I agree, you want some flavor of Record Mode.  This doesn't cover it all,
but

From the Reflection 3.7 technical reference (copyright 1991 WRQ), the
sequence
esc&p<x>p<y>u<z>C
performs action <z> on device <y>.  <y> can be 4 or 6 for a printer,
probably 4.  (3 is the display).  <z> can be any of...
0       Generate a formfeed
1       Skip <x> lines
2-10    Generate a formfeed
11      Turn on log bottom
12      Turn on log top
13      Turn off logging
20      Turn on Record mode

If the action is skip line, an <x> can specify the number of lines to skip.
If the action is Record mode, an <x> can define the character (decimal 0
through 127) that turns off record mode.

As an alternative to Record mode, the sequence
esc&p[<a>d][<b>d]<x>W<datastring>
will transfer <x> bytes of <datastring> to the destination devices <a> and
<b>, and the transfer is in binary form (datastring may contain non-ASCII
characters).  If neither <a> nor <b> is specified, the current device(s) is
used.
...which skirts the "end record mode character" problem.

The same sequence without <x> does an ASCII transfer, and ends with the
256th character or a linefeed character.


K Tracy Pierce, Systems Programmer
Golden Gate Bridge, Hwy & Trnsp Dist
PO Box 9000, Presidio Station
San Francisco, CA  94129-0601
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415-923-2266