Optimizing Print Speed; Dynamic Menu Options - Printronix P8000 Series Administrator's Manual

Optimizing Print Speed

LP+, IGP/PGL, and IGP/VGL Emulations
The printer has been configured at the factory for optimal print speed. To optimize print quality instead,
you can change values for specific configuration parameters such as Barcode Quality and Print Quality.
Doing so, however, will decrease the printer speed.
If you have optimized the printer for print quality, you can change it to optimize the speed by selecting the
values as follows:
•
Bar Code Quality (Printer Control menu): Select Draft.
(See page 190 for the PRINTER CONTROL Menu, and see page 191 for a written description of Bar
Code Quality.)
•
Print Quality (IGP/PGL emulation): Select Dataprocessing.
(See page 147 for the IGP/PGL Configuration Menu, and see page 153 for a written description of
Print Quality.)
•
Print Quality (IGP/VGL emulation): Select Dataprocessing.
(See page 157 for the IGP/VGL Configuration Menu, and see page 160 for a written description of
Print Quality.)
OpenPrint Postscript/PDF Emulations
The printer has been configured at the Factory for optimal print quality through the Resolution
configuration parameter (Postscript/PDF menu). However, users can reduce the horizontal, vertical, or
both DPI values of this menu to increase printer speed. The downside of using a lower DPI value is as
follows:
•
Print quality is reduced and it can be difficult to read small characters.
•
Barcodes may not get detected and optimized (barcodes are not searched for DPI values less than
120).
Users are encouraged to use the Resolution menu to find the right combination of Print Quality, Barcode
Optimization, and Print Speed.
H-Series Emulations
The print speed varies based on the typeface selected.

Dynamic Menu Options

The main menus for each of the different firmware types have several footnotes based on the possible
options installed with the printer. This includes HOST IO connectivity, various hardware/mechanical
options, and software emulations and features. The P8000 products dynamically detect options installed
and only include relevant menus for the user to configure. The following is a description of the types of
installation options and their effect on the main menu:
•
HOST INTERFACE: Ethernet related menus are only present when the hardware is
installed/enabled.
•
NETWORK SETUP: The NETWORK SETUP menu is only present when Ethernet is installed.
•
Centronics and IEEE 1284: Options are only selectable or configurable when the optional parallel
interface card is present.
•
QUICK SETUP: This menu is a collection of popular menus to help users quickly configure the
printer. It is also affected by the installed options.
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