PMPRINT/PMPLOT Queue Processor Parameters

How the queue processor processes a print job is controlled by the optional queue-processor parameters that you can specify in the pdopData parameter of DevOpenDC. The PM adds these parameter values to the spool file.

The PMPRINT/PMPLOT queue processor parameters enable an application to do the following:

• Specify the number of copies of a print job
  
• Restrict printing to a specific area on the page
  
• Specify which part of a picture is to be printed
  
• Specify color output (if your printer allows this)
  
• Specify the foreground and background colors in a monochrome print

Note: The application need not use queue processor parameters if all that is required is a single copy of a picture, scaled to fit the page. These are the default settings of the queue-processor parameters.

The first parameter (COP) is used for all spool-file formats. The remaining parameters are valid for PM_Q_STD spool files only. Because PM_Q_STD data are used mainly for graphic data, these parameters are described in relation to the printing of picture files.

The PMPRINT/PMPLOT queue-processor parameters are separated by spaces and are:

COP=n

The COP parameter specifies the number of copies of the spool file that you want printed. The value of n must be an integer in the range of 1 through 999.

The default is COP=1.

ARE=C | w,h,l,t

The ARE parameter determines the size and position of the output area. This is the area of the physical page to which printing is restricted.

The default value of ARE=C means that the output area is the whole page. Note, however, that the printer cannot print outside its own device clip limits.

To size and position the output area at a specific point on the page, use ARE=w,h,l,t, where:

w, h

are the width and height of the desired output area
l, t
are the offsets of the upper-left corner of the output area from the left (l) and from the top (t) of the maximum output area
These four values must be given as percentages of the maximum output dimensions. The maximum output area is the area within the device clip limits.

The FIT parameter determines which part of the picture is to be printed. You can request the whole of the picture, scaled to fit the output area; or you can position the picture (actual size) anywhere within the output area. This could mean that the picture is clipped at the boundaries of the output area.

The default value of FIT=S causes the output to be scaled until the larger of the height or width just fits within the defined output area. The aspect ratio of the picture is maintained.

To print the picture in actual size, use FIT=l,t, where l,t are the coordinates of the point in the picture that you want positioned at the center of the output area: l is measured from the left edge of the picture, and t is measured from the top edge. The coordinates must be given as percentages of the actual dimensions of the picture.

The XFM parameter enables you to override the picture-positioning and clipping instructions that are provided by the ARE and FIT parameters, including their defaults.

The default value of XFM= allows the appearance of the output to be determined by the settings of the ARE and FIT parameters.

A value of XFM=0 yields output as specified in the picture file. For example, applications that use many different forms can define different positions on each form for their output.

The COL parameter enables you to specify color output if you have a color printer.

A value of COL=M creates monochrome output (black foreground with no background color). This is supported by all devices.

A value of COL=C creates color output. If you request color output on a monochrome device, the printer presentation driver tries to satisfy your request, which can cause problems because the only color available is black. For example, if the picture file specifies a red line on a blue background, both are drawn in black.

The default is COL=M when you are addressing a monochrome printer and COL=C when you are addressing a color printer.

The MAP parameter enables you to decide how the neutral colors (those that are not specified in the picture file) are printed.

The default value of MAP=N yields a normal representation of the screen picture on a printed page, which means that the page background is white and the foreground is black.

A value of MAP=A provides the reverse of the normal representation: the background is black and the foreground is white on the printed page..

Note:

Pictures from a spool file can be printed differently than those printed when the spooler is not selected, because the default setting without the spooler is to print pictures their actual size, whereas the default for the queue-processor FIT parameter is "scaled to fit" the output area.

The queue-processor parameters must be separated by one or more blank spaces; for example, "COP=3 ARE=C FIT=S".

The parameters can be listed in any order. Default values are used for parameters that are omitted or entered incorrectly.

Bit-map or image data (data constructed by setting pels on or off) is not affected by the ARE and FIT parameters. Consequently, if your picture contains bit-map or image data, the printed version will be different from the screen version if you use these parameters.