Printronix ThermaLine Series manual Setting Left Margins

Setting Left Margins

Using dot values to identify maximum horizontal print positions, the page boundary parameters of an 8±1/2±inch wide form (85 character columns) has 510 dot columns and n/60±inch horizontally (60 dpi X 8.5 inches). (See Figure C±1.) Setting a Left Margin value repositions the Starting Column 1 position by the degree of offset required. This offset can be a 0, a positive, or negative value. The following examples explain how setting the Left Margin affects printed output:

No Left Margin Setting ± When the Left Margin configuration setting is 0 on an 8±1/2±inch form, the Starting Column is 1, and the Ending Column is 511 (Figure C±2, A and B, respectively).

Positive Left Margin Setting ± When the Left Margin setting is 20 on an 8±1/2±inch form, the left margin is offset by 20 dots, and that 20th dot position becomes Starting Column 1 in IGP/PGL memory (A, Figure C±3). This 20 dots also offsets the Ending Column by 20 dots, thus narrowing the maximum print width on the form from 511 to 491 dots (B, Figure C±3).

Negative Left Margin Setting ± With a Left Margin setting of ±20 on an 8±1/2±inch form, the left margin is offset ±20 dots, and that ±20 becomes the Starting Column 1 in IGP/PGL memory (A, Figure C±4). This ±20 offset appears to expand the horizontal printable area to 531 dots (B, Figure C±4); however, the expanded area is actually beyond the addressable range of the 8±1/2±inch±wide form containing the ±20 offset position and is, therefore, not accessible. Column 21 is the left±most addressable area on the page.

NOTE: Negative Left Margin configuration is a method of offsetting and printing an existing IGP/PGL file which may otherwise require modification in order to orient the output on the page properly. Use this option if your IGP/PGL file was written for applications where the leftmost printable area is not designated as the first printable character column on the form.

Page Boundaries C±5