There are 3 components in the printer which can perform Auto PDL Detection:

  1. Printer system:
    Uses a set of triggers unique to PCL5, PS or PDF. Up to 2KB from the start of the job can be searched for triggers.
  2. PCL interpreter:
    It can detect PS triggers in PCL data. If a PS trigger is detected, the PCL interpreter will abort processing and return the unprocessed part of the job back to the printer system. Up to 256 bytes from the start of each page can be searched for triggers.
  3. PS interpreter:
    It can detect PCL5 triggers in PS data. If a PCL trigger is detected, the PS interpreter will abort processing and return the unprocessed part of the job back to the printer system. The entire page (regardless of the number of bytes) is searched for triggers.

  • 2. and 3. can be disabled using Printer Bit Switch 2-3=1.
  • If the "Printer Language" is configured to anything other than Auto, all detection will be disabled.
  • An interpreter submits a job page by page to the rasterizer. Therefore, when an interpreter detects a trigger mid-job, the previous pages will have already been submitted and will be output using the previously detected PDL.
  • If the PDL cannot be detected by the printer system, then the PDL defaults to the one configured in "Configuration > Printer Basic Settings > Default Printer Language".

The Printer Language setting and Default Printer Language setting in WIM: