TITLE
    LW Driver 8.x: PPDs Job Control/Page Control Commands
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		13918
11/12/93
2/17/00
TOPIC

    1) Does Apple use/support "Type 4.1" PPD files?

    2) Do the LaserWriter 8 PPDs support HP PCL Job Control Language (JCL) and Printer Job Language (PJL)?

    3) What is Job Control Language (JCL) and Printer Job Language (PJL)?

DISCUSSION

    Here are the answers to your questions:

    1) Yes. Starting with LaserWriter driver 8.1.1, Apple started using Type 4.1 PPD files.

    2) You must be referring to PCL Job Control Commands and Page Control Commands. These commands are actually not a function of the PPD's, but are of the respective PCL emulator in the various LaserWriters. Most of Apple's LaserWriter printers, except for the LaserWriter Select 360, provide HP LaserJet IIp, PCL 4+ emulation.

    The LaserWriter Select 360 provides HP LaserJet III, PCL 5 emulation.

    In terms of what PCL Job Control Commands and Page Control Commands are supported, there is an article in the Tech Info Library ("LaserWriters: Differences in HP Emulation") that outlines the differences between our HP LaserJet IIp emulation and the actual printer. With regard to our HP LaserJet III (PCL 5) emulation, there is no information on differences (if any) to the actual printer, though Apple has tried a lot of the commands and they work fine.

    3) We have provided an outline below of what PCL Job Control Commands and Page Control Commands provide. For more in-depth information, refer to the PCL 5 Printer Language Technical Reference Manual, Manual part# 5961-0509, published by Hewlett Packard.

    Here are some excerpts from the PCL 5 Printer Language Technical Reference Manual. These would apply mostly to the LaserWriter Select 360 since it has PCL 5 emulation.

    Job control commands are usually grouped together and sent at the beginning of a job. Page control commands and data are associated with each printed page of a job.

    JOB CONTROL COMMANDS include the following:
    - Printer Reset.
    - Universal End of Language/Start of PJL
    - Number of Copies.
    - Simplex/Duplex Print
    - Left and Top Offset Registration
    - Duplex Page Side Selection
    - Job Separation
    - Output Bin Selection
    - Unit of Measure.

    PAGE CONTROL COMMANDS include the following:
    - Page Size
    - Paper Source
    - Logical Page Orientation
    - Print Direction
    - Text Area
    - Left Margin
    - Right Margin
    - Clear Horizontal Margins
    - Top Margin
    - Text Length
    - Perforation Skip
    - Horizontal Motion Index
    - Vertical Motion Index
    - Line Spacing

Document Information
Product Area: Apple Software; Printers
Category: Printer Software
Sub Category: LaserWriter

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