Technical Memo: PRINTER EMULATION USING SOFTWARE SWITCHING

PRINTER EMULATION USING SOFTWARE SWITCHING

ScriptServer® for OpenVMS supports software switching through the use of printer specific modules in the device control library; there must be a module to change from PostScript to the desired mode and one to change back to PostScript.The modules must be named according to the following format:

SSV$SET_data-typeSSV$CLEAR_data-type

The contents of these modules are printer specific and depend on both the desired mode and the printer model. Some of these modules contain standard PostScript code and others are escape sequence based printer language command.

IMPORTANT!:

The SSV$SET_data-type.TXT module must contain the correct escape sequences (or commands) to switch your printer into the desired emulation mode, and the SSV$CLEAR_data-type.TXT module must contain the correct escape sequences (or commands) to switch your printer into PostScript mode, as described in your printer documentation for proper "software switching."

Note: The "data-type" specified can be any string other than a ScriptServer supported data type like PCL, POSTSCRIPT, ANSI, ASCII, and HPGL.

Digital LN03 EMULATION EXAMPLE

Using the QMS 815MR printer (And Other QMS Models) with the QMS LN03+ Card

Create the following modules, again, assuming a serial connection:

$  EDIT  SSV$SET_LN03.TXT	statusdict  begin  0  12  setemulation
$  EDIT  SSV$CLEAR_LN03.TXT	<ESC><DEL><0>

These modules should now be inserted into the ScriptServer device control library. First stop all the ScriptServer queues, or make a new copy of thefile SSV$DEVCTL.TLB and insert the modules as follows:

$  LIBRARY/INSERT  SYS$LIBRARY:SSV$DEVCTL.TLB  SSV$SET_LN03.TXT
$  LIBRARY/INSERT  SYS$LIBRARY:SSV$DEVCTL.TLB  SSV$CLEAR_LN03.TXT

In order to invoke these modules, use the parameter DATA_TYPE=LN03 in the PRINT command; as in the following example:

$  PRINT/QUEUE=queue_name/PARAM=(DATA_TYPE=LN03)  filename.ext

As an alternative, a queue can be created with a default data type of LN03. All output to this queue would first cause the printer to switch modes using the above modules.

$  DEFINE/SYS  SSV$queue_name_DEFAULT_DATA_TYPE  LN03

Also be aware of how long it takes the printer to change software modes from the front panel menu. If the printer takes longer than fifteen (15) seconds, the logical-name SSV$EMULATION_DELAY will have to be redefined. For example, if it takes the printer 20 seconds to change modes, you may want to set the delay to 25 seconds; as shown here:

$  DEFINE/SYS  SSV$EMULATION_DELAY  25





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