Brady TLS PC Link Guide

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Copyright

This manual is copyrighted with all rights reserved. No portion of this manual
may be copied or reproduced by any means without the prior written consent of
Brady Worldwide, Inc.

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, Brady
assumes no liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or
omissions or by statements resulting from negligence, accident, or any other
cause. Brady further assumes no liability arising out of the application or use of
any product or system described, herein; nor any liability for incidental or
consequential damages arising from the use of this document. Brady disclaims all
warranties of merchantability of fitness for a particular purpose.

Trademarks

TM

TLS PC Link

is a trademark of Brady Worldwide, Inc.
DPL (Datamax Programming Language) is a trademark of Datamax Corp.
Brady reserves the right to make changes without further notice to any product or

system described herein to improve reliability, function, or design.
© 2001 Brady Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Revision 0
Firmware Version 1.0

Brady Worldwide, Inc.
6555 West Good Hope Road
P.O. Box 2131
Milwaukee, WI 53201

Main Switchboard: [phone]

[phone]
FAX: [phone]
Sales/Customer Support: (800) 537- 8791

TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

I

Table of Contents

Introduction................................................................................................................. 1

Scope....................................................................................................................... 1

Programming Overview.............................................................................................. 2

Basic print language overview ................................................................................ 2

Control Codes.......................................................................................................... 3

Power up Conditions ............................................................................................... 3

Generating and Printing a Label With the TLS PC Link Programming Language.4

Determining Printer Status......................................................................................5

COM Port Settings...................................................................................................... 6

Immediate Commands <SOH>................................................................................... 7

Summary of Immediate Commands........................................................................ 7

Reset (SOH #) ......................................................................................................... 7

Send ASCII Status String (SOH A)......................................................................... 8

Toggle Pause (SOH B)............................................................................................ 9

Cancel (SOH C)..................................................................................................... 10

Disable SOH (SOH D) .......................................................................................... 10

Send Batch Quantity (SOH E)............................................................................... 10

System-Level Commands <STX> ............................................................................ 11

Summary of System Level Commands ................................................................. 11

Disable Feedback Characters (STX A) ................................................................. 12

Enable Feedback Characters (STX a).................................................................... 12

Enter Heat Setting Offset (STX b) ........................................................................ 13

Disable Feeding to Cut Position after Print (STX C) ............................................ 13

Enable Feeding to Cut Position after Print and Perform a Feed to Cut (STX c)...14

Set Quantity for Stored Label (STX E).................................................................14

Form Feed (STX F)............................................................................................... 15

Set Form Stop Position (STX f) ............................................................................ 15

Print Last Label Format (STX G).......................................................................... 16

Enable SOH Commands (STX H)......................................................................... 16

Input Image Data (STX I)...................................................................................... 17

Extended System Commands (STX K)................................................................. 18

Enter Label Formatting Command (STX L) ......................................................... 18

Set Printer to Metric (STX m)............................................................................... 18

Set Printer to Inches (STX n) ................................................................................ 19

Set Start of Print Offset (STX O)..........................................................................19

Horizontal Alignment Offset (STX o)................................................................... 20

Set Continuous Label Length (STX P).................................................................. 20

Clear All Memory (STX Q) .................................................................................. 21

Set Continuous Label Spacing (STX S)................................................................ 21

Printhead Dot Pattern Test Label (STX T)............................................................ 22

Send Binary Touch Cell Data (STX t)................................................................... 22

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TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

Label Format Field Replacement (STX U) ........................................................... 24

Send ASCII Touch Cell Data (STX V).................................................................25

Printer’s Firmware Version Information (STX v)................................................. 25

Request Memory Information (STX W) ............................................................... 25

Delete File (STX x)............................................................................................... 26

Pack Memory (STX z) .......................................................................................... 27

Extended-System Commands <STX>K.................................................................... 28

Label-Formatting Commands ................................................................................... 29

Set Format Attribute (A) ....................................................................................... 30

Set Column Offset Amount (C)............................................................................. 31

Terminate Label Formatting Mode and Print Label (E)........................................ 31

Set Row Offset Amount (R).................................................................................. 31

Terminate Label-Formatting Mode (X)................................................................. 32

+ (-) Make Last Field Entered Increment (Decrement) Numeric..........................33

> (<) Make Last Field Entered Increment (Decrement) AlphaNumeric................ 34

Set Count By Amount (^)...................................................................................... 35

Generating Label Formats.........................................................................................36

The structure of a record........................................................................................ 37

Examples of a Label Format:....................................................................................38

Example 1 (1.5” x 1.5” Label, PTL-32):............................................................... 38

Example 2 (1.9” x 4.0” Label, PTL-38):............................................................... 40

Example 3 (0.24” continuous terminal block material, PTLTB-400-240):........... 42

Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................ 44

Common Problems and Corrective Action............................................................ 44

Appendix A: Feedback Characters............................................................................ 47

Appendix B: Image File Definitions.........................................................................48

Image Type U:....................................................................................................... 48

Record Types:........................................................................................................ 48

Data Format...........................................................................................................49

Appendix C: ASCII Control Chart............................................................................ 51

ASCII Control Chart ............................................................................................. 51

Appendix D: List of Commands ............................................................................... 53

Appendix E: Fonts .................................................................................................... 55

TLS PC Link

TM

Printer Fonts................................................................................55

Font Symbol Set.................................................................................................... 57

Appendix F: Barcodes Summary .............................................................................. 58

Appendix G: Mini-DIN 6-Pin to 9-Pin Cable Pinouts .............................................. 59

TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

III

Introduction

Scope

The TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide is intended for technical personnel
who have basic programming knowledge and intend to create their own programs
to send controls down to the printer for printing labels (design their own label­creation software). A programming language allows the printer to be integrated
with a piece of equipment such as a portable data terminal (PDT), scanner, wire
tester, electrical meter, or medical device. Operators without programming
experience may prefer to use a label-creation software package such as
LabelMark
detailed information on the Brady Programming Language (based off of the
Datamax programming Language (DPL)), specifically regarding the writing,
loading, and storing of programs for the control and production of label formats
(designs) using the TLS PC Link Printer. The Brady Programming Language
(BPL) provides a built-in communication language with every printer.

Note: The TLS PC Link Printer is referred to as “the printer” in this
programmer’s guide.

Be sure to check the Brady web site www.tls2200.com for the latest updates.

TM

(included with every printer) or CODESOFTTM. This guide offers

TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

1

Programming Overview

Basic print language overview

The TLS PC Link Printer control language is based on Datamax DPL, revision
D2.

The print language can be implemented as completely 7-bit ASCII characters.
The ASCII table is shown in Appendix C: ASCII Control Chart. All commands
and responses are sent as printable ASCII characters with a few exceptions:

1. Some control codes (non-printable ASCII characters) are sent to inform the

printer that a command is to be received or terminated. Refer to table of
Control Codes on page 3.

2. 8-bit binary image files can be sent. These include BMP and PCX files.

Also, there is special download format based on Datamax’s image load file
and Windows’ print drivers. This file can be sent as an 8-bit binary file or a
7-bit ASCII hex file.

3. International characters and symbols are sent as extended-ASCII or 8-bit

characters.

Throughout the examples in the book, all characters are ASCII unless otherwise
noted. Control characters are shown by their symbol in brackets. For example,
the SOH control character is shown as <SOH>. The brackets are not symbols to
be sent. Only the decimal value of 1 is sent. All hex values are shown with a
preceding 0x. For example, 3D hex is shown as 0x3D. Whenever a value is sent
as ASCII Hex, this means the hex value is sent as two ASCII characters. For
example, 0x3D sent as ASCII Hex will send two ASCII characters ‘3’ and ‘D’.

Command Types

There are three main command types used to create labels and control the printer.
These are:

Command Type Description

Immediate Commands Interrupts the printer to perform a

particular action. The printer then
resumes normal operations.

System-Level Commands Performed in the sequence that they are

received and generally control the
printer’s hardware. In addition, system­level commands allow memory

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TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

Command Type Description

configuration and image downloading.

Label-Formatting Commands Used to control the position of text and

images. The label format termination
commands can selectively store and print
the label and end the formatting process.

Control Codes

Control codes are used to inform the printer that a command is to be received or
terminated. The control codes used are:

ASCII
Char

SOH 1 0x01 ^A Start of Immediate

STX 2 0x02 ^B Start of System

CR 13 0x0D ^M Termination of many

Decimal
Value

HEX
Value

Printer
Dump

Control Code for

Commands

Commands

commands

Power up Conditions

On power up, the unit is in the following modes:

! System Level Commands are accepted
! Immediate Commands are turned off
! Feedback Characters are turned off

The unit will never accept System Level Commands and Label Formatting
Commands at the same time. When Label Formatting mode is entered, System
Level Commands are disabled. After Label Formatting Mode is exited, System
Level Commands can be received again.

Immediate Commands can be turned on and off. When turned on, they can be
received in both Label Formatting Mode and System Level Mode. They are
turned off with an Immediate Command, but turned back on with a System Level
command.

Feedback Characters can be turned on and off with System Level Commands.
When turned on, all System Level and Label Formatting Commands will reply

TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

3

with a feedback character denoting success or an error. Feedback characters are
defined in Appendix A. Each command lists the possible feedback characters.
Immediate Commands never send these feedback characters. They will send a
response if the Immediate Command requires one, such as Read Status String.

Generating and Printing a Label With the TLS PC Link
Programming Language

The printer is capable of storing only one label format at a time. A label format
specifies what is to be placed on the label. It specifies the text, fonts, barcodes, or
image files to use. Some barcodes and fonts are resident in the printer. Fonts and
barcodes that are not resident in the printer can only be printed by downloading a
bitmap image file of the desired label or portion of the label containing these
fonts and barcodes.

It is possible to store multiple image files in the unit. These image files will be
lost if the unit is powered down. These files are stored with an 8 character name.
When a label format is created, it can contain any number of images. These are
specified in the label format by the image file name. The actual image file is not
part of the label format. Therefore, an image only needs to be downloaded once,
but can be used in multiple label formats.

The basic procedure to create and print a label follows:

1. Power up printer.

2. Enable feedback characters if they are to be used.

3. Download any image files.

4. Enter Label Formatting Mode.

5. Enter all label fields. Each field contains the following:

field type: text, barcode, or image
font size or barcode type
location within label to place the object
the text or file name of the object

6. Exit Label Formatting Mode.

7. Set print quantity.

8. Print label.
Each time label formatting mode is entered, it clears out the previous label

format. Therefore, Label Formatting Mode cannot be entered and exited multiple
times while creating the same label. The whole label must be created in one
entry.

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TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

Determining Printer Status

There are two methods to determine the printer status:

! Feedback Characters
! Immediate Command to Request Status

If feedback characters are used, a response is given after each System Level or
Label Formatting Command is completed. If an error occurs on a command, it is
known immediately by the response. When a print command is sent, a print
complete character is sent by the printer when the print is done. If an error
occurred during the print such as being out of labels, the feedback character
contains this error.

If feedback characters are not used, the status can be determined by requesting it
with an Immediate Command. After a print command is sent, the printer can be
queried with a Send ASCII Status String Command. This command will tell if
the printer is busy printing or if an error has occurred. If using this method, it is
important to have immediate commands enabled. They must be enabled before a
print command is sent, or they will not be enabled until after the print job is
complete.

TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

5

COM Port Settings

In order to establish communication between the TLS PC Link printer and your
PC, you must have the correct COM port settings:

Setting Value

BPS 9600
Data Bits 8
Parity None
Stop Bits 1
Flow Control Hardware

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TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

Immediate Commands <SOH>

When the printer receives an immediate command it will stop whatever it is
doing and perform that command. After the command is complete, the printer
will resume the operation it interrupted. Immediate commands are turned off on
power up, and can be turned on with the System-Level Command “Enable SOH
Commands (STX H)”. When Immediate Commands are enabled, they may be
issued at any time. Because of this, it is necessary to disable immediate
commands whenever sending image files that contain 8-bit data. The image data
in these files may contain an immediate command start code that will be
misinterpreted. These can be disabled using immediate command <SOH> D.
Immediate commands consist of:

1. Attention Character

2. Command Character

3. Parameters (if any)

Summary of Immediate Commands

The following immediate commands are discussed in this section. Refer to the
page number listed to the right of each command for more information and a
sample command.

Immediate Command Page

Reset (SOH #) 7
Send ASCII Status String (SOH A) 8
Toggle Pause (SOH B) 9
Cancel (SOH C) 10
Disable SOH (SOH D) 10
Send Batch Quantity (SOH E) 10

Reset (SOH #)

This command resets the printer. Resetting the printer returns all settings to
default and clears both the input and print buffers. The command also clears the
internal RAM memory.

Sample:

<SOH>#

The printer will now reset.

TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

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Printer Response: Version 01.01 12/21/00<CR>
The printer always sends out the Version on power up.

Send ASCII Status String (SOH A)

This command allows the host computer to check the printer for its current status.
The printer returns a string of eight characters to the host computer, followed by
a carriage return. Each character is either Y or N indicating whether the associated
condition is true or false (Y = true). Byte 1 is the first character transmitted by
the printer.

Error statuses relating to printer hardware conditions are only updated when
performing a print or feed command. For example, this command does not test
to see if the printhead is open, it only tests if it was open on the last print or feed
command.

Sample:

<SOH>A

Printer Response: abcdefgh<CR>

Byte Character Y/N Condition

1 a = Y/N Y = Printhead open
2 b = Y/N Y = Out of Labels
3 c = Y/N Y = Out of Ribbon
4 d = Y/N Y = Printing Batch
5 e = Y/N Y = Busy Printing
6 f = Y/N Y = Printer Paused
7 g = Y/N Y = Touch Cell Error
8 h = Y/N Y = Low Battery

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TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

Toggle Pause (SOH B)

This command toggles the printer’s paused state between on and off.
Sample:

<SOH>B

This command will illuminate the pause/stop light and suspend printing. Printing
will not be suspended in the middle of a label. If a label is being printed, the
printer will finish the label and then pause.

Printing will resume when the SOH B command is sent to the printer again.

TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

9

Cancel (SOH C)

The stop/cancel function will immediately stop the printer and cancel the current
print job. If currently in the middle of printing a label, it will stop printing and
feed the label to the cut position.

Sample:

<SOH>C

Disable SOH (SOH D)

This command causes the printer to ignore immediate commands (^A). The SOH
shutdown command must be sent before loading graphic images that are sent
using 8-bit data. These image files may contain data sequences that could be
interpreted as an immediate command.

Sample:

<SOH>D

After the SOH shutdown command is sent, immediate commands can be turned
back on by sending the system command <STX> H or by resetting the printer. If
feedback characters are enabled, a code will be sent back to the host when the
SOH commands are enabled. If feedback characters are not used, it is good
practice to check batch quantities <SOH>E to verify that the SOH commands are
working. This test should not occur in label formatting mode. If it is sent during
label formatting mode, and SOH commands are not yet enabled, this command
will be misinterpreted.

Send Batch Quantity (SOH E)

This command causes the printer to send back a 4-digit number indicating the
quantity of labels left to print in the current batch, followed by a carriage return.
Communications latency may cause this value to be higher than actual on some
printers.

Sample:

<SOH>E

Printer Response: 0000<CR>

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TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

System-Level Commands <STX>

The most commonly used commands are the system-level commands. These
commands are used to load and store graphic information and to control the
printer. System-level commands may be used before or after immediate
commands but cannot be issued among label-formatting commands. System-level
commands can be used to override default parameter values. System commands
consist of:

1. Attention Character

2. Command Character

3. Parameters (if any).

Summary of System Level Commands

The following system level commands are discussed in this section. Refer to the
page number listed to the right of each command for more information and a
sample command.

System Level Command Page

Disable Feedback Characters (STX A) 12
Enable Feedback Characters (STX a) 12
Enter Heat Setting Offset (STX b) 13
Disable Feeding to Cut Position after Print (STX C) 13
Enable Feeding to Cut Position after Print and

Perform a Feed to Cut (STX c)
Set Quantity for Stored Label (STX E) 14

Form Feed (STX F) 15
Set Form Stop Position (STX f) 15
Print Last Label Format (STX G) 16
Enable SOH Commands (STX H) 16
Input Image Data (STX I) 17
Extended System Commands (STX K) 18
Enter Label Formatting Command (STX L) 18
Set Printer to Metric (STX m) 18

TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

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11

System Level Command Page

Set Printer to Inches (STX n) 19
Set Start of Print Offset (STX O) 19
Horizontal Alignment Offset (STX o) 20
Clear All Memory (STX Q) 20
Printhead Dot Pattern Test Label (STX T) 21
Send Binary Touch Cell Data (STX t) 22
Label Format Field Replacement (STX U) 24
Send ASCII Touch Cell Data (STX V) 25
Printer’s Firmware Version Information (STX v) 25
Request Memory Information (STX W) 25
Delete File (STX x) 26
Pack Memory (STX z) 26

Disable Feedback Characters (STX A)

This command disables the feedback ASCII characters.
Sample:

<STX>A

No feedback response

Enable Feedback Characters (STX a)

This command enables the feedback ASCII characters. These feedback
characters contain valuable information about system errors, printing completion,
and enabling of immediate commands. These characters are listed in Appendix
A. The printer is initialized with feedback characters turned off. When feedback
characters are enabled, all commands will have a response associated with them.
When there are no errors, the response will be ‘0’. There is no response to the
<STX> a command.

Sample:

<STX>a

No feedback response

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TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

Enter Heat Setting Offset (STX b)

This command changes the "on time" of dots on the printhead. The printer
powers up with a default setting determined from the media type installed.
Varying this number changes the amount of time the dots are "turned on" which
in turn changes the amount of heat transferred from the printhead to the media.
The range of valid settings is -5 to +5 that corresponds to an offset of +/- 500
microseconds. This command is helpful when the printer is used with several
different media types. When a label format is sent to the printer and the media
requires more or less heat than the amount set by the default temperature, the host
device can send a command before or after the format to correct the heat setting
for the media being used.

<STX>bsnn

Where:

s ‘+’ or ‘-’ sign, can be either for setting of 0
nn two digit heat offset value (00-05)

Sample:

<STX>b+05

The above sample sets the printer for a heat value of +5.
Feedback possibilities: 0,1,2

Disable Feeding to Cut Position after Print (STX C)

This command will stop the printer from feeding to the cut position after printing.
This command should only be used in conjunction with STX c. This is used to
send multiple print commands without feeding to the cut position after each print.
The STX c command is sent at the end to feed to the cut position and re-enable
feeding to the cut position for all future print commands.

<STX>C

Feedback possibilities (only sent if feedback characters are turned on): 0,1, or 2

TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

13

Enable Feeding to Cut Position after Print and Perform a Feed to
Cut (STX c)

This command will feed the printer to the cut position. It will also enable feeding
to the cut position after all future print commands. It is to be used in conjunction
with STX C.

<STX>c

Feedback possibilities (only sent if feedback characters are turned on):
1,2,6,7,8,A,B,E,F,J

Set Quantity for Stored Label (STX E)

This command sets the number of labels to print for the label format currently
stored in the print buffer. The most recent label sent to the printer will
automatically remain stored in the buffer until the printer is reset, turned off, or a
batch is canceled. This command is also used in conjunction with the STX G
command, which will print the labels.

<STX>Ennnn

Where:

nnnn- a four-digit quantity, including leading zeros

Sample:

<STX>E0025
<STX>G

The above sample will print 25 labels of the current label format in memory.
Feedback possibilities: 0,1,2

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TLS PC LinkTM Programmer’s Guide

Form Feed (STX F)

This command feeds one label to the top of form.
Sample:

<STX>F

Feedback possibilities: 0,1,2,6,7,8,A,B,E,F

Set Form Stop Position (STX f)

This command is used to adjust the cutter stop position. When a label is printed,
the printer will feed the label to the cut position. This command adjusts the stop
position to allow for desired cutting alignment. When the next label format is
sent to the printer, it will automatically backfeed to the start-of-print position. If a
quantity of more than one label is to be printed (See Set Quantity for Stored
Label (STX E), the printer will operate without feeding to the cut position
between labels. It will feed to the cut position after the last label.

<STX>fsnn

Where:

s- sign of offset, ‘+’ or ‘-’

nn- two digit value of offset
The valid range is -08 to +08.
Sample:

<STX>f+08

The above sample adjusts the stop position 8 pixels from default. The ‘+’ means
that the paper will feed out 8 pixels further.

Feedback possibilities: 0,1,2,6,7,8,A,B,E,F

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