Printer communication system and method

A printer communication system includes a printer (20) having a printer controller (34) with memory (38) and a processor (36). The printer (20) receives and transmits information through a port (40) to which a host computer is coupled. The printer controller (34) may be programmed to be operable to receive configuration-related commands through the port (40), process the configuration-related commands received by the port immediately provided that a command is a safe command to process while the printer (20) is busy processing a print job. The printer (20) may respond to the host computer by indicating that the change was successful or that the printer (20) must be taken offline before the change may be made. The printer controller (34) is programmed to be remotely taken offline and put back online. A symbol set list command may be used by printer (20) to send symbol sets to the host computer. Font information may also be sent to a host computer by a printer (20) so that a font table including associated symbol sets may be constructed in the host computer.