The next illustration shows how to use this method to calculate the data numbers for the example character. On the left side of the figure the data numbers are calculated for the middle column. The value of each byte is calculated by adding the values of the rows where dots appear. The right side of the figure shows the whole character with the three data numbers for each column indicated at the bottom.
This manual uses decimal numbers because the example programs in this manual are written in BASIC and everyone is familiar with decimals. The data you send to the LQ, however, can be in any form (binary, decimal, hexadecimal) that you can use with your programming language.
You’ve seen how to design a character by placing dots on a grid and translating the dots to decimal equivalents. The last step in defining a character is to send this information to the printer.