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CHAPTER 7: Advanced Features
7.7 The Graphics Language in Action
7.7.1 G
ENERAL
S
TEPS
The HPIISi Twinax Card’s graphics language can be used in many different
ways. It can enhance the appearance of standard host reports with a few
simple graphical elements such as lines, boxes, and circles; or it can be
used to present pertinent data through charts. The GL can even be used
to create sophisticated electronic forms. Whatever you want to do with it,
programming with GL follows the same general steps:
1.
Determine which GL elements are needed to create the desired
output. (For example, the bar chart shown in Figure 7-18 uses four
different GL elements.)
2.
Determine the printable area of the page.
3.
Determine the positioning of the graphical elements relative to the
top left-hand corner of the printable area.
4.
PCL color printer only: Determine the order in which to print the
graphical elements. The lines of the last GL element will overlap
(and cover) the previous GL elements.
5.
Design the graphical output, one element at a time.
6.
Link the graphical output to your host application.
