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2001/10/02
CHAPTER 2 "PCL" - 93
7. MACROS
7.1. The Purpose of a Macro
A macro is a sequence of commands that you wish to execute. You can specify the command sequence and
download it to the printer after which you can execute it with a single command. For example, you might wish to
draw a raster image at the top of each page you print. Rather than sending the same sequence of commands every
time you print a new page, it is more efficient to define a macro to draw the image and store the macro in the
printer’s memory. Having done this, you can draw the picture on each page simply by running the macro, that is,
with a single command.
Like downloaded fonts, macros take up printer memory. To alleviate this, some macros are available on cartridges
that can be plugged into the printer’s cartridge slots. A cartridge-based macro must have a unique ID number or
else you will not be able to access it. If a downloaded macro has the same ID number as a cartridge macro, all
references to the ID number will be interpreted as references to the downloaded macro. To access the cartridge
macro you would first have to delete the downloaded macro.
Another method of storing Macros is uniquely available on the HL-1660e / 2060 / 2400C / 2400Ce / 3400CN
printers. Macros can be saved to these cards as required and then executed from the card. For the HL-2400Ce /
3400CN printers, Macros can be also saved to and executed from the optional internal hard disk drive installed as
required. A delete facility is also included to allow the removal of macros when no longer required. The rules for
identifying and calling Macros from this card are exactly the same as for cartridge stored Macros detailed above.
For the HL-1270N/1470N printer, Macros can be stored in the incorporated Flash memory.
One macro can call another, however, only two levels of nesting are permitted.
A printer reset will delete macros from the printer’s memory unless they have been explicitly designated as
permanent.
The PCL picture frame commands, the printer reset command and HP-GL/2 graphic language commands cannot be
invoked from within a macro.