Microsoft KB Archive/23114

Function of the PCSDs in the PRDs

PSS ID Number: Q23114 Article last modified on 11-02-1994

1.x 2.x 3.x

MS-DOS

Question:

How does Word use the PCSDs in the PRDs?

Response:

When Word is sending text to the printer, and sees that text has been formatted in some special way, Word looks to the PCSDs to know how to tell the printer to do the special formatting.

For instance, suppose a word has been formatted for italics. Word gets ready to send that word to the printer, and says “Wait, this text has been formatted for italics. I’ve got to look at byte:136 (begin italics) so I can tell this printer to begin italics.” Suppose byte:136 in the PRD has “^[Q” listed. Word will then send out an ESC Q to the printer, and the printer will go into italics mode. Word then sends the text to the printer, and the printer prints it in italics. When Word has finished sending the italicized text, Word must tell the printer to leave italics mode. Word refers to byte:144 and sends to the printer whatever control sequence is specified there. The printer leaves italics mode, and Word proceeds to send the following unitalicized text.

The control sequences of certain PCSD’s require a “parameter.” For example, the “set line spacing” sequence (byte:18) requires a parameter that tells the printer what to set the line spacing to. The “set character spacing” sequence (byte:28) tells the printer to move the printhead, but a parameter is required to tell the printer how far to move the printhead. When a parameter is required, Word calculates the correct parameter that needs to be sent to the printer (according to such things as the mod, the value, the magic, the dxaMin and dyaMin, and the formatting set by you in the relevant Word formatting commands), and sends the parameter immediately after it sends the control sequence.

KBCategory: kbother KBSubcategory: Additional reference words:

=
================================================================ Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.