Printer Job Language

Printer Job Language (PJL) was developed by Hewlett-Packard.

PJL works above other printer languages.
PJL provide four major functions:

 1) Switching printer languages
 2) Job management
 3) Printer configuration
 4) Feedback from printer to host computer

1) Switch printer languages
PJL can let you print one job as PostScript (PS), the next as Printer Command Language (PCL),
and the next as any other language that the printer supports, with out user intervention.

2) Job management
You can manage print jobs.

3) Printer configuration
PJL can be used to set control panel settings, and display messages, on the display pannel.

4) Feedback from printer to host computer
PJL will let you request informations such as printer model, status, and configuration.

PJL jobs start and end with a Universal Exit Language (UEL) command (<ESC>%-12345X).
The UEL must be followed by (@PJL).
This command exits the current printer language and give controle to PJL.

Here is an example of a small PJL program:

<ESC>%-12345X@PJL <CR><LF>
@PJL COMMENT ************************<CR><LF>
@PJL COMMENT ** Sample PJL Program **<CR><LF>
@PJL COMMENT ************************<CR><LF>
@PJL SET COPIES = 3 <CR><LF>
<ESC>%-12345X

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PJL Commands

COMMENT	@PJL COMMENT [words] [<CR>] <LF>
DEFAULT	@PJL DEFAULT [LPARM: ***] variable = value [<CR>] <LF>