IBM InfoPrint 6400 Series, InfoPrint 6500 Series, InfoPrint 6700 Series, InfoPrint 4400 Series Printer Management Utility User’s Manual

Download

InfoPrint 6400/6500

Series Line Matrix Printer

InfoPrint 6700/6700-M40/4400

Series Thermal Printer

G550-0972-01

Printer Management Utility User’s Manual

InfoPrint 6400/6500

Series Line Matrix Printer

InfoPrint 6700/6700-M40/4400

Series Thermal Printer

G550-0972-01

Printer Management Utility User’s Manual

Second Edition (September 2008)

This edition applies to the InfoPrint 6400/6500 Series Line Matrix Printers, 6700/4400 Series Thermal Printers, and 6700-M40 Series Thermal Printers and replaces the following publication:

Printer Management Utility User’s Manual,

G550-0972-00.

You can send comments by e-mail to printpub@us.ibm.com or by mail to:

InfoPrint Solutions Company, LLC 6300 Diagonal Hwy 002J Boulder, CO 80301-9270 U.S.A.

This product is or contains commercial computer software and commercial computer software documentation developed exclusively at private expense. As specified in Federal Acquisition Regulation 12.212 in the case of civilian agencies and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 227.7202 in the case of military agencies, use, duplication and disclosure by agencies of the U.S. Government shall solely be in accordance with the accompanying International Program License Agreement in case of software products and in accordance with the licensing terms specified in the product’s documentation in the case of hardware products.

Before using this information and the product it supports, read the information in “Notices” on page 201.

Note!

Visit our home page at: http://www.infoprint.com

Internet

1 Overview ................................................................ 9

The Printer Management Utility...............................................................9

Requirements .......................................................................................... 9

Installing the Software .............................................................................9

Printer Setup ......................................................................................... 10

PMU Method .................................................................................... 10

Telnet Method .................................................................................. 10

Operator Panel Method .................................................................... 11

Set Password ................................................................................... 13

Set Telemetry Path (6700/4400 Series Only)................................... 14

Check Port Number..........................................................................14

Loading and Using Foreign Language Fonts ........................................ 15

Limitations ........................................................................................ 15

Windows Setup ................................................................................ 15

Unix Setup........................................................................................16

Getting Started ...................................................................................... 17

2 Printer Database.................................................. 23

Overview ............................................................................................... 23

The Menu Bar........................................................................................25

The File Menu .................................................................................. 25

Preferences ......................................................................................26

The Edit Menu ..................................................................................32

The View Menu ................................................................................ 33

The Applications Menu.....................................................................37

The Status Menu ..............................................................................38

The Utilities Menu ............................................................................ 51

The Help Menu.................................................................................52

The Toolbar ........................................................................................... 53

Managing the Database ........................................................................ 55

Database Items ................................................................................ 55

Defining Printer Properties ...............................................................56

Table of Contents

3 Applications and Web Access..............................67

Configuration Editor............................................................................... 67

Menu Tree........................................................................................ 68

Creating Configurations ................................................................... 68

Changing Configurations..................................................................69

Saving Configuration Files ............................................................... 72

Opening Configuration Files.............................................................72

Downloading Configurations ............................................................ 73

Uploading Configurations.................................................................73

Migration .......................................................................................... 73

Factory Settings Differences ................................................................. 77

Menu Bar..........................................................................................78

Toolbar ............................................................................................. 79

Configuration Settings Differences Views ........................................ 80

Displayed Language ........................................................................81

Flash File Manager................................................................................82

Get File Info......................................................................................83

Upload.............................................................................................. 84

Delete And Optimize ........................................................................ 85

CST Manager ........................................................................................ 85

File Download........................................................................................86

Define The Download Files .............................................................. 87

Download The Files ......................................................................... 88

Recovery File ................................................................................... 99

Media Profiler ......................................................................................100

The Menu And Toolbar ..................................................................101

Profiler View ...................................................................................103

The Status Bar ............................................................................... 107

For More Information......................................................................107

Operator Panel .................................................................................... 108

Primary/Secondary Operator Keys ................................................ 111

Message Display ............................................................................ 111

Status Indicator .............................................................................. 111

Disabled Indicator .......................................................................... 111

In Progress Indicator ...................................................................... 111

Information Capture.............................................................................112

File ................................................................................................. 113

Configuration Printout .................................................................... 113

Error Log ........................................................................................ 113

Directory......................................................................................... 114

ODV Quality Wizard ............................................................................ 115

Speed Keys ......................................................................................... 116

Table of Contents

Job Capture .........................................................................................117

Job Capture Features .................................................................... 118

Web Access ........................................................................................ 121

The PMU Web Site URL Address .................................................. 121

Changing The User Password ....................................................... 122

The Printer List Page ..................................................................... 123

Changing User Settings, IP Addresses, and IP Address

Ranges ...........................................................................................124

4 Utilities ............................................................... 127

Reboot Printer ..................................................................................... 127

Set Printer Password...........................................................................127

Set Wireless Properties .......................................................................129

General Tab ................................................................................... 129

WEP Encryption Tab ......................................................................131

Kerberos Tab ................................................................................. 132

EAP Tab......................................................................................... 136

WPA Tab........................................................................................ 137

Macro Utility......................................................................................... 138

Configure Macro.............................................................................139

SNMP Browser ....................................................................................141

Assign IP Address ...............................................................................142

Enable Remote Printer Management ..................................................143

Lock/Unlock Menus ............................................................................. 144

Configure Print Servers .......................................................................145

5 Datastream Adapter ........................................... 147

Overview ............................................................................................. 147

CST Manager ...................................................................................... 148

The Menu And Toolbar ..................................................................149

Input/Output Fields .........................................................................153

The CST Listing Field.....................................................................154

CSTs and CST Bundles ................................................................. 154

Status Bar ...................................................................................... 154

Modes And Attributes ..........................................................................155

Modes ............................................................................................ 155

Attributes ........................................................................................158

Additional Features ............................................................................. 160

The Use Once Flag ........................................................................160

The Entry On/Off Flag ....................................................................161

Edit Information ...................................................................................161

General Tab ................................................................................... 161

Memo Tab ...................................................................................... 161

Table of Contents

Patterns / Variables ............................................................................. 162

Pattern Character Tab.................................................................... 162

Pattern Tab ....................................................................................164

Formatted Pattern Tab ................................................................... 166

How to Use Patterns ...................................................................... 169

Pattern Recognition Example......................................................... 170

Variable Tab ................................................................................... 178

Status Response Definition ................................................................. 179

Conditions ...................................................................................... 180

Protocols ........................................................................................ 180

How To Use Conditions And Protocols .......................................... 181

Status Response Generator Example............................................182

CST Manager And EBCDIC ................................................................ 186

CST Manager Version Control System ............................................... 195

Application Name and Version Information .................................... 195

Viewing File Version Information.................................................... 198

Automatic File Backup System ......................................................198

Backup History ............................................................................... 199

Notices ............................................................... 201

1 Overview

The Printer Management Utility

The Printer Management Utility (PMU) allows you to organize all of the

printers in your office remotely in a single database, download software and

printer settings from a host computer with a single mouse click, and use a

virtual operator panel to configure printers in the same room or on the other

side of the world.

Requirements

• an InfoPrint 6500/6400 Series line matrix, 6700/4400 Series thermal, or 6700-M40 Series thermal printer

• the printer must be attached to the host system via a 10/100Base-T Ethernet Interface or a wireless Ethernet Interface; if you do not have an Ethernet Interface, see your dealer for an upgrade

• a host computer running the Windows

(98, NT, 2000, XP, Server 2003,

or Vista) or UNIX

(such as AIX®, Linux®, or Solaris™) operating system

• a host computer running a Java™ 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE™) Java Runtime Environment (JRE) that is fully JRE 5 compliant or higher

NOTE: Vista requires JRE 6.

• for Windows, a minimum hardware configuration of a 450MHz Pentium

with 128 MB of RAM

To install and edit the database, it is not necessary to have the printers connected. When starting a session with a printer, the printer must be connected and turned on.

Installing the Software

The Windows, Linux, and Solaris versions of JRE 5 and the Java-based PMU are available on CD. Follow the on-screen instructions to first install JRE 5 for your platform, then the PMU.

NOTE:

If you are using Vista, download JRE 6 at

http://java.sun.com/javase

Install JRE 6 first, then the PMU.

If you have another UNIX operating system, see your system administrator.

Chapter 1 Printer Setup

Printer Setup

Your printer uses the diagnostic port to communicate with the PMU. The diagnostic port must be configured to interact with the Ethernet Interface. Follow the PMU, Telnet, or Operator Panel Method below for your printer model to configure the diagnostic port.

PMU Method

All Supported Printers

You can configure the diagnostic port to interact with the Ethernet Interface using the PMU. See “Enable Remote Printer Management” on page 143.

Telne t Method

All Supported Printers

1. Install the Ethernet Interface (refer to the installation instructions).

2. Make sure the IP Address is set up on the Ethernet Interface:

• Use the operator panel (refer to the

User’s Manual

– OR –

• Use the PMU: select Utilities



Assign IP Address. See “Assign IP

Address” on page 142.

3. Open a command prompt session and type:

telnet ipaddress

4. At the telnet login: prompt, type: root<Enter>

5. At the Password: prompt, enter the password and press <Enter> (there is no password by default)

6. At the ipaddress:root> prompt, type: enable printermgr<Enter>

7. Close the telnet session. The Ethernet Interface is now activated.

Operator Panel Method

6500 Series Line Matrix Printers

1. On the operator panel, press the STOP key to take the printer offline.

2. Press RETURN and ENTER at the same time to unlock the ENTER key.

3. Press MENU. QUICK SETUP displays.

4. Press ↑ SCROLL until PRINTER CONTROL displays.

5. Press ENTER. INTERFACE SELECTION displays.

6. Press ↓ SCROLL until PRINTER MANAGEMENT PORT displays.

7. Press ENTER. DISABLE displays. If ETHERNET displays, go to step 10.

8. Press ↓ SCROLL until ETHERNET displays.

9. Press ENTER. As asterisk (*) appears next to ETHERNET.

10. Press RETURN and ENTER at the same time to lock the ENTER key.

11. Press START to put the printer back online.

6400 Series Line Matrix Printers

1. On the operator panel, press the STOP key to take the printer offline.

2. Press SCROLL ↑ and SCROLL ↓ at the same time to unlock the ENTER

key.

3. Press SCROLL ↑, SCROLL ↓, ENTER, and RETURN keys at the same

time to enter the Serivce menu.

4. Press SCROLL ↓ until PRINTER MGMT displays.

5. Press ENTER until DIAGNOSTIC PORT displays.

6. Press ENTER again to see the current selection.

7. Press SCROLL ↓ until Debug Ethernet or Debug Adapter displays.

8. Press ENTER to select it.

9. Press SCROLL ↑ and SCROLL ↓ at the same time to lock the ENTER

key.

10. Press START to put the printer back online.

6700 Series Thermal Printers

1. On the operator panel, press the PAUSE key to take the printer offline.

2. Press to place the printer in Menu mode. QUICK SETUP displays on the operator panel.

3. Press ↓ and

↵ at the same time to unlock the ↵ key.

4. Press - until PRINTER MGMT displays.

5. Press ↓ until PNE Port displays.

NOTE: If PNE Port does not display, see “Factory Menu” below.

. . .

Chapter 1 Printer Setup

6. If you have the internal PCI Ethernet Interface, press + until Ethernet displays. If you have the external Ethernet Interface, press + until Adapter displays.

7. Press

↵ to select it.

8. Press ↓ and

↵ at the same time to lock the ↵ key.

9. Press PAUSE twice to put the printer back online.

Factory Menu

1. On the operator panel, press the PAUSE key to take the printer offline.

2. Press ↓ and

↵ at the same time to unlock the ↵ key.

3. Press +, –, ↓, and ↑ at the same time to enter the Factory menu.

4. Press ↓ until PNE Port (or Diagnostic Port) displays.

5. If you have the internal PCI Ethernet Interface, press + until Ethernet (or Debug Ethernet) displays. If you have the external Ethernet Interface, press + until Adapter (or Debug Adapter) displays.

6. Press

↵ to select it.

7. Press ↓ and

↵ at the same time to lock the ↵ key.

8. Press PAUSE twice to put the printer back online.

6700-M40 Series Thermal Printers

1. Press to enter Menu mode.

2. Press the Down and

↵ keys at the same time to unlock the ↵ key.

3. Press the Right key until PRINTER SETUP displays.

4. Press

↵ to enter the PRINTER SETUP menu.

5. Press the Up key until Admin User displays.

6. Press the Right key until Enable displays.

7. Press

↵ to select it. An asterisk (*) displays after Enable.

8. Press to enter Menu mode. MEDIA SETUP displays.

9. Press the Down key until INTERFACES displays.

10. Press

↵ to enter the INTERFACES menu.

11. Press the Down key until Printer Mgmt displays.

12. Press

↵ to enter the Printer Mgmt menu.

13. Press the Down key until PNE Port displays.

14. Press the Right key until Ethernet displays.

15. Press

↵ to select it. An asterisk (*) displays after Ethernet.

16. Press the Down and

↵ keys at the same time to lock the ↵ key.

17. Press twice to put the printer back online.

Set Password

4400 Series Thermal Printers

1. On the operator panel, press the PAUSE key to take the printer offline.

2. Press ↓ and

↵ at the same time to unlock the ↵ key.

3. Press +, –, ↓, and ↑ at the same time to enter the Factory menu.

4. Press ↓ until Diagnostic Port displays.

5. Press + until Debug Ethernet displays.

6. Press

↵ to select it.

7. Press ↓ and

↵ at the same time to lock the ↵ key.

8. Press PAUSE twice to put the printer back online.

Set Password

See “Set Printer Password” on page 127 to learn how to set passwords.

If the password is unknown you must clear it first.

6500 Series

Go into the SERVICE menu

(press ↑

SCROLL, ↓ SCROLL, MENU, and

CONFIG

at the same time)

, then into the PRINTER MGMT menu.

Press ↓ SCROLL until CLEAR PASSWORD displays. Unlock the ENTER key, then press ENTER to clear the User and Supervisor passwords.

Under the Security tab in Printer Properties, delete any passwords that already exist. Now you may set new passwords as described on page 127.

6400 Series

Go into the SERVICE menu

(press

Scroll ↑, Scroll ↓, Enter, and Return

the same time)

, then into the PRINTER MGMT menu. Press Scroll ↓ until

CLEAR PASSWORD displays. Unlock the Enter key, then press Enter to clear the User and Supervisor passwords.

Under the Security tab in Printer Properties, delete any passwords that already exist. Now you may set new passwords as described on page 127.

6700/4400 Series

Go into the Factory menu (press +, –, ↓, and ↑ at the same time). Press ↑ or ↓ until Clear Password displays. Unlock the

↵ key, then press ↵ to clear the

User and Supervisor passwords.

Under the Security tab in Printer Properties, delete any passwords that already exist. Now you may set new passwords as described on page 127.

6700-M40 Series

Go into the Factory menu (press the Up, Down, Left, and Right keys at the same time). Press ↑ or ↓ until Clear Password displays. Unlock the

↵ key,

then press

↵ to clear the User and Supervisor passwords.

Under the Security tab in Printer Properties, delete any passwords that already exist. Now you may set new passwords as described on page 127.

Chapter 1 Printer Setup

Set Telemetry Path (6700/4400 Series Only)

The following procedure enables you to collect data using the Data Validation application.

1. On the operator panel, press the PAUSE key to take the printer offline.

2. Press to place the printer in Menu mode. QUICK SETUP displays on the operator panel.

3. Press ↓ and

↵ at the same time to unlock the ↵ key.

4. Press + until VALIDATOR displays.

5. Press ↓ until Telemetry Path displays.

6. Press + or – until Network Port displays.

7. Press

↵ to activate it.

NOTE: Since only one port can be used at a time, DEACTIVATING HOST

SERIAL displays.

If you later change the setting to Serial Port or Disabled, REACTIVATING HOST SERIAL will display.

8. Press ↓ and

↵ at the same time to lock the ↵ key.

9. Press PAUSE twice to put the printer back online.

For more information, refer to the

Online Data Validator User’s Manual

Check Port Number

Make sure your printer port number has the same setting as the Ethernet Interface.

To check the port number using the PMU, see page 20.

To check the port number on the printer, see Table 1 to determine the port number menu location for your printer model. The default port number is

3001.

IMPORTANT

Do not set the Port Number to the same value as the Status Port Number (the default is 3002) or the Mgmt Port Number (the default is 3007).

. . .

Table 1. Port Number Menu Location

Printer Model Menu

6700-M40 Series INTERFACES



Printer MgmtPNE Port Number

6700 Series PRINTER MGMT or Factory



PNE Port Number

4400 Series FactoryPMU Port Number

6500 Series PRINTER MGMT



PRINTER MANAGER PORT NO.

6400 Series SERVICEPRINTER MGMT



PRINTER MANAGER PORT NO.

Limitations

Loading and Using Foreign Language Fonts

PMU supports Asian languages such as Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. UTF-8 encoding is utilized since it has the ability to support all known languages and is backwards compatible with ASCII (specifically 0 - 7F).

Microsoft operating systems provide most of fonts for the world languages which can be obtained from Microsoft’s web site. UNIX operating systems such as Linux and Solaris requires more setup since the operating systems provide less fonts than Microsoft. Java uses five logical fonts (Dialog, Dialoginput, Serif, Sanserif and Monospaced) to map to the fonts on the system. Mapping is done in the Java font.properties file. Dialog, size 12 is the default font for all language dependent applications. Through mapping of the font.properties file, the Dialog font supports all of the printer supported languages. Mapping of operating system fonts should be performed by a System Administrator.

Limitations

Not all of the items in the PMU Suite will display UTF-8. All PMU menus, dialogs, tooltips and printer names will be displayed in ASCII.

Only the following applications, utilities, and displays support UTF-8 encoding:

• Printer Database status messages

• Printer configuration languages in the Configuration Editor

• Information Capture’s viewable configuration data

• Virtual Operator Panel text

• Factory Settings Differences table data

• Web page support (Printer List Page Message area only)

• SNMP Browser data

Older versions of PMU Suite (including previous products such as Advanced Tool Kit, ODV Data Manager and EPC Data Manager) will not support new printers with UTF-8 encoded byte streams.

All versions of PMU Suite that support UTF-8 encoding will support older printer firmware versions.

Windows Setup

Java for Windows platforms includes a font.properties file that is used to map foreign languages to Microsoft Window fonts. This includes all languages supported on the printer.

Chapter 1 Loading and Using Foreign Language Fonts

Unix Setup

Java for Linux platforms also includes a font.properties file. This file needs to be modified to support the fonts on the user’s Linux or Solaris platforms.

Find or purchase the printer supported fonts for the languages needed. The additional printer languages supported include Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Use a package manager such as Red-Hat Package Manager (RPM) to load the font files onto the UNIX system. Once the fonts are loaded, modify the component font mappings in the font.properties file for Allfonts, Serif, Sansserif, Monospaced, Dialog and Dialoginput Logical fonts. Use absolute path names, path names starting with $JRE_LIB_FONTS or X Logical Font Description (xlfd) names for the fonts.

Add the following:

• new font names to the search sequences

• any exclusion character ranges for the languages

• the paths to the locations of the actual font files.

Finally, add the valid X11 font directories to the X11 server font path. For a detailed description of the font.properties file see Sun’s Java Internationalization Guide at http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/guide/intl/fontconfig.html.

Getting Started

This section provides a short tutorial on how to set up and access a printer using the PMU.

1. This tutorial assumes the host computer running the PMU and the printer you want to access are connected by a network. You must know the printer’s IP Address and Port Number.

2. From your operating system, launch the PMU. Click the splash screen to see the main window of the printer database more clearly. See Figure 1.

Figure 1. Printer Database Main Window

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Figure 2. Printer Properties: Identification Tab

3. Double-click New_Printer (A template). The Printer Properties dialog box opens. See Figure 2.

4. Assign a name to your printer. Delete the words New_Printer in the Name (Unique) field, and then type Tutorial.

5. Assign a description to this printer. Delete the words A template in the Printer Description field, and then type My First Connection.

Figure 3. Printer Properties: Security Tab

6. Click the Security tab. See Figure 3.

7. If you are using the PMU for the first time, it is likely that no passwords are assigned to this printer. If you are unsure, contact your system administrator.

• If no passwords are assigned, leave the password boxes empty.

• If a User password is necessary to access this printer, type the password

in the User Password field.

• If a Supervisor password is necessary to access this printer, type the password in the Supervisor Password field, and check the Supervisor Mode check box.

• If a Telnet guest password is necessary to poll the status of the printer, type the password in the Telnet Guest Password field. See “Security Tab” on page 58.

• If a Telnet root password is necessary to update wireless printer settings, type the password in the Telnet Root Password field. See “Security Tab” on page 58.

In any case, an asterisk (*) character appears in the field after each letter you type to preserve password secrecy.

For more details on setting up and changing passwords, see page 51.

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Figure 4. Printer Properties: Connections Tab – Network Sub-Tab

8. Click the Connections tab. By default, the Network sub-tab displays.

9. Click the IP Address field and then type the IP Address of the printer you want to access. Follow the format shown in Figure 4.

The Port Number field must be set to the same port as the printer. Leave it set at 3001. Leave the Time Out (5..300 seconds) field set at 15 seconds.

Figure 5. Connections: Connections Tab – Access Method Sub-Tab

10. Click the Access Method sub-tab. See Figure 5.

The Access Method tells the PMU how the host computer communicates with the printer. Make sure it is set to Ethernet. Ignore Download Mode and Download Timeout for now. These options are described in “Access Method Sub-Tab” on page 61.

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Figure 6. Printer Database Main Window

11. Click OK. The Printer Properties dialog box closes and you return to the printer database main window. See Figure 6. Your printer is now set up in the PMU database.

12. Try to access the virtual operator panel as a test to see if the information you input is accurate. Follow this procedure:

a. Tutorial (My First Connection) should be highlighted in blue, as

shown in Figure 6. If it is not highlighted, click it to select it.

b. Select Applications



Operator Panel. The virtual operator panel appears (see “Operator Panel” on page 108). If not, an error message appears in the Status and Error Log pane. Check your password to make sure it is correct. If the error continues, contact your system administrator.

2 Printer Database

Overview

When you start the PMU, the printer database window appears first. The printer database tool organizes and controls printers and Download files. Figure 7 shows how the database looks when the PMU launches for the first time.

Figure 7. Printer Database Main Window

The menu bar contains all the menus used to control the functions of the program. The menus are described later in this chapter.

The toolbar contains buttons for the most commonly used menu functions. See page 53 for descriptions of the toolbar buttons.

Use the Database pane to access and control your printers in a tree format. The first line of the database tree displays the database file name. In Figure 7, the default file name for this database is default.pdb. From there, your database tree branches out to include printers, folders, and Download files, which you can organize into groups. With a single mouse click, you can

Menu Bar

Toolbar

Database Pane

Status and Error Log Pane

Status Bar

Polling Indicator

Chapter 2 Overview

download a file to several printers at once. In addition, you can use as many databases with the PMU as you want. Databases save as .pdb files on your local hard drive.

NOTE: You can open only one printer database at a time.

The Status and Error Log scrolls status and error messages as you work through the program. If the PMU does not function properly, look at this pane for error messages. Use the scroll bar on the side of the pane to reference previous status and error messages. The status and error messages relate to the current PMU session, not to the specific database. When you exit the PMU, these messages will be deleted.

The Status Bar displays brief status messages of the PMU, some of which appear in the Status and Error Log.

The Polling Indicator turns green whenever printers are being polled.

The File Menu

The Menu Bar

The printer database menu bar is located at the top of the window (see Figure 7). Use the menu bar to access all the functions of the PMU.

The following are descriptions of the options located on the menu bar.

The File Menu

Figure 8. File Menu

New

Creates a new database file. Since the PMU allows only one database file to be open at a time, it asks if you want to save your changes to the current database before it creates a new one.

Open

Opens a database file. Since the PMU allows only one database file to be open at a time, it asks if you want to save your changes to the current database before it opens a different one.

Save

Saves the active database file using its current name.

Save As

Prompts you to enter a name for the current database file before the PMU saves it. Use Save As if you do not want to overwrite the current database file.

Preferences

Opens the Preferences dialog box. See page 26.

Exit

Exits the PMU.

Chapter 2 The Menu Bar

Preferences

The Preferences dialog box has three tabs: Printer Database, Configuration Editor, and Servers. See Figure 9.

Printer Database Tab

Figure 9. Preferences: Printer Database Tab

The Printer Database tab controls database features.

Database File Name: Enter the name of the default database file. The PMU opens this database file when the program starts. To select a new default database file, type it into the Database File Name field, or click Browse to locate a file on your network.

Lease Time on Printer Connection: Enter an amount (in seconds) to set the maximum amount of time a printer connection can remain open without any communication. The default is three seconds.

Security: Check the Show message when the printer is not protected check box to enable a warning message that informs you when a selected printer does not have an assigned password.

Preferences

Configuration Editor Tab

Figure 10. Preferences: Configuration Editor Tab

The Configuration Editor tab controls features of the Configuration Editor utility.

Hide Key/Unhide Key: Assigns which keys hide and unhide menu items in the Configuration Editor menu tree (see page 67). The default for Hide is H h. The default for Unhide is U u.

Dec./Inc. Key: Assigns which keys will decrement and increment menu items in the Configuration Editor menu tree (see page 67). The default for decrement is < ,. The default for increment is > ..

Chapter 2 The Menu Bar

Servers Tab

Figure 11. Preferences: Servers Tab

The Servers tab allows you to assign port values for the SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) Trap Server, the Web Server, and the XML Server. Click Service Enabled next to the corresponding server to turn it on.

NOTE: You must restart the PMU to use the new settings and enable the

servers.

SNMP Trap Server: The service that enables the PMU to receive alerts from the printer when its status changes. Once the PMU receives the alert, the PMU creates an instant status poll to reflect the change in the database pane. For instance, if you turn the printer offline, the printer sends an alert to the PMU causing it to change the printer status instantly. In the database pane, the printer status changes to offline.

NOTE: The SNMP Trap Server works only if the printer’s Ethernet Interface

is configured correctly using the Configure Print Servers utility. See “Configure Print Servers” on page 145.

Web Server: Allows you to view the active PMU using a web browser. See “Web Access” on page 121.

NOTE: If you want to use the Web Server service, you must also enable the

XML Server service.

XML Server: The PMU uses XML to communicate with its web server.

Preferences

Macro Settings Tab

Figure 12. Preferences: Macro Settings Tab – General Sub-Tab

The Macro Settings tab has three sub-tabs: General, Network, and Serial. See Figure 12.

General Sub-Tab

Macro Config File: Displays the macro file that will load automatically when

you start the macro utility. To select a new default macro config file, type it into the Macro Config File field, or click Browse to locate a file on your network.

Printer Port: Allows you to select the port that data is sent through. The choices vary according to the host computer. Possible choices include LPT1, LPT2, COM1, COM2, and Network.

If you select COM1 or COM2, click the Serial tab to further define printer parameters. If you select Network, click the Network tab to further define the network parameters.

• Use selected network printer: Check this box to send data directly to

the network printer selected in the printer database. You do not need to further define network parameters.

• Rescan: Checks to see which ports are currently available on the host

computer.

Chapter 2 The Menu Bar

Figure 13. Preferences: Macro Settings Tab – Network Sub-Tab

Network Sub-Tab

Use the Network tab only when the Printer Port on the General tab is set to Network.

IP Address: The address of the printer where the PMU will send the data.

Port: The port number that the PMU will use to send the data. This must

match the Ethernet Interface of the printer where the PMU will send the data. In most cases this is 9100, the default. If not, contact your system administrator.

Preferences

Figure 14. Preferences: Macro Settings Tab – Serial Sub-Tab

Serial Sub-Tab

Speed: The baud rate at which data transfers. This setting must match the

speed of the printer host serial port under the SERIAL PORT menu (thermal printers) or the SERIAL submenu in the HOST INTERFACE menu (all other printer models). See “Serial Port” (thermal) or “Host Interface” (all others) in your

User’s Manual

Word Size: The number of data bits per character. In most cases this should be set to 8.

Stop Bits: Inter-character gap. Can be set to 1 or 2. The normal setting is 1.

Parity: Adds an error checking bit if set to Odd or Even. The default is None.

Other settings include Mark and Space.

Flow Control: Prevents data overrun by adjusting the sending side according to the needs of the receiving side.

• None: No adjustment occurs.

• Rts/Cts in: Hardware flow control on serial-input.

• Rts/Cts out: Hardware flow control on serial-output.

• Xon/Xoff in: Software flow control on serial-input using the X-on and

X-off control characters.

• Xon/Xoff out: Software flow control on serial-output using the X-on and

X-off control characters.

Chapter 2 The Menu Bar

The Edit Menu

Figure 15. Edit Menu

Use the Edit option on the menu bar to build your database. The options in the Edit menu are described below.

Insert

Adds a folder, printer, or Download file into your database. You must select an existing database item to create a folder, printer, or file. You can also paste the contents of the paste buffer (the last item that was copied or cut) into the database. The new icon appears one level below the selected database item. If there are items below the selected database item, the new item appears at the end.

Inserting an item involves three steps:

1. Select a database item. (The new icon will appear below the item you select.)

2. Define which type of icon you want to add. Select Edit



Insertand then

select the item you want to add. Or click the (insert new folder),

(insert new printer), or (insert new Download file) icon.

A new icon appears in the database.

3. Define what printer, folder, or file this icon represents.

a. To define a printer, see “Defining Printer Properties” on page 56.

b. To define a folder, double-click New Folder. The Folder Name dialog

box opens. Type the name of the folder and click OK.

c. To define a Download file, see “File Download” on page 86.

Cut

Removes selected folders, printers, or files from the database and places it in the paste buffer.

Copy

Copies selected folders, printers, or files from the database to the paste buffer, leaving the original intact.

NOTE: You can select multiple database items by using the Ctrl or Shift key.

The View Menu

Paste

Places the item in the paste buffer on the database tree. To paste, you must select a database item. The pasted item appears on the same level as the selected database item.

NOTE: If you select Edit



Paste, the pasted item appears on the same level

as the selected database item. However, if you select Edit



Insert



Paste Buffer, the pasted item appears one level below the selected database item.

Delete

Permanently removes a selected folder, printer, or file from the database.

Include/Exclude

Deactivates a selected folder, printer, or file. Inactive database items display a red circle with a slash through it on top of the item’s icon.

You cannot send information to or receive information from excluded database items using the following Applications, Status, and Utilities menu options: Flash File Manager, File Download, Update Status, and Configure Print Servers.

To activate a database item, select the inactive item and then select

Edit



Include/Exclude.

The View Menu

Figure 16. View Menu

Collapse Tree

Collapses all folders on the database menu tree. Only the top level menu items display.

Expand Tree

Expands all folders and printers on the database menu tree. All folders, printers, and Download files display.

Chapter 2 The Menu Bar

Style

Angled Lines: Shows the links between database items using angled lines.

Figure 17. Angled Lines

Horizontal Lines: Shows the links between folders using horizontal lines.

Figure 18. Horizontal Lines

The View Menu

No Lines: Shows no lines between database items.

Figure 19. No Lines

Chapter 2 The Menu Bar

Toolbar

Allows you to select which buttons display on the toolbar.

NOTE: By default, some icons do not appear in the toolbar.

For a description of the toolbar icons, see “The Toolbar” on page 53.

Figure 20. Customize Toolbar

The Applications Menu

Figure 21. Applications Menu

For an explanation of the Applications menu options, find the menu option in Table 2 and go to the corresponding page.

Table 2. Applications Menu Options

Menu Option Page

Configuration Editor page 67

Flash File Manager page 82

CST Manager page 147

File Download page 86

Media Profiler page 100

Operator Panel page 108

Information Capture page 112

Factory Differences page 77

ODV Quality Wizard page 115

Speed Keys page 116

Job Capture page 117

Chapter 2 The Menu Bar

The Status Menu

Figure 22. Status Menu

Discover Printers

To search for printers on a network, select StatusDiscover Printers, or click the Discover Printers button at the far right of the toolbar. The results of the search display in the database pane.

Discover Printers searches for printers on a network based on the settings specified in the Discovery tab of the Status Monitoring Properties dialog box. The next section explains how to configure your search.

The Status Menu

Properties

Select StatusProperties to open the Status Monitoring Properties dialog box. The dialog box contains three tabs: Discovery, Polling, and Alert Delivery.

NOTE: To enable printer discovery, check the Enable Printer Discovery

check box.

Figure 23. Status Monitoring Properties:

Discovery Tab – Print Server Discovery Sub-Tab

Discovery Tab

You can discover printers on a network in three ways:

1. Print Server Discovery: This option allows you to discover all InfoPrint 4400/6400/6500/6700/6700-M40 Series Ethernet Interface-equipped printers on a subnet. To enable the option, check the Enable Print Server Discovery check box in the Status Monitoring Properties dialog box (see Figure 23), then click Apply or OK.

Response Wait (Seconds): To specify the time delay (in seconds) the PMU waits for a printer response. By default, the value is set at 5 seconds.

Broadcast IP, Subnet Mask, and Return Gateway: These settings must match your network configuration. See your system administrator.

NOTE: To discover unconfigured Ethernet Interfaces, you must enter the

Gateway Address and Subnet Mask in the Return Gateway field.

Chapter 2 The Menu Bar

Figure 24. Print Server Discovery in Progress

If Enable Print Server Discovery is enabled, a progress indicator displays while the PMU discovers printers. See Figure 24.

The Status Menu

Figure 25. Status Monitoring Properties:

Discovery Tab – Polled Discovery Sub-Tab

2. Polled Discovery: This option allows you to select a range of IP addresses to poll. To enable the option, click the Polled Discovery tab and check the Enable Polled Discovery check box, then click Add (see Figure 25). In the First IP Address field, enter the first IP address of your desired range. In the Last IP Address field, enter the last IP address. Click Apply or OK. The PMU polls the printers within your specified range and displays the results in the database pane.

If Polled Discovery is enabled, a progress indicator displays while the PMU discovers printers. See Figure 26.

Figure 26. Polled Discovery in Progress

Chapter 2 The Menu Bar

Figure 27. Status Monitoring Properties:

Discovery Tab – Known Printers Discovery Sub-Tab

3. Known Printers Discovery: This option logs previously discovered printer IP addresses. From this log, you can select and delete previously polled discoveries to create a new polling list to target your printer search. To enable the option, click the Known Printers Discovery tab and check the Enable Known Printers Discovery check box (see Figure 27). From the polled list of IP addresses, refine your search by keeping or deleting found IP addresses. Click Apply or OK to start a new poll based on your specification.

NOTE: You cannot manually add an IP address to this list. If you delete an IP

address, it is lost until it is rediscovered.

If Known Printers Discovery is enabled, a progress indicator displays while the PMU discovers printers. See Figure 28.

Figure 28. Known Printers Discovery in Progress

The Status Menu

Polling Tab

Figure 29. Status Monitoring Properties: Polling Tab

The Polling option allows you to control the way the PMU polls printers on the network. For instance, you can create a timed interval for the PMU to poll every 30 seconds or every two minutes. You can also specify a range of IP addresses.

To enable the option, check the Enable Status Monitoring check box in the Polling tab (see Figure 29). The SNMP Pacing (MS) value places a delay between each SNMP request. This feature minimizes the network load. By default, the value is set at 100 milliseconds (.1 second).

NOTE: If Discovery is enabled, then a discovery also occurs, based upon the

settings in the Discovery tab (see “Discovery Tab” on page 39).

Now you can set parameters to a new task. The parameters include:

Printer/Folder: To select which printer or folder you want the PMU to poll. Click the field to select options from a drop-down menu.

First IP: To set the beginning IP address in a polling range. Use this option if you select Range: as the Printer/Folder option.

Last IP: To set the last IP address in a polling range. Use this option if you select Range: as the Printer/Folder option.

Chapter 2 The Menu Bar

Enable: To select whether or not you want to enable polling of a specific task.

If you want the PMU to poll the printers according to the specifications of your first task, select true. Otherwise, select false.

Initial Delay (S): To specify the time delay from when the PMU starts to when the PMU polls printers. The time delay is calculated in seconds.

Polled Interval (S): To poll printers automatically with timed intervals calculated in seconds. Use this option to periodically poll for new printers every few seconds.

Response Wait (MS): To specify the time delay the PMU waits between SNMP responses. By default, the value is set at 300 milliseconds (.3 seconds).

NOTE: If your network is overloaded and the responses are slow, you may

not receive a response with the default setting. In this case, increase your Response Wait (MS) value.

NOTE: If you enter a low value for slow networks, you may receive no

response. In this case, increase the Response Wait (MS) value.

The Status Menu

Alert Delivery Tab

Figure 30. Status Monitoring Properties:

Alert Delivery Tab – Alert Log Sub-Tab

Select Status



Properties to open the Status Monitoring Properties dialog box. Click the Alert Delivery tab. Check the Enable Notification check box to enable the option. The Alert Delivery properties allow you to customize the way the PMU notifies you of potential printer errors. Descriptions of the three alert types follows:

1. Alert Log: Allows the PMU to log alerts to a file located in the PMU

installation directory. To log alerts, check the Enable Log File check box, then click Add (see Figure 30). A task item adds to the log list. In the task item, specify the following as applicable, then click Apply or OK.

Log File: To name the log file. The default file name is alerts.log.

Size: To set the maximum file size, in bytes. The default (and

minimum required) size is 1000 bytes.

Device: To choose a device item you want the PMU to monitor, such as a folder, specific printer, or a range of IP addresses.

First: To set the beginning IP address in a polling range. Use this option if you select Range: as the Device option.

Last: To set the last IP address in a polling range. Use this option if you select Range: as the Device option.

Chapter 2 The Menu Bar

NOTE: In the remaining alert option fields, select enable or disable as

desired.

Offline, Warning, Media Input, Media Output, Media Path, Marker, Cutter, Barcode, RFID, Scanner, Label, Intervention Needed, Consumables, and Power Cart: For a description of the alert groups

and printer events, refer to “Alert Groups” in the SNMP Configuration section of chapter three in the

Ethernet Interface User’s Manual

. All

options are enabled by default.

To set up alert groups on the Ethernet Interface, see “Configure Print Servers” on page 145.

Comment: Enter comments as needed.

Figure 31. Status Monitoring Properties:

Alert Delivery Tab – Email Alerts Sub-Tab

2. Email Alerts: The PMU sends you an alert e-mail if a printer error occurs. To set up Email Alerts, check the Enable Email check box. Enter information in the following fields:

Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server: See your system administrator.

Email Subject: Enter the subject of e-mail.

Email Sender: Enter your e-mail address.

SMTP Email Server Port: See your system administrator.

The Status Menu

Next, click Add to define a new task (see Figure 31). In the new task item, specify the following information, then click Apply or OK.

Email Address: Enter the e-mail address where you want the PMU to send the alert messages.

Device: To choose a device item you want the PMU to monitor, such as a folder, specific printer, or a range of IP addresses.

First: To set the beginning IP address in a polling range. Use this option if you select Range: as the Device option.

Last: To set the last IP address in a polling range. Use this option if you select Range: as the Device option.

NOTE: In the remaining alert option fields, select enable or disable as

desired.

Offline, Warning, Media Input, Media Output, Media Path, Marker, Cutter, Barcode, RFID, Scanner, Label, Intervention Needed, Consumables, and Power Cart: For a description of the alert groups

and printer events, refer to “Alert Groups” in the SNMP Configuration section of chapter three in the

Ethernet Interface User’s Manual

. All

options are enabled by default.

Comment: Enter comments as needed.

Figure 32. Status Monitoring Properties:

Alert Delivery Tab – Syslog Posting Sub-Tab

Chapter 2 The Menu Bar

3. Syslog Posting: Used in a UNIX operating system, it allows the PMU to log alerts to a file located in the PMU installation directory. To log alerts, check the Enable Syslog check box, then click Add (see Figure 32). A task item adds to the log list. In the task item, specify the following as applicable, then click Apply or OK.

Machine Address: The UNIX IP Address.

Port: See your system administrator.

Device: To choose a device item that you want the PMU to monitor,

such as a folder, specific printer, or a range of IP addresses.

First: To set the beginning IP address in a polling range. Use this option if you select Range: as the Device option.

Last: To set the last IP address in a polling range. Use this option if you select Range: as the Device option.

NOTE: In the remaining alert option fields, select enable or disable as

desired.

Offline, Warning, Media Input, Media Output, Media Path, Marker, Cutter, Barcode, RFID, Scanner, Label, Intervention Needed, Consumables, and Power Cart: For a description of the alert groups

and printer events, refer to “Alert Groups” in the SNMP Configuration section of chapter three in the

Ethernet Interface User’s Manual

. All

options are enabled by default.

Comment: Enter comments as needed.

The Status Menu

Update Status

Update Status shows the condition of the printer at the time the status is checked. To update the status of a printer, select Status



Update Status, or

click the (green flag) button at the right of the toolbar.

Figure 33 shows a printer with a wireless Ethernet Interface that uses two ports. The (signal strength) icon represents the wireless port, while the

(ethernet port) icon represents the ethernet port.

The printer’s model number, if available, displays in brackets following the printer icons. The printer name is a user defined field that is used to distinguish a printer in the database. This field can be modified in the Printer Properties dialog box under the Identification tab. The name chosen must be unique from all the other printer names in the database and must use printable ASCII characters.

Figure 33. Update Status

When the printer status updates, the (printer) icon may change color:

• Green indicates the printer is online, functioning properly, and can print

• Yellow indicates a warning, but the printer can print

• Red indicates the printer is offline or not functioning properly and cannot

• Grey indicates that the printer is not recognized

The message to the right of the printer description is identical to the message on the operator panel.

If you enable status polling, the printer status updates automatically.

The (ribbon supply) icon indicates the amount of ribbon available on the printer.

• Green indicates a full or nearly full ribbon supply

• Yellow indicates a moderate ribbon supply

• Red indicates a small or no ribbon supply

• Grey indicates one of the following:

• The ribbon supply feature is not supported on the printer

• For thermal printers, the printer is not using ribbon but rather direct

thermal

• For thermal printers, the printer has not printed since it was powered on, so the PMU cannot determine the amount of ribbon remaining

• For line matrix printers, the printer was powered on with a fault condition (not allowing the ribbon to be activated), so the PMU cannot determine the amount of ribbon remaining

Chapter 2 The Menu Bar

•

For line matrix printers, the amount of ribbon remaining has reached 0% (you can still print depending on the operator panel settings)

• Dark grey (line matrix printers only) indicates that the amount of ribbon remaining has reached 25%

NOTE: The following three icons appear only if the features are installed.

The (signal strength) icon indicates the strength of the radio signal.

• Green with three or four bars indicates a strong signal

• Yellow with two bars indicates a moderate signal

• Red with one bar indicates a weak or non-existent signal

The (ethernet port) icon always remains blue, since it represents an ethernet connection.

The (battery power) icon indicates the percentage of available battery power.

• Green indicates the battery has 61% to 100% available power

• Yellow indicates the battery has 20% to 60% available power

• Red indicates the battery has less than 20% available power

Place the pointer over the , , or icon to obtain status information about the feature. See Figure 34, Figure 35, and Figure 36.

NOTE: No information displays if you place the pointer over the icon.

Figure 34. The Ribbon Supply Icon

The Utilities Menu

Figure 35. The Signal Strength Icon

Figure 36. The Battery Power Icon

The Utilities Menu

Figure 37. Utilities Menu

For an explanation of the Utilities menu options, find the menu option in Table 2 and go to the corresponding page.

Chapter 2 The Menu Bar

The Help Menu

Figure 38. Help Menu

About

Displays the About dialog box. The About dialog box shows the PMU program’s version information and part number, and the Java version number.

Table 3. Utilities Menu Options

Menu Option Page

Reboot Printer page 127

Set Printer Password page 127

Set Wireless Properties page 129

Macro Utility page 138

SNMP Browser page 141

Assign IP Address page 142

Enable Remote Printer Management

page 143

Lock/Unlock Menus page 144

Configure Print Servers page 145

The Help Menu

The Toolbar

The PMU toolbar contains buttons that perform functions. See below for a description of each button. Refer to the specified page for a more detailed description.

You can select which buttons display on the toolbar. See page 36.

Button Description

Open: Opens a different printer database.

Save: Saves the current printer database.

Folder: Inserts a new folder into the printer database

(page 32).

Printer: Inserts a new printer into the database (page 32).

Download File: Inserts a new Download file into the database (page 32).

Edit: Defines the properties of the selected item (page 56).

Include/Exclude: Deactivates a selected folder, printer, or file (page 33).

Cut: Removes a selected folder, printer, or file from the database and places it in the paste buffer (page 32).

Copy: Copies a selected folder, printer, or file to the paste buffer (page 32).

Paste After: Pastes the item in the paste buffer after the selected item (page 33).

Paste Into: Pastes the item in the paste buffer into the selected item (page 33).

Delete: Removes the selected item (page 33).

Operator Panel: Virtual operator panel that allows you

to make selections via the PMU as if you are using the physical operator panel (page 108).

Information Capture: Allows the PMU to capture information sent between the computer and the printer (page 112).

Configuration Editor: Allows you to edit the data sent from the computer to the printer before the printer receives it (page 67).

Chapter 2 The Toolbar

Find Differences: Allows you to find the differences

from the factory settings for all configurations (page 77).

File Download: Allows you to download a configuration, firmware, or flash file to the printer (page 86).

ODV Quality Wizard: Opens the ODV Quality Wizard window (page 115).

Configure Print Servers: Opens the Configure Print Servers window (page 145).

Speed Keys: Opens the Speed Keys window (page 116).

Flash File Manager: Opens the Flash File Manager window (page 82).

Media Profiler: Opens the Media Profiler window (page 100).

CST Manager: Opens the CST Manager window (page 147).

Job Capture: Opens the Job Capture window (page 117).

Macro Utility: Opens the Macro Utility window (page 138).

Update Status: Marks a printer or printers for status updates (page 49).

Discover Printers: Searches for new printers (page 38).

Button Description

Database Items

Managing the Database

To organize your databases easily and effectively, use the Edit option on the printer database menu bar. You can add, delete, and assign printers, configuration files, and download files to your database tree. You can also organize them using folders. All Edit menu functions have buttons on the toolbar (see page 53).

Database Items

Folder: Use folders to group the elements of your database.

Printer: See “Defining Printer Properties” on page 56.

Download file: A flash file or a configuration file (created in the

Configuration Editor which is described on page 67) stored on your host computer.

A flash file contains information (e.g., the printer’s firmware file or a font file) that you can download to the flash SIMM memory of a printer or group of printers.

A configuration file contains user-defined printer configurations that you can download to your printer using either the printer database or the Configuration Editor.

For information about Download files, see “File Download” on page 86.

Chapter 2 Managing the Database

Defining Printer Properties

Figure 39. Defining Printer Properties

Before you can use any of the PMU applications, you must define the printer’s properties. You must identify the printer and configure how the printer communicates with the PMU. To define a printer, double-click the printer’s name or click the (edit database entry) button. The first time you run the PMU, double-click New_Printer (A template). The Printer Properties dialog box opens. See Figure 39.

The Printer Properties dialog box contains four tabs: Identification, Security, Connections, and Information, described in the next sections.

Defining Printer Properties

Identification Tab

Figure 40. Printer Properties: Identification Tab

Name (Unique)/Printer Description: Assigns a name to your printer to

identify it in the printer database. You can also assign a printer description, which appears in parentheses to the right of the printer name in the database.

When you assign a printer name and description, use only printable characters. Spaces may be used to separate words.

Chapter 2 Managing the Database

Security Tab

Figure 41. Printer Properties: Security Tab

User/Supervisor Password: Enter the printer’s password, if appropriate.

The password feature restricts access to certain functions of the PMU. In User mode, the PMU does not allow the following functions: downloading files, configurations, or configuration names to the printer; clearing the error log; and setting passwords. Supervisor mode allows unrestricted access to all functions of the PMU.

User and Supervisor passwords are only recognized up to 9 characters, and are displayed as *****, one * for each character typed. Use only printable characters for passwords. Spaces may be used to separate words. To set up a password, see “Set Printer Password” on page 127.

Telnet Guest Password: The PMU uses Telnet to read various printer settings.

IMPORTANT

If you change the Telnet guest password, click OK and then the

(green flag) button (or select Status



Update Status).

Telnet Root Password: The PMU uses Telnet to update various printer

settings.

IMPORTANT

If you change the Telnet root password, click OK and then the

(green flag) button (or select Status



Update Status).

Defining Printer Properties

Telnet Guest Password Errors

Figure 42. Telnet Guest Password Error: Polling the Printer Status

The PMU uses Telnet to poll the printer status. If your printer reports a Telnet error (see Figure 42), enter the password for the user guest (page 58).

See your system administrator.

Figure 43. Telnet Guest Password Error: Reading Wireless Settings

The PMU also uses Telnet to read wireless printer settings (page 129). If the PMU reports a Telnet error when attempting to read wireless printer settings (see Figure 43), enter the password for the user guest (page 58).

See your system administrator.

Chapter 2 Managing the Database

Telnet Root Password Errors

Figure 44. Telnet Root Password Error

If the PMU reports a Telnet error when attempting to update wireless printer settings (see Figure 44), enter the password for the user root (page 58).

See your system administrator.

Figure 45. Enable Command Failed

The PMU also uses Telnet to enable remote printer management (see “Enable Remote Printer Management” on page 143).

If the PMU reports an error when attempting to enable remote printer management (see Figure 45), enter the password for the user root (page 58).

See your system administrator.

Defining Printer Properties

Connections Tab

Figure 46. Printer Properties:

Connections Tab – Access Method Sub-Tab

The Connections tab contains three sub-tabs: Access Method, Network, and Serial/Modem.

Access Method Sub-Tab

Access Method: Identifies how the PMU accesses the printer. Refer to the

Ethernet Interface User’s Manual

to set up the Ethernet Interface for your

printer.

• Ethernet: To connect the host computer to the printer via the Ethernet Interface.

• Network (TCP): To connect the host computer to the printer via a network interface.

• Printer Serial Port (Direct): To connect the host computer to the printer directly via the serial port.

• Printer Debug Port (Direct): To connect the host computer to the printer directly via the debug port.

• Printer Serial Port (Modem): To connect the host computer to the printer via a modem and the serial port.

• Printer Debug Port (Modem): To connect the host computer to the printer via a modem and the debug port.

Download Mode: Identifies how the PMU downloads files and configurations to the printer. Access Method is the only option available.

Printer Timeout on Firmware Download: Specifies the number of minutes the printer waits for data while downloading a file from the host computer. If a

Chapter 2 Managing the Database

stall lasts for more than the specified time, the printer times out and the download terminates. If you have a slow connection between the PMU and the printer, you may need to define a longer Download Timeout period.

The Download Timeout range is between 1 and 60 minutes. The default is 2minutes.

Firmware Download Initial Delay (Sec): Specifies the number of seconds the PMU waits before sending files to the printer. If the printer is not ready within the specified time, the download will terminate, and the Status and Error Log will report Connection Refused.

If you receive this error message, increase the initial delay time. The default is 60 (seconds).

Network Sub-Tab

Figure 47. Printer Properties: Connections – Network Sub-Tab

Enter the printer’s IP Address and Port Number. (Click Default to reset the Port Number to 3001.) The Time Out option sets the amount of time, in seconds, the PMU waits for a response from the printer after sending a command. If there is no response in the specified amount of time, an error message appears in the Status and Error Log pane. If you have a slow connection between the PMU and the printer, you may need to define a longer Time Out period. Define the Time Out between 5 and 300 seconds (the default is 15 seconds).

NOTE: The Network settings must match the settings in the operator panel

menu. See “ETHERNET PARAMS”, “ETHERNET ADDRESS”, or “WIRELESS ADDRESS” in the printer’s

User’s Manual

to check the

IP address.

To check the port number on the printer, see “Check Port Number” on page 14.

Defining Printer Properties

Serial/Modem Sub-Tab

The Serial/Modem tab contains two tabs: Serial Port Parameters and Modem Control.

Serial Port Parameters

Figure 48. Printer Properties: Connections – Serial/Modem Sub-Tab

Serial Port Parameters

Connect Using: The serial port to use for connection. The default is COM1.

The range is COM1 to COM20.

Speed: The baud rate at which data transfers. This setting must match the speed of the printer serial debug port. See

Table 4 to determine the serial

debug port baud rate menu location for your printer model

Word Size: The number of data bits per character. Must be set to 8 bits.

Parity: Adds an error checking bit if set to Odd or Even. Since the word size

must be set to 8 for correct operation, parity should normally be set to None.

Stop Bits: Inter-character gap. Can be set to 1 or 2. The normal setting is 1.

Table 4. Serial Debug Port Baud Rate Menu Location

Printer Model Menu

6700-M40 Series INTERFACES



Printer MgmtBaud Rate

6700 Series PRINTER MGMT or Factory



Baud Rate

4400 Series FactoryBaud Rate

6500 Series PRINTER MGMT



BAUD RATE

6400 Series SERVICEPRINTER MGMTBAUD RATE

Chapter 2 Managing the Database

Modem Control

Figure 49. Printer Properties: Connections – Serial/Modem Sub-Tab

Modem Control

Phone Number: Enter the phone number you wish to call.

Dial Method: Choose Tone or Pulse.

Call Back: Enter your phone number, and check Enable if you want to use it

as a call back number.

Defining Printer Properties

Information Tab

Figure 50. Printer Properties: Information Tab

Contains information about your printer. Refer to the

Ethernet Interface User’s

Manual

for more information.

Chapter 2 Managing the Database

3 Applications and

Web Access

Configuration Editor

Figure 51. Configuration Editor Window

To access the Configuration Editor application, select a printer from the printer database and select Applications



Configuration Editor or click the

(configuration editor) button. Select File



Upload From Printer to upload configurations from the printer. The configurations upload from the printer and the active configuration displays in the Configuration Editor window. See Figure 51.

The Configuration Editor supports offline editing, allowing the editing of stored configurations. If you start the Configuration Editor without connecting to a printer, the screen will be blank (indicating no configuration loaded). A configuration will not display until you load a configuration file from a disk or computer.

The Configuration Editor allows you to upload, modify, and download eight user-defined configurations and the factory default configuration (only if modification of the factory configuration has been enabled; see the NOTE on page 69). You may also save sets of configurations to your local hard drive so that they can be easily downloaded to the printer at any time.

The Configuration Editor does not change the current configuration or the active printer status until the configurations are downloaded to the printer.

Chapter 3 Configuration Editor

Menu Tree

The Configuration Editor displays the printer configurations in a tree format (see Figure 51). The top level of the tree is the OFFLINE menu. From this level, the tree branches into the printer’s submenus. Menu items that have a

or (handle) next to them have further submenus below them. Click the handle to expand or collapse the submenus below. (You may also use the Expand Tree/Collapse Tree options in the View menu, but these options will expand or collapse all submenus.)

The Configuration Editor has three drop-down menus at the bottom. The Displayed Language option allows you to select from five or more different languages to display the configuration information. The Displayed Configuration option lets you choose between the available configurations to display. The Power-Up Configuration allows you to assign which configuration loads whenever the printer turns on.

Creating Configurations

Along with the factory configuration, your printer allows up to 8 user-defined configurations that can be downloaded to your printer’s memory. You may create configurations using the operator panel or by using the Configuration Editor.

To create a configuration using the Configuration Editor:

1. Select Edit



Copy From:. A list of configurations appears. Undefined

configurations appear gray. Choose one of the configurations.

2. Click Edit. (Notice that the configuration you chose in step 1 now appears

next to the Copy From: menu item.) Move your mouse down to Copy To. A list of configurations appears. Choose the number of the configuration you want to create. This new configuration is created with the settings from the configuration you chose in step 1.

NOTE: If you choose to Copy To a configuration which already exists, that

configuration will be overwritten.

3. You may now edit the configuration settings. See “Changing

Configurations” on page 69.

Changing Configurations

Configuration settings in the Configuration Editor can be changed two ways:

• make the changes directly on the menu tree

• use the Menu Editor

NOTE: Normally, the factory default configuration cannot be changed.

However, you can enable modification of the factory configuration. Select Edit



Enable Factory Edit. It is strongly recommended that

you do

not

modify the factory default configuration. If you choose to modify the factory configuration, you should first upload it from the printer, and then save it. This way, you will have a backup copy of the factory configuration. To disable modification of the factory configuration, select Edit



Disable Factory Edit.

Making Changes on Menu Tree

1. Using the Displayed Configuration menu at the bottom of the window, click the drop-down arrow to choose the configuration to change.

2. Expand the submenus until the configuration setting you want to change displays.

3. Select the menu item you want to change. A selection box surrounds your choice. See Figure 52.

Figure 52. Selecting a Menu Item

4. Double-click an item to open the Menu Editor (page 70) for that item, or use the < and > keys to toggle through the available options. See Figure 53. (You may change these keys in the printer database window: select File



Preferences, then click the Configuration Editor tab.

See page 27.)

Figure 53. Toggling Through The Available Options

Chapter 3 Configuration Editor

Menu Editor

Figure 54. Menu Editor

Double-click any menu item to open the Menu Editor window. Figure 54 shows the screen you see when you double-click the Printer Protocol option. By using the Menu Editor, you may view and adjust the settings of all nine of the printer configurations at once. To change a setting, click the drop-down arrow underneath the corresponding configuration and choose an option. Grayed out configuration names and settings do not exist; you must create the configuration before you can edit it (see page 68).

To hide a menu item in the operator panel, select Hidden under a configuration. Click Hide All to hide this menu item in all configurations. (For more information on hiding, see page 71.)

Select Copy Fact (1-8) to set all configurations to the same value as the factory or user-defined configuration currently selected under the Edit



Copy From: menu in the Configuration Editor (see page 68).

Click Cancel to exit the Menu Editor without saving your changes.

Click Apply to save your changes without exiting the Menu Editor.

Click OK to save your changes and exit the Menu Editor.

Deleting Configurations

To delete any of the configurations (except the factory configuration), select

Edit



Deleteand choose the number of the configuration to be deleted.

Naming Configurations

You may name any of the eight user-defined configurations using an alphanumeric string of 1 to 15 characters. Select Edit



Names to open the

Edit Configuration Names window.

Choose the configuration you want to name, then click OK to assign the name change, Cancel to exit this window without saving your changes, or Reset to restore the original configuration numbers.

Changing Configurations

Hiding/Unhiding Menu Items

Figure 55. Hiding a Menu Item

The Configuration Editor allows you to hide menus to make the operator panel menus easier to use, or to restrict printer operators from accessing certain printer configuration menu items. If you choose to hide a menu item in the Configuration Editor, the hidden menu item still loads into the printer when the configuration downloads to it. However, the hidden menu item does not appear on the operator panel.

The Configuration Editor displays hidden menus in gray on the menu tree. When a menu item is hidden, all of its sub-menus are hidden as well. In Figure 55, the Display Language menu item is hidden. The Display Language menu item cannot be changed from the operator panel.

IMPORTANT

Depending upon the active emulation, active interface, or hardware attached to the printer, some menu items cannot be hidden on the operator panel, even though they may be defined as “hidden” in the PMU.

You can still change hidden menu items using the Menu Editor.

You can hide or unhide menu items in three ways:

1. In the menu bar, select View



Hide/Unhide Menus. With this menu option, you may hide or unhide individual items, sub-menus or the entire configuration.

2. Using the Menu Editor. See page 70.

3. Using the keyboard. From the menu tree, select a menu item. A selection box appears around the selected menu item. Press H to hide the menu item or U to unhide the menu item. (To change these keys, select

File



Preferences in the printer database window. See page 27.)

Chapter 3 Configuration Editor

Saving Configuration Files

Normally, your printer can save only nine configurations in its memory. You change these configurations through the operator panel. However, using the PMU, you can store a nearly unlimited number of configurations on your host computer.

Once you have made your changes, you can save your configurations as a .cfg file on your local hard drive. This way, you can open any set of configurations from your host computer and download them into your printer quickly and easily.

To save configurations to your local hard drive, select File



Save As. Be sure

to save your configuration as a .cfg

file.

Opening Configuration Files

To open a configuration file, select FileOpen. The Configuration Editor loads the settings from the file you choose.

IMPORTANT

These settings do not affect the current configuration or the active printer status until the configurations are downloaded to the printer.

NOTE:

The Configuration Editor displays only one configuration file at a time. Be sure to save any changes before opening another configuration file.

If you load a configuration file that was created with the PMU version 3.03H or earlier, you may need to link the affiliated CST file. In this case, select

File



Open again, and check the Link CST File check box. See Figure 56. Navigate to the affiliated .cst file and double-click it (or single-click it and click the Select button). Save the configuration file, and the CST information will save to the new configuration file. (You will not need to link the CST file in the future.)

NOTE: If you hover the pointer over the Link CST File check box, a screen

tip appears that describes this functionality.

Figure 56. Linking a CST File

Downloading Configurations

You may use the Configuration Editor to download into your printer any configurations you have created. Open the configuration file you want to use, then select File



Download To Printer to send individual configurations, all

configurations, or just the configuration names.

Downloading a configuration overwrites the corresponding configuration currently stored in the printer. If you want to save the configurations currently stored in the printer before overwriting them, upload them into the Configuration Editor first, and then save them as a .cfg file on your local hard drive.

NOTE: Be sure to calibrate your thermal printer after you download a

configuration to it. See “Running Auto Calibrate” in the printer’s

User’s Manual

Uploading Configurations

The Configuration Editor can upload configurations from a printer. Select

File



Upload From Printer. Once the configurations upload, you can save them to a file. Now you can select another printer from the database and upload its configurations. The PMU prompts you to save the previously uploaded configuration before the new configuration uploads.

Migration

Over time, menus and functions changed to reflect the new features of the printers. Some printer features have been removed to provide better or more complete printer features. Older saved configurations may have used these removed features or contain settings that no longer exist or have been modified in new printer firmware. This can cause potential problems when downloading new printer firmware while preserving previously saved configurations if the saved settings are not analyzed and adjusted to work with the new firmware. This analysis and adjustment has been summarized into one word: migration.

Transferring Saved Settings

Original Method

To ensure that your settings from the saved configuration are set correctly in the printer: print out the old configurations, download the configurations to the printer, print out the new configurations, and compare the old settings with the new settings.

If you need to make changes: upload the configurations to the Configuration Editor, make changes, and re-download to the printer.

Chapter 3 Configuration Editor

Enhanced Method

Using the migration utility in the Configuration Editor, all these things can be done without having to download the configurations to the printer until you know they are correct. No migrated settings will be downloaded to your printer until you download them. This way you can run the migration, view the results, view the report, and make any necessary changes without affecting your saved configurations or the configurations in the printer.

How To Use The Migration Utility

STEP 1:

Load the configurations settings that need to be migrated into the Configuration Editor before using the migration utility.

Migration Limitations

Only attempt to migrate saved configuration settings from printers of the same model type and the same emulations. An example of a different printer model type is a thermal printer configuration to a line matrix printer.

The printer that you are going to migrate the settings to should be a superset of or contain the same emulations as the saved configurations. For example, migrate saved settings that contain an ANSI emulation on a line matrix printer to another line matrix printer that contains ANSI and PGL. Do not migrate these same saved settings to a line matrix printer that does not contain ANSI. The migration utility does not prevent you from doing this, but the results would be useless and could cause problems if the migrated configurations were downloaded and then loaded on a different printer type.

IMPORTANT

Make sure the printer model type and emulations of the saved configurations match the printer model type and emulations of the printer you want to migrate the settings to before attempting to migrate the saved settings.

Loading Configuration Settings

The configuration settings to migrate can be opened using the Configuration Editor in the following ways:

Loading From a File

Click the (open configuration file) button or select File



Open. Choose

your configuration file and then click OK.

Loading From a Printer

Select a printer in the printer database. Click the (upload configuration) button or select the File



Upload From Printer to upload the settings.

Migration

STEP 2:

Select a printer and begin the migration of the saved configuration settings.

Select a Printer to Use for Migration

Select a printer in the printer database. The printer you select must have new printer firmware. If it does not, exit the Configuration Editor and download new firmware to the selected printer (see “File Download” on page 86), then select the printer in the printer database.

Start the Migration

Click the (migrate) button or select MigrationRun Migration. Several messages will appear in the bottom left corner of the Configuration Editor that indicate the progress of the migration.

STEP 3:

View the results using the Configuration Editor.

The results will display graphically in the Configuration Editor.

Several different icons will display depending on the migration. Hover the pointer over an icon to display a short description. A icon can represent several types of changes. The migration report details these changes (page 76).

Select Migration



View Results to see the migration results.

This menu has the following submenus:

Original Configurations

All Menus: Displays the original configuration settings with the menus that

were removed from the original configurations.

Removed Menus: Displays only the menus that were removed from the original configurations.

Migrated Configurations

All Menus: Displays the migrated configuration settings including all of the

menus that were modified.

Modified Menus: Displays only the menus that were modified by the migration of the saved settings.

If you select Modified Menus and then select View



Expand Tree, all of the

menus that were affected by the migration will display in a simplified view.

Migration Icon Definitions

Indicates a new menu or a new set of menus.

Indicates that the menu previously existed in the saved configurations and

was added to another menu.

Chapter 3 Configuration Editor

Indicates that the menu previously existed in the saved configurations and was moved to another menu, or removed from the current menu but still exists in the saved configurations.

Indicates that the menu was completely removed.

Indicates that this menu or a submenu has changed. The change can be various things such as range or increment.

Indicates that additional selections have been added to this menu.

Indicates that selections have been removed from this menu.

Indicates that this menu has been replaced with another menu or the menu definition has changed.

STEP 4:

View the results using the Migration Report Viewer.

Select Migration



View Report or double-click the Migration Report icon (located at the top of the migrated configurations display) to open the Migration Report Viewer.

The Migration Report Viewer displays a detailed textual report of the information that displays graphically in the Configuration Editor. Use the Migration Report Viewer to view, save, or print the report.

NOTE: It is recommended to use landscape mode when printing the

migration report.

The report contains the following types of messages:

Informational Messages: Menu settings that migrated without problems. They display to inform you that there was a change during the migration.

Warning Messages: Menu settings that attempted to migrate to the new configurations and were changed. Analyze these settings to determine if they are desirable.

Intervention Messages: Menu settings that could not migrate to the new configurations. This could occur when a menu item was completely removed and the user utilized a setting other than the default. In this case the Migration Utility cannot decide what action to take.

IMPORTANT

You must resolve intervention messages, or the printer may not operate properly.

STEP 5:

Post-migration.

After you review the migrated configuration, save, delete, or download the migrated configuration file to one or more printers using the PMU.

Migration

Factory Settings Differences

The Factory Settings Differences application allows you to keep track of migration from old to new printers. It displays the differences between the Factory configuration settings and all other saved configuration settings. The differences are highlighted to show value differences between configurations.

Two views displaying the data are available. The All Settings view shows all of the menus, highlighting the value differences. The Differences Only view shows the menus and its corresponding values that differ from the Factory settings.

To access the Factory Settings Differences application, select

Applications



Factory Differences or click the (find differences) button. The application opens with no configuration data loaded. The Factory Settings Differences window contains three sections: the menu bar, toolbar, and the configuration settings differences pane. See Figure 57.

Figure 57. Factory Setting Differences Window

Configuration Settings

Differences Pane

Menu Bar

Toolbar

Chapter 3 Factory Settings Differences

Menu Bar

The menu bar consists of a File menu and a View menu.

File Menu

Figure 58. Factory Settings Differences – File Menu

Open

The Open submenu allows you to select and open a previously saved Factory Settings Differences file. The file must be one that was created with this application.

NOTE: No error checking is available for an invalid file type, including

Comma Separated Variable (CSV) formatted files that were not created by this application.

Upload Differences

The Upload Differences submenu uploads the configurations and determines the Factory settings differences. The results display in a table in the All Settings view.

Save and Save As

The Save and Save As submenu allows you to select and save the Factory setting differences file to a file. The results table can only be saved in the Differences Only view. You will be informed if you try saving the file in the All Settings view. The saved file will be in CSV format.

The Print submenu allows you to set up printing preferences and print the differences table. You can print the differences table in both views.

Toolbar

View Menu

Figure 59. Factory Settings Differences – View Menu

All Settings View

The All Settings view displays all of the menus in the configuration, highlighting the menus that are different from the Factory settings and their values. The menu name and its associated values are highlighted in different colors for easy distinction. See page 80.

Differences Only View

The Differences Only view shows the top level menus and the menus that have configuration values that are different than the Factory settings. Since this view only shows the differences, the menu names are not highlighted. The menu values are highlighted for easier distinction. See page 81.

Toolbar

Figure 60. Factory Settings Differences – Toolbar

The toolbar contains buttons for Open, Save, Upload Differences, All Settings View, Differences Only View and Print. These buttons perform the same actions as their menu counterparts. The toolbar also has font selection and size boxes to allow user selectable preferences.

Chapter 3 Factory Settings Differences

Configuration Settings Differences Views

This view consists of a non-editable table that displays the menu name, the menu level, the Factory default settings, and the values of other saved configurations.

The menu level column shows a menu option’s hierarchy level from the top menu. Number 1 indicates the top menu, and the largest number is the menu that is the furthest down the menu tree.

All Settings View

In the All Settings View mode, all menus and its corresponding values display in a table. The menus with values different from the Factory configuration is highlighted in purple and the value itself is highlighted in yellow. See Figure 61.

Figure 61. All Settings View

Displayed Language

Differences Only View

In the Differences Only View mode, only the differences between the Factory configuration and other menu configurations are listed. The differing values are highlighted in yellow. The menus are not highlighted.

Figure 62. Differences Only View

Displayed Language

The Displayed Language drop-down menu shows all available foreign languages that the attached printer supports. Since this depends on the printer, the drop-down menu will be disabled when the Factory Settings Differences application is first launched. After the Upload Differences program is executed, the available language names supported by the printer will display.

After you select a language, the program determines if it has already been uploaded, and changes the table settings to this language. If it is not loaded, the program uploads the selected language and redisplays the table settings in the new language.

Chapter 3 Flash File Manager

Flash File Manager

Figure 63. Flash File Manager Window

With the Flash File Manager, you can view a list of the unprotected files loaded in the printer’s flash memory and optional EMC (Expanded Memory Cartridge).

NOTE: The EMC is available only for 6700-M40 printers.

You can upload the files to the host computer, save them for backup, delete them, and download them to another printer.

Select Applications



Flash File Manager or click the (flash file

manager) button. See Figure 63.

The Printer List pane displays a list of printers that are selected in the printer database. If you select one printer, it appears alone in the list. If you select a folder, all active printers in the folder appear.

If you return to the printer database and select another printer or folder, click Refresh to update the Flash File Manager and display the newly selected printer(s).

NOTE: Cloned printers or different folders that link to the same printer do not

display. Only the original printer displays.

Get File Info

Figure 64. Get File Info

Select a printer, and then click Get File Info to see a list of the unprotected files loaded in the printer’s flash memory. Progress displays in the status bar at the bottom of the window. After you retrieve the flash memory information, the files appear in the File List pane. See Figure 64.

NOTE: The files are located on the printer’s internal flash memory. If [EMC]

precedes the file name, then the file is located on the optional EMC.

When complete, select another printer and click Get File Info to view its flash memory information.

You can only view the flash memory information from one printer at a time, but the Flash File Manager remembers what information has been retrieved. For printers that have not had flash memory information loaded, the message FFS (Flash File System) Info Not Loaded displays in the Printer List. See Figure 64.

NOTE: Although you have retrieved the flash memory information, the files

have not been uploaded. Notice the message “data not loaded” in the File List. To upload the files, see “Upload” on page 84.

The status bar will toggle from the status of the last operation performed to the status of the printer flash: memory available (free), memory used (in use), and memory deleted but not optimized (trashed):

If you have an EMC installed, the status bar will also toggle the status of the EMC:

Status Bar

NOTE:

Displays only if

the printer has

an EMC installed

Chapter 3 Flash File Manager

Upload

Figure 65. Uploaded Flash Files

To upload unprotected files, select a printer, and then select the files you want to upload from the File List. Click Upload to upload the unprotected files from the flash memory. Progress displays on the status bar at the bottom of the window.

After the files upload, they appear selected in the File List pane. See Figure 65. Click Save As to save all the files together as one downloadable file (bundle file). Save the file with a .pff file extension.

Delete And Optimize

Figure 66. Selecting Multiple Files

Or, you may use the Shift or Ctrl key to select single or multiple files. See Figure 66. This way, only the selected files will save to the .pff file when you click Save As.

NOTE: You can save only uploaded files to a downloadable file.

Delete And Optimize

IMPORTANT

You can not undo a flash file deletion.

You can erase files from the printer’s flash memory. Select the files you want to delete from the File List, then click Delete. To download files back to the flash memory, see “File Download” on page 86.

Once you have deleted files, the flash memory is not optimized until you click

Optimize. Optimizing reclaims flash space from deleted flash files.

NOTE: The printer reboots after you Optimize.

To delete and optimize in one step, select the files you want to delete from the File List, then click Delete & Optimize.

CST Manager

See “Datastream Adapter” on page 147.

Chapter 3 File Download

File Download

NOTE: The terms download and upload as used here and in the software

indicate the printer’s point of view. Therefore, when you download a file, you are sending information to the printer (the printer downloads). When you upload a file, you are receiving information from the printer (the printer uploads).

IMPORTANT

To utilize the File Download application, make sure Enable Status Monitoring is checked in the Polling tab (see page 43). Then select your printer in the printer database and click the update status button to make sure your printer has been polled at least once (see page 49).

The File Download application allows you to download any of the following file types (program files, configuration files, recovery files, and flash files) to either a single printer or to a group of printers in one step. Recovery files are an exception and should only be downloaded back to the printer that had problems during a download.

To download a file to a single printer, insert a (Download file) icon below the printer (one level lower than the printer). To download a file to a group of printers, insert the Download file icon on the same level as the printers (in the same folder containing the printers). Use the printer database and insert additional Download file icons to download as many files to as many printers as you want.

NOTE: Previous versions of the PMU required different file types to be

downloaded to the printer in separate steps, which is why the various file types were identified by or icons. With this version of the software, a distinction between the various file types is not needed, and a icon identifies all file types. Therefore, if you open a printer database that was saved using a previous version of the software, all

icons will change to icons.

Define The Download Files

After you insert Download files, you must define them:

1. Double-click New Download File. The Define Download File dialog

box opens. See Figure 67.

2. Click Browse. The Open dialog box opens.

Figure 67. Define Download File

3. Navigate to a program (firmware), configuration, recovery file, or flash file,

select it, then click Open.

4. Since multiple file types can now be downloaded in one operation, a Test

button is provided to allow you to verify if the file type specified is supported by the printer. Clicking the Test button causes the PMU to evaluate the specified file and display the file type – this will help you verify that you selected the correct file. Click OK if the file type returned is correct, click Cancel to terminate, or click Browse to select another file.

5. When you are finished, click OK. The database displays the path and

name of the program, configuration, recovery, or flash file.

Chapter 3 File Download

Download The Files

After you define Download files in your database, you must download them to your printer for them to affect the active print state.

NOTE: Each emulation used by the printer has its own list of valid flash files it

can use. Refer to the appropriate

Programmer’s Reference Manual

for details about valid flash files.

To begin the download process, select a printer or a folder containing printers and select Applications



File Download, or click the (file download) icon. The File Download dialog box opens and displays a list of all the printers that you selected in the printer database. See Figure 68.

NOTE: If you later select a different printer or folder in the printer database

and the File Download dialog box is still open, click Update List to update the list of printers.

Figure 68. File Download

The following are the download options for each printer:

Firmware: Check this box to download the printer firmware (program file).

Restore Config: Check this box to restore the configurations that were in the

printer once the Program File download has been completed.

Restore Flash: Check this box to restore the flash files that were in the printer before the Program File was downloaded.

Config File: Check this box to download a new configuration file.

Flash Files: Check this box to download additional flash files.

For each printer listed, various combinations of these operations can be executed. Some combinations are mutually exclusive. For example, the PMU does not allow you to simultaneously preserve the printer’s configurations and download a new configuration file to the same printer (you cannot check both Restore Config and Config File for the same printer). Similarly, you cannot restore configurations or flash files unless you are downloading new program files.

NOTE: You can double-click a field name (e.g., Firmware, Config File, etc.) to

check or uncheck the check boxes for all displayed printers at once.

Download The Files

Viewing the File Destination

Select a printer in the File Download dialog box and click Properties. The Update Properties dialog box opens. See Figure 69.

Figure 69. Update Properties

The Update Properties dialog box lists all the files that will be downloaded to the selected printer, the source of the files, and their destinations: Printer Flash (a single file to the printer’s flash memory) or Multiple Files to Printer Flash. Also, if the printer supports the EMC: Expanded Memory Cartridge (a single file to the EMC), Multiple Files to Expanded Memory Cartridge, or Both Printer Flash and Expanded Memory Cartridge.

IMPORTANT

The PMU can only download files to the EMC through the Ethernet Interface.

Changing the File Destination

If you have the optional EMC and you wish to change the destination of a single file, click Destination. The User Files dialog box opens. See Figure 70.

Select Printer Flash or EMC to specify the new destination.

NOTE: Bundle files (archives that contain multiple files, usually with a .pff

extension) cannot have their destinations changed. Files within bundle files will download to the printer’s flash memory, the EMC, or both, depending on their original location.

Chapter 3 File Download

Figure 70. User Files

Restoring Configurations and Flash Files

Whenever a printer downloads a program (firmware) file, the configurations and flash memory are erased. You can choose whether or not to restore the configurations and/or flash memory to what was previously loaded. Check or uncheck the Restore Config check box for configurations and/or the Restore Flash check box for flash files. By default, the configurations and flash memory will restore.

IMPORTANT

If you uncheck Restore Config or Restore Flash, the configurations or flash memory will erase when you initiate a program file download.

NOTE:

If a download fails due to a power interrupt or a severed connection, the configurations and flash files will be lost and will not restore. You can still restore the printer using the recovery file, but only if Restore Config and/or Restore Flash was checked. See “Recovery File” on page 99.

If you are downloading a program file and flash files, the Flash Files and Restore Flash check boxes will be checked. The flash files will restore, but they will be overwritten if the new flash files you are downloading have the same name.

Download The Files

Figure 71. Download in Progress

Confirm that the correct files will be sent to the appropriate printers. Close the dialog box to cancel the download and start over.

Click Start to begin the download. Once the download is in progress, click

Abort or close the dialog box to abort the download. See Figure 71.

IMPORTANT

Aborting a download may leave the printer in an unstable state.

During the download, the printer’s flash memory will be erased, and CLEARING FLASH will display on the operator panel. At this time, the PMU may appear to stop operating. This is normal, and the entire download process should take no more than fifteen minutes.

NOTE: Be sure to calibrate your thermal printer after you download a

configuration to it. See “Running Auto Calibrate” in the printer’s

User’s Manual

You can also download a series of files to several printers at once using folders. Select a folder and select Applications



File Download. All of the appropriate files inside the selected folder download to all of the printers inside that folder.

NOTE: Downloading a configuration file does not immediately update the

printer’s active configuration. You must activate a downloaded configuration using the Load Config. setting in the operator panel. Refer to the printer’s

User’s Manual

for details.

See page 92 for examples of using the printer database and the File Download application to download files.

Chapter 3 File Download

Downloading Examples

Figure 72. Sample Database

In this sample printer database (Figure 72), the printers are organized according to different parts of the building. Each area contains its own printers and Download files.

In the Manufacturing folder, two printers share the same program and configuration Download files, the Area 1 printer has a flash Download file (in this example, a fonts file), and the Area 2 printer has no flash Download file.

In the Administration Office folder, two printers share a program Download file, the Vending Room printer has a configuration and a flash Download file, and the Conference Room printer has no configuration or flash Download file.

The Building B and Building C folders are collapsed.

Download The Files

Figure 73. File Download: Conference Room Printer

Example 1

In this example, the user selected the Conference Room printer, then selected Applications



File Download or clicked the (file download)

button. The File Download dialog box opens. See Figure 73.

The Conference Room printer will download a program (firmware) file, and the configurations and flash memory will restore

IMPORTANT

If you uncheck Restore Config or Restore Flash, the configurations or flash memory will erase when you initiate a program file download.

Chapter 3 File Download

Figure 74. File Download: Vending Room Printer

Example 2

In this example, the user selected the Vending Room printer, then selected

Applications



File Download or clicked the (file download) button. The

File Download dialog box opens. See Figure 74.

The Vending Room printer will download a program (firmware), configuration, and flash file, and the flash memory will be restored.

To see a summary of the files the printer will download, double-click the printer or select the printer and click Properties.

Download The Files

Figure 75. Update Properties for the Vending Room Printer

The Update Properties dialog box opens. See Figure 75.

In this example, the Vending Room printer will download the Printer Software B.prg program file, the Vending Configs.cfg configuration file, and the Fonts.pff flash file.

Chapter 3 File Download

Figure 76. Configuration Download Settings

Since the printer will download a configuration file, you can click Settings to open the Configuration Download Settings dialog box. See Figure 76.

You can select or deselect specific configurations within the configuration file you want to download. Only the selected configurations will download. You can also select which of the configurations will be set as the Power-Up configuration.

In this example, the printer will download all configurations, and the Power-Up configuration will be set to configuration 4.

Download The Files

Figure 77. File Download: Manufacturing

Example 3

In this example, the user selected the Manufacturing folder, then selected

Applications



File Download or clicked the (file download) button. The

File Download dialog box opens. See Figure 77.

In this example, the Area 1 and Area 2 printers will download the same program (firmware) file and a configuration file, since both files are in the same folder as the two printers (see Figure 72). In addition, the Area 1 printer will download a flash file.

Both printers will have their flash memories restored.

Chapter 3 File Download

Figure 78. File Download: Building A

Example 4

In this example, the user selected the Building A folder, then selected

Applications



File Download or clicked the (file download) button. The

File Download dialog box opens. See Figure 78.

In this example (refer to Figure 72):

• The Area 1 and Area 2 printers will download the same program (firmware) and configuration files, and their flash memories will be restored.

• The Area 1 printer will download a flash file.

• The Vending Room and Conference Room printers will download the

same program file.

• The Vending Room printer will download a configuration and a flash file, and its flash memory will be restored.

• The Conference Room printer will not download a flash or configuration file, but its configurations and flash memory will be restored.

IMPORTANT

Make sure the same printer is not listed more than once in the File Download dialog box.

Recovery File

Whenever a printer downloads a program (firmware) file, the configurations and flash memory are erased. You can choose to restore the configurations and/or flash memory, but if during the download the power interrupts or the connection severs, the files will be lost and will not restore.

The PMU makes a recovery file of the configurations and flash memory before they are erased. The recovery file is located in the PMU installation directory.

If a download fails, the Status and Error Log will display the location of the recovery file. The file is named after the printer name in the printer database, followed by a .par extension (printer archive).

Add a download file under the printer that failed during the download process. Open the Define Download File dialog. Click the browse button and navigate to the location of the recovery file. The recovery file is displayed in the Status and Error Log. Click OK to define the download file.

IMPORTANT

It is necessary that a program file be used with your recovery file. Make sure that you add a program file under the printer in the database or enable it if it is disabled.

Click the printer to download and open the File Download application. Click Start to download the recovered files and settings to the printer.

NOTE: The properties and the download settings cannot be changed when

you are using a recovery file. Recovery files are not deleted by the File Download application once an error occurs. This file should be deleted once the printer has the recovered configuration settings and flash files.

The .par archive contains the configuration file, which is named after the name of the printer in the printer database. The archive also contains the flash files, which are named exactly as they appeared in the flash memory.

100

Chapter 3 Media Profiler

Media Profiler

The Media Profiler application is only available for thermal printers. It provides a means to analyze media sensing problems. You can use it on labels that are difficult to profile using the standard printer profiling method. If necessary, you can capture, document, and send this information to professional service centers for further analysis.

Figure 79. Media Profiler Window

To access the Media Profiler application, select Applications



Media

Profiler or click the (media profiler) button. The Media Profiler will open

with no profiler data loaded or captured. It is divided into four sections, the menu bar, toolbar, profiler view (which contains the profiler graphic), and status bar. See Figure 79.

Menu and

Toolbar

Profiler View

Status Bar

IBM InfoPrint 6400 Series, InfoPrint 6500 Series, InfoPrint 6700 Series, InfoPrint 4400 Series Printer Management Utility User’s Manual

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