LaserWriters: Differences in HP Emulation (8/93)

Article Created: 31 August 1993


1) Is there a list of PCL 4+ (Printer Control Language) commands supported
by the LaserWriter IIg?

2) I would like to find out the differences between HP LaserJet emulation
(PCL 4+) on Apple's LaserWriter printers, and the HP LaserJet IIP
printer.


1) With regard to the list of PCL 4+ commands supported by the LaserWriter
IIg, we don't believe that such a list is available. However, as stated
in Chapter 3 of the LaserWriter Reference (Addison-Wesley #ISBN
0-201-19258-6),

"With a few exceptions, the LaserJet+ emulator supports the entire set of
escape sequences for both the LaserJet and the LaserJet+. This set
includes the positioning commands, font-selection commands, and
bit-mapped graphics with no limitation on areas covered by bit maps, as
well as the rules, macros, overlays, and downloadable fonts."

2) The LaserWriter Reference has a total of about 11 pages that provide
specifics on the HP LaserJet+ emulator (PCL 4+).

Appendix D in the LaserWriter IIf and IIg Owner's Guide provides
some in-depth information on HP LaserJet+ emulation. The
most important section are below:

The LaserJet IIP emulator contained in the LaserWriter allows you to
print just about anything you can print on the LaserJet IIP, with these
differences:

* The LaserJet IIP omits characters that overlap the left margin of the
paper, but the emulator prints the portion of the character that does
not extend into the margin.

* The LaserJet IIP allows you to insert commands to halt printing so
that you can insert paper or envelopes manually. The emulator
interprets those commands as form feeds.

* Applications that produce justified text with the LaserJet IIP
versions of Helvetica (Helv) and Times Roman (Tms Rmn) fonts may
generate slightly ragged output on the emulator.

* While the LaserJet IIP prints characters in the closest available
point size and pitch for each font, the emulator scales the font to
the specified size.

* The line printer font, which is 16.67-pitch Courier, appears with a
height of 7.2 points when printed with the emulator, rather than 8.5
points as printed by the LaserJet IIP.

*╩The Control-C and Control-T key combinations, which you can normally
use to interrupt printing or query the status of the LaserJet IIP,
cannot be used with the emulator.

* The emulator does not print nine characters from the LaserJet IIP
Roman-8 symbol set. These characters are shown in the following
table.

Decimal codes: 176, 179, 227, 228, 240, 241, 247, 248, and 254.

Published Date: Feb 19, 2012