Extra! User Guide > Terminal Sessions > Printer Sessions > Formatting Print Output > Printer Emulation in the Windows Environment

Printer Emulation in the Windows Environment

Windows expects you to perform positioning, line and box drawing, and other formatting operations through the Windows Graphics Device Interface (GDI), instead of using the traditional text stream with embedded formatting control codes employed by DOS.

Two ways to perform formatting

  • GDI Mode intercepts SCS and PCL5 commands within the host print datastream (either embedded in text, or within LU1 SCS transparency blocks) and emulates them through the Windows GDI. Because Extra! emulates PCL commands by transforming them into GDI service calls, PCL commands can be "performed" on any Windows graphics printer, whether it has built-in support for PCL or not.

  • Raw Output Mode bypasses the Windows GDI altogether. Formatting commands in the printer's "native" command language (whether embedded in text or placed in LU1 transparency blocks) are sent directly to the printer. Standard SCS controls are discarded for Raw Output Mode. Raw Output Mode can be used with any manufacturer's printer. Typical uses for Raw Output Mode include printing to Postscript or other non-PCL printers, and creating text files for input to other PC programs such as databases.

To set up Windows for GDI or Raw Output Modes

  1. From the printer session Options Menu, choose Settings.

    -or-

    Choose the Settings button from the toolbar.

    The Settings - Connection dialog box appears.

  2. Select the Printer Category.

  3. Choose the Printer Tab.

  4. For Raw Mode, select the Bypass Windows GDI Printing System checkbox.

    -or-

    For GDI Mode, do not select this option.

  5. Choose the OK button to save your changes and close the printer settings dialog box.

    -or-

    Choose the Apply button if you wish to save your changes and continue to configure printer settings.