Avery Sport2 9460 Programmer Manual

Monarch®

Sierra Sport 2ä

9460ä Printer

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

©2000 Avery Dennison Corp. 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 Avery Dennison Corp.

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

Monarch®, Sierra Sport2, and 9460 are trademarks of Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC. Avery Dennison® is a trademark of Avery Dennison Corporation. Microsoft, Windows, and NT are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Novell and NetWare are trademarks of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Centronics is a registered trademark of Centronics Data Computer Corporation. Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. UFST, Monotype, the Monotype logo, and CG Triumvirate are trademarks of Monotype Imaging, Inc.

Avery Dennison Printer Systems Division 170 Monarch Lane Miamisburg, OH 45342

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GETTING STARTED ...................................................1-1

About This Manual ..............................................1-1

Standard Features ..............................................1-1

Creating an MPCLII Format Packet .................................1-2

Printer Memory .................................................1-3

Using RAM .............................................1-3

Using Flash Memory......................................1-4

Starting with a Design ............................................1-4

Determining Format Contents ......................................1-5

Determining the Print Area ........................................1-5

Drawing Rough Sketches .........................................1-6

Using Supply Layout Grids ........................................1-6

Considering Field Types ..........................................1-7

Considering Fonts...............................................1-7

Using the Format Worksheet ......................................1-8

Filling in the Format Worksheet .............................1-8

CONFIGURING THE PRINTER ...................................2-1

Setting Communication Parameters ................................2-2

Using MPCLII Conventions ........................................2-3

MPCLII Punctuation ......................................2-3

Standard Syntax Guidelines ................................2-3

Using Online Configuration Packets...........................2-5

Configuration Syntax Guidelines .......................2-8

Making Print Adjustments .........................................2-8

Defining the System Setup Packet ...........................2-9

Defining the Supply Setup Packet ...........................2-10

Defining the Print Control Packet ...........................2-12

Defining the Monetary Formatting Packet ......................2-13

Defining the Control Characters Packet .......................2-14

Resetting Control Characters ..............................2-15

Using Immediate Commands ..............................2-16

Enabling Immediate Commands ......................2-16

Sending Immediate Commands ......................2-16

Defining the Communication Settings Packet ....................2-18

Defining the Backfeed Control Packet ..............................2-19

Special Considerations When Using Backfeed.................2-20

Defining the Memory Configuration Packet .....................2-21

Checking Current Buffer Sizes .......................2-23

About Memory Buffers ..................................2-23

Buffer Worksheet................................2-25

Buffer Allocation Considerations ......................2-25

Memory Considerations with Downloaded TrueType Fonts .....2-26

Clearing Packets from Memory.............................2-26

Using the Font Packet ..................................2-27

Uploading Format Header Information ........................2-29

DEFINING FIELDS .....................................................3-1

Defining the Format Header .......................................3-2

Defining Text Fields..............................................3-3

Defining Bar Code Fields .........................................3-8

Defining Constant Text Fields .....................................3-16

Defining Line Fields ............................................3-20

Line Types ............................................3-20

Defining Box Fields .............................................3-23

DEFINING FIELD OPTIONS .............................................4-1

Applying Field Options ...........................................4-2

Combining Field Options ..................................4-2

Option 1 (Fixed Data) ............................................4-3

Option 2 (Data Type Restrictions)...................................4-4

Option 4 (Copy Data) ............................................4-5

Merging Fields ..........................................4-6

Sub-Fields .............................................4-6

Option 30 (Pad Data) ............................................4-7

Sample Use for Padding...................................4-7

Option 31 (Calculate Check Digit) ..................................4-8

Option 42 (Price Field) ...........................................4-8

Option 50 (Bar Code Density) ......................................4-9

Option 51 (PDF417 Security/Truncation) ............................4-10

Option 52 (PDF417 Width/Length) .................................4-11

Option 60 (Incrementing/Decrementing Fields)........................4-12

Fixing the First Number in the Incrementing Sequence ..........4-12

Option 61 (Re-image Field).......................................4-13

Using Check Digits .............................................4-14

Sum of Products Calculation ..............................4-15

Sum of Digits Calculation .................................4-16

CREATING GRAPHICS .................................................5-1

Overview of Bitmapped Images ....................................5-2

Determining a Method ....................................5-2

Designing Bitmapped Images ......................................5-3

Special Considerations ....................................5-3

Using the Hex Method ....................................5-4

Using the Run Length Encoding Method ......................5-6

Determining How to Store the Image ................................5-7

Using Volatile RAM.......................................5-7

Using Temporary Storage ..................................5-8

Using Flash.............................................5-8

Creating a Graphic Packet ........................................5-8

Positioning the Graphic Image ..............................5-9

Defining the Graphic Header......................................5-10

Creating Bitmap Fields ..........................................5-12

Creating Next-Bitmap Fields ......................................5-13

Creating Duplicate Fields ........................................5-14

Sample Hex Graphic Packet ......................................5-15

Sample Run Length Graphic Packet................................5-17

iii

Placing the Graphic in a Format ...................................5-19

Defining the Graphic Field........................................5-19

Sample Bitmap Graphic Image ....................................5-20

PRINTING............................................................6-1

Defining the Batch Header ........................................6-2

Defining the Batch Control Field ....................................6-3

Defining Batch Data Fields ........................................6-3

Using Special Characters in Batch Data ..............................6-4

Merged or Sub-Fields .....................................6-4

Incrementing Fields ......................................6-4

Entering Batch Data for QR Code...................................6-5

Structured Append Mode ..................................6-7

Structured Append QR Code Packet .........................6-8

Downloading Methods ...........................................6-8

Sequential Method .......................................6-8

Batch Method ...........................................6-8

Batch Quantity Zero Method................................6-9

Modifying Formats .............................................6-10

Optional Entry Method ...................................6-10

STATUS POLLING .....................................................7-1

Inquiry Request (ENQ) ...........................................7-2

Inquiry Response ........................................7-2

ENQ Reference Table - Byte #2 ....................................7-4

ENQ Reference Table - Byte #3 ....................................7-6

Job Request ...................................................7-8

Job Response...........................................7-9

Job Status 0, 1, 2 Response Table (Status 1 Codes) ............7-12

Job Status 0, 1, 2 Response Table (Status 2 Codes) ............7-13

DIAGNOSTICS AND ERRORS ...........................................8-1

Printing a Test Label .............................................8-2

Reading a Test Label ............................................8-3

Resetting Printers ...............................................8-3

If You Receive an Error Message ...................................8-3

If the PC and Printer Are Not Communicating..........................8-4

Calling Technical Support .........................................8-4

Additional Diagnostics Information ..................................8-5

Data Errors ....................................................8-5

Format Errors ...........................................8-5

Batch Errors ............................................8-8

Option Errors ...........................................8-8

Online Configuration Errors ...............................8-10

Check Digit Errors.......................................8-12

Graphic Errors .........................................8-12

Communication Errors ...................................8-13

Data Formatting Failures ........................................8-15

Machine Faults ................................................8-17

Flash Memory Errors ...........................................8-20

Hard Printer Failure Errors .......................................8-21

PRINTER OPTIMIZATION ...............................................9-1

Adjusting the Print Quality.........................................9-2

Reducing Imaging Time ..........................................9-3

General Format Tips and Hints .................................... 9-4

SAMPLES ...........................................................A-1

Sample UPCA Format Packet .....................................A-2

Sample MaxiCode Packets........................................A-3

Mode 0 (Obsolete) Sample ................................A-4

Mode 2 Sample .........................................A-5

Mode 3 Sample .........................................A-6

Sample Data Matrix Packets ......................................A-7

Square Data Matrix Packet ................................A-7

Rectangular Data Matrix Packet.............................A-7

Sample Data Matrix with Function 1..........................A-8

HangTag Example ..............................................A-8

Tag Example...................................................A-8

Label Example .................................................A-9

Receipt Format Example .........................................A-9

Label Sample 2................................................A-10

Label Sample 3................................................A-10

FONTS ..............................................................B-1

Bitmap Font Information ..........................................B-4

Monospaced Font Magnification....................................B-4

Proportional Font Magnification ....................................B-6

Scalable Font Information.........................................B-8

TrueType Font Information ........................................B-9

Downloading TrueType Fonts......................................B-9

Using International Fonts ........................................B-10

Selecting a Symbol Set ..................................B-11

International Font Sample ................................B-12

Licensing Your Fonts ...........................................B-12

Locating the Font Number in a Font Packet ..........................B-13

SYMBOL SETS/CODE PAGES ...........................................C-1

Supported Symbol Sets and Code Pages ............................C-1

Selecting a Symbol Set or Code Page ........................C-1

Using Code 128 Function Codes ...................................C-2

Entering Extended Characters .....................................C-2

Using International Character Sets/Code Pages .......................C-2

Internal Symbol Set ......................................C-3

ANSI Symbol Set ........................................C-4

Bold Character Set.......................................C-4

OCRA Character Set .....................................C-5

Code Page 437 (Latin U.S.) ................................C-5

Code Page 850 (Latin 1) ..................................C-6

Code Page 852 (Latin 2) ..................................C-6

Code Page 855 (Russian) .................................C-7

Code Page 857 (IBM Turkish) ..............................C-7

Code Page 860 (MS-DOS Portuguese) .......................C-8

Code Page 1250 (Latin 2) .................................C-8

Code Page 1251 (Cyrillic) .................................C-9

Code Page 1252 (Latin 1) .................................C-9

Code Page 1253 (Greek) .................................C-10

Code Page 1254 (Turkish) ................................C-10

Code Page 1255 (Hebrew)................................C-11

Code Page 1256 (Arabic).................................C-11

Code Page 1257 (Baltic) .................................C-12

Code Page 1258 (Vietnamese) ............................C-12

ASCII to Hexadecimal Conversion Chart ............................C-13

Binary to Hex Conversion Chart ...................................C-16

Dot to Run Length Encoding Chart.................................C-20

ON (Black) Dots ........................................C-20

OFF (White Dots).......................................C-20

FORMAT DESIGN TOOLS ..............................................D-1

Online Configuration Worksheet....................................D-2

Batch Worksheet ...............................................D-3

Check Digit Worksheet...........................................D-4

GLOSSARY ..........................................................G-1

vii

viii

GETTING STARTED 1

Before you read this manual, review the printer information in the Operator’s Handbook. This manual provides the necessary information to design, write and print a Monarch® Printer Control Language II (MPCLII) format.

About This Manual

This manual is for the developer who is creating the formats for the printer.

Use this manual to design and print your own custom formats on the Monarch® Sierra Sport2ä printer. This chapter creates a sample Monarch® Printer Control Language II (MPCLII) packet.

Standard Features

The following features are standard on the printer: 203 dots per inch (DPI) printhead, 1.89 inch by 12 inch maximum print image, print speed (2 or 3 inches per second), graphical LCD, 5 buttons (on/off, feed, and 3 context-sensitive), 512K RAM with an additional 2MB flash memory.

Printer Differences 1-1

Creating an MPCLII Format Packet

A format defines which fields appear and where the fields are printed on the label. The printer requires this information in a special form, using Monarch® Printer Control Language II (MPCL). This section describes how to create a sample MPCLII format packet.

Make sure supplies are loaded, you have a fully charged battery, the printer is connected to a host and ready to receive data, and you have software in the printer. Refer to your Operator’s Handbook for more information.

1. Type the following format header in any text editor:

{F,25,A,R,E,200,200,"FMT-25" p

2. Type the following constant text field:

C,140,40,0,1,2,1,W,C,0,0,"SAMPLE FORMAT",1 p

3. Type the following bar code field:

B,1,12,F,85,40,1,2,40,5,L,0 p

4. Type the following text field:

T,2,18,V,50,50,1,3,1,1,B,L,0,0,1 p }

For detailed information about the format header, text, constant text, and bar code fields, see Chapter 3, “Defining Fields.” For information about batch packets, see Chapter 6, “Printing.”

1-2 Getting Started

You have created a format packet for your MPCLII printer. Now, a batch packet must be created before you can print the format.

5. Type the following batch header, after the text field line:

{B,25,N,1 p

6. Type the following bar code data:

1,"02802811111" p

7. Type the following text field data:

2,"TEXT FIELD" p }

8. Save your file as SAMPLE.FMT.

9. Import the packets into your communications software or send it to the

printer’s communication port through the Monarch® MPCL Toolbox Download Utility (available on our Web site).

Printer Memory

The printer has both RAM and flash memory. You can use one or both types of memory, depending on how you use your printer.

Using RAM

Use RAM for temporary storage. It is volatile; the contents are lost when you turn the printer off. The printer has 512K of RAM.

RAM can contain formats, graphics, batches, and fonts. In the header of each packet, you specify to send it to RAM. Then, to download them to the printer from a host device. See Chapter 3, “Defining Fields,” for more information.

Printer Differences 1-3

Using Flash Memory

Use flash memory for permanent storage. It is non-volatile; the contents stay in place until erased. The printer has 2MB of flash memory, depending on your configuration.

To load flash memory, use either the Monarch® MPCL Toolbox Soft Font Utility (fonts) or the Label Designer software (formats). This software is available on our Web site.

Every time you download these packets into flash memory, another copy is made, even if it is already in memory. After doing this several times, you will eventually use up flash memory.

Starting with a Design

Before you create a format packet, you must design your label. There are several steps to designing a custom label:

1. Decide which fields should appear on your label. See “Determining Format Contents” for more information.

2. Determine your label size. Labels are available from us in a wide variety of sizes. Your application and the amount of data you need to print determines the supply size. Contact your Sales Representative for more information.

3. Draw a rough sketch of your label. You may want to draw several variations to see what works best. See “Drawing Rough Sketches” for more information.

4. Identify the field types that appear on your label. See “Considering Field Types” for more information.

5. Decide which fonts you want to use. See “Considering Fonts” for more information.

6. Fill out your Format Worksheet. See “Using the Format Worksheet” for more information.

At this point, you are ready to use your format.

7. Create a format packet, based on how you filled out your worksheet. See Chapter 3, “Defining Fields,” for more information.

1-4 Getting Started

Determining Format Contents

Before you lay out your format, answer these questions. How large is your supply, which fonts do you want to use, do you want to include a bar code, and do you want to include graphics?

Determining the Print Area

The print area varies depending on the size of your supply. Below are the maximum and minimum print areas. Notice that the top edge (leading edge) of the supply exits the printer first. There is a non-print zone (0.055 inches) on either edge of the supply.

Unit of

Measure

English

(1/100")

Metric

(1/10mm)

Dots

(1/203 dots)

Max. Supply

(Wid x Len)

205 x 1200 189 x 1200 50 x 37.5 37.5 x 37.5

521 x 3048 480 x 3048 127 x 95 95 x 95

416 x 2436 384 x 2436 102 x 76 76 x 76

Max. Print Area

(WidxLen)

Min. Supply

(Wid x Len)

Min. Print Area

(Wid x Len)

The length you can print is dependent on the amount of memory you allocate for the image buffer. See “Defining the Memory Configuration Packet” in Chapter 2.

Note: For exact print area measurements of your supply, see the supply

layout grids in Appendix D, "Format Design Tools."

Use the following formulas to convert inches to dots and metric:

Dots = inches x 203 Metric (1/10mm) = inches x 254 English (1/100 inch) = 100 x (dots/203) Dots = Metric (1/10 mm) x .797

Printer Differences 1-5

Drawing Rough Sketches

After you decide what information you want to print, sketch how you want the information to appear on the label. Note any areas that are preprinted on the label, such as a logo.

As soon as you know what information to include on the label, and you have a rough sketch, you can use a supply layout grid to help you layout and size your label. If you do not want to use a grid, go to “Considering Field Types” to choose what information you want on your label.

Using Supply Layout Grids

A supply layout grid contains measurement markers. These markers help you accurately position information on your label.

Decide whether you want to design formats using English, Metric, or Dot measurements. Choose from the following grids:

¨ English

The English grid is measured in 1/100 inches.

¨ Metric

The Metric grid is measured in 1/10 millimeters (mm).

¨ Graphic

The printer uses dots to print images on a label. The printhead has 203 dots per inch (dpi).

If you want to use the supply layout grids, a copy of each is in Appendix D, “Format Design Tools.”

1-6 Getting Started

Considering Field Types

After you select a supply size, the next step in designing a format is to decide what information you want to print on the label. For example, you may want to print your company name, price of an item, and a bar code that combines information from other places. Everything you want to print falls into one of the following categories.

Field Type Description Examples

Text Contains letters, numbers, or

symbols you want to print.

Bar Code Used for printing bar codes that can

be scanned.

Constant Text Prints fixed characters that print

without changing.

Line or Box Highlights or separates items. line marking out the regular price,

Graphic Contains a bitmap image or a

compliance label overlay.

item number, item description, department number, price, date

item or serial numbers, zip codes, information you don’t want to have visible to customers

company name, company address

border around the supply

logos

All of the above field types except graphics are discussed in Chapter 3. See Chapter 5, “Creating Graphics” for information on including graphics in your format.

Considering Fonts

When working with fonts, you have three considerations: font appearance, font size (scalable or bitmapped), and font spacing (monospaced or proportional). See Appendix B, “Fonts,” for samples of each font.

Printer Differences 1-7

Using the Format Worksheet

The Format Worksheet is divided into sections that list the field types. Each section has boxes to fill in with parameters that define your format. A format worksheet is included in Appendix D, “Format Design Tools.”

Filling in the Format Worksheet

Decide what type of field to use on your label.

1. Make a copy of the Format Worksheet.

2. Define the Format Header.

3. Define options as you require them. See Chapter 4, “Defining Field

Options” for more information.

1-8 Getting Started

CONFIGURING THE PRINTER 2

This chapter discusses how to

set communication parameters.

upload the printer’s configuration or font information.

configure the printer using online configuration packets.

use immediate commands to control the printer’s operation at any time.

Configuring the Printer 2-1

Setting Communication Parameters

Use the following information if you are connecting to the printer’s 9-pin serial port.

The communication parameters at the printer must match those at the host, or you will not be able to communicate.

You can use the communication settings packet to set communication parameters for your printer.

On MS-DOS computers, you can use the MODE command to set communication values on your PC.

For example

MODE COM1:9600,N,8,1

This command sets your host to these communication values:

¨ a baud rate of 9600

¨ no parity

¨ 8 bit word length

¨ 1 stop bit

2-2 Configuring the Printer

Using MPCLII Conventions

Here are some guidelines to follow when using MPCLII.

MPCLII Punctuation

Use the following symbols when creating MPCLII packets:

Character Decimal

{ (left bracket) 123 start of header

} (right bracket) 125 end of header

p (vertical bar) 124 field separator*

, (comma) 044 parameter separator

“ABC” (quotation marks)

'comment' (single quotation marks)

* The field separator is the split vertical bar, which we are representing as p in this manual. The

decimal value is 124. To enter this character, use the Shift key plus the Split Vertical Bar key on your computer’s keyboard. Depending on your text editor, it may appear as a solid vertical bar or as a split vertical bar.

Value

034 Quotation marks enclose character strings. Empty quotes (“”)

039 Grave accents enclose comments. Any data enclosed in grave

Description

identify null strings or unused fields.

accents is ignored. Do not embed comments within a quoted string. Grave accents are also used to reject mainframe data.

Note: These MPCL characters are the default.

Standard Syntax Guidelines

When creating MPCLII packets:

¨ Begin each packet with a start of header ({).

¨ End each packet with an end of header (}). ¨ Define no more than 200 fields in a format. Each p indicates one field.

However, options are not counted as fields. The actual number of fields a format can have may be less, because the number of fields is limited by the available memory.

¨ The field number (0 to 999) must be unique. We recommend starting at

1, instead of 0.

Configuring the Printer 2-3

¨ Do not use a field number more than once per format.

¨ Define all fields in the order you want to image/print them. The printer

does not print in field number order.

¨ Separate all parameters with a Parameter Separator (,). ¨ End each field with a Field Separator ( p ).

¨ Enter all information in CAPITAL letters, except words or phrases within

quotation marks.

¨ Include all parameters for a field unless documented as optional.

¨ Define options immediately after the field to which they apply.

¨ Multiple options can be used with most fields. Options can be used in

any combination except as noted with each definition. Options are processed in the order they are received.

¨ Keep in mind that proportionally spaced fonts need wider fields than

monospaced fonts. For variable field data, use a letter “W” to determine the maximum field size.

¨ Do not place a new line (return) or any other non-printing character

within a field definition. However, a carriage return or line break after each p makes your formats easier to read.

T,1,20,V,30,30,1,1,1,1,B,C,0,0,0 p T,2,10,V,50,30,1,1,1,1,B,C,0,0,0 p

¨ Spaces are ignored, except within character strings.

¨ Indenting options improves readability of your formats.

T,1,18,V,30,30,1,1,1,1,B,C,0,0,0 p R,42,1 p

¨ Use a tilde (~) followed by a 3-digit ASCII code in a quoted string to

send function codes or extended characters or send the 8-bit ASCII code.

You can modify formats and fields with the optional entry method. See “Optional Entry Method” in Chapter 6 for more information.

2-4 Configuring the Printer

Using Online Configuration Packets

Use online configuration packets to change the printer’s settings. You can send an individual configuration packet or a single packet containing all the configuration packets. Supply all parameters for each packet. Leave the parameters blank that you do not need to change. For example,

{ I,A,,,,1 p }

prints a slashed zero and uses the last sent online System Setup parameters.

Make a copy of the online configuration worksheet in Appendix D, “Format Design Tools,” and save the original. Packets A-M are listed on the worksheet.

When you turn off the printer, all the information in the online configuration packets is saved and used when the printer is turned back on. After you change printer configurations, you must resend the format, batch, or graphic to the printer before the changes take effect.

Always include an I, im me di ately af ter the left bracket { and be fore the packet iden ti fier (A, B, C, etc.). The I pa ram e ter iden ti fies the data stream as a con fig u ra tion packet.

Note: Include the I pa ram e ter with each packet if you are send ing them

in di vid u ally. In clude it only at the be gin ning of a data stream if you are send ing mul ti ple pack ets.

Configuring the Printer 2-5

This is the syntax to use when you create online configuration packets:

Syntax

{ Start of Header

I, Con fig u ra tion Header

1 - 8 op tional re cords A, pa ram e ter 1...pa ram e ter 5 p Sys tem Setup B, pa ram e ter 1...pa ram e ter 5 p Sup ply Setup C, pa ram e ter 1...pa ram e ter 5 p Print Con trol D, pa ram e ter 1...pa ram e ter 3 p Mon e tary For mat ting E, pa ram e ter 1...pa ram e ter 9 p Con trol Char ac ters F, pa ram e ter 1...pa ram e ter 5 p Com mu ni ca tion Set tings G, pa ram e ter 1...pa ram e ter 4 p Backfeed Con trol M, pa ram e ter 1...pa ram e ter 4 p Mem ory Con fig u ra tion } End of Header

Syntax for single packet

{ Start of Header

I, Con fig u ra tion Header

A, pa ram e ter 1...pa ram e ter 5 Sys tem Setup } End of Header

You can also add a configuration to RAM or specify units for supply, print, margin, and cut positions. If you use the optional parameters with the I packet, any online configuration packets following the split vertical bar ( p ) must specify distances using the selected units. However, the test labels display the units in dots, even if you entered them in English or Metrics units.

Syntax {header,ID#,action,device p }

1. header Constant I.

2. ID# ID. Use 0.

3. action Action. Options:

A Add configuration. U Upload User Configuration.

4. device Storage Device. Use R (Volatile RAM).

2-6 Configuring the Printer

5. units Units. (Optional parameter.) Options:

E English (1/100 inches) M Metric (1/10 mm) G Dots

Example {I,0,A,R,E p

C,0,25,0,0,0 p }

Adds a configuration to volatile RAM and specifies English units. It also uses the default contrast, moves print 0.25 inches closer to the bottom of the supply and does not change the margin adjustment, prints at the default print speed, and uses the default printhead width.

If you do not use the optional parameters, the syntax for the online configuration packets does not change. For example,

{I,C,0,50,0,0,0 p }

uses the default contrast, moves print 50 dots (0.25) inches closer to the bottom of the supply and does not change the margin adjustment, prints at the default print speed, and uses the default printhead width.

Example {I,0,U,R p }

Uploads the printer configuration from volatile RAM and returns the following to the host.

A,0,0,0,0,1 p B,2,0,0,0,0 p C,0,0,0,0,0,0 p D,1,0,2 p E,"~123~044~034~124~125~126","","~013~010" p F,3,1,0,0,1 p G,0,65,65 p M,R,R,160 p M,T,R,20 p M,I,R,320 p M,D,N,1280 p M,F,N,640 p M,V,R,1280 p

Configuring the Printer 2-7

The parameters for each packet (A-M) are displayed. The remaining lines beginning with M list the buffer sizes in 1/10K for the Receive, Transmit, Image, Downloadable Fonts, Formats, and Scalable Fonts Buffers.

Configuration Syntax Guidelines

When creating a printer configuration packet:

¨ Follow the “Standard Syntax Guidelines” listed at the beginning of this

chapter.

¨ The first character after the start of header ({) is the configuration

header (I).

¨ Download multiple configuration packets within one packet or download

a single configuration packet.

¨ If you change any of the online configuration packets, resend the format

packet to the printer, so the configuration changes take effect.

¨ Include the first five ANSI codes, at a minimum, in the control characters

packet.

¨ Send configuration packets once per session (each time the printer is

turned off and then back on), not with every format or batch packet.

¨ Make sure the communication settings at the host match those at the

printer.

Making Print Adjustments

You can adjust where the printer prints on your supply by adjusting the supply, print, or margin positions. However, keep in mind the following:

¨ Supply adjustments across the width of your supply, such as the margin

position, are based in dots. The printhead has 203 dots per inch.

¨ Supply adjustments for the length of your supply, such as supply position

or print adjustment, are measured in 1/203 of an inch.

2-8 Configuring the Printer

Defining the System Setup Packet

Use the system setup packet (A) to select the power up mode, display language, print separators between batches, print a “slashed zero,” and select the symbol set.

Syntax {I,A,powup_mode,lan guage,sep_on,slash_zero,

sym bol_set p}

A1. A System Setup Packet

A2. powup_mode Online Mode. Enter 0.

A3. language Display Language. Options:

0 English (default) 1 French 2 German 3 Spanish - ES

A4. sep_on Batch Separators. The printer does not print batch separators. Enter 0.

A5. slash_zero Slash Zero. Options:

0 Print a standard zero (default) 1 Print a zero with a slash through it

A6. symbol_set Symbol Set. Options:

0 Internal (default) 1 ANSI 2 Code Page 437 (Latin U.S.) 3 Code Page 850 (Latin 1) 4 Code Page 1250 (Latin 2) 5 Code Page 1251 (Cy ril lic) 6 Code Page 1252 (Latin 1) 7 Code Page 1253 (Greek) 8 Code Page 1254 (Turk ish) 9 Code Page 1255 (He brew) 10 Code Page 1256 (Arabic) 11 Code Page 1257 (Bal tic) 12 Code Page 1258 (Viet nam ese) 13 DOS Code Page 852 (Latin 2) 14 DOS Code Page 855 (Rus sian) 15 DOS Code Page 857 (IBM Turk ish) 16 DOS Code Page 860 (MS-DOS Por tu guese) 17 Wingdings 18 Macintosh 19 Unicode

Configuring the Printer 2-9

Note: The Standard, Reduced, Bold, OCRA and HR fonts only support

the Internal Symbol Set (0). The CG Triumvirate™ typefaces support only the ANSI and DOS Code Page 437 and 850 Symbol Sets. The scalable font (font 50) does not support Code Page 1256 (Arabic). Code pages 852-860 and 1250-1258 are for downloaded TrueType® fonts or the scalable font. Symbol set 19 requires a downloaded International TrueType font. TrueType fonts are designed to be regionally specific; therefore, all code pages may not be supported in a given font. See Appendix C for more information.

Example {I,A,0,0,0,1,0 p }

Powers up the printer in the online mode, displays prompts in English, does not print a separator after each batch, prints zeros with slashes through them, and uses the internal symbol set.

Defining the Supply Setup Packet

Use the supply setup packet (B) to select supply type, printhead energy, feed mode, and supply position.

Syntax {I,B,sup ply_type,ph_en ergy,feed_mode,sup ply_posn p}

B1. B Supply Setup Packet

B2. supply_type Supply Type. Options:

0 Black mark supply 1 Die Cut/edge aperture supply (default) 2 Continuous (non-indexed) supply

Note: You must use continuous (non-indexed) supply in continuous mode

You may need to adjust the print contrast (in the Print Control packet) based on the type of supply you are using.

B3. ph_energy Printhead energy. Options:

0 Standard Supplies (default) 1 Special (fax paper) 2 High Energy (linerless and synthetic)

Note: We do not recommend printing serial bar codes with linerless

supplies.

B4. feed_mode Feed Mode. Options:

0 Continuous operation (default) 1 On-demand mode (purchase optional)

2-10 Configuring the Printer

B5. supply_posn Supply Position. Range: -99 to 99 in 1/203 inch. 0 is the default. Adjusts

the machine to print at the vertical 0,0 point on the supply. This adjustment accounts for mechanical tolerances from machine to machine. The supply position adjustment only needs to be made on the initial machine setup. Adjust the supply position if formats do not start at the 0,0 point on the supply. Increase the supply position to move print up, decrease to move print down on the label. To verify the 0,0 point, print a test label. See “Printing a Test Label” in Chapter 8 for more information.

You can not change the supply position while the printer is active. Changing the supply position will affect the print position, dispense position, and backfeed distance. Once the supply position is set, use the print control packet and backfeed control packet to adjust printing and the dispense position.

Example {I,B,0,0,1,10 p }

Indicates black mark and thermal direct stock has been loaded, causes the printer to operate in on-demand mode (purchase optional), and feeds the supply approximately .05 inches up before printing the format on each label (10/203 inches).

Configuring the Printer 2-11

Defining the Print Control Packet

Use the print control packet (C) to set the contrast, print, and margin adjustment, print speed, and printhead width.

Syntax {I,C,con trast,print_adj,mar gin_ad just,speed_adj,

ph_width p }

C1. C Print Control Packet

C2. contrast Print Contrast. Range: -28 to 40. 0 is the default. You may need to

adjust this value depending on the type of supplies you are using. For example, linerless supplies require a higher print contrast, but receipt paper requires less contrast.

C3. print_adj Print adjustment (position). Range: -99 to 99 in 1/203 inch. 0 is the

default. Adjusts where data prints vertically on the supply. Increase the print position to move print up, decrease to move print down.

C4. margin_adj Margin adjustment (position). Range: -99 to 99 in 1/203 inch. 0 is the

default. Adjusts where data prints horizontally on the supply. Increase the margin position to move print to the right, decrease to move print to the left. Margin and print position are format adjustments. They will not effect the supply position, dispense position, or backfeed distance.

C5. speed_adj Print Speed in inches per second (ips). Options:

0 The printer determines the print speed automatically. This is

the default.

20 Uses a print speed of 2.0 ips. This is the only valid speed for

serial bar codes. If the speed is set differently, the printer changes to this speed to print serial bar codes.

30 Uses a print speed of 3.0 ips

C6. ph_width Width of the printhead in dots. Use 0.

Example {I,C,0,-20,-10,0,0 p }

Uses the default contrast, moves print 0.1 inch closer to the bottom of the supply (20/203 inches) and .05 inch to the left on the supply (10/203 inches), the printer determines the print speed, and uses the default printhead width.

2-12 Configuring the Printer

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