HP MIO Editable Character Translation

Preface

Editable character translation is available in the AXIS HP MIO from release 1.21.2. Please refer to the AXIS HP MIO User's Manual and Technical Reference for further information on other functions and parameters.

6.11 Character Translation

Normally, there is no need to modify the character translation tables, since they are designed to produce the same printouts as the emulated IBM printer. However, there are three instances where you might want to modify the translation tables:

• You want to use a Symbol Set not supported by the AXIS HP-MIO
• Your IBM system uses a System Language not supported by the AXIS HP-MIO
• You want to replace certain characters for special purposes

AXIS HP-MIO Character Translation

System Character Codes are LU-1 EBCDIC codes, DSC/DSE DBC codes (3270/Coax mode), or SCS EBCDIC codes (5250/Twinax mode).

• EBCDIC codes are translated into Axis Internal Code (AIC) using a translation table dependent on the current System Language.
• DBC codes are translated into Axis Internal Code (AIC) using two fixed (language independent) translation tables, one for normal characters, and one for APL characters.
• AIC codes are translated into ASCII codes using a translation table dependent on the current Symbol Set.

A user-defined EBCDIC-to-AIC and a user-defined AIC-ASCII translation tables are fully editable on a character-to-character basis. In addition, the AIC to ASCII tables have character-to-string capabilities, making it possible to translate one AIC code into several ASCII codes.

6.11.1 Symbol Set Modification

There are five pre-defined and one user definable Symbol Set (AIC to ASCII) translation tables, each containing 768 character positions. Each character position contains the ASCII value (or values) corresponding to that specific AIC code. The complete AIC table is shown in Appendix A, Axis Internal Code, Page 0 to Page 2.

Syntax, creating:

NEWSS <ID> = <Origin> [,"<Name>"] ;

• NEWSS indicates that a new Symbol Set will be created.
• ID is the new Symbol Set identifier. Valid ID USER. If the specified Symbol Set is already defined, it will be overwritten.
• Origin is an existing Symbol Set (PC850 through USASCII) that the new one will be based on.
• Name is a text string associated with the specified ID. If omitted, `User Defined' will be used. This name is not used and is only supplied for your documentation.
• The command must be terminated by a semi-colon.

Creating Symbol Sets can only be done in Configuration Mode!

Examples:

NEWSS USER = ROMAN8, "Greek";

The Symbol Set USER will be initialized to ROMAN8, and named `Greek'.The next step is to modify your new (or existing) Symbol Set. All character positions are fully editable on a code-to-character or code-to-string basis.

Syntax, modifying:

MODSS <ID> = <AIC> , <ASC> [,<ASC>,...[:<ASC> [,<ASC>,...]]];

• MODSS indicates that a Symbol Set will be modified.
• ID is the Symbol Set identifier. Valid ID is USER.
• AIC is the Axis Internal Code position to be modified. Valid positions are 0 - 767 (decimal) or $000 - $2FF (hexadecimal).
• ASC is the ASCII code for the specified position. If multiple codes are specified, they must be separated by commas.
• Several consecutive positions may be modified within the same command. The positions must be separated by colons. A colon increments the position by one, and two colons increment by two, etc.
• The command must be terminated by a semi-colon.

Modifying Symbol Sets can only be done in Configuration Mode!

Examples:

%CONFIG+
NEWSS USER=PC850,”PC850”;
MODSS USER = $0AA,$1B;
SAVE;
%CONFIG-

This sequence replaces the logical `not' symbol (~) in PC850 with the escape character ($1B). This can be used for direct inclusion of printer commands in your text without using the Extended Emulation. If an HP PCL printer is used, `~&dD' will turn underline on and `~&d@' will turn underline off.

MODSS USER = $1C0,$80:$81:$82:$83:$84:::$87;

This command modifies the following USER positions: $1C0 to `', $1C1 to `', $1C2 to `', $1C3 to `', $1C4 to `', and $1C7 to `', assuming that `' is $80 etc.

MODSS USER = 65,65,8,238:66,8,238:67,8,238;

This command modifies the following USER positions: `A' to `', `B' to `', and `C' to `'. The overscore character is assumed to be 238 decimal, which is true for the PC 850 Symbol Set.

If you want to restore a modified Symbol Set, or you no longer need a user defined Symbol Set, use the `Restore to Factory Default' option:

Syntax, restoring:

MODSS <ID> = DEFAULT;

• MODSS indicates that a Symbol Set will be modified.
• ID is the Symbol Set identifier. Valid ID is USER.
• DEFAULT indicates that the specified should be restored to factory default. The user defined Symbol Set (USER) will be restored to its origin.
• The command must be terminated by a semi-colon.

Restoring Symbol Sets can only be done in Configuration Mode!

Example:

MODSS USER = DEFAULT;

This command restores the USER Symbol Set to its original contents.

Important:

Before using the user defined symbol sets (USER), take the following steps:

1. Program the User Defined Symbol Set Sequences (SSUS) to select the appropriate symbol set in the printer.
2. Change the Default Symbol Set (SBSET) to the appropriate symbol set, or modify the Symbol Set entry (SBSET) in the Font Definition Table for each font that should use the new symbol set.

6.11.2 System Language Modification

There are 24 pre-defined System Language translation tables in 3270/Coax mode, and 16 in 5250/Twinax mode, each containing 215 character positions. In addition, user defined translation tables may be created. Each character position contains the AIC value corresponding to that specific EBCDIC code. The System Language translation tables are shown in Appendix A.

It is possible to modify the existing System Language (EBCDIC to AIC) translation tables. However, the same results can often be achieved by modifying the Symbol Set tables, described earlier in this section. The only case where System Language modification is necessary is when your IBM system uses a System Language not supported by the AXIS HP-MIO.

Syntax, creating:

NEWSL <CPG> = <Origin> [,"<Name>"] ;

• NEWSL indicates that a new System Language will be created.
• CPG is the new System Language Code Page number. Valid Code Page numbers are 1-9999 or USER
• Origin is an existing System Language (any pre-defined code page number, see Section 10) that the new one will based on.
• Name is a text string associated with the specified ID. If omitted, `User Defined' will be used.
• The command must be terminated by a semi-colon.

Creating System Languages can only be done in Configuration Mode!

Examples:

NEWSL 423 = 500, "Greek";

The new System Language 423 will be initialized to 500 (International Set 5), and named `Greek'.

NEWSL USER = 500, "Greek";

The new System Language USER will be initialized to 500 (International Set 5), and named `Greek'.

Syntax, modifying:

MODSL <CPG> = <EBC> , <AIC> [:<AIC>:...];

• MODSL indicates that a System Language will be modified.
• CPG is the System Language Code Page name. Valid Code Page number is 1-9999 or USER.
• EBC is the EBCDIC (System Language) position to be modified. Valid positions are 64 - 254 (decimal) or $40 - $FE (hexadecimal).
• AIC is the AIC code for the specified position. Valid AIC codes are 0 - 767 (decimal) or $000 - $2FF (hexadecimal). The AIC codes can be found in Appendix A, Axis Internal Codes, Page 0 to Page 2.
• Several consecutive positions may be modified within the same command. The positions must be separated by colons. A colon increments the position by one, and two colons increments by two, etc.
• The command must be terminated by a semi-colon.

Modifying System Languages can only be done in Configuration Mode!

Example:

MODSL USER = $48,$1C3;
MODSL USER = $64,$1C2:::$1C4;
MODSL USER = $AF,$1C0;
MODSL USER = $BB,$1C1::$1C7;

This command modifies the following System Language USER positions: $48 to `', $64 to `', $67 to `', $AF to `', $BB to `', and $BD to `'. See also the first example in Symbols Sets, Modifying earlier in this section.

If you want to restore a modified Symbol Set, or you no longer need a user defined Symbol Set, use the `Restore to Factory Default' option:

Syntax, restoring:

MODSL <CPG> = DEFAULT;

• MODSL indicates that a System Language will be modified.
• CPG is the System Language Code Page number. Valid Code Page numbers are 1 through 9999 (decimal) or USER.
• DEFAULT indicates that the specified should be restored to factory default. If a pre-defined System Language is specified, it will be restored to the contents shown in Appendix A. If a user defined System Language is specified, it will be deleted. Note: Once deleted, a user defined System Language cannot be retrieved.
• The command must be terminated by a semi-colon.

Restoring System Languages can only be done in Configuration Mode!

Examples:

MODSL 37 = DEFAULT;

This command restores the Code Page 37 System Language (US English) to its original contents.

MODSL 423 = DEFAULT;

This command deletes the Code Page 423 System Language.

6.11.3. DBC Table Modification (3270/Coax Mode only)

In a non-SNA environment (or SNA LU-3), the input data is in DBC codes rather than EBCDIC (see Section 1.2, Communication Methods for details). Two fixed translation tables are used, DBC for normal characters, and APL for APL characters.

Only the DBC to AIC translation table for normal characters is editable in the same way as the System Language tables. However, it is not possible to create a new DBC table.

Syntax, modifying:

MODSL <TAB> = <POS> , <AIC> [:<AIC>:...];

• MODSL indicates that a translation table will be modified.
• TAB is the type of translation table. Valid type is DBC.
• DBC is the DBC code position to be modified. Valid positions are 8 - 255 (decimal) or $08 - $FF (hexadecimal).
• AIC is the AIC code for the specified position. Valid AIC (page 0 only) codes are 0 - 255 (decimal) or $00 - $FF (hexadecimal). The AIC value can be written with two bytes but the MSB will be ignored. The AIC codes can be found in Appendix A, Axis Internal Codes, Page 0.
• Several consecutive positions may be modified within the same command. The positions must be separated by colons. A colon increments the position by one, and two colons increments by two, etc.
• The command must be terminated by a semi-colon.

Modifying DBC tables can only be done in Configuration Mode!

Example:

MODSL DBC = $2B,$007;

This command replaces the DBC paragraph symbol (§) with a bullet (*).

6.11.4 Application Example 1 – Turkish Code Page Support on an HP 4 printer in AS/400 environment

This example will guide you through the steps needed to support a Foreign Code Page in an IBM AS/400 environment. The Turkey Code Page 1026 will be used to demonstrate this procedure. You will need the following information:

• The Turkish EBCDIC table your IBM system uses. This can be found in your IBM system documentation.
• The Axis Internal Code, Page 0 to Page 2. See Appendix A.
• The Turkey Symbol Set ASCII table your printer uses (it may be internal, font card resident, or down-loaded). This can be achieved from your printer or font card supplier.
• The printer control sequence used to select the Turkish ASCII Symbol Set in your printer.

Note:

This example can be followed to implement any foreign language that your IBM system supports. If the new language contains characters not found in the Axis Internal Code table, you may replace characters you don't need. Page 1 and 2 of the AIC table contain a large number of special characters that can be replaced.

DO NOT replace any characters in the range $020 - $0FF (these are the normal characters used by the PC 850 symbol set).

Now you can create a configuration file that will set up the AXIS HP-MIO to support the Turkish code page (the numbers correspond to the line numbers in the example on the next page): Enter Configuration Mode. Create a new USER EBCDIC to AIC translation table with the NEWSL command. For each EBCDIC table position: Find the character in the AIC table (see Appendix A). Most Turkish characters are in Page 1 (AIC codes $1BC - $1FA). Type the AIC codes for the positions $40 to $FE that differ from the code page you started with and map these to the new values in the AIC table. Note: If you only enter characters that differ you will save space in the permanent memory! Create a new AIC to ASCII translation table with the NEWSS. Use the USER ID. For each AIC position used by (3) above: Find the character for this position in the Turkish ASCII table. Type in the AIC position and the corresponding ASCII character position, separated by commas. This will produce a large number of MODSS commands, since most of the AIC positions are entered unsorted. (Note that most of the AIC positions are not used.) For some Turkish characters, two ASCII characters with a BS (backspace) have to be printed to get the correct character. Also, a few Turkish characters are not available in the current ASCII set (ECMA-94) and have to be picked from another symbol set. Select USER as System Language. Change the default Symbol Set with SBSET to USER. All font definitions that use the default Symbol Set will now use the new Turkish Symbol Set. Program the printer control sequence SSUS for USER to activate the Turkish Symbol Set in your printer. Save the configuration.
Exit Configuration Mode.

Hint:

At the end of Appendix A, you will find an empty character table template. Make some copies of this in order to prepare your character tables:

• Create an EBCDIC table: write down the three-digit AIC codes in each position $40 - $FE.
• Create a three-page AIC table: write down the ASCII codes in each used AIC position (the AIC positions are fetched from the EBCDIC table you just created).
• Only modify the positions needed to save space in the permanent memory.
• Avoid changing characters used for Extended Emulation, i.e. A-Z, 0-9 and delimiters. Example: If you change A => B, you must also write SBVE instead of SAVE to save your settings.