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I
Macros and Page Overlays
A macro is a sequence of formatting commands which you
download to the printer for future use. You assign an ID
number to each macro which uniquely identifies it. Macros
are normally associated with command sequences which
are used frequently, such as letterhead designs. By stor-
ing these commands as macros in the printer, the amount
of data sent to the printer is reduced and throughput is
increased.
In practice, most macros are used as "overlays", which
are printed automatically on each page. This provides
a convenient way to overlay a form on printed variable
information (see
Overlay Macro
commands).
The printer will store a maximum of 32 macros. How-
ever, macros and downloaded fonts compete for the same
memory area in the printer. Individual macros can have
voluminous definitions, because printer memory is dynam-
ically allocated as it is needed.
Macros can be either temporary or permanent
Tempo-
rary macros
are deleted by a printer reset or power-down;
permanent macros
are only deleted by a power-down.
NOTE:
The Printer Software Commands described in Part
IV cannot be called from within a macro.
1.1
Nested Macros
Macros can be nested. That is, any macro may include
calls to other macros. Up to three levels of nesting are
permitted. Macro calls which would result in more than
three levels of nesting are ignored.
Note that a macro cannot call a "parent macro", that is,
another macro which directly or indirectly called the cur-
HP Emulation Mode
H-51
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