Digital ANSI-Compliant Printing Protocol Level 3 Programming Supplement

This document, "Digital ANSI-Compliant Printing Protocol Level 3 Programming Supplement," serves as a guide for programmers creating applications for or understanding document appearance on Digital's level 3 printing devices. It details the device-specific implementation of the Digital ANSI-Compliant Printing Protocol (DEC PPL3), which is based on ANSI Standard X3.64.

The supplement covers specific information for the ANSI Text translator, ScriptPrinter, LN03 Image printers, PrintServer network printers, and the DEClaser 1100, 2100/2200, and 3200 printer families. Key topics addressed include:

• Logical to Physical Image Mapping: Details resolution capabilities (e.g., centipoint addressing, 300 dpi imaging), printable areas for various paper sizes, and how logical page sizes are mapped to physical sheets, including considerations for white space or truncation and duplex printing orientations.
• Initial State Values: Outlines default settings and values at job startup, power-up, and after soft terminal or initial state resets, particularly concerning font selection and paper handling.
• Maximum Printer Values: Specifies limits for various printer features and parameters, such as font memory, number of trays, and graphics handling.
• Paper Handling: Explains duplex printing modes, input tray selection, and sheet size definitions, highlighting device-specific behaviors and fallbacks.
• Status and Error Reporting: Lists supported device reports (e.g., Device Attributes Report, Font Status Report, Device Status Report) and their error parameters for debugging.
• Fonts: Describes the built-in font repertory, downline loaded font capacity, algorithmic transformations for font attributes (like bold, italic, and orientation), font metrics, and font file validation processes.
• Sixel Graphics: Provides details on macro parameter values and restrictions related to sixel graphic translation.
• Alternative Protocols: Identifies supported and ignored DEC PPL3 commands for protocol switching.

The manual was revised in October 1991.