User`s manual

COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER PRODUCTS
AXIS AX-3 Cobra+ Technical Reference 145
APPENDIX B
COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER PRODUCTS
The protocol converter is designed to directly replace one of the emulated IBM
printers. When replacing other printers or protocol converters, problems may arise
when these products diverge from the IBM specifications.
If the protocol converter to be replaced utilizes non-standard command code
interpretation, the printout from the protocol converter may look different. The way to
solve this problem is to modify the host application to fit IBM specifications.
Another area of difficulties is when configuration commands for a protocol converter
are included into the application. Since all converters have their way of configuration,
the application needs to be modified.
This is a good reason for keeping configuration files separated from the applications.
Such embedded commands could also control font, print orientation selection, etc,
although the IBM system supports such functions using standard IBM commands. In
these cases it is recommended to use the IBM way, but may require a re-write of the
print application. Not only will you be able to print it on all protocol converters, but
also on an IBM printer, with the full application support.
In most cases it is possible to replace another non-Axis product. The AX-3 Cobra+ has
a programmable transparency, which is the most common non-IBM function used with
a protocol converter.In “Redefinition of the Lead-In and Trailer Sequences” on page
43, Redefinition of the Lead-in and Trailer Sequences, an example shows how this can
be done.