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Q140045: Creating a PCL Separator File That Creates No Printed Output

Article: Q140045
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 3.5,3.51,4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbprint kbPrinting
Last Modified: 05-FEB-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

This article describes how to create a PCL separator page which generates no
output when switching a printer to PCL mode. The default PCL separator page, in
addition to switching to PCL mode, prints the username, date, and job number on
the separator sheet. A non-printing separator page may be preferable if you have
a printer that does not autoswitch to PCL and you do not want the separator
pages generated by the default PCL.SEP separator file printed.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The PCL separator page is used to force a printer which supports multiple input
formats (such as Postscript, PCL, HPGL, etc.) to switch to PCL mode. For a
general PCL separator that does not generate output, start with
%SystemRoot%\System32\PSCRIPT.SEP:

  \ \H1B\L%-12345X@PJL ENTER LANGUAGE=POSTSCRIPT\0

  Copy this to another file and modify it to read:

  \
  \H1B\L%-12345X@PJL ENTER LANGUAGE=PCL\0

Then specify this as your separator page.

For more information on customizing separator pages please see section 6 page 13
of the "Windows NT Concept and Planning Guide" portion of Books Online (which is
included on the Windows NT CD-ROM) or see your printer's manual.

Here is the default PCL.SEP file (; = comments added):

  \ 
  \H1B\L%-12345X@PJL ENTER LANGUAGE=PCL
  \H1B\L&l1T\0
  \H34
  \B\S\N\4        ;Switch to double high/double wide and print user name
  \I\4            ;Print the job id#
  \U\D\4          ;End double high/double wide and print date
  \E              ;Eject the page

Additional query words: prodnt

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Keywords          : kbprint kbPrinting 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search
Version           : :3.5,3.51,4.0

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