Printronix L7032 User manual

IGP
®
/VGL Emulation for L7032 Printers
Code VTM Graphics Language
Programmer’s Reference Manual

IGP®/VGL Emulation for L7032 Printers
Code V™
Graphics Language
Programmer
’ s Reference Manual

Printronix, Inc. makes no representations or warranties of any kind regarding
this material, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Printronix, Inc. shall not
be held responsible for errors contained herein or any omissions from this
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consequential, in connection with the furnishing, distribution, performance or
use of this material. The information in this manual is subject to change
without notice.
This document contains proprietary information protected by copyright. No
part of this document may be reproduced, copied, translated or incorporated
in any other material in any form or by any means, whether manual, graphic,
electronic, mechanical or otherwise, without the prior written consent of
Printronix, Inc.
COPYRIGHT
© 2007, PRINTRONIX, INC.
All rights reserved.

Trademark Acknowledgements
IBM and IBM PC are registered trademarks of the International Business
Machines Corp.
HP and PCL are registered trademarks of Hewlett-Packard Company.
IGP, LinePrinter Plus, and Printronix are registered trademarks and LaserLine
and PSA are trademarks of Printronix, Inc.
QMS is a registered trademark and Code V is a trademark of Quality Micro
Systems, Inc.
CSA is a registered certification mark of the Canadian Standards Association.
TUV is a registered certification mark of TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc.
UL is a registered certification mark of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
This product uses Intellifont Scalable typefaces and Intellifont technology.
Intellifont is a registered trademark of Agfa Division, Miles Incorporated
(Agfa).
CG Triumvirate are trademarks of Agfa Division, Miles Incorporated (Agfa).
CG Times, based on Times New Roman under license from The Monotype
Corporation Plc is a product of Agfa.

Table of Contents
1 Overview............................................................... 13
About This Manual..................................................................................13
Warnings And Special Information...................................................13
Features..................................................................................................14
On-Line Form And Label Generation ...............................................14
Variable Bar Codes ..........................................................................14
Expanded and Compressed Print ....................................................14
Rotated Alphanumerics....................................................................14
Logos ...............................................................................................15
Reversed and Shaded Print .............................................................15
Automatic Increment/Decrement Capability.....................................15
Multinational and International Character Sets ................................15
New Or Different Features For The VGL ................................................15
Modes Of Operation ...............................................................................16
Normal Mode....................................................................................16
Graphics Mode .................................................................................16
Extended Graphics Mode.................................................................16
Extended Graphics/High Resolution Mode ......................................17
Configuring VGL With The Control Panel...............................................17
2 Commands............................................................ 19
Modes Of Operation ...............................................................................19
VGL Command Standards......................................................................20
Special Function Control Code (SFCC) ...........................................21
Command Sequence .......................................................................21
Command Parameters .....................................................................21
Brackets ...........................................................................................21
Spaces .............................................................................................22
Comma.............................................................................................22
Terminator........................................................................................22
Character Height, Width, And Intercharacter Spacing .....................23
Normal Mode ..........................................................................................23
Graphics Mode .......................................................................................24
Data Positioning ...............................................................................24

Table of Contents
Command Codes....................................................................................26
Graphics Mode Enable Commands .................................................26
Standard Graphics Commands........................................................27
Extended Graphics Commands .......................................................29
Extended Graphics/High Resolution Commands.............................31
Alphanumerics .................................................................................32
Boxes ...............................................................................................39
Carriage Return................................................................................41
Character Height ..............................................................................42
Character Width ...............................................................................44
Character Type ................................................................................46
Compressed Print ............................................................................47
Dark Print .........................................................................................49
Descending Characters....................................................................51
Direct Printer Commands.................................................................53
Dot Slew...........................................................................................54
Duplication, Horizontal .....................................................................54
Duplication, Horizontal (Version II)...................................................56
Duplication, Vertical .........................................................................57
Duplication, Vertical (Version II).......................................................63
Dynamic Form Commands ..............................................................65
Electronic Vertical Format Unit (EVFU)............................................73
Emphasized Print .............................................................................76
Emulation Switch..............................................................................77
Font Load .........................................................................................77
Font, Selecting Default (Version II) ..................................................78
Fonts, Rotatable...............................................................................82
Fonts, Compressed Print Density ....................................................85
Form Feed........................................................................................88
Form Length.....................................................................................89
Forms Construction..........................................................................90
Forms, Creating Dynamic (Version II)..............................................93
Forms, Deleting Dynamic (Version II) ..............................................94
Forms, Executing Dynamic (Version II)............................................94
Forms, Listing Dynamic (Version II) .................................................95
Forms, Predefined (Version II) .........................................................95
Forms, Resetting Dynamic (Version II) ............................................99
Free Format (Enable/Disable)..........................................................99
Free Format Enable, Non-Graphics ...............................................101
Free Format Disable, Non-Graphics ..............................................102
Graphics Mode Enable...................................................................103
Graphics Mode Disable..................................................................104

Table of Contents
Hex Dump ......................................................................................104
Ignore Data ....................................................................................105
Interrupt..........................................................................................106
Justification, Vertical ......................................................................108
Line Feed .......................................................................................110
Line Slew........................................................................................111
Line Spacing ..................................................................................111
Lines, Dashed ................................................................................113
Lines, Solid.....................................................................................116
Logo Generation (Version II)..........................................................118
Logo, PCX......................................................................................120
Logo, TIFF......................................................................................121
Page, Controlling Paper Options (Version II) .................................122
Passing Hex Values .......................................................................124
Pixel Expansion (Version II) ...........................................................125
Plotting Bitmap Images ..................................................................127
Plotting Graphics (Columns) ..........................................................129
Plotting Graphics (Rows)................................................................132
Reset..............................................................................................135
Reverse Print .................................................................................136
Scaling ...........................................................................................138
Shading ..........................................................................................140
Shading Mask ................................................................................142
Special Function Control Code Change.........................................144
Symbols, Creating Standard User Defined ....................................145
Symbols, Creating Expanded User Defined...................................148
Symbols, Printing ...........................................................................150
Tab, Horizontal...............................................................................151
Tab, Vertical ...................................................................................155
Underlined Print .............................................................................156
Wait For Online ..............................................................................157

Table of Contents
3 Bar Codes ........................................................... 159
Overview...............................................................................................159
Examples .......................................................................................160
Bar Code Size/Height Requirements .............................................160
Bar Code Command Format.................................................................162
Standard Bar Code Command Format ..........................................163
IBARC, (Version II) Bar Code Command Format ..........................164
Bar Codes.............................................................................................167
Australian 4-State...........................................................................169
BC412 Barcode..............................................................................174
Codabar .........................................................................................178
Code 39..........................................................................................184
Code 93..........................................................................................191
Code 128........................................................................................195
Data Matrix.....................................................................................204
EAN 8.............................................................................................213
EAN 13...........................................................................................218
German Interleaved 2/5 .................................................................222
Identicon.........................................................................................228
Interleaved 2/5 ...............................................................................231
Maxicode........................................................................................236
MSI.................................................................................................241
PDF417 ..........................................................................................247
Planet .............................................................................................251
POSTNET ......................................................................................256
Royal Mail ......................................................................................260
Telepen ..........................................................................................262
UCC/EAN-128................................................................................267
UPC-A ............................................................................................278
UPC-E ............................................................................................283
UPCSHIP .......................................................................................291
UPS 11...........................................................................................295

Table of Contents
4 Exercises And Examples .................................... 299
Practice Using VGL ..............................................................................299
Practice Graphic Exercise - Normal Resolution .............................300
Practice Graphic Exercise - High Resolution .................................304
Form Example ......................................................................................309
Page Layout Considerations ..........................................................309
Planning The Form Layout.............................................................309
Label Example ......................................................................................326
Solving Program Errors ........................................................................334
5 Multinational And International Character
Sets..................................................................... 335
Multinational Character Sets.................................................................335
Character Addresses .....................................................................336
Making Character Substitutions .....................................................336
Accessing Characters And Character Sets ..........................................339
Data Bit 8 .......................................................................................339
Power-Up Character Set Selection ................................................339
Building A Character Translation Table..........................................339
Resetting the Character Set...........................................................340
User-Defined Set Command ..........................................................341
Character Set Selection Command................................................343
Selecting An ISO Character Set.....................................................346
Multinational Character Set Charts ................................................347
International Character Sets .................................................................351
6 Error Codes......................................................... 353
The Purpose Of Error Codes................................................................353
Error Codes ..........................................................................................353
A Standard ASCII Character Set............................ 359
B Shading Masks ................................................... 361
Selecting Masks....................................................................................361
C Grid Samples ...................................................... 373
D Page Boundaries ................................................ 377
Paper Selection And Maximum Values ................................................377
Setting Top/Bottom Margins...........................................................378
Setting Left Margins .......................................................................379

Table of Contents
E PTX_SETUP Option............................................ 381
Overview...............................................................................................381
The PTX_SETUP Commands ..............................................................381
Commands.....................................................................................382
F VGL Command Support on L7032 Printers ........389
G Glossary .............................................................. 391
H Contact Information............................................. 401
Printronix Customer Support Center.....................................................401
Printronix Supplies Department ............................................................402
Corporate Offices..................................................................................402

13
1Overview
About This Manual
This manual is divided into chapters that contain all the information required
to use the IGP
®
/VGL
®
Emulation. Use this manual in conjunction with your
printer
User’s Manual for complete printer-VGL compatibility.
Warnings And Special Information
Information requiring special attention is highlighted under special headings.
Always read and comply with this information. The heading reveals the nature
of the information:
WARNING Conditions that could cause you physical harm as well as damage the
equipment.
CAUTION Conditions that indicate the possiblity of damage to a program, device,
system, or data.
IMPORTANT Information vital to proper operation of the printer.
NOTE: Provides helpful tips about printer operation and maintenance.

14
Chapter 1 Features
Features
The Code V Graphics Language (VGL) is the QMS compatible Intelligent
Graphics Printing software designed for Printronix thermal, line matrix and
L7032 printers. VGL emulates the QMS Code V Version II programming
language to produce on-line forms, bar codes, and alphanumeric text
generation in both normal and high resolution. The VGL graphics processing
features are detailed below.
On-Line Form And Label Generation
On-Line Form and Label Generation makes it easy to create forms or labels
with the “preprinted” look for each application. VGL programs control all
graphics functions, dramatically reducing host computer programming and
processing time. Graphics capabilities include boxes, vertical, horizontal, solid
and dashed lines in normal or high resolution with a variety of thickness,
logos, and special alphanumeric print features. Forms and graphic designs
can be duplicated horizontally and vertically.
Variable Bar Codes
Variable Bar Codes allow the bar code for your application to print easily with
standard or user-defined ratios in vertical or horizontal orientations, in normal
or high resolution. Available bar codes are: Australian 4-State; Codabar;
Code 39; Code 128 with Subsets A, B, and C; Code 93; Data Matrix; EAN 8;
EAN 13; German Interleaved 2 of 5; Identicon; Interleaved 2 of 5; Maxicode;
MSI; Planet; POSTNET; Royal Mail; Telepen; UCC/EAN-128; UPC-A;
UPC-E; UPS 11 and UPC Shipping. POSTNET is available only in horizontal
direction. Impact printers include a dark print mode for darker, high-contrast
bar codes. The IBARC bar code command prints bar codes in four
orientations: horizontal, rotated 90, rotated 180 or rotated 270 degrees.
See Table 21 on page 167 for a complete list of bar codes.
Expanded and Compressed Print
Expanded and Compressed Print draws attention where needed.
Alphanumeric height and width are controlled independently for a tremendous
range of character sizes up to 9.9 inches wide and tall. Six compressed print
sizes are available: 12, 13.33, 15, 17.65, 20, and 24 cpi (characters per inch),
permitting up to 204 columns in an 8.5-inch printed area (24 cpi). In high
resolution mode, characters can be sized and positioned to hundredth of an
inch specification.
Rotated Alphanumerics
Rotated Alphanumerics permit new concepts in form design. Normal,
expanded, and compressed character strings can be rotated 90 degrees
clockwise, counterclockwise, or printed upside down.

Logos
15
Logos
Logos are easily created using alphanumeric commands and a variety of print
and shading features, providing a “customized” appearance for forms,
reports, and labels. The registered trademark, copyright, TUV®, GS-Mark,
UL®, and CSA®symbols are provided as standard designs on the VGL, and
you can also define custom symbols.
Reversed and Shaded Print
Reverse and Shaded Print permit highlighting and contrasting by printing
white characters on a dark background or white characters on a gray, shaded
background. Various levels or patterns of gray shading and reverse printing
can be combined with the many other print features to create distinctive
designs.
Automatic Increment/Decrement Capability
Automatic Increment/Decrement Capability allows batch form processing.
Individual numeric and bar code data fields can be identified and
automatically incremented or decremented by any amount, beginning from
any specified number.
Multinational and International Character Sets
Multinational and International Character Sets provide you with access to
predefined international character sets, each 96 characters in length. The
Multinational Character Set also allows you to create your own character sets
using characters defined and stored in memory.
New Or Different Features For The VGL
VGL introduces the QMS-compatible Intelligent Graphics Printing software to
the Printronix thermal printer environment. Certain variations due to the line
matrix versus thermal printing technology change the way the VGL operates
in several ways.
• The “dots” parameter in a command is based on a 60 dots-per-inch (dpi)
horizontal by 72 dpi vertical grid. In normal resolution mode, this grid is
converted to the equivalent number of dots on a high-density, thermal
print engine. For example, 1 horizontal dot on a line matrix printer equals
5 dots on a 300 X 300 dpi thermal printer. In high resolution mode,
however, size and position parameters are specified in inches.
• Thermal and laser printers cannot produce half-dots. Therefore, for same-
cpi fonts on a thermal or laser printer, full dot fonts in draft print and half-
dot fonts in correspondence print would produce the same number of
dots.

16
Chapter 1 Modes Of Operation
• Dark print, used to produce darker looking graphic elements (e.g., bar
codes, shading masks, reverse print, etc.) is a function of line matrix
printers only. The darker looking print is produced by overstriking.
Thermal and laser printers ignore dark print commands.
Modes Of Operation
Normal Mode
VGL has two basic modes of operation: Normal and Graphics. In Normal
Mode, all characters and commands are passed directly through VGL to the
Line Printer Plus®Emulation without processing, except to check for the VGL
Special Function Control Code (SFCC) and Graphics Mode command.
All the standard Line Printer Plus Emulation features (such as EVFU,
elongated characters, compressed print, plot mode, etc.) are still available
when VGL is in Normal Mode. However, when VGL receives a Graphics
Mode command, the VGL changes to the Graphics Mode and assumes
control of the printer.
Graphics Mode
In Graphics Mode, all VGL functions are available. The standard graphics
commands provide features such as underline print, horizontal and vertical
duplication, dynamic forms, graphics plotting, and vertical formatting. A
complete listing of all standard graphics commands is provided in the
“Commands” chapter.
Extended Graphics Mode
In addition to the standard graphics commands, the VGL Graphics Mode has
an extended graphics command set, providing more specific graphic features
for forms and labels. Alphanumeric commands, boxes, lines, logos, shading,
special fonts, and all bar codes are part of the extended graphics command
set. Again, complete extended graphics command information is provided in
the “Commands”
chapter .
VGL also supports the QMS Version II commands (ILOGO, IPEXP, IISO,
IBARC, IREPH, IREPV, IFONT,S, IHEX, IPLOT, IFORM,C, IFORM,D,
IFORM,E, IFORM,L, and IFORM,R) as well as the original commands
performing the same or similar functions to those in Version II. For example,
the Horizontal Duplication command (S) is still available, while an enhanced
Horizontal Duplication command (IREPH,) is now available with Version II.

Extended Graphics/High Resolution Mode
17
Extended Graphics/High Resolution Mode
Within Graphics Mode, there is an additional high resolution mode called
Extended Graphics/High Resolution Mode. In this mode, you can access the
extended graphics commands as well as new commands designed to achieve
enhanced resolution for thermal
printing .
Extended Graphics/High Resolution Mode allows you to specify graphic
elements and characters in expanded size and position parameters. Graphic
elements (lines, boxes, and forms) can now be defined in increments of one
thousandth of an inch. Characters can now be specified in increments of one
hundredth of an inch. As a result of these enhancements, you can print forms
and labels that include high resolution text, graphics and bar codes.
The actual positioning and size, however, can be only as “fine” as your printer
resolution (dpi). For example, a graphic position change of 0.001, 0.002, or
0.003 would result in one printer dot at 300 dpi (1 - .0033 inches). Also,
because the actual height of characters changes in increments of seven
printer dots (0.0233 inches at 300 dpi), a size specification of 0.01 inch or
0.02 inch would result in a character of the same size.
Configuring VGL With The Control Panel
Matching certain printer operational settings to those of the host computer is
known as printer configuration. The settings, or configuration parameters,
such as selecting the host interface, parallel/serial data input and file
management, are adjusted according to the printer function switch
descriptions in your printer's
User's Manual . Configure VGL in the same way
you would configure the printer for other features.
You can select VGL default parameters directly from the control panel as
explained in your
User's Manual , or by control codes as explained in the
“Commands” chapter. Your
User's Manual also contains detailed
configuration menus and diagrams, as well as descriptions of each
configuration parameter available with your printer.

18
Chapter 1 Configuring VGL With The Control Panel

19
2Commands
Modes Of Operation
VGL has two basic modes of operation: Normal mode and Graphics mode. In
Normal mode, the data stream passes unchanged to the printer until the
Special Function Control Code (SFCC) and Graphics Mode Enable command
are detected, indicating that special Graphics mode functions follow. All of the
printer standard features operate in Normal mode (such as the EVFU, plot,
hex dump) and the printer responds to command and control codes as
described in the printer
User’s Manual.
In Graphics mode, you can generate alphanumeric characters, graphic
components and bar codes. Once the Graphics mode is enabled, specific
command sequences are used to generate a variety of graphics. The
command parameters define height, width, location, and type of graphic
(boxes, lines, alphanumeric characters).
Three types of command sets are used in the Graphics mode:
• standard graphics
• extended graphics
• extended graphics/high resolution.
Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between the Normal and Graphics modes
of operation as described above. In addition, at the beginning of each
command in this chapter, the graphics mode(s) in which that command
operates are listed.

20
Chapter 2 VGL Command Standards
Figure 1. Modes of Operation
VGL Command Standards
Many of the commands described in this chapter include an example to
illustrate the application. Commas are used in the example commands to
easily identify the various command parameters.
Many of the example commands shown also require the Free Format
command. Using the Free Format command in the examples more clearly
identifies the data and command parameters.
The commands used to operate VGL have various selectable options and a
specific format that you must follow to obtain the desired results. These
command standards are described in the following sections. Become familiar
with their meaning and use before operating VGL.
VGL
Modes of Operation
Normal Mode Graphics Mode
(Table 1)
Standard Graphics
(Table 2)
Passes data directly
through to printer.
Enabled with PY Command
(see page 103).
An alphanumeric command from
Table 1 must be entered before using
an Extended Graphics command.
Extended Graphics
(Table 3)
Extended Graphics/High Resolution
Mode must be enabled
(^IPARAM,EXTENDED^G^-) before
using a high resolution command.
Extended Graphics/
High Resolution
(Table 3)