Glossary

Note that these definitions apply specifically to printers. If a word is italicized, see that topic for more information.

application program

A software program that helps you carry out a particular task, such as word processing or financial planning.

ASCII

Acronym for the American Standard Code for Information

Interchange. A standardized coding system for assigning numerical codes to letters and symbols.

auto line feed

When this feature is enabled using a DIP switch or external control through the parallel connector, the printer will automatically feed the paper one line after receiving a CR code.

baud rate

A measure of the speed of data transmission. Usually expressed in bits per second or bps.

bidirectional printing

Printing in which the print head alternates printing a line left to right then the next line right to left, and so on. Because the head prints in both directions, the overall printing speed increases by eliminating wasted (non-printing) movement.

binary

See number systems.

bit

A binary digit (0 or l), which is the smallest unit of information used by a printer or computer. See also number systems.

buffer

See input buffer and memory.

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byte

A unit of information consisting of eight bits.

carriage return (CR)

The control code that returns the print position to the left margin.

When issued together with a line feed, the print position moves to the left margin of the next line. In bidirectional printing, the print head may not physically move to the left margin.

character set

A collection of letters, numbers, and symbols that provides you with the characters used in a particular language.

condensed

Printing in which each character is approximately 60 percent of the width of standard characters. For example, condensed 10 characters per inch (cpi) has 17 characters per inch. Useful for fitting wide tables or spreadsheets onto the paper.

continuous paper

Paper which has sprocket-feed holes on both long edges, is perforated between pages, and is supplied in a folded stack. Also called fanfold paper.

control code

In addition to the codes for printable characters, the ASCII standard also includes 33 other codes which are called control codes. These control codes perform such functions as sounding the beeper and performing a carriage return or line feed.

cut sheet feeder (CSF)

An optional, detachable device which automatically feeds single sheets of paper into the printer.

data dump

Sometimes called hex dump. A troubleshooting feature. When the printer is in the data dump mode, each code that it receives is printed in hexadecimal notation.

2 Glossary

decimal

See number systems.

default

A value or setting that takes effect when the equipment is turned on, reset, or initialized.

DIP switches

Small switches in a printer that control various printer functions and set the default status of the printer when it is turned on or initialized. DIP stands for Dual In-line Package.

dot graphics

A graphic design formed by patterns of dots. Also called bit image graphics.

dot matrix

A method of printing in which each letter or symbol is formed by a pattern (matrix) of individual dots.

double-high printing

Printing in which each character is twice as tall as normal.

double-strike printing

A way of producing bolder characters. Each character is printed twice; the second time, the dots are printed slightly below the original dots. Can only be used in draft mode.

double-wide printing

A print width in which each character is twice as wide as normal characters. (The cpi is halved.) draft mode

One of two print qualities available on your printer. Draft uses fewer dots per character for high-speed printing. See also Letter

Quality.

emphasized printing

A way of producing darker characters. In a single pass of the print head, characters receive twice the number of dots.

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Epson Extended Graphics character table

The Epson Extended Graphics character table contains international accented characters, Greek characters, and character graphics for printing lines, corners, and shaded areas.

ESC (escape) code

A special control code used to begin most printer commands.

ESC/P

Abbreviation for Epson Standard Code for Printers. The system of commands lets you perform software control of your printer from your computer. It is standard for all Epson printers and supported by most application software for personal computers.

font

A font is a style of type designated by a family name.

form

In printer terminology, a form normally refers to a page.

form feed

Refers to both a control code and a panel button that advances the paper to the top of the next page.

hexadecimal (hex)

See number systems.

initialize

To establish the initial default status of the printer by turning the printer on or by sending an INIT signal or code.

input buffer

The memory in the printer in which data sent from the computer is stored while waiting to be printed.

interface

The means of connection between the computer and printer. See also parallel interface and serial interface.

italic

A typestyle in which the characters slant. This sentence is italicized.

4 Glossary

Letter Quality

One of two print qualities available on your printer. Letter Quality provides better readability and appearance at a reduced print speed.

See also draft mode.

line feed

Both a control code and a panel button that advances the paper one line space.

loading position

The position to which the paper is automatically loaded. It can be adjusted by using the micro-adjustment feature.

memory

The printer, like a computer, has a memory. When you print a file from a computer, the contents of the file are transferred quickly from the computer’s memory to the printer’s memory. The printer then prints information from its own memory at a much slower rate.

This way of printing frees the computer to do other work while the printer is still working. The printer memory is sometimes called the buffer memory or input buffer.

micro-adjustment

A feature that adjusts the paper loading and short tear-off positions by the smallest possible increments.

number systems

Three number systems are commonly used with printers: decimal is base 10 and uses the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

(This is the most familiar system.) hexadecimal (hex) is base 16 and uses the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,

8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, and F. This is frequently used by programmers.

Any decimal number between 0 and 255 can be expressed by a two-digit hex number.

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binary is base 2 and uses only the digits 0 and 1. All information in computer systems is handled in binary form represented by electrical signals that are on or off. A binary digit is often called a bit; any decimal number between 0 and 255 can be expressed by an eight-bit binary number.

on line

When the printer is on line, it is able to communicate with the computer connected to it.

paper-out sensor

A small switch behind the platen that sends a signal when it is not in contact with paper, informing the printer and remote computer that there is no paper loaded, and causing the on.

PAPER OUT light to go paper tension unit

The part of the printer that fits above the platen to assure proper paper tension in the printing area.

parallel interface

An interface that connects the computer and the printer. A parallel interface transmits data one character or code at a time. See also serial interface.

platen

The black roller that provides the backing for the paper during printing.

print quality

Your printer has two types of print quality; draft and Letter Quality.

Draft is for high-speed, draft quality jobs; Letter Quality is used to produce more polished documents.

proportional printing

Printing in which the character width varies from character to character. For example, a capital W receives much more space than a lowercase i. The result looks more like a typeset book than a typewritten draft.

6 Glossary

pull tractor unit

An optional device that feeds continuous paper and multi-part forms through the printer.

push tractor

A built-in device that feeds continuous paper through the printer.

RAM

Acronym for Random Access Memory. The portion of the printer’s memory used as a buffer and as a place for storing user-defined characters. All data stored in RAM is lost when the printer is turned off.

reset

To return a printer to its defaults, either by a command, an INIT signal, code, or by turning the printer off and on.

self test

A method of checking the operation of the printer. When the self test is run, the printer prints out its current DIP switch settings and the characters that are stored in its ROM (Read Only Memory).

serial interface

A serial interface transmits data one bit at a time. See also parallel interface.

short tear-off

A feature that automatically feeds the perforation of continuous paper to the tear-off position to be removed by the operator, and then draws the paper back to the loading position. These positions can be adjusted using the micro-adjustment feature. See also microadjustment and loading position.

10 cpi

A character spacing of 10 characters per inch. This is often the standard or default pitch. Also referred to as pica.

tractor

The part of the printer that moves continuous paper through the printer by its sprockets gripping the holes in continuous paper.

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12 cpi

A character spacing in which each character is slightly narrower than normal, so that there are 12 characters per inch. Also referred to as elite.

unidirectional printing

Printing in one direction only. Allows more precise vertical alignment than bidirectional printing. Often used for printing graphics.

user-defined characters

Characters that are defined and stored in the printer by the user.

Also known as download characters.

8 Glossary