GLOSSARY; Calling a macro; GLOSSARY - Page 8

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GLOSSARY 

Absolute plotting

A method of plotting in the HP-GL and HP-GL/2 graphics language where 
coordinates are specified relative to the origin of the coordinate system currently in 
use. 

Anchor point

The top left-hand corner of the PCL picture frame.  You can position this on the 
page using a PCL command. 

Anisotropic scaling

A form of image scaling using the SC command in HP-GL and HP-GL/2 mode in 
which the user units can be of different sizes.  Hence the entire graphics window 
can be used to display the image. 

ASCII

The standard system for assigning number codes (0 ~ 255) to alphabetic, numeric 
and control code characters. 

Attribute

A characteristic of a downloadable font or a character of a Downloadable font that 
is represented by a number of a fixed length. 

Bitmap font

A font whose characters are defined as raster images.  The characters that make up 
a bitmap font are of a fixed size. 

Bold

A wider line thickness for typographical characters,  used to make the text stand 
out,  for example,  in headings. 

Calling a macro

A way of running a macro in which changes to the modified print environment are 
not retained when the macro has finished running. 

Cartridge

A storage medium that you can insert into the printer cartridge slots.  Cartridges 
can store fonts.  The advantage of using cartridges is that they allow you to use 
more fonts without taking up printer memory space. 

Cartridge font

A font that is stored on a cartridge.  These are widely available commercially. 

Character cell

The imaginary grid on which downloadable characters are designed. 

Character code

A number assigned to a character that uniquely identifies it. 

Character descriptor

A block of data that describes the characteristics of an individual character in a 
downloadable font,  such as its width and height. 

Character set

A selection of different characters.  Characters sets normally include the alphabet 
in both upper- and lowercase,  the digits' 0-9,  punctuation marks,  common 
mathematical symbols and a few other useful characters.  There are also some 
specialized character sets that are used for specific applications like mathematics.  
A font is defined as having a particular character set. 

Column

A vertical sub-division of the page whose width is equal to the HMI (horizontal 
motion index).  The print position moves across the page one column width when 
any single character is printed ( in a monospaced font),  or when a space character 
is printed ( in a proportionally spaced font).  See also HMI. 

Control code

An ASCII code that tells the computer to perform a particular function,  such as a carriage 
return.