Brother PT-1500PC Quick Reference

1500PC

Model : PT-1500PC

Quick Reference

• Read this Quick Reference before you start using your P-touch.

• Keep this Quick Reference in a handy place for future reference.

Thank you for purchasing the P-touch 1500PC! With your new Brother label printer, you can print personalized labels for any purpose. Simply insert a

label cassette into the PT-1500PC, design your label with the enclosed P-touch label-designing software, and then print it out. Your customized label prints out in seconds. Label tape cassettes are available in various sizes and colors—ideal for color-coded labeling or any other special labeling needs.

Two label-designing applications are available on the enclosed CD-ROM. The easy-to-use P-touch Quick Editor software allows text to be entered and formatted quickly so that simple labels can be printed instantly. The more advanced P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1 application not only automates complex layout functions, but it also includes a variety of pre-formatted templates for immediate use.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Declaration of Conformity (For USA Only)

Responsible Party : Brother International Corporation

declares that the product Product Name : Brother Label Printer P-touch 1500PC Model Number : PT-1500PC

complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

– Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. – Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. –

Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. – Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. – The enclosed interface cable should be used in order to ensure compliance with the limits for a Class

B digital device. – Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Brother Industries, Ltd. could void the user’s

authority to operate the equipment.

Patent numbers and patent publication numbers which are related to this product are as below:

USP4839742 USP4983058 USP5120147

USP4927278 USP5009530

USP4976558 USP5069557

100 Somerset Corporate Boulevard Bridgewater, NJ 08807-0911 USA TEL : (908) 704-1700

Unpacking ...................................................................................................................2

General description .....................................................................................................2

General precautions ....................................................................................................2

Inserting a photo into the photo frame ........................................................................3

Tape cassettes .............................................................................................................. 3

Changing the tape caessette ........................................................................................ 4

Connecting the AC adapter ......................................................................................... 4

Power/Feed key ...........................................................................................................5

Connecting the USB interface cable ............................................................................5

Software and printer driver .........................................................................................5

For PC-compatible users (Windows

Before installation .................................................................................................6

Installing P-touch Quick Editor ............................................................................. 6

Installing P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1 ........................................................................... 8

Installing the printer driver ....................................................................................9

Reading the User’s Guide ..................................................................................... 9

Uninstalling the software and printer driver ........................................................ 10

Replacing, deleting or adding another printer driver ........................................... 10

For Macintosh users ................................................................................................... 11

Before installation ...............................................................................................11

Installing P-touch Quick Editor ........................................................................... 12

Installing P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1 ......................................................................... 12

Selecting the driver .............................................................................................13

Reading the User’s Guide ................................................................................... 13

Uninstalling the software and printer driver ........................................................ 14

Starting up the P-touch Editor software .....................................................................15

Starting up P-touch Quick Editor......................................................................... 15

Starting up P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1 ...................................................................... 15

Using P-touch Quick Editor .......................................................................................16

Specifying a label size ........................................................................................ 16

Entering text ........................................................................................................ 16

Importing text ..................................................................................................... 17

Using the Text History list ................................................................................... 17

Adding a symbol................................................................................................. 17

Changing the background color ..........................................................................17

Viewing the text.................................................................................................. 17

Printing ...............................................................................................................17

Hiding/displaying P-touch Quick Editor (Windows only) .................................... 18

Quitting P-touch Quick Editor ............................................................................ 18

Printing a label .......................................................................................................... 18

Removing the label backing ....................................................................................... 19

Quitting P-touch Quick Editor ................................................................................... 19

Maintenance .............................................................................................................. 19

Cleaning the print head and roller ...................................................................... 19

Troubleshooting.........................................................................................................20

Monitoring the P-touch status ............................................................................. 20

Problem-solving .................................................................................................. 21

Machine specifications .....................................................................................21

Accessories .......................................................................................................22

98/98SE/Me/2000) .............................................. 6

Unpacking

• PT-1500PC (with photo frame attached)

• 1/2” (12 mm) wide TZ tape cassette (black characters on white tape; 16’ 3/8” (5 meters))

• AC adapter (model AD-60; for plugging the PT-1500PC into the AC outlet)

•

USB Interface cable (for connecting the PT-1500PC to either an IBM PC-compatible or Macintosh computer)

• Quick Reference

• CD-ROM containing the PC and Mac software and their manuals

General description

Status indicator

Tape cutter button

Power/Feed key

DC IN 9.5V

USB port

AC adapter connector

Tape exit slot

Tape separator

Release lever

Tape compartment cover

Cutter

Print head

Photo frame

Photo frame (uninstalled)

General precautions

• Use only Brother TZ tapes with this machine. Do not use tapes that do not have the mark.

• Do not pull on the tape being fed from the P-touch. Otherwise, the tape cassette may be damaged.

• Avoid using the machine in extremely dusty places, and keep it out of both direct sunlight and rain.

• Do not expose the machine to high temperatures or high humidity.

•

Do not leave any rubber or vinyl objects on the machine for an extended period of time. Doing so may cause staining.

• Do not clean the machine with alcohol or other organic solvents. Use a soft, dry cloth only.

• Do not put any foreign objects into or anything on the machine.

• To avoid injures, do not touch the cutter’s edge.

• Do not touch the print head, which becomes very hot when the P-touch is used. Even after the machine is turned off, the

print head remains hot for some time.

• Use only the enclosed AC adapter (model AD-60) designed exclusively for this machine. Use of any other adapter will

void the warranty.

• Use only the enclosed USB interface cable. Use of any other cable will void the warranty.

• When the machine is not being used for a long period of time, disconnect the AC adapter.

• Do not try to disassemble the P-touch.

• IBM® is a trademark of International Business Machines, Inc.

•

Microsoft® and Microsoft Windows® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the US and other countries.

• Macintosh and Power Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

•

All other software and product names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Inserting a photo into the photo frame

A photo can be inserted into the photo frame attached to the PT-1500PC, turning it into a decorative addition to your workspace.

Insert a photo into the photo frame in either of the following two ways:

• By removing the photo frame from the PT-1500PC

1 Remove the photo frame from the

PT-1500PC by carefully pulling off the frame, grabbing it from the back of the PT-1500PC as shown.

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Be careful that the tape compartment cover is not opened when removing the photo frame.

2 Remove the cardboard backing and the

clear protective sheet from the photo frame.

3 Stack the clear protective sheet, the

photo, and the cardboard backing in that order, facing down.

4 Insert one end of the stack under the two

tabs on one side of the frame, and then insert the stack under the two tabs on the other side of the frame.

5 Attach the photo frame to the side of the

PT-1500PC opposite to the tape compartment cover.

• Without removing the cardbord backing and

the clear protective sheet from the photo frame

 Slide the photo between the cardbord

backing and the clear protective sheet.

I N

9.5 V

Tape cassettes

• Do not pull on the tape being fed from the machine, otherwise the tape cassette may be damaged.

• If the label is attached to a wet or dirty surface, it may easily peel off. Before affixing the label, clean

the surface where it will be attached.

• Depending on the environmental conditions and the material, condition, roughness, and shape of the affixing surface, the label may move out of place or peel off. In order to test the label’s adhesive strength or before using this label where safety is a particular concern, test the label by affixing a small piece of it to a hidden area of the intended surface.

• Sunlight, wind and rain may cause the color of the label to fade or the label to peel off.

• Markings made with oil-based or water-based ink may be visible through a label affixed over them.

To hide the markings, use two labels layered on top of each other, or use tape with a dark background.

• This tape may not be adequate in cases where liabilities may result due to damage or injuries.

Changing the tape cassette

1 Lift open the tape compartment cover. The

installed cassette is also released.

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Be careful that the photo frame does not fall off when the tape compartment cover is opened.

2 If a tape cassette is already installed, remove

it by pulling it straight up.

3 If the ink ribbon in the tape cassette to be

installed is loose, use your finger to wind the toothed wheel in the direction of the arrow on the cassette until there is no slack in the ribbon. Also, make sure that the end of the tape feeds under the tape guide.

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If you are inserting a new tape cassette provided with a stopper, be sure to remove the stopper.

4 Insert the tape cassette firmly into the tape

compartment, making sure that the entire back of the cassette touches the bottom of the compartment.

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When inserting the tape cassette, make sure that the ink ribbon does not catch on the corner of the metal guide.

5 Securely close the tape compartment cover

by pressing down on the textured area of the cover near the tape exit slot.

Tape cassette

Connecting the AC adapter

Connect the AC adapter to the PT-1500PC as described below. 1 Insert the plug on the adapter cord into the

connector marked DC IN 9.5V on the PT1500PC.

2 Insert the plug on the adapter into the nearest

standard electrical outlet. The status indicator lights up in green to indicate that the machine is on.

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To turn off the PT-1500PC, press the Power/Feed key so that the status indicator goes off.

AC adapter

Tape separator

Status indicator

DC IN 9.5V

Power/Feed key

The power/feed key ( ) can be used both for turning on and off the PT-1500PC and for feeding out tape.

• To turn the PT-1500PC on or off:  Press once.

• To feed out some tape:  Hold down for at least two seconds.

Connecting the USB interface cable

Connect the PT-1500PC to the computer as described below.

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When connecting the PT-1500PC to an IBM PC-compatible computer, label-designing software and the printer driver must be installed before the PT-1500PC is connected to the computer and plugged in using the AC adapter. Follow the installation procedures on pages 6 through 10 to install the software and the printer driver, and then connect the PT-1500PC to the computer when you are instructed to do so.

1 Insert the flat connector on the enclosed USB

interface cable into the USB port on the computer.

2 Insert the square connector on the enclosed

USB interface cable into the USB port ( ) on the PT-1500PC.

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When making a USB connection through a hub, a proper connection may not be possible due to the type of hub used. If printing is not possible with a hub connection, try connecting the PT1500PC directly to the computer using the USB interface cable.

USB port

USB interface cable

Software and printer driver

Brother Co., Ltd. and its suppliers possess all rights and copyrights to this software (including, but not limited to, the programming, images, clip art, templates, and text incorporated into the software), the text in the enclosed manuals, and duplicates of the software. This software, either in part or in whole, may not be duplicated, modified, reverse-engineered, disassembled or decompiled without permission.

With the enclosed CD-ROM, the following can be installed:

• P-touch Quick Editor

• P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1

• PT-1500PC printer driver

For PC-compatible users (Windows® 98/98SE/Me/2000)

Before labels can be printed on the PT-1500PC, label-designing software and the PT-1500PC printer driver must be installed. In order to design labels that can be printed on the PT-1500PC, two applications are available on the enclosed CD-ROM: P-touch Quick Editor and P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1

Before installation

Check that your system configuration meets the following requirements.

Computer: IBM PC or compatible

For Windows®

Operating system: Hard disk free space: At least 20 MB Available memory: Minimum 32 MB Monitor: VGA or higher graphics card USB port CD-ROM drive

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Do not connect the PT-1500PC to the computer before installing the label-designing software, otherwise it may not be installed correctly. Be sure not to connect the PT-1500PC until you are instructed to do so.

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For installation on Windows® 2000, administrator privileges are required. In addition, printing requires power user or administrator privileges. This software cannot be operated in Users groups.

Installing P-touch Quick Editor

The P-touch Quick Editor software provides quick access to the more simple label-designing features for easy text input and instant printing of labels. Install the P-touch Quick Editor software on a PC as described below.

Insert the enclosed CD-ROM into the computer’s CD-ROM drive. A dialog box appears, allowing you to select what to install.

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button (Driver) on the right side. The first Driver Setup dialog box appears, informing you that the PT-1500PC printer driver will be installed.

Microsoft® Windows® 2000 or pre-installed with Microsoft® Windows® 98/98SE/Me

To install the P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1 software, click the top button (P-touch Editor) on the right side. Then, continue with the procedure in

Installing P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1

If the dialog box does not automatically appear, double-click “My Computer” on the desktop, double-click the icon for the CDROM drive containing the CD-ROM, and then double-click “Setup.exe” to display the dialog box.

o install just the printer driver, click the bottom

Click the left button (P-touch Quick Editor). The InstallShield® Wizard for installing the P-touch Quick Editor software starts up, and then the Welcome dialog box appears.

on page 8.

Continue with the procedure in

the printer driver

on page 9.

Installing

3 Carefully read the contents of the dialog box,

and then click the Next button to continue. The User Information dialog box appears.

4 Type the necessary information into the

appropriate boxes (If the information has already been registered in Windows®, it will automatically appear.), and then click the Next button. A dialog box appears, asking for confirmation of the entered information.

8 Select the desired location for the shortcut,

and then click the Next button. A dialog box appears, allowing you to select whether or not to install the printer driver.

To install the printer driver, click the Yes button. The first Driver Setup dialog box appears, informing you that the PT-1500PC printer driver will be installed.

For Windows®

5 Click the Yes button to register the entered

information.

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To change the information, click the No button, and then return to step 3.

The Choose Destination Location dialog box appears.

6 Click the Next button to begin installation. 7 After P-touch Quick Editor is installed, a

dialog box appears, allowing you to select where the shortcut to P-touch Quick Editor will be added.

Continue with the procedure in

printer driver

If the printer driver is already installed, click the No button. A dialog box appears, showing that installation is finished.

Select “Yes, I want to restart may computer now.”, click the Finish button to restart the computer, and then remove the CD-ROM from the CD-ROM drive.

on page 9.

Installing the

Installing P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1

The P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1 software includes a variety of more complex functions for printing barcodes and images, enabling you to design just about any label that you can imagine. Install the P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1 software on a PC as described below.

1 Insert the enclosed CD-ROM into the

computer’s CD-ROM drive. A dialog box

For Windows®

appears, allowing you to select what to install.

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To install just the printer driver, click the bottom button (Driver) on the right side. The first Driver Setup dialog box appears, informing you that the PT-1500PC printer driver will be installed.

Continue with the procedure in

the printer driver

To install the P-touch Quick Editor software, click the left button (P-touch Quick Editor). Then, continue with the procedure in

Editor

2 Click the top button (P-touch Editor) on the

right side. The InstallShield® Wizard for installing the P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1 software starts up, and then the Welcome dialog box appears.

3 Follow the instructions that appear and

continue with the installation. During installation, the following installation methods will be available.

on page 9.

Installing P-touch Quick

on page 6.

Installing

Typical

All of the basic options (P-touch Editor Ver.

3.1, clip art, Auto Format templates, Help, and 13 fonts) are installed.

Compact

Only P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1 is installed.

Custom

Editor: P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1 Clip Art: Illustrations for the P-touch

Editor Ver. 3.1 Clip Art function

Fonts: 13 fonts Auto Format Templates: Templates for

the Auto Format function User’s Guide: User’s Guide (HTML) for the P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1

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The User’s Guide can also be viewed from the CD-ROM without installing it onto the computer.

Help: Help files for P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1 If the Change button can be clicked while

an option is selected, sub-components can be selected. Click the Change button to display the Select Sub-components dialog box, and then select the subcomponents that you wish to install by putting a check mark beside them. If certain options or sub-components are not installed, some P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1 functions may not be available. After selecting the desired sub-components, click the Continue button.

4 After P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1 is installed, a

dialog box appears, allowing you to select whether or not to install the printer driver.

To install the printer driver, click the Yes button. The first Driver Setup dialog box appears, informing you that the PT-1500PC printer driver will be installed.

Continue with the procedure in

printer driver

If the printer driver is already installed, click the No button. A dialog box appears, showing that installation is finished.

Select “Yes, I want to restart may computer now.”, click the Finish button to restart the computer, and then remove the CD-ROM from the CD-ROM drive.

below.

Installing the

Installing the printer driver

With Plug-and-Play, new devices connected to the system are detected, and their drivers are automatically installed. Since the PT-1500PC will be connected through the USB port, its driver will be installed with Plug-and-Play. Be sure to read the installation instructions described below before installing the printer driver supplied on the CDROM.

Be sure not to connect the PT-1500PC until you are instructed to do so.

1 Click the Next button. A dialog box appears,

instructing you to connect the PT-1500PC to the computer.

2 Connect the PT-1500PC to the computer

using the enclosed USB interface cable as described on page 5, and then turn on the PT-1500PC. A dialog box appears, showing that the printer driver has been installed.

3 Click the Finish button. A dialog box

appears, showing that installation is finished.

4 Select “Yes, I want to restart my computer

now.”, click the Finish button to restart the computer, and then remove the CD-ROM from the computer.

Reading the User’s Guide

The P-touch Editor User’s Guide can be viewed either by inserting the CD -ROM into the drive each time you wish to refer to it or by installing it onto your hard disk so that it is quickly available at any time. Since the User’s Guide is an HTML document, a browser is needed to read it.

• From the CD-ROM:

1 Start up Windows Explorer. 2 Select the CD-ROM drive. 3 Double-click “Main.htm” in the Manual

folder within the Ptouch folder on the CD-ROM.

• From the P-touch Editor 3.1 group window:  Double-click The User’s Guide P-touch

Editor Ver3.1 icon.

• With the Start button: 1 Click the Start button in the taskbar to

display the Start menu.

2 Select “Programs”. 3 Select “P-touch Editor 3.1”. 4 Click “The User’s Guide P-touch Editor

Ver3.1”.

For Windows®

Uninstalling the software and printer driver

Uninstall the P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1/P-touch Quick Editor software from a PC as described below.

1 Start up Windows® 98/98SE/Me/2000. 2 Click the Start button in the taskbar, select

“Settings”, and then click “Control Panel”.

3 In the Control Panel window, double-click

For Windows®

“Add/Remove Programs”.

4 In the Add/Remove Programs Properties

dialog box, select "P-touch Quick Editor" (to delete the P-touch Quick Editor software) or “P-touch Editor 3.1” (to delete the P-touch Editor Ver. 3.1 software), and then click the Add/Remove button.

5 A message appears, asking if you wish to

delete the selected application. Click the Yes button to delete the application.

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If you do not wish to delete the application, click the No button.

6 In the dialog box that appears, indicating that

the application is deleted, click the OK button.

Replacing, deleting or adding another printer driver

1 Turn off the PT-1500PC, and then disconnect

it from the computer.

2 Insert the enclosed CD-ROM into the

computer’s CD-ROM drive. A dialog box appears, allowing you to select what to install.

If the dialog box does not automatically appear, double-click “My Computer” on the desktop, double-click the icon for the CD-ROM drive containing the CD-ROM, and then double-click “Setup.exe” to display the dialog box.

3 Click the bottom button (Driver) on the right

side. The first Driver Setup dialog box appears, allowing you to select whether to replace, delete or add another PT-1500PC printer driver.

4 Select the desired operation, and then click

the Next button.

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If “Replace with new Brother PT-1500PC” is selected, the previously installed printer driver is deleted, and replaced with a new one. Select this option when upgrading the printer driver, or when running Windows® 2000 and changing to a PT-1500PC with a different serial number.

If “Add Brother PT-1500PC” is selected, a new printer driver is added. With USB on Windows® 98/Me, only a port is added without adding the PT-1500PC as a new printer. Select this option when connecting and using multiple PT-1500PCs with the same computer.

5 If “Replace with new Brother PT-1500PC” or

“Add Brother PT-1500PC” was selected: A

dialog box appears, instructing you to connect the PT-1500PC to the computer.

Connect the PT-1500PC to the computer using the enclosed USB interface cable as described on page 5, and then turn on the PT-1500PC. A dialog box appears, showing that the printer driver has been installed.

Select “Yes, restart immediately.”, and then click the Finish button to restart the computer.

If “Delete Brother PT-1500PC” was selected:

A dialog box appears, asking for confirmation to delete all PT-1500 printer drivers.

Click the Yes button. A dialog box appears, showing that the printer drivers have been deleted.

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Click the Finish button. If a dialog box appears, explaining that the computer should be restarted, select the option for restarting the computer, and then click the Finish button.