Datamax-O'Neil S-Class DTPL Programmer’s Manual

DTPL Programmer’s Manual

Information in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on
the part of Datamax-O’Neil Corporation. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, for any purpose other than the purchaser’s personal use, without the
expressed written permission of Datamax-O’Neil Corporation.

© 2009 by Datamax-O’Neil Corporation

Part Number: 88-2246-01

Revision: B

Contents

Introduction

1.0 Manual Overview.............................................................................................................1

1.1 Ticket Orientation............................................................................................................. 1

1.2 Inverted Characters.........................................................................................................1

1.3 Bar Codes........................................................................................................................ 2

1.4 Graphics .......................................................................................................................... 2

DTPL Command Sequences

2.0 Introduction...................................................................................................................... 3

DTPL Status Commands

3.0 Introduction...................................................................................................................... 5

DTPL File Commands

4.0 Introduction...................................................................................................................... 7

DTPL Print Commands

5.0 Introduction...................................................................................................................... 9

DTPL Special Commands

6.0 Introduction.................................................................................................................... 11

DTPL Downloading Commands

7.0 Downloading Commands............................................................................................... 13

Barcodes

8.0 Barcodes........................................................................................................................ 17

Appendix A

ASCII Control Chart.............................................................................................................A-1

i

ii

Introduction

1.0 Manual Overview

This manual is designed for users who wish to create their own label production software. Operators without
programming experience may prefer to use a label-creation software package.

This manual explains in detail the Datamax-O’Neil Ticket Programming Language (DTPL), how to write
programs that will enable Datamax-O’Neil Ticket printers to create ticket formats (designs), and allow the user to
control the operation of the printer. Ticket formats that have been created can be printed, stored, and edited.

1.1 Ticket Orientation

Each ticket is made up of a matrix of dot rows and dot columns. The starting position on each ticket is row 0,
column 0 (0,0). This is the left top-most corner of a ticket. The end of the ticket is the bottom right-hand corner.
Data can be printed anywhere on the ticket by specifying a row and column location.

Characters can be rotated in any of the four directions:
Non-rotated (NR) characters are printed across the ticket from left to right.
Rotated right (RR) characters are printed down the ticket from top to bottom.
Rotated upside down (RU) characters are printed across the ticket from right to left
Rotated left (RL) characters are printed up the ticket from bottom to the top.

1.2 Inverted Characters

An EI (enable inversion) command turns on the inverted mode. All of the following data (except bar codes) will
be inverted until a DI (disable inversion) command is sent.

A black border will be added around the characters to improve its readability. Therefore, an inverted character is
slightly larger than a normal character. This should be remembered when positioning characters beneath inverted
characters with row/column commands.

DTPL Programmer’s Manual 1

1.3 Bar Codes

The following highlights some key points on printing barcodes:
 All available barcodes (Code 39, Interleaved 2of5, EAN13, EAN8, UPC, USS-Codabar, and Code 128, can

be printed via command codes. Barcodes can be printed in either ladder or picket fence orientations. Ladder
bar codes can be printed top to bottom (RR) or bottom to top (RL). Picket fence bar codes can be printed left
to right (NR) or right to left (RU).

 All bar codes should be selected by specifying the starting address, bar code size, orientation and type of bar

code. Most bar codes are built using bars 8 dots high and 1 dot wide. The height of the bar can be changed in
units of 8 using the bar code size command.

 All bar codes can be expanded from their normal bar width of one dot by using the expanded (X) command.

This command does not affect the height of the bar code.

 A human readable interpretation line can also be selected by sending a BI (bar code interpretation) command.

For more information on bar codes see Section 8.0

1.4 Graphics

Graphics mode allows the user to turn on or off any dot on a ticket. Using this mode you can create your own
images, shapes or logos. Each graphic character is one byte of data. Each dot can be positioned by using the same
row/column commands.

NOTE: The host to printer interface must be configured for eight bit data length in order to use dot addressable

graphics.

DTPL Programmer’s Manual 2

DTPL Command Sequences

2.0 Introduction

The printer can accept a wide variety of commands to control the printing of data. A command sequence performs
a unique function and many different sequences can be sent for each string to be printed.

A command is distinguished from text by the < > characters. Any data sent between these markers is interpreted
as command data. The field data (to be printed on the ticket) is sent with no markers. Every command sequence
must be bracketed with the < > characters, (ex. <HW2,2><RC10,30>).

Command Format Description

ASCII Graphics Command <g#>ASCII high byte1,ASCII low

byte1 ... byte#

Bar Code Expanded
Command

Bar Code Interpretation
Command

Bar Code Ratio Adjust
Command
Bar Code Select
Command

Boxsize Command <BSx,y> Sets the size of frame which printed characters should be printed.

Clear Buffer Command <CB> This command will clear the printer’s buffer.

Delete Permanent Length
Command

<X2> Expands the width of a bar code by ‘X’ dots.

<BI> Allows the bar code interpretation (human readable code) to be

<AXB#>string Expands interleaved 2of5 and 3of9 barcodes from 2:1 to 3:1 ratio.

<AB#>string or <aB#>string Selects the bar code type and size:

<dpl> This command re-enables the automatic ticket measuring function of

Sets the printer to use ASCII characters instead of straight decimal
representations of the data.

9 is the largest expansion allowed.

printed underneath the bar code. The command is only active for the
bar code immediately after it.

A= U for UPC and EAN8
A= E for EAN-13
A= N (for three of nine)
A= F (for interleaved two of five)
A= C (for USS-CODABAR)
A= O (for CODE 128)
B= P (for picket-fence)
B= L (for ladder )
# = unit size of bar code

x=Width and y=Height

the printer after power up. This command clears the current printing
length and ticket length and recalibrates new values.

DTPL Programmer’s Manual 3