LA50 Printer

This document is the LA50 Printer Programmer Reference Manual, providing comprehensive technical information for software developers and systems integrators to control the LA50 dot matrix serial printer.

The manual covers:

1. Printer Features and Specifications: Details the LA50's capabilities, including operation in Text Mode (for alphanumeric printing with selectable pitches, character sets, and enhanced printing options) and Graphic Mode (for individual dot control to print images). It outlines performance specifications such as print speed, character formats (7x9, 13x9 matrix), line spacing, and physical attributes.

2. Communications: Describes the printer's RS-232C and RS-423 compatible serial interface, detailing interface signals (Receive Data, Send Data, Terminal Ready, Request to Send, Ready/Busy, Grounds), its 2047-character input buffer, and data synchronization protocols like XON/XOFF and Ready/Busy. It also explains serial character data formats, including baud rate and parity options.

3. Configuration: Explains how to configure the printer using physical slide switches located under the access cover. These switches control settings for national character sets, graphics aspect ratio, communication protocols, right margin behavior (truncate or wrap), baud rate, and data format.

4. Text Mode Character Processing: Details how the printer processes characters based on ANSI X3.4-1977 standards. This includes managing active column and line positions, horizontal and vertical advance increments, and the specific functions of both printable characters and various control characters (e.g., backspace, line feed, form feed, tabs, shift in/out, null, cancel, substitute, escape, delete).

5. Escape and Control Sequences: This core section outlines the ANSI-standard escape sequences used for programmatic control of most printer features. These sequences enable fine-grained control over partial paper motion, horizontal and vertical print pitches, page length, character set selection (including multinational and special graphics sets), printing density, bold and underline attributes, requesting product identification, and obtaining printer status reports (detailing hardware failures, communication issues, buffer overflows, and paper status). It also details the sequences for entering and exiting graphic mode.

6. Graphic Mode Operation: Provides instructions on how to send data to directly control individual printhead dots (upper six dots) when in graphic mode, and describes special graphic control characters for repeat sequences, graphic carriage returns, and new lines.

The document also includes Appendices with detailed character set charts and a comprehensive summary of all supported escape sequences for quick reference.