Line Up the Job on the Page
8-3
Local Margins
It is a good idea to set a right margin equal to the form width, since it is not desirable to print
off the right-hand edge of the paper.
All of the emulations have control sequences to set both horizontal and vertical margins, but
very few printer drivers use them. Typically, an application assumes that no margins are set at
the printer and sends spaces and line feeds to create the horizontal and vertical margins
specified. Some applications clear all printer margins before sending any printable data.
If a margin is desired and it can be set from the application or driver, set it from the application
or driver. If either horizontal or vertical margins are set locally to position a job on the page or
to skip over perforations, they may work with one application and not with the next.
Top Print Reference or Top Margin
The selection of a top print reference or a top margin depends upon the methods that the
application uses for paper movement. A top print reference is used when printing needs to
start in a different location than where the paper is initially loaded. A top margin also adds
space to the top of a print job, but it may have a different effect, depending upon the method
used for moving paper to the top of the next form.
Many applications do not send form feeds to move from one form or page to the next.
Instead, they send enough line feeds to get from the last printed line on one form to the first
printed line on the next.
If a top margin is set and the application is sending
form feeds
to move from one form to the
next, the top margin will work as expected. If the application is sending
line feeds
to move
from one form to the next, the top margin will accumulate. The first printed line on each
successive form will move down the page by the amount of the top margin.
The Top Print Reference mimics using the up and down arrows (an unregistered move) to
distinguish between the physical top of the paper or form and where print should actually
begin. The Top Margin denotes an position above which the printer should not print. As long
as Form Feed commands are used, both methods work equally.
Another note: Vertical tabs are executed relative to the top margin.
To summarize, a top margin adds blank space beyond what is sent by the host. A top print
reference, on the other hand, adds no blank space but simply moves printing down on the
form.
Negative Top of Form Adjust
There are instances when a user may want to actually back up paper to a point higher on the
form than the actual top of form. There are customers that have changed the physical
appearance or arrangement of a pre-printed form, tried to use the same software, and been
frustrated by the condition of the printer starting to print too far down the form. In those cases,
setting a Negative Top of Form reference in the printer has ensured the proper relationship
between the new form and the original software.
This feature is available from the Control Panel LCD menu under the Utility heading. The
value entered represents the number of 1/72 inch increments for Negative Top of Form. The
maximum allowed is 36, equaling ½ inch offset.
