How to Send Two-Character Printer Control Codes in Version 2.x
PSS ID Number: Q37886 Article last modified on 02-13-1991
2.00 2.10 2.20 MS-DOS
Summary: The following program for COBOL Versions 2.x shows how to send a two-character control code sequence to a printer. Please refer to your printer manual for a listing of the control codes for your printer.
More Information: The value sent to the printer must be the decimal equivalent of the concatenated hexadecimal number representing the sequence of control codes. ESC+E is the standard Epson printer control code sequence to turn on boldface type. In hexadecimal representation, ESC is 1B hex, and the letter E is 45 hex. When you concatenate these hexadecimal codes, you get 1B45 hex. 1B45 hex is equal to a decimal value of 6981. When using two-character control codes, you should assign this decimal value to a COMP-0 variable (an integer of two bytes) in the WORKING-STORAGE SECTION. A COMP-4 variable should be used for three-character control codes, because the three-character control sequence requires an integer of 4 bytes. The example below, plus examples for other COBOL versions, are included in an application note entitled “Cobol 1.x-4.00 Printer Control Codes,” which can be obtained from Microsoft Product Support Services. The following is a code example:
identification division.
program-id. print.
*
* COBOL Version 2.x: sending two-character control codes to
* the printer
*
environment division.
configuration section.
special-names.
printer is printer-device.
input-output section.
file-control.
select print-file assign to printer.
*
data division.
file section.
fd print-file
label records omitted.
01 print-rec pic x(80).
01 cntl-rec pic 9(4) usage comp-0.
working-storage section.
* Epson printer reset = ESC+@ = hex 1B40 = 6976 decimal
01 reset-code pic 9(4) value 6976 comp-0.
* Epson printer boldface on = ESC+E = 1B45 hex = 6981 decimal
01 twochr-code pic 9(4) value 6981 comp-0.
procedure division.
only-para.
open output print-file.
move "this line is not emphasized" to print-rec.
write print-rec.
************************************
* Direct printer to print boldface *
************************************
*
write cntl-rec from reset-code before advancing 0.
write cntl-rec from print-code before advancing 0.
*
move "this line is emphasized" to print-rec.
write print-rec.
*
* reset printer:
write cntl-rec from reset-code before advancing 0.
move "this line is not emphasized" to print-rec.
write print-rec.
close print-file.
stop run.
Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1991.
