Monarch 9474, Monarch9474 Programmer's Manual

Monarch



9474 Printer

Each product and program carries a respective written warranty, the only warranty on which the customer can rely. Monarch reserves the right to make changes in the product, the programs, and their availability at any time and without notice. Although Monarch has made every effort to provide complete and accurate information in this manual, Monarch shall not be liable for any omissions or inaccuracies. Any update will be incorporated in a later edition of this manual.

©1997 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form by any means, without the prior written permission of Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.

WARNING

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

CANADIAN D.O.C. WARNING

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.

Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de la classe A prescrites dans le Réglement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicte par le ministère des Communications du Canada.

Trademarks

MONARCH is a registered trademark of Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. 920, 924, 925 and 9474 are trademarks of Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.

Monarch Marking Systems P.O. Box 608 Dayton, Ohio 45401

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Input Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2

Data Flow Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2

Setting Communication Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

Cable Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5

MESSAGE STRUCTURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Creating Online Data Streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2

Transmitting Online Data Streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2

Error Notification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3

Data Transmission Errors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3

Incorrect Data Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3

Monetary Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4

Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4

Programming Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5

Standard Syntax Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5

Standard Syntax Guidelines for Batches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6

Format Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7

Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8

Format Header Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8

Text Field Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9

Bar Code Field Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12

Line Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16

Batch Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19

Batch Header Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19

Entering Print Data for Fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21

Using Multiple Batches with One Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23

Using Previously Defined Print Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23

Batch Separators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24

USING GRAPHICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1

Defining Graphic Image Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2

Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5

Placing the Image in a Format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6

Clear Image Buffer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8

Field. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8

Compressing the Data Stream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8

QUICK REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Text Font Sizes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Fonts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Parallel Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2

Rotated Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2

Character Width (in Dots) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2

Parallel Character Width (in Dots). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3

Bar Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3

Bar Code Densities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4

Line Width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

Special Characters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6

Code 128 Function Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6

ASCII Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7

Printable Characters by Font . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8

English/Metric Conversion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9

ERROR MESSAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

Diagnostic Messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2

Startup Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2

Operation Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4

Printer Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5

General Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5

General Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5

Communication Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8

Offline Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9

Data Entry or Test Print Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9

Format Entry Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-11

Online Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-13

Online Warnings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-13

Online Communication Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-16

SAMPLE DATA STREAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Formats, Text and Bar Code Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2

Sample Format Data Stream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2

Sample Batch Data Stream. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2

Line Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3

Sample Format Data Stream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3

Sample Batch Data Stream. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3

Graphic Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4

Sample Format Data Stream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5

Sample Batch Data Stream. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5

Compressed Graphic Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6

Sample Compressed Graphic Data Stream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6

Sample Format Data Stream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6

Sample Batch Data Stream. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6

CODE 128 INFORMATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1

Bar Code Width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2

Quiet Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-4

Function Codes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-5

128 Bar Code Character Sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-6

iii

INTRODUCTION

This manual tells you how to enter online formats and batch data for downloading to a Monarch® 9474 printer.

Refer to your Operator’s Handbook for general setup and maintenance procedures, an explanation of data entry and batch control for offline printing, and about creating and entering offline formats.

Introduction 1-1

The 9474 printer can receive print data online from a host. During online communication, the host treats the printer as an RS-232 type printer. For the printer to communicate online, you will need an RS-232 cable. For mainframe communication, you may need a protocol converter.

Transmitting data from the host requires communication controls. See Chapter 2, "Communication Requirements" for more information.

Three types of data can be transmitted:

Format data The user-designed layout for online formats.

These formats are used by online batches for printing.

These online formats can also be used

offline. However, formats created offline

cannot be used online.

Batch data Contains the format number and actual data

to be printed on the supply. Batch data is downloaded to the printer and combined with a format stored in the printer.

Graphic data Contains the actual pixel data which forms a

graphic image.

Format, batch, and graphic data are stored

when you turn the power off.

Format and graphic data may be sent at any time.

Since batch data is combined with a format for printing, the format and graphic data for a batch must reside in the printer before sending the batch.

Each data type has its own data stream structure. See Chapter 3, "Message Structures" for more information.

1-2 Introduction

COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS

To enable communications between the printer and the computer, the printer communications setup must match the setup for the host. The options are:

Baud rate

Parity

Data flow control

Data bits

Stop bits

All online data uses the ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) character code for interpretation of bits as characters.

Communication Requirements 2-1

Input Characteristics

Below are the input characteristics for communications. The defaults are shown in bold print.

Asynchronous

Full duplex

Selectable options:

Baud rate 110, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600 Parity No parity, Odd, Even Data flow Xon/Xoff, Data Terminal Ready (DTR) Data bits Seven (7) or eight (8) Stop bits One (1) or two (2)

Modify these communication settings on your printer as necessary to match the settings on your host. See "Setting Communication Values" for more information.

There are three main buffers: batch, format, and graphic. The printer also has a 1024 byte input buffer which holds data until it is processed into the respective buffer(s).

Data Flow Control

The printer uses Xon/Xoff or data terminal ready (DTR) for data flow control. DTR flow control is usually required if you are using an IBM-PC, unless the PC has a special Xon-Xoff program.

In DTR mode, the printer activates DTR when the printer can accept more data from the host and deactivates when the printer’s receive buffer is nearly full. In Xon/Xoff Mode, the printer sends the Xon character when the printer can accept more data and sends Xoff when the printer buffer is nearly full.

In either mode, once the printer has indicated that its buffer is nearly full (by sending Xoff or deactivating DTR), up to 134 additional characters may be accepted without losing any data.

2-2 Communication Requirements

The printer does not require any hardware or software signals from the host system in order to operate.

Flow control characters can be changed

offline through the Printer Configuration mode.

The total number of formats, batches, and graphics is only limited by the amount of memory available.

Setting Communication Values

To set the communication parameters, follow the instructions below. For more information on operating the printer, refer to the Operator’s Handbook.

From the main menu, press d to display Printer

Configuration. Press e . You’ll see

Enter password: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Enter the 1-8 character password and press e .

When you first receive the printer, the

password is MANAGER or ONLINE.

You’ll see the Configuration Options menu.

Select Config Option: Define Check Digit Schemes

Press d until you see Host Port Configuration. Press e to select this option. With each parameter, you can enter a new selection, or just press e to keep the value that is displayed.

Communication Requirements 2-3

You’ll see the Host Option menu and the first online

parameter.

Select Baud Rate: 2400

Press d or u until you see the baud rate you need, then press e . You’ll see

Enter Parity: N N)one, O)dd or E)ven

Select the parity you need and press e . You’ll see

Enter Word Length [7-8]: 8

Select the word length you need and press e . You’ll see

Enter Stop Bits [1-2]: 1

Select the stop bits you need and press e . You’ll see

Enter Start (XON) character: 17

Enter a number from 1-127 for XON flow control, or 128 for

DTR flow control. You’ll see

Enter Stop (XOFF) character: 19

Enter a number from 1-127 for XOFF flow control, or 128 for

DTR flow control.

2-4 Communication Requirements

If you select DTR control (128) as the XON character, the printer automatically sets 128 (DTR control) for the XOFF character.

The Start and Stop characters must be set at 128 (DTR flow control) for IBM PC equipment.

You’ll see the Configuration Options menu. Press 1 to exit to the main menu.

Cable Interface

The printer accepts standard RS-232C electrical signal transmissions when it is connected to a DB-25S connector configured as Data Terminal Equipment (DTE). For correct operation, use all defined pins.

For PC null modems, plug the RS-232 cable into:

A serial (RS-232) port on the host or protocol converter

The 25-pin RS-232 connector on your printer. Refer to your Operator’s Handbook for more information.

The RS-232C cable interface is set up as a terminal device (DTE):

Pin Description

3 Received Data 5 Clear to Send Input 6 Data Set Ready

2 Transmitted data 4 Request to send Output 20 Data Terminal Ready

1 Protective ground Ground

7 Signal ground

All other pins are open.

Communication Requirements 2-5

The cable interface for PC null modems is shown below.

9474 PC

FG 1 1 FG TD 2 2 TD RD 3 3 RD RTS 4 4 RTS CTS 5 5 CTS

DSR 6 6 DSR CD 8 8 CD DTR 20 20 DTR SG 7 7 SG

2-6 Communication Requirements

MESSAGE STRUCTURES

This chapter has information and message structures for

Formats

Batch Data

Graphic image data is discussed in Chapter 4, "Using Graphics."

Message Structures 3-1

Creating Online Data Streams

Create data streams for your 9474 printer using a standard text editor, such as EDLIN or TSO.

If you use a word processor to create data streams, make sure to save the file in text-only or unformatted mode.

Transmitting Online Data Streams

Your printer must be in Online Mode before it will accept data from your computer.

Select Online from the Select Operating Mode menu.

Press e . You’ll see

Online Mode Ready:

Your printer is now ready to accept data.

Send data to the printer just as you would send any print data to a printer from your computer.

For example, if you have a file named FORMAT1.DAT on an MS-DOS system, you could send the data to your printer with these commands:

MODE COM1:2400,N,8,1,P MODE LPT1:=COM1 PRINT FORMAT1.DAT

This set of commands would send the file FORMAT1.DAT to a printer connected to COM1 of an MS-DOS computer.

Format and graphic structures can be sent at any time.

Formats or graphics used by batch data must be sent before the batch data referencing them. Any batch sent without a previously defined format is ignored, generating an error.

3-2 Message Structures

Error Notification

Data handling and error checking are resident in the printer. If an error in transmission occurs, an error is displayed on the printer keypad display. However, no message is sent to the host and processing continues until the end of the transmission.

Certain errors may put the printer in offline mode. See Chapter 6, "Error Messages," for a list of possible messages.

Data Transmission Errors

The printer displays errors that occur during data transmission. Printer fault errors stop the machine, which will not resume printing until the operator corrects the error condition. All these messages take the system offline.

Incorrect Data Errors

The printer pauses when it receives incorrect data from the host. During the pause, it displays a message and beeps. After ten seconds, or when the operator presses e, the printer resumes operation. Normally, the printer loses the data that caused the error.

If the host or the communications line goes down during transmission, the printer displays the message

Waiting for command terminator. Press F1 to abort download.

If you press 1 , the batch or format data that was being sent will be lost and must be retransmitted.

Message Structures 3-3

Monetary Symbols

The default monetary symbols are the U.S. dollar and cents. The ASCII characters $ (24 hex) and ^ (5E hex) represent the dollar and cent symbols.

If you change your printer settings to use international pricing symbols, these characters will then represent the new symbols. For monetary selections that don’t have a cent equivalent, the ^ character is changed to a space.

In EBCDIC-based systems a ^ is not

available. Use ~94 to print a cent sign.

Commands

The following command characters are used in 9474 online data streams.

Command Character

{ 7B Open brace. Command LEADIN character

, 2C Comma. Inter-field separator (IFS)

; 3B Semicolon. Beginning of string character

} 7D Close brace. Command TERMINATOR

Hex Val ue

7C Split vertical bar. Command inter-record

Description

separator (IRS)

character

3-4 Message Structures

Programming Conventions

All online commands from the host follow these rules.

All data after the TERMINATOR character ( } ) and before the next LEADIN character ( { ) is ignored.

The hex values 7B, 7C and 7D are reserved as command delimiters. All data of a value less than 20 hex and greater than 7E hex is ignored.

All data strings (batch data, compressed bit-map images or format data) begin with a semi-colon (3BH) and end with a TERMINATOR or inter-record separator (IRS or p (7C hex)).

All space characters, except string definitions, are ignored.

All strings must be less than 100 characters.

Standard Syntax Guidelines

A format header must be the first record in your format.

Begin the format name with the beginning of string character (;).

Begin a record with a LEADIN character ({).

Make sure the length and width in these records match your supply length and width. Remember, these numbers are in tenths of millimeters, so 500 equals 50 millimeters or 5 centimeters.

Make sure the row and column locations in the text, bar code, or line records are less than the supply length and width.

Allow enough space to hold all the characters in the field, the bar code height, or the line end point without running off the supply.

Field definitions may be sent in any order, regardless of field location. The last field carries priority over previous fields and overwrites the previous fields if they overlap when printed.

Message Structures 3-5

To print human readable characters for Code 39, Interleaved 2 of 5, Codabar, Code 128 and MSI bar codes, create a separate text field. However, using this method with UPC or EAN bar codes may not correctly print the bar code.

A new format with the same ID number as a previously defined format overwrites the old format. However, the old format is not overwritten until all batches queued to use the old format are completed.

End records with a record separator ( p ).

End the last record in your format with a terminator character (}).

Standard Syntax Guidelines for Batches

Read the standard syntax guidelines and note the additional items for batches.

A batch header must be the first record in your batch.

For a batch header record or batch data, make sure the number in the first parameter matches the number of the format you are using.

If you choose auto-naming (the printer assigns a batch name), make sure there are no characters or spaces between the beginning of string character (;) and the record separator ( p ).

If the field is an incrementing field, you can enter any type of characters; however, only the numeric data increments.

Send the correct format to the printer before sending the batch. Batch data without a defined format generates an error.

3-6 Message Structures

Format Data

Format data contains the following:

Format identification number and name

Supply size

Online field definitions for text, bar code, line and graphic fields

The following offline format elements are not supported online:

Merged fields

Sub-fields

Time or date fields

User-defined check digits

Fixed characters

Alphanumeric distinction

Fixed or variable length

Price fields

You must supply these elements if you need them in your program.

The message structure used to transmit online format data is shown below, followed by an example.

{FORMAT ID, LENGTH, WIDTH; FORMAT_NAME p TEXT FIELD, INCREMENT FLAG, INCREMENT VALUE, ROW, COLUMN, MULTIPLE, TEXT FONT, CHARACTER ROTATION, FIELD ROTATION, COLOR p BARCODE FIELD, INCREMENT FLAG, INCREMENT VALUE, ROW, COLUMN, DENSITY,BAR CODE FONT, FIELD ROTATION, HEIGHT, READABLE CHARACTERS p LINE FIELD, ROW, COLUMN, DIRECTION, STOP, THICKNESS p GRAPHIC FIELD, ROW, COLUMN p . .}

Message Structures 3-7

Example

This example has three text fields and one bar code field.

{F1,0558,0507;ONLINE p T00,I,000,0475,0050,1,1,0,0,B p T01,I,000,0406,0050,1,1,0,0,B p T02,I,000,0017,0253,1,1,0,0,B p B00,I,000,0124,0093,1,1,0,0177,1 p }

The format header record (beginning with the Format ID) must always be the first record in a format data stream.

Spaces can be used in the data stream.

However, if used in a string following a

semi-colon, they will be treated as printable

characters.

Format Header Record

The format header record is constructed as shown below.

Syntax

{F##,LENGTH,WIDTH;FORMAT NAME p

Field Contents

F## Must begin with the letter ’F’ to represent the beginning of a

LENGTH One to four digits to define the supply length in tenths of

WIDTH

format data stream.

The F is followed by a one or two digit number as the format ID

Valu e s : 0-99

Example: F23 = Format number 23

millimeters.

Valu e s : 191-2032 (19.1 to 203.2 mm

or 0.75 to 8.0 inches)

Examples: 200 = 20mm

201 = 20.1mm

3-8 Message Structures

One to four digits to define the width of the supply in tenths of millimeters (across the printhead).

Valu e s : 191-1078 (0.75 to 4.25 inches)

;FORMAT_NAME One to eight-character name assigned by the user. It can

contain any ASCII alphanumeric character, including slash (/), hyphen (-), space ( ), dollar sign ($), or decimal point (.).

The Format Name is a character string, so it is preceded by a semicolon (;).

Example

{F23, 500, 200;TEXTILES p

The format number is F23, the supply length is 50 millimeters, the supply width is 20 millimeters, and the format is named "TEXTILES."

Text Field Record

The text field record is constructed as shown below:

Syntax

Field Contents

T## Must begin with the letter ‘T’ for a text field.

IFLAG You can set numeric fields to increase or decrease in value as

T##,IFLAG,IVALUE,ROW,COL,MAG,TFONT,C-ROT, F-ROT,COLOR p

The T is followed by one or two digits for the field number. There can be up to 100 fields per format, in any combination of text, barcode, line, or graphic fields.

Valu e s : 0-99

each ticket is printed.

This parameter consists of one character to define the field as incremented, decremented, or constant.

Valu e s : I = Increment

D = Decrement

Message Structures 3-9

If the field does not change, define IFLAG as ‘I’ and set IVALUE to zero (0).

NOTE: Do not select incrementing on fields that contain a

IVALUE One to three digits to define the amount by which the value in

the field increases or decreases as each ticket is printed. If the field does not change, define IFLAG as ‘I’ and set IVALUE to zero (0).

Valu e s : 0-999

NOTE: The first number in the count sequence must contain

ROW One to four digits to define the row location of the field on the

supply. This is the distance from the the guide edge zero point at the bottom of the supply and the bottom of the field.

The zero point is 1.5 mm or 0.060 inches from the bottom of the supply. The bottom of the supply is the edge that exits the printer first.

This value is measured in tenths of millimeters (TOMMS) and must be less than the maximum length of the supply.

Valu e s : 0-2032

COL One to four digits to define the column location of the field on

the supply. This is the distance from the guide edge zero point at the left edge of the supply and the left edge of the field.

check digit.

the same number of digits as the highest number to be counted. For example, to count the numbers 1 to 999, the first number in the sequence must be entered as 001.

MAG One to two digits as the magnification factor for the font of

3-10 Message Structures

The zero point is 1.5 mm or 0.060 inches from the left edge of the supply.

The unit of measurement is tenths of millimeters. The range must be less than the maximum width of the supply.

Valu e s : 0-1016 (0 to 4 inches)

text fields.

Valu e s : 1 - 10

Font magnifications creating greater than 30% black print on a format may result in lower print quality.

TFONT One digit as the font for the TEXT field. See Chapter 5,

C-ROT Character rotation. The direction characters point with

F-ROT Field rotation. The direction of the field with respect to the

COLOR One character to define the color of a text field.

Example

"Quick References," for font samples.

Valu e s : 1 Standard

2 Reduced 3 Bold 5 OCR-A 6 UPC HR1 7 UPC HR2

respect to the field.

Valu e s : 0 = tops of characters toward top of field

1 = tops of characters toward left of field

supply.

Valu e s : 0 = top of field toward top of supply

1 = top of field toward left of supply 2 = top of field toward bottom of supply 3 = top of field toward right of supply

Valu e s : B = Black characters (42H)

W = White characters on black (57H)

T05,I,0,230,30,1,1,0,0,B p

The text field number is T05, the field does not change value with successive tickets (IFLAG = I, increment value = 0). The field begins 23 millimeters from the bottom and 3 millimeters from the left edge of the print area. The font appears at normal size (magnification = 1) and the Standard font is used (1). The tops of characters point to the top of the field (character rotation = 0) and the top of the field points to the top of the supply (rotation = 0). Characters appear in Black.

Message Structures 3-11

Bar Code Field Record

The bar code field record is constructed as shown below.

Syntax

B##,IFLAG,IVALUE,ROW,COL,DENSITY,BFONT, F-ROT,HEIGHT,HR p

Field Contents

BARCODE Must be the letter ‘B’ for a bar code field.

The B is followed by one or two digits for the field number. There can be up to 100 fields per format, in any combination of text, barcode, line, or graphic fields.

Valu e s : 0-99

IFLAG You can set numeric fields to increase or decrease in value as

each ticket is printed.

This parameter consists of one character to define the field as incremented, decremented, or constant.

Valu e s : I = Increment

D = Decrement

If the field does not change, define IFLAG as ‘I’ and set IVALUE to zero (0).

NOTE: Do not select incrementing on UPC or EAN bar codes

or fields that contain a check digit.

IVALUE One to three digits to define the amount by which the value in

the field increases or decreases as each ticket is printed. If the field does not change, define IFLAG as ‘I’ and set IVALUE to zero (0).

ROW One to four digits to define the row location of the field on the

3-12 Message Structures

NOTE: The first number in the count sequence must contain

the same number of digits as the highest number to be counted. For example, to count the numbers 1 to 999, the first number in the sequence must be entered as 001.

Valu e s : 0-999

supply. This is the distance from the guide edge zero point at the bottom of the supply and the bottom of the field.

The zero point is 1.5 mm or 0.060 inches from the bottom of the supply. The bottom of the supply is the edge that exits the printer first.

This value is measured in tenths of millimeters (TOMMS) and must be less than the maximum length of the supply.

Valu e s : 0-2032

NOTE: The minimum row location for serial bar code fields is

COL One to four digits to define the column location of the field on

the supply. This is the distance from the guide edge zero point at the left edge of the supply and the left edge of the field.

The zero point is 1.5 mm or 0.060 inches from the left edge of the supply.

The unit of measurement is tenths of millimeters. The range must be less than the maximum width of the supply.

Valu e s : 0-1016 (0 to 4 inches)

DENSITY One digit for the bar code density for Interleaved 2 of 5, Code

128, MSI, Code 39, and UPC/EAN bar codes.

Valu e s : 1-5

Some bar codes do not support all 5 values.

For the actual densities for these values, see Chapter 5, "Quick References."

BFONT One digit indicating which bar code font to use.

Valu e s : 1 UPC-A

23 (0.09 inches)

2 UPC-E 3 Interleaved 2 of 5 4 Code 39 5 Codabar 6 EAN-8 7 EAN-13 8 Code 128 9 MSI 10 UPC/EAN+2 11 UPC/EAN+5

Message Structures 3-13

F-ROT Field rotation. The direction of the field with respect to the

supply.

Valu e s : 0 = top of field toward top of supply

HEIGHT One to four digits for the bar code height in tenths of

millimeters. The value should be less than the length or width of the supply.

Valu e s : 50-2032 (5.1 to 203.2 mm or 0.2 to 8.0 inches)

HR (Human readable characters) One digit for the location of

human readable characters printed with a UPC or EAN bar code. If no value is given, no human readable characters are printed.

Valu e s : 0 = No human readable characters printed

NOTE: Always use the HR parameter to generate the human

Example

B11,I,1,70,30,1,4,0,120,0 p

1 = top of field toward left of supply 2 = top of field toward bottom of supply 3 = top of field toward right of supply

1 = Human readable printed above the bar code 2 = Human readable printed below the bar code

readable text for a UPC or EAN bar code. If you manually insert human readable text, the barcode may not print accurately.

The bar code field number is B11, the field increases by 1 with successive tickets (IFLAG = I, increment value = 1). The field begins 7 millimeters from the bottom and 3 millimeters from the left edge of the print area. The bar code density is 6.63 characters per inch (density = 1, code 39), and Code 39 (4) is used. The top of the field points to the top of the supply (rotation = 0). The height of the bar code is 12 millimeters and no human readable characters appear with this bar code (0).

The following special restrictions apply to online bar codes:

UPCA You must send a leading zero, 11 digits of

3-14 Message Structures

data and a check digit (13 digits total).

UPCE The printer automatically prints a leading zero

for this bar code. You must send data and a check digit (7 digits total).

EAN13 You must send 12 digits of data and a check

digit (13 digits total).

EAN8 You must send 7 digits of data and a check

digit (8 digits total).

NOTE: If the check digit is incorrect or omitted from a

UPC or EAN bar code, the printer will automatically place the correct check digit in the bar code.

I 2 of 5 This bar code has no check digit. The printer

automatically prints the start and stop characters, so only the data must be sent. The length of the data is variable. If the data has an odd number of digits, add a leading zero to make the length even.

Code 39 The start and stop characters must be placed

at the beginning and end of the data before it is sent to the printer. The start and stop character is an asterisk (*). The length of the data is variable.

Codabar The start and stop characters must be placed

at the beginning and end of the data before it is sent to the printer. The start and stop characters are a combination of lowercase a, b, c, or d. The length of this data is variable.

Code 128 You can send characters for Function Codes

1-4 as fixed data when defining a code 128 field and as batch data when printing.

To send the Function Codes, use a tilde (~) followed by a three digit ASCII code as shown in the following table.

Message Structures 3-15

For example, to print a string of bar code data with function code F2 as the fourth character...

123(F2)5678

send this string of characters...

~1295678

123

ASCII Code Function Code

~134 F1

~129 F2

~128 F3

~132 F4

Two additional bar codes are supported as extensions to both UPC and EAN bar codes.

+2 Send exactly two digits for this bar code.

+5 Send exactly six digits (a five-digit bar code and a one-digit check digit).

Line Field

The message structure below transmits a line field. This data stream defines the bit map to form a graphic line field. Use the line field to emphasize data by printing a line or box.

You can have up to 100 line images. The line record can be placed in a format data stream anywhere following the format header record. Lines are counted as fields, just like text or bar code fields. When determining the number of fields in your format, count each line as a separate field.

Syntax

3-16 Message Structures

L##, ROW, COLUMN, DIRECTION, STOP, THICKNESS p

Field Contents

L## Must begin with the letter ’L’ for a line field.

The L is followed by one or two digits for the field number. There can be up to 100 fields per format, in any combination of text, barcode, line, or graphic fields.

Valu e s : 0-99

ROW One to four digits to define the row location of the field on the

COLUMN One to four digits to define the column location of the field on

DIRECTION One digit to define the direction of the line.

supply. This is the distance from the the guide edge zero point at the bottom of the supply and the bottom of the field.

The zero point is 1.5 mm or 0.060 inches from the bottom of the supply. The bottom of the supply is the edge that exits the printer first.

This value is measured in tenths of millimeters (TOMMS) and must be less than the maximum length of the supply.

Valu e s : 0-2032

the supply. This is the distance from the guide edge zero point at the left edge of the supply and the left edge of the field.

The zero point is 1.5 mm or 0.060 inches from the left edge of the supply.

The unit of measurement is tenths of millimeters. The range must be less than the maximum width of the supply.

Valu e s : 0-1016 (0 to 4 inches)

Valu e s : 0 = Vertical

1 = Horizontal

STOP One to four digits to define the stop position (Row or Column,

dependent on the DIRECTION setting) for the line.

Valu e s : 1-2032

THICKNESS One or two digits for the line thickness in dots. 1 dot = 1/192

inch

Valu e s : 1-15

Message Structures 3-17

Example

L22,400,100,1,190,5 p

The line field number is L22, the line begins 40 millimeters from the bottom and 10 millimeters from the left edge of the print area. The line is horizontal (direction = 1) and ends 19 millimeters from the left edge of the supply. The line is 5 dots thick.

Example

This example draws a simple 1-inch box starting at row 50 and column 50 on a 2" x 2.5" tag, as shown below.

Format

{F1,635,508;BOX L0,50,50,0,304,3 p L1,50,50,1,304,3 p L2,50,304,0,304,3 p L3,304,50,1,316,3 p }

Batch

{B1,1,0,1,1,1,C;BOX.TEST p }

Note that line L3 is longer than the other 3 lines to complete the box in the upper right corner.

3-18 Message Structures

Batch Data

The batch data stream contains:

Batch information:

- format number (layout for the print image)

- print quantity

- supply definition

- item description (batch name)

Print image:

- field numbers

- data to be printed in each field

The message structure used to provide the printed data for an online format is shown below. An example follows.

{B##,QUANTITY,CUT,REP,PARTS,0,MODE;BATCH_NAME p T##;(..print data..) p B##;(..print data..) p . . .}

Batch Header Record

The batch header is the first record in the batch data stream.

Syntax

{B##,QUANTITY,CUT,REP,PARTS,0,MODE; BATCH_NAME p

Field Contents

B## Must begin with the letter ’B’ to begin a batch data stream.

The B is followed by the one or two digit number that matches the format number. This is the number at the beginning of the format record.

Valu e s : 0-99

QUANTITY One to four digits for the quantity to print in a given batch.

Valu e s : 1-9999

CUT/TAKEUP

On printers with a knife:

Message Structures 3-19

One digit to control how tickets are cut.

Valu e s : 0 = no cut

last ticket in batch)

NOTE: Do not use option 2 if your supply is less than 4

When using option 2, the first 0.7 inches of the supply cannot be used for printing.

On non-knife printers:

On a 9474 with no knife, this parameter controls the backing paper takeup, instead of the knife.

Valu e s : 0 = print tags with no backing paper.

REP One to four digits for the supply repetition for cutting, and

increment/decrement field.

Valu e s : 1-9999

PARTS One digit for the number of parts across the supply.

Valu e s : 1-5

1 = cut each ticket in the batch (except last ticket) 2 = cut each ticket in the batch (including

3 = cut between batches

inches long (1016 tomms) or more than 8 inches long (2032 tomms)

1 = print labels and take up the backing paper.

RESERVED Enter 0.

MODE One character to define the mode of printing, or batch

separator.

Valu e s : 0 = separator off.

1 = double length separator (use for 924 or 925

stacker). 3 mm extra length tag on 920 stacker.

2 = normal length separator with 3 mm black stripe. 3 = 3 mm extra length tag with 6 mm stripe.

NOTE: If using value 0,1, 2, or 3, do not use a separate

batch separator packet.

3-20 Message Structures

C = Continuous D = On Demand

If you enter D (On Demand) in the MODE field on a printer with a knife, the value will default to C (Continuous).

;BATCH_NAME One to eight characters for the name of the batch. A priority

Example

batch name must begin with a decimal. For example: .SOCKS12.

Each batch should have a unique name, or you can omit the name for automatic batch naming. If multiple batches are sent with the same name, all batches are stored with the same name. If you omit the batch name, the printer will generate unique names which begin with the letters "AUTO" and end with a 4-digit number. The 4-digit number is an increment and can have a value from 1-9999 (example: AUTO1354, where 1354 equals the increment).

{B11,200,2,5,2,0,3; p

The batch prints data using format 11 and prints 200 tickets. The printer cuts after each ticket is printed, including the last ticket (2) and each ticket will print 5 times. This is a two-part ticket. The format prints 2 times horizontally across each ticket. A double-length separator prints between batches (3). The batch name is automatically assigned by the printer, because there are no characters between the semi-colon and the record separator.

Entering Print Data for Fields

Enter the data to print in each field after the batch header record as shown.

Syntax

{B##,QUANTITY,CUT,REP,PARTS,0,MODE; BATCH_NAME p T##;print data.. p B##;print data.. p . . .}

Message Structures 3-21

T## The number of the text field to print (enter the number in place

of ##).

B## The number of the bar code field to print (enter the field

;print data p

number in place of ##).

Enter the data you want to print in this field.

This character string begins with a semi-colon (;) and can be 1 to 100 characters long. Place a record separator ( p ) at the end of this string.

If there is a text field you don’t want to use, enter that field number and a semi-colon with no print data.

Example

This example contains data to print the label shown below.

{B1,0012,1,01,1,0,C;PTEST p T00;TEST FORMAT1 p T01;S/N 97464B p T02;$12.34 p B00;0012345678905 p }

The batch prints the phrase

"TEST FORMAT 1" in text field T00, "S/N 97464B" in text field T01, "$12.34" in text field T02,

and "0012345678905" in bar code field B00.

If consecutive batch data streams use the same format, send only the changed data fields. See the following section, "Using Previously Defined Print Data."

3-22 Message Structures

Using Multiple Batches with One Format

You can send multiple batches for any format previously loaded into the printer. To do so, send the format to the printer, then send as many batches as you want to print data on that format.

This allows you to send multiple batches without sending a new format with each batch.

Using Previously Defined Print Data

When sending multiple batches for one format, you can "re-use" your print data. On consecutive batches, the data in a field does not change, omit that field from the later batch.

When you leave out any field number that was specified in the preceding batch, the data used in the preceding batch will print on following batches until new field data is entered.

For example, batch 1 below prints a date in text field T01. Since batch 1 and batch 2 are printed on the same day, batch 2 can leave out field T01. Since T01 was defined in the preceding batch, it will automatically print in batch 2.

Batch 1: Batch 2:

{ B12,1,0,1,1,0,C; p { B12,1,0,1,1,0,C; p T01;12/31/90 p T02;Stock #52014 T02;Stock #43768 T03;Sprinkler } T03;100’ Hose }

If two fields overlap, do NOT use this feature.

If fields overlap, you must send the format

before each batch.

Message Structures 3-23

Batch Separators

This command selects the use of batch separators. A batch separator is a tag with a wide black line across the top or a double length tag and is last tag in a batch. Your Operator’s Handbook shows the type of batch separator used by your printer.

When printing online, add 1 to your batch quantity. The batch separator does not add a tag to the total number of tags in a batch. (In offline operation a batch separator increases the batch count by one tag.)

The command structure is shown below, followed by an example.

If using this batch separator packet, make

sure the batch header "MODE" value is set to

Syntax

{ S TYPE }

Field Contents

S Must be the letter ‘S’ to identify the batch separator selection.

TYPE A single digit to turn the batch separator selection on or off.

The resulting separator depends on the type of stacker you are using.

3-24 Message Structures

Values 0, 1, 2, or 3 as shown in the table below.

Stacker Type

none 920 924/925

Data Stream

{S0} No separator No separator No separator

{S1} Double length tag

with no stripe

{S2} Normal length tag

with 3 mm stripe

{S3} 3 mm extra length

tag with

6 mm stripe

3 mm extra length tag with 6 mm stripe

Normal length tag with 3 mm stripe

3 mm extra length tag with 6 mm stripe

Double length tag with no stripe

Normal length tag with 3 mm stripe

3 mm extra length tag with 6 mm stripe

Format data stream.

{F 12, 560, 508;SMALL2IN p T1, I, 0, 300, 50, 1, 1, 0, 0, B p T2, I, 0, 200, 50, 1, 1, 0, 0, B p T3, I, 0, 150, 50, 1, 1, 0, 0, B p T4, I, 0, 100, 50, 1, 1, 0, 0, B p T5, I, 0, 050, 50, 1, 1, 0, 0, B p }

Batch data stream.

{S0}

{B 12, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, C;SMALL2IN p T1;Separators off. p T2;Line 2. p T3;Line 3. p T4;Line 4. p T5;Line 5. p }

Message Structures 3-25

Turn batch separator on; print another batch.

{S1}

{B 12, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, C;SEP.ON p T1;Separators on. p T2;Line 2. p T3;Line 3. p T4;Line 4. p T5;Line 5. p }

Turn batch separator off.

{S0}

3-26 Message Structures

USING GRAPHICS

There are two stages to printing a graphic:

Create the data stream for the graphic image

Place the image into a format.

To print a format with a graphic image, transmit data to the printer in this order:

Graphic data stream to define the graphic image

Format data stream that references the graphic image

Batch data to print the format.

Using Graphics 4-1

Defining Graphic Image Data

Graphic images are created by a series of dots printed in a specific pattern. This pattern results from a process of turning dots "ON" or "OFF" on the printhead.

We will use the terms "black dots" to describe a dot that is ON, and "white dots" for a dot that is OFF.

This section describes how to build a data stream to create this pattern with your printer.

This example shows how black dots and white dots form an image of the letter A.

Row 3 Row 2 Row 1

To create a data stream for this image, start with the bottom row. Count the number of white dots and black dots, in order of appearance in each row.

For example, rows 1 through 4 (at the bottom) in the image above have these dot counts:

Row 1: 4 White, 8 Black, 19 White, 8 Black, 4 White

Row 2: 4 White, 8 Black, 19 White, 8 Black, 4 White

Row 3: 4 White, 8 Black, 19 White, 8 Black, 4 White

Row 4: 5 White, 7 Black, 19 White, 7 Black, 5 White

4-2 Using Graphics

The data stream uses letters to identify dot counts.

CAPITAL letters represent black dots.

lowercase letters represent white dots.

Using the chart below, the data stream for row 1 would be:

Dot count:

Row 1: 4 White, 8 Black, 19 White, 8 Black, 4 White

Data Stream:

dHsHd p (4 white = d, 8 black = H, 19 white = s)

Use multiple letter codes to indicate strings of same-color dots. For example: 30 black dots = ZD

9 white dots = ccc

Coding Chart

Black Dots White Dots

#dots Code # dots Code # dots Code # dots Code

1A14N1a14n

2 B 15 O 2 b 15 o

3C16P3c16p

4D17Q4d17q

5E18R5e18r

6F19S6f19s

7G20T 7 g20t

8H21U8 h21u

9I22V9i22v

10 J 23 W 10 j 23 w

11 K 24 X 11 k 24 x

12 L 25 Y 12 l 25 y

13 M 26 Z 13 m 26 z

The graphic data stream contains a graphic header record followed by data streams for each row of dots in the image.

Using Graphics 4-3

Syntax

{G##,0,0,0,0 p ;...dot codes... p ;...dot codes... p ;...dot codes... p . . .}

Field Contents

G##

ROW

COLUMN

LINES

DOTS

;dot codes

Must begin with the letter ’G’ to identify this as a graphic data stream.

The G is followed by a one or two digit number to identify the graphic image. Later you will use this number to insert the graphic into a format.

Valu e s : 0-99

NOTE: If this graphic is used in offline batch entry, the printer

assigns a name of GPH## where ## is the ID number assigned here.

Enter 0.

The first row of dot codes corresponds to the bottom row of dots in the image. Essentially, this means you are building the graphic image upside down in the data stream.

Note that since this record is a character string, it begins with a semi-colon (;). You can place up to 100 characters in each row.

Do not put any spaces in the dot code character string.

4-4 Using Graphics

Example

This graphic data stream generates the letter A from the grid earlier in this section. The format and batch data streams to print a sample tag follow the graphic data stream.

The graphic is assigned a number of 1 and it is 46 dots tall.

The graphic data stream uses the same guidelines for structure and syntax as the format data stream does. See "Standard Syntax Guidelines" in Chapter 3 for more information.

{G1,0,0,0,0 p ;dHsHd p ;dHsHd p ;dHsHd p ;eGsGe p ;eHqHe p ;fGqGf p ;fHoHf p ;fHoHf p ;gGoGg p ;gHmHg p ;hGMGh p ;hGMGh p ;hGMGh p ;iFMFi p ;iFMFi p ;jEMEj p ;jEMEj p ;jEMEj p ;kHgHk p ;kHgHk p ;lGgGl p ;lHeHl p ;lHeHl p ;mGeGm p ;mGeGm p ;nGcGn p ;nGcGn p ;nGcGn p ;oFcFo p ;oGaGo p ;pFaFp p ;pFAFp p ;qEAEq p ;qEAEq p ;qEAEq p ;rDADr p ;rDADr p ;sCACs p ;sCACs p ;sCACs p ;tBABt p ;tBABt p ;uCu p ;uCu p ;uCu p ;vAv p }

Using Graphics 4-5

Placing the Image in a Format

The message structure below places a graphic field in a format.

You can have up to 100 graphic images. The graphic record can be placed in a format data stream anywhere following the format header record.

Graphics are counted as fields, just like text or bar code fields. When determining the number of fields in your format, count each graphic as a separate field.

Syntax

G##, ROW, COLUMN p

If graphic fields overlap with other fields in the data stream, the last field in the data stream will dominate.

Field Contents

G##

ROW

COLUMN

Must begin with the letter ’G’ for a graphic field.

The G is followed by one or two digits for the graphic number. Enter the number you assigned to the graphic in the graphic data stream.

Valu e s : 0-99

One to four digits to define the row location of the graphic on the supply. This is the distance from the the guide edge zero point at the

The zero point is 1.5 mm or 0.060 inches from the bottom of the supply. The bottom of the supply is the edge that exits the printer first.

This value is measured in tenths of millimeters (TOMMS) and must be less than the maximum length of the supply.

Valu e s : 0-2032

One to four digits to define the column location of the field on the supply. This is the distance from the guide edge zero point at the field.

bottom

left

of the supply and the bottom of the field.

edge of the supply and the left edge of the

4-6 Using Graphics

The zero point is 1.5 mm or 0.060 inches from the left edge of the supply.

The unit of measurement is tenths of millimeters. The range must be less than the maximum width of the supply.

Valu e s : 0-1016 (0 to 4 inches)

The following format data stream uses the graphic data defined earlier in this chapter. The graphic is inserted 20 mm from the bottom and 20 mm from the left edge of the supply.

{F11,550,507;LETTER-A p G1,200,200 p T0,I,0,400,100,1,1,0,0,B p }

The following batch data stream prints the following tag:

{B11,1,1,1,1,0,C;LETTER-A p T0;LETTER-A GRAPHIC p }

Example

G1,100,40 p

The graphic number 1 is inserted into the format 10 millimeters from the bottom and 4 millimeters from the left edge of the print area.

Using Graphics 4-7

Clear Image Buffer

This command clears all or selective graphics from the image buffer. Once graphic data is sent to the printer, that graphic stays in memory until a clear image buffer command is sent.

Syntax

Field

## This optional parameter specifies a particular graphic to be

Example

{ C## }

Contents

Must be the letter ‘C’ to identify the clear image buffer command.

cleared from memory. It must match the number assigned in the graphic data stream. If omitted, ALL graphics in memory will be deleted.

{C} Clears all graphics from the printer. {C4} Clears only graphic number 4.

Compressing the Data Stream

Image data usually consists of a large amount of repetitive data. Therefore, the printer uses a data compression algorithm for the graphic message structure. Here’s how it works.

Any image is defined as a matrix of cells.

Each row of the matrix consists of a series of consecutive ON

(black) or OFF (white) cells. The range is 1-26, represented by adding either a hex 40 (black) or hex 60 (white). Cells that print black are represented by the upper case letters ‘A’ through ‘Z’ in the file sent to the printer. Cells that print white are represented by the lowercase letters ‘a’ through ‘z’ in the file. Consecutive cells greater than 26 require multiple letters.

Example: 39 consecutive white cells are represented by

4-8 Using Graphics

the letters ‘zm’ (i.e. ‘z’ produces 26 white cells followed by ‘m’ or 13 more white cells).

Each row of the matrix is terminated by the command

inter-record separator, split vertical bar ( p ). However, the last row of the matrix ends with the TERMINATOR command, closed brace (}).

In addition to compressing consecutive cells, repetitive lines

of compressed row data can be combined. For example, if twelve rows have the same data (;zm), a number can be added at the beginning of the line to repeat the line (;12zm).

The following example shows how you can compress the

"Letter A" data stream. The long version is on the left. The compressed version of the same data stream is on the right.

Using Graphics 4-9

Long Version Compressed Version

{G1,0,0,0,0 p {G1,0,0,0,0 ;dHsHd p ;3dHsHd ;dHsHd p ;eGsGe ;dHsHd p ;eHqHe ;eGsGe p ;fGqGf ;eHqHe p ;2fHoHf ;fGqGf p ;gGoGg ;fHoHf p ;gHmHg ;fHoHf p ;3hGMGh ;gGoGg p ;2iFMFi ;gHmHg p ;3jEMEj ;hGMGh p ;2kHgHk ;hGMGh p ;lGgGl ;hGMGh p ;2lHeHl ;iFMFi p ;2mGeGm ;iFMFi p ;3nGcGn ;jEMEj p ;oFcFo ;jEMEj p ;oGaGo ;jEMEj p ;pFaFp ;kHgHk p ;pFAFp ;kHgHk p ;3qEAEq ;lGgGl p ;2rDADr ;lHeHl p ;3sCACs ;lHeHl p ;2tBABt ;mGeGm p ;3uCu ;mGeGm p ;vAv ;nGcGn p } ;nGcGn p ;nGcGn p ;oFcFo p ;oGaGo p ;pFaFp p ;pFAFp p ;qEAEq p ;qEAEq p ;qEAEq p ;rDADr p ;rDADr p ;sCACs p ;sCACs p ;sCACs p ;tBABt p ;tBABt p ;uCu p ;uCu p ;uCu p ;vAv p }

4-10 Using Graphics

QUICK REFERENCES

Text Font Sizes

The 9474 fonts are selected in Printer Configuration in offline mode only. Be sure the fonts selected at the printer are compatible with the format and batch data you are downloading.

Fonts

The 9474 fonts are proportional (each character takes only as much space as it needs). Uppercase I is the narrowest character and results in the most characters per inch. Uppercase M is the widest and results in the fewest characters per inch. In the following table uppercase I was used to calculate the most characters per inch. Uppercase M was used to calculate the fewest characters per inch.

If you rotate the characters (with the top of the characters toward the left or right side of the stock) you will get the characters per inch shown in the table labeled "Rotated Characters."

Quick References 5-1

Parallel Characters

Value/Font Characters/Inch Character

1/Standard 21.3 12.0 0.10

2/Reduced 64.0 24.0 0.07

3/Bold 19.2 7.1 0.20

5/OCR-A 10.1 10.1 0.10

6/UPC HR1 19.2 13.7 0.10

7/UPC HR2 32.0 19.2 0.08

Height (in.)

Rotated Characters

Font Characters/Inch

Standard 10

Reduced 14

Bold 5

OCR-A 10

Character Width (in Dots)

The dots per character is the same for all characters. The examples below show the difference between parallel characters and serial characters.

Parallel Characters

5-2 Quick References

Serial Characters

Parallel Character Width (in Dots)

The following table shows the character width in dots. Uppercase I is the narrowest character (fewest dots per character). Uppercase M is the widest character (most dots per character).

Value/Font Dots Wide ICG*

1/Standard 7 14 2

2/Reduced 2 7 1

3/Bold 7 24 3

5/OCR-A 16 16 3

6/UPC HR1 12 12 2

7/UPC HR2 10 10 1

*Inter-character gap

Bar Codes

The table below lists bar code selections and values.

Value Dots Wide

1UPC-A

2UPC-E

3 Interleaved 2 of 5

4 Code 39

5 Codabar

6EAN-8

7EAN-13

8 Code 128

9MSI

10 UPC/EAN+2

11 UPC/EAN+5

Quick References 5-3

Bar Code Densities

The samples below show the difference between parallel and serial bar codes.

Parallel Bar Code

Serial Bar Code

Bar Code Densities

Value Bar Code Density (Char/in)

Code 39 I 2 of 5

Code 128*

MSI UPC/EAN

Code 39 I 2 of 5 Code 128*

MSI UPC/EAN

Code 39 I 2 of 5 Code 128*

MSI Code 39

I 2 of 5 Code 39 6.01

*For more information on Code 128, see Appendix B.

6.63

12.02

8.74 (alphanumeric)

17.48 (numeric only)

6.87 80% standard density

3.32

6.87

5.83 (alphanumeric)

11.66 (numeric only)

5.34 120% standard density

4.01

4.93

4.37 (alphanumeric)

8.74 (numeric only)

4.01 not supported

3.01

Line Width

5-4 Quick References

The following table shows the horizontal and vertical line widths.

Line Width

Line Number Appearance Inches MM

1 .005 .13

2 .010 .26

3 .015 .40

4 .021 .53

5 .026 .66

6 .031 .79

7 .036 .92

8.0421.06

9.0461.16

10 .052 1.32

11 .057 1.44

12 .062 1.57

13 .067 1.70

14 .072 1.82

15 .078 1.98

Quick References 5-5

Special Characters

The following table shows the ASCII code for special characters available in the standard font.

ASCII Code Symbol Description

~128 Hashed box

~129 Pound or Lira

~130 Yen

~131 Kronna

~132 Deutsche mark

~133 Markka

~134 Schilling

~135 Half sign

~136 Rupee

Code 128 Function Codes

The following table shows the ASCII code for the Code 128 function codes.

ASCII Code Function Code

~134 F1

~129 F2

~128 F3

~132 F4

5-6 Quick References

ASCII Characters

The following table shows the characters available in each font. HR1 and HR2 are human readable fonts for bar codes.

Character Std Reduced OCRA Bold HR1 HR2

# yes yes nononono $ yes yes yes yes no no

% yes yes nononono

^ ¢ ¢ no¢nono

& yes yes nononono

* yes no no no no ( yes yes no yes no no ) yes yes no yes no no [ [ yes nononono ] ] yes nononono

‘(grave) yes yes no no no no

{ yes yes nononono } yes yes nononono

~yesyes

,(comma) yes yes

" yes yes yes no no no

— yes yes yes yes yes no

= yes yes nononono

_(underscore) yes yes no no no

. yes yes yes no no / yes yes yes yes no no

’(apostrophe) yes yes no no no

: yes yes no yes no no ; yes yes nononono

? yes yes nononono

\yesyes¥¥nono | no no nononono

0-9 yes yes yes yes yes yes

A-Z yes yes yes yes no HN*

a-z yes yes no no no no

yes = what you enter is what prints. no = character does not exist in this font; nothing prints. * Uppercase H and N are the only alphabetic characters that print in the Human Readable

fonts. All other characters are numeric.

yes yes no no no no

∫

yes yes yes no no no

yes yes yes no no no yes yes yes no no no

no no no

Printable Characters by Font

Quick References 5-7

Following are the printable characters (not at actual size). Human Readable 1 and Human Readable 2 are not available offline.

English/Metric Conversion

Standard

Reduced

Human Readable (HR1)

5-8 Quick References

Bold

OCR-A

Human Readable (HR2)

Inches TOMM Inches TOMM Inches TOMM Inches TOMM

- - 0.060 15 0.075 19 0.100 25

0.125 31 0.150 38 0.175 44 0.200 50

0.225 57 0.250 63 0.275 70 0.300 76

0.325 82 0.350 89 0.375 95 0.400 101

0.425 108 0.450 114 0.475 121 0.500 127

0.525 133 0.550 140 0.575 146 0.600 152

0.625 159 0.650 165 0.675 171 0.700 178

0.725 184 0.750 191 0.775 197 0.800 203

0.825 209 0.850 216 0.875 222 0.900 228

0.925 235 0.950 241 0.975 247 1.000 254

1.025 260 1.050 267 1.075 273 1.100 279

1.125 286 1.150 292 1.175 298 1.200 305

1.225 311 1.250 317 1.275 324 1.300 330

1.325 336 1.350 343 1.375 349 1.400 356

1.425 362 1.450 368 1.475 375 1.500 381

1.525 387 1.550 394 1.575 400 1.600 406

1.625 413 1.650 419 1.675 425 1.700 432

1.725 438 1.750 445 1.775 450 1.800 457

1.825 463 1.850 470 1.875 476 1.900 483

1.925 489 1.950 495 1.975 502 2.000 508

2.025 514 2.050 520 2.075 527 2.100 533

2.125 540 2.150 546 2.175 552 2.200 558

2.225 565 2.250 571 2.275 578 2.300 584

2.325 590 2.350 597 2.375 603 2.400 609

2.425 616 2.450 622 2.475 628 2.500 635

2.525 641 2.550 648 2.575 654 2.600 660

2.625 667 2.650 673 2.675 679 2.700 686

2.725 692 2.750 698 2.775 705 2.800 711

2.825 717 2.850 724 2.875 730 2.900 736

2.925 743 2.950 749 2.975 755 3.000 762

3.025 768 3.050 775 3.075 781 3.100 787

3.125 794 3.150 800 3.175 806 3.200 813

3.225 819 3.250 825 3.275 832 3.300 838

3.325 844 3.350 850 3.375 857 3.400 863

3.425 869 3.450 876 3.475 882 3.500 889

Inches TOMM Inches TOMM Inches TOMM Inches TOMM

3.525 895 3.550 902 3.575 908 3.600 914

3.625 921 3.650 927 3.675 933 3.700 939

3.725 946 3.750 952 3.775 959 3.800 965

3.825 971 3.850 978 3.875 984 3.900 990

3.925 996 3.950 1003 3.975 1009 4.000 1016

4.025 1022 4.050 1028 4.075 1035 4.100 1041

4.125 1048 4.150 1054 4.175 1060 4.200 1067

4.225 1073 4.250 1079 4.275 1086 4.300 1092

Quick References 5-9

4.325 1099 4.350 1105 4.375 1111 4.400 1118

4.425 1124 4.450 1130 4.475 1137 4.500 1143

4.525 1149 4.550 1156 4.575 1162 4.600 1168

4.625 1175 4.650 1181 4.675 1187 4.700 1194

4.725 1200 4.750 1206 4.775 1212 4.800 1219

4.825 1225 4.850 1232 4.875 1238 4.900 1245

4.925 1251 4.950 1257 4.975 1263 5.000 1270

5.025 1276 5.050 1283 5.075 1289 5.100 1295

5.125 1302 5.150 1308 5.175 1314 5.200 1321

5.225 1327 5.250 1333 5.275 1340 5.300 1346

5.325 1352 5.350 1359 5.375 1365 5.400 1371

5.425 1378 5.450 1384 5.475 1390 5.500 1397

5.525 1403 5.550 1409 5.575 1416 5.600 1422

5.625 1429 5.650 1435 5.675 1441 5.700 1448

5.725 1454 5.750 1460 5.775 1467 5.800 1473

5.825 1479 5.850 1486 5.875 1492 5.900 1499

5.925 1505 6.950 1511 5.975 1518 6.000 1524

6.025 1530 6.050 1537 6.075 1543 6.100 1549

6.125 1556 6.150 1562 6.175 1568 6.200 1575

6.225 1581 6.250 1588 6.275 1594 6.300 1600

6.325 1606 6.350 1613 6.375 1619 6.400 1626

6.425 1632 6.450 1638 6.475 1644 6.500 1651

TOMM = Tenths of millimeters

5-10 Quick References

ERROR MESSAGES

This chapter provides explanations of your printer’s errors. There are four types of errors:

diagnostic

startup

operation

offline

If you have problems loading supplies or performing maintenance, refer to the Operator’s Handbook. If you have a problem you can’t solve, contact your Monarch service representative.

Before you call...

Select Version from the main menu and press e . The screen displays information about the software installed in your machine.

Write down the information and give it to the service representative when you call.

Error Messages 6-1

Diagnostic Messages

These messages appear if the printer fails internal testing. If the printer stops at one of these messages, turn the power off. Then turn it on again. If the problem persists, call Monarch Service.

Message

Error - Turn power off Wait 10 seconds, then turn on

Head test failure

RAM read/write failure.

ROM checksum failure.

Startup Messages

The printer displays the following messages when you turn the power on. Messages are listed in the order they appear.

If the printer stops at one of these messages, turn the power off. Wait at least 10 seconds, then turn it on again. If the problem persists, call Monarch Service.

Message Description/Action

Select Supply Type: A)lign, B)lack Mark or D)ie Cut

6-2 Error Messages

A copyright statement for the software.

Press e if you are using black mark or aperture supplies.

Type D and press e if you are using die cut supplies.

Type A and press e to calibrate the printer.

Message Description/Action

Enter new date: 01/01/89 (MM/DD/YY)

Service Required: XXX dayton:(800)231-7700 Press ENTER.

Enter new time: 00:01:04 (HH:MM:SS)

Press e to keep the date shown or to skip the prompt.

Enter a new date in the format shown in parentheses and press e .

Preventative maintenance message that is displayed when the counter reaches three million inches. This message is displayed every time the printer is powered up until the counter is reset by a service technician.

Press e to keep the time shown or to skip the prompt.

Type new time and press e . Enter the time in the format shown in parentheses and press e .

"Head test failure" message appears.

Check for visible print problems. Continue printing or call Service.

If the print problem is in a bar code, call Monarch Service. You can check the quality of your bar code if you have a bar code verifier.

Error Messages 6-3

Operation Messages

There are two kinds of operation messages:

Error messages

Warning messages

The messages use the following formats:

ERROR: (function) Error description text.

WARNING: (function) Warning message text.

Function indicates the part of the program

where the error originated, such as Batch

Control or Format Entry.

Warning and error messages can be:

Informative messages

Or ...

Failure messages

6-4 Error Messages

The printer displays an informative message for several seconds, then resumes operating. An informative message is usually displayed for 3 seconds in offline operation and for 10 seconds in online operation.

The printer displays a failure message and stops operating until the operator presses e.

Printer Errors

These messages occur during online or offline operation.

General Warnings

These warning messages are listed in alphabetical order.

Message Description/Action

Demand is not available.

Load supply and press ENTER.

Printing suspended until exit.

Unassigned memory recovered.

General Errors

You tried to change the print mode in Printer Options. On Demand printing is not available on a printer with a knife.

The next batch to print needs a different supply than what is loaded.

Load the right supply and press e .

While printing, you have selected Batch Control to check the print queue. Printing will resume when you exit Batch Control.

You turned the printer off before it completed the task in progress. You see this message when you turn the printer back on.

Check all stored items (formats, batches, passwords, graphic files, etc.) for missing or bad data before continuing.

These messages are listed in alphabetical order.

Message Description/Action

Access denied. You entered an invalid password.

Error Messages 6-5

Message Description/Action

Cannot cancel. You cannot cancel the batch in its current

state. You can only cancel a batch that has a status of P (Print) or I (Image). (You can use delete if you want to remove a batch with any other status.)

Cannot delete. You cannot delete the batch in its current

state. You can only delete a batch that has a status of Q (Queue). (You can use cancel if you want to remove a batch with a P or I status.)

Duplicate cost code character.

Field ## bad font/barcode.

Field ## invalid data.

Field ## graphic missing.

A character appears more than once in the Entered Char portion of your cost code.

Type the cost code again, without repeating any characters.

The font or barcode for the field number shown (##) is not defined properly.

Check the field definition in Format Entry and correct the field.

The data includes characters not available in the character set specified for this field.

Check the field definition in Format Entry for the valid font.

You have requested a graphic that is not available; the file has not been downloaded from the host.

Download the graphic file and request the graphic again or request another graphic.

6-6 Error Messages

Message Description/Action

Field ## extends off tag.

The field you are defining does not fit on the tag.

Change the field location, rotation, or font size so it fits on the tag.

Head open. The ribbon is improperly positioned.

Reposition the cassette or ribbon loading device so it is firmly seated. Close the print head.

Hot head. The print head is too hot to operate. This is

normally due to continual printing of formats with a lot of printed data (more than 30% of the tag contains print).

Let the printer cool before continuing.

Insufficient memory.

There is not enough memory available for the item you are trying to store.

Delete formats or batches to free memory.

Knife jam. The knife is jammed or blocked, or you are

attempting to cut supply that is smaller than

1.2 inches.

Merge assimilation error.

No batches to examine.

Clear the knife, then try to print again. If supply is too small, press 1 to override the message and load the correct supply before attempting to print.

You have made an error in defining a merge field.

Enter the merge field again to correct it.

Batch Control is available only when there are batches in the print queue.

Error Messages 6-7

Message Description/Action

No formats available to print.

You cannot enter Data Entry mode until a format is defined.

Ribbon problem. The ribbon cassette is depleted or jammed.

The ribbon may be broken. Check the ribbon and reload or replace it if necessary.

Stacker Fault. The stacker is full or the stacker track is

jammed. Empty the stacker before trying to print again.

Supply problem. There is a problem with the feed mechanism.

Reload the supply if necessary.

The 9474 will also display this message if the backing paper takup reel is full, the printer is out of stock, or the stock is the incorrect size for the format that was loaded.

Communication Errors

The following errors are caused by communication problems in the printer.

Message Description/Action

All comm

Software Error. Call Monarch Service.

channels busy.

Invalid comm

Software Error. Call Monarch Service.

channel.

Invalid file type. Software Error. Call Monarch Service.

Receive buffer full. The host did not stop transmission after it

received an XOFF character or after DTR went inactive. Check communication setup at the host.

6-8 Error Messages

Message Description/Action

Receive framing error.

Receive overrun error.

Receive parity error.

Host communication protocol doesn’t match machine. Check communication setup at the host.

Offline Messages

Data Entry or Test Print Errors

The following errors occur during data entry or test printing. The messages are listed in alphabetical order.

Message Description/Action

CD verify failed. You entered an incorrect check digit in a field

that requires a check digit.

Improper field length.

You are trying to enter an invalid number of characters in a Fixed or Optional/Fixed field.

A Fixed field requires exactly the number of characters shown by the dashes on the screen. An Optional/Fixed field requires either the exact number of characters shown by the dashes on the screen, or 0 characters. Enter the correct number of characters for the field.

Error Messages 6-9

Message Description/Action

Invalid cost code character(s).

You are trying to enter characters in a cost code field (in Data Entry) that are not defined in the cost code. Check your data to be sure it is correct, then enter the data again.

Machine busy. You are trying to print a test tag, but the print

queue is not empty. The print queue must be empty to perform a test print. Wait until all batches have printed, then try again to print the test tag.

Must be all digits. You are trying to enter non-numeric

characters in a UPC, I 2 of 5, EAN, or MSI bar code field. You can only enter numeric data for these fields. Check your data to be sure it is correct, then enter the data again.

Must be an even # of characters.

You are trying to enter an odd number of characters for an I 2 of 5 bar code field. Check your bar code data to be sure it is correct, then enter the data again.

No fields defined. You are trying to print a test tag, but you have

no fields defined. You must define at least one field before you can test a format.

Price CD verify failed.

You entered incorrect data in a UPC or EAN bar code field. Check your data to be sure it is correct, then enter the data again.

Typing mismatch. You are trying to enter data for a Verify field

(you must enter the same data twice), but your entries do not match. Check your data to be sure it is correct, then enter the data again.

6-10 Error Messages

Format Entry Errors

Message Description/Action

CD scheme not defined.

Cannot save format.

Format in use. Cannot delete.

Format in use. Cannot modify.

I 2 of 5 requires even # of digits

Improper field length.

You selected a check digit scheme number in Format Entry that is not defined. Define the check digit scheme in Printer Configuration.

You have not completed any field definitions for this format.

You are trying to delete a format used by a batch that is printing or waiting to print. Be sure you are trying to delete the right format. Wait until the batch that uses the format has printed, then delete the format.

You are trying to modify a format used by a batch that is printing or waiting to print. Be sure you are trying to modify the right format. Wait until the batch that uses the format has printed, then modify the format.

You are trying to define the field length for an I 2 of 5 barcode as an odd number. Define the field length as an even number of characters.

You are trying to define a field length as greater than 30 characters or as 0 characters. All fields must be 1-30 characters (except merge fields, which may not exceed 26 characters). Re-define the field length correctly.

Incompatible field for merge.

You tried to use a line field or a graphic field in a merged field. You cannot use these field types as part of a merged field.

Error Messages 6-11

Message Description/Action

Incompatible field for sub.

Invalid barcode height.

Invalid field reference.

Invalid magnification value.

Invalid supply length

Invalid supply width.

Invalid thickness value.

You tried to use a line field or a graphic field in a subfield. You cannot use these field types as part of a subfield.

You tried to define a bar code height as less than 0.20 inch. Bar codes must be at least

0.20 inch (5.08 mm or 38 dots) in height.

You are trying to define a subfield or a merged field. You have chosen a link with a field number greater than the subfield or merged field. Choose a link with a field number less than the merged field.

You entered a font magnification value that is outside the valid range of 1-10.

The specified supply length is longer or shorter than the printer can print.

The specified supply width is wider or narrower than the printer can print.

You are defining a line field. You entered a value for the line width that is outside the valid range of 1-15.

Merge field limit is 26 chars.

Scheme # uses # marked chars.

6-12 Error Messages

You are trying to define a merged field with a field length of more than 26 characters.

You are defining a check digit field and you have selected a check digit scheme (#). The number of characters you marked is wrong for the scheme you chose. Be sure you have selected the right check digit scheme, then mark the characters again.

Message Description/Action

Scheme # uses # CD(s).

Stop location out of range.

Sub/merge requires this field.

Vertical/Horizontal out of range.

You are defining a line field, and have given a stop location that is off the tag. Check your format and enter the correct stop location.

You are trying to delete a field that is part of a subfield or a merged field. Be sure you are trying to delete the right field. Remove the field you want to delete from the subfield or merged field. Then try to delete the field again.

You entered a field location in Format Entry that is outside the dimensions of the format. Check the location of the field you are defining to be sure it fits on the tag, then enter the location again.

Online Messages

The following messages occur during online communication when the transmitted data contains errors. To recover from the error, correct the data, then re-transmit it.

Online Warnings

Message Description/Action

Column > format width.

The column definition for a field location is greater than the format width definition.

Error Messages 6-13

Message Description/Action

Column > head width.

Data string

The column definition for a field location is greater than the width of the printhead.

The data string length exceeds 30 characters.

too long.

Format for batch not found.

The format for the batch being sent has not been downloaded.

Graphic not found. The graphic specified for a field has not been

downloaded.

Identifier out-of-range.

Invalid barcode field.

The format, batch, line, or graphic identifiers are out of range.

Insufficient or incorrect data was used to create a barcode field.

Invalid command. An unknown command was received.

Invalid cut value. The cut value is not 0 or 1.

Invalid data field. A field specified to receive data does not

exist on the format. The batch is not created.

Invalid incr/decr value.

The increment/decrement value is outside the valid range of 0-999.

Invalid label length. The specified supply length is longer or

shorter than the printer can print.

Invalid label width The specified supply width is wider or

narrower than the printer can print.

Invalid number of parts value.

The number of parts value is outside the valid range of 1-5.

6-14 Error Messages

Message Description/Action

Invalid orientation value.

Invalid separator value.

The line or character orientation value is not 0 or 1.

The batch separator value is outside the valid range of 0-3.

Invalid text field. Insufficient or incorrect data was used to

create a text field.

Invalid thickness value.

Name descriptor too long.

No field to create

The line thickness value is outside the valid range of 1-15.

The format or batch name is longer than 8 characters.

The format you are sending contains no fields.

format.

Qnty/Mult out-of-range.

Row > format length.

Row > stock length.

The print quantity or print multiple is outside the valid range of 1-4 digits.

The row definition for a field location is greater than the format length.

The row definition for a field location is greater than the supply length.

Stop location out-of-range.

The stop location for a line field is off the tag or the stop location is the same as the start location.

Error Messages 6-15

Online Communication Errors

These errors are caused by communication problems between the host computer and the printer during online operation.

Message Description/Action

All comm

Software Error. Call Monarch Service.

channels busy.

Invalid comm

Software Error. Call Monarch Service.

channel.

Invalid file type. Software Error. Call Monarch Service.

Receive buffer full. The host did not stop transmission after it

received an XOFF character or after DTR went inactive. Check communication setup at the host.

Receive framing error.

Host communication protocol doesn’t match machine. Check communication setup at the host.

Receive overrun error.

Host communication protocol doesn’t match machine. Check communication setup at the host.

Receive parity error.

Host communication protocol doesn’t match machine. Check communication setup at the host.

Waiting for command terminator. Press F1 to abort download.

6-16 Error Messages

No data is being received from the host.

Check to see if the host or the communications line is down. Press 1 to discontinue communications (the batch or format data will be lost and must be retransmitted).

SAMPLE DATA STREAMS

This appendix contains sample data streams for formats, batches, and graphics. The illustrations show the tags that are printed from these data streams.

Sample Data Streams A-1

Formats, Text and Bar Code Fields

This example shows a standard format with three text and one bar code field.

Sample Format Data Stream

{F1,0550,0507;ONLINE p T00,I,000,0475,0050,1,1,0,0,B p T01,I,000,0406,0050,1,1,0,0,B p T02,I,000,0017,0253,1,1,0,0,B p B00,I,000,0124,0093,1,1,0,0177,1 p }

Sample Batch Data Stream

{B1,2,3,1,1,0,c;BATCH1 p T00;TEST FORMAT 1 p T01;S/N 97464B p T02;$12.34 p B00;0012345678905 p }

A-2 Sample Data Streams

Line Fields

This example shows how to use line fields to create a box.

Sample Format Data Stream

{F2,0550,0507;BOX p L0,50,50,0,304,10 p L1,50,50,1,304,10 p L2,50,304,0,304,10 p L4,304,50,1,316,10 p }

Sample Batch Data Stream

{B2,1,0,1,1,1,C;BOXTEST p }

Sample Data Streams A-3

Graphic Images

This Graphic data stream precedes the format that uses it.

Sample Graphic Data Stream

{G3,0,0,0,0 p ;dHsHd p ;dHsHd p ;dHsHd p ;eGsGe p ;eHqHe p ;fGqGf p ;fHoHf p ;fHoHf p ;gGoGg p ;gHmHg p ;hGMGh p ;hGMGh p ;hGMGh p ;iFMFi p ;iFMFi p ;jEMEj p ;jEMEj p ;jEMEj p ;kHgHk p ;kHgHk p ;lGgGl p ;lHeHl p ;lHeHl p ;mGeGm p ;mGeGm p ;nGcGn p ;nGcGn p ;nGcGn p ;oFcFo p ;oGaGo p ;pFaFp p ;pFAFp p ;qEAEq p ;qEAEq p ;qEAEq p ;rDADr p ;rDADr p ;sCACs p ;sCACs p ;sCACs p ;tBABt p

A-4 Sample Data Streams

Sample Format Data Stream

{F3,0550,0507;GRAPHIC p T0,I,0,400,100,1,1,0,0,B p G3,200,200 p }

Sample Batch Data Stream

{B3,1,1,1,1,0,1;LETTER-A p T0;LETTER A GRAPHIC p }

Sample Data Streams A-5

Compressed Graphic Data

This example shows the same graphic data stream in compressed format.

Sample Compressed Graphic Data Stream

{G3,0,0,0,0 p ;3dHsHd p ;eGsGe p ;eHqHe p ;fGqGf p ;2fHoHf p ;gGoGg p ;gHmHg p ;3hGMGh p ;2iFMFi p ;3jEMEj p ;2kHgHk p ;lGgGl p ;2lHeHl p ;2mGeGm p ;3nGcGn p ;oFcFo p ;oGaGo p ;pFaFp p ;pFAFp p ;3qEAEq p ;2rDADr p ;3sCACs p ;2tBABt p ;3uCu p ;vAv p }

Sample Format Data Stream

{F3,0550,0 507; GRA PHIC p T0,I,0,400,1 00,1 ,1,0 ,0,B p G3,200,200 p }

Sample Batch Data Stream

{B3,1,1,1,1,0,1;LETTER-A p T0;LETTER A GRAPHIC p }

A-6 Sample Data Streams

CODE 128 INFORMATION

The 128 bar code is divided into 3 character sets (Code A, Code B, and Code C). Depending on the character set used, the same bar pattern can be one of three characters. Table 1, at the end of this appendix, lists the characters in each character set.

Code A contains upper case letters (A-Z), special

characters, and control characters. Code A does not have lower case letters.

Code B contains upper and lower case alphanumeric

characters and special characters. Code B does not have control characters.

Code C character set contains pairs of numbers. In

code C, each bar pattern represents a pair of numbers, ranging from 00 to 99.

When the data contains at least four numbers in a row, 128 switches to code C, then prints one bar pattern for each pair of numbers. This doubles the numeric data per inch.

Therefore, it may be better to pad numeric data with a zero if it has an odd number of characters. The bar codes below show the difference between an odd number of numeric characters and an even number of numeric characters. Do this only if your system can ignore leading zeros.

Bar Code 1 Data = 1234567

Bar Code 2 Data = 01234567

Code 128 Information B-1

Bar Code 2 is not as wide as Bar Code 1 because all of its characters are printed with bar symbols from code C.

Only 6 of Bar Code 1’s characters are printed in code C. The other character has to be printed in code B. Whenever 128 switches from one character set to another, it adds bar patterns that tell a scanner to switch character sets. These extra bar patterns cause wider bar codes.

Bar Code Width

The width of a Code 128 bar code is determined this way:

If there are four or more numbers in a row, an even number of them print in code C.

If there are four or more numbers in a row with an odd quantity (e.g., 7 numbers in a row), one of them prints in code B.

All other alphanumeric characters are printed in code B.

The printer determines which character set to use based on the data. No external control of character set selection is required.

For a given quantity of data, the widest bar code will be the one that switches character set most often. Suppose your data has 14 characters (8 numeric + 6 alphabetic).

The bar code for data arranged like this:

Bar code 1 Data = 1234ABC5678DEF

is wider than data arranged like this:

Bar code 2 Data = 12345678ABCDEF

B-2 Code 128 Information

Here’s why bar code 1 is wider:

The 8 numbers in each example appear in groups of four or more, and they appear in even-numbered quantities, therefore, all 8 numbers will use code C.

The 6 alphabetic characters will use code B.

Look at the example again. This time, data is underlined when the character set changes.

The bar code for data arranged like this:

Bar code 1 Data = 1234

ABC5678DEF

is wider than data arranged like this:

Bar code 2 Data = 12345678

ABCDEF

This shows that bar code width varies depending on how data is arranged. Separating numeric and alphabetic characters reduces the number of character set changes. Fewer character set changes reduce bar code width.

Code 128 Information B-3

The table below shows the characters per inch for Code 128. The table shows the values for numeric data, and for alphanumeric data at each of the three densities available on the printer. The characters per inch for your bar code will be somewhere between these two values, depending on the mixture of numeric and alphabetic characters. For a precise calculation of the width of your bar code, refer to the specification for the Code 128 bar code.

Density Numeric Data Alpha-numeric Data

1 17.48 8.74 2 11.66 5.83 3 8.74 4.37

Quiet Zone

When you estimate the area you’ll need for the bar code, remember to add the length of the quiet zone. The quiet zone is an area of white space required at the beginning and end of each bar code. The minimum size of the quiet zone is 0.10, or 10 times the width of the narrowest bar code element, whichever is greater. The tables below show the minimum size of the quiet zone at each density. For wand scanning, the quiet zone should be 0.25 to 0.35 inch.

Density Quiet Zone

10.10 inch

20.15 inch

30.20 inch

B-4 Code 128 Information

Function Codes

Code 128 has four function codes (f1-f4). These special characters can be entered as:

fixed characters when defining a code 128 field (Format Entry)

data when printing a batch (Data Entry).

Enter the special 128 function codes as follows:

to select this

Press these keys function code

F2 then 1 f1 F2 then 2 f2 F2 then 3 f3 F2 then 4 f4

The function code is displayed as F

, F2, F3, or F4.

Code 128 Information B-5

128 Bar Code Character Sets

Any of the following characters can be used in online communication with the printer by sending the character’s standard decimal value. To enter specific characters from the keyboard, refer to "Using the Keyboard" in Chapter 4 of the Operator’s Handbook.

Values listed on the chart are for reference only; they are not decimal values.

ValueABCBSBSBS

0 S SP 00 212222 1 ! ! 01 222122 2 " " 02 222221 3 # # 03 121223 4 $ $ 04 121322 5 % % 05 131222 6 & & 06 122213 7 ’ ’ 07 122312 8 ( ( 08 132212 9 ) ) 09 221213 10 * * 10 221312 11 + + 11 231213 12 , , 12 112232 13 - - 13 122132 14 . . 14 122231 15 / / 15 113222 16 0 0 16 123122 17 1 1 17 123221 18 2 2 18 223211 19 3 3 19 221132 20 4 4 20 221231 21 5 5 21 213212 22 6 6 22 223112

Code Code Code Bar Pattern

B-6 Code 128 Information

Code Code Code Bar Pattern

ValueABCBSBSBS

23 7 7 23 312131 24 8 8 24 311222 25 9 9 25 321122 26 : : 26 321221 27 ; ; 27 312212 28 28 322112 29 = = 29 322211 30 30 212123 31 ? ? 31 212321 32 @ @ 32 232121 33 A A 33 111323 34 B B 34 131123 35 C C 35 131321 36 D D 36 112313 37 E E 37 132113 38 F F 38 132311 39 G G 39 211313 40 H H 40 231113 41 I I 41 231311 42 J J 42 112133 43 K K 43 112331 44 L L 44 132131 45 M M 45 113123 46 N N 46 113321 47 O O 47 133121 48 P P 48 313121 49 Q Q 49 211331 50 R R 50 231131 51 S S 51 213113 52 T T 52 213311 53 U U 53 213131 54 V V 54 311123 55 W W 55 311321 56 X X 56 331121 57 Y Y 57 312113 58 Z Z 58 312311 59 [ [ 59 332111 60 \ \ 60 314111 61 ] ] 61 221411 62 ^ ^ 62 431111 63 _ _ 63 111224 64 NUL ’ 64 11142 65 SOH a 65 121124 66 STX b 66 121421

Code 128 Information B-7

Code Code Code Bar Pattern

ValueABCBSBSBS

67 ETX c 67 141122 68 EOT d 68 141221 69 ENQ e 69 112214 70 ACK f 70 112412 71 BEL g 71 122114 72 BS h 72 122411 73 HT i 73 142112 74 LF j 74 142211 75 VT k 75 241211 76 FF l 76 221114 77 CR m 77 413111 78 SO n 78 241112 79 SI o 79 134111 80 DLE p 80 111242 81 DC1 q 81 121142 82 DC2 r 82 121241 83 DC3 s 83 114212 84 DC4 t 84 124112 85 NAK u 85 124211 86 SYN v 86 411212 87 ETB w 87 421112 88 CAN x 88 421211 89 EM y 89 212141 90 SUB z 90 214121 91 ESC { 91 412121 92 FS | 92 111143 93 GS } 93 111341 94 RS ~ 94 131141 95 US DEL 95 114113 96 FNC3 FNC3 96 114311 97 FNC2 FNC2 97 111113 98 SHIFT SHIFT 98 411311 99 CODE CCODE C99 113141 100 CODE BFNC4 CODE B 114131 101 FNC 4 CODE ACODE A 311141 102 FNC1 FNC1 FNC1 411131

STOP 2331112

BSBSBSB

B-8 Code 128 Information

Index

ASCII codes 5-6 - 5-7

bar code

densities 5-3 - 5-4 extensions 3-15 human readable characters 3-14 restrictions 3-5, 3-15 supported codes 5-3

bar code field record 3-12 - 3-13

example 3-14 bar code field syntax 3-14 bar code record syntax 3-12 - 3-13 batch

multiple batch per format 3-22

print data 3-21

sending data 3-6

using previously defined data 3-22 batch data 1-2, 3-19 batch data syntax 3-21 batch header record 3-19 - 3-20

example 3-21 batch header syntax 3-19 - 3-21 batch separator syntax 3-24 batch separators 3-24 baud rate 2-1 boxes, creating with lines 3-18 buffer, input 2-1

function codes 3-15

restrictions 3-15 code 128, function codes 5-6 - 5-7 coding chart, graphics 4-3 command characters3-4 commands 3-4 communication requirements 2-1 communication values, setting 2-3 - 2-4 Configuration Options menu 2-3 - 2-4 consecutive batches 3-22 creating data streams 3-1 - 3-2

data bits 2-1 data errors 3-3 data flow control 2-2 data stream

programming conventions3-4 data streams

creating 3-1

transmitting 3-1 - 3-2 data types 1-2 default settings 2-1 density, bar code 5-3 - 5-4 dot patterns 4-1 - 4-5 DTR 2-2

entering print data 3-21 error

messages 6-1 extended bar codes 3-15

cable interface 2-5 character codes 5-6 - 5-7 characters,flow control 2-2 code 128

flow control 2-1 - 2-2 font sizes 5-1 - 5-3

Index-1

Font, printable characters 5-8 form at

ID numbers 3-5

using graphics 4-6 form at data 1-2 format header record3-8 form at syntax 3-8 function codes 5-6 - 5-7 function codes, code 128 3-15

graphic data record

example 4-5, 4-7

syntax checklist 4-7 graphic data syntax 4-5, 4-7 graphics

clearing the image buffer 4-8

coding chart 4-3

compressing the data stream 4-8

creating the image 4-1 - 4-3

data stream 4-3

order of transmission 4-1

placing in a format 4-6

steps to printing 4-1

syntax 4-4 - 4-6

Host port configuration 2-3 - 2-4 human readable characters,bar codes 3-14

line field record 3-16 - 3-18

example 3-18 line field syntax 3-18 line record syntax 3-16 - 3-18 line width

9420/9440 5-5

9425 5-5

9445 5-5

9474 5-5 lines

creating boxes 3-18

examples 3-18

messages

diagnostic 6-2

error 6-1

startup 6-2 monetary symbols 3-4 multiple batches per format 3-22

offline form ats 1-2 Online

Host port configuration 2-3 - 2-4 online bar codes

special restrictions 3-14 online formats 1-2 order of transmission 3-5 overlapping fields 3-5

input buffer 2-1 input characteristics 2-1 international pricing symbols 3-4 introduction 1-1

line

thickness 5-5

Index-2

parity 2-1 pricing symbols 3-4 Printable characters, font 5-8 programming conventions 3-4

restrictions

bar codes 3-5, 3-15

RS-232 interface 2-5

using graphics 4-1, 4-3 - 4-6, 4-8 using previously defined data3-22

sending batch data 3-6 sending data

order 3-5 setting communication values 2-3 - 2-4 special characters 5-6 - 5-7 special restrictions

online bar codes 3-14 stop bits 2-1 symbols 5-6 - 5-7 syntax

bar code field 3-12 - 3-14

batch data 3-21

batch header 3-19 - 3-21

batch separator 3-24

format 3-8

format header 3-9

graphic data 4-5, 4-7

graphics 4-4 - 4-6, 4-8

line field 3-16 - 3-18

text field 3-9 - 3-11

text field record 3-9 - 3-11

example 3-11 text field syntax 3-11 text fonts

character width 5-2

parallel character widths 5-3

sizes 5-1 text record syntax 3-9 - 3-11 transmission errors 3-3 transmitting data streams 3-1 - 3-2 types of data 1-2

Xon/Xoff 2-2

Index-3

Index-4

Monarch 9474, Monarch9474 Programmer's Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual