Power indicatorLights up green, when the device is switched on.
Error indicatorLights up red, when the device is in message mode.
DisplayWith 32 digits and two lines, the display shows the operating conditions
(modes) for parameters, values, status and errors. You can select the language you want to use for the display. Backlighting ensures good legibility.
Button functionsThe buttons offer a multitude of operating functions. A logical menu structure
is used for operation. The meaning of each button varies according to the operating mode and the menu item. Additionally, special functions have been
programmed for certain button combinations.
Depending on the modes and menu levels, the following functions apply for
each button:
Online button
• For switching between online and offline mode.
• For confirming entries, menu items and messages.
• For selecting print jobs and for entering values in standalone mode.
Apply button
• Triggers the application process. Requirements:
– Applicator fitted and activated
– Device offline.
• Also for accessing deeper levels within the menu structure and selecting
menu items.
• For decrementing values.
Feed button
Prog button
• For feeding in material when the device is offline.
• For starting the printing process once the feed has been stopped (in online
mode).
• Also for accessing deeper levels within the menu structure and selecting
• For stepping back through the parameter menu and/or exiting it.
P For more detailed descriptions of the button functions, please see
– Offline operation
Online operation
– in “Info-Printouts and Parameters”.
Operating modes
Offline modeSettings can be made when the device is offline. The offline mode is normally
active when the device is switched on. Print jobs are received via the selected
interface but not processed.
OFFLINE 0 JOBSNo jobs are waiting to be processed.
To configure the device so that it goes directly into online mode when
switched on, set the parameter
auf Seite 12 and
auf Seite 13
SYSTEM PARAMETER > Turn-on mode to “Online”.
8
Online modeIn online mode, print jobs are received and processed immediately. Possible
messages:
ONLINE 0 JOBS No jobs are waiting to be processed.
ONLINE 0. JOBSThe current data transfer to the device is shown on
the display. This is indicated by the dot on the bottom
right next to the number of loaded jobs.
ONLINE 13 JOBS
Remainder: 25
ONLINE 13 JOBS
Remainder: endless
During printing, the display also shows the number
of print jobs read (13) and the remaining number of
labels (25) to be printed in the current job.
If a print job recognises an endless number of labels
to be printed, then the remaining number for this job
is also shown as endless.
¯To stop printing, press the online button.
Message modeThe device uses status reports to signal an error or a particular operating sta-
tus. This message mode indicates that the device is waiting to quit or for fault
clearance. When quitting, the device switches from message mode to offline
mode (depending on the error and the progress of the last active process).
Status 5001
No gap found
The status message 5001 (shown above) occurs when for example the device is set for punched label material, but continuous form material without
punches has been inserted. In this case, the device will continue to feed the
material for a few seconds before it generates an error message.
Status Reports: see topic section „Status Reports“.
Messages are made up of the status number and a
brief descriptive text.
ONLINE 0 JOBS Online mode. The unit is ready for printing.
Device type
Version number of the machine firmware
64MB internal RAM
32MB optional RAM on the CompactFlash card –
only displayed when a CompactFlash card is in use.
Offline mode
¯When the parameter SYSTEM PARAMETER > Turn-on mode is set to “Offline”, the
device switches directly to offline mode when turned on.
¯CAUTION! - Wait at least 10 seconds between switching the device off and
on again, otherwise any modified parameter settings are not saved.
Setting the interface
According to the factory settings, the ALX92x is set for data transfer via Centronics interface. Print data can also be transferred via the serial interface,
USB or Ethernet interface.
« The interface type is selected with the following parameter:
INTERF. PARAM. > EASYPLUGINTERPR > Interface
¯You might have to set other parameters as well, depending on the interface
chosen:
• Settings for the Centronics interface: INTERF. PARA. > CENTRONICS
• Settings for the serial interface (COM1): INTERF. PARA. > COM1
• Settings for the Ethernet interface: INTERF. PARA. > ETHERNET PARAM.
Setting parameters: see topic section „Info-Printouts and Parameters“,
chapter “Using the Parameter Menu”.
Data cables: Ordering nubers can be found in the Service Manual, topic
section „Spare Parts“, chapter „Accessories“.
Ethernet interface: Information about using it can be found in topic section
• Setting the print contrast: Press the Feed button to increase and the Cut
button to decrease the print contrast.
ONLINE x JOBSPrint contrast
ONLINE
APPLY
FEED
ESC
PROG
xxx%
• Interrupting the print job: The device will finish printing the current label.
ONLINE X JOBS
Restcount XXX
a. The message “Stopped xxx” alternates with “Press Feed”.
APPLY
ONLINE
FEED
ESC
PROG
ONLINE X JOBS
Stopped XXX
a
• Switching to offline mode while the print job is stopped:
ONLINE X JOBS
Stopped XXX
APPLY
ONLINE
FEED
ESC
PROG
OFFLINE x JOBS
13
Windows printer
driver
• Continuing the print job:
ONLINE X JOBS
Stopped XXX
APPLY
ONLINE
FEED
ESC
PROG
ONLINE X JOBS
Restcount XXX
• Standalone operation: Selecting a print job stored on a CF card (e.g.,
Testdat.FOR):
ONLINE x JOBSSelect File
ONLINE
APPLY
FEED
ESC
PROG
Testdat.FOR
Creating a print job
Essentially, there are two ways of creating a print job: Either by using the
ALX92x driver for Windows or by creating a text file with print commands.
ALX92x printer drivers are available for different versions of Windows. You
can print from nearly every Windows application using the printer drivers.
However, functionality is strongly dependent on the choice of software. Special label layout programs are best suited, for example NiceLabel (a demo
version is included with the ALX92x).
¯The driver’s help function explains how to use the printer driver. The help
function of your Windows operating system will tell you how to install the
driver.
Printer drivers for the different versions of Windows can be found on the
Internet at (http://www.machines.averydennison.com/printersystems_gb.nsf/
wview/L4L3?OpenDocument)
Command fileYou can write a sequence of commands in a text file and send it to the device.
To do this, you can use any text editor and the MS-DOS Copy command.
Easy Plug provides a special command language to program print jobs. However, writing a print job in text file format does require some programming
knowledge. Furthermore, you will not be able to preview the resulting prin tout
on the screen. Instead, you have to run a test print to see a copy of the finished result.
Easy Plug Manual: here you can find a practice example of a print job
together with instructions in the section “Program Example” in topic section
“General, Definitions Commands Overview”.
Transferring a print job
The device can only carry out a print job once this job has been transferred
into the device’s RAM. This can be accomplished in two ways: via a direct
transfer from your computer via a data cable or by saving it to a Compact-Flash (CF) card.
Data cableThe print job can be transferred
– via the serial interface,
– via the parallel interface, or
– via the Ethernet connection.
14
To transfer data via the serial or parallel interface, connect the corresponding
ports on the host computer and the device. Use the DOS window to send the
print job file to the interface:
copy testjob.txt \\computername\sharename.
– Computer name = Name of the computer. You can find this name in
Windows XP under START > SETTINGS > CONTROL PANEL > SYSTEM
> COMPUTER NAME (e.g. DM-ECH-0990).
– For sharename, enter the name found under START > SETTINGS >
PRINTERS AND FAXES after right-clicking PROPERTIES > SHARE (in
Windows XP). The share name represents a device connected with a
specific port – the USP port for transfer via USB, the TCP/IP port for
transfer via Ethernet.
A few hints on using the USB or Ethernet interfaces:
¯The method described here does not work in Windows 98, Windows ME or
Windows NT 4.0.
¯The share name has to comply with the MS-DOS formatting conventions (no
more than 8 characters, no symbols or spaces).
P You can find further information on transferring data per Ethernet at topic
section Advanced Applications
¯Before sending a print job from a text program, you need to ensure that the
correct device driver has been installed.
¯Special label layout programs, such as NiceLabel, make this much easier.
These programs also require a driver to be installed.
The parameter settings described below provide the device with the necessary information about the label material used. When printing from a layout
program, these settings are usually provided automatically by the device driver. For your first test prints, you need to configure them manually.
17
Material type
• The label material is “endless”, which means that it contains no punches/
perforations, breaks or reflex marks that could be recognised by the punch
sensor:
« Set the
• The label material contains punches, breaks or reflex marks that can be
recognised by the punch sensor (referred to as “punched” material):
« Set the
Material length« Set the
Material width« Set the
Only for punched/perforated material:
Type of punch
• Label material with breaks or punches:
« Set the
• Label material with reflex marks:
« Set the
Setting parameters: see topic section „Info-Printouts and Parameters“,
chapter “Using the Parameter Menu”.
PRINT PARAMETER > Material Type to “endless”.
PRINT PARAMETER > Material Type to “Punched”.
PRINT PARAMETER > Material Length to the length of the material (in mm).
PRINT PARAMETER > Material Width to the width of the material (in mm).
SYSTEM PARAMETER > Light sens. type to “Punched”.
SYSTEM PARAMETER > Light sens. type to “Reflex”.
Printing the status report
A status report printout is a perfectly adequate device test. The width of the
status printout can be set to 100mm or 50mm. This should match the width
of the label material used. The length of the printout is 200mm.
100mm width« Navigate to
The printout that is triggered spans a label length of 2x 200mm, listing all of
the device’s current parameter settings.
50mm width« Set the
« Navigate to
The printout that is triggered contains the same information as the wider printout, compressed to a width of 50mm.
DensityIf the printout is not as black as you would like it to be, increase the print den-
sity as follows:
PRINT INFO > Printer status.
SYSTEM PARAMETER > Print Info Mode to “Compact right”.