Alphanumeric ID Command
The Alphanumeric ID command performs several different functions
depending on the operation specified. This command:
• Specifies the type of print media on which to print a job (rather
than specifying its location)
• Specifies an ID string for different PCL objects (fonts and
macros)
• Supports the mass storage PCL enhancements for the
LaserJet 5Si/5SiMx printer disk (allowing, for example,
downloading a font with a String ID to RAM—downloading to
the printer disk must be done using PJL)
The format of the Alphanumeric ID command is as follows:
?
&n#W[Operation][String ID]
The value field (#) identifies the number of bytes in the String ID.
The Operation byte determines the type of operation and the type of
object on which the operation is to be performed. The operations are
listed in the table below.
The String ID begins with the second byte and can be up to
511 characters long.
#
- Number of bytes of String ID data
Default
= 0
Range
= 2 to 512
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Printer-Specific Differences 2-79
Operation
Description
0
Sets the current Font ID to the given String ID. This operation allows
the user to set the current PCL Font ID to a string name, which gives the
user the ability to download fonts to a string name. If the current Font ID
has been set with both the Alphanumeric ID command and the Font ID
command (
?
*c#D), the ID last sent takes precedence. For example, if
the current font ID was set to 10 and then to “Font1”, the current font ID
would be “Font1”.
1
Associates the current Font ID to the font with the String ID
supplied. This operation finds the font with the supplied String ID and
assigns the current Font ID to that font so that the font now has two
names. The original font name is used to perform font management
commands on the font, and the new associated name is used when
selecting the font for usage. Note that since fonts with string names can
be associated to numeric Font IDs, these fonts are selectable in
HP-GL/2 using the numeric Font ID.
2
Selects the font referred to by the String ID as primary. This
operation finds the associated font using the supplied String ID and
specifies that font as the current primary font. The command is ignored if
there is no font with that String ID.
3
Selects the font referred to by the String ID as secondary. This
operation functions the same as the primary font specification (operation
number 2), however this command specifies the font as secondary.
4
Sets the current Macro ID to the String ID. This operation allows the
user to set the current PCL Macro ID to a String ID name. If the current
Macro ID has been set with both the Alphanumeric ID command and the
Macro ID command (
?
&f#Y), the ID last sent takes precedence. For
example, if the current Macro ID was set to 10 and then to “Macro1”, the
current macro ID would be “Macro1”.
5
Associates the current Macro ID to the supplied String ID. This
operation finds the macro with the supplied String ID and assigns the
current Macro ID to that macro. This macro then has two names. The
original Macro ID name is used to perform macro management
commands on the macro, and the new associated name is used when
executing, calling, or overlaying the macro.
20
Deletes the font association named by the current Font ID. The font
must have been associated with an alphanumeric Font ID (using
operation 0). No String ID is supplied (
?
&n1W20). This command
removes the alphanumeric font name association, however the disk
resource itself is not changed.
2-80 Printer-Specific Differences
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Note
PCL objects stored on the printer disk cannot be deleted, set to
temporary, set to permanent, or modified in any way using the PCL
language.
21
Deletes the macro association named by the current Macro ID. The
macro must have been associated with an alphanumeric Macro ID
(using operation 4). No String ID is supplied (
?
&n1W21). This
command removes the alphanumeric macro name association, however
the disk resource itself is not changed.
100
Media select (see media selection table). Media types are specified
using the printer control panel. The following table indicates which
media type and paper size is used in the various media-select
situations.
Operation
Description
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A paper source is considered to be not specified when a Media
Source command has not been received or when the media source is
set to autoselect (value 7). The media type is considered to be not
specified when an Alphanumeric ID command for media type
(value 100) has not been received.
Selecting the default media type causes the printer to consider the
media type as not specified.
Selecting an undefined or unavailable ID causes the printer to
generate a manual feed request.
Media Type
Paper Size
Paper Source
Size/Type Used
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
Default size
Default type
Not specified
Not specified
Specified
(not manual feed)
Default size
Type configured in specified tray
Not specified
Not specified
Specified
(manual feed)
Manual feed request
Default size
Not specified
Specified
Not specified
Specified size
Default type
Not specified
Specified
Specified
(not manual feed)
Specified size
Type configured in specified tray
Not specified
Specified
Specified
(manual feed)
Manual feed request
Specified size
Specified
Not specified
Not specified
Default size
Specified type
Specified
Not specified
Specified
(not manual feed)
Default size
Specified type
Specified
Not specified
Specified
(manual feed)
Manual feed request
Default size
Specified type
Specified
Specified
Not specified
Specified size
Specified type
Specified
Specified
Specified
(not manual feed)
Specified size
Specified type
Specified
Specified
Specified
(manual feed)
Manual feed request
Specified size
Specified type
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Example: Using the Alphanumeric ID Command to
Download a Font
Fonts can be downloaded to the printer disk using PJL, or using PCL
you can download a font with a String ID to RAM. The following
example demonstrates downloading a font to a string name using
PCL.
Set the alphanumeric font ID to “TTFont1”
?
&n8W0TTFont1
Download the font. It is assigned the String ID “TTFont1”
?
sW[data]
Example: Using a Font with a String ID
When the user wants to use a font with a String ID, the user must first
associate that font with a new Font ID number. This association is
required so that whether the font is on disk or RAM, the procedure is
the same.
Set the current Font ID to “AssociatedFontID”
?
&n17W0AssociatedFontID
Find the font with ID “UnivRomanID” on disk or in RAM and give it the
associated ID of “AssociatedFontID”
?
&n12W1UnivRomanID
Set the current Font ID to 10
?
*c10D
Find the font with String ID “TimesRmID” on disk or in RAM and give it
the associated Font ID of 10
?
&n10W1TimesRmID
Set the current secondary font to the font with a Font ID of 10 (which
in this case, is an associated font)
?
)10X
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Specify the current font as primary using the alphanumeric ID
command
?
&n17W2AssociatedFontID
Delete the name “AssociatedFontID” from the PCL database
?
&n17W0AssociatedFontID
?
&n1W20
Reset the printer. Resetting deletes all font and macro associations.
?
E
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