Table Reference Characters (TRCs)

Some line data printers can handle multiple fonts within an input. On such printers, you can define a specific font for each line of print by specifying a font number for the line. This font information often goes in column two of the print stream (with column one containing carriage control information). The font information in column two is called the Table Reference Character (TRC) or the font index. The actual font associated with the TRC is specified in JCL or by other means.

By changing the TRC, you can change the font used to print the line. Likewise, when you add information, you may need to know which font to use.