Printek FP5000 series, User Manual

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Emulations User guide
146
What are escape
sequences?
An escape sequence consists of an ESCape control character (ESC
= decimal 27 or hexadecimal 1B) followed by one or more charac-
ters, which represent commands to the printer. Please note that this
escape character has nothing to do with the ESC key on your com-
puter keyboard.
For example, the control character ESC followed by the character
“4” tells your printer to print the subsequent text in italics.
MTPL sequences
Apart from the Escape sequences and control codes your printer is
equipped with MTPL sequences. These sequences provide a large
number of additional ways to control your printer. Many functions
can only be carried out using the MTPL sequences as you will see
when you look at the list of available command codes.
Control codes
Control codes give simple instructions to the printer to do a specific
function. Unlike escape sequences, control codes do not begin with
the ESC control code. Instead, they consist of special single-charac-
ter non-printing commands (e.g. LF, FF, DC2).
The $$ procedure
Most of the printer functions can be selected with control sequences
(ESC sequences). For this purpose, the signal character ESC, fol-
lowed by the specific sequence must be transmitted from the com-
puter to the printer.
The printer replaces $$ characters in the data stream with ESC
(hex. 1B) if the parameter
Escape=ESC+$$ is selected in the printer
menu.
Example:
In the MTPL + IBM Proprinter emulation, bold print can be switched
on by the sequence <ESC>E and can be switched off with the se-
quence <ESC>F.
This procedure is significant when you are working with older
text programs that do not have any or an inadequate printer
driver. It is also possible to insert ESC sequences in normal
ASCII texts (e.g. program listings) with this procedure. The
function of the ESC character remains unaffected.
Input Highlight the word $$E Printer $$F with bold print
Output Highlight the word Printer with bold print