Avery 6017 User Manual

Programmer’s

Programmer’s
Manual

Manual

Monarch

6017

HandiPrint

Printer







TC6017PM Rev. AC 06/02 ©2001 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Each product and program carries a respective written warranty, the only warranty on which the customer can
rely. Monarch reserves the right to make changes in the product, the programs, and their availability at any
time and without notice. Although Monarch has made every effort to provide complete and accurate
information in this manual, Monarch shall not be liable for any omissions or inaccuracies. Any update will be
incorporated in a later edition of this manual.

©2000 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
transmitted, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form by any means, without
the prior written permission of Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.

WARNING

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed
to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to
cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the
interference at his own expense.

CANADIAN D.O.C. WARNING

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise
emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of
the Canadian Department of Communications.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant
les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de la classe A prescrites dans
le Réglement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicte par le ministère des
Communications du Canada.

Trademarks



Paxar

is a trademark of Paxar Corporation.

Monarch
SYMBOL



,

6017, and HandiPrint are trademarks of Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.

,

SPT, and PPT are trademarks of Symbol Technologies, Inc.

Monarch Marking Systems
170 Monarch Lane
Miamisburg, Ohio 45342

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction................................................................................................1-1

Duty Cycle ...............................................................................................1-1

Conventions Used in this Manual ...............................................................1-2

Creating and Printing Formats ....................................................................2-1

Overview..................................................................................................2-1

Creating Text Fields..................................................................................2-1

Selecting Character Sets.......................................................................2-2

Formatting Text ....................................................................................2-2

Creating Graphic Fields.............................................................................2-3

Using Data Stream Graphics..................................................................2-4

Using Flash Memory Graphics................................................................2-5

Creating Bar Code Fields ..........................................................................2-7

Specifying Particular Bar Codes.............................................................2-8

Positioning Fields ................................................................................... 2-10

Configuring the Printer...............................................................................3-1

Selecting the Operating Mode....................................................................3-1

Setting the Print Contrast ..........................................................................3-1

Setting the Power Mode ............................................................................3-2

Checking the Battery Voltage.....................................................................3-2

Using the Power-Off Timer ........................................................................3-3

Supply Control Commands.........................................................................3-5

Printer Responses ................................................................................3-6

Checking Version Information ....................................................................3-6

Communicating with the Handheld..............................................................3-7

Miscellaneous Control Characters ..............................................................3-8

Table of Contents i

Modifying Resident Fonts ...........................................................................4-1

Font Sizes................................................................................................4-1

Defining New Characters...........................................................................4-2

Selecting Character Sets...........................................................................4-3

Loading New Characters............................................................................4-4

Saving Modified Fonts...............................................................................4-4

Using the Magnetic Card Reader .................................................................5-1

Error Messages ....................................................................................5-3

Using the Bar Code Scanner .......................................................................6-1

Sample Application.................................................................................... A-1

Application Code ......................................................................................A-1

ii Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

1

The Monarch® 6017™ HandiPrint™ printer works with application
programs written for the SYMBOL® SPT® 1700 or PPT® 2700 handheld
computers (“handheld”). The handheld/printer combination is suitable for
retail printing applications.

The printer control language contains commands to

♦ create and print formats.
♦ configure the printer.
♦ enable the use of certain printer features.

The application writes a data stream of commands (in the printer's control
language) to the printer. It writes these commands either directly or through
the Symbol Application Programming Interface (API). For information about
the API, refer to Symbol's Web site (www.symbol.com

This manual describes the printer's control language.

Duty Cycle

The HandiPrint 6017 printer is designed to print up to 1000 inches per day.
The average print rate is 1 inch every 10 seconds at a text character print
density of 25% (i.e., one character printed out of every four positions). Bar
codes and graphics are more dense (print with more dots) than text and may
need a lower duty cycle. If the duty cycle is exceeded, the printer may not print

all of the information that was sent to it.

).

Introduction 1-1

Conventions Used in this Manual

Following are the conventions used in the syntax descriptions of each
command.

Symbol Description

- Separates items in the command sequence.

< > Indicates a variable with a single-byte value.

' ' Indicates the value is a literal. Enter the value as it appears or

use the ASCII hex values for the same characters.

( ) Indicates a variable of any length.

# # Indicates a variable of an exact length.

ESC Indicates the beginning of a command sequence. Enter 1B hex

for this item.

CR-LF­NAK

These conventions make it easier for you to read the commands' syntax
descriptions. They are not part of the data streams. For example,

ESC-'F1' may be the syntax description, but the application substitutes 1B

ESC. Also, - and ' (and other such characters described here) are not

for
part of the data stream.

Indicates the end of a response from the printer. In the
response, it is represented as 0D 0A 15 hex.

The printer ignores commands with syntax errors.

1-2 Introduction

CREATING AND PRINTING

2

FORMATS

A format is the design of what your application prints. It consists of fields
placed at various locations on the format. Fields can contain text, graphics,
and bar codes.

This chapter describes how to create a format.

Overview

To create a format:

1. Draw a rough sketch of how you want the format to look. For example,
a graphic may appear at the top, followed by the name of your
organization, followed by a list of items purchased. Your format could

be organized any number of ways.

There are .157-inch no-print zones on the left and right

sides of the format, and a .7-inch no-print zone at the

top of the format.

2. Code the commands to implement your format design, as described in
this chapter.

3. Add any commands to the data stream related to how the printer
performs. For example, at the data stream's beginning, enter the
command to initialize the printer (

4. Embed the data stream in the application and test what you have
written.

18 hex).

Creating Text Fields

Text fields can contain letters, numbers, and symbols. To specify text for
the format, write the text directly to the printer. There is no special
command to use. There are, however, commands/control characters to
select a character set to use and to format the text.

Creating and Printing Formats 2-1

Selecting Character Sets

The printer can use the ANSI or ASCII character sets. These character sets
are preloaded in the printer. ANSI characters are the default.

You can modify character sets/fonts resident in the

printer. See “Modifying Resident Fonts.”

Character Exceptions

Both character sets have missing characters. The

replace and , respectively; the character replaces .

Command Summary

Command Description

ESC-'F1' Selects ANSI characters.

ESC-'F2' Selects ASCII characters.

F1 and F2 are two-character strings, not the familiar

notation for function keys 1 and 2.

and characters

Formatting Text

For the text on your format, you can choose the font, its size, spacing, and
style (normal or bold).

Command Summary

Command Description

1C hex (Extend) Prints characters twice as high as normal.

1D hex (Extendoff) Stops printing characters twice as high as

normal.

2-2 Creating and Printing Formats

Command Description

ESC-'k'-<font> Selects a font. Standard Bold is the default.

<font> 0 Large Rotated (90 degrees clockwise)

ESC-'U'-<mode> Turns bold printing on or off.

<mode> 0 Turn off bold printing.

1 Turn on bold printing.

ESC-'a'-<space> Specifies the amount the space for the printer

<space> 0-10 The amount of space (in increments of

Example: ESC-a2 Sets the space between text lines to .25 mm.

1 Large Normal

2 Standard Bold

3 Standard Normal

4 Reduced Bold

5 Reduced Normal

to leave between lines of text.

.125 mm). The default is 3 (.375 mm).

Creating Graphic Fields

The printer can print bitmap graphics from

♦ data streams
♦ flash memory.

You use the same commands for both methods. However, if you use a data
stream, you must recreate the graphic every time you want to print it. If you
put the graphic in flash memory, you create it only once, and then retrieve it
when you want to print it.

Creating and Printing Formats 2-3

Using Data Stream Graphics

You print data stream graphics one line at a time. To create a line, you
specify bits to turn off or on. Bits turned off represent white space, and bits
turned on represent part of the graphic. There is a .125 mm gap between
consecutive lines.

Command Summary

Command Description

ESC-'V'-01 hex-00 hex­#data#

#data# 72 hex bytes, indicating the dots to turn on or

You do not directly specify the bits turned on or off.

You specify the bits in groups of eight by using hex

Example

This line of code prints a solid horizontal line of dots.

ESC-V-1-0­FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFF

Prints a graphic line.

off. For example, if a specified byte is FF, all
the dots are on. If it is 01, only one dot is on,
and the other 7 are off.

If you accidentally specify less than 72 bytes,
the printer does not print the graphic. If you
specify more than 72 bytes, a fatal exception
occurs.

values.

2-4 Creating and Printing Formats

Using Flash Memory Graphics

You can also use a graphic previously stored in flash memory. You are
limited to one graphic stored in memory at a time. Saving a graphic to flash
memory when there is already one there overwrites the previous one.

To store a graphic in flash memory:

1. Remove the printer’s battery and wait several seconds.

2. Re-insert the battery and enter Download Mode immediately (see

below). It takes two commands to make the transition to Download
Mode. Design the application so that it waits to send the second
command until the printer responds to the first command by returning a
‘?‘ character.

3. Transmit the graphic one line at a time, using a graphic created as

described in “Using Data Stream Graphics.”

4. Save the graphic to flash memory (see below). When it receives the

command, the printer returns a ‘D‘ character, and begins the save.
When the save is complete, the printer transmits an ‘!’ character, and
then an ‘X’ character every 500 milliseconds.

5. Remove the printer’s battery and wait several seconds before replacing

it.

Creating and Printing Formats 2-5

Command Summary

Commands Description

ESC-'DL' Step 1 of entering Download Mode. After

processing this command, the printer returns a
‘?’ character.

ESC-'LG0' Step 2 of entering Download Mode. Any

character not accepted as part of this
command is sent back the handheld.

ESC-'LG'-FF hex Saves the graphic. After receiving this

command, the printer returns a ‘D’ character,
and then saves the graphic.

When finished, the printer sends an ‘!’
character, then it sends an ‘X’ character every
500 milliseconds.

ESC-'Lg0' Prints the graphic stored in flash memory.

ESC-'V'-<low>-<high>­#data#

<low> and <high> The hex digits (listed backward) of a number

#data# 72 hex bytes, indicating the dots to turn on or

Note that you are not directly specifying the bits turned

on or off. You are specifying the bits in groups of eight

Prints a number of graphic lines.

indicating how many lines to print. For
example, to print 10 lines,
<high> is 0.

off. For example, if a specified byte is FF, all
the dots are on. If it is 01, only one dot is on,
and the other 7 are off.

If you accidentally specify less than 72 bytes,
the printer does not print the graphic. If you
specify more than 72 bytes, a fatal exception

occurs.

by using two digit hex values.

<low> is A, and

2-6 Creating and Printing Formats

Creating Bar Code Fields

The printer can print the following bar codes, with or without human­readable data.

♦ Code 39
♦ Codabar
♦ Interleaved 2 of 5
♦ Code 128 (UCC/EAN-128)
♦ UPC/EAN/JAN

Command Summary

Command Description

ESC-'z'-<bctype>­<length>-<height>-

<data>

ESC-'Z'-<bctype>­<length>-<height>­<data>

<bctype> The type of bar code to print (values are the

'2' Code 128 (UCC/EAN-128)

'3' Interleaved 2 of 5

'4' UPC/EAN/JAN

'5' Codabar

<length> The data length, specified in hex. This value

Prints a bar code without human-readable
data.

Prints a bar code with human-readable data.

ASCII representation, not hex).

'1' Code 39

is dependent on the bar code you choose with
<bctype>. See “Specifying Particular Bar
Codes.”

Creating and Printing Formats 2-7

Command Description

<height> The bar code height, specified in hex, in

increments of .125 mm. <height> can be no
smaller than 14. For example, 14 = 2.5 mm,
15 = 2.625 mm, etc.

For UPC/EAN/JAN bar codes, the height you
specify includes a 1.25 mm drop bar pattern
after the bar code.

(data) The data for the bar code. It must equal

<length>. See “Specifying Particular Bar

Codes” for data restrictions, which vary by bar
code.

Specifying Particular Bar Codes

Values for the <length> and <data> parameters depend on the type of bar
code you choose with

<bctype>.

Bar Code

Code 39 9 (maximum) 0-9, A-Z, -, (space), $,

Interleaved 2 of 5 24 (maximum) Pairs of numeric

UPC/EAN/JAN UPCA: 12

Codabar 20 (maximum) plus start

2-8 Creating and Printing Formats

<length> <data>

/, +, and %

characters (0-9)

0-9

UPCE: 7

EAN/JAN-8: 8

EAN/JAN-13: 13

These lengths are fixed
and all include a check
digit.

Data: 0-9, $, -, :, /, .,
and stop characters.
The printer adds the
stop character

automatically.

and +.

Start: a (the default),

b, c, or d.

Code 128 (UCC/EAN-128) Details

For Code 128 (UCC/EAN-128) bar codes,
18 (with alphanumeric/control code data) or 36 (if you use subset C and
numeric pairs).

The first character of
(listed as
256 ASCII characters by using a combination of the subsets. The data must
appear as numeric pairs corresponding to the hex values for the ASCII
character in question.

Each subset enables the bar code to contain different characters. Subset A
uses
subset B uses

The following table explains how to switch from one subset to another.

Character Subset A Subset B Subset C

80 hex Function 3 Function 3

81 hex Function 2 Function 2

82 hex* Shift Shift

83 hex Switch to Subset C Switch to Subset C

84 hex Switch to Subset B Function 4 Switch to Subset B

85 hex Function 4 Switch to Subset A Switch to Subset A

87, 88, and 89 hex, respectively). The rest of the data can be all

20-3F hex and 40-7F hex (read by a bar code reader as 00-7F hex),

20-7F hex, and subset C uses 30-39 hex.

<data> must specify the subset to use: A, B, or C

<length> can be a maximum of

86 hex Function 1 Function 1 Function 1

* A temporary, one character shift to another subset.

The following table describes the purpose of each function.

Function
Number

1 Uses reserved Code 128 characters (UCC/EAN128).

2 Appends data (subsets A and B only).

3 Initializes a bar code reader.

4 Extends characters. For example, 'a' (97 decimal) is

Purpose

changed to '
function is unavailable in subset C.

β' (225 decimal) by adding 128 to it. This

Creating and Printing Formats 2-9

Positioning Fields

The following commands/control characters move the supply through the
printer to position the fields on the format. The application can also write
spaces to the printer before it prints text to position a field.

There are .157-inch no-print zones on the image area’s

right and left sides and a .7-inch no-print zone at the

Command Summary

Command Description

D hex (CR) Advances to the beginning of the next line.

C hex (FF) Advances 10 lines.

14 hex (Norm)/F hex (SI) Sets the printer to 48-column mode.

E hex (SO) Sets the printer to 24-column mode.

B hex (VT) Advances 5 lines.

9 hex (HT) Tabs to the next position or the beginning of

the next line.

A hex (LF) Advances to the beginning of the next line.

ESC-'J'-<num> Performs a specified number of line feeds.

<num> 1-FF The number of line feeds, specified in

top.

hex. The default is 1 (.125 mm).

2-10 Creating and Printing Formats

CONFIGURING THE PRINTER

3

There are several commands for configuring the printer. You can include
these commands at any place in a data stream. This chapter describes
these commands.

Selecting the Operating Mode

The printer works in either online or buffer mode. In online mode, the
printer prints characters as soon as they are received. In buffer mode, the
printer receives and stores characters, and then prints them upon receipt of

an EOT control character (

Command Summary

Command Description

ESC-'P#' Selects online mode.

ESC-'P$' Selects buffer mode.

Setting the Print Contrast

You can increase or decrease the print contrast for lighter or darker print.
This setting affects the print speed (the higher the contrast, the lower the
speed and vice versa). The print contrast also depends on the battery
voltage.

4 hex).

We recommend designing your

applications so the user can adjust

the print contrast.

Command Summary

Command Description

ESC-'P'-<value> Sets the print contrast.

<value> 0-9 0 is the highest contrast and 9 is the

lowest contrast. The default is 5.

Configuring the Printer 3-1

Setting the Power Mode

The printer can operate in five different power modes, each using a different
number of printhead sections, which are groups of dots on the printhead.
The mode selected also affects the print speed (the more printhead sections
used, the faster the printer speed and vice versa).

Command Summary

Command Description

ESC-'P'-<value> Sets the power mode.

<value> The number of printhead sections to use,

specified in hex.

1 Use one printhead section.

2 Use two printhead sections.

3 Use three printhead sections.

6 Use six printhead sections.

7 Default. Dynamically choose the

number of printhead sections to use (1,
2, 3, or 6), depending on what is
printed.

Checking the Battery Voltage

The following commands/control characters involve the printer's battery.

Command Summary

Command Description

ESC-'P^' Prints the battery voltage.

ESC-'P!' Requests the battery voltage from the printer.

3-2 Configuring the Printer

We recommend designing your

applications so the user can check

the printer's battery voltage.

Command Description

16 hex (Ctrl-V) Requests the print buffer and battery statuses.

The printer responds with:

ESC-'B'-#pbchars#-CR-LF-ESC-'V'-#volts#­CR-LF-ESC-'M'-#card#-CR-LF-NAK

#pbchars# The number of characters

currently in the print buffer,
shown as four ASCII hex digits,
which are “OR’d” with 30 hex.

#volts# Four ASCII decimal digits. The

first three are the battery
voltage (form x.x).

The fourth character categorizes
the voltage listed to give it a
reference. Values are 1-4,

where 1 is high and 4 is low.

#card# Four ASCII hex digits (which are

“OR’d” with 30 hex) representing
the time left before the printer
enters sleep mode.

Using the Power-Off Timer

The printer has a power-off timer to conserve battery life. After a specified
period of inactivity occurs, the printer goes into sleep mode. This feature is
similar to the Auto-Off feature on your handheld.

The printer returns to normal mode when it starts receiving commands
again, but the countdown re-starts after every character received.

Before powering down, the printer transmits Auxon then Xoff.

Configuring the Printer 3-3

Command Summary

Command Description

ESC-'M'-<digit1>­<digit2>-'0'-CR

<digit1> and <digit2>

Example:

ESC-M560-CR

ESC-'C' Sets the inactivity period to the default (20

Be careful when using sleep mode

with buffer mode. If there is data

in the print buffer when the printer

goes into sleep mode, you lose

Sets the power-off timer’s inactivity period.

0-9 The first and second digits,

respectively, of the number of seconds
to set the inactivity period to. To
disable the timer, set both parameters
to 0.

Sets the inactivity period to 56 seconds.

seconds).

the data.

3-4 Configuring the Printer

Supply Control Commands

The commands in this section control how the printer uses black-mark
supplies.

Be aware of the features of your supplies (distance between black marks,
existence of any preprinted text, etc.) as you code these commands. For
example, you may have to code the black mark search command multiple
times if the marks are farther apart than the maximum search allows.

Command Summary

Command Description

ESC-'QJ'-<lines> Moves the printer backward in .125mm line

increments.

<lines> 00 hex –

FF hex

ESC-'QQ'-<lines> Specifies the number of .125mm lines to

continue printing after failing to detect a black
mark.

<lines> 00 hex –

FF hex

ESC-'QF'-<max> Searches for a black mark, advancing in

.25mm line increments.

<max> 00 hex –

FF hex

The number of lines to move.

The number of lines to print. The
default is 28 hex.

The maximum number of lines to
move.

ESC-'QB'-<max> Searches for a black mark, moving backward

in .25mm line increments.

<max> 00 hex –

FF hex

The maximum number of lines to
move.

Configuring the Printer 3-5

Printer Responses

The printer responds to the two black mark search commands, with either of
the following sequences.

Command Description

ESC-'Q'-3F hex-3F hex­#high#-#low#

ESC-'Q'-30 hex-30 hex­#high#-#low#

#high# 30 hex –

#low# 30 hex –

Black mark found.

Black mark not found.

The left digit of the hex number

3F hex

3F hex

representing the number of lines
moved to find the black mark.

The right digit of the hex number
representing the number of lines

moved to find the black mark.

Checking Version Information

Your application can check the versions of both the printer’s hardware and
firmware.

Command Summary

Command Description

ESC-'P(' Requests the firmware version. The printer

responds with:

ESC-'('-#version#-CR-LF-NAK

#version# Four ASCII characters

representing the firmware
version.

ESC-'P)' Requests the hardware version. The printer

responds with:

<version> An ASCII character representing

3-6 Configuring the Printer

ESC-')'-'099'-<version>-CR-LF-NAK

the hardware version.

Communicating with the Handheld

The printer and handheld cannot communicate unless they use these
communication parameter values:

♦ Baud Rate - 19200
♦ Stop Bits - 1
♦ Parity - None
♦ Data Bits - 8
♦ Flow Control – RTS/CTS

The following control characters are related to communications between the
printer and the handheld.

Command Summary

Command Description

12 hex (Auxon) Sent by the printer to indicate the printer is

online (transmitted upon initial power up, a
paper reload, or clearing of a paper jam).

15 hex (Auxoff) Sent by the printer just before a power down

or when the supplies run out.

11 hex (Xon) Sent by either device to indicate it is ready to

receive data.

13 hex (Xoff) Sent by the receiving device to indicate the

transmission must end.

Configuring the Printer 3-7

Miscellaneous Control Characters

Command Summary

Command Description

18 hex (Cancel) Re-initializes the printer. We recommend you

begin all data streams with this command.

8 hex (BS) Removes the last character entered in the

print buffer.

4 hex (EOT) Sent by the printer to indicate the buffer is

empty and the printer is idle.

3-8 Configuring the Printer

MODIFYING RESIDENT FONTS

4

You can modify the printer’s resident fonts by redefining the characters.
To modify a font, perform the tasks in the following sections (in the order
the sections are listed).

Each time you modify a font, it replaces the current font

definition. The only way to return to the default font is

to reload the original definition.

Font Sizes

Before you start, take note of the maximum size of characters in the font you
want to use.

Number Name Character

Size (w x h)

0 Large Rotated

(90 degrees clockwise)

1 Large Normal 16 x 21

2 Standard Bold 12 x 21

3 Standard Normal 10 x 21

4 Reduced Bold 9 x 21

5 Reduced Normal 8 x 21

14 x 16

Modifying Resident Fonts 4-1

Defining New Characters

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

0

You must define each new character separately, performing the following
procedure for each one.

1. Define the character in a matrix. The matrix size depends on the font

you use (see “Font Sizes”). Think of the matrix as a bitmap showing
the character’s design. Following is an example.

Left Byte Right Byte

Leave at least one column blank to the character’s right

2. Translate each line into two bit sequences (left byte/right byte), where

an empty square is 0, and a filled-in square is a 1. For example, the
second line from the top is 00000000 01000000.

3. Convert each bit sequence into two hex characters. For example, the

second line from the top is 00 40.

The Next Step

You have now defined the new character you want to create. The next step
is to select the character set to load it in.

4-2 Modifying Resident Fonts

so character strings do not run together.

Selecting Character Sets

Before selecting a character set, remove the printer’s battery and wait
several seconds. Then, replace the battery and immediately use one of
these commands to select the character set to modify.

When it receives either of these commands, the printer copies the character
set to memory, then sends a ‘?’ character to the handheld.

The printer returns any characters not accepted as part of this command.

Do Not send any commands to the printer between

turning it on and selecting the character set.

Command Summary

Command Description

ESC-'DA0' Selects characters from the ASCII character

set (33-127).

ESC-'DX'-<charfont> Selects characters and fonts from the

Extended ASCII or ANSI character set (128-

255).

<charfont> 0 Extended ASCII characters – Large

Rotated, Large Normal, and Standard
Bold fonts.

2 ANSI characters –Large Rotated, Large

3 ANSI characters –Standard Normal,

1 Extended ASCII characters – Standard

Normal, Reduced Bold, and Reduced
Normal fonts.

Normal, and Standard Bold fonts.

Reduced Bold, and Reduced Normal
fonts.

The Next Step

You have now selected the character set you are modifying. The next step
is to load the character into the set.

Modifying Resident Fonts 4-3

Loading New Characters

This step allows you to load the new characters at a particular position in
the set.

Command Summary

Command Description

<ESC>-'D'-<font>­<code>-<matrix>

<font> The font to save the character in.

Value ASCII Fonts Extended ASCII

0 Large Normal

1 Standard Normal Large Rotated

2 Reduced Bold

<code> The hex character code for the new character:

#matrix# The hex data from the matrix describing the

Loads a character at a particular position.

and ANSI Fonts

Large Normal

Standard Bold

Reduced Normal

21 hex – 7F hex (ASCII) or 80 hex – FF hex
(Extended ASCII and ANSI).

new character (see “Defining New
Characters”).

Standard Bold
Standard Normal

Reduced Bold
Reduced Normal

The Next Step

You have now modified the character set. The next step is to save the font.

Saving Modified Fonts

To save the modified font into flash memory, use ESC-'D'-FF hex. When the
fonts have been saved, the printer sends a ‘!’ character to the handheld.
Then, it sends an ‘X’ character every 500 milliseconds.

Next, remove the battery and wait several seconds before replacing it.

4-4 Modifying Resident Fonts

USING THE MAGNETIC CARD

5

READER

Optional. Your printer may have a magnetic card reader, which reads
up to three tracks of magnetically encoded data from cards conforming to
the ANSI/ISO 7810 and 7811 standards. After reading the data, the printer
returns the information to the handheld.

Before preparing the reader for a swipe, the handheld wakes the printer up
by sending a few characters to it. The printer responds with XON to indicate
the reader is ready.

Command Summary

Command Description

ESC-'M'-#timer#­<tracks>-CR

#timer# Sets the reader’s timer. If the operator does

<tracks> The combination of tracks to read.

1 Track 1 only.
2 Track 2 only.
3 Track 3 only.
4 Tracks 1 and 2 together.
5 Tracks 2 and 3 together.
6 Tracks 1, 2, and 3 together.

Prepares the reader for a magnetic card
swipe. The reader’s LED turns on when the
printer receives this command, indicating it is
waiting for the operator to swipe the card. On
a successful swipe, the LED goes out.

not swipe the card through the reader before
the timer runs out, an error occurs. Values
are 00-99 (seconds). 00 disables the timer.

Using the Magnetic Card Reader 5-1

Command Description

The reader responds to the read command

with:

#trck#-(data)-'?'-CR-LF-NAK

#trck# Track indicator. Values are %/1/

(track 1), ;/2/ (track 2), and +/3/
(track3).

(data) The data read from the card. This

field can be empty. If an error
occurs, this field contains an E
character and the error message text
(see ”Error Messages”).

2 hex (Ctrl-B) Requests the print buffer and card reader

statuses. The printer responds with:

ESC-'B'-#pb#-CR-LF-ESC-'M'-#sleep#- CR- LF­NAK

#pb# The number of characters currently

in the print buffer, shown as four
hex digits, which are “OR’d” with
30 hex.

#sleep# Four ASCII hex digits (which are

“OR’d” with 30 hex) representing
the time left before the printer
enters sleep mode.

ESC-'C' Cancels the reading process.

5-2 Using the Magnetic Card Reader

Error Messages

Following is the format of the data returned when an error occurs with the
magnetic card reader. When an error occurs, the reader’s LED blinks once.

Syntax Description

'%'-'E,'-#error#-','-(text)­CR-LF

#error#,(text) Error number and corresponding text.

05 Timeout Expired.

07 Invalid Track Number.

08 Unsupported Track Selected.

09 Cancel Request.

Considerations

♦ We recommend designing your applications so the user can manually

enter data when the reader cannot read a card.

♦ Keep the value for the timer long enough to allow the swipe, but small

enough to not allow multiple swipes. If multiple swipes are done (with
different cards) and each uses different tracks to store data, the data
sent back to the handheld will be a mixture from the two cards.

Indicates an error occurred.

Using the Magnetic Card Reader 5-3

5-4 Using the Magnetic Card Reader

USING THE BAR CODE SCANNER

6

The operator can use the handheld’s scanner indirectly from buttons on
the printer. This functionality must be built into the application.

The printer does not do the scanning. It communicates with the handheld,
indicating the operator is pressing the printer’s scanner buttons, and the
handheld should activate the scanner.

The application must integrate these commands with the commands running
the scanner. For example, using the API commands, the application must
enable the scanner and define the connection to the printer buttons before
performing the scan.

The interaction between the printer and handheld goes as follows:

1. The application defines the data the handheld expects from the printer
to indicate the printer’s button(s) are being pressed.

2. When the operator presses the printer button(s), the printer
automatically sends the data indicating the buttons are being pressed.

3. When the operator releases the printer button(s), the printer
automatically sends the data indicating the buttons have been released.

4. The handheld disables the printer’s scanner buttons.

Using the Bar Code Scanner 6-1

Command Summary

Command Description

ESC-'Y'-(on)-(onstring)­(off)-(offstring)

(on) The number of characters in (onstring).

(onstring) The data indicating the buttons are being

(off) The number of characters in (offstring).

(offstring) The data indicating the buttons have been

Example

ESC-'Y'-'2'-'ON'-'3'-'OFF'

ESC-'Y00' Disables the printer’s scanner buttons.

Defines what data the handheld expects from
the printer to indicate the printer buttons are

being pressed, and when they are not.

pressed.

released.

Specifies to enable/disable the scanner
buttons with the words ON and OFF.

6-2 Using the Bar Code Scanner

SAMPLE APPLICATION

A

This appendix describes a sample application that prints the following
sales receipt.

Application Code

The printer’s data stream is integrated with the commands that make up the
handheld’s application. For example, the application must define and
initialize variables, open the serial port and allocate memory before it sends
the data stream to the printer.

Sample Application A-1

Dim ESC 'Declare variables
Dim CR
Dim CmdString
Dim Buffer
Dim BufferSize
Dim iSerialPort
Dim iReturn
Dim CRLF
Dim LF
Dim NAK
Dim Byte
Dim String

ESC = Chr(27) 'Initialize variables
CR = Chr(13)
CRLF = Chr(13) & Chr(10)
LF = Chr(10)
NAK = Chr(21)
Byte = ""
String=""

LPrint(Chr(24)) 'Reinitialize Printer
LPrint(ESC & "P#") 'Online Mode
LPrint(ESC & "F1") 'ASCII Chars
LPrint(ESC & "k3") 'Font 3
LPrint(ESC & "A0") 'Zero space between lines

A-2 Sample Application

'Set up data str eam
CmdString = ESC & "P#" & CRLF & CRLF
CmdString = CmdString & " Paxar/Monarch" & CRLF
CmdString = CmdString & " 170 Monarch Ln." & CRLF
CmdString = CmdString & " Miamisburg, OH 45342" & CRLF
CmdString = CmdString & " Phone: [phone]" & CRLF & CRLF
CmdString = CmdString & " SALES RECEIPT" & CRLF & CRLF
CmdString = CmdString & "Description Qty. Total" & LF
CmdString = CmdString & "1.Monarch 9490 5 3495" & LF
CmdString = CmdString & "2.Monarch 9403 4 995" & LF
CmdString = CmdString & "3.Monarch 6035 3 4995" & LF
CmdString = CmdString & "4.Monarch 6030 2 2995" & LF
CmdString = CmdString & "5.Monarch 9450 1 995" & LF
CmdString = CmdString & " -----" & LF
CmdString = CmdString & " Total 13475" & CRLF & CRLF
CmdString = CmdString & "AMEX 37xvz55xx315001" & LF
CmdString = CmdString & "Exp. Date 10/01" & CRLF & CRLF & CRLF
CmdString = CmdString & ESC & "z1" & Char(6) & Chr(64) & "123456"
CmdString = CmdString & LF & Chr(12)
CmdString = CmdString & "" & LF
CmdString = CmdString & "" & LF

'Allocate the port
iSerialPort = SerialPortAllocate()
iReturn = SerialPortOpenText(iSerialPort, 0, 19200, CRLF, CRLF)
iReturn = SerialPortConfigure(iSerialPort,19200,8,"None",1,"Hardware")

BufferSize = 512 + 32 'Allocate buffer
Buffer = MemoryAllocate(BufferSize)
iReturn = SerialPortSetBuffer(iSerialPort, Buffer, BufferSize)

'Send data stream
iReturn = SerialPortWriteString(iSerialPort, CmdString)
While Byte <> NAK 'Wait for response
Byte = SerialPortReadString(iSerialPort, 1)
if Byte = NAK then exit while
String = String & Byte
Wend
MsgBox(String)

Sample Application A-3

Buffer = MemoryFree(Buffer) 'Deallocate the port
iReturn = SerialPortClose(iSerialPort)
iReturn = SerialPortFree(iSerialPort)

LPrint(Chr(12)) 'Form feed
MsgBox("Done") 'Finish up
If ClosePort() = false then
MsgBox("Close Failed")
EndIf

A-4 Sample Application

INDEX

A

application, sample, A-1

B

bar code

fields, creating, 2-7

scanner, using, 6-1

specifying particular, 2-8

types available, 2-8

battery voltage, checking, 3-2

black mark supplies, 3-5

buffer mode, 3-1

C

character

defining new, 4-2

exceptions, 2-2

loading new, 4-4

sets, selecting (creating text fields),

2-2

sets, selecting (font modification), 4-3

checking

battery voltage, 3-2

print buffer status, 3-3

version information,3- 6

Codabar bar codes, 2-8

Code 128 (UCC/EAN-128 bar codes, 2-9

Code 39 bar codes, 2-8

commands

bar code field creation, 2-7

bar code scanner, 6-2

battery voltage checking, 3-2

character set selection, 2-2, 4-3

data stream graphic, 2-4

field positioning, 2-10

flash memory graphic, 2-6

formatting text, 2-2

handheld communication, 3-7

loading new characters, 4-4

magnetic card reader, 5-1

miscellaneous control characters, 3-8

operating mode selection, 3-1

power mode setting, 3-2

power-off timer, 3-4

print contrast setting, 3-1

supply control, 3-5

version information checking, 3-6

communicating with handheld, 3-7

communication parameters, 3-7

configuring printer, 3-1

contrast, print, 3-1

control characters, miscellaneous, 3-8

control of supplies, 3-5

conventions in manual, 1-2

Index-1

creating

bar code fields, 2-7

formats, 2-1

graphic fields, 2-3

text fields, 2-1

D

data stream graphics, 2-4

defining new characters, 4-2

duty cycle, 1-1

formats

definition, 2-1

printing and creating, 2-1

formatting text, 2-2

G

graphics

data stream, 2-4

fields, 2-3

flash memory, 2-5

E

errors, magnetic card reader, 5-3

exceptions, character, 2-2

F

fields

bar code, 2-7

definition, 2-1

graphic, 2-3

positioning, 2-10

text, 2-1

firmware version, 3-6

flash memory graphics, 2-5

fonts

modified, 4-4

resident, 4-1

sizes, 4-1

H

handheld, communicating with, 3-7

hardware version, 3-6

I

initialization of printer, 3-8

Interleaved 2 of 5 bar codes, 2-8

introduction, 1-1

L

loading new characters, 4-4

M

magnetic card reader

errors, 5-3

using, 5-1

manual, conventions in, 1-2

Index-2

mode

buffer, 3-1

online, 3-1

operating, 3-1

power, 3-2

modifying resident fonts, 4-1

O

online mode, 3-1

operating mode, selecting, 3-1

P

selecting

character sets (creating text fields),

2-2

character sets (font modification), 4-3

operating mode, 3-1

setting

power mode, 3-2

print contrast, 3-1

sizes of fonts, 4-1

status, print buffer, 3-3

supplies, black mark, 3-5

positioning fields, 2-10

power mode, setting, 3-2

power-off timer, using, 3-3

print buffer status, checking, 3-3

print contrast, setting, 3-1

printer

configuring, 3-1

initialization, 3-8

supply control responses, 3-6

printing formats, 2-1

R

resident fonts, modifying, 4-1

responses (supply control), 3-6

S

sample application, A-1

saving modified fonts, 4-4

scanner, bar code, 6-1

T

text

fields, creating, 2-1

formatting, 2-2

timer, power-off, 3-3

U

UPC/EAN/JAN bar codes, 2-8

using

bar code scanner, 6-1

data stream graphics, 2-4

flash memory graphics, 2-5

magnetic card reader, 5-1

power-off timer, 3-3

V

version information, checking, 3-6

voltage, battery, 3-2

Index-3

Index-4

For supplies, service, or assistance call toll free:

1-800-543-6650 (In the U.S.A.)
1-800-263-4650 (In Canada)

www.monarch.com