Brother P-Touch 2100 User manual

1
P. 1
P. 23
P. 45
P. 69

1
English
 Compilation and Publication Notice
Under the supervision of Brother Industries Ltd., this manual has been compiled and
published, covering the latest product’s descriptions and specifications.
The contents of this manual and the specifications of this product are subject to change
without notice.
Brother reserves the right to make changes without notice in the specifications and
materials contained herein and shall not be responsible for any damages (including
consequential) caused by reliance on the materials presented, including but not limited
to typographical and other errors relating to the publication.
© 2008 Brother Industries Ltd.
• IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines, Inc.
• Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation, USA.
• The names of other software or products used in this document are trademarks or
registered trademarks of the respective companies that developed them.
Declaration of Conformity
We BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
15-1, Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku,
Nagoya 467-8561, Japan
declare that the Labelling System PT-2100 conforms with the following normative
documents:
Safety: EN 60950-1:2001/A11:2004 (AC adapter)
EMC: EN 55022:1998/A1: 2000/A2: 2003 Class B
EN 55024:1998/A1: 2001/A2: 2003
EN 61000-3-2:2006
EN 61000-3-3:1995/A1: 2001
and follows the provisions of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 89/336/EEC (as
amended by 92/31/EEC and 93/68/EEC). The AC adaptor also follows the provisions of the
Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC.
Issued by: BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD.

2
BEFORE USING YOUR P-TOUCH
Thank you for purchasing the P-touch 2100.
Your new P-touch is an easy to operate, feature packed labelling system that makes
creating professional, high quality labels a breeze. In addition to easy label creation via
pre-formatted label layouts, the P-touch editing software features advanced label
formatting, block formats, barcodes and auto-numbering functions.
To prevent injury and damage, important notes are explained using various symbols.
The symbols and their meanings are as follows:
The symbols used in this manual are as follows:
Safety Precautions
WARNING
Tells you what to do to avoid the risk of injury.
CAUTION
Tells you about procedures you must follow to prevent damage to
the P-touch.
Action NOT allowed to do DO NOT disassemble the
product.
DO NOT splash the product
with or immerse the product in
water.
DO NOT touch a given
portion of the product.
Mandatory action Unplugging
Safety alert Alerts to the possibility of
electrical shock

3
English
WARNING
AC adapter
Follow these guidelines to avoid fire, damage, electric shock, or failure.
Use only the AC adapter (AD-24)
designed exclusively for your P-touch.
Failure to observe this may result in an
accident or damage. Brother shall not
assume any responsibility for any
accident or damage resulting from not
using the specified AC adaptor.
Unplug the power cord immediately
and stop using the machine during an
electrical storm. There may be a
remote risk of electric shock from
lightning.
Do not touch the AC adapter or power
plug with wet hands.
Do not use the AC adapter in places
of high humidity such as bathrooms.
Do not use a damaged power cord.
Do not overload the power outlet.
Do not place heavy objects on,
damage or modify the power cord or
plug. Do not forcibly bend or pull the
power cord.
Do not drop, hit or otherwise damage
the AC adaptor.
Make sure that the plug is fully
inserted to the power outlet. Do not
use an outlet that is loose.
Battery
Follow these guidelines to avoid liquid leakage, heat, rupture of the battery.
Do not use metallic articles, such as
tweezers or a metallic pen, when
exchanging the batteries.
Do not throw into fire, heat up, or
disassemble the battery.

BEFORE USING YOUR P-TOUCH
4
P-touch
Follow these guidelines to avoid fire, damage, electric shock, and choking.
Do not allow the P-touch to get wet in
any way.
Do not touch any metal parts near the
print head. The print head becomes
very hot during use and remains very
hot immediately after use. Do not
touch it directly with your hands.
Do not use the P-touch with a foreign
object in it. If water, metallic
substance or any foreign object
enters the P-touch, disconnect the
AC adaptor and remove batteries,
and contact the retail outlet where the
P-touch was purchased or your local
authorized service center.
Do not disassemble the P-touch. For
inspection, adjustment, and repair of
the P-touch, contact the retail outlet
where the P-touch was purchased or
your local authorized service center.
Dispose of plastic bags correctly and
keep away from babies and children.
Do not wear or play with plastic bags.
Disconnect the AC adaptor and
remove batteries immediately and
stop using when you notice abnormal
odor, heat, discolouration,
deformation or anything unusual
while using or storing it.
Do not drop, hit or otherwise bang the
P-touch.
WARNING
Print head

5
English
CAUTION
Tape Cutter
Follow these guidelines to avoid personal injury and damage of the P-touch.
Do not touch the blade of the cutter
unit.
Do not open the tape compartment
cover when operating the cutter unit.
Do not apply excessive pressure to
the cutter unit.
AC adaptor
Be sure to disconnect the AC adapter
from the power outlet and the P-touch
when not using the P-touch for any
extended period of time.
Always hold the plug when
disconnecting the power cord from
the power outlet.
Battery
Follow these guidelines to avoid liquid leakage, heat, rupture of the battery.
Do not use old and new batteries
together.
Do not mix alkaline batteries with
other type batteries.
Do not set the positive and negative
end in the wrong position.
Remove the batteries if you do not
intend to use the P-touch for an
extended period of time.
P-touch
Follow these guidelines to avoid personal injury and damage of the P-touch.
Place the P-touch on a flat, stable
surface such as a desk.
Do not place any heavy objects on top
of the P-touch. Do not press on the
LCD display.
Tape
Depending on the location, material, and environmental conditions, the label may
unpeel or become irremovable, the colour of the label may change or be
transferred to other objects.
Before applying the label, check the environmental condition and the material.
Memory
Any data stored in memory will be lost due to failure or repair of the P-touch, or if
the battery expires.
When power is disconnected for more than two minutes, all text and format
settings will be cleared. Any text files stored in the memory will also be cleared.

BEFORE USING YOUR P-TOUCH
6
• Do not use the P-touch in any way or for any purpose not described in this guide. Doing
so may result in accidents or damage the machine.
• Do not put any foreign objects into the tape exit slot, AC adapter connector, or USB port, etc.
• Do not touch the print head with your fingers. Use a soft wipe (e.g. a cotton swab) when
cleaning the print head or the optional print head cleaning cassette (TZ-CL4) when
cleaning the print head.
• Do not clean the machine with alcohol or other organic solvents. Only use a soft, dry cloth.
• Do not place the P-touch in direct sunlight or rain, near heaters or other hot appliances, in
any location exposed to extremely high or low temperatures (e.g. on the dashboard or in
the back of your car), high humidity, or dusty locations. Standard operating temperature
range: (10
° C to 35 ° C).
• Do not leave any rubber or vinyl on the machine for an extended period of time, otherwise
the machine may be stained.
• Depending on the environmental conditions and the applied settings, some characters or
symbols may be difficult to read.
• Use only Brother TZ tapes with this machine. Do not use tapes that do not have the
mark.
• Do not pull or press on the tape in the cassette. Otherwise the tape cassette or P-touch
may be damaged.
• Do not try to print labels using an empty tape cassette or without a tape cassette set in the
P-touch. Doing so will damage the print head.
• Do not attempt to cut tape while printing or feeding since this will damage the tape.
• It is recommended that you use the USB cable supplied with the P-touch. Should another
USB cable need to be used, ensure it is of high quality construction.
• Be careful not to scratch the CD-ROM. Do not place the CD-ROM in any location exposed
to high or low temperatures. Do not place heavy objects on the CD-ROM or bend it.
• The software on the CD-ROM is intended for use with the P-touch and may be installed
on more than one PC.
• We strongly recommend that you read this User's Guide carefully before using your P-
touch, and then keep it nearby for future reference.
The following symbols are used throughout this guide to indicate additional information.
General Precautions
Symbols Used in this Guide
:
This symbol indicates information or directions that may result in damage or
injury if ignored, or operations that will result in errors.
:
This symbol indicates information or directions that may help you understand and
use the P-touch more efficiently.

7
English
GETTING STARTED
General Description
When shipped from the factory, the LCD display is covered with a protective sheet to
prevent damage. Remove this sheet before using the P-touch.
Tape compartment cover
Tape exit slot
Keyboard
Tape viewer
LCD display
Tape cassette compartment
Tape cutter Print head Release
lever
AC adaptor connector
USB port
Battery compartment cover
Battery case

8
GETTING STARTED
LCD Display
1. Line number
Displayed at the beginning of each line, this mark indicates the line number within
the label layout.
2. Cursor
Indicates the current position of the cursor. New characters are entered to the left of
the cursor, and the character to the left of the cursor is deleted when the key is
pressed.
3. Return mark
Indicates the end of a line of text.
4. Caps mode
Indicates that the Caps mode is on.
5.~8. Style guidance
Indicates the current font (5), character size (6), character style (7), frame (8)
settings.
9. Tape length
Indicates the tape length for the text entered.
10.Cursor selection
Indicates that you can use the cursor keys to select the items on the screen. Use
the and keys to select a menu item, and the and keys to change the
setting.
LCD Display & Keyboard
1
2
456789 10
3

9
English
Key Names and Functions
1. (Power):
Turns the P-touch on and off.
2. ( ):
Moves the cursor in the direction of the
arrow when entering or editing
characters, entering symbols or
accented characters, and when setting
label attributes in the function menus.
3. :
Selects the option displayed when
setting label attributes in the function
menus, or when entering symbols or
accented characters.
4. (Escape):
Cancels the current command and
returns the display to the data entry
screen or the previous step.
5. (Print):
• Prints the current label design onto the
tape.
• Opens the Print Options menu when
used in combination with the key.
6. (Preview):
• Displays a preview of the label.
• Feeds 23 mm of blank tape and then
automatically cuts the tape when used
in combination with the key.
78
5
11
12 19 1813 13
6
91016
1
2
4
3
14
15
17
20

10
GETTING STARTED
7. (File):
Opens the File menu, where you can
print, open, save, or delete the
frequently used labels in the file
memory.
8. (Text):
• Opens the Text menu, where you can
set character attributes for the label.
• Character attributes can be set to each
line of the label when the Text menu is
opened in combination with the
key.
9. (Label):
Opens the Label menu, where you can
set label attributes for the label.
10. (Setup):
• Opens the Setup menu, where you can
set operating preferences for the P-touch.
11. ~ :
• Use these keys to type letters or
numbers.
• Uppercase letters and symbols can be
entered using these keys in combination
with the or key.
12. (Caps):
Turns the Caps mode on and off. When
the Caps mode is on, uppercase letters
can be entered by simply pressing a
character key.
13. (Shift):
Use this key in combination with the
letter and number keys to type
uppercase letters or the symbols
indicated on the number keys.
14. (Symbol):
• Use this key to select and enter a
symbol from a list of available symbols.
• Opens the barcode Input screen for
entering the barcode data when used in
combination with the key.
15. (Backspace):
Deletes the character to the left of the
cursor.
16. (Clear):
Clears all text entered, or all text and
current label settings.
17. (Enter):
• Enters a new line when entering text.
• Enters a new block when used in
combination with the key.
18. (Auto-Format):
Opens the Auto-Format menu, where
you can create labels using pre-defined
templates or block formats.
19. (Space):
• Enters a blank space.
• Returns a setting to the default value.
• Inserts a tab to the position of the cursor
in the text entry screen when used in
combination with the key.
20. (Accent):
Use this key to select and enter an
accented character.

11
English
Battery
After making sure that the power is off, remove the
battery compartment cover on the back of the
machine. If the batteries are already in the
machine, remove them.
Insert six new AA-size alkaline batteries (LR6),
making sure that their poles point in the correct
direction.
23
Attach the battery compartment cover by inserting
the three hooks at the bottom into the slots on the
machine, then pushing down firmly until it snaps
into place.
Power Supply
Make sure that the power is turned off when
replacing batteries.
1
Always replace all six batteries at the same
time using brand new ones.
2
3
CAUTION
Remove the batteries if you do not intend to use the P-touch for an extended period
of time.

12
GETTING STARTED
AC Adaptor
Insert the plug on the AC adaptor cord into the connector marked DC IN 9-9.5V
on the P-touch.
Insert the AC adaptor plug into a standard electrical outlet.
Remove the batteries if you do not intend to use the P-touch for an extended period of time.
1
2
• Turn the P-touch off before disconnecting the AC adaptor.
• Do not pull or bend the AC adaptor cord.
For backup of memory when the AC adaptor is unplugged from the P-touch, please use AA-size
alkaline batteries (LR6).
WARNING
• Use only the AC adaptor (AD-24) designed exclusively for your P-touch. Failure to
observe this may result in an accident or damage. Brother shall not assume any
responsibility for any accident or damage resulting from not using the specified AC
adaptor.
• Do not connect the AC adaptor to a non-standard electrical outlet. Failure to
observe this may result in an accident or damage. Brother shall not assume any
responsibility for any accident or damage resulting from not using a standard
electrical outlet.
CAUTION
• Disconnect the AC adaptor from the P-touch and electrical outlet when you do not
intend to use the P-touch for an extended period.
• When power is disconnected for more than two minutes, all text and format settings
will be cleared. Any text files stored in the memory will also be cleared.

13
English
Tape cassettes of 3.5 mm, 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm, 18 mm width can be used in your P-
touch. Use only tape cassettes with the mark.
Check that the end of the tape is not bent and
that it passes through the tape guide.
After making sure that the power is off, lift open the
tape compartment cover. If there is already a tape
cassette in the machine, remove it by pulling it
straight up.
Inserting a Tape Cassette
• If the new tape cassette has a cardboard stopper, be sure to
remove the stopper before inserting the cassette.
• If the ink ribbon is loose, use your finger to wind the toothed
wheel in the direction of the arrow on the cassette.
WATNLATION
End of tape
Tape guide
1
2

14
GETTING STARTED
Insert the tape cassette into the tape
compartment, with the end of the tape
facing the machine's tape exit slot, and
press firmly until you hear a click.
Close the tape compartment cover.
When inserting the tape cassette,
make sure that the tape and ink
ribbon do not catch on the print head.
Tape exit slot
3
4
• Make sure that the release lever is up when closing the tape compartment cover. The tape
compartment cover cannot be closed if the release lever is pressed down.
• Do not pull the label coming out of the tape exit slot. Doing so will cause the ink ribbon
to be discharged with the tape.
• Store tape cassettes in a cool dark location, away from direct sunlight and high temperature,
high humidity, or dusty locations. Use the tape cassette as quickly as possible after opening
the sealed package.

15
English
Press the key to turn the P-touch on.
Press the key again to turn the P-touch off.
zAuto Power-Off Timez
Turning Power On/Off
• Your P-touch has a power saving function that automatically turns itself off if no key is
pressed within a certain time under certain operating conditions. Refer to the Auto Power-Off
Time table below for details.
• If batteries are installed or the P-touch is connected to an electrical outlet by the AC adaptor,
the previous session’s information is displayed when the power is turned on.
P-touch only Connected to PC
With AC adaptor/
With battery
5 minutes 60 minutes

16
GETTING STARTED
 Create a label with the P-touch
Prepare the P-touch.
Enter the label text.
Print the label.
Creating Your First Label
1
Install the batteries
and/or connect the AC
adaptor.
Set a tape cassette. Turn the P-touch on.
2
In addition to entering text, the P-touch
has a large range of editing functions.
"Create labels like these"
3
You can check the layout of your label
before printing.
Checking the label preview before
printing prevents wasting tape on
incomplete labels.
"Preview function"

17
English
 Create a label with your personal computer
Prepare the P-touch. (Refer to step 1 in the previous section.)
Prepare the personal computer.
Enter the label text using P-touch Quick Editor.
Print the label.
1
2
Install the software.
Software Installation Guide Software Installation Guide
Turn the P-touch on.
Connect the USB
cable.
3
Start P-touch Quick
Editor. Enter the label text in P-touch Quick Editor.
Software Help Software Help
For example, click
on the layout area
and then type
"Brother".
4
Click on the "Print"
button. The label is printed.
Software Help Software Help
P-touch Quick Editor (simple label editing software) is ideal for creating simple labels.
To create labels with more complex designs, use P-touch Editor (fully featured label editing
software).
"P-touch Editor" "Create labels with complex designs like these"

18

English
19
English
INTRODUCTION
Features
CD-ROM Precautions
• Do not scratch the CD-ROM.
• Do not subject the CD-ROM to extremely high or extremely low temperatures.
• Do not put heavy objects on the CD-ROM or apply force to the CD-ROM.
• The software contained on the CD-ROM is meant for use with your purchased machine only.
It may be installed on multiple PC for use at an office, etc.
• Do not connect the USB cable to your PC until the software has been installed and you
are instructed to connect.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Before installation, check that your system configuration meets the following requirements.
P-touch Editor Makes it easy for anyone to create a wide variety of custom
labels in complex layouts by using fonts, templates, and clip art.
P-touch Quick Editor Lets you design a simple label layout quickly and easily.
Printer Driver Lets you print labels from the connected P-touch when using
P-touch Editor / Quick Editor on your PC.
Operating system Microsoft®Windows®2000 Professional / XP / Windows Vista®
Memory Windows®2000 Pro, XP: 128MB or more
Windows Vista®: 512MB or more
Hard disk free space 70MB or more
Interface USB Port (USB Specification 1.1 or 2.0 protocol)
Monitor SVGA High Color graphics support or higher
Other CD-ROM drive for installation
Note : Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation, USA.
The names of other software or products used in this document are trademarks or
registered trademarks of the respective companies that developed them.