Control Codes ; 3.1.1. Backspace ; 3.1.7. Escape - Page 31

2001/10/02 

CHAPTER 2 "PCL" - 11 

3. 

CONTROLLING THE PRINTER 

3.1. 

Control Codes 

Control codes are ASCII codes that tell the printer to perform a given function, such as a carriage return. You can 
send these codes to the printer as part of a program.  

3.1.1.  Backspace 

(08) 

<08h> 

ASCII code 8. This code moves the cursor one column to the left.  

3.1.2.  Line feed 

(10) 

<0Ah> 

ASCII code 10. This code performs a line feed. 

3.1.3.  Form feed 

(12) 

<0Ch> 

ASCII code 12. This code ejects the most recently printed page from the printer. 

3.1.4.  Carriage return 

(13) 

<0Dh> 

ASCII code 13. This code performs a carriage return. 

3.1.5.  Select primary font 

(14) 

<0Eh> 

ASCII code 15. When you send this code to the printer subsequent characters will be printed in the current 
primary font. This is explained further in the sub-section entitled “Using fonts”. 

3.1.6.  Select secondary font  (15) 

<0Fh> 

ASCII code 14. When you send this code to the printer subsequent characters will be printed in the current 
secondary font. This is explained further in the sub-section entitled “Using fonts”. 

3.1.7.  Escape 

(27) 

<1Bh> 

ASCII code 27. You must use this character code to start every instruction sequence that you send to the printer. 

3.1.8.  Horizontal tab 

(09)  <09h> 

ASCII code 9. This code moves the cursor one tab position to the right. The tab positions are at the left margin 
and at the left edge of every 8th column as defined by the horizontal motion index (HMI) described in the next 
section, entitled “The Page”. 

3.1.9.  Space 

(32) 

<20h> 

ASCII code 32. This code moves the cursor one column to the right.