HP PCL/PJL for Fun and Profit

PCL stands for Printer Command Language. It is built in to most Hewlet-Packard LaserJet Printers. It includes commands for changing various default printer settings, but the one we're concerned with is the Ready message. The ready message is the text that is displayed on the LCD screen on the printer when the printer is ready to print. That is changeable via PCL. I am not responsible if you jack up your printer.

Creating a Text File
Mapping a Printer
Copying the Text File
Using my Automated Program
Further Use of PCL

You Will Need:

An HP Printer that supports PCL/PJL and has an LCD screen
Access to the command line

Step 1: Creating a Text File

Open a command prompt. Type "edit" (without the quotes). Hit Control + P, then the Esc key to insert an escape character.
Enter the following text:
%-12345X@PJL RDYMSG DISPLAY="Your Text Here", substituting something for Your Text Here

Start a new line, insert another escape character, and put this text:
%-12345X

Save the document as "printer.txt" and close Edit.

Step 2: Mapping a Printer

In the command line, type (without quotes) "net use lpt1 \\yourserver\yourprinter" where Yourserver is the computer where the printer is attached and Yourprinter is the printer's share name. If you are using a local printer, you can skip this step

Step 3: Copying the Text File

Type "copy /b printer.txt lpt1" at the command prompt. That's it. Now check your printer. It should say whatever you entered in the text file.

Step 4: Using my Automated Program

You can get it here. C++ source included.

To use: Unzip the file. Find the file named "printer.dat". Edit it with Notepad, and enter the printer name in the form \\servername\printername. Now run "printerhacker.exe". Then run "printerhacker.bat". It automatically generates the text file and a batch file that maps the printer and copies the file.

Step 5: Further use of PCL

Some guides to PCL are available here.