Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!mailrus!nrl-cmf!ukma!gatech!mcnc!decvax!ucbvax!CU20B.COLUMBIA.EDU!SIT.BUSH
From: SIT.BUSH@CU20B.COLUMBIA.EDU (Nick Bush)
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: re:  Problem with  define/form (extra sheets of paper)
Message-ID: <12375489637.150.SIT.BUSH@CU20B.COLUMBIA.EDU>
Date: 17 Feb 88 17:54:56 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 22

Actually, there is a very easy way to avoid the blank pages that works
with most devices. The print symbiont will assume that all text that occurs
between a "DCS" character and a "ST" character does not change the position of
the printer, and it will therefore not send a form feed afterwards.  This
can be used with any device which will ignore the "DCS" and "ST" characters.
These two characters are eight bit control characters which can also be sent
as two character strings. "DCS" (mnemonic for "Device Control String") can be
represented by <ESC>P, and "ST" (mnemonic for "String Terminator") can be
represented by <ESC>\.

LaserJets (and other HP printers) ignore the DCS and ST strings, so it is
possible to place the DCS before the setup string and follow it with ST
without a problem.  I have used this on a number of HP printers and it works
quite well - no undesired blank pages at all.

- Nick Bush
  Sterling-Winthrop Research Institute
  Rensselaer, NY  12144

Internet: SIT.BUSH@CU20B.COLUMBA.EDU
BITnet:   SIT.BUSH@CU20B.BITNET
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