Printronix P3000 Series manual Chapter Programming, Overstrike/Overlay Mode

CHAPTER 6

PROGRAMMING

Introduction

You can configure the printer from the control panel to respond to control codes in one of two standard protocols: Printronix P–Series or Serial Matrix. If equipped with the Intelligent Graphics Processor (IGP) option, the printer responds to the Special Function Control Character and IGP commands as described in the IGP User’s Reference Manual. This programming chapter describes:

• Overstrike/Overlay Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6–1

• Control Code Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6–2

• Special Function Control Code Header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6–2

• Attribute Set and Reset Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6–3

• Control Code Reference Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6–4

• Individual Control Code Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6–7

Overstrike/Overlay Mode

You can underline or overstrike data in the print buffer when the carriage return code (hex 0D) is con- figured for carriage return only (not carriage return and line feed). Any printable characters in the data stream can overstrike printable characters or spaces already loaded in the print buffer as long as a paper motion command (i.e., line feed, form feed) has not been received. The printer is in the Overstrike Mode when configured from the control panel for OVERSTRIKE ENABLE. This mode causes the printer to double strike any dots following the carriage return that lay on top of dots placed before the carriage return. To make a character bold, send the character, a carriage return, and the character again.

The printer is in the Overlay Mode when configured from the control panel with OVERSTRIKE DIS- ABLE. The Overlay Mode causes dots following the carriage return to lay on top of existing data re- ceived before the carriage return. (No dots will double strike.) The Overlay Mode results in faster printing because it does not have to strike dots twice; however, the Overlay Mode does not allow char- acter bolding with the use of carriage returns. An example of overstrike/overlay and underlining char- acters is shown in Figure 6–1.

Enter in Print Buffer	Printed Result
P3000 SERIES PRINTER (CR)
SS/// (CR)
_____ (LF)	P3000/// SERIES PRINTER
S = Space (20 Hex)	CR = Carriage Return (0D Hex)*
LF = Line Feed (0A Hex)	_ = Underline (5F Hex)

*NOTE: The printer must be configured for CR=CR only. If configured for a carriage return and line feed on receipt of the CR code, the contents of the buffer will print.

Figure 6–1. Overstrike/Overlay and Underline Examples

Programming 6–1