Paxar TCMPCL2PR User Manual

MONARCH PRINTER

CONTROL LANGUAGE

II

Packet Reference Manual

TCMPCL2PR Rev. BA 06/00

©2001 Paxar Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

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 and 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.

1994 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 written permission of Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.

Trademarks

Monarch is a registered trademark of Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
Paxar is a trademark of Paxar Corporation.
1460, 6030, 9446, 9490, and 9494 are trademarks of Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.

Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
170 Monarch Lane
Miamisburg, Ohio 45342

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Overview of Printer Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

Creating an MPCLII Format Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

Daily Startup Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5

Chapter 2. Designing a Format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Starting with a Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Determining Format Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2

Determining the Print Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2

Drawing Rough Sketches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

Using Supply Layout Grids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4

Considering Field Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4

Considering Fonts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5

Format Worksheet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6

Filling in the Format Worksheet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Setting Communication Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Using Autobaud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2

Using MPCLII Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3

MPCLII Punctuation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3

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

Using Online Configuration Packets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5

Configuration Packet Header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5

Configuration Syntax Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6

Defining the System Setup Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Defining the Supply Setup Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8

Defining the Print Control Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9

Defining the Monetary Formatting Packet. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10

Defining the Control Characters Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11

Defining the Communication Settings Packet. . . . . . . . . . 3-13

Defining the Memory Configuration Packet. . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15

About Memory Buffers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18

Using Immediate Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22

Clearing Packets from Memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25

Using the Font Packet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26

Using Configuration Upload Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28

Defaults. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30

Resetting Control Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13

Checking Current Buffer Sizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17

Buffer Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20

Buffer Allocation Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21

Optional RAM Buffer Sizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22

Enabling Immediate Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22

Sending Immediate Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23

For the 9494 printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30

For the 9490 printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31

For the 9446 printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31

For the 1460 printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32

Chapter 4. Defining Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1

Defining the Format Header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1

Defining Text Fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2

Defining Bar Code Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7

Defining Non-Printable Text Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13

Defining Constant Text Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15

Defining Line Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18

Line Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-19

ii

Tabl e of Con ten ts

Defining Box Fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-21

Chapter 5. Defining Field Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Applying Field Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Combining Field Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Option 1 (Fixed Data) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3

Option 4 (Copy Data) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4

Merging Fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

Sub-Fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

Option 30 (Padding Data) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6

Sample Use for Padding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6

Option 31 (Calculate Check Digit) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7

Option 42 (Price Field) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8

Option 50 (Bar Code Density) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9

Option 51 (PDF417 Security/Truncation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10

Option 52 (PDF417 Width/Length) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11

Option 60 (Incrementing/Decrementing Fields) . . . . . . . . 5-12

Fixing the First Number in the

Incrementing Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12

Option 61 (Reimage Field) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13

Using Check Digits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14

Sum of Products Calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15

Sum of Digits Calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16

Chapter 6. Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

Defining the Batch Header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2

Defining the Batch Control Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4

Defining Batch Data Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5

Using Special Characters in Batch Data . . . . . . . . . 6-5

Merged or Sub-Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6

Incrementing Fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Downloading Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6

Modifying Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8

Creating DOS Batch Files for Downloading . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8

Chapter 7. Status Polling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1

Inquiry Request (ENQ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1

Job Request . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7

Chapter 8. Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

Printing a Test Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

Using Data Dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3

Troubleshooting Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4

Additional Diagnostics Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6

Sequential Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6

Batch Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7

Batch Quantity Zero Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7

Optional Entry Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8

Inquiry Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1

Job Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8

Job Status 0, 1, 2 Response Table

(Status 1 Codes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12

Using the 9494 or 9490 printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

Using a 9446 or 1460 printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2

If You Receive an Error Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4

If the PC and Printer Aren’t Communicating . . . . . . 8-5

Calling Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6

iv

Chapter 9. Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1

Data Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1

Communication Failures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12

Data Formatting Failures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-15

Machine Faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-17

Hard Printer Failures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22

Tabl e of Con ten ts

Chapter 10. Printer Optimization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1

Adjusting the Print Quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1

Reducing Imaging Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3

General Format Tips and Hints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5

Advanced Use of the Optional Entry Method . . . . . . . . . . 10-6

Standard Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7

Optimized Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7

Appendix A. Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Sample UPCA Format Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Sample MaxiCode Packets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2

Mode 0 (Obsolete) Sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3

Mode 2 Sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4

Mode 3 Sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5

Sample Compliance Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6

Sample Zero Batch Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9

Sample Fixed Character Format Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-11

Appendix B. Fonts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1

Standard Fonts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1

Monospaced Font Magnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-4

Proportional Font Magnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-6

CG Triumvirate Bold (9 pt.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-6

CG Triumvirate (6 pt.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-7

CG Triumvirate Bold (9 pt.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-8

CG Triumvirate (6 pt.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-8

Scalable Font Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-8

Additional Fonts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-10

Using Font Numbers in Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-10

Locating the Font Number in a Font Packet . . . . . . . . . . . B-10

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Appendix C. Symbol Sets/Code Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1

Supported Symbol Sets and Code Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1

Selecting a Symbol Set or Code Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2

Entering Extended Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2

Internal Symbol Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-3

ANSI Symbol Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-4

Bold Character Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-5

OCRA Character Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-6

Code Page 437. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-7

Code Page 850. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-8

ASCII to Hexadecimal Conversion Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-9

Appendix D. Format Design Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1

Online Configuration Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-2

Batch Worksheet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-3

Check Digit Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-4

Selecting the Internal Symbol Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2

Selecting the ANSI Symbol Set. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2

Selecting the 437 or 850 Code Page . . . . . . . . . . . C-2

vi

Appendix E. Addressing a 9490 Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-1

Addressing the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-1

Step 1. Define the Printer Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . E-1

Step 2. Select a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-3

Step 3. Select the Battery Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-3

Using Non-Addressed Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-4

Returning to Addressed Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-5

Switching Between Addressed Printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-5

Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-6

Chapter 1. Getting Started

This manual provides the necessary information to design,
write and print a Monarch® Printer Control Language II
(MPCLII) format. The following printers support this type of
format:

9494 (V. 1.0 or greater)

✦

9490 (V. 3.0 or greater)

✦

9446 (V. 5.2 or greater)

✦

1460 (V. 3.0 or greater)

✦

This chapter

describes the significant differences between the four

✦

printers.

creates a sample MPCLII packet.

✦

shows how to download a sample packet.

✦

gives a list of daily procedures for operators.

✦

Audience ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

You do not have to be a programmer to use this manual, but
you must be familiar with creating text files and executing
basic MS-DOS® commands.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Overview of Printer Differences ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

While all four of these printers are very similar, some
differences in operation and available options exist.

Feature 9494 9490 9446 1460

Maximum print
speed

Maximum print
area

Location of
Print Area

Supply Width 2.0 in. x 4.0 in. 2.0 in. x 4.0 in. 1.2 in. x 4.2 in. 1.2 in. x 4.2 in.

Supply Length 1.0 in. x 6.0 in. 1.0 in. x 6.0 in. .75 in. x 8.0 in. .75 in. x 8.0 in.

Power Up Mode Online/Offline Online Online/Offline Online

On demand
/Continuous

Supply Types Black Mark

Print a
Separator

Use High
Energy Ribbon

Scalable Font
Standard

Black to White
Print Ratio

2.0 IPS 2.0 IPS 10.0 IPS 7.0 IPS

4.0 in. x 6.0 in. 4.0 in. x 6.0 in. 4.0 in. x 8.0 in. 4.0 in. x 8.0 in.

Center Center Left Left

On demand

/Continuous

/Non-indexed

Ye s Yes Ye s No

No No Yes No

Ye s Yes N o No

30% 20% 30% 30%

On demand
/Continuous

Black Mark Black Mark

On demand
/Continuous
/Internal
Rewind

/Die Cut

On demand
only

Black Mark
/Die cut

1-2

Chapter 1. Getting Started

Before You Begin ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

1.

Connect the printer to the host. Refer to your printer’s
documentation for more information.

2.

Load supplies in the printer. Refer to your printer’s
documentation for more information.

3.

Turn on the printer.

4.

Set the communication parameters and configure the
printer. The communication parameters at the printer must
match those at the host. See Chapter 3, "Configuring the
Printer," for more information.

5.

Design your format. See "Starting with a Design" in
Chapter 2 for more information.

6.

Download your format to the printer. See Chapter 6,
"Printing," for more information.

Creating an MPCLII Format Packet –––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A format defines which fields appear and where the fields are
printed on the label. The printer requires this information in a
special form, using MPCLII. This section describes how to
create a sample MPCLII format packet.

Make sure supplies are loaded, the printer is connected to the
host and is ready to receive data. Refer your printer’s
documentation for more information.

For detailed information about the format header, text,
constant text, and bar code fields, see Chapter 4, "Defining
Fields." For information about batch packets, see Chapter 6,
"Printing."

1.

Type the following format header, in any text editor:

{F,25,A,R,M,508,508,"FMT-25" p

2.

Type the following constant text field:

C,250,80,0,1,1,1,W,C,0,0,"MONARCH MARKING:",0 p

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

3.

Type the following bar code field:

B,1,12,F,110,115,1,2,120,5,L,0 p

4.

Type the following text field:

T,2,18,V,30,30,1,1,1,1,B,C,0,0,0 p }

You have created a format packet for your MPCLII printer.
Now, a batch packet must be created before you can print the
format.

5.

Type the following batch header, after the text field line:

{B,25,N,1 p

6.

Type the following bar code data:

1,"12345678901" p

7.

Type the following text field data:

1-4

2,"DAYTON, OHIO" p }

8.

Save your file as SAMPLE.FMT.

9.

Type MODE COM1:9600,N,8,1 at the DOS prompt if you
are using serial communications. This sets the
communication parameters at your host. These
communication parameters must match those at your
printer. See "Setting Communication Parameters" in
Chapter 3 for more information.

Chapter 1. Getting Started

10.

Type COPY SAMPLE.FMT COM1. The following 2 inch by
2 inch label prints:

{
F,25,A,R,M,508,508,"Fmt 25" p
C,250,80,0,1,2,1,W,C,0,0,"MONARCH MARKING" p
B,1,12,F,110,115,1,2,120,5,L,0 p
T,2,18,V,30,30,1,1,1,1,B,C,0,0 p
}

Sample Batch Packet

{
B,25,N,1 p
1,"12345678901" p
2,"DAYTON, OHIO" p
}

Daily Startup Procedures ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

You may want to design a checklist for operators to follow
each day. Here are a few suggested items: Turn on the
printer and host, make sure ribbon and supplies are loaded,
make sure communication parameters are set, and download
packets from the host to the printer.

You may want to keep records of supplies that have been
printed. A good way to do this is to design a print log for
operators to complete at the end of the day. Here are some
suggestions for types of information to include in a print log:
date, operator’s name, format name, supply size, quantity
printed, evaluation of print quality, and problems/comments.

Keep backup copies of your format, batch data, check digit,
and graphic packets.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

1-6

Chapter 2. Designing a Format

This chapter describes how to

determine what kind of information to use in your

✦

format.

use the Supply Layout Grid and Format Worksheet.

✦

categorize data into field types.

✦

select fonts to use in your format.

✦

Starting with a Design–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Before you create a format packet, you must design your
label. There are several steps to designing a custom label:

1. Decide which fields should appear on your label. See

"Determining Format Contents" for more information.

2. Determine your label size. Supplies are available from

Monarch in a wide variety of sizes. Your application and
the amount of data you need to print determines the
supply size. Contact your Account Manager or Technical
Support for more information.

3. Draw a rough sketch of your label. You may want to draw

several variations to see what works best. See "Drawing
Rough Sketches" for more information.

4. Identify the field types that appear on your label. See

"Considering Field Types" for more information.

5. Decide which fonts you want to use. See "Considering

Fonts" for more information.

6. Fill out your Format Worksheet. See "Using the Format

Worksheet" for more information.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

At this point, you are ready to send your design to the printer.
To do this:

7. Create a format packet, based on how you filled out your

worksheet. See Chapter 4, "Defining Fields," for more
information.

8. Download your format packet to the printer. See Chapter

6, "Printing," for more information.

Determining Format Contents ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Before you lay out your format, you need to make a few
decisions. For example:

How large is your supply?

✦

Which fonts do you want to use?

✦

Do you want to include a bar code?

✦

Do you want to include graphics?

✦

Determining the Print Area ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

2-2

The "bottom" is the edge that exits the printer first. For the
9490 and 9494 printers, the print area is in the center of the

supply and it begins 0.16 inches from the bottom, and 0.05
inches from the left edge of the supply. For the 9446 and
1460 printers, the print area begins on the bottom edge and

0.06 inches from the left edge of the supply. The table below
lists the maximum print area for a four-inch wide label.

Unit of Measure Supply Size

English (1/100
inch)

Metric (1/10 mm) 1055 x 1575

Dots (1/192 dots) 797 x 1190

(Width x Length)

416 x 620
406 x 800

1031 x 2032

779 x 1536

Maximum Print Area

(Width x Length)

385 x 580
380 x 799

978 x 1473
965 x 2031

739 x 1114
730 x 1535

Printer

9494/9490
9446/1460

9494/9490
9446/1460

9494/9490
9446/1460

Chapter 2. Designing a Format

The following table lists the non-print zones for each printer.

Printer Top Bottom Left Right

9490/9494 .04 inches

1.01 mm

7.7 dots

9446/1460 none none .06 inches

.16 - .19 inches

4.1 - 4.8 mm
31 - 36.5 dots

.05 - .11 inches

1.3 - 2.8 mm

9.6 - 21.1 dots

1.5 mm

11.5 dots

.05 - .11 inches

1.3 - 2.8 mm

9.6 - 21.1 dots

.14 inches

3.6 mm

26.9 dots

n

The standard supply length for the 9490 and 9494 printers is
six inches. The standard supply length for the 9446 and 1460
printers is eight inches.

Use the following formulas to convert inches to dots and
metric:

Dots = inches x 192
Metric (1/10mm) = inches x 254
English (1/100 inch) = 100 x (dots/192)
Dots = Metric (1/10 mm) x 756/1000

Drawing Rough Sketches–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

After you decide what information you want to
print, sketch how you want the information to
appear on the label. Note any areas that are
preprinted on the label, such as a logo.

As soon as you know what information to
include on the label, and you have a rough
sketch, you can use a supply layout grid to
help you layout and size your label. If you do
not want to use a grid, go to "Considering
Field Types" to choose what information you
want on your label.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Using Supply Layout Grids ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A supply layout grid contains measurement markers. These
markers help you accurately position information on your label.

Decide whether you want to design formats using English,
Metric, or Dot measurements. Choose from the following grids:

8.0

7.5

7.0

6.5

6.0

5.5

5.0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

0.0

.06

Supply Layout
(Inches)

1.0

0.5

1.5 2.0

Printable area

4.2

4.0

3.5

2.5

3.0

4.06

English

✦

The English grid, shown to the
right, is measured in 1/100
inches.

Metric

✦

The Metric grid is measured in
1/10 millimeters (mm).

Graphic

✦

The printer uses dots to print
images on a label. The
printhead has 192 dots per
inch (DPI).

If you want to use supply layout grids, a copy of each is in
Appendix D, "Format Design Tools."

Considering Field Types ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

2-4

After you select a supply size, the next step in designing a
format is to decide what information you want to print on the
label. For example, you may want to print your company
name, price of an item, and a bar code that combines
information from other places. Everything you want to print
falls into one of the following categories.

Chapter 2. Designing a Format

Field Type Description Examples

Text Contains letters, numbers, or

Non-Printable
Te x t

Bar Code Used for printing bar codes that

Constant Text Fixed characters that print

Line or Box Highlight or separate items. line marking out the regular

Graphic Contains a bitmap image or a

symbols you want to print.

Holds batch data for use later,
such as for merging into
another field. The printer does
not print non-printable text
fields.

can be scanned.

without changing.

compliance label overlay.

item number, item description,
department number, price, date

city, state, and zip code to be
included in a bar code

item or serial numbers, zip
codes, information you don’t
want to have visible to
customers, product codes

company name, company
address

price, border around the supply

logos

n

All of the above field types except graphics are discussed in
Chapter 4. Refer to the MPCLII Graphics Manual, for
information on including graphic fields in your format.

Considering Fonts –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Your printer has monospaced and proportionally spaced fonts,
along with one scalable font, CG Triumvirate Bold. The
scalable font is smooth at any point size. See Appendix B,
"Fonts," for a sample of CG Triumvirate Bold and more
information about it.

n

The scalable font must be purchased separately for the 9446
and 1460 printers. The scalable font is standard on the 9490
printer.

When working with fonts, you have three considerations:

font appearance

✦

font size (scalable or bitmapped)

✦

font spacing (monospaced or proportional)

✦

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Choosing the appropriate font appearance is up to the user.
See Appendix B, "Fonts," for samples of each font. Choosing
the appropriate font size and spacing depends on how much
space is available on your supply. Monospaced characters
occupy the same amount of space within a magnification,
making it easy to predict the field size. Use monospaced fonts
for price fields and data you want to list in a column.
Proportionally spaced characters vary in height and width,
making it difficult to predict the field size. However, you may
be able to place more characters on a line.

Monarch offers software to convert TrueType fonts into
printer fonts that can be interpreted by Monarch® MPCLII
printers. Optional font ROMs are also available for these
printers. Call your Monarch Representative for more
information.

Format Worksheet ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The Format Worksheet is divided into sections that list the
field types. Each section has boxes to fill in with parameters
that define your format. A format worksheet is included in
Appendix D, "Format Design Tools." Keep the worksheet as a
hard copy backup of your format.

Filling in the Format Worksheet

Decide what type of field to use for each piece of information
on your label.

1. Make a copy of the Format Worksheet.

2. Define the Format Header.

3. Define all non-printable text fields before you define the

ones you want to print. See "Defining Non-Printable Text
Fields" in Chapter 4 for more information.

4. Define the rest of your fields. Apply options as you

require them. See Chapter 5, "Defining Field Options," for
more information.

2-6

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

This chapter discusses how to

set communication parameters.

✦

configure the printer using online configuration packets.

✦

use immediate commands to control the printer’s

✦

operation at any time.

upload the printer’s configuration or font information.

✦

Setting Communication Parameters –––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The communication parameters at the printer must match
those at the host, or you will not be able to communicate. You
can use the communication settings packet to set
communication parameters for your printer. For the 9490 and
9494 printers, you can use autobaud to set communication
parameters. For the 9446 or 1460 printers, you can set the
communication parameters at the printer.

On MS-DOS computers, you can use the MODE command to
set communication values on your PC.

n

For example

MODE COM1:9600,N,8,1

Sets your host to a baud rate of 9600, no parity, an 8 bit word
length, and 1 stop bit.

If you select 8 as the data bit setting, you must select NONE
for the parity. If you select 7 as the data bit setting, you must
select ODD or EVEN for the parity.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Using Autobaud

Do Not send any data to the printer before using autobaud.

n

Example @A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A

✦

Autobaud is only available on the 9494 and 9490 printers.

✦

You can use the autobaud feature to automatically set the
printer’s baud rate, parity, data bits, and stop bits to match the
host’s. To use autobaud, you must:

1. Power up the host first and then turn on the printer.
Autobaud only works during the initial power up. Wait 2 to
5 seconds.

2. After the LED indicator becomes solid green or amber,
send a sequence of 32 alternating @A characters (for a
total of 64 characters) to the printer.

@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A@A

n

Example {I,F,,,,,3 p }

3-2

Do Not use character pacing (delay for each character) or any
other delay while sending the autobaud sequence.

Wait one second after sending the autobaud sequence before
sending any commands or data to the printer During this time,
the hardware is being changed to the new settings.

3. To select flow control and finalize communications, send
the communication settings packet. Or, use the Optional
Entry method described in Chapter 6, "Printing."

This packet sets the flow control parameter to XON/XOFF,
without changing the current communication settings
established with Autobaud.

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

Using MPCLII Conventions ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Here are some guidelines to follow when using MPCLII.

MPCLII P unct uat ion

Use the following symbols when creating MPCLII packets:

{ start of header

} end of header

p field separator

, parameter separator

"ABC" Quotation marks enclose character

strings. Empty quotes ("") identify null
strings or unused fields.

‘comment‘ Grave accents enclose comments. Any

data enclosed in grave accents is ignored.
Do not embed comments within a quoted
string. Grave accents are also used to
reject mainframe data.

n

These MPCL characters are the default. See "Defining the
Control Characters Packet" to change these characters.

Sta ndard Synta x Guidelines

When creating MPCLII packets:

Begin each packet with a start of header ({).

✦

End each packet with an end of header (}).

✦

Define no more than 100 fields in a format. Each p

✦

indicates one field. The number of fields is limited by
the available memory.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

The field number (0 to 99) must be unique. Monarch

✦

recommends starting at 1, instead of 0.

Do not use a field number more than once per format.

✦

Define all fields in the order you want to image/print

✦

them.

Separate all parameters with a parameter separator

✦

(,).

End each field with a field separator ( p ).

✦

Enter all information in CAPITAL letters, except words

✦

or phrases within quotation marks.

Include all parameters for a field unless documented as

✦

optional.

Define non-printable text fields before the field to which

✦

they apply.

Define options immediately after the field to which they

✦

apply.

Multiple options can be used with most fields. Options

✦

can be used in any combination except as noted with
each definition.

3-4

Keep in mind that proportionally spaced fonts need

✦

wider fields than monospaced fonts. For variable field
data, use a letter "W" to determine the maximum field
size.

Do not place a new line (return) or any other

✦

non-printing character in a character string. However,
a carriage return or line break after each p makes your
formats easier to read.
T,1,20,V,30,30,1,1,1,1,B,C,0,0,0 p
T,2,10,V,50,30,1,1,1,1,B,C,0,0,0 p

Spaces are ignored, except within character strings.

✦

Indenting options improves readability of your formats.

✦

T,1,18,V,30,30,1,1,1,1,B,C,0,0,0 p
R,42,1 p

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

Use a tilde (~) followed by a 3-digit ASCII code in a

✦

quoted string to send function codes or extended
characters or send the 8-bit ASCII code.

You can modify formats and fields with the optional entry
method. See "Optional Entry Method" in Chapter 6 for more
information.

Using Online Configuration Packets–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Use online configuration packets to change the printer
settings. You can send an individual packet or a packet that
contains all seven online configuration packets. You can
supply all parameters for each packet. Leave the parameters
blank that you do not need to change. For example,

,A,,,,1 p } prints a slashed zero and uses the last sent online

{ I
System Setup parameters.

Make a copy of the online configuration worksheet in Appendix
D, "Format Design Tools," and save the original. Packets A-F
and M are listed on the worksheet.

When you turn off the printer, all the information in the online
configuration packets is saved and used when the printer is
turned back on. After you change printer configurations, you
must resend the format, batch, or graphic to the printer before
the changes take effect.

Configura tion Pa cket Header

Always include an I
before the packet identifier (A, B, C, etc.). The I
identifies the data stream as an online configuration packet.

n

Include the I parameter with each packet if you are sending
them individually. Include it only at the beginning of a data
stream if you are sending multiple packets.

, immediately after the left bracket { and

parameter

3-5

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

This is the syntax to use when you create online configuration
packets:

Syntax

{

I

,
1 to 7 optional packets
A, parameter 1...parameter 5 p
B, parameter 1...parameter 5 p
C, parameter 1...parameter 5 p
D, parameter 1...parameter 3 p
E, parameter 1...parameter 9 p
F, parameter 1...parameter 5 p
M, paramater 1...parameter 4 p
}

Syntax for single packet

{

I

,
A, parameter 1...parameter 5
}

Configura tion Synt ax Guidelines

When creating a printer configuration packet:

Follow the "Standard Syntax Guidelines" listed at the

✦

beginning of this chapter.

Begin a packet with the configuration header (I).

✦

Start of Header
Configuration Header

System Setup
Supply Setup
Print Control
Monetary Formatting
Control Characters
Communication Settings
Memory Configuration
End of Header

Start of Header
Configuration Packet Identifier
System Setup
End of Header

3-6

Download multiple configuration packets within one

✦

packet or download a single configuration packet.

If you change ANY of the online configuration packets,

✦

resend the format packet to the printer, so the
configuration changes take effect.

Include the first five ANSI codes, at a minimum, in the

✦

control characters packet.

Make sure the host settings match the settings

✦

contained in the communication settings packet.

Record the new configuration for future reference.

✦

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

Defining the System Setup Packet –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Use the system setup packet (A) to select the power up mode,
display language, print separators between batches, print a
"slashed zero," and select the symbol set.

Syntax {I,A,powup_mode,language,sep_on,slash_zero

symbol_set p}

A1. A System Setup Packet

A2. powup_mode Online Mode. Options:

0 online mode
1 offline mode (9494/9446/1460)

A3. language Display Language. Options:

0 English
1 French (9446/1460)
2 German (9446/1460)
3 Spanish (9446/1460)

A4. sep_on Batch Separators. Options:

0 Does not print a separator.
1 Prints a separator (9494/9490/9446)

A5. slash_zero Slash Zero. Options:

0 Print a standard zero
1 Print a zero with a slash through it.

NOTE: The scalable font does not print a slashed zero.

A6. symbol_set Symbol Set. Options:

0 Internal/ Monarch
1 ANSI
2 Code Page 437
3 Code Page 850

NOTE: The CG Triumvirate fonts and Font #50 support

See "Defaults" for the default values on each printer.

Example {I,A,0,0,1,1,0 p }

Powers up the printer in the online mode, displays prompts in
English, prints a separator after each batch, prints zeros with
slashes through them, and uses the internal symbol set.

only the ANSI and DOS Code 437 and 850 Page
Symbol Sets. See Appendix C, "Symbol
Sets/Code Pages" for more information.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Defining the Supply Setup Packet –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Use the supply setup packet (B) to select supply type, ribbon,
feed mode, supply position, and cut position.

Syntax {I,B,supply_type,ribbon_on,feed_mode,

supply_posn,cut_posn p}

B1. B Supply Setup Packet

B2. supply_type Supply Type. Options:

0 Black mark stock
1 Die Cut/aperature stock (9446/1460)
2 Non Indexed stock (9494)

B3. ribbon_on Options:

B4. feed_mode Options:

B5. supply_posn -10 to 6 in 1/192 inch (9494/9490)

B6. cut_posn -99 to 99 in 1/192 inch. Use 0 (no knife on these printers).

0 Ribbon not installed
1 Ribbon installed
2 High Energy Ribbon (9446)

0 Continuous operation (9494/9490/9446)
1 On demand mode
2 Internal Rewind (9446)

-99 to 99 in 1/192 inch (9446/1460). 0 is the default.

Adjusts the machine to print at the vertical 0,0 point on
the supply. This adjustment accounts for mechanical
tolerances from machine to machine. The supply position
adjustment only needs to be made on the initial machine
setup. Increase the supply position to move print up,
decrease to move print down on the label. Print a test
label to verify the 0,0 point. Changing the supply position
affects the print position. Once the supply position is set,
use the print control packet to adjust printing.

See "Defaults" for the default values on each printer.

Example {I,B,0,0,1,10 p }

Indicates black mark and thermal direct stock has been
loaded, causes the printer to operate in on-demand mode, and
feeds the supply approximately .05 inches up before printing
the format on each label (10/192 inches).

3-8

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

Defining the Print Control Packet –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Use the print control packet (C) to set the contrast, print, and
margin adjustment, print speed, and printhead width.

Syntax {I,C,contrast,print_adj,margin_adjust,

speed_adj,ph_width,bat_voltage p }

C1. C Print Control Packet

C2. contrast -390 to 156. 0 is the default.

C3. print_adj -99 to 99 in 1/192 inch. 0 is the default. Adjusts where

data prints vertically on the supply. Adjust the print if it is
too close to the top or bottom of the supply, or overtypes
a pre-printed area. Increase the print position to move
print up, decrease to move print down.

C4. margin_adj -99 to 99 in 1/192 inch. 0 is the default. Adjusts where

data prints horizontally on the supply. Adjust the print if it
is too close to the left or right side of the supply. Increase
the margin position to move print to the right, decrease to
move print to the left. Margin and print position are
format adjustments, they do not affect the supply position.

C5. speed_adj Print speed in inches per second (IPS). Options:

C6. ph_width 230 to 768. Width of the printhead in dots. 0 is the

C7. bat_voltage Selects the battery voltage. Only valid on the 9490 printer

0 uses default speed
15 1.5 IPS (9494)
20 2.0 IPS (9494/9490)
25 2.5 IPS (9494/9446/1460)
50 5.0 IPS (9446/1460)
70 7.0 IPS (9446/1460)
100 10.0 IPS (9446 High Speed model)

NOTE: Serial bar codes printed at speeds greater than

2.5 IPS may not scan properly.

default (768 dots). Does not affect supply width defined
in the format header. If this parameter is not defined, the
default of 768 dots is used.

used with the Mobile Printing Station. Options:

0 15-volt battery
1 12-volt battery

3-9

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Example {I,C,0,-20,-10,0,768,1 p }

Uses the default contrast, moves print .1 inch closer to the
bottom of the supply (20/192 inches) and .05 inch to the left
on the supply (10/192 inches), prints at six inches per second,
sets the printhead width to 4 inches, and uses a 12-volt
battery (only for the 9490 printer).

Defining the Monetary Formatting Packet –––––––––––––––––––––

The monetary formatting packet (D) selects the monetary
symbols to print for a price field. Use the monetary formatting
packet to select primary and secondary monetary symbols,
and designate the number of digits to appear at the right of a
decimal.

Syntax {I,D,cur_sym,secondary,decimals p }

D1. D Monetary Formatting Packet

D2. cur_sym Currency Symbol. Options:

0 No symbol
1 USA ($, Dollar- default)
2 UK (£, Pound)
3 Japan (¥, Yen)
4 Germany ( , Deutsche Mark)
5 France (F, Franc)
6 Spain (P, Peseta)
7 Italy (L., Lira)
8 Sweden (Kr, Krona)
9 Finland ( , Markka)
10 Austria ( , Shilling)
11 India (Rs, Rupee)
12 Russian ( , Ruble)
13 Korean ( , Won)
14 Thai ( , Baht)
15 Chinese (¥, Yuan)

3-10

NOTE: Use the internal symbol set for these symbols.

D3. secondary Secondary Sign. Options:

0 No secondary sign (default)
1 Print secondary sign

NOTE: Secondary symbols only print if you designate at

least one decimal place.