chapter 5

DOWNLOAD CHARACTERS

Withthisprinteryoucancreatenewcharactersandsymbols,downloadtheir
dotdata, andhavethem printedin placeof selectedcharactersin theregu-
lar characterset. Charactersthatcan be generatedin this way range from
simplebutusefulsymbolslikethecheck markthroughcomplexChineseor
Japanesecharacters.
Regular characters are permanentlystored in the printer’s ROM, but
charactersyoudesign aredownloadedandstored inRAM for use.

DESIGNING YOUR OWN DRAFT CHARACTERS

Designingand printingyour own charactemhas two requirements:first,
designingtheshapeofthe character,calculatingthedatanecessaryto make
the shape,and sendingthat data to the printer,and secondly,sendingthe
commandtoprintthe downloadedcharactersinsteadoftheregularcharac-
ters.There are anumberof design constraintsfordownload draftquality
characters:
●The matrix orgrid on whichyoudesign thecharactersis six boxeswide
bynine boxeshigh.
●Horizontally,dotsmaybecenteredinabox,ormaystraddlealine, making
he actualcharactergrid11dots wideby 9dotshigh.Vertically,dotscan
onlybe centeredin abox. SeeFigure 5-1.
Figure5-1. Ootscan be inside boxes or straddle the vertitil lines of the grid 81