Paxar 9474 User 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.

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)

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

text fields.

Valu e s : 1 - 10

3-10 Message Structures

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).

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

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

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

3-12 Message Structures

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

data and a check digit (13 digits total).

3-14 Message Structures

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

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