UBI EasyCoder 91/300 dpi, EasyCoder 91 User Manual

UBI EasyCoder™ 91/300 dpi

EasyCoder 91

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User's Manual

Addendum to

Edition 1

June 1996 • Art. No. 1-960412-00

EasyCoder 91/300 dpi – Addendum to User's Manual

INTRODUCTION

New High Density Model

Models and Options

Memory

Print Width

Modified Programming
Instructions

Previously, EasyCoder 91 printers have only been available with a printhead
density of 8 dots/mm (203.2 dots per inch). Now (June 1996), UBI introduces
a high density version of EasyCoder 91 with a printhead density of 300 dots
per inch (dpi), which is equal to 11.81 dots/mm.

EasyCoder 91/300 dpi is available both in dedicated direct thermal models as
well as dual-capable direct thermal/thermal transfer models, and with the
same options as the 8 dots/mm printers.

The high density printhead require more memory space for the image buffer.
Thus, the EasyCoder 91/300 dpi is, as standard, delivered with a memory
cartridge bringing up the memory space to a total of 256 Kbytes. With an
optional larger memory cartridge, the memory can be expanded to a total of
512 Kbytes.

The maximum print width for the 300 dpi printhead is 105.7 mm (±0.2 mm),
which is equal to 4.16 inches.

The new printhead density affects some programming instructions in the
User's Manual (Edition 2). Please add the information given on the pages to
follow.

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EasyCoder 91/300 dpi – Addendum to User's Manual

A COMMAND – PRINT TEXT

Description This command is used to print an ASCII text string.

Syntax Ap

Parameters

p

1

p

2

p

3

p

4

p

5

p

6

p

7

"DATA" Represents a fixed data field.

1,p2,p3,p4,p5,p6,p7

Horizontal start position (X) in dots
Vertical start position (Y) in dots

0 No Rotation
1 90 degrees rotation clockwise
2 180 degrees rotation clockwise
3 270 degrees rotation clockwise

Font selection2:

1 20.3 cpi, 6 points, (8 x 12 dots) 25 cpi, 4 points, (12 x 20 dots)
2 16.9 cpi, 7 points, (10 x 16 dots) 18.75 cpi, 6 points, (16 x 28 dots)
3 14.5 cpi, 10 points, (12 x 20 dots) 15 cpi, 8 points (20 x 36 dots)
4 12.7 cpi, 12 points, (14 x 24 dots) 12.5 cpi, 10 points, (24 x 44 dots)
5 5.6 cpi, 24 points, (32 x 48 dots) 6.25 cpi, 21 points, (48 x 80 dots)

Horizontal multiplier 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8.
(Magnifies the text horizontally)
Vertical multiplier 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
(Magnifies the text vertically)

N Normal image
R Reverse image

,"DATA"

1

8 dots/mm (203.2 dpi) 11.81 dots/mm (300 dpi)

(page 58)

1

/. When using reverse image, space must be provided for the black background. Thus, vertical start

position ≥ 2 dots must be used.

2

/. Fonts 1 - 5 are fixed pitch. For character availability maps, see Appendix 3 “Fonts, Code Pages and

Character Sets”.

(The remaining part of this command is not changed and has therefore been omitted.)

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EasyCoder 91/300 dpi – Addendum to User's Manual

M COMMAND – MEMORY ALLOCATION

(page 91)

Description This command is used to allocate or partition the printer's memory into separate areas

for image buffer, forms, graphics, and soft fonts (not used).

Syntax Mp
Parameters

1,p2,p3

p

1

p

2

p

3

Image buffer area in whole Kbytes
Form memory area in whole Kbytes
Graphic memory area in whole Kbytes
All remaining memory will be allocated as soft font memory.

Remarks The command to allocate the memory may have to be performed to initialize the printer

if the current memory areas are too small.

IMPORTANT:

The M command will also erase all forms and graphics and return printer default
settings.

The M command line will set image buffer, form and graphic memory area. The
remainder will automatically be allocated to a Soft Fonts Memory, a feature presently
not used in EasyCoder 91. As standard, the printer's memory is allocated like this:

1

/. Also called E-memory.

2

/. Typical memory setup for
an 8 dots/mm printer with a
128 Kbyte memory cartridge:
M118,63,63
The proportions between
form and graphics memory
may be changed. e.g.

M118,20,106

8 dots/mm (203.2 dpi) 11.81 dots/mm (300 dpi)

• Internal memory size: 128 Kbytes 128 Kbytes

• Memory cartridge: Optional, see below 128 Kbytes (standard)

• Image buffer: 106 Kbytes 188 Kbytes

• Form memory: 5.1 Kbytes 5 Kbytes

• Graphics memory: 5 Kbytes 5 Kbytes

• Soft fonts memory

1

: 3 Kbytes 47 Kbytes

• The printer's firmware requires approx. 9 Kbytes regardless of printhead density.
EasyCoder 91 can be fitted with a memory cartridge containing an additional 128

kbytes (standard in the 300 dpi versions) or 384 kbytes of RAM. When memory is
allocated, the printer's internal memory is used first. Thus, when using memory
cartridges, allocate at least 118 kbytes to the image buffer to make sure that forms and
graphics are stored in the removable memory cartridge

2

.

The printer can detect if a memory cartridge if inserted or not:

• If a cartridge is present, the printer will take the setup information from the cartridge.

• If a cartridge is not present, then the printer will take the setup information from its
internal RAM memory.

• If a memory cartridge is removed, the printer will use its default setup, see page 49.

Therefore, memory cartridges can be moved from printer to printer and function the
same way in each one.

The amount of memory and the current allocation can be printed on a label using the
U command or by printing a test label in the Test Mode, see page 32.

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EasyCoder 91/300 dpi – Addendum to User's Manual

M COMMAND – MEMORY ALLOCATION, cont'd.

Remarks, cont'd. When is it necessary to reconfigure memory in the printer?

• If your label size is larger then the current image buffer.

• If you need to change the size of the forms memory to accommodate more or less
forms.

• If you need to change the size of the graphics memory to accommodate more or less
graphics.

• If you have replaced the EPROM

• If you have fitted an unformatted memory cartridge.

Image Buffer

The image buffer is the area where the active print image is temporarily stored.
Calculate the memory size needed for your image area by measuring the largest form
intended to be printed (take future needs into consideration).

For less than full width labels, also refer to the q command, which allows trading off
print width for increased label length with the same image buffer size.

Formulas:

[(Height in mm x Dots per mm) x (Width in mm x Dots per mm)]/ (1024 x 8) = Kbytes required

or

[(Height in inches x Dots per inch) x (Width in inches x Dots per inch)]/ (1024 x 8) = Kbytes required
The printhead has a density of either 8 dots per mm (203.2 dots per inch) or 11.81 dots per mm (300 dots per inch).

(page 92)

Rule of thumb for full width labels (Printhead density 8 dots/mm):

Label height in inches
Label height in mm

× 22Kb (Min. 44Kb)

× 1Kb (Min. 44Kb)

Round off to the next higher whole number.

1

/. This setting format the

memory for a 127 mm (5)"
long full width label for a
printer with 8 dots/mm print­head density.
Also note that the memory
allocation values returned
e.g. by a U command may
differ slightly from the values
entered using an M command
because of certain round off
calculations in the firmware.
This should have few prac­tical consequences and can
generally be ignored.

Rule of thumb for

Label height in inches
Label height in mm

Round off to the next higher whole number.

Form Memory

The Form memory is for permanent storage of label forms. A typical form requires 1
kbyte of memory. The size of each form can, for example, be displayed with a DIR
command at the DOS prompt.

Graphics Memory

The Graphics memory is for permanent storage of label graphics. Graphic files can vary
greatly in size. The size of each PCX file can, for example, be displayed with a DIR
command at the DOS prompt.

full width labels (Printhead density 11.81 dots/mm):

× 46.8 Kb (Min. 22Kb)

× 1.842 Kb (Min. 22Kb)

Examples Resetting the memory via the serial port:

M104,5,5 ↵ :Sets the memory to the value 106,5.1.5,3

1

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EasyCoder 91/300 dpi – Addendum to User's Manual

M COMMAND – MEMORY ALLOCATION, cont'd.

Examples, cont'd. Resetting the memory via the parallel port (Windows driver):

When installing a memory cartridge, or when you need to print extra long labels (see
below), you may want to change the memory allocation without having to set up a serial

1

/. The example assumes that
MS Windows 3.1x is installed
in drive C:\ and that the
printer is connected to LPT1:

communication. Using the MS-DOS Prompt in Windows 3.1x, you can send the
necessary M command via the parallel port as follows

In a text editor, e.g. Windows Notepad, write the desired M command, e.g.:
M118,20,106 ↵

Save the text file in the directory c:\windows\ under a suitable name (e.g. memsetup.txt).
In the Main group of Windows 3.1x Program Manager, double-click the MS-DOS

Prompt icon.
In MS-DOS, the directory c:\windows\ is selected by default:

C:\WINDOWS>_

Enter the following DOS command:

C:\WINDOWS>copy memsetup.txt lpt1: ↵

MS-DOS responds by displaying:

1 file(s) copied
C\:WINDOWS>

1

:

(page 93)

Exit MS-DOS by typing:

C\:WINDOWS> exit ↵

Maximizing the Image Buffer:

When using the Windows printer driver, or the Direct Mode only, you have no need for
any form or soft font (E) memory. In the Windows printer driver, you do not need any
graphics memory at all, and possibly you can also dispense with graphics in the Direct
Mode. Thus, to be able to print as long labels as possible, you can allocate most of or
the entire RAM memory to the image buffer:

M117,0,0 ↵ :Sets max. image buffer for printer w/o memory cartridge
M245,0,0 ↵ :Sets max. image buffer for printer w. 128 Kbyte cartridge
M501,0,0 ↵ :Sets max. image buffer for printer w. 384 Kbyte cartridge

This table illustrates the connection between the M command, the memory allocated
to the print buffer and the maximum print length at full print width in the Direct Mode
at a printhead density of 8 dots per mm (203.2 dots per inch):

Command Image Buffer Size Maximum Print Length

M117,0,0 ↵ 119 Kbyte 1150 dots = 143.75 mm (5.65")
M245,0,0 ↵ 250 Kbyte 2400 dots = 300.00 mm (11.81")
M501,0,0 ↵ 513 Kbyte 4930 dots = 616.25 mm (24.26")

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