Datamax-O'Neil PrintPAD AN-01 User Manual

AN-01

September 23, 2005

OVERVIEW OF THERMAL PRINTING MODES

O’Neil thermal printers support several different printing protocols. The two native protocols are Line Printer and Easy
Print. Each of these protocols has their own unique advantages depending upon what is to be printed. It is also p ossible
to mix Line Printer and Easy Print in a single printed image. In addition to these there are several emulation modes.
These emulation protocols are covered in separate documents.

Line Printer Mode

The Line Printer mode is the simplest method of printing. Each line
single bytes (some Asian character sets require two bytes for each cha ra cter). The printe r accepts characters and begins
to print when a Carriage Return (0x0D) or Line Feed (0x0A) is received. Then all characters received to that point are
printed on a single line. A series of ESCape code sequences can be sent to the printer to alter the look of the characters
(e.g. to make them double wide, or to change the font, or to change other aspects of the appearance of the printout).
These are documented in AN-2, the overview of Line Printer mode. You can also have the printer re-align if you are using
stocks with a “Q” or alignment mark.

Easy Print Mode

The Easy Print mode is a much more powerful method of printing. Easy print is actually a pri
give commands to the printer (such as PRINT). Within that protocol, you can tell the printer how to print that data (e.g.
using a variety of fonts, or as a bar code), exactly where to put the data (anywhere on the printed image down to .005”),
and how to modify the data (e.g. tall, wide, rotated). And you can store graphics images such as logos or icons to be
used anywhere on the printed image. If you are printing on pre-cut labels, you can use a pre-printed “Q” mark or the gap
between labels to re-align after each image is printed. Easy Print commands are detailed in AN-3

TO PRINT LINE PRINTER EASY PRINT EMULATION

Bar Codes X
Complex image (exact text/barcode/graphic
positioning important)
Line after line of text (receipts or invoice) X
Graphics (one time – not stored) including
captured signatures
Graphics (stored) X
Labels (Butt cut or Die Cut) with alignment “Q”
mark or gap between labels
Pre-Printed “fill in the blank” form X
Rotated image X
Rotated areas on image X
Use O’Neil printer in system meant for another
make of printer

X

X

X (Text Only) X (Complex)

X

to be printed is sent to the printer as a sequence of

nting protocol that lets you