This topic lists some of the technical details which EscapeE 'eE' iconEscapeE media definitions manage behind the scenes.

A PCL file will normally specify the media that it expects the whole document to be printed on. It does this by quoting a source tray number. This is not the number written on a printer tray, but an index number referring to the sort of tray that the media may be found in. For example, 2 for paper or 3 for envelopes.

Click to expand/collapse hidden textPCL tray numbers

1 = Feed paper from a printer-specific tray
2 = Feed paper from manual input
3 = Feed envelope from manual input
4 = Feed paper from lower tray
5 = Feed paper from optional paper source
6 = Feed envelope from optional envelope feeder
Note: '0' in the tray list represents the default tray.

Selecting Print from the File menu engages the Windows® printer driver. This too uses 'sorts' of media trays referenced by number – confusingly, not the same as the PCL ones (and the same printer run in PostScript mode may use yet another tray number). EscapeE 'eE' iconEscapeE uses the symbol HPTRAYS to translate the PCL source tray numbers to Windows printer tray numbers.

Click to expand/collapse hidden textWindows driver numbers

1 = Upper

2 = Lower

3 = Middle

4 = Manual

5 = Envelope feed

6 = Feed envelope manually

7 = Auto

11 = Large-capacity feeder

The numbers on the actual physical trays depend on the model of printer and do not occur in the file's printing set-up! For example, on the Xerox N40 printer, a PCL file requesting the lower tray "4" should be output as "2" by the Windows driver and the paper would actually be found in the printer tray labeled "3".

Output bin numbers are simpler, typically:

0  Automatic
1  Upper
2  Lower (rear)

Click to expand/collapse hidden textTechnical note

Instead of selecting the tray by number, some printers allow an alphanumeric ID associated with a specific tray to be used in the {escape}&n#W command.