The Epson Job Language is an original Epson Language. It can perform the following operations on the printer:

• Switch the printer emulation.
• Transfer the printers system information to the computer.
• Enter the PJL - HP Printer Job Language mode.

EJL can switch the printer emulation with a mono-directional interface, but a bi-directional interface is required for the computer to receive system information from the printer.

Some official (and rather uncomplete) reference documentation can be found in the “EPSON EPL-N1200 Reference Guide”:
epln1200ug_e.pdf

NOTE: The following reference is NOT an official EPSON Reference Guide!

This reference is compilet from various EPSON Reference Guide and sources on the web. Please feel free to add informations!

This part explains the conventions used to describe EJL command syntax. It also describes the different formats a EJL command may take.

The conventions listed in the table bellow are used to describe the EJL commands in this document:

The following control codes and special identifiers are used in this document:

Any EJL command must follow one of the following syntax formats:

<ESC><SOH>

The Epson UEL Command (Universal Exit Language) is the only command using this format.

@EJL<SP>COMMAND[<SP><words>][<CR>]<LF>

The COMMENT command is the only command using this format.

@EJL<SP>COMMAND[<SP>option name[=value]][<CR>]<LF>

As an example, the ENTER language and INQUIRE commands use this format.

The option parameter [<SP>option name[=value]] specifies an option or sets a command option to a certain value.

An example would be ”@EJL ENTER LANGUAGE=personality”.

The following rules apply to the EJL commands:

• The EJL command prefix ”@EJL” must always be in uppercase. Other identifiers which are shown in uppercase in this document, should also always be in uppercase.
• The placement of white spaces in EJL commands depend on their position within the EJL command:
  • The @EJL prefix must always be followed by white space
  • Command names and modifiers are always delimited by a white space character.
  • If no white space character is shown in this document, no white space character is allowed at that position.

Any combination of digits and letters. The first character must be a letter.

Letters consist of the characters ASCII (65 through 90) and (97 through 122).

Digits consist of the characters 0-9 ASCII (48 through 57).

Any number consists of digits with ONE optional decimal point (.) placed somewhere after the first digit and an optional + or - sign preceding the first digit.

Strings are enclosed in quotation marks. They can consist of any combination of characters from ASCII 32 through 255, including ASCII 9 (Horizontal Tab) and excluding ASCII 34 (Quotation marks).

• UEL (Epson Universal Exit Language) command exits the current printer emulation.
• ENTER command switches the printer emulation.
• COMMENT command enables embeding of comments in to the data stream.

The Epson UEL (Universal Exit Language) command exits the current printer emulation and enters EJL mode.

Syntax:

<ESC><SOH>

NOTE: This is not the same command as the HP PJL - HP Printer Job Language UEL command!

NOTE: You can not use this command from with the Epson GL emulation

This command specifically takes the printer out of the Epson packet mode communication protocol (whatever that is) and enables IEEE 1284.4 communications mode.

Syntax:

@EJL<SP>1284.4<LF>~
@EJL<SP><SP><SP><SP><SP><LF>

The ENTER command switches into the specified printer emulation.

Syntax:

@EJL ENTER LANGUAGE=value<LF> 

The following example enters the PJL - HP Printer Job Language emulation:

@EJL ENTER LANGUAGE=PJL<LF>

The following table list the known valid language identifiers:

The COMMENT command enables embeding of comments in to the data stream.

Syntax:

 @EJL COMMENT some comment string[<CR>]<LF>

Example:

@EJL COMMENT This is a debug comment<LF>

The SELECT LANGUAGE command selects the personality to be used by the environment commands.

Syntax:

@EJL SELECT LANGUAGE=value[<CR>]<LF>

Values: LJ4, ESCP2, FX, I239X

Syntax:

@EJL SET variable=value[<CR>]<LF>

For a list known valid variables and values, see the Environment Variables section.

Syntax:

@EJL DEFAULT variable=value[<CR>]<LF>

For a list known valid variables and values, see the Environment Variables section.

These commands can only be used, if bidirectional interface is used between the printer and computer.

• INQUIRE command requests the current value of a specified printer variable.
• ID command requests the IEEE 1284 Printer ID.

The ID command is used to requests the IEEE 1284 Printer ID.

Syntax:

@EJL ID[<CR>]<LF> 

Response:

@EJL ID<CR>IEEE 1284 Printer ID<FF> 

Example:

@EJL ID<CR>MFG:EPSON;CMD:ESCPL2,BDC;MDL:[printer model];CLS:PRINTER;DES:EPSON [printer model];<FF>

The INQUIRE command is used to requests the current value of a specified printer variable.

Syntax:

@EJL INQUIRE variable[<CR>]<LF> 

Response:

@EJL ANSWER variable=value<CR><LF> 

To request the printer name the command string would be

@EJL INQUIRE NAME<LF>

and the response would be

@EJL ANSWER NAME=printer name<CR><LF>

The following list shows known valid variables

The following list shows known valid variables

* Available only in ESC/P2 mode.