Specifications

Revision C 16/01/96
Chapter 2 "PCL" - 95
Status readback
Introduction
Status readback features are explained in this section. The printer sends a status response message after receiving a
request for its status by these commands. You can get the information as shown below from the printer.
- available printer(user) memory
- current available fonts and symbol sets
- the ID numbers of downloaded macros and user-defined patterns to verify their
presence
The computer system must have a device driver for bi-directional communication to get the printers status
response. Bi-directional communication is supported on the HL-10h and HL-6V by the printer driver which
comes with these machines.
Memory status request
You can identify the capacity of the user memory in the printer by using the memory status request. You can
determine whether to execute "downloading" or not, by knowing the available memory and thus avoid printer
memory overrun errors.
Entity Status
You can request the printer to send the status of its entities. A font, symbol set, macro, or user-defined pattern in
the printer can be an entity. In order to request entity status, a position type and a position unit must be identified
first and then the entity request command must be sent.
Location type is the memory positions that contain the entities. Memory positions are internal ROM, RAM,
cartridges/cards, PCMCIA memory card and one additional position specified as "currently selected". Currently
selected means the entity is active. However, "currently selected" can be applied only for fonts and user-defined
patterns.
Location unit means more specific position within the location type.
When the location type and unit are identified, you can request the status with the Inquire Status Readback Entity
command. The entity (font, symbol set, macro, or user-defined pattern) is specified by this command and the
printer sends the response.
When an invalid request is sent, the printer sends an error response back.