Using PCL Printer Commands

Escape Character

Printer commands always begin with the escape character (?). The following table shows how the escape character can be entered from various software applications.

DOS Software Package

Entry

What Appears

 

 

 

Lotus 1-2-3 and

Type \027

027

Symphony

 

 

 

 

 

Microsoft Word for DOS

Hold down [Alt] and type 027 on the numeric keypad

←

 

 

 

WordPerfect for DOS

Type <27>

<27>

 

 

 

MS-DOS Editor

Hold down [CTRL] [P] then [Esc]

←

 

 

 

MS-DOS Edlin

Hold down [CTRL] [V] then [

^[

 

 

 

dBase

?? CHR(27)+"command"

?? CHR(27)+" “

 

 

 

PCL Font Selection

PCL printer commands for selecting fonts can be found on the PCL Font List (see page 2-9 to print a PCL Font List). 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 following table (see next page). Order the PCL/PJL Technical Reference Package if you require symbol set charts or want more information (see page 2-20 for ordering information).

Printer PCL E Commands

EN

PCL Printer Commands E-3