SECTION 4
PROGRAMMABLE FUNCTION STRINGS
General Information
Programmable function strings (PFSs) provide a means of storing frequently used printer data and instruction strings and sending them to the printer. PFSs are used by the ALLY PLUS to implement special features found on a variety of printers. These features include bolding, underlining, overstriking, resetting the printer, etc.
The ALLY PLUS sends the appropriate PFS to the printer whenever some special formatting or control function is required. PFSs are sometimes sent to the printer automatically in response to a host command, sometimes in response to the characteristics of the data stream, and sometimes as a response to a trigger that the user has embedded in the data stream. For example, the ALLY PLUS looks up the contents of PFS %02 — Bolding On and sends it to the printer if: a) the system requests bolding; b) Option #70 is enabled and a
If the user chooses a printer type that is listed in General Configuration Option #00, the ALLY PLUS will automatically program the applicable PFSs for the selected printer (Xerox,
If the user’s printer type is not listed in Option #00, programming the PFSs is necessary to access the printer’s special functions. Refer to the printer user’s manual for a list of escape sequences that control the printer. Enter the escape sequence in the appropriate PFS number as indicated below.
The user may want to program the ALLY PLUS PFSs in a way not anticipated by AGILE. For instance, if the user’s printer can double underline, and if the user would like to use double underlining instead of single underlining, the %06 — Underlining On and %07 — Underlining Off PFSs can be replaced with the printer’s escape sequences for double underlining on and off, respectively.
