Command summaries in each emulation mode

You use software to send information and instructions to the unit over the cable that connects the unit to the computer. In addition to data, the instructions you send may include special command sequences known as control codes and ESCape sequences. These commands tell the unit such things as how many lines to skip and where to start printing.

Some control codes are standard throughout the microcomputer industry and are recognized by all printers. Two examples of these are form feed (FF) and line feed (LF).

ESCape sequences are unique to each printer emulation. ESCape sequences begin with the ESC character followed by one or more other characters.

The ESCape character tells the unit not to print the next character, but to use the information to perform a printing control task, such as printing in bold or underlining.

Application printer drivers may override the printer control codes embedded in a document. To determine if an application is overriding your commands, print the document using a generic driver and see if the correct commands are reflected in the printed copy. If they are, the application printer driver is overriding the commands.

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