Specifications

Revision C 16/01/96
Chapter 6 " IBM Proprinter XL " - 4
1. Introduction
This HL Series printer offers a complete emulation of the IBM Proprinter. In Proprinter XL mode
you can drive the printer directly by incorporating control codes and escape sequences in your
program, or alternatively, applications software (for example, your word-processing software)
may send the necessary commands to the printer automatically. Check the manual that came with
your software package for instructions on how to use your software with an IBM Proprinter XL.
2. Emulation details
The following points should be borne in mind when running this HL Series printer in IBM
Proprinter XL mode.
2.1. Ignored commands
A few IBM Proprinter XL commands have reduced effect, or no effect at all. In some cases this is
due to the physical nature of an HL Series printer. These commands are as follows. The BEL
control code (ASCII 7) which is used to sound the Proprinter’s bell, is ignored. The DC3 control
code (ASCII 23), used to disable the Proprinter, is also ignored. The Esc Y escape sequence,
which enables double-speed, double-density graphics mode has no effect on the printing speed, as
HL Series printers always operate as fast as they can. Hence the Esc Y has the same effect as the
Esc L (enable double-density graphics mode) sequence.
2.2 Resolution
The resolution of this HL Series printer is 600 dots per inch. Some IBM Proprinter use fractions
of an inch that not exactly divisible by 600, for example Esc 0 sets line spacing to 1/8" of an inch.
Similarly, the Proprinter graphics commands specify resolutions of 72, 120 and 240 dots per
inch. When a graphic cannot be represented exactly at 600 dots per inch the printer prints the
closest possible approximation to the specified image using 600 dots per inch.
2.3 Character set selection
Using software commands you can select IBM character set I, IBM character set II or the IBM
All Character Code table. Using the printer control panel you can select a number of other
character sets (consult the User's Guide for a description of how to do this). All available
character sets are shown in the IBM Proprinter XL mode section of the appendix at the end of
this manual.
2.4 Controlling the printer
Commands are invoked using either control codes or escape sequences. You can send them to
the printer as part of a program, using the same command that you would use to print a text
string on the printer, for example in BASIC you would use the LPRINT command.
2.5 Control codes
Control codes are ASCII codes that tell the printer to perform a particular function, such as a
line feed. Send a control code to the printer by sending the same type of instruction you would
use to print a character using its ASCII code number. For example, the ASCII code for a form
feed is 12, so to get the printer to perform a form feed use the following BASIC statement:
LPRINT CHR$(12);
The CHR$ operator is normally used to convert an ASCII code into its corresponding character.