How to Use Duplex Printing

Duplex printing is the ability to print on both the front and back sides of the printer paper. The Laserjet 3D and the Laserjet 3SI are the two PCL (Printer Control Language) laser printers that support duplex printing. These two printers also support simplex (one-sided) printing.

To use duplex printing on these printers, duplex printing must be configured and enabled. Configuration consists of modifying an existing printer type file so that Duplex Printer Mode is enabled. This is done using the Workstation Configurator (TTUTIL.PUB.SYS). This printer type file is then assigned to the printer in NMMGR. This allows the Terminal I/O driver to send the Front-of-Page (FOP) escape sequence to the printer when appropriate.

In the Workstation Configurator, the field before the question Does the printer support duplex printing (Y, N), type Y to indicate that a printer may be used as a duplex printer. To save this modification, press [ENTER] and then the SAVE DATA function key.

Once configuration is complete the printer must be enabled for duplex printing. Duplex printing can be enabled and disabled by sending escape sequences to the printer. This can be done in three ways:

There are three escape sequences for duplex printing:

The two duplex modes provide for the binding of the final document. Vertical binding allows for binding a document along the physical length of the page and horizontal binding allows for binding a document along the physical width of the page. This is shown in Figure 9-1 “Duplex Mode Page Binding”, where the dotted line (- - -) represents binding.

Figure 9-1 Duplex Mode Page Binding

In addition to the escape sequences mentioned above, the [RESET] escape sequence ([ESC]) will also disable duplex mode and return the printer to simplex mode. Therefore, the duplex mode escape sequences should be entered after the [RESET] escape sequence in an initialization string.

Since the duplex mode escape sequences can be embedded within a data file, it is possible for a printer configuration not to be in agreement with how the printer is enabled.

To avoid this situation, close attention to detail during configuration and use of escape sequences is required. When configuring simplex printers, always indicate in the Printer Control screen of the printer file that duplex printing is supported. Also, do not send duplex mode escape sequences to simplex printers. When configuring duplex printers for duplex printing, it is mandatory to indicate in the Printer Control screen that duplex printing is supported. Duplex printing will not be effective until the escape sequences are received by the printer. Similarly, duplex printing will remain in effect until the Disable duplex mode escape sequence is received or the [RESET] escape sequence is received.

For detailed information on TTUTIL.PUB.SYS, refer to Customizing Terminal Type Files and Printer Type Files with Workstation Configurator.

For detailed information on the use of the escape sequences refer to the technical reference manual provided with the printer.