What Freescape is
PCL5 commands describe the content of pages (text, vectors, images etc), they always begin with the non-printable Escape code (Hexa: 1B, Dec: 27).
Some systems cannot use or send binary data to a device. Binary means any character other than a letter, punctuation or a digit.
Such systems include Mainframes where printers are connected to terminals, and AS/400. That can be a problem to use the HP PCL language, and to use Barcodes. With the FREESCAPE feature, the Escape code has a synonym, a user-defined Escape Code or Alternate Escape Code (AEC). This character acts exactly like the standard Escape Code when found at the beginning of a regular PCL sequence. Default value for the AEC is the TILDE ‘~’. Freescape is smart enough to ignore the EAC if it is found as pure data. You can mix regular Escape Codes and Alternate Escape Codes. The AEC can be one of 10 characters.
The Freescape Escape sequence setting is only valid for the current job. If you want to set the Freescape character permanently check below
There is a BarDIMM Pro and BarDIMM Box language sequence to change the Alternate Escape code:
**#J
Where # is the ASCII decimal value of the new AEC: 34 (″), 35 (#), 36 ($), 47 (/), 92 (\), 63 (?), 123 ({), 125 (}), 124 (|), 126 (~) and 27. Indicating 27 disables Freescape.
Defining the Freescape character
BarDIMM Pro: the Freescape feature can be activated/disabled/ configured for all jobs on the front panel of the printer.
Browse through the menu options until BARDIMM appears, then choose FREESCAPE and select the character.
BarDIMM Box: use the command line utility or USB stick configuration to set the Freescape character