Copyright: Copyright © 2000 Seagull Scientific, Inc.  Tuesday, March 26, 2002 15:37:58
Citation: Copyright © 2000 Seagull Scientific, Inc., All Rights Reserved.


Bar Fonts Property Page

The Bar Fonts Property Page allows you to add, delete, modify, import, export, and view currently defined bar code fonts.  These fonts will be listed in many Windows applications that normally do not support printing bar codes.  Although they will not appear as bar codes on the screen, they will print as bar codes.  You can create an unlimited number of bar fonts, each of which may have different bar code parameters.

Bar Fonts

♦	Bar Fonts View List.  This window will display a list of all bar code fonts currently set up and their resolution they were created at in dots per inch (dpi).  The status bar at the bottom of this list will display information about the currently selected font.

♦	New.  Allows you to add a new bar font.  If a font in the view window is selected, the new bar code font settings will be copied from the currently selected bar code font.

♦	Edit.  Allows you to modify the currently selected bar code font.

♦	Delete.  Allows you to remove the currently selected bar code font.

♦	Import.  Allows you to import a list of bar code fonts that have previously been exported.

♦	Export.  Allows you to export the current bar code font list to a file.  This file can be loaded into the driver on a different computer, and even a different operating system.

♦	Show Supported Bar Fonts Only.  Checking this box limits the view of bar code fonts to only those supported by the current printer.

How It Works

Most thermal printers have internal support for many different bar code symbologies.  Most Windows applications are unable to access these bar codes directly.  However, it is possible to create an artificial font that represents a bar code, and then this font will be listed and can be selected within any Windows application that supports printer fonts.  At print time, the font is converted by the driver into the desired bar code.

Some symbologies have minimum and maximum data lengths, or only accept certain characters.  The bar font functionality in this driver will properly filter, format and add necessary characters to bar codes before they are printed.


Edit Bar Code Font

Options on the Edit Bar Code Font property page allow you to specify exactly how you want your printed bar code to appear on the document or label.

The Edit Bar Code Font property page contains a dynamic area, called Symbology Specific Options, which displays different options depending on which bar code symbology is selected.  For example, if the Symbology option is set to “Interleaved 2-of-5,” the only symbology-specific option that will be displayed is Check Digit.  However, if the Symbology option is set to “Code 128,” the symbology-specific area will also display the UCC/EAN-128 and Code Set options.

The Bar Code options are summarized below.  For further information about each of these options, click on the appropriate option name.

Bar Code Options:

♦	Symbology.  Used to specify the symbology (bar code language) for your bar codes.

♦	X dimension.  Used to specify bar code density using the narrow bar "x-dimension."  (Used with all symbologies except US Postnet.)

♦	Bar Code Orientation.  Used to change the vertical or horizontal orientation of an object on the label.

♦	Human Readable.  Used to specify the position and visibility of the human readable characters displayed with the bar codes on your labels.

♦	Ratio.  Used to specify the wide-to-narrow element ratio of the bar code.  (Used with Full ASCII 3-of-9, Regular 3-of-9, Codabar, Interleaved 2-of-5, and MSI Plessey only.)

Symbology Specific Options:

♦	Check Digit.  Used to specify whether or not check digits will be added to your bar codes.  (Used with Full ASCII 3-of-9, Regular 3-of-9, Interleaved 2-of-5, and MSI Plessey only.)

♦	UCC/EAN-128.  Used to specify whether or not the Bar Tender will automatically add certain characters and perform certain functions required to print UCC/EAN-128 bar codes.  (Used with Code 128 only.)

♦	Code Set.  Used to specify which of the three Code 128 characters sets (Code A, Code B, or Code C) will be used to print your Code 128 bar codes.  (Used with Code 128 only.)

♦	Version.  Used to select one of several supported sizes of Code One. (Used with Code One only.)

♦	UCC/EAN FNC1 Prefix.  Used to specify whether or not the first character in a Code One bar code should be the UCC/EAN FNC1 character. (Used with Code One only.)

♦	Correction Level.  Used to specify one of nine levels of error correction for PDF417 bar codes.  (Used with PDF417 only.)

♦	Truncated.  Used to specify that a trimmed-down version of a PDF417 bar code be printed in order to save space on your labels.  (Used with PDF417 only.)

♦	Row Height.  Used to specify the height of each row in a PDF417 bar code.  (Used with PDF417 only.)

♦	Columns.  Used to specify the number of columns in the checkerboard data area of a PDF417 bar code.  (Used with PDF417 only.)

♦	Start Character.  Used to specify which one of the four letters, a - d, will be used as the start character with a Codabar bar code.  (Used with Codabar only.)

♦	Stop Character.  Used to specify which one of the four letters, a - d, will be used as the stop character with a Codabar bar code.  (Used with Codabar only.)

♦	Guard Bar Height.  Used to specify the length of your UPC guard bars.  (Used with UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-13, and EAN-8 only.)

♦	Supplemental.  Used to append UPC supplemental bar.  (Used with UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-13, and EAN-8 only.)

♦	Symbol Type.  Used to specify the type and level of error correction to use.  (Used with Data Matrix only.)

♦	Character Set.  Used to specify the allowable characters for data.  (Used with Data Matrix only.)

♦	Use Prefix.  Used to add a prefix to a bar code.  (Used with Data Matrix only.)

♦	Shape.  Used to specify whether the bar code will print in the shape of a square or a rectangle.  (Used with Data Matrix only.)

♦	White on Black.  Used to reverse the bar code so that it prints white on a black background.  (Used with Data Matrix only.)

♦	Mode.  Used to specify one of the different modes MaxiCode supports.  (Used with MaxiCode only.)

♦	Zipper Block.  Used to specify whether or not a MaxiCode zipper block will print with the bar code.  (Used with MaxiCode only.)

♦	Contrast Block.  Used to specify whether or not a MaxiCode contrast block will print with the bar code.  (Used with MaxiCode only.)


Bar Code Symbology

The Symbology option on the Edit Bar Code Font property page allows you to specify the symbology of your bar codes.  A bar code symbology is the encoding scheme used to convert character data into the pattern of wide and narrow bars and spaces in a bar code.  Just as people can communicate in different languages, this printer can output bar codes in different symbologies.

To select a symbology, simply click once on the down arrow to the right of the selected symbology to display the list of symbologies.  Click once more on the symbology of your choice.


Bar Code X Dimension

The X Dimension option on the Edit Bar Code Font property page allows you to specify the most basic element of a bar code - the width of its narrowest element.  The width of this narrow element is called the bar code's X dimension.  Along with a bar code's wide-to-narrow element ratio, the X dimension is one of the factors that determine the density of a bar code.  Decreasing a bar code's X dimension value increases its density, while increasing the X dimension value decreases its density.

Example:

Assume that you are printing a Code 3-of-9 bar code (with its Ratio option set to "Auto") to a 300 dpi printer.  The lowest X dimension value that you will be able to specify is 5.0 mil.  With an X dimension value of 5.0 mil, the density of your bar code will be 12.5 characters per inch (cpi), which is the highest density setting you can specify.

On the other hand, the highest X dimension value that you will be able to specify is 168.3 mil, which will give you a density of .416 cpi (the lowest density setting you can specify).


Bar Code Orientation

The Orientation option on the Edit Bar Code Font property page is used to change the orientation of a bar font on the label.  An object can be rotated in 90-degree increments.  The default setting is 0 degrees, but you can also select 90, 180, or 270 degrees.


Bar Code Human Readable

The characters encoded in a bar code are usually also displayed below the bar code in human readable form.  This way, if a bar code reader does not function correctly (or is not installed), the person performing the data entry can read the human readable characters and enter the information into the computer using the keyboard. Options in the Human Readable pull-down menu allow you to specify exactly how you want these human readable characters to be printed with your bar code (or if you want them to be printed at all).


Bar Code Ratio

(This is a symbology-specific option that is only enabled for the following symbologies:  Full ASCII 3-of-9, Regular 3-of-9, Codabar, Interleaved 2-of-5, and MSI Plessey.)

The wide-to-narrow element ratio of a bar code defines the ratio between the widths of the wide and narrow elements in a bar code.  The default setting for the Ratio option on the Edit Bar Code Font property page is "Auto", which allows the printer driver to select whatever ratio it thinks is best.  However, you can specify any ratio from 2.0 to 1 through 3.0 to 1 in one-tenth increments.


Bar Code Check Digit

(This is a symbology-specific option that is only enabled for the following symbologies:  Full ASCII 3-of-9, Regular 3-of-9, Interleaved 2-of-5, and MSI Plessey.)

The Check Digit option on the Edit Bar Code Font property page allows you to specify whether or not check digits will be added to your bar codes.  A check digit is an optional character that can be appended to the end of a bar code for the purposes of error checking.

Why Check Digits Are Used

Although automated data entry with a bar code reader is many times more reliable than manual data entry with a keyboard, the possibility of decoding errors can never be statistically eliminated.  For example, a sudden jerk in a user's scanning motion or a printing defect in a bar code can cause a "substitution error" to occur.  In situations where a substitution error might catastrophically affect the integrity of your database, the use of "check digits" is strongly recommended.

While check digits do not completely eliminate the possibility of substitution errors, they do reduce their likelihood even further, thereby improving data integrity.

♦	Substitution Error.  An error that occurs when one or more of the characters in the bar code message transmitted to the computer is different from what was actually encoded into the bar code.

♦	Check Digit.  An extra character appended to the end of a bar code whose value is derived from the sum (or weighted sum) of the values of the previous characters in the bar code.

How Check Digits Work

When a bar code reader that is configured to look for check digits scans a bar code which contains a check digit, it re-performs the same summation that was done by the Bar Tender when the check digit was originally generated.  The bar code reader then compares its computed check sum value with that of the check digit that was printed by the Bar Tender.  If the two values agree, the bar code reader transmits the bar code message.  However, if the two values are different, the bar code reader knows that an error has occurred and no bar code characters are transmitted.  The user must scan the bar code message again.

Symbology Specific Information for Check Digits:

The Code 93, Code 128, and UPC/EAN symbologies are always printed with check digits.  Therefore, when these symbologies are specified for the currently selected bar code, the Check Digit option will be checked but grayed.

Specifications for the Codabar symbology do not include an option for check digits.  Therefore, the Check Digit option will also be ghosted when a Codabar bar code is selected in the label viewing area.


UCC/EAN-128

(This is a symbology-specific option that is only enabled for Code 128.)

In early 1991 the Uniform Code Council (UCC) and the International Article Numbering Association (EAN) released new bar code standards for use in the worldwide distribution of retail, industrial, and commercial products.  These new standards defined a special version of Code 128 called UCC/EAN-128.  The UCC/EAN-128 standards are fully supported by this printer driver.

When the UCC/EAN-128 option on the Edit Bar Code Font property page checked, this printer driver automatically adds certain characters and performs certain functions required to print UCC/EAN-128 bar codes, including the following:

♦	Leading FNC1 character generated automatically.  A FNC1 character is printed immediately following the Code 128 start character at the beginning of the bar code.  It is used as an identification prefix or "flag character" to indicate that the rest of the symbol code complies with the new UCC/EAN distribution standards.

♦	Additional FNC1 characters can be entered manually.  After the UCC/EAN-128 option has been enabled, the FNC1 character may also be entered manually by the user into the bar code data string for use as a field separator when combining multiple data fields into a single bar code.  This use of the FNC1 character is described in more detail in the following topics, UCC/EAN Application Identifiers and Entering Function Characters into the UCC/EAN-128 Data String.

♦	UCC/EAN application identifiers.  All of the current UCC/EAN application identifiers are supported by the Bar Tender.  In UCC/EAN bar codes, application identifiers immediately precede the string of characters that they identify.  They tell a bar code reader what type of data field to expect and often the length of the data field as well.

♦	Automatic addition of check digits to certain fields.  All Code 128 bar codes end with a modulo 103 check digit.  In addition, certain classes of fields (as indicated by the application identifier field they use) make use of an additional check digit, usually a modulo 10.  When such a data field is used, this printer driver automatically computes and appends the appropriate check digit to the data field.  Since UCC/EAN 128 supports multiple data fields, each of which could be a type that gets its own check digit, a given bar code printed this printer driver could potentially contain numerous data fields, each with its own check digit.

♦	Extra spaces and parentheses are added to the human readable characters.  Most UCC/EAN applications specify that extra spaces and parentheses be added to the bar code’s human readable text.  In its default mode, this printer driver automatically generates these characters in their most common configuration.


UCC/EAN Application Identifiers

The UCC/EAN-128 bar code specifications define numerous application identifiers.  In a bar code data string, application identifiers immediately precede the string of characters that they identify – and they specify the length and type of the data string that follows.  Some application identifiers specify data fields containing a fixed number of characters while others specify data fields containing a variable number of characters.  For example, the shipping container code is a fixed-length field that contains exactly 14 characters, while the serial number is a variable-length field that may contain up to 20 characters.

Multiple application identifiers and their data fields can be combined into a single bar code.  When this occurs, the application identifier of each added data field follows immediately after the last character in the data field of the previous application identifier.  When a variable-length data field is combined with other fields in a bar code, it must be immediately followed by a field separator character (unless it is the last field in the bar code symbol – see note below).  The FNC1 character acts as this field separator.  It signals to the application software that the variable length data field has ended and that another data field is beginning.

When the FNC1 character is used as a field separator, it must be added manually to the bar code data string using the procedure described in the topic called Entering Function Characters into the UCC/EAN-128 Data String.

Note:

When multiple application identifiers and their fields must be concatenated and when only one of them is of variable length, we recommend locating the variable-length field at the end of the symbol because no separator character is then required.


Entering Function Characters in the UCC/EAN-128 Data String

When combining multiple application identifiers and their data strings together into a single bar code, it may be necessary to add a FNC1 character as a separator between two data strings, as described in the topic called UCC/EAN Application Identifiers.  Occasionally, the specifications for an application identifier may require that other function characters be entered into the bar code data string as well.  The following procedure is used to enter function characters into the UCC/EAN-128 data string.

To manually enter a function character into your UCC/EAN data string, simply enter the “^” (caret) character followed immediately by the appropriate number for your function character.  For example, enter “^1” for the FNC1 character.


Code One Version

The Version option allows you to select the size of your Code One bar code from a drop-down list.  This list displays the sizes sequentially in order of size with the smallest size (A) at the top of the list and the largest size (T48) at the bottom of the list.  The larger sizes at the bottom of the list can hold more data than the smaller sizes.

Note that the three size selections that begin with the letter “S” (S10, S20, and S30) can only be used with numeric data.


Code One UCC/EAN FNC1 Prefix

This option allows you to specify whether or not the first character in a Code One bar code will be the UCC/EAN FNC1 character.  This option should only be used when the rest of the data for the bar code meets UCC/EAN specifications.


Code 128 Code Set

Although Code 128 can encode all 128 ASCII characters, the character set itself contains only 102 characters.  This is possible because Code 128 actually contains three different sets of 102 characters.  The default character set in use for any Code 128 bar code is determined by the start character.  However, once a Code 128 bar code is started, it is possible to switch between the different character sets in the middle of the bar code.  Because it is possible to use any combination of the three character sets in a single bar code, Code 128 gives you the greatest possible character density when encoding data into bar codes.

The three character sets can be summarized as follows:

Code A:	The Full ASCII set, except for the 26 lower case letters.
Code B:	The full ASCII set, except for the 26 “control” characters.
Code C:	Double-density numeric.  This character set is numeric only, but any one bar code character actually represents two digits.  Therefore, 100 of the 102 characters in code set C are used to represent the 100 two-character combinations from 00 through 99.
The default setting for the Code Set option on the Edit Bar Code Font property page is “Auto.”  When set to “Auto,” this printer driver automatically chooses the most efficient code set with which to begin the bar code and then automatically switches between character sets if and when it will reduce the overall size of the bar code.


PDF417 Correction Level

Error Detection versus Error Correction

The PDF417 symbology can be used to encode such large amounts of information that the possibility of a decoding error occurring during scanning increases relative to the more conventional (one-dimensional) bar codes.  Accordingly, the use of simple check digits is not sufficient, as they merely allow the detection of an error during scanning.  Because this requires that another scan be attempted, and because PDF417 is complex enough that the likelihood of additional errors during subsequent scans is significant, the PDF417 symbology actually employs error correction.  This is done by encoding enough redundant information into the printed symbol that the scanner cannot only detect when errors have occurred, but actually correct them.

Trading Off:  Size versus Readability

PDF417 supports 9 levels of error correction, with 0 being the least thorough and 8 being the most.  When the correction level is set to 0, very little redundant information is encoded and the scanner can do little more than correct for the very simplest of errors.  When set to 8, significant scanning problems can be corrected.  Offsetting this benefit is the fact that each increased level of error correction also increases the size of the printed PDF417 symbol, resulting in bigger and bigger symbols as the correction level is raised.

How to Determine the Correction Level

The default PDF417 error correction level in this printer driver is “Auto,” which automatically specifies a correction level based on the amount of information encoded into each PDF417 symbol.  If you will be using PDF417 in a closed system (that is, you control both the printing and the scanning of the symbol) and you have a high degree of confidence in your printing and reading capabilities, you may be able to successfully reduce the printed size of your symbols by manually specifying a relatively low correction level (as an alternative to “Auto”).  On the other hand, if your print quality is questionable, your bar codes subject to damaging conditions in the field, or you know that a wide variety of scanning equipment may be used by many different people, you may wish to manually specify a higher correction value, even though you know it will result in a larger printed symbol.


PDF417 Row Height

By default, the height of each row in a PDF417 symbol is set to three times the “X dimension” value (the width of the narrowest bars in the printed symbol).  If you are using a correction level of no less than the minimum recommended in the PDF417 symbol specification standards for the amount of data to be encoded, or you are using the “Auto” correction level, then the default Row Height of three is adequate.  If, however, you are manually specifying a correction level of less than that recommend for the amount of data to be encoded, it is recommended that you increase the row height of your PDF417 symbols above the minimum.


Truncating PDF417 Symbol Codes

Sometimes, when available space for the printed PDF417 code is at an absolute premium, it may be desirable to sacrifice some information typically encoded in the PDF417 symbol, even though it may make the symbol somewhat harder to read.  When the Truncated option is enabled (checked), a single vertical bar is substituted for the stop pattern on the right-hand side and the data column containing the right most four bars in the checkerboard-looking data area.  Although this will certainly save space, it is not normally recommended and certainly shouldn’t be tried unless the print quality and the scanning equipment to be used are all known and under your control.


Controlling Columns for PDF417

Automatically Controlling the Shape of the PDF417 Symbol

The PDF417 symbology is organized into multiple rows of information, with each row looking like a very thin bar code.  If you examine these rows more closely, you will notice that the first five and last five bars extend the entire height of the symbol, much like in a conventional bar code.  These are the start and stop patterns that serve to help your scanner figure out that PDF417 is the type of bar code being scanned.  Inside of these start and stop patterns, the encoded information looks somewhat like an irregular checkerboard.  When Columns is set to “Auto,” the number of rows and columns in this checkerboard data area is adjusted so that its overall shape is as close to a square as possible.

Manually Controlling the Shape of the PDF417 Symbol

As an alternative to the “Auto” setting, you can manually specify the number of columns to appear in the checkerboard data area. A column consists of four bars and spaces and defines the fundamental unit of encoded data.  Each row consists of a minimum of three columns of information (12 bars and spaces) in the checkerboard portion of the data area.  This is because there is always one column each on the left and right containing “indicator code words” with information that tells the scanner what encoding methods were used to encode the rest of each row of data.  Between these two columns (8 bars and spaces) will be a minimum of one column (4 bars and spaces) of information.  The number of columns in this portion of the data area can be set using the Columns option to between 1 and 30.

Trading Off:  Symbol Width versus Height

It should be noted that, at any given correction level setting, reducing the number of columns will increase the number of rows required to encode the same amount of data.  Accordingly, although you have the option of reducing the number of columns in order to make the PDF417 symbol narrower than the relatively square dimensions of the “Auto” setting, doing so will make the symbol proportionally taller.  Therefore, when encoding larger amounts of data, a low Columns setting can result in a PDF417 that is too tall to fit on the label.


Codabar Start Character

The Start Character option on the Edit Bar Code Font property page allows you to specify which one of the four characters, "a", "b", "c", or "d" you want to use as the start character.  The default setting is "a".


Codabar Stop Character

The Stop Character option on the Edit Bar Code Font property page allows you to specify which one of the four characters, "a", "b", "c", or "d" you want to use for the stop character.  The default setting is "a".


UPC/EAN Guard Bars

The UPC/EAN/JAN standards include specifications for some of the bars to extend below the main body of the bar code.  These are called "guard" or "security" bars.  In a "standard" full-sized code, the main body of the bar code is .900" tall, and the guard bars extend another .065".

If your UPC/EAN/JAN bar codes are of a different height, you may need to adjust the overhang of the guard bars in order to keep them properly proportioned relative to the rest of the bar code and the human readable text below the bar code.


UPC/EAN Supplementals

When paperback books and magazines are bar coded using the UPC or EAN symbologies, the main UPC/EAN code is often followed by a shorter 2-digit or 5-digit supplemental code immediately to the right of the main code.  Most of the characteristics of this supplemental bar code (e.g., its density, height, position) are based on the characteristics of the main UPC/EAN code which precedes it.

The Supplemental options give you an easy way to add a supplemental bar code to a UPC or EAN bar code already in your format.  The most important specifications for the supplemental will automatically be based on the specifications of the corresponding UPC or EAN bar code.

Specifying UPC Supplementals

The data of your appended 2-digit and 5-digit supplemental bar codes are specified as described below.

The data for the main UPC bar code and the appended supplemental is specified just like the data for any other bar code - either as screen data, prompt data, or input file data.  The only difference is that the data for the main UPC bar code and the data for the supplemental are both specified in the field for the main UPC code.

This printer driver will automatically take the required number of digits (2 or 5) from the right side of the data string and print them as your supplemental bar code.  The remaining digits in your data string will be printed as the main UPC or EAN bar code.  If the data string does not have enough digits left over to print a complete main UPC/EAN bar code, this printer driver will pad the left side of the main UPC/EAN code with leading zeros.


Data Matrix Symbol Type

Like most 2D bar codes, the Data Matrix symbology allows for error correction by encoding enough redundant information into the printed symbol that the scanner cannot only detect when errors have occurred, but actually correct them.  The Symbol Type option allows you to specify the level of error correction to use when creating a Data Matrix bar code.  Data Matrix supports fourteen levels of error correction, with ECC 000 being the lowest and ECC 200 being the highest.

When the correction level is set to ECC 000, no redundant information is encoded and the scanner cannot correct any errors.  When set to ECC 200, a large portion of the bar code could be damaged and still be correctly scanned.

ECC 200 is the recommended level of error correction.  However, this high a level of error correction can significantly increase the size of the bar code.  Therefore, depending on the amount of data contained in the bar code and the amount of room available for printing, you may sometimes need to select a lower level of error correction.

Choosing the Right Error Correction Level

The default Data Matrix error correction level in this printer driver is ECC 200.  This level provides the greatest amount of error correction.  If you will be using Data Matrix in a closed system (that is, you control both the printing and the scanning of the symbol) and you have a high degree of confidence in your printing and reading capabilities, you may be able to successfully reduce the size of the printed bar code by manually selecting a lower correction level.  However, if your print quality is questionable, your bar codes are subject to damaging conditions in the field, or you know that a wide variety of scanning equipment may be used by many different people, you may wish to keep the default correction value, even though you know it may result in a larger printed symbol.


Data Matrix Character Set

The Character Set option will be enabled if you have specified a Symbol Type other than ECC 200.  ECC 200 automatically determines the required character set by evaluating your data.  Depending on the amount and type of data contained in your bar code, you may achieve the smallest bar code by manually specifying a character set.

♦	Auto.  Specify that this printer driver will evaluate the data for the bar code and determine the best character set.

♦	Numeric.  Specifies that only numbers will be considered acceptable data.

♦	Uppercase Alphanumeric with Punctuation.  Specifies that only uppercase letters and numbers, including punctuation, will be considered acceptable data.

♦	Uppercase Alphanumeric with Spaces.  Specifies that only uppercase letters and numbers, including spaces, will be considered acceptable data.

♦	Full 128 ASCII.  Specifies that all keyboard characters – including upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols – will be considered acceptable data.

♦	All 256 ASCII.  Specifies that all 256 ASCII characters, including all keyboard characters and international ASCII characters, will be considered acceptable data.


Use Prefix

(This is a symbology-specific option that is only enabled for Data Matrix.)

The Use Prefix check box is available only for symbol type ECC 200.  When enabled, you can choose from one of the following prefix settings.

♦	UCC/EAN FNC1.  Conforms to specific industry standards as authorized by AIM International.

♦	Macro 5.  Abbreviates the 05 Macro header (prefix) and trailer (suffix) into one symbol character to reduce the number of symbol characters needed to encode data.

♦	Macro 6.  Abbreviates the 06 Macro header (prefix) and trailer (suffix) into one symbol character to reduce the number of symbol characters needed to encode data.

♦	Reader Initialization.  Indicates that the symbol encodes a message used to program the reader system.

NOTE:
If you specify a special function character (e.g., FNC1 through FNC6) at the beginning of your bar code data and the Use Prefix option is enabled, the prefix specified in this printer driver will be ignored in favor of the special function character located in your data.  For more information on special function characters, refer to your Data Matrix documentation.


Data Matrix Shape

(This is a symbology-specific option that is only enabled for Data Matrix.)

The Data Matrix bar code is made up of columns and rows wherein data is stored.  Most Data Matrix bar codes will contain an equal number of columns and rows.  However, symbol type ECC 200 allows for some bar codes to have more columns than rows.

The Shape option contains two settings for specifying whether or not a bar code will have an equal number columns and rows. The two settings are described below.

♦	Square.  Draws the bar code symbol with an equal number of columns and rows.  There are 24 square bar code symbols, ranging from eight columns and rows to twenty-two columns and rows.

♦	Rectangle.  Draws the bar code symbol with more columns than rows.  There are six rectangle bar code symbols, ranging from six rows by sixteen columns to fourteen rows by twenty-two columns.  To use this setting, the amount of data must be small.  If the input data is larger than will fit into allowed rectangle sizes, the bar code symbol will be printed as a square.


White on Black

(This is a symbology-specific option that is only enabled for Data Matrix.)

The White on Black option allows you to reverse a Data Matrix bar code so that it will be displayed on the screen and printed on labels as white on a black background.  When this option is selected, a reversed Data Matrix bar code looks like a white bar code on a black box.  The black box will be wide enough on all sides to fill the quiet zone.


Maxicode Mode

MaxiCode consists of a bulls-eye type pattern of 3 concentric black circles in the center and 33 alternating rows of either 29 or 30 hexagonal shaped elements per row.  It can support up to a maximum of 93 characters of data.  Four different data modes are available as outlined below.  Modes 2 and 3 need to have specific formatting to work properly whereas modes 4 and 6 can contain any type of information.

♦	Mode 2: Structured Carrier Message.  Used for UPS domestic shipping.  The Primary Message fields are required for this mode to function properly.  The Secondary Message fields are optional.

♦	Mode 3: Structured Carrier Message.  Used for UPS international shipping.  The Primary Message fields are required for this mode to function properly.  The Secondary Message fields are optional.

♦	Mode 4: Standard Symbol.  Used to generate free-form, general use bar codes.  This mode does not require any Primary or Secondary Message fields.

♦	Mode 6: Reader Programming.  If your scanner is programmable via scanning a bar code, you can use a Mode 6 MaxiCode symbol to accomplish this.  Please consult your scanner’s documentation for information and codes needed to do this.


Fonts Property Page

The Fonts property page consists of a table that displays the fonts that have been downloaded and buttons to help you manage downloading fonts.  The Fonts feature sends the font of your choice to the printer as a device command rather than as a graphic, which speeds up the print job significantly.

Fonts

♦	Font Name.  Lists the names of the user fonts available for selection.

♦	Type.  Indicates the type of font that was downloaded.

♦	Download Font.  Displays the Select Font Dialog.

♦	Delete.  To delete a font from the list of user fonts, click the font and then click on the delete button.

♦	Resend All Fonts.  Clicking this option button will resend all fonts downloaded to the printer.  An example in which you may need to employ the Resend option is if power to the printer is lost.

♦	Verify.  Verifies that the fonts selected have been downloaded.

♦	Display.  Used to select which type of fonts you wish to display.

♦	Font information.  Displays information about the currently selected font.

CAUTION:

The amount of memory in your printer limits the number of fonts you can actually store.  If you load too many fonts into the printer’s memory, you may not have enough for the data which must be downloaded for every label, so choose only the most important fonts to download.

See Also:

Understanding Fonts


Understanding Fonts

There are several differences between using device fonts, or the fonts built into your printer, and Windows TrueType fonts.  These differences are explained below.

Printer Fonts vs. TrueType Fonts

Every thermal printer comes with certain fonts built into the printer.  These built-in fonts allow you to print labels more quickly.  However, because the selection of built-in fonts is often limited, some printers also support the use of TrueType fonts.

Printing TrueType Fonts as Graphics

When you print TrueType fonts from within a Windows program without first downloading the fonts, the driver creates a bitmap image of the desired font images and sends that to the printer.  Depending on the size of the font(s) and the number of characters to be printed, the amount of graphics generated can take a long time to send to the printer, especially if you are using an RS-232 serial cable.

Downloading TrueType Fonts Prior to Print Time

To avoid the time-consuming process of printing fonts as bitmaps, newer printers allow the downloading and storage of fonts in the printer prior to label jobs.  This results in a time delay while initially downloading the fonts, though actual printing speed is greatly improved since much less information is being transmitted to the printer during the print jobs.

NOTE:

Some versions of Windows do not support substituting TrueType fonts with downloaded fonts in certain cases.  The text will still print correctly, but if the font is rotated or of a large point size, the text may be sent as a graphic image, printing more slowly.  Upgrading Windows NT 4.0 to Service Pack 4 or higher, or to Windows 2000\XP should fix these problems.  No fixes are available in Windows 95, 98, or ME at this time.


TrueType vs. Bitmap Downloading

There are two methods of downloading TrueType fonts to the printer.  You may download the font as a TrueType font, which contains all the information necessary to generate the font at any point size, or you may download it as a bitmap font, which includes only a single point size.  The differences are outlined below.

Downloading Fonts as TrueType

Some printers have the capability to download fonts in TrueType format.  When you download a font as a TrueType file, the printer is able to print the font at any point size.  This format may use a lot of memory in the printer, but in your applications, all point sizes of the downloaded font will print more quickly.

Downloading Fonts as Bitmaps

Some printers have the capability to use downloaded bitmap fonts.  A bitmap font is a font that is pre-rendered at a specific point size, and you are required to choose this point size when downloading the font.  You also have the capability to download only a specific set of characters.  If only numeric or alphanumeric characters are required, then you may download only those characters, conserving printer memory.  If more than one point size of a specific font is required, you must download each size you plan to use.  Point sizes that have not been downloaded will be sent to the printer as a graphic, slowing print speed and defeating the purpose of downloading the font.

Choosing the Best Download Format

Many printers support only one method of downloading fonts, but for those that support both, you should consider the advantages of each method before downloading the font.

♦	Point Sizes.  TrueType fonts are capable of scaling to any point size, whereas bitmap fonts contain one size only.  It is possible to download several point sizes of the same font as a bitmap, but if many different sizes are necessary, TrueType downloading will use less memory.

♦	Memory Considerations.  Bitmap fonts use less printer memory, especially when only the necessary characters (such as numeric characters) are downloaded.  TrueType fonts can be very large, often including characters from many different languages that you may never use.

♦	Speed Considerations.  Bitmap fonts may be a little faster on some printers than TrueType fonts, although TrueType fonts are still much faster than not downloading the font at all.


Select Font Dialog

This dialog displays font selection information.  You can download any fonts listed.

Select Font

♦	Font.  Displays the font selected from the Font list.

♦	Font Style.  Displays the style of font selected from the Font Style list.

♦	Font Size.  If you are downloading a font as a bitmap, you must select a point size you wish to download.  If you require more than one point size, you must download it separately.

♦	Download As.  Select the format in which the font is to be downloaded.  For more information see TrueType vs. Bitmap Downloading.

♦	Script.  Select the character set to download to the printer (i.e. Western, Greek, Baltic, etc.).  At the present time, this has an effect when downloading bitmap fonts.

♦	Sample.  Displays the selected font's appearance.

Font Storage

♦	Location ID.  Displays the Printer ID names associated with the user fonts.  For more information, consult your printer manual.

♦	Name.  Displays the Name associated with the user fonts.  For more information, consult your printer manual.

♦	Character Set.  Displays the Character Set associated with the user fonts.

Once you have selected the desired Font and its corresponding settings, click OK, and you will be returned to the Fonts Property Dialog.

NOTE:

This software provides the user with the capability to download TrueType fonts to the printer.  However, it is your responsibility to license and purchase the fonts you download to your printer.  Contact your font supplier for licensing information.


Delete Font

When you no longer need to use a particular font that has been downloaded, you can remove it from the printer’s memory by selecting it from the list of downloaded fonts and clicking Delete.  This only removes the font from your printer and not from your computer, so if you need to use the font for a future print job, you can download it again.

NOTE:

If you try to use the font again without first downloading it, it will be sent to the printer as a bitmap with each print job, which can be very time consuming.)


Page Setup Property Page

The options on the Page Setup property page allow you to specify your default label size and orientation settings.  In addition, you can create other label sizes that you can then access through your application’s page setup dialog.

Stock

♦	Name.  Used to display existing label stock names and to specify the default label stock to use for this printer.

♦	New.  Used to create a new label stock.

♦	Edit.  Used to change the size or name of an existing label stock.

♦	Delete.  Used to remove a label stock from the list.

Orientation

Most applications allow you to define a page orientation from within the application, but many do not allow 180° rotation of the image.  You may choose the default page orientation from the following:

♦	Portrait.  Prints images so that the bottom of the image comes out of the printer first.

♦	Landscape.  Rotates images 90° counterclockwise (from the portrait orientation), so that the left edge of the image comes out of the printer first.

♦	Portrait 180°.  Prints images so that the top of the image comes out of the printer first.

♦	Landscape 180°.  Rotates images 90° clockwise (from the portrait orientation), so that the right edge of the image comes out of the printer first.

Effects

♦	Mirror Image.  The Mirror Image option allows you to print labels so that images appear as if they are displayed in a mirror.  You may use this for printing on labels when the adhesive side should be the readable side, such as those that are placed on windshields or windows.

♦	Negative.  The Negative option allows you to print labels so that images appear inversed; white becomes black and black becomes white.

Presets

♦	Name.  Select the name of a pre-defined collection of printer settings.

♦	Manage.  Opens the Presets dialog.

Miscellaneous

♦	Advanced Options.  Displays the Advanced Options dialog.


Copies
Default Copies

The Default Copies option is usually set to one because most programs know how to specify a copy count to the driver.  However, some programs instead print copies using a much slower method that actually resends a new copy of each label to be printed, rather than sending just one copy and then asking the printer to do the copying.  You can manually specify this driver setting for use with programs that don’t properly take advantage of a printer’s copying capability.  (In these cases, be sure to leave copies set to "1" in your program, or you will get a lot more copies than you bargained for!)


Label Stock Name

The default label stock size is called "User Defined," with the label stock size most common for your printer already specified.  Usually, you would specify a label stock size which differs from the "User Defined" label stock by entering the measurements into the Page Setup dialog of your application.  However, using the using the Edit and New buttons, you can change the "User Defined" label stock or create a new named label stock item.

There is no limit to how many label stock sizes you can create, which means you can create additional sizes for frequently used but non-standard sizes.  Then you can access any label sizes in the list from your application’s Page Setup dialog.


Edit Label Stock Dialog

When you need to specify a label stock size different from the existing label stock sizes, you can either create a new label stock size or edit an existing one.  Pushing the New button brings up the same dialog as the Edit button, except that instead of viewing an existing set of label stock settings, it gives you a new blank set for you to set as desired.

The options available in the Edit Label Stock dialog are described below.

♦	Label Stock Name.  Used to display the name of the existing label stock name that you are editing or to enter the name of a new label stock size.

♦	Label Size.  Used to specify the height and width of a label stock size.  Keep in mind that height and width are relative to the orientation of the label.  For example, when printing using portrait orientation, you may have a label with a height of 6" and a width of 4".  However, when you change the orientation to landscape, the height would change to 4" and the width to 6."

♦	Exposed Liner Width.  Used to specify the distance between the edges of the paper backing the label and the edges of the label.


Importing and Exporting Label Stock Lists

On the Administration Tab of the Advanced Options dialog, you have the ability to create multiple label stock sizes.  Stock Lists allow you to share these sizes with other printer drivers that support this feature.

In order to share these sizes, you must first save, or export them to a file.  This can be done by the following procedure.

♦	Click on the Start Button, then Settings, then Printers.

♦	Right-click on the printer driver you want to export label stock sizes from.  Click on Properties in the pop-up menu that appears.

♦	Click on the Page Setup Property Tab.

♦	Click on the Advanced Options button in the Page Setup Property Tab.

♦	Click the Administration Tab.

♦	Click the Export button.

♦	A Save As dialog box will prompt you for a filename for your stock list.

♦	After typing in a filename, click on OK.

♦	After exporting your stock list, you may import it to another printer driver using the following procedure.

♦	Click on the Start Button, then Settings, then Printers.

♦	Right-click on the printer driver to which you want to import label stock sizes.  Click on Properties in the pop-up menu that appears.

♦	Click on the Page Setup Property Tab.

♦	Click on the Advanced Options button in the Page Setup Property Tab.

♦	Click the Administration Tab.

♦	Click the Import button.

♦	Find the path and filename of the stock list you wish to import and select it.  Click OK.

After you import your label stock sizes, you should be able to select any available sizes from the Names drop down listbox on the Page Setup Property Tab.  Importing a stock list will add the new sizes to your existing list; it will not overwrite your existing label sizes.  To use the new imported label sizes in some applications, you may need to close and restart the application first.

Note:

If a stock list is imported that has larger label stock sizes than the printer itself can handle, these sizes will not be available in the Names listbox.  This does not, however, mean that those sizes are no longer in the exported stock list.  For example, if you defined an eight-inch wide label stock in one printer driver and imported that size to a printer with a four-inch wide print head, the eight-inch stock would not be available as the four-inch printer could not work with stock that wide.  Any other stock that is four inches wide or less would still be available.


User Command Types

Depending on the type of printer command(s) you will be executing, you may need to output a given special command at the beginning or end of a print job.  There may be commands that you wish to output just before or just after the data for each label image is sent to the printer.  There are four categories of user-specified printer commands that can be added to a print job:

Start Of Job

Commands that are intended to affect the entire print job should be specified here.  These are normally configuration commands unsupported by the driver such as international character sets, but may be any configuration command.

Start Of Label

There are some types of commands that printers require be sent at the beginning of each label, rather than the beginning of the entire print job.  For example, if you wish to add a field to each label, such as a real-time clock, you may specify it with this command.  Because of the way Windows printer drivers work, it is not possible to have these commands output only for some labels, but not others.  Accordingly, any user-specified Start of Label commands get output at the start of each and every label of a given print job.

End Of Label

This category of user-specified commands is sent to the printer after each label is printed.  This may be used to perform feed or other operations, or activate optional devices such as a cutter.

End Of Job

As the name suggests, these user-specified printer commands are output at the very end of a label job.  One of the more common applications is to output a cut command to a cutter at the end of a print job.  This separates the printed labels from the blank labels still in the printer.  Another use is to take the printer out of a special mode that it was put into as the result of a previously executed Start of Job command.

See Also:

User Command Syntax


User Command Syntax

Depending on the brand of your printer, many printer commands may contain characters that cannot be easily typed in from the keyboard.  For example, although some commands can be directly typed into Windows programs with the aid of the CTRL key, many cannot.  To get around this problem, your printer driver has some special features to make it easier to enter these commands.

You can include control characters in your commands by preceding them with an escape character. This alerts the printer that what follows the escape character (with no spaces) is not literal data and should be interpreted as a set of one or more control characters.

The escape character is usually the caret (^) but you can select a different character to be the escape character on the General tab of the Advanced Options Dialog. Your choices are the default caret (^), the tilde (~); exclamation mark (!); backslash (\); forward slash (/); and other characters. (If you choose None, then you cannot send control characters to the printer.)

Note: In all of the examples in this topic, a caret is used as the escape character.  Be sure to replace it in your commands with your chosen escape character.

Representing Control Characters

Control characters can be entered into the User Commands of the Options tab by typing your chosen escape character (e.g., a caret [^] usually entered with SHIFT-6) and then the letter portion of the desired control character.  For example, entering ^X would represent CTRL-X.

It is also possible to insert control characters by typing your chosen escape character, then a left angle bracket, <,  then the standard abbreviation for that character, and, finally, a right angle bracket, >.  For example, ^<ACK> would represent the Acknowledgement character.  Both methods are equivalent and you may use whichever is easiest or most readable.

Important:
If the manual for your printer says that a given command contains "^X" do not enter this by holding down the CTRL key and then pressing "X".  Instead, you would literally type in a caret (^) and then an X, as described above.

Representing the Escape Character

Some printer languages may already use your chosen escape character in front of a letter to indicate the beginning of a printer command.  If you wish to instead print the escape character in a label, the printer driver requires that you enter two adjacent escape characters to represent a single true instance of the character.

For example, if the caret (^) is your escape character, entering ^^MD30 would result in these five characters being sent to the printer: ^MD30. However, entering simply ^MD30 would result in only four characters being sent to the printer:  the CTRL-M character, followed immediately by the three characters D30.  In this last case, your printer will not understand that you really wanted to print the caret followed by the M character and will therefore not deliver the desired results.

Representing Other Special Characters

You may enter any hexadecimal character value by typing the escape character, a number sign (#), and the two digit hexadecimal value of the desired character.  The allowable values for each of the hexadecimal characters are the digits 0 through 9 and the letters A through F.

For example, the hexadecimal value for the carriage return character is 0D, so if the caret (^) is your escape character, you would be represent a carriage return with ^#0D.

Inserting the Contents of a File

User commands have a limit of 256 characters.  Sometimes this is not long enough for the desired user command.  You may specify user commands longer than 256 characters by creating a text file containing the desired user command.  You may also use this capability to change the contents of the file dynamically from an external program or batch file.

To insert the contents of a file, enter your chosen escape character, a question mark, ?, and the full path of the file.  For example, if the caret (^) is your escape character, then to insert the contents of c:\user\mycommand.txt, you would enter ^?c:\user\mycommand.txt.

Summary of Control Character Syntax

^c	Control character, single character format.
^<ccc>	Control character, abbreviation format.
^#nn	Hexadecimal format.
^?filename	Insert contents of a file.
^^	Sends the escape character as a control character.
See Also:

User Command Types


Presets Dialog

Use this dialog to name, save, and edit collections of printer configuration settings called "presets".

♦	Presets List.  The list of presets.

♦	Presets Information.  The name and description of the preset currently highlighted in the list.

♦	New.  Click this button to create a new preset. Enter a name and description for the preset. When you click OK, all the current printer settings are saved under the name.

♦	Delete.  Click this button to delete the currently highlighted preset.

♦	Update.  Click this button to change the currently highlighted preset to the current configuration settings. You will be prompted to confirm.


Advanced Options Dialog

General Tab

The Advanced Options dialog allows you to control printer options for which the printer driver does not provide explicit control.  This is done with four fill-in data fields for user-defined commands.  You may also import or export previously specified printer driver settings.

User Commands

Occasionally, there may be a printer feature that is not accessible through the driver’s user interface.  When this happens, it is possible to insert user-defined printer code into each print job.

♦	User Command Types.

♦	User Command Syntax.

Using these options requires the use of the manual for your thermal printer that lists its command language.  Furthermore, you must understand the manual well enough to be able to look up the printer command that you wish to execute.

Escape Character

The escape character is used to insert control characters into user commands and bar code fonts. Use this list to select the escape character.  If you select None, then control characters cannot be used.

In general, if you encounter features unsupported by the driver, you should suggest them for inclusion in a future version of the driver.

Unprintable Width

Setting the Unprintable Width allows you to make minor adjustments in the horizontal positioning of the printed image on the label. The distance from the edge of your label stock to the print head may be slightly different than the default setting in the driver due to manufacturing differences.  Making small adjustments to this number can help you compensate for the difference and obtain a more accurate object placement.

Options Tab

Device Line Substitution

♦	Enable Substitution.  Most applications draw lines as a graphic, rather than using line commands built-in to the printer.  With this feature enabled, the driver will try to use the printer's line commands to draw lines and boxes whenever possible.  Some applications do not always print correctly with this feature enabled.

♦	Minimum Length.  The minimum length of a line that is to be recognized as a printer command.

Software Compatibility

♦	Default Copies.  Use this to set the usual number of copies when you use this printer driver. You can change this number for any given print job in your software’s Print dialog.

♦	Disable Copies Limit. If your printer has newer firmware than this driver was designed for and you believe the limit on the number of copies is no longer valid, checking this box will enable you to exceed the limit. Do not check this box in order to exceed the current firmware’s limits as set by the printer manufacturer. Technical support is not provided when the limit is exceeded.

♦	Disable Page Size Limits. If your printer has newer firmware than this driver was designed for and you believe the limit on the page size is no longer valid, checking this box will enable you to exceed the limit. Do not check this box in order to exceed the current firmware’s limits as set by the printer manufacturer. Technical support is not provided when the limit is exceeded.

♦	Fix Bar Fonts in Office 2000/XP. Office 2000 and XP have a bug when handling device text.  Both will frequently split a word into multiple pieces before sending it to the driver.  Although this is acceptable behavior with a text font, when it happens to a bar code font it will result in a bar code that will not scan.  When this option is enabled, the driver will attempt to reverse the damage caused by Office and put the field back together the way the user intended.

♦	Lock Driver in Memory.  Technical Support may have you check this box to solve compatibility problems that may arise between the printer driver and your software. Do not check the box unless Technical Support has advised you to do so.

♦	Disable User Commands. Technical Support may have you check this box to solve compatibility problems that may arise between the printer driver and your software. Do not check the box unless Technical Support has advised you to do so.

Administration Tab

Import / Export

Use this tab to name and save settings in the printer driver so that they may be imported into a different printer driver.

♦	Import.  This button is used to import previously saved printer driver settings. The settings that can be imported depend on which printer driver is being used.

♦	Export.  This button is used to export settings made in the printer driver. The settings that can be exported depend on which printer driver is being used.


Graphics Property Page

The options on the Graphics property page allow you to adjust how monochrome and color graphics will be printed on your labels.

♦	Resolution.  Depending on the printer you are using, you may have one resolution or several resolution settings available.  Higher resolutions will improve print quality, but they may take longer to print.

Dithering

These settings affect only bitmap graphics.  They do not change the darkness of pure black images, or affect non-graphic objects, such as bar codes and internal printer fonts.

♦	Dithering.  Selects the dithering method used for printing bitmap graphics.

♦	Color Adjustment.  This dialog allows you to make adjustments to the color space such as brightness and contrast levels.

♦	Dithering Setup.  This dialog allows you to adjust various dithering algorithm parameters.

Color

The following settings are only available with printers capable of printing in multiple colors.

♦	Color Control.  Use this setting to specify whether to print Monochrome or Color.  When printing in color under Windows 95, 98, or ME, you may also select image color matching.

♦	Color Matching.  If the Color Control setting is set to "Color (with image color matching)", this setting specifies the color matching algorithm used.  For more information on this feature, see your Windows documentation.

♦	Color Registration.  Displays the Color Registration dialog, used to align all of the print heads with one another.

♦	Color Setup.  Displays the Color Setup dialog, used to configure which colors have been installed in the printer and the color model used for printing.


Dithering

Many Windows programs allow you to design with different colors and shades of gray, even if your printer only prints in one color: black.  By outputting different black dot-patterns, each color can be translated into what appears to be a different shade of gray on the printer.

Color printers use these settings to reduce images consisting of many colors into the 2, 3, or 4 primary ribbon or ink colors that the printer actually uses when printing.

Dithering Algorithms

♦	None.  This setting will produce graphics that are composed only of black and white, with no shading effect.  This produces a monochrome image with dark areas printing as black, and light areas printing as white.  Images will print most quickly using this setting, but may be of poor quality.

♦	Halftone.  This clustered ordered dithering algorithm produces results similar to the halftone screening used in commercial printing (newspapers and magazines).  This algorithm looks best when using high resolution printers.

♦	Ordered.  This setting uses a dispersed ordered dithering algorithm, which has acceptable quality and speed.

♦	Algebraic.  The algebraic dithering algorithm offers similar quality and speed as ordered dithering, with a less noticeable patterning effect.

♦	Error Diffusion.  Error diffusion is a more complex dithering method that avoids the patterned look of ordered or algebraic dithering.  This is the highest quality at lower resolutions, but also the slowest algorithm.

Windows NT, 2000, XP

When using halftone dithering, Windows handles all dithering functions.  The Color Adjustment and Dithering Setup dialogs are different than the ones described here.  For help with their options, refer to the “What’s This?” help inside the dialog.


Color Adjustment Dialog

These adjustments are only used when dithering bitmap images, and do not affect text or bar codes.

Image

♦	Brightness.  Brightness is the overall lightness or darkness of an image.

♦	Contrast.  Contrast is the difference in brightness between the darkest and lightest parts of an image.  Increasing the contrast of images will make dark areas darker, and light areas lighter.  Decreasing the contrast will make dark areas lighter, and light areas darker.

♦	Negative.  This option will cause all bitmap images to print negative (white becomes black, black becomes white).  To make the entire label negative, use the Negative option on the Page Setup page (not all printers support this feature).

♦	Flip Horizontally.  This option will flip all images horizontally in place.  This is mainly useful if using a simple application without this capability.  To flip the entire label horizontally, use the Mirror option on the Page Setup page (not all printers support this feature).

♦	Flip Vertically.  This option will flip all images vertically in place.  This is mainly useful if using a simple application without this capability.  To flip the entire label vertically, use the Mirror option at 180° orientation on the Page Setup page (not all printers support this feature).

Color Balance

♦	Red.  When printing monochrome, this will affect how bright red areas will appear after the image is dithered.  When printing color, increasing and decreasing the red level will make images appear more red or more cyan respectively.

♦	Green.  When printing monochrome, this will affect how bright green areas will appear after the image is dithered.  When printing color, increasing and decreasing the red level will make images appear more green or more magenta respectively.

♦	Blue.  When printing monochrome, this will affect how bright blue areas will appear after the image is dithered.  When printing color, increasing and decreasing the red level will make images appear more blue or more yellow respectively.


Dithering Setup Dialog

This dialog allows advanced adjustment to the dithering algorithm.  The available options depend on the dithering algorithm in use.  The defaults are suitable for most purposes.

♦	Halftone.  The best halftone matrix for the printer’s resolution is automatically chosen by default.  Changing this matrix size will change the size of the apparent halftone screen, and the number of apparent shades of gray.

♦	Ordered.  The best dithering matrix is chosen by default.  Decreasing the matrix size will reduce the number of apparent shades of gray.

♦	Algrebraic.  Changing the parameters will change the number of apparent shades of gray.

♦	Error Diffusion.  The diffusion matrix defaults to Floyd-Steinberg.  Jarvis is higher quality but considerably slower.


Color Setup Dialog

Color Setup

The simplest way to reproduce color images is to have a separate ink or ribbon that matches each color in the image.  These colors are called spot colors.  Using spot colors results in high-quality color reproduction, but is limited to the number of colors loaded in the printer.

Photographic images may consist of thousands or even millions of distinct colors.  In such cases, having a separate ink or ribbon for each color is impractical.  Process color printing represents any colors by combining a set of primary colors.  The primary colors used for printing are cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y).

All three primary colors combine to form black (K).  Printing with pure black ink or ribbon is more inexpensive than mixing the three primaries, and may also result in sharper black images and text.  For this reason, a separate black ink or ribbon is usually added to the process.

Color Model

♦	4-Color Process (CMY).  Color is printed with process color, and black is represented by combining cyan, magenta, and yellow.  This will result in high-quality graphics with a deep black color.  However, when black is printed as CMY, the edges of black text or images may appear blurred if the colors are not precisely aligned.

♦	4-Color Process (CMYK).  Color is printed with process color, and black is represented using a separate ink or ribbon.  Black text and graphics will have sharply defined edges, but black areas of color graphics may appear washed out.

♦	Spot Colors.  To print with spot colors, specify the spot colors loaded into the printer below.

Spot Color

From one two four spot colors may be loaded into the printer, depending on the model.  To specify a color loaded in the printer, check the box next to the color, and then select the approximate color from the list.  If the desired color is not in the list, you may select the Custom setting.  You may also click the color sample box to edit a custom color.


Color Registration
Color Registration Dialog

The Color Registration dialog is where color alignment choices are specified.

Color Registration

♦	Align All Colors.  Displays the Color Alignment dialog where print testing  specifications are made to determine the most precise color alignment.

♦	Print Alignment Test.  Initializes a color alignment test print job.

♦	Reference Color.  Specify the reference color to which other colors align.  The default Reference Color is black.

♦	Color 0-3 X Y Adjustment. These settings are used to calibrate the X (Horizontal) and Y (Vertical) alignments.  The printer driver automatically assigns these coordinates based on specifications made via the Color Alignment dialog.


Color Alignment
Color Alignment Dialog

Color Alignment Print Test

The Color Alignment dialog is where print testing specifications are made to determine the most precise alignment.  By clicking Okay, a test will automatically run, and default to the best estimation of Horizontal (x) and Vertical (Y) alignments.

Choose one of the following options

Once the test has printed, determine if the alignment is acceptable and make one of three choices:

♦	Color is now aligned as closely as possible.  Choose this option if the printed figure appears as a continuous line of two colors, and no further print testing is required.

♦	More precise adjustment is necessary.  Choose this option if the printed figure does not appear aligned, and further color alignment is needed.

♦	Print this set of figures again.  Choose this option in the case of where re-testing is required.


Technical Support

Internet Email to Product Support

SMTP address: support@intermec.com for Intermec Technologies products.

Please include in your email:

♦	Your name

♦	Company name

♦	Address

♦	Phone number

♦	Email address

♦	Model of equipment

♦	Version of software or firmware

Telephone Support for US Customers

Outside the US, please contact your local support representative.

♦	Support Center for Intermec products is available from 6am to 5pm Pacific Time, Monday through Friday

♦	Support Center for Norand products is available from 6am to 5pm Central Time, Monday through Friday

♦	Toll free number 1-800-755-5505 and Select option 2.

Please have ready when you call:

♦	Your name

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Contents

Getting Started

♦	Windows Printer Drivers

♦	Changing Printer Driver Settings

♦	Maximizing Your Printer Speed

♦	Technical Support

Regional Settings

♦	Regional Settings Property Page

Page Setup

♦	Page Setup Property Page

♦	Advanced Options Dialog

Graphics

♦	Graphics Property Page

Downloaded Fonts

♦	Fonts Property Page

Bar Code Fonts

♦	Bar Fonts Property Page

Specifying Thermal Printer Settings

♦	Specifying Custom Settings for Thermal Printers

♦	Overview of Printer DIP Switches

♦	Printer Model Switch Settings

Configuring RS-232 Serial Communications

♦	Introduction to RS-232 Serial Communications

♦	How to Set the RS-232 Serial Port Parameters in Windows

♦	Understanding and Setting Flow Control (Handshaking)

♦	Null Modem Cables

♦	Fast Printing Direct to Port in Windows 3.1

♦	Incorrect Flow Control Naming Conventions in Windows 3.1

♦	RS-232 Serial Port Problems With Windows 3.10

Troubleshooting

♦	Troubleshooting Printing Problems


Troubleshooting Printing Problems

The series of steps below provides the best procedure for solving printing problems.

Step-by-Step Procedure for Solving Printing Problems

1.	Check Communication Settings

2.	Double-Check Port Connections

3.	Output Your Printer’s Status Page

4.	Turn Printer Off and On After Printer Configuration Changes and After Failed Print Jobs

5.	Print a Test Label

6.	Print a Simple Label from Your Application

7.	Test the Printing of Graphics and TrueType

8.	If You Are Able to Print Small but Not Larger Graphics, You May Need More Printer Memory

9.	Test for a Flow Control Problem

10.	Test for a Possible Cabling Problem

11.	if You Still Cannot Print


Check Communication Settings

If you are using a RS-232 serial port, check your printer and Windows settings for baud rate, data bits, stop bits and parity. (Refer to RS-232 Serial Port Configuration.)

Do not assume that the “default” printer settings shown in your manual reflect your printer’s actual settings. You must directly inspect either the mechanical switches (usually on the back of your printer) or the front panel menu settings before you can be sure how your printer’s communications settings are configured.

Next Step:

Double-Check Port Connections

Return to List of Step-by-Step Procedures:

Troubleshooting Printing Problems


Double-Check Port Connections

Check that the cable is properly connected and attached to the correct port on your computer, and that the Windows printer port settings accurately reflect the port to which the printer cable is attached.

Next Step:

Output Your Printer’s Status Page

Return to List of Step-by-Step Procedures:

Troubleshooting Printing Problems


Output Your Printer's Status Page

To check for mechanical problems with the printer, print out from the printer's control panel (not from a computer) some document or label that is built into the printer's memory. Such documents have different names depending on the printer model. They are sometimes called status pages, sample labels, configurations, or configuration labels. Consult your printer manual for the exact steps. If you are unable to print such a test document or label, you may need to have your printer serviced before you can continue with the rest of this troubleshooting process.

Note:

If you had to adjust a printer switch in order to output your printer’s status page, remember to put it back the way it was.

Next Step:

Turn Printer Off and On After Printer Configuration Changes and After Failed Print Jobs

Return to List of Step-by-Step Procedures:

Troubleshooting Printing Problems


Turn Printer Off and On After Configuration Changes and After Failed Print Jobs

Your printer may not have properly reset after the last failed print job or after the last time you made a change to a communication setting. Turn the printer off and leave it off for five seconds before turning it on again. When it goes on again, make sure it completes its self-test procedure before you attempt to print again. (No lights should be blinking. Some printers will display the word Ready or display a ready light, usually green.).

Next Step:

Print a Test Label

Return to List of Step-by-Step Procedures:

Troubleshooting Printing Problems


Try a Very Small Print Job Test
Print a Test Label

For the first print job after steps 1 through 4, use the Seagull printer driver's Print Test Label feature:

1.	Click the Windows Start button.

2.	Select Settings and then Printers. The Printers folder will be displayed.

3.	Click your right mouse button on the printer you wish to change your settings for and select the Properties option. The Properties dialog opens.

4.	Click the Printer Settings tab or the Device Settings tab.

5.	Click the Print Test Label button.

If no label (not even a blank label) comes out and/or you get a printer communications error message, skip to the topic Test for a Possible Cabling Problem. Otherwise continue with next step.

Next Step:

Print a Simple Label from Your Application

Return to List of Step-by-Step Procedures:

Troubleshooting Printing Problems


Add Some More Text
Print a Simple Label from Your Application

Create a label in your application. Use only the fonts built-into your printer, rather than Windows TrueType. If this test works, and you do not need to use any graphics or TrueType on your label, then you should be able to implement your desired label design right away and get back into production..

Next Step:

Test the Printing of Graphics and TrueType

Return to List of Step-by-Step Procedures:

Trouble-Shooting Printing Problems


Test the Printing of Graphics and TrueType

Add a very small graphic to the label, and one letter of TrueType text (such as Arial or Times New Roman). This first letter test should be in a smallish size, around 12 pt.

If the TrueType text and graphic do not print, you may need to upgrade the printer's firmware or memory. Consult your printer manual for more information.

Increase the point size of your TrueType text and try printing an entire word or more in TrueType, instead of just a single letter. If this works, then you should go ahead and try to print all of the graphics you need on your label.

Next Step:

If You Are Able to Print Small but Not Larger Graphics, You May Need More Printer Memory

Return to List of Step-by-Step Procedures:

Troubleshooting Printing Problems


If You Are Able to Print Small but Not Larger Graphics, You May Need More Printer Memory

If all of your TrueType or bitmap graphics print perfectly only so far down the label and then are cut off cleanly straight across the label, you have insufficient memory in your printer to output the amount of graphics you are attempting to print. Contact your printer reseller for a printer memory upgrade.

In contrast to the clean cut off described in the previous paragraph, if the printer outputs incorrect label data, corrupted graphic images, or even no label at all, this too may indicate a memory shortage. But, if you are using a serial port, it may also indicate a flow control (handshaking) problem, as described in the next step. (Always turn the printer off and on again following his type of failure.)

Next Step:

Test for a Flow Control Problem

Return to List of Step-by-Step Procedures:

Troubleshooting Printing Problems


Set Your Flow Control Properly

(RS-232 serial port users only.)

Flow control (or “hand-shaking”) is a process which allows a printer to tell a program to temporarily stop sending data while the printer processes the information that it has already received.  If you are going to have a flow control problem, it will most likely occur when printing large amounts of graphics, since this results in the largest amount of data going to the printer.  However, print jobs with large numbers of labels, even those without any graphics, can also encounter flow-control problems if the print job is large enough.  Flow control is described in more detail in Understanding Flow Control.

Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP

The Flow Control parameter in your port settings should never be set to “None.”  This will lead to exactly the type of behavior previously described for large print jobs.

Windows 3.1

You should use the “None” setting only if it is the only way you can get your labels to print.  (This measure should only be necessary if you have a simple 3-wire RS-232 serial cable with none of the hand-shaking signals properly connected.  However, it is generally best to avoid this cable configuration and the “None” flow control setting, even though it supports Xon/Xoff under Windows 3.1.)

Next Step:

Test for a Flow Control Problem

Return to List of Step-by-Step Procedures:

Troubleshooting Printing Problems


Test for a Flow Control Problem

If you are using an RS-232 serial port and a print job stalls and/or generates a communication error message after some data has already been successfully transmitted to the printer, you may have a flow control problem.

Test for this by slowing down your printing speed. For example, if you had been printing at 9600 baud, try a test print job at the much slower rate of 1200 or even lower. (Make the identical change in the port settings for both Windows and your printer.)

If slowing down the baud rate made your problem go away, or caused the problem to occur later in the print job, then you should adjust your flow control settings. Try switching from software (Xon/Xoff) to hardware flow control (or vice versa). Be sure you are using a cable that will allow your printer to use hardware flow control. (Consult the printer's manual.)

Next Step:

Test for a Possible Cabling Problem

Return to List of Step-by-Step Procedures:

Troubleshooting Printing Problems


If the Small Print Job Test Didn't Work,Try This Test for a Possible Cabling Problem
Test for a Possible Cabling Problem

If the Print Test Label fails and you are using a RS-232 serial port, you can test for a cabling problem by temporarily turning off flow control (handshaking).

1.	Verify that your printer’s communication settings agree with those in your Windows port settings.

2.	Verify that you are using a null modem cable, rather than a straight-through RS-232 serial cable.

3.	Change the Windows Flow Control settings for your RS-232 serial port to None. Then, turn your printer off for five seconds and back on again.

4.	After your printer has finished its power-on self-test, repeat the small print job.

If the print job is successful, you have confirmed that the cable is incompatible with the flow control (handshaking) system. Determine what is wrong with your cable. Correct it, and then switch back to either software (Xon/Xoff) or hardware flow control.

Next Step:

If You Still Cannot Print

Return to List of Step-by-Step Procedures:

Troubleshooting Printing Problems


Test for General Windows Communication Problems Using the "DOS Prompt Test"
Test for General Windows Communication Problems Using the “DOS Prompt Test”

Occasionally, a hardware conflict that Windows may have failed to detect can prevent proper communications with your printer.  We can test for this using the “DOS Prompt Test.”

1.	As with the other tests, begin this test by turning your printer off for five seconds and then back on again.

2.	Set up your label to perform the step called Try A Very Small Print Job Test described earlier in this procedure.

3.	Print to a file instead of to your printer.  The easiest way to do this is to check the “Print to File” option in the Print dialog of your printing software.  If your software does not offer this option, you need to go to the options for your printer driver and set the port to “FILE” instead of the hardware port to which you are currently connected.

4.	Bring up a DOS prompt from within Windows.  In Windows NT, 2000, and XP, this is referred to as the Command Prompt.

5.	Windows NT, 2000, and XP automatically use your Windows port settings from a command prompt.

If you are printing to a RS-232 serial port in Windows 3.1, 95, 98, or ME, you must set up your communication parameters to agree with those in your printer.  This is done using the “MODE” command, the syntax of which is:

MODE  COM#:baud, parity, data bits, stop bits

where

# is usually the number 1 or 2, depending on which port you are printing to.

Baud is your baud rate, such as 9600. (Don’t use any commas in the number.  Also, note that not all PCs support 19200 baud from the DOS prompt.  On those that do, use the number 19 here to represent 19200 baud, if that is the speed setting of your printer).

Parity is one of N, O, or E (for none, odd, or even).

Data Bits is either 7 or 8.

Stop bits is usually 1, but sometimes 2.

For example, the line “MODE COM1:9600,N,8,1” sets your COM1 RS-232 serial port to 9600 baud, no parity, 8 data bits, and one stop bit.  However, you must be sure to set these parameters to agree with the current settings in your printer.

6.	If you are not in the DOS directory to which you sent your test file, change to it now using the CD command at the DOS prompt.  (Most Windows programs will output a file like this into the same directory in which the program is located, unless you specify an alternate destination when specifying the output file name.)

7.	Now, we are going to attempt to print the test file by simply copying the data to your printer.  Do this by typing

COPY  <filename>  <output port>

None of the “<>“ angle brackets are actually typed. “Filename” is the full name of the file you specified and “output port” is usually one of LPT1: or COM1: or COM2:.  (Some programs may append a “.PRN”, “.OUT”, or other extension to an output file name if you decline to specify one yourself when creating the file.  Also, the colon at the end of the name of the printer port is important and must be used.)

1.	Exit back into Windows from the DOS prompt test mode at any time by typing EXIT.

Next Step:

If You Still Cannot Print

Return to List of Step-by-Step Procedures:

Troubleshooting Printing Problems


Understanding the Results of the DOS Prompt Test
If You Still Cannot Print

If you still can’t print, it is very likely that:

You have a second hardware product competing for an interrupt or I/O address with your communication port.

or

You have an advanced Windows setting configured improperly.

Either way, you need to contact your computer vendor or your company's internal computer support staff for assistance.

Other possible problems:

•	A bad (or improperly configured) RS-232 serial printer cable. For example, a simple “3-wire” null-modem RS-232 serial cable will not allow printing from inside Windows unless your flow control is set to None.

•	The printer cable is attached to the wrong port of your computer.

•	A malfunctioning printer port in your computer or printer.

•	The printer is off or off-line.

•	The computer’s communications port may be conflicting with some other hardware component in your computer.

You will have to rule them out one-by-one in order to solve your problem.

Return to List of Step-by-Step Procedures:

Troubleshooting Printing Problems


Introduction to Serial Communications
Introduction to RS-232 Serial Communications

Overview

We recommend that you use a parallel port, USB port, or Ethernet connection if any of these is available on your printer. They improve printer performance and they eliminate confusion about what kind of cable to use.

However, some printers come with only a 9-pin or 25-pin (RS-232) serial port. This section covers some of the most common obstacles encountered with such old-style serial port communications and explains how to best configure Windows and select the proper serial cable.

Why PCs Sometimes Have Trouble Talking to Printers Over Serial Cables

When printing through a parallel, or USB port, there is only one type of cable, so you just hook it up and start printing — there are no switch settings or other communication parameters to worry about.  However, there are well over a hundred possible different ways to configure an old-style (RS-232) serial port, and if you don't set the ports on your computer and printer identically, communication will be unreliable, if not impossible.  Additionally, there are dozens of ways that serial cables can be wired and it becomes clear that if you randomly hook up any PC to any printer using just any random serial cable, your chances of establishing proper communication are poor.  Getting your PC's serial port to talk to your printer is not difficult, but it does require that you know how to determine your printer's current settings.  It is also helpful (but not mandatory) to know a few things about the type of cable you are using.

It is important to keep in mind that the program that you will be printing from does not control the serial communication between your computer and printer.  Your mode of serial communications is controlled by:

•	The settings in your printer.

•	The type of RS-232 serial cable being used.

•	The RS-232 serial settings specified in Windows.

RS-232 Serial Port Settings

The RS-232 serial port settings for your printer will be specified either by DIP switch settings or through a menu system accessed from the printer's front panel.  You need to specify the following parameters:

♦	Baud Rate.  This controls how fast (in "bits" per second) data will be received by your printer.  Common values are 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, and 57600, with 9600 being the most common default setting.  Note: Once you have established reliable communications between Windows and your printer, you can increase the speed at which data will be transmitted by increasing the baud rate settings for your printer and Windows to a higher setting.

♦	Data Bits (or "Word" or "Byte" length). This controls the number of "bits" used to encode each character sent to your printer.  The most common value is 8, although older printers may default to 7.  Note: 8-bit communication may be required to print international characters or graphics on some printers.

♦	Parity Bit. This is an optional extra bit sometimes sent after the data bits of a transmitted character for the purpose of error checking.  Common settings are odd, even, and none.

♦	Stop Bits.  This is the length of the pause at the end of a transmitted character.  One stop bit is the most common setting.

♦	Flow Control (also called "Handshaking").  This is usually set to "software" (also called Xon/Xoff) or "hardware."  Understanding and Setting Flow Control (Handshaking)  is very important for proper communication with your printer.  Note: some printers don't let you change the flow control, so you may have to consult your printer manual to determine the type of flow control available.

The following topics describe several common RS-232 serial configuration issues that you need to consider when troubleshooting RS-232 serial communication problems.

♦	How to Set the RS-232 Serial Port Parameters in Windows

♦	Understanding and Setting Flow Control (Handshaking)

♦	Null Modem Cables

Windows 3.1

♦	RS-232 Serial Port Problems With Windows 3.10

♦	Fast Printing Direct to Port in Windows 3.1

♦	Incorrect Flow Control Naming Conventions in Windows 3.1


How to Set the Serial Port Parameters in Windows
How to Set the RS-232 Serial Port Parameters in Windows

If you will be printing through an old style (RS-232) serial port, you were given the opportunity to specify your RS-232 serial port settings when you installed your printer driver.  If you did not do so, or if you are using Windows 3.1, follow the appropriate procedure below to configure your RS-232 serial port.

Windows 2000, NT, XP

1.	Click the Windows Start button.

2.	Select Settings and then Printers. The Printers folder will be displayed.

3.	Click your right mouse button on the printer you wish to change your settings for and select the Properties option. The Properties dialog opens.

4.	Click on the Ports tab.

5.	To check your port settings, click on the Configure Port button and then the Settings button.

6.	Adjust your port settings as necessary and click OK.

7.	Click Close to exit from the printer’s Properties dialog.

Windows 95, 98, ME

1.	Click the Windows Start button.

2.	Select Settings and then Printers. The Printers folder will be displayed.

3.	Click your right mouse button on the printer you wish to change your settings for and select the Properties option. The Properties dialog opens.

4.	Click on the Details tab, and then click on the Port Settings button.

5.	Adjust your port settings as necessary and select OK.

6.	Select OK again to exit from the printer’s Properties dialog.

Windows 3.1

1.	If your Windows Program Manager is not shown as a window, but is only displayed as an icon, double-click on the Program Manager icon to display the Program Manager.

2.	If it is not already displayed, double-click on the Main group.

3.	Double-click on the Control Panel icon.

4.	Double-click on the "Printers" icon to bring up the Printers dialog box.

5.	Single-click on the name of the printer you will be configuring.

6.	Click on the Connect button to enter the Connect dialog box.

7.	Click on the Settings button.

8.	Adjust your port settings as necessary and select OK.

Set the communication parameters to agree with those of your printer.  However, it is important to note that Windows 3.10 and 3.11 incorrectly name the various flow control options.

See Also:

Understanding and Setting Flow Control (Handshaking)

Incorrect Flow Control Naming Conventions in Windows 3.1

Fast Printing Direct to Port in Windows 3.1


Understanding and Setting Flow Control (Handshaking)

Most computers can transmit information much faster than a printer equipped with a RS-232 serial port can process and print it.  Because this will eventually fill a printer’s input buffer, printers need a method of telling your computer to temporarily quit sending information while it processes the data that it has already received.  The process of computer and a peripheral (such as a printer) working together to control the stopping and restarting of data transmission is called "flow control" or "handshaking".

There are two types of handshaking, "software" and "hardware."  Each has its advantages, and there may even be situations where you are forced to use one over the other.  However, in general, both methods perform comparably and many printers support both simultaneously, presumably to ensure that at least one method is in effect.

Software Handshaking

Software handshaking allows use of the simplest possible RS-232 serial cable.  It also provides a fair degree of independence from the great variety of cables that are available, as well as some of the "unique" (that is, totally nonstandard) characteristics of the RS-232 serial ports of some printers.  In the following situations, you may be forced to use software handshaking:

♦	To save money, your printer manufacturer did not provide the necessary RS-232 serial port signals required for hardware handshaking.

♦	Your printer seller found that it was easier or less expensive to provide a RS-232 serial cable with fewer signals.

♦	Your printer requires a custom cable (that you don't have) to allow hardware handshaking.

♦	You already have a cable, and you don't have the slightest idea of how to determine its configuration.

Software handshaking works by having the printer and computer send each other special characters to request the start and stop of character transmission.  These two characters are called Xon (for "transmission on") and Xoff (for transmission off), hence the name "Xon/Xoff."  For example, if your software has sent your printer more data than it can handle, the printer transmits an Xoff character to your computer to request that data transmission be halted.  When your printer is ready for more data, it transmits the Xon character to your computer to restart data transmission.

Hardware Handshaking

Hardware handshaking relies on the use of extra control signals in your RS-232 serial cable.  These extra signal lines, going between your PC and your printer, allow the computer to specify when it has data to send and the printer to specify when the computer should start and stop sending.  To use hardware handshaking, you must use the right type of cable.  Unfortunately, different brands of printers often require different types of cables to establish hardware handshaking, so you may have to consult your printer's manual to determine the right configuration.  Do not assume that just because you bought your cable with your printer and that "it works" that you necessarily using hardware handshaking, rather than Xon/Xoff.

The type of handshaking you use is less important than making sure that both your printer and computer are set to use the same type of handshaking.  Failure to use any handshaking at all will usually result in lost and/or corrupted label data, especially if you are sending graphics and fancy fonts from Windows.  Hardware handshaking is slightly more costly, because the cable requires a few more wires and soldering joints.  Software handshaking allows the use of a somewhat cheaper cable, but there are some situations where it will not work, such as from the DOS prompt.

Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT, ME, XP

Never use the “None” setting for Flow Control.  Disabling flow control can result in intermittently corrupted or completely failed print jobs.

Windows 3.1

Windows 3.1 uses incorrect naming conventions for flow control settings.

See Also:

How To Specify RS-232 Serial Port Parameters

Null Modem Cables

Incorrect Flow Control Naming Conventions in Windows 3.1


Null Modem Cables

Straight-Through Cables

Most thermal printers will not work with a "straight-through" RS-232 serial cable.  This is the type of RS-232 serial cable used to connect a PC to an external  modem.  Such cables, where pins 1, 2, 3, etc. on the computer go to pins 1, 2, 3, etc. on the modem, will not work when talking to a printer because the ports on the printer and computer each have their outputs and inputs located on the exact same pins.  Therefore, not only will this not work, but it will create multiple short circuits that, although in theory tolerable by a properly designed RS-232 serial port, could in reality damage the port.

Some newer thermal printers do require a straight-through cable.  These typically use a 9-pin connector on the printer, whereas most printers requiring a null-modem cable use a 25-pin connector on the printer.  If there is any doubt, you should consult the documentation provided by the manufacturer.

The Relationship Between Cabling & Flow Control

Because a printer and computer both use RS-232 serial ports that have their inputs and outputs on the exact same pins, a null-modem wiring configuration must be established that "crosses over" the outputs from one port to the corresponding inputs of the other port.  A RS-232 serial cable that connects signals by crossing them over in this manner is referred to as a "null-modem" cable.  In addition to crossing over the Transmit and Receive signals of the RS-232 serial ports, it is also possible to cross over the various hardware handshaking lines.  Whether or not these signals are crossed over, and how many of them are crossed over determines what type of flow control settings will be required.

Selecting the Right Null Modem Cable

There are many possible different RS-232 serial cable connections between a computer and printer.  It is important to consult the printer's manual to determine what cable is best for your printer.  However, some general purpose cable configurations, though they may contain more wires than some printers require, will work for a great variety of printers.

Sample Null-Modem Cable Configurations

Many printer manufacturers and sales people claim that they have a "special" cable that you must use. Occasionally, this is even true.  However, nearly every thermal printer will work with the cable configuration “Null-Modem Cable With Partial Hardware Handshaking.” Occasionally, one of the other two cable styles may be required.  In the cable diagrams that follow, the signal designations are shown on the computer side for both the 25-pin and 9-pin style of PC connectors.

Null-Modem Cable With No Hardware Handshaking (Requires Xon/Xoff) This cable configuration uses no hardware handshaking at all and should only be used if software handshaking (Xon/Xoff) is enabled in both Windows and the printer. This cable configuration crosses over only the Transmit/Receive signal pair.  None of the hardware handshaking signals are connected between the computer and printer.  Both sets of hardware handshaking signals are shown as being optionally "looped back" on themselves on the printer side.  As some printers may require these signals to allow data transmission, and as their presence will almost never cause a problem, it is recommended that they be looped back as shown on the printer side. This null-modem cable will permit a computer and printer to transmit data when set to hardware handshaking, even though the hardware handshaking lines have been totally defeated and are therefore incapable of preventing data loss.  Such a connection may work for very small print jobs, but will fail intermittently with larger print jobs.
Null-Modem Cable With Partial Hardware Handshaking The cable configuration shown in this diagram performs hardware handshaking using just one of the available handshaking signal pairs.  However, it will allow hardware handshaking with nearly all brands of thermal printers. As before, this cable configuration crosses over the Transmit/Receive signal pair, and keeps the Request-to-Send/Clear-to-Send signal pair "looped back" on itself, preferably with the Carrier Detect signal as well.  The Data-Terminal-Ready/Data-Set-Ready handshaking signals are crossed over in the most widely supported handshaking configuration used by thermal printers.  As with the previous cable design, it is possible that some of the "looped back" connections on the printer side may not be required.  However, as these signals are sometimes required and their presence will almost never cause a problem, it is strongly recommended that they be connected.
Null-Modem Cable with Full Hardware Handshaking Although this cable configuration was at one time the most standard null-modem cable, use of the additional handshaking signal pair is not required by most printers.  Furthermore, there are some printers with which this cable may not work.  Accordingly, if the previous partial handshaking cable does not provide hardware handshaking with your printer, we recommend that you consult your printer manufacturer's operators manual before you build the cable shown in the following diagram. This null-modem cables crosses over the Transmit and Receive signal pairs and the Request-to-Send/Clear-to-Send and Data-Terminal-Ready/Data-Set-Ready handshaking signal pairs.  Although the Carrier Detect signal can often be left floating (especially on the printer side), we are showing the Data-Terminal-Ready signal as being looped back to Carrier Detect, as some systems may require that this signal not be left floating.
Notes on Grounding

Note that the 25-pin version of a RS-232 serial port has an extra signal line that allows the shield ground to be routed separately from the signal ground.   The 9-pin does not.  However, in the case of both the 25-pin and 9-pin connectors, the best way to route the shield ground is through the actual shield of the cable and connector.  Pin 1 of the 25-pin connector should also be used when available.  Note that keeping the signal and shield grounds separate allows for better signal integrity.  Therefore, although it is possible to use only one ground (by either leaving out the shield ground or tying it to the signal ground), using both grounds and keeping them separate allows for the highest quality signal transmission.


Serial Port Problems With Windows 3.10
RS-232 Serial Port Problems With Windows 3.10

One or more bugs in the RS-232 serial port processing module of version 3.10 of Windows cause RS-232 serial communication problems with some users.  Users that experience this problem should upgrade to a newer version of Windows.


Incorrect Flow Control Naming Conventions in Windows 3.1

In the Ports utility of the Control Panel of Windows 3.1, the Flow Control options are incorrectly named.

The following table shows each option as named in Windows 3.10 and 3.11, followed by the actual function that setting will perform.

Windows Flow Control Settings

WINDOWS 3.1 FLOW CONTROL SETTING	ACTUAL FUNCTION
Xon/Xoff	Both Xon/Xoff and hardware handshaking
Hardware	Both Xon/Xoff and hardware handshaking
None	Xon/Xoff handshaking only
Note that quite contrary to what one might assume, the Xon/Xoff and Hardware Flow Control settings in Windows 3.1 do exactly the same thing — support both Xon/Xoff and Hardware flow control at the same time.

The following table will assist you in configuring your Flow Control settings properly.

Configuring Your Flow Control Settings Under Windows 3.1

WHAT YOU WANT	WHAT TO SPECIFY IN WIN 3.1
Both Xon/Xoff and hardware handshaking	Either Xon/Xoff or hardware
Xon/Xoff (software) hand- shaking only	None
Hardware handshaking only	Either Xon/Xoff or hardware, and don’t use Xon/Xoff in your printer
No handshaking	Not possible under Windows, and should never be attempted anyway
See Also:

Understanding and Setting Flow Control (Handshaking)


Fast Printing Direct to Port in Windows 3.1

The Fast Printing Direct To Port option in the Connect dialog box for your printer should almost always be turned on (which is its normal setting) in the Printers section of the Windows Control Panel.  Unchecking this option prompts Windows to access DOS routines for printing.  This action will disable Xon/Xoff software handshaking if you are using a RS-232 serial port.  Under these circumstances, if you do not have a RS-232 serial cable properly wired to use hardware handshaking, your print data can easily become corrupted.


Overview of Printer DIP Switches

Some thermal printers use DIP switches (short for “dual in-line package”) to specify the printer’s RS-232 serial communication and other parameters.  DIP switches consist of multiple, small switches organized into a group of switches called a bank.

The Bank of DIP Switches

Printers that use DIP switches usually have one or more banks of DIP switches located on the back panel.  Each bank of switches often contains anywhere from four to eight switches.

DIP switches are easy to recognize because they are usually positioned in a vertical column on the back of your printer.  Occasionally, when a printer utilizes multiple banks of switches, there may be some distance between the switch banks, or they may be separated by the RS-232 serial port or some other device on the back of the printer.  Not all printer manufacturers clearly label which bank is Number 1, 2, or 3 on the printer itself, so it is important to refer to your printer manual before you change any DIP switch settings.

Types of DIP Switches

A common type of DIP switch used on thermal printers is the toggle switch.  The key characteristic of a toggle switch is that it can be tilted from one side to the other.  When you are setting this type of switch, which can usually be done with a fingertip, be sure the toggle clicks firmly into place.

Slider switches are set by sliding the switch from side-to-side, and may require the use of a fine-tipped object to move the switch.

Rocker switches are set by rocking the switch from one side to the other.  Press down on the side of the switch you wish to select.


Regional Settings Property Page

By default, the driver will use the Regional Settings as specified in the Windows Control Panel for settings like language, measurement system, and decimal point or comma.

The Regional Settings property page allows you to specify alternate units of measurement and change the language in which your driver is displayed.

Language Selection

If you wish to display the driver in a language other than the system default language, you may choose the language here.  Changes to the language will not take effect until the dialog is closed and opened again.

For a language to list here, there must be a driver translation in that language and it must be supported by the current operating system.  Languages requiring double-byte character sets, such as Japanese or Chinese, may not be available unless you are running under the corresponding version of Windows.

The “Use System Default” selection will use the language currently selected in Windows Control Panel’s Regional Settings.  If this language is not installed, the driver will use English.

Measurement System

Used to specify the default unit of measurement throughout the driver: inches, millimeters, or centimeters.  Changes will take effect immediately.

It is possible to specify a value in another system of measurement by typing the desired units after the name.  For example, if the driver is set to inches, you may type “3.5 cm” into any edit control and it will be automatically converted into “1.38 in”.

The “Use System Default” selection will use the system of measurement currently selected in Windows Control Panel’s Regional Settings.


Logging Options

The Logging Options dialog supports logging print jobs and recording printer code to files for debugging purposes.  This code can be submitted to support personnel if problems arise in the operation of the driver.

Logging

♦	Log Print Jobs.  This option will generate a log file that will list the name of each document, the printer it was printed to, and the file the print code was recorded to (if Printer Code Recording is enabled).  Jobs are logged in the order they are spooled.

♦	Log File.  Specifies the full path name of the log file.  It is possible to share a log file between multiple printers by specifying the same file name in each driver.

♦	View Log.  View the current log file.

♦	Clear Log.  Erase the current log file.  The next job printed will be the first job in a new log file.

Printer Code Recording

Printer Code Recording allows you to record all of the print code sent to the printer to a file.  Unlike using the Print to File option in most applications, Printer Code Recording allows you to print to the printer and to a file simultaneously.

When using caching, it is not necessarily the case that printing to a file will always result in the same print code that was sent to the printer.  Using Printer Code Recording, it is possible to see the entire sequence of code that was sent to the printer, exactly as it was sent.

♦	Record Printer Code.  This option will record printer code to the specified directory.  Each print job will generate a separate file.

♦	Overwrite Files With Same Name.  The driver will name print code files by adding a .PRN extension to the name of the document being printed.  Normally, if the file already exists, a unique name is generated by adding a number to the end of the new filename.  Enabling this feature will cause the driver to overwrite existing files.

♦	Directory.  Print code files will be recorded to this directory.

On the left of the dialog is a list of the print code files in the current directory, allowing you to perform operations on individual files.

♦	View File.  View the currently selected print code file in a text editor.

♦	Send To Printer.  Sends the currently selected print code file to the printer, effectively printing the job again.  If graphics or format caching was enabled, it may be necessary to send each print file in the order it was logged to get the desired results.

♦	Delete File.  Deletes the print code file currently selected in the list.

♦	Delete All Files.  Deletes all print code files in the current directory and clears the list.


Windows Printer Drivers

This Windows printer driver will allow you to print to your printer from nearly any application.  We currently have printer drivers available for Windows 3.1, 95, 98, NT 4.0, ME, 2000, and XP.  Windows CE and Windows NT 3.51 (or earlier) are not supported.

Modern Windows applications are able to print to any printer for which there is a Windows driver installed on the system.  Some older applications, including those written for DOS, do not use printer drivers.  You must contact the application vendor if you need support for your printer model.  You should consider upgrading to a newer Windows application.

What Is A Printer Driver?

In the early days of computers, it was necessary for every computer program to be specifically written to support each and every different type printer that it would be able to print to.  This was not a problem when there were very few different models of printers, but there are now a countless number of different printer models by hundreds of different manufacturers.  Each of these may support different paper sizes, fonts, and speed-enhancing capabilities such as font downloading or graphic compression.

Windows applications are able to work with all of these different printer models through the use of printer drivers.  A printer driver is a program that is a link between the application and the printer.  It allows an application to easily print to any printer for which there is a driver.

How A Printer Driver Works

An application will "ask" the driver for the printer's capabilities, such as which paper sizes are supported or which fonts are available, and present these choices to the user.  When the user prints from the application, the application will "tell" the driver what to print.  For example, to print a line of text, the application would tell the driver the text, which font to use, and where to place the text on the page.  The driver then will transform these instructions into the specific language understood by the printer.

In this manner, it is possible for any Windows application to support printing to any printer.  Only the driver software need be aware of the specific capabilities and language of the printer.


Changing Printer Driver Settings

The printer driver allows you to change a variety of settings, such as port settings, page size, or print speed.  There are also useful diagnostic features available, such as printing test labels.

Property pages are divided into two types.  Some property pages contain settings that may be specific to individual documents.  For example, page size and orientation may differ from one document to another.  These settings are called document properties.  You may change these settings from the Printers folder, and they will be used as the defaults for all new documents.   You may also edit these settings from within an application, and these changes will only take effect for the current document.

Some property pages contain settings or diagnostic features that are not specific to any single document.  These settings are called printer properties.  For example, RS-232 serial port settings are shared between all applications using the printer.  When the settings are changed from the Printers folder, they affect all applications that print to the printer.  These settings may not be modified from within an application.

The settings available vary from printer to printer, but for all printers there is a standard way to access printer settings from Windows.  This procedure is slightly different in different versions of Windows, but the user interface is similar under all versions of Windows.

Windows 95, 98, ME

In Windows 95, 98, and ME, both printer properties and document properties are modified from the Properties dialog.

1.	From the Windows Start menu, select Settings, then Printers.  The Printers folder will appear.

2.	Find your printer and click your right mouse button on it.

3.	Select the Properties option from the context menu.  The dialog will appear.

4.	Click the tabs to move between the property pages.

5.	Modify any settings desired, and select OK to save the changes and exit the dialog.

Windows NT, 2000, XP

In Windows NT, 2000, and XP, printer properties are modified from the Properties dialog.  In Windows NT, the Document Defaults dialog is used to modify the default document properties.  In Windows 2000 and XP, this same dialog is named Printing Preferences.

1.	From the Windows Start Menu, select Settings, then Printers.  The Printers folder will appear.

2.	Find your printer and click your right mouse button on it.

3.	Select the Properties, Printing Preferences, or Document Defaults option to display the corresponding dialog.

4.	Click the tabs to move between the property pages.

5.	Modify any settings desired, and select OK to save the changes and exit the dialog.

Windows 3.1

1.	Double-click on the Control Panel icon in the Main group.

2.	Double-click on the Printers icon.

3.	Find your printer in the displayed list and click on it once.

4.	Click on the Setup button to display the Setup dialog for your printer.

5.	Windows 3.1 does not support the standard tabbed property page interface used in other versions of Windows.  The Windows 3.1 drivers have a similar interface, but instead of tabs along the top of the dialog, there is a list of property page names to the right of the page display.  Click on the property page names to move between the property pages.

6.	Modify any settings desired, and select OK to save the changes and exit the dialog.


Maximizing Your Printer Speed

Some of the most impressive graphics capabilities of Windows, including the ability to print TrueType fonts, can result in surprisingly large amounts of information being sent to your thermal printer.  Therefore, your printing performance can be adversely affected if you don't optimally configure your printer and workstation.

The following sections contain information to help you maximize your printing speed and understand the difference between images that are formatted by Windows and images that are formatted by your printer.

Parallel and USB vs. RS-232 Serial Communications

Some thermal printers come standard with just an old style (RS-232) serial port, while a parallel port or a USB port is an extra option.  RS-232 serial communication will work fine if you only intend to use your printer's built-in bar codes and typefaces.  However, if you want to take advantage of any of Windows' graphics capabilities, you will achieve significantly better performance if you use a thermal printer equipped with either a parallel or USB communications port.

Increasing the Baud Rate

Most RS-232 serial port printers ship from the factory with their baud rate set to 9600.  Conveniently, the default baud rate for Windows is also 9600.  However, many printers equipped with a RS-232 serial port, including most new ones, can be easily set to 19200 baud and higher, allowing the printer to receive much faster.  For certain print jobs, such as those that include TrueType text or large amounts of graphics (such as company logos and pictures), doubling your communication speed will double your printing speed as well.

Before you change the communication speed of your printer, you should first get everything up and running using your printer's default configuration.  Once you can print properly using the default settings, consult the manual for your printer (or call technical support for your printer manufacturer) to confirm that your printer supports higher baud rates.  If it does, find out how to reconfigure the printer.  After you reconfigure the printer, configure the baud rate in Windows to agree with your new printer settings.

Performance Benefits of Outputting Identical Labels

When outputting multiple copies of identical labels containing graphics objects to a printer using a RS-232 serial cable, you may notice that it takes some time before your first label prints out.  However, once the first label has printed, subsequent copies will print out at your printer's full-rated speed, even if you aren’t using a parallel cable.

The Benefits of Outputting Printer-based Objects

Windows programs often print images by drawing them out dot-by-dot using "bitmap" graphics.  With high resolution printers, such as laser and thermal printers, this creates so many dots to be output that printing speed can be reduced.  Fortunately, many thermal printers can output bar codes, lines, boxes, and different size "scalable" text fonts using intelligent high-level commands.  Use of these features can significantly increase printing speed because a Windows program can, for example, print a font built into the printer by outputting a few quick control codes, instead of sending a large dot-by-dot bitmap drawing of the entire text image.

Some Image Types Must Be Printed Using Windows Graphics

Although the high-level languages built into many thermal printers are helpful for printing certain types of images, there are times when a Windows program must output an image as a bitmap.  For example, you can only print a graphic (such as a company logo) or a designer typeface that is not built into your printer using the bitmap method.  The more graphics that you send to your printer, the slower your printing speed will be, especially if you are talking to the printer through a RS-232 serial cable.

The Fastest Way to Output Text

Almost all thermal printers have built-in text fonts.  Therefore, whenever one of these typefaces is suitable for your needs, they will print faster than the fonts built into Windows.  When the fonts built into your printer prove too limiting, there are literally hundreds of additional designer typefaces available as Windows TrueType fonts.  However, unless both your thermal printer and thermal printer driver explicitly support the download of TrueType fonts, these fonts can only be transmitted to your printer as graphics and will therefore slow down your printing speed, especially if you are using a RS-232 serial cable.

Understanding Why Some Printer-Based Capabilities Will Not Be Available To Your Programs

Because most of the special capabilities built into thermal printers are different for each brand of printer, and because thermal printers are totally different from the more common printers supported by Windows, it is just not possible for standard Windows programs to access certain high-level thermal printer commands.


Print Speed

Increasing your label speed has the obvious advantage of allowing your label printer to produce more labels in a given period of time.

♦	Adjusting the Print Speed.  The setting is given in inches, millimeters or centimeters per second, corresponding to the length of label stock that feeds through the printer per second.

♦	A Caution on Print Speed Control.  Unfortunately, increasing print speed close to the maximum setting is usually not practical.  Output quality on most label and ribbon combinations will start declining as the print speed increases beyond a certain point. Accordingly, before executing any large print runs, you should ensure that any increased speed settings you specify don’t result in an unacceptable reduction in output quality.

♦	Why Increasing the Print Speed Setting Won’t Always Increase Your Label Throughput.  The actual speed at which labels move while your images are being printed is not the only factor controlling your overall throughput.  There are also delays while information downloads from the computer to the printer, and a delay while the image is rendered into the print buffer.  Simple formats consisting of only bar codes and/or text fonts which are built into your printer can print at the maximum rate of speed, but the presence of graphics or TrueType fonts can decrease your throughput, especially when printing through a RS-232 serial port.  In these situations, your labels will move at the requested print speed when printing, but they will spend more time sitting idle between labels as the new information for each label is transmitted.  Depending on the complexity of the bitmap image, and the configuration of your communication port, this delay can be significant, potentially even a few minutes.

♦	Maximizing Print Speed.  Use built-in printer fonts when possible, and download any necessary TrueType fonts.  Use format and graphic caching with BarTender to reduce the amount of code sent to the printer and increase throughput.


Double Buffer

The Double Buffer option allows the printer to make more efficient use of image buffer memory.  While printing any label, the printer is already preparing the next label for printing, which may be noticeably faster.  Newer printers automatically enable this feature when there is enough image buffer memory for double buffering, and it is not necessary to modify this setting.

Although enabling Double Buffer may improve throughput, you must have an image buffer large enough to store two labels at a time, which means it must be set to at least twice the length of the label you are actually trying to print.  If you have insufficient memory to store two complete labels at the same time, double buffering will not take effect and the first label will be printed before the second is rendered into the image buffer.

How It Works

The normal process of printing labels on a thermal printer is as follows:  First, commands describing the fields on the label are created by the driver and sent to the printer.  Then the commands describing these fields are drawn into the image buffer.  Finally, this image buffer is transferred on to the label.  The printer must wait until the current label is printed before it can clear the buffer and start drawing the next label image.

When double buffering, the image buffer is divided into two parts.  The first label is rendered to part 1 of the image buffer.  While this label is printing from part 1 of the image buffer, the second label is being rendered to part 2 of the image buffer.  While the second label is printing from part 2, the third label is rendering to part 1.  This flips back and forth until all labels are printed.


Specifying Custom Settings for Thermal Printers

Most thermal printers have a variety of adjustable settings, some of which are unlike the settings found in laser printers or other “conventional” office printers.

Some thermal printers have front panel buttons and built-in LCD displays that allow you to configure these settings.  However, many printers don’t have front panel controls and require that you adjust these settings through software if they need to be changed.  To simplify this process, the driver includes property pages to provide a simple, intuitive interface for customizing your printer’s settings.

Thermal Printer Settings

♦	Stock Property Page

Direct Thermal

Type

Reverse Sensor

♦	Options Property Page

Print Speed

Double Buffer

♦	Storage Memory Property Page

♦	Testing Property Page

Logging Options

Configuration Dialog

Memory Contents Dialog


DIP Switch Settings

Your printer is configured by software and does not have DIP switches.


Stock Property Page

Media Settings

♦	Direct Thermal.   Used to enable or disable direct thermal printing.  Enabling this option disables the ribbon sensor.

♦	Type.  Used to specify the type of label stock on which you are printing labels.

Position Adjustment

♦	Gap Height.  When using labels with gaps, this specifies the size of the gap.

♦	Mark Height.  When using labels with marks, this specifies the thickness of the mark.

♦	Offset.  When you are using either labels with gaps or marks, the label sensor locates the top of each label.  If the image is printing too close to the top or bottom, you may need to make adjustments to the vertical positioning of the label image with this setting.

♦	Horizontal Position.  Sometimes, when you print a label, label images might be slightly off from where they are located within your application.  The difference would be seen mainly when you are printing labels with objects that are centered on a label.  In this case, you may want use this setting to make a minor adjustment in the horizontal position of label images.

Cutter Settings

♦	Cutter.   Enable this option to cut between labels.  This requires the optional cutter to be installed.

♦	Cut Position Adjustment.  Normally, the cutter should cut in the gap between labels.  You may adjust the cut position using this setting.

Device Settings

♦	Top of Form Backup.   When Top of Form Backup is enabled, the printer will advance a printed label out of the printer for easy tear off.  When another label is printed, the labels will back up, or roll back into the printer, to allow for printing the next label.

♦	Reverse Sensor.   Used to specify that the sensor in the printer that locates the gaps between labels will interpret the absence of light as a gap.

♦	Label Dispense Mode with Sensor.   The printer will output a single label and then pause until you have removed it.  Once the printed label is removed, the printer prints the next label.

♦	Label Dispense Mode with Tap to Feed.   The printer will output a single label and then pause until the feed button is pressed.  When the feed button is pressed, the printer prints the next label.


Direct Thermal

When the Direct Thermal option is disabled, this indicates that the printer will use a ribbon when printing labels.  In this case, the heat from the print-head causes ink on the ribbon to transfer from the ribbon onto the label stock.

However, when enabled, the Direct Thermal option indicates that no ribbon is used when printing labels.  Instead, the print-head directly heats the label stock, which must be heat-sensitive material intended for this purpose in order to work.


Type

The Type option allows you to specify the label stock you are using to print your labels.  You may select one of the three following types:

♦	Continuous Stock.  Continuous label stock looks like one long strip of label material without individual labels cut out of it.  When printing on this type of material, the label sensor should be disabled.

♦	Labels With Gaps.  The most commonly used labels are die-cut and have gaps between them.  When using this type of label stock, your printer locates the beginning and end of each label using an optical label sensor.  This allows the printer to move the label stock the precise distance required to print each label.  Therefore, when printing on stock that contains individual labels with gaps, the label sensor must be enabled.

♦	Labels With Marks.  It is sometimes desirable for the vertical positioning control provided by your printer’s label sensor to be available for use with continuous label stock.  For example, you might be using a label cutter and wish to print and cut a precise label size.  This is most frequently made possible by pre-printing horizontal black lines on the backs of your labels, spaced as far apart as you would like the labels cut.  These black lines are called label “marks.”  The optical setting required to properly sense these black lines is different than that required to sense the gaps between labels.  Accordingly, you must specify “Labels With Marks” instead of “Labels With Gaps.”


Reverse Sensor

Generally, when a printer locates the gaps between labels, it sees the absence of light as an indication that the label is present, which causes the printer to continue rolling the label until light is detected.  The Reverse Sensor option allows you to reverse this operation so that the presence of light indicates a label and the absence of it indicates the gap.  This setting would be necessary if you are printing on transparent labels with a black strip backing.


Options Property Page

Printer Options

♦	Print Speed.   Adjusts the rate at which labels print.

♦	Density.   When you adjust the Density, you adjust the amount of heat produced by the print head.  A hotter print head produces darker images.  To increase the print head temperature and darken printed images, move the slider to the right.  To reduce the temperature of the print head and lighten the printed images, move the slider to the left.

Optimizations

♦	Double Buffer.   Enables the double-buffering feature on printers that support it.

♦	Send Graphics Directly to Buffer.  When this option is disabled, graphics are stored in PCX format in graphics memory.  The PCX format is compressed, so graphics will print more quickly.  However, this method also requires more memory.  Printers with flash memory store PCX files in the flash memory, shortening its lifespan.  When this option is enabled, graphics are drawn directly to the image buffer, bypassing the storage of PCX graphics in the graphics memory.  This will allow larger labels to be printed, and will preserve any flash memory.


Storage Memory Property Page

The Storage Memory Property Page allows you to make adjustments to the memory allocations in your printer.  You should adjust the memory setting in your printer when you:

♦	Need to print a label which is larger than the current image buffer memory.

♦	Need to adjust the forms, graphic, or soft fonts memory.

♦	Add memory.

♦	Replace the firmware.

The options on the Storage Memory dialog are summarized below.

Storage Memory

♦	Total Installed.  Used to specify the total amount of non-volatile memory installed in the printer.  This memory is divided between the image buffer, forms, graphics, and downloaded fonts.  The printer also uses a small amount of this memory for other internal purposes so the individual allocations will not always add up to the total.

♦	Forms.  Used to specify the amount of the total memory to allocate to storing label formats in the printer’s non-volatile memory.

♦	Graphics.  Used to specify the amount of total memory to allocate to storing graphic images in the printer’s non-volatile memory.

♦	Downloaded Fonts.  Used to display the amount of total memory to allocate to storing soft fonts in the printer’s non-volatile memory.

♦	Get From Printer.  Reads the current storage memory settings from the printer and redisplays them.

♦	Reset to Defaults.  Resets the storage memory settings to reasonable defaults.

Image Buffer Memory

Image buffer memory is used to render a label image before printing.  It must be large enough to contain a bitmap of the entire label size.  You may calculate the image buffer memory by either specifying the size of the label stock you plan to use, or by specifying the actual size of the image buffer in kilobytes.

♦	Image Buffer.  Used to specify the amount of the total memory to allocate to the image buffer.  Increasing this value will increase the maximum length of labels you can print..

♦	Maximum Width.  Used to specify the maximum width of the label stock you plan to use.  Changing this value will recalculate the image buffer size.

♦	Maximum Height.  Used to specify the maximum height of the label stock you plan to use.  Changing this value will recalculate the image buffer size.  Note that to use double-buffering, you must specify a height at least twice that of the label you plan to use.

♦	Use Current Label Size.  Clicking this button resets the label size to the current label stock information defined via the Page Setup dialog.  The image buffer will then be recalculated based on these values.


Testing Property Page

On occasion, you may have printer problems that you need to resolve.  The Testing dialog allows you to determine how well your driver is communicating with your printer and to verify that your settings are correct.

Testing

♦	Print Test Label.  Used to print a test label to troubleshoot printing problems by verifying that your computer is communicating with your printer.

♦	Reset Printer.  Used to reinitialize the printer.

♦	Send File to Printer.  Click this button to send a file directly to the printer.  The driver does no processing on the contents of this file; it must already consist of commands understood by the printer.

♦	Logging Options.  This dialog supports logging all print jobs and print code sent to the printer for debugging purposes.

Configuration

♦	Read Configuration.  Used to read from the printer the current non-volatile memory settings, such as information about the image buffer and forms, graphics, and soft fonts memory configurations.  For more information, consult the printer manual or contact the printer’s manufacturer.

♦	Print Configuration.  Used to print out the current printer configuration, such as model number, port settings, RAM and memory configuration, to verify that there is a connection between the computer and the printer.  For more information, consult the printer manual or contact the printer’s manufacturer.

Storage Memory

♦	Read Memory Contents.  Displays the memory contents of what is currently stored in the printer.

♦	Print Forms List.  Displays a list of the forms that are currently stored in the printer.

♦	Print Graphics List.  Prints a list of the graphics that are currently stored in the printer.

♦	Print Soft Fonts List.  Prints a list of the soft fonts that are currently stored in the printer.


Configuration Dialog

Used to read the current printer configuration settings from non-volatile memory including the image buffer size, memory allocations, and code page information.

Storage Memory

♦	Image Buffer Size.  Displays the amount of the total memory currently allocated to a print job, and the amount of memory that remains available.

♦	Forms Memory.  Displays the amount of the total memory currently allocated to storing label formats, and the amount of memory that remains available.

♦	Graphics Memory.  Displays the amount of total memory allocated to storing graphic images in the printer's non-volatile memory, and the amount of memory that remains available.

♦	Soft Fonts Memory.  Displays the amount of total memory allocated to storing soft fonts in the printer's non-volatile memory, and the amount of memory that remains available.

Regional Settings

♦	Number of Data Bits.  Displays the number of data bits used to transmit characters.  Note that 8 bit is required to transmit international characters.  The driver will always set this to 8 bits.

♦	Code Page.  Displays the current code page setting.  The driver currently requires code page 850 and will always set the printer to this code page.

♦	Country Code.   Displays the current country code setting.  This setting is not used by the driver and it is not important that this is set correctly.


Memory Contents Dialog

This dialog lists the forms, graphics, and fonts stored in your printer.  This information is read directly from the printer, and thus requires a bidirectional connection.  The driver normally deletes all forms and graphics that it is no longer using, so this dialog will commonly be empty.