PCL Font Support Document

This document describes how to print PCL (HP's Printer Command Language) fonts to a PCL compatible printer. PCL fonts can be used on any operating system that can send files to a PCL compatible printer in binary mode. In MS DOS, this is performed by using the COPY command with the /B switch.

VERTICAL INDEX

When PCL fonts with a point size other than 12 are being used, an adjustment to the vertical motion index may be necessary to close gaps between rows. To set the vertical motion index, issue the command before printing with the PDF417 font. The code for the vertical motion index command is escape "<Ec>" + "&" + lowercase L "l" + Number Index + Capital "C". The number may be adjusted as necessary.

PCL font point size (N=3)	Vertical motion index command to use
10	<Ec> &l6.5C
8	<Ec> &l5.2C
6	<Ec> &l3.9C

FONT NAMING

The syntax for naming the PCL fonts is as follows: Font Type (PDF) + N Dimension (for example N3) + point size (4, 6, 8, 10 or 12) + .SFP". All PDF417 PCL fonts are 300 DPI.

PCL FONT PRINTING EXAMPLE

The example provided below is only one method of printing with PCL fonts. We provide this example for you to test the PCL fonts and ensure they are compatible with your printer. Your application will need to perform similar commands to copy the escape sequences and fonts to the printer as a single string of data. We cannot perform consulting services to help you with the implementation in your application because it is beyond the scope of our support policy.

In the example below, <Esc> represents the escape character. To create the <Esc> command in DOS Edit, hold down the CTRL key and press the letter "P", then release both keys and then press the ESC character.

The following commands will download a font to the PCL printer and assign it an ID number of 70:

<Esc>*c70D tells the printer it will receive a soft font and to assign it an ID of 70 (provided in file c70D.txt)
Copy the font file to the printer
<Esc>*c5F tells the printer to make this a permanent font (provided in file c5F.txt)
<Esc>(70X selects the font (provided in file data.txt)

To test these commands from a Windows command prompt, run the TEST.BAT file provided. The TEST.BAT file assumes you have a PCL printer attached to the LPT1 port. View the files c70D.txt, c5F.txt and data.txt with a standard text editor to view the commands in the files.

You may type the copy commands manually from the prompt, for example:

copy /B c70D.txt +PDFN3_06.SFP +c5F.txt +data.txt LPT1

The files may also be copied to a printer on a network, for example:

copy /B c70D.txt +PDFN3_06.SFP +c5F.txt +data.txt \\server1\printer1

More Information:

PCL defines a standard set of commands that enable programs to communicate with PCL or PCL compatible printers. If you need further information about PCL commands, you may want to obtain the Technical Reference Manual set, part number 5021-0377. Order the manual set from HP's Support Materials Organization.