# Windows printer interface

The Windows printer interface uses the Windows GDI printer driver (wingdiprinter), which
 employs BASIC @() function codes to embed character sequences into the print
 data stream.

The @() function codes allow you to:

- Create and select graphical objects (such as fonts, pens, and brushes) for use during a print job.

- Specify the x,y coordinates on the printer page for outputting text, drawing lines or arcs, bitmaps, and drawing or filling rectangles, circles, and polygons.

- Specify text and background attributes, such as color and extra spacing.

The Windows printer driver always maintains the current x,y coordinate position on the print
 page. When outputting a line of text ending with a carriage return and line feed, the x,y
 coordinate position gets adjusted. When the outputting of a line goes beyond the end of the
 print page, the printer driver automatically ends the current page and advances to the next
 page.

 Note: You can force page advancement by storing a form feed character in the print data
 stream.

@() function codes 301 - 399 are defined in a control item
of the DEVICES file to support the @() function
to character sequence translations that the Windows printer driver
recognizes for calling the appropriate Windows Printer API methods.
Two types of Windows Printer @() function codes
are provided:

- @() function codes 301–339 perform setup tasks in preparation for a print job.

- @() function codes 340–399 perform the actual printing.

 CAUTION:
 Although multiple printing @() function codes can be
 concatenated, do not concatenate a setup @() function code
 with another setup @() function code or a printing
 @() function code.

 Setup @() function codes should always be isolated in a
 single statement.

 The Windows GDI interface removes <ESC> characters before sending output to
 the printer. This will virtually disable the use of HP PCL command sequences.
 See the following sub-topics for guidance on how to use @()
 function sequences instead of PCL for typeface management, x,y coordinates, and
 so on.

## See also

- [@() function](https://d3codex.com/pickbasic-flashbasic/at-parenthesis-function/)
- [assignfq (Windows) command](https://d3codex.com/tcl/assignfq-windows-command/)
- [devices file](https://d3codex.com/systemfiles/devices-file/)
- [dev-make command (Windows)](https://d3codex.com/tcl/dev-make-command-windows/)
- [sp-assign command](https://d3codex.com/tcl/sp-assign-command/)

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Source: https://d3codex.com/tcl/windows-printer-interface/ - part of the D3Codex reference.