NEC SuperScript 950C User Guide

SUPERSCRIPT 950C

USER’S GUIDE

August, 1999

Revision 1.0

819-300014-009

Proprietary Notice and Liability Disclaimer

The information disclosed in this document, including all designs and related materials, is the valuable property of NEC Technologies and/or its licensors, as appropriate, reserve all patent, copyright and other proprietary rights to this document, including all design, manufacturing, reproduction, use and sales rights thereto, except to the extent said rights are expressly granted to others.

The NEC Technologies product(s) discussed in this document are warranted in accordance with the terms of the Limited Warranty Statement accompanying each product. However, actual performance of each such product is dependent upon factors such as system conﬁguration, customer data and operator control. Since implementation by customers of each product may vary, the suitability of speciﬁc product conﬁgurations and applications must be determined by the customer and is not warranted by NEC Technologies.

To allow for design and speciﬁcation improvements, the information in this document is subject to change at any time without notice. Reproduction of this document or portions thereof without prior approval of NEC Technologies is prohibited.

Microsoft, Windows, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows for Workgroups, and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

All other product, service, brand, or trade names used in this publication are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or organizations. NEC disclaims any responsibility for specifying which marks are owned by which companies or organizations.

ii SuperScript 950C — User’s Guide

CONTENTS

Chapter 1: Setting Up the Printer

Introduction 1

Identifying Printer Parts 2

Printer Setup 3

Printer Operator Panel 11

Chapter 2: Printer Software

Installing the Software 15

Using Windows Plug-and-Play 15 Using the NEC Meta Installer 16

NEC SuperScript 950C Folder 16

The Printer Driver 17

Driver Properties Window 17 General Tab 18 Details Tab 18 Color Management Tab 20 Sharing Tab 20 Settings Tab 21

The Printer Monitor 25

Running the Printer Monitor 25 The Printer Monitor Window 26 Printer Monitor Messages 29

Chapter 3: Print Cartridge Care and Use

Overview 33

Print Cartridge Alignment 35

Cleaning the Print Cartridges 36

Cleaning the Electrical Contacts 36 Cleaning the Nozzles Manually 36

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting

Overview 39

Printer Hardware 39 Paper 42 Print Cartridges 44 Printing 47

Appendix A: Media Specifications

Overview 51

Appendix B: Printer Specifications

Overview 59

Appendix C: MS-DOS and Windows 3.1x

Overview 61

Windows 3.1x Computers 61

Driver Installation 61

iii

NEC SuperScript 950C Program Group 61 Print Cartridge Alignment 62 Viewing the Driver Properties 62 Printer Sharing 63

MS-DOS Computers 65

Installing dosetup.exe 65 Print Cartridge Alignment 65 How to Print 65 How to Configure an MS-DOS Driver 65

Appendix D: Ordering Supplies

Overview 67

Appendix E: Technical Support

Overview 69

Assistance Nearby 69

Help From Within Your Company 69 Help From Your Dealer 69

NEC Technical Support 69

How to Contact NEC 70

NEC Warranty and Service 71

NEC Service Contracts 71

SuperScript 950C Printer Limited Warranty 72

Warranty Period 72 Warranty Coverage 72 Warranty Support 72 Obtaining Warranty Service 73

Limitation of Damages and Implied Warranties 73

FCC Statement 74

(For United States Use Only) 74 (For Canadian Use Only) 75 Declaration of Conformity 75

INDEX

iv SuperScript 950C— User’s Guide

CHAPTER 1

ETTING

NTRODUCTION

Congratulations on your purchase of the NEC SuperScript 950C inkjet printer. This unique dual position printer allows you to personalize the organization of your work environment by offering you two differ ent ways of setting up your printer.

Remove the printer from the box and place it on a stable level surface. Make sure all items shown are included in the box. If an item is missing or damaged, call NEC Technologies immediately at 978-742-7010. The contents should include:

1. SuperScript

2. Electrical Power Cord

3. Print Cartridges (Black & Color)

4. Main Paper Tray

5. Input/Output Paper Tray

6. 2 CD ROMs

7. User’s Guide

8. Service Xpress Registration Card

9. Product Name Label

10. Quick Installation Guide

THE

950C Printer

Brochure with Warranty

RINTER

Save the Quick Installation Guide, User’s Guide and Software CDs for future reference. Save all packing materials including the shipping carton.



Not Included....

To connect your printer, you need to provide an IEEE 1284 Bidirectional parallel cable.

ETTING

P THE

RINTER

DENTIFYING

Input/Output Paper Tray

Print Cartridge Carriage

Print Cartridge Release Lever

The Superscript 950C can operate in Primary Proﬁle (vertical proﬁle) or Optional Proﬁle (horizontal proﬁle) allowing you to set up the printer to utilize either its small, vertical foot print or its low, horizontal proﬁle, depending on your desktop layout.

RINTER

Main Paper Tray

Paper Width Guides

ARTS

Paper Length Guide

Release Button

Primary Profile (V)

Printer Cover

Operator Panel

Print Cartridge Rest Position

Manual Feed Slot

Optional Profile (H)

2 SuperScript 950C— User’s Guide

RINTER

1. Remove the shipping tape from the printer.

2. Insert the Main Paper Tray into the Rear Slot as shown.

ETUP

3. Slide and snap the Input/Output Paper Tray into the adjustable arm slots located above the paper width guides of the Main Paper Tray.

4. Flip the printer to its Optional Proﬁle (H).

ETTING

P THE

RINTER

5. Rotate the printer so that the back of the printer faces you. Connect the bi-directional parallel printer cable to the parallel port on the rear of the printer. Connect the other end to your computer, and tighten screws down.

6. Plug the power cord into the two-pin socket at the back of the printer. Plug the other end into a power outlet.

7. Flip the printer back to Primary Proﬁle (V), press the Power button on. Open the Printer Cover. The Print Cartridge Carriage will move to the “carriage loading position” and the indicator light will start ﬂashing.

Power

Paper

Indicator Light

8. Remove the Black Print Cartridge from its package and hold it as shown. Remove the protective tape by lifting the label from the bottom. DO NOT touch either the printing nozzles on the bottom or the golden colored electrical contact areas.

9. A label in the Print Cartridge Seat and Print Cartridge identiﬁes the cartridge color . A single indicates a black print cartridge.

10. Seat the Black Print Cartridge by pushing it towards the green release lever until it clicks in place. Repeat steps 8-10 for the Color Print Cartridge in the second print cartridge seat.

ETTING

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11. After inserting both print cartridges, close the Printer Cover.

12. Press and hold the Power button (1), and then press the Paper button (2). Release both buttons simultaneously to initialize the print cartridges. Initialization takes about 3 -5 minutes and is indicated by the ﬂashing light on the Operator Panel.

13. Hinge the Input/Output Paper Tray up to its angled position.

14. Open the Paper Length and the Paper Width Guides on the Main Paper Tray.

Note:

Intermediate guide on the Main Paper Tray.

15. Fan paper and center into the Main Paper Tray adjusting guides to ﬁt snugly. ONLY load paper up to the tip of the arrow shown on the inside of the Paper Width Guides.

If you want to print smaller sheets open the

16. Hinge the Input/Output Paper Tray back and make sure its Paper Width and Paper Length Guides are open.

Note:

software as described in Chapter 2.

17. Select an Operating proﬁle. Y ou can keep the printer in Primary Pr oﬁle (V), or you

can set the printer in Optional Proﬁle (H). Make sure you get a good connection of the parallel cable especially if the Primary proﬁle (V) is used. If you select the Optional Proﬁle (H) option, you must add the Product Name Label. Remove label from its backing and adhere it on top of current label in recessed cavity as shown on the next page.

Perform Step 17 after installing the printer

ETTING

P THE

RINTER

18. Next select Optional Proﬁle (H) on Options Tab of Printer Monitor shown below. To access the Printer Monitor see “Running the Printer Monitor” on page

25.

Printer Monitor Window

NEC

Primary Profile (V)

Optional Profile (H)

Loading the Input/Output Paper Tray

Use the Input/Output Paper Tray for short print jobs that require different paper than what is loaded in the Main Paper Tray; for example, glossy paper or 0envelopes.

When the Input/Output Paper Tray becomes empty, the printer will then use paper from the Main Paper Tray. Up to 10 sheets can be loaded into the Input/Output Paper Tray.

1. Open the Paper Length and the Paper Width Guides on the Input/Output Paper Tray.

Primary Profile (V)

2. Thoroughly fan the paper before loading into the Input/Output Paper Tray.

Optional Profile (H)

3. Close the Paper Width Guides against the sides of the paper.

4. Close the Paper Length Guide against the edge of the paper.

5. Make sure that the paper is neither too constrained nor too loose.

ETTING

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RINTER

Loading the Manual Feeder

Use these directions to load a single sheet of paper in the Manual feeder:

1. Make sure that Manual Feeding is selected on the Settings tab of the SuperScript 950C driver.

2. Insert the sheet in the manual insertion slot in the lower front part of the printer when asked.

3. Align the sheet (to the right guide of the insertion slot when the printer is in Primary Proﬁle and align the sheet to the left guide of the insertion slot if the printer is kept in Optional Proﬁle) and push it all the way in until you hear the printer beep.

Primary Profile (V) Optional Profile (H)

4. Make sure the sheet is aligned between the side guides and against the drive rollers.

Drive Rollers

5. Click on the

button for the paper insertion message

to start the print job.

10 SuperScript 950C— User’s Guide

RINTER

The buttons and indicator light on the Operator Panel will display the printer’s status.

PERATOR

In Primary Profile (V)

Power

In Optional Profile (H)

Paper

ANEL

Paper

Power

The primary functions of the buttons and light are shown

ETTING

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in the tables below.

Table 1-1: Buttons (basic functions)

Function Button Function

Printer on/off Power Switches the printer

ON/OFF condition.

Paper control Paper 1. If paper is already

present in the paper trays, press to eject.

2. Loads a sheet of paper in the printer ONLY after a “paper error” signal condition (paper out, paper jam, etc.) has been corrected. Press to load document and continue your print job.

12 SuperScript 950C— User’s Guide

Table 1-2: Indicator Light

Status Condition

Off Printer is off On Printer is on and in ready mode Flashing Slowly

(1 ﬂash per second)

Flashing Moderately (2 ﬂashes per second)

Flashing Quickly (3 ﬂashes per second)

Flashing Fast (5 ﬂashes per second)

• Printing

• Printing is paused

• Aligning print cartridges

• Print cartridge initialization

• Cartridge changing position

• Black or color cartridge not installed

• Out of paper

• Paper jam

• Printer failure

ETTING

P THE

RINTER

14 SuperScript 950C— User’s Guide

CHAPTER 2

RINTER

NSTALLING

Note: If installing the printer software for the ﬁrst

time, assure that the printer and computer are both turned off before performing the following procedures!

The printer software can be installed using the Windows Plug-and-Play feature or by using the NEC Meta Installer.

The Meta Installer is software, located on the SuperScript 950C Printing Solutions CD, that installs all the printer software without having to use the Windows Plug-and- Play feature.

Note:

method to install the printer software.

OFTWARE

THE SOFTWARE

NEC recommends using the Meta Installer

Using Windows Plug-and-Play

Windows Plug-and-Play is a featur e of W indows 95 and 98 that automatically recognizes when new hardware is connected to the computer. If the printer is connected to the computer with an IEEE 1284-compliant parallel cable, Windows will be aware of it and begin asking you for information so it can install the printer software. This procedure will only install the printer driver.

Note:

then canceled out of the Windows Plug-and-Play installation, use the NEC Meta Installer method.

To install a printer driver using Windows Plug-and-Play:

1. Turn on the printer.

2. Turn on your computer and while it starts, it will become aware of the new printer connected to it.

3. Follow the instructions displayed on your monitor.

4. If asked to locate any ﬁles, just navigate to the root directory of the SuperScript 950C Printing Solutions CD.

5. After the installation is completed, align the print cartridges as described in Chapter 3, “Print Cartridge Care and Use.”

If you started your system at an earlier time,

RINTER

OFTWARE

Using the NEC Meta Installer

The NEC Meta Installer is a program that installs all the printer software without having to use Windows Plug-andPlay. During the install, you can choose which software you want to install.

To install the printer software using the NEC Meta Installer:

1. Turn on your computer and wait until the desktop appears.

2. Turn on the printer.

3. Insert the SuperScript 950C Printing Solutions CD into your computer.

Note:

CD Installer appears on the monitor shortly after the disk is inserted, go to Step 6, if not, go to Step 4.

4. From the desktop, double-click My Computer to open the My Computer window.

5. Double-click the NEC SS950C icon to start the installer. As an alternative, right mouse button click on NEC

SS950C then select Open or Autoplay to start the installer. If neither one of these methods work, doubleclick Setup.exe which is located on the CD.

6. Follow the instructions that appear on your monitor to complete the installation.

7. After the installation is completed, align the print cartridges as described in Chapter 3, “Print Cartridge Care and Use.”

If the NEC SuperScript 950C Printing Solutions

NEC S

During printer diver installation a NEC SuperScript 950C folder was created. All the printer software, except for the printer driver , is located in this folder. It contains ﬁve printer software programs.

• SS950C Printer Monitor

Use this program for viewing the progress of a print job and for monitoring printer status.

• “How do I” for SS950C

This ﬁle, is an easy-to-use help system for the printer and printer driver.

• Troubleshooting for SS950C

This ﬁle contains a list of solutions to common problems that may be encountered with the printer and its printer driver .

• SS950C Uninstall

Use this program to remove the SuperScript 950C software from your computer.

• Readme ﬁle

Use this ﬁle for learning about late breaking information about the printer software that was not printed in this user’s guide.

To view the contents of the NEC SuperScript 950C folder:

• Click the Windows Start button, point to Programs , then select NEC SuperScript 950C .

UPERSCRIPT

950C F

OLDER

16 SuperScript 950C— User’s Guide

THE P

The printer driver is software that is installed on your computer that enables an application to communicate with the printer. Open the properties window for the driver whenever you want to adjust the properties of the driver, for example, the page size and orientation.

The properties window can be opened from the Printers window or from inside an application.

To open the Properties window from the Printers window:

1. Click the Windows Start button.

2. Point to Settings , then select Printers to open the

3. Select NEC SuperScript 950C .

4. From the File menu, select Properties to open the

To open the Properties window from an application:

1. From inside an application, open a ﬁle.

2. From the File menu, select Print to open the Print

3. Click Properties to open the Properties window.

RINTER DRIVER

Printers window.

Properties window.

dialog box.

Driver Properties Window

PRINTER SOFTWARE

The driver properties window divides all the properties into four tabs.

• General

• Details

• Sharing

• Settings A ﬁfth tab, named Color Management, only appears on

computers running Windows 98. The remainder of this section brieﬂy describes each tab in

the properties window. For more information about each property, click the Help button.

General Tab

Use this tab for printing test pages, providing a description (comment) for the printer, and for printing separator pages between print jobs.

Details Tab

Use this tab for changing a printer port or printer driver and for adjusting the spool settings. Spool settings are described on the following page.

Spool Settings

The Spool Settings dialog box can be opened from the Details tab by clicking on the Spool Settings button. Print jobs that are spooled can be printed faster. Selecting bidirectional support allows the printer to communicate with the NEC SuperScript 950C Printer Manager.

BOUT SPOOLED PRINT JOBS

When an application, such as a word processor or spreadsheet, creates a print job, a journal ﬁle is created in the default spool directory. By default, the spool ﬁle format is NEJOURNAL. It contains a complete description of your print job such as (type of document, type of paper , and print cartridge selection) in a form that can be processed easily. This journal ﬁle is similar to a tape recording in that it can be played, replayed and rewound in order to process your print job. It is in the NEC SuperScript 950C format.

Two Spool Data formats can be selected:

• EMF: This format is rarely used and lacks a lot of information such as (Color Print Cartridge and document type).

• RAW: This format is speciﬁcally used for printing to a remote printer.

In this case, any information related to driver settings (document type, Color Print Cartridge, and paper type) is not taken into consideration. No message will appear on your screen and the color output may be wrong.

Note:

NEJOURNAL spool data format set by default.

RINTER SHARING AND SPOOLING

As a rule, you DO NOT have to modify the

When the printer is shared with network users (see page 20), the print job sent from the source PC is spooled in a NEJOURNAL ﬁle, then transformed by Windows to RAW format.

BI-

DIRECTIONAL COMMUNICATION

If you want the NEC SuperScript 950C Printer Monitor to display all status and error messages, click the Enable bi- directional support for this printer option. If you do not want to display all status and error messages, click the Disable bi-directional support for this printer radio button.

PRINTER SOFTWARE

Note: The two options NEJOURNAL and EMF will be

automatically grayed if you are connected to a remote printer. In this case, you will not be warned of errors.

Color Management Tab

Although this is tab only available to computers running Windows 98, it has no ef fect on the NEC SuperScript 950C.

Sharing Tab

If your computer is connected to a network, and the printer is connected to your computer , use the Sharing tab so that other Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0 computers can use the printer. To view this tab, the computer’s operating system must have sharing turned on.

To add the Sharing tab:

1. Click the Windows Start button, point to Settings , then select Control Panel to open the Control Panel window.

2. Double-click on Network to open the Network Control Panel.

3. Click the Conﬁguration tab to bring it to the front.

4. Click File and Print Sharing to open the File and Print Sharing dialog box.

5. Select the I want to be able to allow others to print to my printer(s) check box.

6. Click OK to return to the Network control panel.

7. Click OK to accept the changes.

8. Restart your computer.

Settings Tab

PRINTER SOFTWARE

Use the Settings tab for adjusting the printing mode, document output, print quality, paper handling, orientation, and number of copies to print.

Printing Mode

If Opti-Print is selected, the NEC SuperScript 950C analyses your document in order to apply the best settings for your print job.

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NEC SuperScript 950C User Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual