HP PCL/PJL reference - Printer Job Language Technical Reference Manual

EN PJL Command Syntax and Format 2-7
Types of Variables
PJL uses alphanumeric variables, numeric variables, and strings. The
following explains the three types of variables and their ranges.
• Alphanumeric variables. Any combination of letters and
digits, with the stipulation that the first character always must
be a letter. Letters consist of the uppercase letters (Roman-8
characters 65 through 90) and lowercase letters (97 through
122). Digits consist of numbers 0 through 9 (characters 48
through 57).
Examples of valid alphanumeric variables include:
LaserJet279
J1953
Examples of invalid alphanumeric variables include:
279LaserJet
(Alphanumeric variables must begin with a letter)
J 1953
(Space characters [ASCII 32] are not allowed in alphanumeric
variables)
• Numeric variables. Any number consisting of digits, with one
optional decimal point and an optional + or – sign preceding
the first digit. Only one decimal point may be used, and it must
be placed somewhere after the first digit. Digits are not
required after the decimal point.
Examples of valid numeric variables include:
0.123456
–123.456
+657000
2468.
Examples of invalid numeric variables include:
.123456
(The decimal point must be preceded by at least 1 digit)
–123.45.6
(Only 1 decimal point is allowed in a numeric variable)
+657,000
(Commas are not allowed in numeric variables)