I have purchased a refurbished HP font cartridge (number 92286W, Bar
Code 3-of-9/OCR-B). I have no instructions on how to use it.  The
operating system is unix (SCO Open Server).  I need to know the font
numbers so that I can select the proper font using embedded PCL escape
sequences.  Do I need a command to select the cartridge to begin with?

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Clarification of Question by savin-ga on 15 Sep 2002 11:30 PDT

The printer is an Epson EPL-8000 emulating an HP LaserJet III.

Hello Savin,

It appears you should be able to get the font numbers listed from the
control panel, but the manual may already have the answer you need. If
you want to follow along, there is an online copy of the Epson
EPL-8000 printer manual at...
  http://files.support.epson.com/pdf/epl8k_/epl8k_u1.pdf
This is a very extensive document (over 2 megabytes in size, about 330
pages long).

On page 2-10 (52 of the PDF file), the manual describes printing a
font sample. The steps are:
  1. Press SelecType once to enter SelecType 1 mode.
  2. Press the down arrow key until Font Sample is displayed.
  3. Press the right arrow key twice to get the font sample page
printed.
  4. Press SelecType twice to exit this mode.
The fonts are listed with their numbers in the right column.

I also checked appendix B (printed page B-35, page 284 of the PDF
file) where it describes the HP emulation mode. The 3 of 9 font is
listed with the following command sequences...
  ESC ( 0 Y
to make it the primary font
  ESC ) 0 Y
to make it the secondary font.

Other PCL commands are listed in this same area - I can't be sure
which commands you would be using, but it looks like all supported
commands are listed.

  --Maniac

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Request for Answer Clarification by savin-ga on 16 Sep 2002 20:35 PDT

The font you listed the code for, ESC ( 0 Y, is an internal font of
the printer.  It doesn't produce valid 3 of 9 code.  That's why I
bought the refurbished font cartridge.  It is the font cartridge I am
trying to use.  The sequence of steps you listed from pg 2-10 seems to
list only fonts that came with the printer originally.  However, I
will try again tomorrow to see if there is some combination to make it
work.

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Clarification of Answer by maniac-ga on 17 Sep 2002 17:34 PDT

Hello Savin,

Hmm. I was wondering if there is something more behind this problem
than what was originally stated. I did a little more research on the 3
of 9 font (w/o limiting it to the Epson printer) and there are a
number of sites that have more comprehensive examples including:

An example from Ameritech for printing bar codes from an AS/400
  http://www.ameritech.net/users/pbhall/barcode.html
I suggest this site because it appears to be particularly well written
and complete (e.g., font selection, fixed width, size, reset back to
original font and location).

Several control sequences for various bar code settings
  http://www.font.net/pdf/seq.PDF
The 3 of 9 based codes are all listed at the top.

I found these with a search using "ESC(0Y" as the search phrase. This
would pretty much lead me to believe that the 3 of 9 font should be
always accessed with this setting on HP compatible printers using PCL.

If these do not give you the output you need, I suspect the font
cartridge is...
 - damaged (and not usable)
 - not installed properly
 - somehow not enabledI would expect one of these problems
particularly if the font list from the control panel did not list the
bar code font you need. You could rule one or more of these out if you
could swap cartridges or printers. A local computer store or repair
shop may be able to help at little or no cost on this.

Another option to help test - get one of the free or low cost fonts
for download to confirm the operation of printer with that font. A
site such as
  http://www.advancemeants.com/code39font/download.htm
has evaluation fonts available for download. Search for "3 of 9"
"barcode" or "bar code" to find other sites if needed.

Let me know what you find out with your testing - I may be able to
suggest a few other options based on what you find out.
  --Maniac

The information supplied was clear and to the point and presented in a
very orderly way.  I appreciated the response to my request for
clarification.  Great job!

Which printer are you using this cartridge with?

It's an Epson EPL-8000.

Hi,

Thanks for all your research and the information you supplied.

I was wrong when I stated:

"The sequence of steps you listed from pg 2-10 seems to
list only fonts that came with the printer originally."

It does list the font cartridge fonts as well under the heading "Card
C(C)".

Using the esc sequence [esc](0Y[esc](s0p4.6h12v0s0b0T that was in the
link you supplied (http://www.ameritech.net/users/pbhall/barcode.html),
I was able to print the bar codes.  Unfortunately, they were not large
enough for my client, and also, I suspect they were only printing
digits and not alpha characters.  Maybe that's the difference between
3 of 9 and extended 3 of 9.  It would be easy enough to test except
that I've been doing all this over the modem and having someone at my
client's site fax me the results.  Next time I'm on site, I may test
it.

It has become less critical now for me because I was able to purchase
some PCL bar code fonts and get them working.

Thanks again,

Savin