This section includes hard copy devices such as pen-plotters, laser-printers and inkjet printers.
Printer and Plotter Filename and Unit Numbers (Fortran only)
By default, all printer/plotters use Fortran unit number 1 when creating a plot file. If the routine gSetDeviceFilename() or an OPEN statement has not been used, a file will be created with a default name such as FOR001.DAT under OpenVMS or HPGL.OUT under UNIX. A different unit number can be used by setting the relevant GINO configuration variable for that device as detailed below.
Printer and Plotter Configuration Settings
The following table lists all the available settings applicable to drivers in the printer/plotter section:
Device Driver
Config. Variable
Settings
Default
Description
HPGL
HPGL
N (-8 to 99)
1
F90 output channel for HPGL driver
HPHANDSH
String (P1, P2, P3)
P1
Set handshaking to XON/OFF (P1), ACK (P2) or hardwire (P3)
HPGLFORMAT
String (YES/NO)
NO
Sets output file to be formatted
HPLJ
HPLJ
N (-8 to 99)
1
F90 output channel for HPLJ driver
HPLJNOFEED
String (YES/NO)
NO
Suppresses formfeed character at gCloseDevice()
HPPJ
HPPJ
N (-8 to 99)
1
F90 output channel for HPPJ driver
HPPJNOFEED
String (YES/NO)
NO
Suppresses formfeed character at gCloseDevice()
POSTSCRIPT
POSTSCRIPT
N (-8 to 99)
1
F90 output channel for POSTSCRIPT driver
POSTFORMAT
String (YES/NO)
NO
Sets output file to be formatted
POSTHEAD
N or String (ALL)
0
Output job creator/date on page N or ALL
Printer and Plotter Intermediate Vector File
Printers that are driven by raster output rather than vector output utilise an internal GINO vector to raster pre-processor to create the output for the device. Normally this conversion is done in a large memory area where such resources are available. However, where the drawing area is larger than the default an intermediate vector file is used and the output is banded. This file is written to and read from any output unit number that is available at device initialisation and then removed at gCloseDevice(). The output is not affected when banded in such a way except that pixel output is not available and a simple box is drawn to represent the pixel area. Drivers that use an Intermediate Vector File are as follows:
HPLJ
HPPJ
Printer and Plotter 8-bit data
Certain drivers produce code as 8-bit data. Whether output to the printer is direct or via a disk file, it is essential that the transmission is in raw 8 bit mode with no interpretation or conversion of characters. This may require special configuration of the printer, the communications line and/or the spool/plot command. (See Device Drivers for the relevant implementation specific commands).
