HP PCL/PJL reference - Printer Job Language Technical Reference Manual

EN Introduction to PJL 1-1
1
Introduction to PJL
What is PJL?
Hewlett-Packard's Printer Job Language (PJL) was developed to give
software applications more job-level printer control, and to provide
printer status information to applications. PJL provides for the special
needs of networks and other multi-user systems, in addition to
enabling applications to simulate control panel functions that
previously could not be controlled without pressing control
panel keys.
For the HP printers (HP LaserJet, HP DeskJet, and HP DesignJet)
that support it, PJL allows job-level control that cannot be
accomplished with PCL, PostScript, or other printer languages. To
provide this control, PJL functions “above” the level of PCL and other
printer languages, providing four major functions:
• Printer language switching between jobs
• Job separation
• Printer configuration
• Status readback from the printer to the host computer
Note For information about products newer than those included in this
book, see the Printer Job Language Technical Reference Addendum,
which includes product-specific information about newer products, as
well as commands and variables added to PJL to support these
newer products.