OKI ML3390 01091308*01256402 User Manual
Product codes
01091308*01256402
Chapter 5: Printer Control
5-3
Characters and control characters
The print data is transmitted by character. Every character is repre-
sented by 8 bits and thus expresses a certain position within the
character set currently selected.
sented by 8 bits and thus expresses a certain position within the
character set currently selected.
Most character sets are based on ASCII code (American Standard Code
for Information Interchange).
for Information Interchange).
There are different national variations for this character set. The so-
called control characters are common to all the character sets. These
are to be found at decimal positions 0 to 31 and effect functions such
as page feed, line feed or carriage return. Some of these control char-
acters modify character widths and are described in the appropriate
chapters.
called control characters are common to all the character sets. These
are to be found at decimal positions 0 to 31 and effect functions such
as page feed, line feed or carriage return. Some of these control char-
acters modify character widths and are described in the appropriate
chapters.
The so-called Escape character has a special significance among the
control characters and is located at decimal position 27 (hexadecimal
1B). This control character introduces most commands for printers.
One or more ASCII characters follow which in conjunction with the
Escape character activate or deactivate print functions. At positions
32 to 255 are normally to be found printable characters. It is often
possible to obtain special printable characters at the positions of the
control characters by triggering them with an appropriate com-
mand.
control characters and is located at decimal position 27 (hexadecimal
1B). This control character introduces most commands for printers.
One or more ASCII characters follow which in conjunction with the
Escape character activate or deactivate print functions. At positions
32 to 255 are normally to be found printable characters. It is often
possible to obtain special printable characters at the positions of the
control characters by triggering them with an appropriate com-
mand.
The commands are listed in ASCII, decimal and hexadecimal form.
If you are using a programming language, refer to your program-
ming manual for the transfer of characters and control characters to
the printer.
If you are using a programming language, refer to your program-
ming manual for the transfer of characters and control characters to
the printer.
Printing under DOS
Most IBM PC and compatible PCs use MS-DOS, PC-DOS, DR-DOS
or similar as the operating system. Although DOS has no print func-
tions, like a text processing or graphics program, direct printing of
ASCII or print files is nevertheless possible under DOS. In the exam-
ples listed below, it is assumed that the printer is connected to paral-
lel interface LPT1 of the PC. If a different interface to LPT1 is used
(e.g. LPT2, LPT3, COM1, COM2), the address in the examples must
be correspondingly altered. Further details on the serial interface are
to be found later in the manual.
or similar as the operating system. Although DOS has no print func-
tions, like a text processing or graphics program, direct printing of
ASCII or print files is nevertheless possible under DOS. In the exam-
ples listed below, it is assumed that the printer is connected to paral-
lel interface LPT1 of the PC. If a different interface to LPT1 is used
(e.g. LPT2, LPT3, COM1, COM2), the address in the examples must
be correspondingly altered. Further details on the serial interface are
to be found later in the manual.