Selecting PCL Fonts

PCL printer commands for selecting fonts can be found on the PCL Font List which can be printed from the HP LaserJet Device Configuration (Windows) or the HP LaserJet utility (Macintosh). A sample section is shown below. Notice the two variable boxes for symbol set and point size:

 

These variables must be filled in or the printer will use defaults. For

 

example, if you want a symbol set that contains line-draw characters,

 

select the 10U (PC-8) or 12U (PC-850) symbol set. Other common

 

symbol set codes are listed in the Common PCL Printer Commands

 

table.

 

 

Note

Fonts are either “fixed” or “proportional” in spacing. The printer contains

 

both fixed fonts (Courier, Letter Gothic, and Lineprinter) and

 

proportional fonts (CG Times, Arial, Times New Roman, and others).

 

Fixed-spaced fonts are generally used in applications such as

 

spreadsheets and databases, where it is important for columns to line

 

up vertically. Proportional-spaced fonts are generally used in text and

 

word processing applications.

Common PCL Printer Commands

Function

Command Options (#)

 

 

 

Job Control Commands

 

 

Reset

?E

n/a

Number of Copies

?&l #X

1 to 999

 

 

 

EN

Appendix D Printer Commands 155