Model Scripts/ Has anyone ever modified script to acc. HCFA1500 forms?

[Benjamin Cue]

Has anyone ever modified model scripts with the specs to get a correct "line-up" with the HCFA 1500 medical claim form? I have updated our old Dot-Mtrx, to a HP LaserJet, We run Medical Manager, in an UNIX enviroment: I have the printer operating, but I am having an issue with the "lines" not lining up. Some do, some don't. I can update the "claim format" within my practice management software, Which I have, but some seem to still print offline. I already have modified the script to allow for 66 lines of text, and a top mrg of 2 and left mrg of 2...I haven't had to modifiy the LPI or the VPI....any ideas..I would appriciate any help anyone could give

[Bill Hassell · Accepted solution]

There is a *LOT* of work needed to migrate from the crude dots on an impact printer to a modern LaserJet. The first task is to define the dot matrix layout:

Are you using multiple fonts and point sizes?
Are there graphics on the page?
Are any of the fonts proportionally spaced?
Does your software output a formfeed at the end of the page or rely on the printer to eject the paper?

If 'yes' to any of the first 3 questions, you would be best off to redesign the form from scratch. LaserJets have a minimum resolution of several hundred to thousands of dots per inch, much finer than a dotmatrix printer. It's a completely different type of printer.

Now if your application is plain ASCII text, things are a bit easier. You need to create a printer character spacing page for the dotmatrix printer. Essentially, you create a long line something like this:

....+....1....+....2....+....3 and so on

The 1 2 3 4 are column numbers for column 10 20 30, etc. If you want to save some time, use the attachment. DO NOT import the text file into Word as it will screw it up with the wrong font, and formatting margins. Just save the file on your PC and ftp it to your Unix box. Be sure to use the ASCII option in ftp before sending the file so record formats will be properly converted.

What you want is an exact page width and length as defined by the dot matrix printer. Now this file does not eject at the end of the page so the last line on the page is the point where the printer knows it's time to eject.

Next, you need to match the font on the LaserJet with the dot matrix. If the dot matrix has several fonts to choose from, you'll need to identify the font being used. Next is to find a close match on the LaserJet. A plain typewriter font is called Courier but the font width and height will vary a lot depending on the font designer. You might have a Letter Gothic or some other font on the dot matrix.

So now you have a close match, you'll need to insert PCL escape sequences to control the inter-character spacing (HSI or horizontal spacing increment) and the leading (as in the heavy metal lead) or VSI (vertical spacing increment. Now PCL formatting has codes for page layout such as margins, logical page size, LPI, etc, but these are very difficult to use as they interact with each other in unexpected ways.

One other check to make: be sure that the printer has all default settings. If the printer has a front panel, someone may have decided to change some formatting options which can screw up everyone else's printouts. Check your printer manual for the cold reset procedure (typically turn off, hold down OnLine key and turn power on again).

You will find the HSI and VSI codes the most usefule as they can be adjusted in very accurate amounts (like 5.145) and are specified in 1/48" increments. Here is the PCL printing manual:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/bpl13205/bpl13205.pdf

Normally I would recommend contacting the manufacturer of the software as I'm sure they have already addressed the problems and created workarounds. But a quick Google search for Medical Manager Corporation seems to be clouded with controversy. So if you can specify escape sequences in your printer setup, look at the PCL reference manual about page layout and HSI/VSI spacing.

[Benjamin Cue]

Bill,

First let me say, you're awsome! I am attaching my model script for the printer I am working on. I ftp'ed this from my unix box in ASCII mode, so it should be sound. This is the current format of the interface. Where in the script is the form feed selection? Are the answers to your questions in the att. file? I do appriciate your help...Our general "IT Guy" walked out on us, and I am the system admin, for the pracice mangt. software (write reports, rewrite logic, formatting, etc...) I have been reading every manual I can find...the problem is that he took everything that wasn't bolted down (and even then he took some of that,..!!!) ..So I do appriciate your vast knowledge..I have read some of the other questions from other memebers, I know you definatley know your "stuff"...

[Bill Hassell]

Your attached script looks like a standard PCL 5 model script...sorry, I wasn't sure you were running HP-UX or SCO or somke other Unix. Start by just printing my page test file to the dot-matrix and then to the LaserJet (what model LaserJet?). Then if you have the ability to print your Medical Manager report to a file, use the lp command to adjust VSI and HSI. Otherwise, if you have access to lp options in setting up your print job in MM, then start using the -ovsi and -ohsi options.

Otherwise, use the lp command to print the test page using -ovsi and -ohsi, something like this:

lp -dmy_ljet -ovsi7.24 -ohsi3.17 testfile.txt

Now those option values are just a guess because I don't know about your font or spacing. It may place the characters too close together (overlapping) or too far apart. But you'll get an idea as to the controls you have. As a note, if you need more detailed assistance, contact me at billh365 at hotmail dot com (anti-spam format, make into a valid address). Try several test pages until the lines per page and characters per line match the dotmatrix. Then you can set default values for the printer script (which can always be overridden).

[Rick Garland]

Benjamin:

Isn't there a template file that defines what is printed where and at what length?

Medical Manager, Versys, PCN, Paradigm, etc... have a template file that allows you to make these definitions. Use a word processor ruler to determine the spacing and number of characters that are printed in each field of the HCFA 1500 form or the UB92 (aka, HCFA 1450)