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62 Using the Printer With Your Software Chapter 4
Software and Printer Compatibility
Your software sends information and instructions to the printer over the
cable that connects the printer to the computer. In addition to data, the
instructions may include special command sequences known as control
codes and ESCape sequences. These command sequences instruct the
printer to perform certain tasks, such as how many lines to skip and where
to start printing.
Some control codes are standard throughout the microcomputer industry
and are recognized by all printers. Two examples of these are form feed
(FF) and line feed (LF).
ESCape sequences are unique to each printer emulation. ESCape sequences
begin with the ESCape character (ESC) followed by one or more other
characters.
The ESCape character tells the printer not to print the next character or
string of characters, but to use the information to perform a printing control
task, such as printing in bold or underlining.
Most software programs automatically send control codes and ESCape
sequences to the printer. However, some applications may require you to
supply the commands. How you enter the control codes and ESCape
sequences depends on your software program. Your software program
may require you to enter the codes and sequences in a specific format, such
as decimal rather than hexadecimal. For example, you can use only decimal
format with MultiMate Advantage II™, Professional Write™, and PFS:First
Choice™.
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Software program printer drivers may override the printer control codes
embedded in a document. This means the command will not take effect
because of the way the application handled it.
To determine if an application is overriding your commands, print the
document using a generic driver and see if the correct commands are
reflected in the printed copy. If they are, the application printer driver is
overriding the commands.
If you would like to receive a list of the control codes and ESCape
sequences the printer recognizes, you can use Canon’s toll-free fax
retrieval system to request the BJ-30 Printer Command Summary. Call
1-800-526-4345 for details.