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You can control your Star LaserPrinter 8111 in two ways, either through front
panel
parameters
or through software commands. In this chapter we will
consider printer controls mostly from the perspective of the front panel.
However, we'll also meet three special commands, the Star LaserPrinter 8111
superset.
Throughout this manual we approach parameters and commands the same
way: overall printer-level controls first, then page-level controls (layout and
print position movements), and finally character-level controls (fonts and
graphics). We'll discuss these in general terms in this chapter.
The specific commands you can send to your printer to make it
emulate,
or
work like, other printers are described in chapters 4 through 6. The most
important fact about printer commands, though, is that you may not even
need to know how to use them. If your software systems include their own
printer drivers, you may want to read only this chapter and skip all of
chapters 4 through 6.
PRINTER PARAMETERS
The front panel
-
The easiest way to control your Star LaserPrinter 8111 is through its front
panel, as explained in more detail in your
Star LaserPrinter 8111 Operations
Manual.
When your printer is
online
(connected to and under the control of your
computer), its front panel display shows you the printer's status. For
example, the READY light blinks when the printer is warming up. The
DATA light comes on whenever the printer is holding data it hasn't printed
yet.
When you press the ON LINE button, the printer changes from normal to
ofline
mode and cannot accept data from your computer. When the printer
is offline you can use the other panel buttons. For instance, if you press the
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