic tools are provided with the printer:

•Comprehensive diagnostic self-tests permanently stored in the printer

•Configuration printout

•Data stream hex code printout

Protocols and Emulations

A protocol is a set of rules governing the exchange of information between the printer and its host computer. These rules consist of codes that manipulate and print data and allow for machine-to-machine communication. A printer and its host computer must use the same protocol. As used in this manual, protocol and emulation mean the same thing.

Most impact printers use single ASCII character codes to print text, numbers, and punctuation marks. Some characters, both singularly and in groups of two or more, are defined as control codes. Control codes instruct the printer to perform specific functions, such as underlining text, printing subscripts, setting page margins, etc. The main difference between most printer protocols is in the characters used to create control codes and the ways in which these characters are formatted.

When the printer executes the character and control codes of a particular printer protocol, it is “emulating” that printer. For example, if the printer uses the Proprinter III XL protocol, it is emulating an IBM Proprinter III XL printer. If the printer is using the Epson FX printer protocol, it is in Epson FX emulation mode.

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