Printek 4500, 4503, FormsPro 4300 operation manual Handling Paper Errors With Page Reprint Enabled

Using Special Features

Page size is set in increments of 256 characters. Ideally, the specified page size should be as large as the largest page to be printed on any form. This includes non-printing characters such as spaces, tabs, carriage returns, and line feeds. If the page size is not set large enough, it will not be possible to reprint the page. If the size is large enough, the message “Reprinting Page!” will be displayed after paper is loaded and the printer is placed back on-line. If the size is not large enough, the printer will display “Cannot Reprint!” and will continue printing just as though the reprint option is not enabled.

The buffer space for the page reprint is taken from the I/O buffer, so do not set the page size unnecessarily large. The standard buffer size is 4096 characters. A buffer expansion option is available which will increase the I/O buffer to a total of 28672 characters. At least 512 characters must be left allocated to the I/O buffer when you set the page size. Maximum page sizes are 3584 characters and 28160 characters. The buffer expansion option is recommended if page reprint is to be used, since it will allow a larger page size and still retain a reasonable I/O buffer size.

Handling Paper Errors With Page Reprint Enabled

When a paper error occurs during printing, just load more paper and place the printer back on line. The printer will sound the bell and display “Reprinting Page!”. Place the printer back on-line and the printer will print the current form in its entirety and continue printing subsequent pages.

Another feature of Page Reprint is the ability to save a form if printing begins and the wrong form was accidentally selected. If this occurs, quickly take the printer off-line before the first page finishes printing. Do not press FORM FEED. Pressing FORM FEED will cause the current page to be “completed”, which will remove it from the reprint buffer and cause that much of the form to be lost. Instead, unload the form and load the correct form. The bell will beep and “Reprinting Page!” will be displayed. Place the printer on-line to reprint the first page and continue printing subsequent pages.

Using Escape Sequences With Page Reprint Enabled

To reprint a page, the printer performs a carriage return at the top of the newly loaded form, and then reprocesses all data received for the incomplete page. If escape sequences have been used in the partially printed page, the printer may be left in a different state than when the page began printing originally.

Escape sequences may be used successfully with page reprint, if you are careful. At the beginning of each page, escape sequences should be sent to reset any default attributes that may have changed. This will insure that reprinted pages look the same as they would have on the first printing. For example, assume that the printer is set for normal print. Part way through the page, an escape sequence is used to select bold print. If it is necessary to reprint the page at this point, the beginning of the page will be reprinted in bold because bold was never turned off. The problem may be avoided by sending an escape sequence to turn bold off at the beginning of the page (even though it is already off under normal circumstances).

For more information on using escape sequences, refer to the FormsPro 4000 Series Programmer's Manual.

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