printing - PCL Font Selection -

can give more detail on how pcl font selection works? i'm confused reading hp reference manuals.

there primary fontselecttable , secondary fontselecttable. e.g.: make changes primary fontselecttable:

ec(0u ec(s0p ec(s16.66h ec(s8.5v ec(s0s ec(s0b ec(s0t 

when these new characteristics primary fontselecttable used?

is this:

1)

• a) text need printed
• b) check font use (primary or secondary). (e.g. "primary")
• c) check in fontselecttable happens (e.g. primary fontselecttable data used).
• d) font selected based on prioirity on primary fontselecttable characteristics.
• e) font, based on characteristics of primary fontselecttable set current font
• f) text printed current font == primary font.

2)

• a) text need printed
• b) check font use (primary or secondary). (e.g. "primary")
• c) fontselecttable not checked. use current active or default primary font.
• d) text printed current font == primary font.

so question is: when primary/secondary font change?

is everytime print fontselecttable checked or happend pcl command (which one?) tells printer create new primary/secondary font based on current status of fontselecttable?

you sort of have idea, font select table wish list, if will, no guarantee there font matches specifications in select table resident in printer. font spec give @ top of post takes effect upon receipt printer, , if such font resident see change immediately. remember, select table selects available fonts, not create them.

but should printer if there no resident font matches of selection criterion in table. well, there pecking order of font attributes pcl interpreter uses select font used. order of priority is...

1. symbol set
2. proportional vs fixed pitch font
3. size ( pitch (cpi) fixed pitch or point size proportional)
4. posture ( upright vs. italics et. al. )
5. stroke weight ( medium vs. bold et. al. )
6. typface ( courier, times, arial etc.)

i repopulate font select table every time changes fonts. don't have though. can issue "bold on" command ec(3b , there chance font expect. surprises can arise when change single attribute.

assume printing using letter gothic, ok, change style italic, still ok, , change stroke weight bold(effectively looking bold italic), not ok. don't have letter gothic more. problem there no letter gothic bold /italic font in standard laserjet internal fonts. printer looking font is

some symbol set fixed pitch size (most scalable) italic bold letter gothic typeface

sadly, printer steps through priorities against available fonts , lo , behold fixed pitch bold italic font available courier, , get. typeface has lowest selection priority, first casualty of mismatch.

as exercise, try starting courier, , change ec(0p ec(1p

you can't make fixed pitch courier proportional font command. changes best match.

to clear printer defaults primary font upon reset , remain active font until issue ^n (ctrl-n) switch secondary font active font until issue ^o switch primary. changes primary table begin ec( while secondary changes begin ec)

are more confused now?