5–11Vertical Format Units
Vertical Tab Positions
Vertical tab positions are assigned to a line number. A maximum of 16 vertical tab positions can be
assigned
on the form. A sample format is shown in Figure 5–1. The first vertical tab is assigned line
6
for part number data, a second tab is assigned line 8 for part name data, and a third tab is
assigned
line
14 for quantity data.
The
ESC B code is used to assign the vertical tabs to the lines of the form. Once the tab positions
are
assigned, sending the vertical tab execute code (VT) causes the paper (currently at the top–of–form
position)
to advance to the first tab position for P
AR
T NUMBER data. Sending another VT moves the
paper
to the
second tab position for P
AR
T NAME, followed by a third VT to access the third tab posi
-
tion for QUANTITY data.
PART
NUMBER
PART
NAME
QUANTITY
Vertical Tabs
T
ab 1
Form Data
T
ab 2
Form Line Number
T
ab 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Top of Form
20
Figure 5–1. Sample Serial Matrix V
ertical T
ab Positions
Executing Vertical Tabs
The
vertical tab execute code
is VT
. When sent, it prints the contents of the print buf
fer (if data is in the
buffer)
and causes paper movement to the next predefined vertical tab
position. If a tab position is not
defined,
the paper is moved to the next line at the current line spacing. If a tab position is at the current
line,
the paper is moved to the next tab position. If no tab
positions are defined between the current line
and the end of the form, the paper moves to the next top–of–form.