Using the Command Summary

The commands listed in the Command Summary in Chapter 8 consist of various combinations of ASCII codes. You can use either the ASCII characters or their decimal or hexadecimal equivalents. For example, the command to turn on subscript is ESC S1 in ASCII characters. The decimal format for this command is 27 83 01, and the hexadecimal format is 1B 53 01.

In the Command Summary, commands are grouped by the printer functions they control, such as character pitch, print enhancement, and graphics. You can also look up commands in the list of software commands in numerical order at the beginning of the Command Summary. This list gives you page number references for the commands.

Some commands include a variable, such as the letter n. For example, the command for selecting or cancelling double-high mode is ESC w n. When n = 1, double-high mode is turned on, and when n = 0, it is turned off. In the Command Summary, variables are printed in italics to distinguish them from ASCII characters.

Sending printer commands from within your software program

How you format commands depends on the software program you are using. Some software programs accept only the decimal format, while others require certain punctuation. Some programs don’t let you insert printer commands at all.

If your software does allow you to send commands to the printer, use the Command Summary to find the command you want to send. Your software manual should explain exactly what format and punctuation are required.

Enhancing Your Printing

You can obtain a wide variety of printing effects with the LQ-2550, from changing the number of characters printed per inch to using special effects or adding color to selected words and phrases. This section gives you a sampling of the features you may want to select with your software.

Using Software and Graphics

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