Java SE (Java Platform, Standard Edition)

Dear experts,

I have created the following code to send string to the default printer.

import java.io.FileWriter;
import java.io.IOException;

public class PrinterTest1 {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		try{
			FileWriter out = new FileWriter("/dev/lp0");
			out.write(0x1B); // ESC
			out.write(0x40); // @ - initialize printer
			out.write(0x1B); // ESC
			out.write(0x4D); // M - Select 10.5-point, 12-cpi
			out.write("Hello World!");
			out.write(0x0A); // Line feed
			out.write("Second line");
			out.write(0x0A); // Line feed
			out.write(0x0D); // Carriage return
			out.write(0x0C); // Form feed
			out.close();
		}catch(IOException e){
			e.printStackTrace();
		}
		System.out.println("Printing is done!");
	}
}

The print out is fine, but whenever the printer is off-line, the program will halt.

I have modified the code as suggested by Oracle tutorial:

/*
 * Copyright (c) 1995, 2008, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
 * are met:
 *
 *   - Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 *     notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 *
 *   - Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 *     notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
 *     documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
 *
 *   - Neither the name of Oracle or the names of its
 *     contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
 *     from this software without specific prior written permission.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS
 * IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 * THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
 * PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
 * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
 * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
 * PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
 * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
 * NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
 * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 */ 


import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.print.*;

public class HelloWorldPrinter implements Printable, ActionListener {

    public int print(Graphics g, PageFormat pf, int page) throws PrinterException {

        if (page > 0) { /* We have only one page, and 'page' is zero-based */
            return NO_SUCH_PAGE;
        }

        /* User (0,0) is typically outside the imageable area, so we must
         * translate by the X and Y values in the PageFormat to avoid clipping
         */
        Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D)g;
        g2d.translate(pf.getImageableX(), pf.getImageableY());

        /* Now we perform our rendering */
        g.drawString("Hello world!", 100, 100);

        /* tell the caller that this page is part of the printed document */
        return PAGE_EXISTS;
    }

    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
         PrinterJob job = PrinterJob.getPrinterJob();
         job.setPrintable(this);
//         boolean ok = job.printDialog();
         boolean ok = true; // go ahead without print dialog
         if (ok) {
             try {
                  job.print();
             } catch (PrinterException ex) {
              /* The job did not successfully complete */
             }
             System.out.println("End of test print!");
         }
    }

    public static void main(String args[]) {
 
        UIManager.put("swing.boldMetal", Boolean.FALSE);
        JFrame f = new JFrame("Hello World Printer");
        f.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter() {
           public void windowClosing(WindowEvent e) {System.exit(0);}
        });
        JButton printButton = new JButton("Print Hello World");
        printButton.addActionListener(new HelloWorldPrinter());
        f.add("Center", printButton);
        f.pack();
        f.setVisible(true);
    }
}

The problem is that the printed-out font is a java font and not a built-in printer font, which is my preference. Also, I would like to control the ESC/P printer by sending ESC command. My questions are:

1. Is there a way that print(...) method of Printable interface can send ASCII character and not graphics rendering?
2. How can I prevent the program from halting whenever the printer is off-line, if I use

FileWriter out = new FileWriter("/dev/lp0");

to send String to printer?
3. Is there another way to send String to printer with printer management like Printable interface, but without graphics rendering?

Thank you for your guidance,
Patrick