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

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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.

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

D4. decimals Number of digits to the right of the decimal. Options:

The defaults listed above are the defaults for all printers.

Example {I,D,1,1,2 p }

Prints the dollar sign, uses a secondary symbol, and places
two digits to the right of the decimal.

0 No digits
1 One digit
2 Two digits (default)
3 Three digits

Defining the Control Characters Packet ––––––––––––––––––––––––

Use the control characters packet (E) to change the MPCLII
control characters, enable and disable the immediate
commands, and change the default terminator character for
job requests and ENQ’s.

Changes take effect with the first character following the end
of header character } of the configuration packet. Each
control character must be unique and cannot appear anywhere
else in your packet, except within quotation marks. You can
customize the trailer characters to work with your host.

n

Syntax {I,E,"ANSI_cd",string1","string2" p }

Wait two seconds for the new characters to take effect before
sending packets using the new characters.

Use the following syntax for the control characters packet.
Notice all but the first parameter are within quotation marks.

E1. E Control Characters Packet

3-11

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

E2. "ANSI_cd" ~123 Start of header { (left bracket)

E3. "string 1" Terminator for status requests and ENQ requests. Up to

E4. "string 2" Terminator for job requests and data uploads. Up to any 3

~044 Parameter , (comma)

~034 Quoted strings " (quotes)
~124 Field separator
~125 End of header } (right bracket)
~126 Data escape ~~ (double tilde)

def. ch. Immediate command character (optional).

NOTE: "ANSI_cd" includes seven separate parameters.

any 3 characters in the 0 to 255 decimal range. The
default is "013". Sending "" disables this sequence.

characters in the 0 to 255 decimal range. The default is
none. Sending "" disables this sequence.

separator

(pipe sign)

p

character (optional)

Up to any 3 characters in the 0 to 255 decimal
range. The character must be defined before this
command can be used. The caret (^) is
normally used.

The first five parameters are required. The other
parameters are optional.

The defaults listed above are the defaults for all printers.
After you change these parameters, all packets, including any
future configuration packets, must use the new control
characters. Monarch recommends using the tilde and ASCII
character code sequence when sending this packet multiple
times. Also, set the packet delimiters to characters within the
21 hex to 7E hex range.

You must send the control characters packet to enable the
immediate commands. An immediate command executes
immediately, even if it is embedded within quotation marks,
and all data following the command in the string is ignored.

Example {I,E,"~123~063~034~124~125~126~094" p }

Changes the parameter separator character from , to ?. The
other control characters remain unchanged. It also enables
the immediate commands by defining the ^ symbol as the
command identifier.

3-12

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

Resetting Control Characters

You can change the characters in the previous example back
to their original settings by downloading this packet:

{I?E?"~123~044~034~124~125~126~094" p }

Notice that the parameter separator is ? in this packet. This is
the parameter separator that was set before this packet. Once
the packet is received by the printer, the new parameter
separator (a comma, in this case) is valid. Be careful when
using this feature. If you forget what the control characters
were changed to, print a test label. (The test label lists the
current control characters.) See "Printing a Test Label," in
Chapter 8 for more information.

Defining the Communication Settings Packet –––––––––––––––––––

Use the communication settings packet (F) to set the baud
rate, word length, stop bits, parity, and flow control for serial
communications. Changing the communication settings takes
approximately two seconds. Communications sent during this
interval will be lost.

Syntax {I,F,baud,word_length,stop_bits,parity,

flow_control,pr_address p }

F1. F Communication Settings Packet

F2. baud Baud Rate. Options:

0 1200
1 2400 (default for 1460)
2 4800
3 9600 (default for 9494/9490/9446)
4 19.2K

F3. word_length Word Length. Options:

0 7-bit word length
1 8-bit word length (default for all printers)

F4. stop_bits Stop Bits. Options:

0 1-stop bit (default for all printers)
1 2-stop bits

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

F5. parity Parity. Options:

F6. flow_control Flow Control. Options:

F6. pr_address Printer’s address. Only valid on the 9490 printer used

0 None (default for all printers)
1 ODD parity
2 EVEN parity

0 None
1 DTR (default for all printers)
2 CTS
3 XON/XOFF

NOTE: If you use the DOS COPY command to download

your formats, set "Flow Control" to DTR (not
XON/XOFF).

with the Mobile Printing Station. Can be any six-byte
string in the 0 to 255 decimal range enclosed by quotes.
We recommend setting the printer’s address to the
printable alphanumeric ASCII values (0-9; A-Z; a-z). This
avoids any conflict with the control characters (ENQ,
parameter separators, etc.) and is easily interpreted.

Example {I,F,3,1,0,0,1,"ABC123" p }

Uses 9600 baud, an 8-bit word length, one stop bit, no parity,
DTR mode, and sets one 9490 printer’s address to ABC123.

3-14

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

Defining the Memory Configuration Packet–––––––––––––––––––––

Use the memory configuration packet (M) to customize the
size of your printer’s buffers, which gives you greater flexibility
in your formats. Memory must be allocated in 1/2K
increments. The memory configuration packet does not
accept decimals, so enter whole numbers. Multiply the
amount to reallocate (in K) by 10. For example,

To reallocate (in K) Enter this amount

110

1.5 15

220

2.5 25

32 320

153 1530

229.5 2295

Each buffer’s allocated memory remains in effect until that
buffer is reallocated. For this reason, you may want to
reallocate all the buffers when reallocating any buffer. If you
reallocate more memory than you have available, you will
receive an error.

Syntax {I,M,buffer,device,buffer_size p }

M1. M Memory Configuration Packet

M2. buffer Buffer type:

D Downloadable Fonts
F Format
I Image
R Receive
T Tr a ns m it
V Scalable Fonts

M3. device Storage type:

N Non-volatile RAM
R Volatile RAM

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

M4. buffer size Buffer size in 1/10K ranges

Example {I,M,I,R,1530 p }

Stores the image buffer in volatile RAM and allocates 153K for
it.

The following table lists the configured buffer sizes for your
printer.

5 - 40 Tr an sm i t
20 - 320 Receive
385 - 2295 Image
160 - 2295 Format
80 - 2295 Downloadable Fonts
0 - 1280 Scalable Fonts

Buffer size with Optional RAM
in 1/10K ranges

5 - 40 Tr an sm i t
20 - 320 Receive
385 - 2560 Image
160 - 5120 Format
80 - 5120 Downloadable Fonts
0 - 1280 Scalable Fonts

n

3-16

Buffer Min - Max in K 9494 9490 9446 1460

Transmit .5- 4K 1K 1K 1K 1K

Receive 2 - 32K 2K 2K 2K 2K

Image 38.5 - 229.5K 115K 124K 153K 153K

Downloadable

Fonts

Scalable Fonts 0 - 128K 36K 48K 0K 0K

Formats

(Formats,

Batches,

and Graphics)

Internal cannot reallocate 50K 50K 48K 48K

If you have purchased the scalable font for the 9446 and

✦

8 - 229.5K 20K 128K 20K 20K

16 - 229.5K 32K 32K 32K 32K

1460 printers, the scalable fonts buffer is configured at
36K. The total actual memory available may be less than
the total default sizes.

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

Buffers must total 256K, or 512K if the Optional RAM is

✦

present.

"Optional RAM Buffer Sizes" lists the minimum and

✦

maximum values for each buffer using the Optional RAM.

Checking Current Buffer Sizes

Send a configuration upload packet to check the sizes of your
current buffers. See "Using Configuration Upload Packet" for
more information. After you check your current buffer sizes
you can begin reallocating memory.

If you want to increase your image buffer and you will not be
using scalable fonts, add that memory into your image buffer.

Example {I,M,R,R,20 p Receive buffer 2K

M,T,R,10 p Transmit buffer 1K
M,D,N,80 p Downloadable fonts 8K
M,V,R,0 p Scalable fonts buffer 0K
M,I,N,1650 p Image buffer 165K
}

Make sure memory is available before adding memory to a
buffer. In the above example, if the image buffer (M,I,N,1650)
was defined before the downloadable fonts and scalable fonts
buffers (M,D,N,80 and M,V,R,0) were defined, an error would
have occurred.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

About Memory Buffers ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Transmit Buffer Used to send ENQ, job, and upload

responses. A minimum of 5 is required.
The maximum is 40. This buffer must be
allocated as volatile (R) RAM.

Receive Buffer Used to save data received from the host

before it is processed by the printer.
Changing this buffer size affects the
amount of data the printer can receive
without using flow control. A minimum of
20 is required. The maximum is 320. This
buffer must be allocated as volatile (R)
RAM.

Image Buffer Used to image the current format. You

can increase or decrease the default label
length by manipulating this buffer. A
minimum of 385 is required. The
maximum is 2295. The Image Buffer is
cleared after a printer reset, even if it is
stored in non-volatile RAM.
You must have the Optional RAM installed
to create labels longer than the default.
See Chapter 2, "Designing a Format," for
the default label lengths. An image up to

11.75 inches can be created on the
9494/9490/9446 printers by increasing this
buffer. However, the maximum image size
for the 1460 printer/applicator is 7.5
inches. (The size of the tamp pad
determines the maximum label size
available for the 1460 printer/applicator.)

n

3-18

You may not be able to use scalable or downloadable fonts if
you have increased the image buffer by reallocating memory
from these buffers into your image buffer.

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

Use the formula below to calculate the
required image buffer size.

Example

19.13K x

Length is the length of your label in inches.

19.13K x 6 = 114.78K

(Multiply by 10 and round up.)

114.78K x 10 = 1147.8

1147.8 = 1150

Enter 1150 for your Image buffer.

Format Buffer Used to store formats, batch data, and

graphics. A minimum of 160 is required.
The maximum is 2295. Use the following
formula to calculate the required format
buffer size:

Linecount

Linecount is the number of lines in your
format packet including the format header
and all the options.

The result of the above calculation is in
kilobytes.

Length

x 50/1024

Downloadable
Fonts Buffer

Used to store downloaded soft
(bitmapped) fonts. A minimum of 80 is
required. The maximum is 2295. To
determine the size of your downloadable
fonts, send a font packet. See "Using the
Font Packet" for more information.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Scalable (Vector)
Fonts Buffer

Buffer Worksheet

Make copies of this page to use as a buffer worksheet.

n

If you are using Optional RAM, refer to "Optional RAM Buffer
Sizes" for the minimum and maximum buffer values.

Used to image the scalable font
characters. Increasing this buffer size
allows more characters to be saved in
cache memory, so the characters do not
have to be re-built the next time they are
printed. Use 0 if you are not using
scalable fonts. The maximum is 1280.
This buffer must be allocated as volatile
(R) RAM.

DOWN LOADABLE

FONTS BUFFER

FORMAT

BUFFER

IMAGE

BUFFER

RECEIVE

BUFFER

TRANSMIT

BUFFER

SCALABLE

FONTS BUFFER

HEADER

M

D

MF

MI

MR

MT

MV

BUFFER

DEVICE

R

R

R

BUFFER SIZE

maximum of 2295

maximum of 2295

maximum of 2295

maximum of 320

maximum of 40

maximum of 1280

3-20

Buffer Allocation Considerations

Keep these items in mind when allocating memory.

Do Not allocate more memory than what is available.

✦

Free memory from one buffer before you add it to

✦

another buffer.

Reallocate all the buffers if you need to reallocate any

✦

buffer.

Send all buffer (re)allocations in one packet. The

✦

printer evaluates each individual buffer allocation
separately. If one buffer allocation is invalid, the entire
packet is invalid. For example, if you send

{I,M,R,N,20 p
M,T,N,60 p
...}

the printer ignores the entire packet, because the
second line allocates 6K for the transmit buffer, and 4K
is the maximum for that buffer. If you define a buffer
size that exceeds the maximum value, an error occurs.
However, no information is lost.

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

Whenever the printer accepts a memory configuration

✦

packet, it takes effect immediately, causing a printer
reset. Any information contained in the buffers is lost.
Resend your formats, batches, graphics, or fonts to the
printer.

If you remap your image buffer, make sure the length

✦

and width specified in your format header are not too
large for the current image buffer. In other words, if
you remap for a 4 x 4 inch label, you cannot print a 4 x
6 inch label without receiving an error, until you change
your format header or increase your image buffer.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Optional RAM Buffer Sizes

If you have purchased the 256K Optional RAM for your printer,
the following table lists the minimum and maximum values for
each buffer.

Buffer Min - Max (in K)

Transmit .5 - 4

Receive 2 - 32

Image 38.5 - 256

Format 16 - 512

Downloadable Fonts 8 - 512

Scalable Fonts 0 - 128

Using Immediate Commands–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Immediate commands affect printer operation as soon as the
printer receives them, even if they are included within a packet
or used inside quotation marks.

You can use immediate commands to change immediate
command or status polling control characters, reset the printer,
or cancel and repeat batches.

Enabling Immedia te Comma nds

When the printer is first turned on, these commands are not
available. To use these commands, you must first send the
control characters packet and define the immediate command
control character. The immediate command control character
is saved in non-volatile RAM and therefore not lost after you
turn off the printer. Once the immediate command control
character is defined, the immediate commands are enabled.

3-22

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

Sending Immedia te Comma nds

Immediate commands consist of a three- or four-character
sequence you can send in a packet or embed in your
application. Each command must be sent separately.

Syntax control character_immediate command

n

Example ^CB

The printer can accept only one immediate command at a
time. Sending a command before the previous one is
completed can result in an error.

Immediately cancels the batch currently printing. This
example assumes that the defined immediate command
control character is the caret (^).

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Command Parameter

^ADxxxxxx

^CA

^CB

^DD or

^DCd

^EA

^ER

^FD

^ID or ^ICd

^MC

^MI

^MM

^MP

^MR

^MV

^PR

^RB

^RS

^SD or

^SCd

^TP

The table represents the defined immediate command control character as ^ and the
defined status polling control character as d. You may define these characters to suit
your needs.

Selects the 9490 printer whose ASCII address is xxxxxx.

Cancels all the batches in the queue.

Cancels only the current batch being printed.

Disables the MPCL data escape character (the tilde) and inhibits
MPCL from acting on ANY data escape sequence from the host. Sets
the MPCL data escape character to the ASCII value given by the d
parameter. The value can be any ASCII character.

Aborts an error condition. May need to be sent multiple times. Use
^RB to reprint batch. CAUTION: Command causes the current batch
to stop and the condition that caused the error to remain uncorrected.

Resets the error. This command is the same as pressing the trigger or
pressing

Feeds a label when printer is idle. Simulates the operation of
pressing trigger or f and dispenses the next label if printer is in the
on demand mode. NOTE: Printer ignores this command if printing.

Disables the Immediate Command feature by turning off the Immediate
Command escape character. Sets the Immediate Command escape
character to the ASCII value given by the d parameter. The value can
be any ASCII character.

Returns the customer ID or RPQ version to the host. (00 to 99)

Returns the customer ID or RPQ revision level to the host. (00 to 99)

Returns the model number to the host. 00 = M9446 01 =
M1446/M1460
02= M9490 04= M9494

Returns the prototype number to the host. (00 to 99)

Returns the revision number to the host. (00 to 99)

Returns the version number to the host. (00 to 99)

Resets the printer. This command takes five seconds to complete and
then the printer is ready to receive data. It has the same effect as
turning off and then turning on the printer. NOTE: Command should
be used only when the printer is not printing.

Repeats the last printed batch, printing the same number of labels as
specified in the original batch. This command does not work if using
batch separators. NOTE: Printer ignores this command if printing.

Resynchronizes supply when supply roll is changed. NOTE: Printer
ignores this command if printing.

Disables the status polling feature by turning off the status polling
control character. Sets the status polling control character to the
ASCII value given by the d parameter. The value of d can be any
ASCII character.

Prints a test label set. NOTE: Printer ignores this command if printing.

E

to acknowledge an error. Normal operation will resume.

3-24

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

n

To use the immediate command control character or the status
polling character within your data, use the tilde sequence.

Clearing Packets from Memory –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

You may want to remove packets from the printer to increase
memory storage capacity or if the formats/fonts are no longer
needed. For the 9490 and 9494 printers, turning off the
printer clears the packets from memory. For all printers, send
a format clear packet.

Syntax {header,packet#,action,device p }

1. header Identifies the packet. Options:

2. packet# Identification number of the packet to clear (1-999) or font

3. action Enter C to clear the packet.

4. device Storage device. Options:

A Check Digit Scheme
B Batch
F Format
G Graphic
W Font

number (0-9999). 0 is for all fonts.

Example {F,1,C,R p }

Clears Format #1 from volatile RAM.

N Non-volatile RAM
R Volatile RAM

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Using the Font Packet –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

You can use a font packet to add or clear downloaded fonts
from memory, upload your font buffer, or upload the cell size
information for a particular font. The font packet is useful
when you are downloading fonts. If you are using downloaded
fonts, the font number and the number of bytes each
downloaded font uses is listed.

This packet does not list the number of bytes the standard
printer fonts use.

Syntax {W,font#,action,device p }

W1. W Writable Font Header

W2. font# Font number from 0-9999.

0 is for all fonts. 1 - 5 digits is the font number.
For example, 11 is the standard printer font,
CG Triumvirate.

W3. action Action. Options:

A Adds the specified font.
C Clears all or specified fonts, except ones in ROM.
H Uploads font size information.
M Uploads font memory usage information.

W4. device Storage device. Options:

If you are creating fonts, you need to have font data included
with this packet. Software is available to create the font data
and packet. Call Technical Support for more information.

Example {W,0,M,R p }

Selects all fonts and checks the memory usage in RAM. The
printer returns the following to the host:

{W,0,M,R p
Number of bytes free, Number of bytes used p }

3-26

R Volatile RAM
Z All devices (use for upload).

Example {W,0,H,Z p }

Selects all fonts and uploads the font size information for any
downloaded fonts.

The printer returns the following to the host:

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

Font Style

Symbol Set

Cell Width

n

{W,0,H,Z p
0,1,0,"Standard",0,0,0,14,22,14,22,3 p
0,1,1,"CGTriBd9",1,0,7,25,31,10,15,0 p
0,1,437,"CGTriBd9",1,0,7,25,31,10,15,0 p

Ty p e

0,1,850,"CGTriBd9",1,0,7,25,31,10,15,0 p
0,2,0,"Reduced",0,0,0,7,14,7,14,1 p
0,2,1,"CGTriumv6",1,0,5,17,21,5,10,0 p
0,2,437,"CGTriumv6",1,0,5,17,21,5,10,0 p
0,2,850,"CGTriumv6",1,0,5,17,21,5,10,0 p
0,3,0,"Bold",0,0,0,24,34,24,34,3 p
0,4,0,"OCRA",0,0,0,13,24,13,24,3 p
0,5,0,"HR1",0,0,0,12,20,12,20,2 p
0,6,0,"HR2",0,0,0,10,16,10,16,1 p
0,10,1,"CGTriBd9",1,0,7,25,31,10,15,0 p
0,10,437,"CGTriBd9",1,0,7,25,31,10,15,0 p
0,10,850,"CGTriBd9",1,0,7,25,31,10,15,0 p
0,11,1,"CGTriumv6",1,0,5,17,21,5,10,0 p
0,11,437,"CGTriumv6",1,0,5,17,21,5,10,0 p
0,11,850,"CGTriumv6",1,0,5,17,21,5,10,0 p
0,50,0,"CGTriBd",1,1,92248 p
}

This example shows the fonts for the 9490 printer. Notice that
the scalable font (font #50) is included in the list.

Font Name

Spacing

Baseline

Cell Height

Nominal

Nominal

Inter-Character

Spacing Monospaced (0) or proportional (1).

Ty p e Bitmapped (0) or scalable (1).

Baseline Bottom of the font.

Cell Width Horizontal number of dots to contain the

widest character.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Cell Height Vertical number of dots to contain the

Nominal Width Average width for lower-case letters.

Nominal Height Average height for lower-case letters.

tallest character.

Inter-Character
Gap

Default spacing between characters in
monospaced fonts.

Using Configuration Upload Packet –––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Use the configuration upload packet to upload your printer’s
configuration.

Syntax {header,ID#,action,device p }

1. header Constant I.

2. ID# ID. Use 0.

3. action Upload User Configuration (U).

4. device Storage Device. Options:

M Memory
N Nonvolatile RAM
R Volatile RAM

3-28

Example {I,0,U,N p }

Uploads the printer configuration from nonvolatile RAM and
returns the following to the host.

A,0,0,0,0,0 p
B,1,1,0,0,0 p
C,0,0,0,0,768 p
D,1,0,2 p
E,"~123~044~034~124~125~126","","~013~010" p
F,1,1,0,0,1 p
M,R,2110,200,N,2560,220 p
M,R,N,20 p
M,T,N,10 p
M,I,N,1530 p
M,D,N,20 p
M,F,N,320 p
M,V,N,0 p }

The parameters for each packet (A-F & M) are displayed. In
the first line that begins with M, 2110 is the total volatile
memory available, 200 is the memory used in volatile RAM in
1/10K. 2560 is the total non-volatile memory available, 220 is
the memory left in non-volatile RAM in 1/10K.

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

n

The total volatile and non-volatile RAM varies with each printer.

In the second line that begins with M, 20 is the amount of
memory in 1/10K allocated for the Receive buffer in
Non-volatile RAM.

The remaining lines give the buffer sizes in 1/10K for the
Transmit, Image, Downloadable Fonts, Format, and Scalable
(Vector) Fonts Buffers.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Defaults –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

For the System Setup Packet (A), all the printers use these
defaults:

Parameter Default Description

Identifier

online_mode

language

sep_on

slash_zero

symbol_set

For the 9494 printer

Parameter Default Description

Identifier

supply_type

ribbon_on

feed_mode

supply_posn

cut_posn

A

0

0

0

0

0

B

0

1

0

0

0

System Setup Packet

Online mode

English

Do not print separator

Print a standard zero

Internal Symbol Set

Supply Setup Packet

Black Mark stock loaded

Ribbon installed (transfer supply)

On demand operation

Supply position in 1/192 inches

Cut position in 1/192 inches

3-30

The defaults for the print control, monetary formatting, control
characters, and communication settings packets are listed
earlier in this chapter. The default print speed on the 9494
printer is 2 inches per second.

For the 9490 printer

Parameter Default Description

Identifier

supply_type

ribbon_on

feed_mode

supply_posn

cut_posn

The defaults for the print control, monetary formatting, control
characters, and communication settings packets are listed
earlier in this chapter. The default print speed on the 9490
printer is 2 inches per second.

For the 9446 printer

Chapter 3. Configuring the Printer

B

0

1

0

0

0

Supply Setup Packet

Black Mark stock loaded

Ribbon installed (transfer supply)

On demand operation

Supply position in 1/192 inches

Cut position in 1/192 inches

Parameter Default Description

Identifier

supply_type

ribbon_on

feed_mode

supply_posn

cut_posn

B

1

1

0

0

0

Supply Setup Packet

Die Cut stock loaded

Ribbon installed (transfer supply)

Continuous operation

Supply position in 1/192 inches

Cut position in 1/192 inches

The defaults for the print control, monetary formatting, control
characters, and communication settings packets are listed
earlier in this chapter. The default print speed on the 9446
printer is 5 inches per second.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

For the 1460 printer

Parameter Default Description

Identifier

supply_type

ribbon_on

feed_mode

supply_posn

cut_posn

The defaults for the print control, monetary formatting, control
characters, and communication settings packets are listed
earlier in this chapter. The default print speed on the 1460
printer is 7 inches per second.

B

1

1

1

0

0

Supply Setup Packet

Die Cut stock loaded

Ribbon installed (transfer supply)

On-Demand operation

Supply position in 1/192 inches

Cut position in 1/192 inches

3-32

Chapter 4. Defining Fields

This chapter provides a reference for defining

the format header

✦

text, constant text, and non-printable text fields

✦

bar code fields

✦

line and box fields.

✦

Defining the Format Header ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A Format Header begins a format file.

Syntax {F,format#,action,device,measure,length,

width,"name" p

F1. F Format Header.

F2. format# Unique number from

F3. action Enter A to add a new format to the printer.

F4. device Format storage device. R is the only valid value.

F5. measure Unit of measure. Options:

English, measured in 1/100 inches

E

Metric, measured in 1/10 mm

M

Graphic, measured in dots

G

F6. length Supply length, in units selected above. Measure

supply top to bottom. The bottom is the edge that
exits the printer first.

NOTE:

For the 9490 and 9494 printers, you can use
supply longer than 6 inches (up to 7.1 inches);
however, the length in your format header cannot
be greater than 6 inches.

to identify the format.

0-99

4-1

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

9494/9490

NOTE:

F7. width Supply width, from left to right, in selected units. Ranges:

F8. "name" Format name (optional),

quotation marks.

ranges:

English
Metric
Dots

English
Metric
Dots

100 - 600
254 - 1524
192 - 1152

The ranges above are based on a standard
memory configuration. You can create longer
labels if you purchase the Optional RAM and
reallocate memory to increase your image buffer
size. See "Defining the Memory Configuration
Packet" in Chapter 3 for more information.

120 - 400
305 - 1017
230 - 768

9446/1460

characters, enclose within

0-8

English
Metric
Dots

ranges:

075 - 800
191 - 2033
144 - 1536

Example {F,1,A,R,E,300,200,"TEXTILES" p

Adds Format 1 ("TEXTILES") to the printer. It uses a three
inch long by two inch wide label.

Defining Text Fields –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Create a separate definition for each text field. If text falls on
two lines, each line of text requires a separate definition.

Syntax T,field#,# of char,fix/var,row,column,

gap,font,hgt mag,wid mag,color,alignment, char
rot,field rot,sym set p

T1. T Text Field.

T2. field# Unique number from

T3. # of char Maximum number of printed characters (

field.

T4. fix/var Fixed or variable length field. Options:

F
V

Fixed length
Variable length

to identify this field.

0-99

4-2

0-2710

) in the

Chapter 4. Defining Fields

T5. row For monospaced fonts, distance from bottom of print area

to the pivot point. The pivot point varies depending on
how text is justified.

0 (TOP)

3 (RIGHT)

2 (BOTTOM)

1 (LEFT)

1 (LEFT)

0 (TOP)

2 (BOTTOM)

3 (RIGHT)

Left/Center/Right-Justified

3 (RIGHT)

1 (LEFT)

Balanced

2 (BOTTOM)

0 (TOP)

End-Justified

For proportionally spaced fonts,
distance from bottom of print area to
baseline of characters in field.

9494/9490

English
Metric
Dots

NOTE:

The ranges above are based on a standard
memory configuration. You can create longer
labels if you purchase the Optional RAM and
reallocate memory to increase your image buffer
size. See "Defining the Memory Configuration
Packet" in Chapter 3 for more information.

ranges:

0 - 599
0 - 1523
0 - 1151

9446/1460

English
Metric
Dots

ranges:

0 - 799
0 - 2031
0 - 1535

4-3

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

T6. column Distance from the left edge of the print area to the pivot

T7. gap Number of dots between characters

T8. font Style of font. Options:

point is the column location. Ranges:

English
Metric
Dots

(192 dots per inch). Range:

NOTE:

Any number other than 0 or the default number affects
your field width. Default spacing:

Standard
Reduced
Bold
OCRA-like
CG Triumvirate Bold
CG Triumvirate

Standard

1

Reduced

2

Bold

3

CG Triumvirate Bold (scalable)

50

0 - 399
0 - 1015
0 - 767

.

0-99

For monospaced fonts, the additional spacing is
added to the existing inter-character gap. This is
also true for proportionally spaced fonts, but
remember that the inter-character gap varies with
character combinations.

3 dots
1 dot
3 dots
3 dots
varies with each letter
varies with each letter

4

11

OCRA-like

CG Triumvirate Bold

10

CG Triumvirate

4-4

NOTE:

T9. hgt mag Height magnifier,

scalable font. If using the scalable font on the 9490
printer, the range is
with proportionally spaced fonts, because characters lose
smoothness at higher magnifications.

If you have purchased optional fonts, refer to the
Optional Fonts Manual for valid font selectors.
The scalable font (Font #50) must be purchased
separately for the 9446 and 1460 printers. The
scalable font does not print a slashed zero. The
CG Triumvirate fonts and Font #50 support only
the ANSI and DOS Code 437 and 850 Page
Symbol Sets. See Appendix C, "Symbol
Sets/Code Pages" for more information.

(times) or

1-7

4-200

points for the

4-90

points. Use a magnifier of

1

Chapter 4. Defining Fields

T10. wid mag Width magnifier,

T11. color Options for standard printer fonts:

font. If using the scalable font on the 9490 printer, the
range is
Proportionally spaced fonts do not have a set width. To
estimate the size of your field, use the letter "W" for the
widest field or an "L" for an average width field. Find your
selected font and the desired width in Appendix B, "Fonts."

NOTE:

Options for the Scalable Font:

4-200

You may need to reconfigure the printer’s
memory to accommodate large point sizes. See
"Defining the Memory Configuration Packet" in
Chapter 3 for more information.

B
D
O
R
W

A
B
E
F
N
O
S
T

Opaque, Normal, Black, Normal
Opaque, Normal, White, Normal
Transparent, Normal, Black, Normal
Transparent, Normal, White, Normal
Opaque, Normal, White, Normal

Opaque, Normal, Black, Bold
Opaque, Normal, Black, Normal
Opaque, Italics, Black, Bold
Opaque, Italics, Black, Normal
Transparent, Normal, Black, Bold
Transparent, Normal, Black, Normal
Transparent, Italics, Black, Bold
Transparent, Italics, Black, Normal

1-7

points.

(times) or

4-90

points for the scalable

NOTE:

There are two types of field color overlay attributes:

Transparent The overlay field (text or constant text) does

Opaque The overlay field blocks out (or "erases")

Line field
blocked out
by opaque
field using
attribute B

Solid black print cannot exceed 20% (for the
9490 printer) or 30% (for the 9494/9446/1460
printers) on any given square inch of the label.

not block out (or "erase") existing fields.

existing fields.

Line field not
blocked out by
transparent
field using
attribute O

4-5

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

T12. alignment Options:

Field placement in the packet is an important
consideration when using field color attributes. If a line
field is defined before the overlay (text or constant text)
field, the line field is blocked out by the overlay field,
depending on the overlay field’s color attribute. If a line
field is defined after the overlay field, the line field is not
blocked out by the overlay field, regardless of the overlay
field’s color attribute.

L
C
R
B
E

Use L, B, or E for any font.

T13. char rot Character rotation. The field or supply does not rotate,

only the characters do. Options:

0

1
2
3

T14. field rot Field rotation. Field rotation rotates the whole field, not

just the characters. Rotation is affected by the pivot
point, which varies depending on how text is justified.
Lower left corner of field is the pivot point. Options:

Align on left side of field.
Center text within field (monospaced fonts only)
Align on right side of field (monospaced fonts only)
Align at midpoint of field
Align at endpoint of the field

Top of character points to top of field
(Use for scalable font)
Top of character points to left of field
Top of character points to bottom of field
Top of character points to right of field

4-6

0
1
2
3

Top of field points to top of supply
Top of field points to left of supply
Top of field points to bottom of supply
Top of field points to right of supply

T15. sym set Symbol set. Options:

Chapter 4. Defining Fields

0
1
437
850

NOTE:

Internal Symbol Set
ANSI Symbol Set
DOS Code Page 437 (Domestic)
DOS Code Page 850 (International)

The CG Triumvirate fonts and Font #50 support
only the ANSI and DOS Code 437 and 850 Page
Symbol Sets. See Appendix C, "Symbol
Sets/Code Pages" for more information.

Example T,2,10,V,250,50,0,1,1,1,B,C,0,0,0 p

Defines a text field (field #2) with a variable length of up to 10
characters. The field begins at row 250, column 50. There is
no additional gap between characters, and the Standard font
is used without any additional magnification. The printing is
black on white and centered. No field or character rotation is
used. The internal symbol set is used.

Defining Bar Code Fields –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Each bar code field requires a separate definition.

Syntax B,field#,# of char,fix/var,row,column,

font,density,height,text,alignment,
field rot p

B1. B Bar Code Field.

B2. field# Unique number from

B3. # of char Maximum number of characters. If the bar code uses a

check digit, allow an extra character for the check digit.
The actual maximum number of characters is limited by
the size of the label and bar code density. Range:

0-2710

.

to identify this field.

0-99

4-7

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

B4. fix/var Fixed (F) or variable (V) length field.

Bar Code Number of Characters Fixed or

UPCA

UPCA+2

UPCA+5

UPCA+Price CD

UPCE

UPCE+2

UPCE+5

EAN8

EAN8+2

EAN8+5

EAN13

EAN13+2

EAN13+5

EAN13+Price CD

POSTNET

Interleaved 2 of 5

or

Interleaved I 2 of 5 with Barrier Bar

Code 39 or MOD43

Codabar (NW7)

Code 128

Code 93

MSI

PDF417

MaxiCode

Var iable

12 F

14 F

17 F

12 F

7F

9F

12 F

8F

10 F

13 F

13 F

15 F

18 F

13 F

9 or 11 F

0 to 2710 V

0 to 2710 V

depends on application V

0 to 2710 V

0 to 2710 V

0 to 14 V

0 to 2710 V

15 to 99 V

4-8

Chapter 4. Defining Fields

B5. row Distance from bottom of the print area to the pivot point of

the field. The pivot point varies, depeding on how the
field is justified. Pivot points:

Left/Center/Right-Justified Fields

Balanced Fields

Remember to include text or
numbers that may appear with the
bar code for the row measurement.

End-Justified Fields

9494/9490

English
Metric
Dots

NOTE:

The ranges above are based on a standard
memory configuration. You can create longer
labels if you purchase the Optional RAM and
reallocate memory to increase your image buffer
size. See "Defining the Memory Configuration
Packet" in Chapter 3 for more information.

ranges:

0 - 599
0 - 1523
0 - 1151

9446/1460

English
Metric
Dots

ranges:

0 - 799
0 - 2031
0 - 1535

4-9

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

B6. column Distance to the lower left corner of the field from the left

B7. font Bar code. Options:

edge of print area. Ranges:

English
Metric
Dots

NOTE:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
22
23
31
32
33
40
41
44
50

0 - 399
0 - 1015
0 - 767

Allow a minimum of
edge of bar code and label edges or other data.

UPCA
UPCE
Interleaved 2 of 5
Code 39 (no check digit)
Codabar
EAN8
EAN13
Code 128
MSI
UPCA +2
UPCA +5
UPCE +2
UPCE +5
EAN8 +2
EAN8 +5
EAN13 +2
EAN13 +5
POSTNET
Code 93
Code 16K
PDF417
MaxiCode
Code 39 (MOD 43 check digit)
UPCA & Price CD
EAN13 & Price CD
Interleaved 2 of 5 with Barrier Bar

inch between the scan

1/10

4-10

B8. density Bar code density. Use the following table for the bar code

density.

Chapter 4. Defining Fields

Barcode

Ty pe

UPCA
+2/+5

Price CD
UPCE
+2/+5 4 120% 3/15.6 9/12
EAN8
+2/+5 4 120% 3/15.6 10/13
EAN13
+2/+5

Price CD
Interleaved 1 1.0 21/109.4 1:3.0 0 to
2 of 5 2 2.0 12/62.5 1:2.5

or I 2 of 5 4 4.0 6/31.3 1:2.5
with 5 5.3 4/20.8 1:3.0
Barrier Bar 6 6.0 4/20.8 1:2.5

Code 39 1 1.3 10/52.1 1:2.5 0 to
or MOD 43 2 1.7 8/41.7 1:2.5 $%*+-./

(Extended 4 4.0 3/15.6 1:3.0 A to Z
Code 39 6 6.0 2/10.4 1:3.0
supported)

Codabar 2 2.0 8/41.7 1:3.0 0 to
(NW7) 3 2.9 6/31.3 1:2.5 0 to 9

Code 93 3 3.6 6/31.2 N/A 0 to

Density

Selector

2

4 120% 3/15.6 14/17

2

2

2

4 120% 3/15.6 15/18

3 3.0 7/36.5 1:3.0

7 7.1 3/15.6 1:3.0
8 8.3 3/15.6 1:2.3
9 9.1 3/15.6 1:2.0
10 10.6 2/10.4 1:3.0
11 10.6 2/10.4 1:3.0

12

13 13.7 2/10.4 1:2.0

3 3.3 4/20.8 1:2.5 0 to 9

7

11 3.7 4/20.8 1:2.0
12 12.0 1/5.2 1:3.0
20 2.8 5/26.0 1:2.2

4 4.3 4/20.8 1:2.5 :
5 4.7 4/20.8 1:2.0 a to d
7 7.7 2/10.4 1:3.0

8

9 9.6 2/10.4 1:2.0

4 4.3 5/26.0
5 5.3 4/20.8

7

10 10.7 2/10.4

Density

(% or cpi)

80% 2/10.4 N/A 11 or 12 1,5,6 0 to 9

80% 2/10.4 N/A 6 or 7 1,5,6 0 to 9

80% 2/10.4 N/A 7 or 8 1,5,6 0 to 9

80% 2/10.4 N/A 12 or 13 1,5,6 0 to 9

12.0 2/10.4 1:2.5

6.6 2/10.4 1:2.5

8.4 2/10.4 1:2.5

7.1 3/15.6

Narrow

Element

(dots/mils)

Narrow to

Wide

Ratio

Data

Length

2710

2710

2710

2710

Appearance

Codes

Available

or 8

7

or 8

7

or 8

7

or 8

7

8

8

8

8

Char

0 to 9

SPACE

$%*+-./

00H to
FFH

Set

4-11

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Barcode

Ty p e

Code 128 20 3.5/7.0 5/26.0 N/A 0 to
or 4 4.4/8.7 4/20.8
CODE 16K 6 5.8/11.7 3/15.6

MSI 4 4.0 4/20.8 1:2.0 0 to

Barcode

Ty p e

POSTNET

Barcode

Ty pe

PDF417
(security
levels 0-8)

MaxiCode 7 N/A N/A N/A 15-99 8 00H to

Density

Selector

8

5 5.3 3/15.6 1:2.0 2710

7

Density

Selector

0

(fixed at

4.3 cpi)

Density

Selector

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Density

(% or cpi)

8.7/17.5 2/10.4

6.9 2/10.4 1:2.5

Narrow

Element

(dots/mils)

24/125.0 10/52.1 4/20.8

Element

Width

(dots/mils)

2/10.4
2/10.4
2/10.4
3/15.6
3/15.6
3/15.6
4/20.8
4/20.8
4/20.8

Narrow

Element

(dots/mils)

Short

Element

(dots/mils)

Row

Height

(dots/mils)

2/10.4
4/20.8
6/31.3
3/15.6
6/31.3
9/46.9
4/20.8
8/41.7
12/62.5

Narrow

toWide

Ratio

Element

Width

(dots/mils)

(5 dot gap)

Aspect

Ratio

1:1
1:2
1:3
1:1
1:2
1:3
1:1
1:2
1:3

Length

2710

Length

0,5,6,9
or 11

Length

0 to
2710

Data

Data

Data

Appearance

Codes

Available

8

8

Appearance

Codes

Available

8

Appearance

Codes

Available

8

Char

Set

00H to
7FH

0 to 9

Char

Set

0 to 9

Char Set

00H to FFH

FFH

4-12

NOTE:

Values in bold indicate the default.

B9. height Bar code height, in 1/100 inches, 1/10 mm, or dots.

Minimum values:

English
Metric
Dots

NOTE:

20
51
38

POSTNET, PDF417, and MaxiCode bar codes
have a fixed height. Always enter 0 for these bar
code types.

Chapter 4. Defining Fields

B10. text Appearance of text with bar code. For UPC and EAN only

B11. alignment Choose L, R, C, B or E to align the bar code data

B12. field rot Field rotation. Lower left corner of field is the pivot point.

use

correctly in the field. B centers variable width bar codes,
which may not allow pad-character centering (Code 128,
Code 39, etc.) E right justifies variable width bar codes.
Maxicode must use L.

Options:

NOTE:

. For all others, use 8. Options:

0-7
0
1
5
6
7
8

0

1
2
3

Default
No check digit or number system
Number system at bottom, no check digit
Check digit at bottom, no number system
Check digit and number system at bottom
No text, bar code only

Top of field points to top of supply
(Use for Maxicode)
Top of field points to left of supply
Top of field points to bottom of supply
Top of field points to right of supply

Serial bar codes printed at speeds greater than

2.5 IPS may not scan properly.

Example B,3,12,V,150,40,1,2,80,7,L,0 p

Defines a bar code field (field #3) with 12 characters of
variable length starting at row 150, column 40. A UPCA bar
code with a density of 2 and a height of 80 is used. The check
digit and number system are shown at the bottom. The bar
code is left aligned without any field rotation.

Defining Non-Printable Text Fields ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Non-printable text fields allow you to enter data without
printing it in its entered form. Typically, non-printable fields
"hold" data that later combines with other fields to form a
merged field. Define non-printable text fields before you
define the field where the information prints.

4-13

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

When you copy this field into another field, the maximum
number of characters for the final field is
many characters as you need, because extra characters use
up space. Also, if you are copying into a bar code field, the
maximum number of characters in the destination bar code is
determined by the bar code specification (UPCA-12, EAN-13,
etc.). You need to apply field options to manipulate the text
entered in this field. For example, you may want to copy data
from this field into another field. See "Option 4 Copy Data" in
Chapter 5 for more information.

In the following example, data is entered into four
non-printable fields and merged to form field 5, and is then
printed as a bar code. See "Merging Fields" in Chapter 5 for
more information.

Field Data Field Type

1 20374 Non-printable
2 339 Non-printable
3 8 Non-printable
4 15 Non-printable
5 20374339815 Bar Code

. Allow only as

2710

Each non-printable text field requires a separate definition.

Syntax D,field#,# of char p

D1. D Non-Printable Text Field.

D2. field# Unique number from

D3. # of char Maximum number of characters in this field (

Example D,4,20 p

Defines a non-printable text field (field #4) with a maximum of
20 characters.

4-14

assigned to this field.

0-99

0-2710

).

Chapter 4. Defining Fields

Defining Constant Text Fields–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A constant text field is a set of fixed characters that prints on
all labels. Define each constant text field separately. This
field is not assigned a field number, but is counted as a field
(keep this in mind, as the printer allows a maximum of
fields per format). The characters in this field cannot be
changed by batch data. Field options do not apply to constant
text fields.

Determine the height and the maximum width of the
characters, using the tables in Appendix B, "Fonts." If you’re
using proportionally spaced fonts, use the average size of the
characters. Mark the pivot point of your field. This will vary,
depending on how your field is justified.

Syntax C,row,column,gap,font,hgt mag,

wid mag,color,alignment,char rot,
field rot,"fixed char",sym set p

C1. C Constant Text Field.

100

C2. row For monospaced fonts, distance from bottom of print area

to the pivot point. For proportionally spaced fonts,
distance from bottom of print area to baseline of
characters in the field. (Bottom exits the printer first.)

9494/9490

English
Metric
Dots

NOTE:

The ranges above are based on a standard
memory configuration. You can create longer
labels if you purchase the Optional RAM and
reallocate memory to increase your image buffer
size. See "Defining the Memory Configuration
Packet" in Chapter 3 for more information.

ranges:

0 - 599
0 - 1523
0 - 1151

9446/1460

English
Metric
Dots

ranges:

0 - 799
0 - 2031
0 - 1535

4-15

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

C3. column Distance to lower left corner of field, from left edge of

C4. gap Number of dots between characters. Range:

C5. font Style of font. Options:

C6. hgt mag Height magnifier,

print area. Ranges:

English
Metric
Dots

Standard

1

Reduced

2

Bold

3

CG Triumvirate Bold (scalable)

50

NOTE:

scalable font. If using the scalable font on the 9490
printer, the range is
with proportionally spaced fonts, because characters lose
smoothness at higher magnifications for all fonts.

0 - 399
0 - 1015
0 - 767

.

0-99

4

If you have purchased optional fonts, refer to the
Optional Fonts manual for valid selectors. The
scalable font (Font #50) must be purchased
separately for the 9446 and 1460 printers. The
CG Triumvirate fonts and Font #50 support only
the ANSI and DOS Code 437 and 850 Page
Symbol Sets. See Appendix C, "Symbol
Sets/Code Pages" for more information.

OCRA-like

CG Triumvirate Bold

10

CG Triumvirate

11

(times) or

1-7

4-200

4-90

points. Use a magnifier of

points for the

1

4-16

C7. wid mag Width magnifier,

font. If using the scalable font on the 9490 printer, the
range is

NOTE:

C8. color Options for Standard Printer Fonts:

4-200

You may need to reconfigure the printer’s
memory to accommodate large point sizes. See
"Defining the Memory Configuration Packet" in
Chapter 3 for more information.

B
D
O
R
W

Opaque, Normal, Black, Normal
Opaque, Normal, White, Normal
Transparent, Normal, Black, Normal
Transparent, Normal, White, Normal
Opaque, Normal, White, Normal

1-7

points.

(times) or

4-90

points for the scalable

Options for the Scalable Font:

Chapter 4. Defining Fields

A
B
E
F
N
O
S
T

NOTE:

There are two types of field color overlay attributes:

Transparent The overlay field (text or constant text) does

Opaque The overlay field blocks out (or "erases")

Field placement in the packet is an important
consideration when using field color attributes. If a line
field is defined before the overlay (text or constant text)
field, the line field is blocked out by the overlay field,
depending on the overlay field’s color attribute. If a line
field is defined after the overlay field, the line field is not
blocked out by the overlay field, regardless of the overlay
field’s color attribute.

C9. alignment Alignment of constant text in the field. Options:

Opaque, Normal, Black, Bold
Opaque, Normal, Black, Normal
Opaque, Italics, Black, Bold
Opaque, Italics, Black, Normal
Transparent, Normal, Black, Bold
Transparent, Normal, Black, Normal
Transparent, Italics, Black, Bold
Transparent, Italics, Black, Normal

Solid black print cannot exceed 20% (for the

9490 printer) or 30% (for the 9494/9446/1460
printers) on any given square inch of the label.

not block out (or "erase") existing fields.

existing fields.

L
C

R

B
E

Use L, B, or E for any font.

C10. char rot Character rotation. Options:

0

1
2
3

Align on left side of field.
Center text within field
(for monospaced fonts only)
Align on right side of field
(for monospaced fonts only)
Align at midpoint of field
Align at end of field.

Top of character points to top of field
(Use for scalable font)
Top of character points to left of field
Top of character points to bottom of field
Top of character points to right of field

4-17

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

C11. field rot Field rotation. Lower left corner of field is the pivot point.

C12. "fixed char" Fixed characters to appear in the field. Maximum

C13. sym set Symbol set. Options:

Options:

0
1
2
3

NOTE:

characters. Enclose in quotation marks.

0
1
437
850

NOTE:

Top of overlay points to top of supply
Top of overlay points to left of supply
Top of overlay points to bottom of supply
Top of overlay points to right of supply

Rotation is affected by the pivot point, which
varies depending on how text is justified.

Internal Symbol Set
ANSI Symbol Set
DOS Code Page 437 (Domestic)
DOS Code Page 850 (Multilingual)

The CG Triumvirate fonts and Font #50 support
only the ANSI and DOS Code 437 and 850 Page
Symbol Sets. See Appendix C, "Symbol
Sets/Code Pages" for more information.

Example C,30,10,0,1,1,1,B,L,0,0,"MADE IN USA",0 p

Defines a constant text field starting at row 30, column 10. It
does not have any additional inter-character gap. The
Standard font is used without any additional magnification.
The printing is black on white and left justified. No field or
character rotation is used. "MADE IN USA" is printed in this
field. The internal symbol set is used.

2710

Defining Line Fields –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Use lines to form borders and mark out original prices. Define
each line separately. This field is not assigned a field number,
but is counted as a field (keep this in mind, as the printer
allows a maximum of
any line length and a thickness up to 99 dots, as long as the
solid black print does not exceed 20 percent (for the 9490
printer) or 30 percent (for the 9494/9446/1460 printers) of any
given square inch of the label.

4-18

fields per format). You can define

100

Line Types

Chapter 4. Defining Fields

You can create horizontal and vertical lines. There are two
ways to define lines.

Segments

You choose the starting point and ending
point.

Vectors

You choose the starting point, the angle,
and the length of the line.

Syntax L,type,row,column,angle/end row,length/ end

col,thickness,"pattern" p

L1. L Line Field.

L2. type Type of line. Only vertical and horizontal lines are

L3. row Distance from bottom of print area

supported. Options:

S

V

to the starting point.

Segment. You choose the starting point and
ending point.

Vector. You choose the starting point, angle,
and length.

9490/9494

English
Metric
Dots

NOTE:

The ranges above are based on a standard
memory configuration. You can create longer
labels if you purchase the Optional RAM and
reallocate memory to increase your image buffer
size. See "Defining the Memory Configuration
Packet" in Chapter 3 for more information.

ranges:

0 - 599
0 - 1523
0 - 1151

9446/1460

English
Metric
Dots

ranges:

0 - 799
0 - 2031
0 - 1535

4-19

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

L4. column Distance from left edge of the print area to line origin.

L5. angle/
end row

L6. length/
end col

Ranges:

English
Metric
Dots

If Using Segments

Row location of ending point. Measure from bottom of
print area. Ranges same as row above. On horizontal
lines, this value must match item L3.

If Using

Angle of line. Options: 0, 90,

, or

180

If Using

Column location of end point. Measure from left edge of
print area. Ranges same as column above. On vertical
lines, this value must match parameter L4.

If Using

0 - 399
0 - 1015
0 - 767

Vec tors

.

270

Segments

Vec tors

4-20

Length of the line in selected units.

Ranges for horizontal lines:

English
Metric
Dots

9494/9490

vertical line ranges:

English
Metric
Dots

0 - 400
0 - 1016
0 - 768

9446/1460

vertical line ranges:

0 - 600
0 - 1524
0 - 1152

English
Metric
Dots

0 - 800
0 - 2033
0 - 1536

Chapter 4. Defining Fields

L7. thickness Using the chart below for reference, write the desired line

L8. "pattern" Line pattern. Only one pattern is supported on these

thickness (1 to 99) in box L7. Measured in dots.

NOTE:

printers. Enter "".

Line thickness fills upward on horizontal lines, or
to the right on vertical lines.

Example L,S,110,30,110,150,10,"" p

Defines a horizontal line field as a segment starting at row
110, column 30 and ending at row 110, column 150. The line
thickness is 10 dots.

Defining Box Fields––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Use boxes to form borders or highlight items of interest.
Define each box field separately. This field is not assigned a
field number, but is counted as a field (keep this in mind, as
the printer allows a maximum of
can define any line length and a thickness up to 99 dots, as
long as the solid black print does not exceed 20 percent (for
the 9490 printer) or 30 percent (for the 9494/9446/1460
printers) of any given square inch of the label.

fields per format). You

100

4-21

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Syntax Q,row,column,end row,end col,thickness,

"pattern" p

Q1. Q Box (Quadrilateral) Field.

Q2. row Distance from bottom of print area

Q3. column Distance from left edge of print area

to lower left corner of box.

9490/9494

NOTE:

to lower left corner of box.

ranges:

English
Metric
Dots

English
Metric
Dots

0 - 599
0 - 1523
0 - 1151

The ranges above are based on a standard
memory configuration. You can create longer
labels if you purchase the Optional RAM and
reallocate memory to increase your image buffer
size. See "Defining the Memory Configuration
Packet" in Chapter 3 for more information.

0 - 399
0 - 1015
0 - 767

9446/1460

English
Metric
Dots

ranges:

0 - 799
0 - 2031
0 - 1535

4-22

Q4. end row Distance from bottom of print area

to upper right corner of box.
Ranges same as row.

Chapter 4. Defining Fields

Q5. end col Distance from left edge of print

area to upper right corner of
box. Ranges same as column.

Q6. thickness Using the chart below for reference, write the desired line

thickness (

1 to 99

) in box Q6. Measure in dots.

NOTE:

Q7. "pattern" Line pattern. Only one pattern is supported on these

printers. Enter "".

Line thickness fills upward on horizontal lines, or
to the right on vertical lines.

Example Q,240,30,270,150,3,"" p

Defines a box field starting at row 240, column 30. It ends at
row 270, column 150. It has a thickness of 3 dots.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

4-24

Chapter 5. Defining Field Options

This chapter provides a reference for defining

field options in formats

✦

check digit packets.

✦

Applying Field Options ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Field options further define text, bar code, and non-printable
text fields. The text, constant text, or bar code field must be
previously defined before you can apply any field option to it.
Define options immediately after the field to which they apply.

Combining Field Options

You can use more than one option with most fields. For
example, you can use Option 4 to copy data from another
field, and then use Option 30 to pad the field. When you use
multiple options for the same field, you must place the options
in the order you want to apply them to your format.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Restrictions

Some options cannot be used together. For example,
incrementing (Option 60) and price field (Option 42) options
cannot be applied to the same field. See the following
sections addressing individual options for specific
combinations to avoid.

Option 4 (copy a field) is the only option that can be repeated
for a single field.

Example R,1,3,1,3,1,1 p

Syntax R,option#,parameter...parameter p

R1. R Indicates field option header.

R2. option# Option number:

1
4
30
31
42
50
51
52
60
61

R3. parameter(s) Varies per option. See the following option descriptions.

Define fixed characters
Copy data from previous field
Pad data to left or right with specified character
Generate check digit
Format as a price field
Define bar code densities
Define security and truncation of PDF417 bar codes
Define width or length of PDF417 bar codes
Define incrementing or decrementing field
Reimage fields

5-2

Chapter 5. Defining Field Options

Option 1 (Fixed Data) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Fixed data is information (a company name or store number)
you want to print on all labels. You can define fixed
characters for an entire field or for part of a field.

Syntax R,1,"fixed char" p

R1. R Option Header.

R2. 1 Option 1.

R3. fixed char Characters to insert. Enclose in quotation marks. If you

are defining fixed characters for part of a field, place
underscores (_) in non-fixed positions. Any spaces in the
phrase are fixed characters. Range: 0 -

2710

.

NOTE:

Underscore characters are stripped out and the
data is compressed if no data is supplied by the
batch and the field length is variable.

Example R,1,"_ _ _%$_ _ _ _ _" p

Uses fixed characters (%$) in positions four and five. The
other positions are variable.

Example R,1,"MONARCH" p

"MONARCH" appears as a fixed field in this example.

To fill in the non-fixed portion of the field, see "Defining Batch
Data Fields" in Chapter 6. As an alternative, you can apply
Option 4 to copy data into the non-fixed character positions.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Option 4 (Copy Data) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

You can create a field that uses data from another field. This
is useful for creating merged fields or sub-fields. You can
copy the information from multiple fields into one field by
applying the copy procedure more than once. Copy data is
the only option you can apply to a field more than once.

The maximum number of characters defined in box T3 or

B3

must allow for the number of characters you place in the field,
including any price, check digit, or fixed characters inserted by
the printer. The maximum number of characters in the field

n

into which data is copied cannot exceed
number of characters permitted by the

bar code

When copying from more than one field, copy into the

or the maximum

2710

.

destination field from left to right.

Syntax R,4,src fld,src start,# to copy,dest start,copy

code p

R1. R Field Option Header.

R2. 4 Option 4.

R3. src fld Field number from which data is copied. Range: 0 -

R4. src start Position number in the source field of the first character to

R5. # to copy Number of characters to copy. Range: 1 -

R6. dest start Position number where copied characters are to begin

be copied. Character positions are numbered 1 to
starting from the left.

2710

printing in the destination field. Range: 1 -

2710

999

2710

.

.

.

,

R7. copy code Copy Method.

Example R,4,3,1,3,1,1 p

5-4

1

2

Copy field as is (including price symbols,
pad characters, check digits, etc.).

Copy unformatted data (without price characters,
pad characters, etc.).

Copies data from field #3, starting at the first position and
copying three characters. In the destination field, the
information is placed in position 1 and copied as formatted
data.

Merging Fields

You can copy data to merge the contents of fields. Use the
copy data option as many times as necessary to copy all the
appropriate fields into the merged field.

In the following example, two text and two non-printable fields
are shown. Data from these fields is merged to form field 5,
and is then printed as a bar code.

Field Data Field Type

1 203 Non-printable
2 339 Non-printable
38 Text
4BLUE Text
5 2033398BLUE Bar Code

Chapter 5. Defining Field Options

Sub-Fields

To create this sequence:

Define fields 1, 2, 3, and 4.

1.

Define field 5 as a bar code. Allow enough characters in

2.

the bar code field to hold all the copied characters.

Apply Option 4 to field 5 once for every source field.

3.

You can copy a segment of data from one field into a new
location, called a sub-field. For example, extract part of the
data in a bar code and display it in text form in a sub-field.
Then, use the copy data option.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Option 30 (Padding Data) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

You can add characters to one side of a field to "pad" the field.
Padding allows you to fill in the remaining spaces when the
entered data does not fill an entire field.

If a variable length field is not completely filled with batch
data, this option fills the remaining positions in the field with
the character designated by Option 30.

Syntax R,30,L/R,"character" p

R1. R Field Option Header.

R2. 30 Option 30.

R3. L/R Indicates type of padding

Pad field on left side

L

Pad field on right side

R

R4. "character" Pad character must be within the 0 -

Example R,30,L,"X" p

Pads data with an "X" on the left side of the field.

Sample Use for Padding

If you have a variable length bar code that you want to occupy
a fixed amount of space on the supply, use pad characters. If
the maximum number of characters in the bar code is 15, but
the batch record only has 10 characters, the padding option
fills the remainder of the field with pad characters.

5-6

and enclosed inside quotation marks.

NOTE:

Do not use on fixed length fields.

decimal range

255

Chapter 5. Defining Field Options

Option 31 (Calculate Check Digit) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The printer generates a check digit if you apply Option 31 to
the field. You cannot use this option if the field contains a
UPC, EAN, Code 39 (with the MOD43 check digit), Maxicode,
or POSTNET bar code.

Syntax R,31,gen/ver,check digit # p

R1. R Field Option Header.

R2. 31 Option 31.

R3. gen/ver Enter G to generate a check digit.

R4. check digit # Specifies a check digit scheme. Enter a number that

Example R,31,G,5 p

Generates a check digit using the previously defined check
digit scheme 5.

identifies a check digit scheme that has been defined.
For more information, see "Using Check Digits." Range:

- 10.

1

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Option 42 (Price Field) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

You can apply options that will insert monetary symbols
automatically. Do not use this option with Option 31 (define a
check digit) or Option 60 (increment or decrement a field).
This option is not recommended for bar codes. When
determining the maximum number of characters, add the
maximum number of digits and the monetary symbols.

Syntax R,42,appearance code p

R1. R Field Option Header.

R2. 42 Option 42.

R3. appearance
code

Example R,42,1 p

Uses a price field that prints the monetary symbol and
notations as defined in the monetary formatting packet.

Enter 1 to print price field in standard notation, as defined
by country setting.

Use the monetary formatting packet to select monetary
notations and symbols by country setting. See "Defining
the Monetary Formatting Packet" in Chapter 3 for more
information.
See Appendix C, "Symbol Sets/Code Pages," to make
sure the monetary symbol you want to use is printable in
the font selected for this field. For monetary symbols
other than the dollar sign, use the internal symbol set.

5-8

Chapter 5. Defining Field Options

Option 50 (Bar Code Density)–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

You can apply this option to bar code fields when you want to
create custom densities. When you apply this option, it
overrides the density value in the bar code field.

When using this option, set the density parameter in your bar
code field to the default value. You can only use this option
once for each bar code field. This option overrides the density
selected in the bar code field.

Bar codes produced using Option 50 may not be scannable.
The additional character gap, narrow space, and wide space
parameters are valid
If these parameters are specified for any other bar codes, they
will be ignored by the printer. Do not use Option 50 with fixed
density bar codes such as Maxicode or POSTNET.

Syntax R,50,narrow,wide,gap,nar_space,wide_space p

R1. R Field Option Header.

with Code 39, Codabar or PDF417.

only

R2. 50 Option 50.

R3. narrow Dot width of the narrow element. Range:

R4. wide Dot width of the wide element. Height of each element for

PDF417). Range:

R5. gap Additional dot space between characters. Enter a value

of 1 to

R6. nar_space Additional dot width of the narrow bar code space. (Code

39 and Codabar only). Range:

R7. wide_space Additional dot width of the wide bar code space. (Code

39 and Codabar only). Range:

Example R,50,4,8,4,4,8 p

Creates a custom bar code density with a narrow element of 4
dots, a wide element of 8 dots, a gap of 4 dots, 4 additional
dot widths for the narrow bar code space, and 8 additional dot
widths for the wide bar code space (if this is a Code 39 or
Codabar bar code).

.

1-99

. (Code 39 and Codabar only.)

99

1- 99

1- 99

.

1-99

.

.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Option 51 (PDF417 Security/Truncation)–––––––––––––––––––––––

You can define a security level and choose whether or not to
truncate a PDF417 bar code. Higher security levels add data
to a bar code, improving scan reliability. Some damaged bar
codes may still be scannable if the security level is high
enough. You can use this option to create standard PDF417
bar codes or use the truncated option to create a narrower bar
code. This option can appear only once per PDF417 field, in
any order, following the bar code field.

As the security level is increased, so is the size of your
PDF417 bar code. For each level increased, the bar code will
double in size.

Syntax R,51,security,stand/default p

R1. R Indicates option header.

R2. 51 Indicates Option 51.

R3. security Security level ranges from

R4. stand/def Truncation selector. Valid values:

Example R,51,2,S p

Defines a security level of 2 for a standard PDF417 bar code.

5-10

is the default).

0-8 (0

Higher security levels add data to a bar code, improving
scan reliability. Some damaged bar codes may still be
scannable if the security level is high enough.

S
T

(default) a standard PDF417 bar code

truncated

Chapter 5. Defining Field Options

Option 52 (PDF417 Width/Length) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

This option defines the image width or length of a PDF417 bar
code. If you define a fixed number of columns (width), the bar
code expands in length. If you define a fixed number of rows
(length), the bar code expands in width.

Column value does not include start/stop or left/right indicator
columns.

If this option does not immediately follow the PDF417 bar code
field, the default settings are used. You can only use this
option once per PDF417 bar code field.

Syntax R,52,row/column,dimension p

R1. R Indicates option header.

R2. 52 Indicates Option 52.

R3. row/column Indicates if you are defining the number of rows or

columns.

R4. dimension The number of rows or columns defined for the bar code.

Example R,52,C,10 p

Defines the column width of 10, which expands the PDF417
bar code length by 10.

R
C

If you specify rows, the bar code expands in columns,
or vice versa.

The default is 4. Valid values:

3-90
1-30

Row
Column

for rows
for columns

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Option 60 (Incrementing/Decrementing Fields)––––––––––––––––––

You may have an application, such as serial numbers, in which
you need a numeric field to increment (increase in value) or
decrement (decrease in value) on successive tickets within a
single batch. Incrementing or decrementing can be applied to

numeric

and digits, apply incrementing or decrementing to only the
portion of the field that contains digits. Do not use with Option
42 (price field).

Syntax R,60,I/D,amount,l pos,r pos p

R1. R Field Option Header.

R2. 60 Option 60.

data only. If you have a field that includes letters

R3. I/D

R4. amount Amount to increase or decrease. Range:

R5. l pos Leftmost position in inc/dec portion of field. If this value

R6. r pos Rightmost position in inc/dec portion of field. If this value

I
D

is not entered, the default value 1 is used. Range:

2710

is not used, the entire field length is used as the default.
Range:

incrementing field
decrementing field

.

0 - 2710

.

Example R,60,I,5,1,6 p

Increments a field by 5 each time the field is printed. The field
increments beginning with the first left position and ending
with the sixth position.

Fixing the First Number in the Incrementing Sequence

There are two ways to enter the first number in the
incrementing sequence. You can use batch data or use Option
1 to define the first number as a fixed character.The first
number in the sequence must contain the same amount of digits
as the highest number to be counted. For example, to count the
numbers 1 to
entered as

001

, the first number in the sequence must be

999

.

0- 99

.

0 -

5-12

Chapter 5. Defining Field Options

Option 61 (Reimage Field) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

This option redraws (reimages) a constant field when you have
a constant field next to a variable field on your label. It can be
used on text, constant text, bar code, line, or box fields.

These printers do not redraw an area if the field data does not
change. When a field changes, that area is cleared and the
new field data is imaged. However, the new field data may
require a larger area than the previous field did. In some
cases, neighboring fields that do not change (constant fields)
may be covered with white space from the changing field’s
(variable fields) area. Use this option to reimage the constant
field, or it may appear broken.

n

Syntax R,61 p

Example R,61 p

The most common use for this option is with incrementing
fields on your label, because they may cover a constant field.

R1. R Option Header.

R2. 61 Option 61.

Reimages the constant field that appears next to a variable
field.

Re-Image ON

In the above example, Option 61 was applied to the bar code
field to keep the incrementing field (Box #) from blocking out
the bar code field.

Re-Image OFF

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Using Check Digits –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Check digits are typically used to ensure that a text or bar
code field scans correctly. If you apply Option 31, the printer
calculates a check digit. A check digit scheme determines
how the printer calculates a check digit. When you define a
check digit scheme, you assign a number to identify it. This
number is later entered in box R4 when you apply Option 31 to
a field. You can use check digits with text or bar code fields.
Check digit calculations are performed on numeric data only.

Do not use check digits with price fields. Do not define a
check digit scheme for these bar codes, because they have
predefined check digits: UPC, EAN, Code 39 (with the MOD43
check digit), Code 93, PDF417, Maxicode, or POSTNET.

Syntax {A,selector,action,device,modulus,

fld_length,D/P,"weights" p }

A1. A Check Digit Header.

5-14

A2. selector Assign a number from

A3. action Adds a check digit scheme. Enter A.

A4. device Device. Use R.

A5. modulus Number from

A6. fld_length The maximum number of characters the field will contain.

A7. D/P Algorithm. The algorithm determines how the check digit

A8. "weights

sum of products or the sum of digits.

Range:

is calculated. Options:

String of digits used for calculation. A weight string is a

"

group of two or more numbers that is applied to a field.
The number of digits in this string should equal the
number in fld_length. Enclose in quotation marks.
Range:

D
P

0 - 2710

sum of digits
sum of products

0 - 2710

. The modulus is used to divide the

2-11

.

.

to this check digit formula.

1-10

Example {A,1,A,R,10,5,P,"65432" p }

Adds check digit scheme number 1 to the printer’s memory.
The modulus is 10, the maximum number of characters in the
field is 5. The check digit is calculated by using the Sum of
Products and the string of digits used in the calculation is
"65432."

Sum of P roduct s Ca lculat ion

This is an example of how the printer uses Sum of Products to
calculate a check digit for this data:

5 2 3 2 4 5 2 1 9

Weights are applied to each digit, starting with the last

1.

digit in the weight string. They are applied right to left,
beginning at the right-most position of the field.
Remember, a weight string must contain at least two
different numbers. This example has a weight string
of

1,2,3,4

.

Chapter 5. Defining Field Options

field:

weight string:

Each digit in the field is multiplied by the weight assigned

2.

to it:

field:

weight string:

products:

Next, the product of each digit is added together. This is

3.

the sum of the products.

20 + 2 + 6 + 6 + 16 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 36 = 98

5 2 3 2 4 5 2 1 9

4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

5 2 3 2 4 5 2 1 9

4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

20 2 6 6 16 5 4 3 36

5-15

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Divide the sum of the products by the modulus (10 in this

4.

case), only to the whole number. The balance is called
the remainder.

9

10 98

90
8

Subtract the remainder from the modulus.

5.

The result becomes the check digit. In this case, the
check digit is 2.

10 - 8 = 2

Sum of Digits Calculation

This is an example of how the printer uses Sum of Digits to
calculate a check digit for this data:

5 2 3 2 4 5 2 1 9

5-16

Weights are applied to each digit, starting with the last

1.

digit in the weight string. They are applied right to left,
beginning at the right-most position of the field.
Remember, a weight string must contain at least two
different numbers. This example has a weight string
of

1,2,3,4

field:

weight string:

Each digit in the field is multiplied by the weight assigned

2.

to it:

field:

weight string:

products:

.

5 2 3 2 4 5 2 1 9

4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

5 2 3 2 4 5 2 1 9

4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

20 2 6 6 16 5 4 3 36

Chapter 5. Defining Field Options

Next, the digits of the products are added together.

3.

Two-digit products are treated as two separate digits.
This is the sum of the digits.

2 + 0 + 2 + 6 + 6 + 1 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 3 + 6 = 44

Divide the sum of the digits by the modulus (10 in this

4.

case), only to the whole number. The balance is called
the remainder.

4

10 44

40
4

Subtract the remainder from the modulus.

5.

The result becomes the check digit. In this case, the
check digit is 6.

10 - 4 = 6

5-17

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

5-18

Chapter 6. Printing

This chapter describes how to

download files to the printer

✦

define the batch header, batch control, and batch data

✦

files

modify formats

✦

create DOS batch files.

✦

Turn on the printer and make sure it is ready to receive data
before you download. See your host’s documentation, system
administrator, or "Downloading Methods" for information on
ways to download.

When downloading, send your packets in this order:

1. Memory configuration packets (M)

2. Configuration packets (A-F)

3. Any of the following:

Check digit packets (see Chapter 5)

✦

Format packets (see Chapter 4)

✦

Graphic packets (Refer to the MPCLII Graphics Manual)

✦

4. Batch data (see "Defining the Batch Header")

To download from a PC:

1. Check that the PC and the printer are connected.

2. Check that communications have been established

between the PC and the printer.

6-1

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

3. Send the communication settings packet to select the

printer’s communication settings. See "Defining the
Communication Settings Packet" in Chapter 3 for more
information. Make sure the settings match those at the
host before sending any packets to the printer.

4. Type this command at the DOS prompt:

COPY LABEL1.FMT COM1

Transmits a file called "LABEL1.FMT" to COM1.

COPY LABEL1.BCH COM1

Transmits a batch called "LABEL1.BCH" to COM1.

If you use the COPY command to download your formats, set
flow control to DTR (not XON/XOFF). Also, do not use the
MS-DOS prompt from inside Windows, because you will get a
framing error.

Defining the Batch Header –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

6-2

Batch data is the actual information printed on the supply.
Batch data fills in the format’s text, bar code, and
non-printable text fields.

A batch packet contains three parts:

batch header identifies the format and how many labels

to print.

batch control defines the print job.

batch data
(optional)

defines the actual information printed on
the label.

A batch header begins the file. It tells which format the batch
uses and how many labels to print. To record batch data,
make a copy of the worksheet in Appendix D, "Format Design
To o l s . "

Syntax {B,format#,N/U,quantity p

B1. B Batch Header.

B2. format# Format number (0-99) to use.

B3. N/U Controls how image is generated.

Chapter 6. Printing

B4. quantity Quantity to print (0-32000).

Example {B,1,N,1 p

Defines a batch header that uses format #1 and reimages all
fields using the online data. One label is printed with this
batch.

N New. Erase image and re-image all fields using

online data. Any missing fields will be blank.

U Update last image with 1 or more fields.

All other fields remain the same as the last
queued batch.

NOTE: Using 0 pre-images the field to reduce the

imaging time for labels. See "Batch Quantity
Zero Method" for more information.

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MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

Defining the Batch Control Field––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The batch header must precede this field. The batch control
field defines the print job and applies only to the batch that
immediately follows.

Syntax E,feed_mode,batch_sep,print_mult,

multi_part,cut_type,cut_mult p

E1. E Batch Control Field.

E2. feed_mode Feed Mode. Options:

0 Continuous Feed (9494/9490/9446)
1 On-demand
2 Internal rewind (9446)

E3. batch_sep Batch Separator (striped label in between batches).

Options:

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

E4. print_mult Number of tags with the same image.

E5. multi_part Number of identical parts on one tag.

E6. cut_type 0 is the only valid option.

E7. cut_mult 0 is the only valid option.

Example E,0,1,4,2,0,0 p

Defines a batch control field. Continuous feed mode is used
and a separator prints between batches. Four tags have the
same image and there are two identical parts on one tag. The
last two parameters are 0, because a knife is not available on
these priners.

6-4

1 to 999

1 to 5

Chapter 6. Printing

Defining Batch Data Fields –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Batch data fields should be sent in field number order. Use
continuation fields for large amounts of data. If you are using
N (New) in the batch header, you must list all fields with your
data in sequence. If you are using U, you need to list only
those fields and data that changes from the last printed batch.

Syntax field#,"data string" p

C,"continuation" p

field# Identifies the text, bar code, or non-printable text field in

which to insert the following data. Range: 0 - 99.

"data string" Provides the actual information to appear in fields.

C Identifies information to be appended to the data string.

"continuation" Provides the actual information to be added to the batch

Enclose in quotation marks. Range: 0 - 2710.

(This parameter is optional.)

packet. Enclose in quotation marks. Use this option to
break up longer fields. (This parameter is optional.)

Example 1,"Size 12" p

2,"" p
3,"Blue" p
C,"and this would be appended." p

Defines a batch data field. "Size 12" prints in field #1, a blank
line appears in field #2, "Blue and this would be appended"
prints in field #3.

Using Special Characters in Batch Data

There are two ways to specify special characters in batch data:

Place a tilde (~) before the character

✦

Use a tilde with the decimal ASCII equivalent

✦

6-5

MPCLII Packet Reference Manual

For example, you can use "" or ~034 to print the " character in
your batch data. Use ~~ to print the ~ character in your batch
data; otherwise, the tilde characters is ignored. You can also
use ~XXX where XXX is the decimal equivalent or an
unprintable character.

Sample Batch Data with Special Characters

p

{B,1,N,1

1,"123~034456789"

2,"~094983~‘126LG4451"

p

~034 is " 123"456789

Decimal Character What Prints

p

~094 is ^

~126 is ~

^983~‘LG4451

Merged or Sub- Fields

If a field is completely filled by data copied from other fields,
use quotation marks without spaces between them for the
"data string" parameter.

Incrementing Fields

In incrementing fields, the first number in the sequence must
contain the same number of digits as the highest number to be
counted. For example, to increment the numbers in a field
from 1 to 999, enter the starting number in the batch as 001.

Downloading Methods ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Depending on your application, you can download the format
and batch data using one of three methods: sequential
method, batch method, batch quantity zero method.

Sequentia l Met hod

Using the sequential method, you send all your format and
batch data at one time. Use this method when your
application does not require operator intervention to input
data. All data is sent down at one time, and the printer then
images each field. As soon as the last field is imaged, your
labels begin to print.

6-6