Help Index
Pulsar Help Index	1 of 2

Commands

File Menu

Page Menu (PCL mode only)

Fonts Menu (PCL mode only)

Misc Menu (PCL mode only)

Configure Menu

Help Menu


Pulsar Help Index	2 of 2

Glossary

Defined Terms

Procedures

PCL/PostScript Switch (PS cartridge installed)

Using the Control Panel

Using the Print Manager

Portrait/Landscape Switch

Exiting


 File Menu

The File menu includes commands that enable you to run Windows Printer Setup and to exit the program.

For more information, select the File menu command name.

Printer Setup

Exit


 Page Menu

The Page menu, (available in PCL mode only), includes commands that enable you to set the printed page size, the number of text lines per vertical inch and to move the page in increments of one-half lines.

For more information, select the Page menu command name.

Size

Lines/Inch

Half Line Feed

Form Feed


 Fonts Menu

The Fonts menu, (available in PCL mode only),  includes commands that enable you to select fonts from either the printer's internal (built-in) or cartridge (external) choices.  In addition, you can build a font by selecting from each of a font's basic characteristics (i.e., orientation, style, typeface, point-size, etc.).

For LaserJet Series III printers, you will also have the option to select the degree (in 90 deg. increments) of font print rotation.

Note: Building an illegal font, either one that your printer currently does not support or one that is incorrectly defined (i.e., choosing fixed spacing with a Times Roman typeface) will cause the printer to either reject the command string sent or print with unpredictable results.  To use the font selection menu successfully, you must be aware of the fonts that your printer is currently setup to support.

For more information, select the Fonts menu command name.

Available

Selection

Rotation (LJIII only)


 Misc Menu

The Misc menu, (available in PCL mode only), includes commands that enable you to reset the printer, start a printer self-test, control underlining, set line wrap, control of paper input, and toggle perforation skip mode.

For more information, select the Misc menu command name.

Reset/Self-Test

Underline

Line Wrap

Paper ControlPerforation Skip ModeDisplay Functions


Configure Menu
Configure Menu (PCL Mode)

Configure Menu (PostScriptMode)

The Configure menu opens a dialog box in which you can set the printer's output port, series type, and make of PostScript cartridge.  When initializing, Pulsar will automatically try to determine the current printer port, orientation & type (LaserJet or PostScript) by reading the Windows' WIN.INI file.  Saving the configuration will allow the program to start up with the new defaults until you decide to change them through the Configure menu & resave.


 Help Menu

The Help menu includes commands that enable you to view the Pulsar help index, Windows Using Help, registering Pulsar and open the About Pulsar dialog box.

For more information, select the Help menu command name.

Index

Using Help

Register Pulsar

About Pulsar


Glossary

default font

default settings

downloading

escape character

escape sequence

factory default

font cartridge

font characteristics

internal fonts

logical page

page orientation

page setup

physical page

pitch

point size

printable area

soft font

symbol set


 PCL/PostScript Switch

The PCL & PostScript command buttons enable you to switch the printer from the native HP PCL to the PostScript language interpreter & back if you are using either the PacificPage or Adobe PostScript cartridge in your LaserJet printer.

Note:

The PCL/PostScript command buttons are only available when Pulsar has been properly configured for either the PacificPage or Adobe PostScript cartridge installed in the printer.  Pulsar does not currently support switching between the PCL/PostScript modes for any other printer configuration, i.e., native PostScript printers with PCL emulation or printer/CPU interface installations like QMS JetScript.  Attempting to command PCL/PostScript mode transitions with Pulsar, improperly setup for a non-supported configuration, may provide unpredictable results.


 Using the Control Panel

The Control Panel command button activates the Windows' Control Panel.  Exiting the Control Panel returns you to the Pulsar program.

For more information on using the Control Panel, see Windows Help.


 Using the Print Manager

The Print Manager command button activates the Windows' Print Manager.  Exiting the Print Manager returns you to the Pulsar program.

For more information on the Print Manager, see Windows Help.


 Portrait/Landscape Switch

The Portrait & Landscape command buttons allow you to control the print orientation of the LaserJet printer.  Select either Portrait or Landscape to respectively set the printer to either the portrait or landscape mode.


Exiting

To exit Pulsar, either select the Exit option under the File menu or click on the 'OK' command button.


File Print Setup Command
File Printer Setup Command

The Printer Setup sub menu item enables the Windows' Printer Setup Menu.

For more information on using Printer Setup, see Windows Help.


File Exit Command

The Exit sub menu item enables the user to exit the Pulsar program.  Selecting this item will terminate the Pulsar program and return you to the Windows environment.


Page Size Command

The Page Size sub menu item enables the user to select various page or envelope sizes.

The default page size or envelope size is determined by the installed tray.  If you install a different tray, the printer will not expect that page size until it is reset.

The page size command lets the printer know what standard page and envelope sizes to expect.

If the page size command is sent to request that a paper tray size be changed, the display will ask you to load the correct tray.  If you use the page size command with manual feed, the display message will ask you to feed the page or envelope size requested.


Page Lines/Inch Command

The Lines/Inch sub menu item enables the user to select the number of text lines to print per vertical inch of the page.

This command set the vertical size of a line of text (VMI) in the more common form of lines per inch.  The size of an individual line of text will be inversely proportional to the number of lines of text in one inch.

When the printer is reset, it operates at its line spacing default setting, which is the control panel setting.  Sending this command to the printer will override any control panel setting until the printer is reset by pressing the RESET key or sending the Escape E command.

Be sure to set a vertical line spacing appropriate for the size of the type you are using or you will cause the type to overlap or be too widely spaced.


Page Half-Line Feed Command

The Half-Line Feed sub menu item enables the user to send a half-line feed command to the printer.

The vertical distance of half-a-line feed is set to half of the current Vertical Motion Index (VMI).  The VMI can either be set directly or by setting the number of lines per inch (lpi).


Page Form Feed Command

The Form Feed sub menu item provides a means for the user to send a form feed to the printer.  The form feed command forces the current page to be immediately printed and the page ejected from the printer.

When you force the current page to be immediately printed, you will only print the data that has already been transmitted to the printer.  Any subsequent data for that page will be printed on the subsequent page.

Note:

Forcing the printing of the current page can cause difficulty with proper pagination in some software.


Fonts Available Command

The Available sub menu item enables the user to view all the printer/screen fonts available in the user's current configuration.


Fonts Selection Command

The Selection sub menu item enables the user to select from the various fonts that are available to the LaserJet printer series.  The user can select from internal (resident) fonts, cartridge (external) fonts or to select fonts by 'building-a-font' from its characteristics.

For more information, select the Selection menu command name.

Internal

Cartridge

by Font


Fonts Rotation Command

The Rotation sub menu item enables the user to choose the degree (in 90 degree increments) of the font's print rotation.  That is entering a value of 90 would print a character rotated 90 degrees to the right (or clockwise), 180 would print the character 'upside down', etc.

The Factory Default setting for a font's rotation is 0 degrees (or upright).


Internal Command

The Internal sub menu item enables the user to select from the many internal fonts that come with each of the printers of the LaserJet family.

After choosing Internal, select the series of printer (i.e., LaserJet, LaserJet Series II, LaserJet Series III, etc.) and then choose from the fonts that are available for that series from the 'Fonts Available' list box.  Upon selecting a font, a command string will be sent to the printer to invoke that particular font.

If you would prefer to send the command string to the Clipboard instead of the printer, select the 'Send to Clipboard' checkbox before choosing a font.  Selecting 'Send to Clipboard' will send the command string to the Clipboard instead of the printer.  You can then paste the command string into any application you are using that accepts input from the Clipboard.


Cartridge Command

The Cartridge sub menu item enables the user to select from the many fonts available with external cartridges that can be added to most of the printers in the LaserJet family.

After choosing Cartridge, select the Font Cartridge series (i.e., A, B, D, 25-in-One, etc.) and then choose from the fonts that are available for that cartridge from the 'Fonts Available' list box.  Upon selecting a font, a command string will be sent to the printer to invoke that particular font.

If you would prefer to send the command string to the Clipboard instead of the printer, select the 'Send to Clipboard' checkbox before choosing a font.  Selecting 'Send to Clipboard' will send the command string to the Clipboard instead of the printer.  You can then paste the command string into any application you are using that accepts input from the Clipboard.


by Font Command

The by Font sub menu item enables the user to 'build' a font by choosing an option from each of the eight font characteristics (i.e., orientation, style, point size, stroke, etc.).  Although it doesn't matter in which order you choose from, you must select an option from each item in order to build a legal command string.

If you would prefer to send the command string to the Clipboard instead of the printer, select the 'Send to Clipboard' checkbox before choosing a font.  Selecting 'Send to Clipboard' will send the command string to the Clipboard instead of the printer.  You can then paste the command string into any application you are using that accepts input from the Clipboard.

Spacing refers to the amount of space allocated to each character.  Fonts can be either fixed or proportional.  Fixed or monospaced means that each character is assigned the same amount of space.  Proportional means that the space assigned to different characters varies, depending on the shape of the characters.

Pitch refers to the number of characters per inch (cpi).  This is only relevant to monospaced (fixed) font; with proportionally spaced fonts, the number of characters per inch varies.

Point size represents the vertical height of the character.  Font height is measured in terms of descenders and ascenders.  The vertical height of a font is measured from the bottom of the lowest descender to the top of the highest ascender in points.

The symbol set defines which letters, numbers, and special characters are contained in a particular font.  The basic symbol sets are USASCII, the HP Roman Extension set for USASCII, and Roman-8 (combining the first two).  Special symbol sets include: foreign language sets with special and accented characters; special purpose sets, such as legal or math, with special symbols; and special function sets such as Line Draw, composed of graphics characters.  Roman-8 is the most common symbol-set used for the HP resident and cartridge fonts.


Misc Reset/Self-Test Command

The Reset/Self-Test sub menu item enables the user to select either a printer reset or start the printer's self-test feature.

When you reset the printer you return it to its default settings.  These can be either its factory default settings or defaults you set from the control panel.  Most software automatically sends the reset printer command before the start of each print job.

A printer reset deletes all temporary soft fonts and temporary macros from the printer's memory.  It also causes all data stored in the print buffer to be immediately printed and the page to be ejected.

The Self-Test function causes the printer to test its built-in controller and to print a test printout.


Misc Underline Command

The Underline sub menu item toggles the LaserJet's underlining feature.

There are two modes of underlining: fixed and floating.  Fixed underlining places the underline stroke a fixed distance (five dots) under the baseline of all characters.  Floating underlining, available on the LaserJet 2000, Series II & III printers, determines the placement distance below the characters based on the largest font printed on the current line.  Each font contains a predefined underline distance in its description file.


Misc Line Wrap Command

The Line Wrap sub menu item toggles the LaserJet's line wrap feature.  This causes the printer to issue its own end of line wrap command when the text would run past the right margin and be clipped.

Most word processors control their own end of line wrap so the default value for this option is disabled.  When printing unformatted ASCII text or programs that might run over the right margin of the page, you may not print the full line of text.  The portion that extends past the right margin will be clipped.  To ensure that all text is printed, enable the line wrapping function of the printer and the extending portion will be printed on the next line.

This function is often used in conjunction with the Display Functions Mode, which prints the control codes instead of executing them.


Misc Paper Control Command

The Paper Control sub menu item provides the user with the ability to control the number of printed copies, eject a page, and to control the source of paper input.

The sources of paper input are:

1. Upper tray.

2. Manual feed.

3. Manual envelope feed.

4. Lower tray.

5. Paper deck.

6. Envelope feeder. (IID or IIID)

When you designate a manual feed, the printer will pause until you feed the requested paper into the manual feed slot or press the CONTINUE button to override the request  and print from the installed paper tray.


Misc Perforation Skip Mode Command

The Perforation Skip sub menu item provides the user with the ability to toggle the printer's perforation skip mode of operation.

The Perforation Region is the area between the bottom of the Text Area of one page and the top of the Text Area of the next.  It is defined by the Page Length, Top Margin, and the Text Length.  All three of these settings determine the bottom of the text area of the current page, while the Top Margin determines the top of the text area of the next page by itself.

If Perforation Skip is enabled, any line feed command that would move the cursor into the Perforation Region, will cause the cursor to be moved to the top of the text area of the next page.  This will force the current page to be printed and ejected.

Note:

If you set Perforation Skip off and try to print outside the printable area at the bottom or top of a page, you will lose your data.


Misc Display Functions Command

The Display Functions sub menu item provides the user with the ability to toggle the printer's Display Functions option.  The Display Functions option is useful for troubleshooting by printing commands sent to the printer instead of executing them.


Help Index Command

The Index sub menu item activates Pulsar's Help System.  Use this system's features to learn more about each of the commands and procedures in using Pulsar.


Help Using Help Command

Selecting the Using Help sub menu item activates the Windows Help system.


Help Register Pulsar Command

The Register Pulsar sub menu item opens a dialog box which enables the user to fill-out a pre-made registration form for the Pulsar product.  Fill out the appropriate boxes and then select the 'Print' command button to print out the form or choose 'Clear' to erase all entered information.  Select the 'OK' command button when done.


Help About Pulsar Command

Selecting the About Pulsar sub menu item brings up a dialog box with information about the author.


The default font refers to the font that is in use whenever the printer is reset.  Default fonts can be selected using the control panel.  Some font cartridges also contain a default font.


Downloading refers to the process of transferring fonts stored on either floppy or hard disks to the printer's memory.  These transferred fonts can be stored in the printer until it is turned off.


The escape character is a special character used to identify a printer command.  This character is usually not a printable character.  Instead it is used as a command code for the printer.


Printer commands (also called escape sequences) are used to define a particular action for the printer.  Each printer is designed to accept specific series of strings (normally preceded by an Escape character) to perform a particular action.


Factory defaults refer to the settings that are programmed into the printer at the factory.  These settings are in use unless you override them using either the control panel or by sending printer commands.


Font cartridges contain additional fonts.  Cartridges are installed in the printer so that a variety of fonts can be selected for printing.


Font characteristics determine what a printed font looks like.  These characteristics include orientation, character height, style, stroke weight, and typeface.


The Index contains a list of all Help topics available.  For information on how to use Help, press F1 or choose Using Help from the Help menu.


Internal fonts are the fonts resident in the printer when shipped.  The printer's internal fonts are also called resident fonts.


The Logical Page is defined as running from the top of the Physical Page to the bottom of the Physical Page but contained within the left and right edges of the Printable Area.


Page orientation refers to the direction of print on the page.  Printing across the width of a page is called portrait orientation printing.  The word portrait comes from portraits of people, which are usually vertical in format.  Printing across the length of a page is called landscape orientation printing.  The term landscape is derived from pictures of the landscape, which are usually horizontal in format.


Page set-up refers to how text is positioned on the page.  Page set-up variables include the size of the paper to be printed, what margins will be used, and how many lines will be printed per inch.


The Physical Page is defined by the actual physical dimensions of the paper being used.


Pitch refers to the number of characters per inch (cpi).  This is only relevant to monospaced fonts; with proportionally spaced fonts, the number of characters per inch will vary with the combination of characters being printed.


Due to physical limitations, LaserJet printers are unable to print all the way to the edges of the paper--the Physical Page.  This creates an absolute margin of about 1/6 of an inch on the sides of the paper and 1/5 of an inch top and bottom.  The area within these absolute margins is called the Printable Area.


The vertical height of the character.  Font height is measured in terms of descenders and ascenders.  The vertical height of a font is measured from the bottom of the lowest descender to top of the highest ascender, in points.  One point equals approximately 1/72nd of an inch.


Soft fonts are fonts stored external from the printer's memory (usually on floppy or hard disks).  These fonts can be transferred to the printer's memory and used the same way as cartridge or resident fonts.


The Symbol Set describes which letters, numbers, and special characters are contained in the font.  Specialized symbol sets such as legal, international, and mathematical contain unique characters appropriate for the use by their name.


Defaults are determined during the power-up and subsequent initialization of the printer.  Also sending a printer 'reset' via software or through the front control panel will reset the printer to its default values.  Some defaults, like the symbol set to be used, can be changed via the front control panel.


Spacing refers to the amount of space allocated to each character.  Fonts can be either fixed of proportional.  Fixed, or monospaced, means that each character is assigned the same amount of space.  Proportional means that the space assigned to different characters varies, depending on the shape of the characters, giving a smoother feel and texture.


The VMI is similar to the typesetting concept of leading, though it is set in 1/48ths of an inch while leading is typically set in points, which are 1/72ths of an inch.