Brother P-touch PT-2700 User manual

User’s Guide
P. 20

 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.
© 2009 Brother Industries Ltd.
• Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation, USA.
• Macintosh and Mac OS are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
• 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
(Europe/Turkey only)
We, BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
15-1, Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku,
Nagoya, 467-8561, Japan
declare that this product is in compliance with the essential requirements and other
relevant provisions of Directives 2004/108/EC and 2005/32/EC.
The Adapter AD-24ES is in compliance with the essential requirements and other
relevant provisions of Directive 2006/95/EC.
The Declaration of Conformity (DoC) is on our Web site. Please go to
http://solutions.brother.com -> choose region (eg. Europe) -> choose country ->
choose your model -> choose "Manuals"-> choose Declaration of Conformity (*Select
Language when required).

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BEFORE USING YOUR P-TOUCH ......................................................... 4
Safety Precautions ........................................................................................................ 4
General Precautions...................................................................................................... 7
Symbols Used in this Guide .......................................................................................... 7
GETTING STARTED ............................................................................... 8
Unpacking Your P-touch ............................................................................................... 8
General Description....................................................................................................... 9
LCD Display & Keyboard............................................................................................. 10
LCD Display .......................................................................................................... 10
Key Names and Functions.................................................................................... 11
Power Supply .............................................................................................................. 13
Battery................................................................................................................... 13
AC Adaptor ........................................................................................................... 14
Inserting a Tape Cassette ........................................................................................... 15
Turning Power On/Off ................................................................................................. 17
Creating Your First Label ............................................................................................ 18
Quick Index ................................................................................................................. 20
Feeding Tape .............................................................................................................. 21
LCD Display ................................................................................................................ 21
LCD Contrast ........................................................................................................ 21
Display Mode ........................................................................................................ 22
Back Light ............................................................................................................. 22
Setting Language and Unit.......................................................................................... 23
Language .............................................................................................................. 23
Unit........................................................................................................................ 23
EDITING A LABEL................................................................................. 24
Entering and Editing Text............................................................................................ 24
Entering Text from the Keyboard.......................................................................... 24
Adding a New Line................................................................................................ 24
Adding a New Block.............................................................................................. 24
Moving the Cursor................................................................................................. 24
Inserting Text ........................................................................................................ 25
Inserting a Tab ...................................................................................................... 25
Deleting Text......................................................................................................... 25
Entering Symbols ........................................................................................................ 26
Entering Symbols Using Key ............................................................................... 26
Entering Symbols Using the Symbol Function...................................................... 26
Using Symbol Update Function ............................................................................ 27
Contents

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Entering Accented Characters .....................................................................................29
Setting Character Attributes .........................................................................................31
Setting Character Attributes by Label ....................................................................31
Setting Character Attributes by Each Line.............................................................31
Setting Auto Fit Style .............................................................................................35
Setting Label Attributes ................................................................................................36
Using Auto-Format Layouts .........................................................................................38
Using Templates - Example creating an Asset Tag...............................................38
Using Block Layouts ..............................................................................................43
Using Time & Date Function ........................................................................................48
Clock Setting..........................................................................................................48
Time & Date Format Setting ..................................................................................49
Time Stamp Setting ...............................................................................................51
[Timing] ..................................................................................................................51
[Time Stamp Format] .............................................................................................52
[Forward]................................................................................................................53
Creating a Bar Code Label...........................................................................................54
Setting Bar Code Parameters................................................................................54
Entering Bar Code Data.........................................................................................55
Editing and Deleting a Bar Code ...........................................................................57
LABEL PRINTING ................................................................................. 58
Label Preview...............................................................................................................58
Printing a Label ............................................................................................................58
Printing a Single Copy ...........................................................................................59
Printing Multiple Copies .........................................................................................59
Auto-numbering Labels..........................................................................................60
Mirror Printing ........................................................................................................61
Tape Cutting Options ...................................................................................................62
Manual Cutting .............................................................................................................64
Adjusting the Label Length Accuracy...........................................................................64
Attaching Labels...........................................................................................................65
USING THE FILE MEMORY ................................................................. 66
Storing a Label into Memory ........................................................................................66
Opening a Stored Label File ........................................................................................67
Printing a Stored Label File..........................................................................................68
Deleting a Stored Label File.........................................................................................69
MAINTAINING YOUR P-touch .............................................................. 70
Resetting the P-touch...................................................................................................70
Maintenance.................................................................................................................70
Cleaning the Main Unit ..........................................................................................70

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Cleaning the Print Head........................................................................................ 70
Cleaning the Tape Cutter...................................................................................... 71
TROUBLESHOOTING........................................................................... 72
What to do when... ...................................................................................................... 72
Error Messages ........................................................................................................... 75
APPENDIX............................................................................................. 80
Specifications .............................................................................................................. 80
Accessories................................................................................................................. 83
INDEX.................................................................................................... 89

4
Safety Precautions
BEFORE USING YOUR P-TOUCH
Thank you for purchasing the P-touch 2700.
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, bar codes 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.
The incorrect setup icon alerts you to devices and operations that are not
compatible with the P-touch. (e.g. the figure on the left indicates a warning
against disassembly).
The special instructions icon indicates operations to be carried out. (e.g. the
figure on the left shows removal of the power plug from the power outlet).

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Safety Precautions
zBEFORE USING YOUR P-TOUCH
WARNING
P-touch
Follow these guidelines to avoid fire, damage, electric shock, and choke.
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.
Do not drop, hit or otherwise bang the
P-touch.
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 allow the P-touch to get wet in
any way.
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.
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,
discoloration, deformation or anything
unusual while using or storing it.
Battery
Follow these guidelines to avoid liquid leakage, heat, rupture of the battery.
Do not throw into fire, heat up, or disassemble the battery.
AC adaptor
Follow these guidelines to avoid fire, electric shock, or failure.
Always use the suggested AC
adaptor (AD-24ES).
Do not overload the power outlet.
Do not drop, hit or otherwise damage
the AC adaptor.
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 use a damaged power cord.
Do not touch the AC adaptor or power
plug with wet hands.
Do not use the AC adaptor in places
of high humidity such as bathrooms.
Make sure that the plug is fully
inserted to the power outlet. Do not
use an outlet that is loose.

BEFORE USING YOUR P-TOUCH
6
Safety Precautions
CAUTION
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.
AC adaptor
Be sure to disconnect the AC adaptor
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.
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.
Usage/Storage
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.
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 and clock
settings will also be cleared.
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.
Test the label by affixing a small piece of it to an inconspicuous area of the
intended surface.

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General Precautions
zBEFORE USING YOUR P-TOUCH
• 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.
• 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.
• Do not put any foreign objects into the tape exit slot, AC adaptor connector, or USB port,
etc.
• 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 touch the print head with your fingers.
• 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, near heaters or other hot appliances, in any
location exposed to extremely high or low temperatures, high humidity, or dusty locations.
Standard operating temperature range: (10
° C to 35 ° C).
• 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.

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Unpacking Your P-touch
GETTING STARTED
Check that the package contains the following before using your P-touch.
Unpacking Your P-touch
P-touch PT-2700 TZ tape cassette
CD-ROM USB cable
AC adaptor User’s Guide
Software Installation Guide

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zGETTING STARTED
General Description
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

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LCD Display & Keyboard
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
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456789 10
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Refer to "LCD Display" on page 21 for changing the contrast and display mode, and for turning
the back light on/off.

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zGETTING STARTED
LCD Display & Keyboard
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.
• When setting the date and time for the
clock setting, use and key to
increase/decrease the numbers.
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.
7. (Mode):
Use this key to change the display view
of the text entry screen and clock
display.
8. (Light):
Turns the back light of the LCD display
on and off.

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LCD Display & Keyboard
GETTING STARTED
9. (File): :
Opens the File menu, where you can
print, open, save, or delete the
frequently used labels in the file
memory.
10. (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.
11. (Label):
Opens the Label menu, where you can
set label attributes for the label.
12. (Setup):
• Opens the Setup menu, where you can
set operating preferences for the P-touch.
13. ~ :
• Use these keys to type letters or
numbers.
• Uppercase letters and symbols can be
entered using these keys in combination
with the or keys.
14. (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.
15. (Shift):
Use this key in combination with the
letter and number keys to type
uppercase letters or the symbols
indicated on the number keys.
16. (Symbol):
• Use this key to select and enter a
symbol from a list of available symbols.
• Opens the Barcode Input screen for
entering the bar code data when used in
combination with the key.
17. (Backspace):
• Deletes the character to the left of the
cursor.
• Clears all text entered, or all text and
current label settings when used in
combination with the key.
18. (Enter):
• Enters a new line when entering text.
• Enters a new block when used in
combination with the key.
19. (Time):
• Enters the selected date / time to the
position of the cursor in the text entry
screen.
• Clock display appears when used in
combination with the key.
20. (Auto-Format):
Opens the Auto-Format menu, where
you can create labels using pre-defined
templates or block formats.
21. (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.
22. (Accent):
Use this key to select and enter an
accented character.

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zGETTING STARTED
Power Supply
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 eight new AA-size alkaline batteries (LR6),
making sure that their poles point in the correct
direction.
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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.
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Always replace all eight batteries at the same
time using brand new ones.
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• Remove the batteries if you do not intend to use the P-touch for an extended period of time.
• When power is disconnected for more than two minutes, all text and format settings will be
cleared. Any text files stored in the memory and clock settings will also be cleared.

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Power Supply
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.
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• Turn the P-touch off before disconnecting the AC adaptor.
• 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.
• Do not pull or bend the AC adaptor cord.
• Use only the AC adaptor (AD-24ES) 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.
• When power is disconnected for more than two minutes, all text and format settings will be
cleared. Any text files stored in the memory and clock settings will also be cleared.
For backup of memory and clock setting, when the AC adaptor is unplugged from the P-touch,
please use AA-size alkaline batteries (LR6).

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zGETTING STARTED
Inserting a Tape Cassette
Tape cassettes of 3.5mm, 6mm, 9mm, 12mm, 18mm, 24mm 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.
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.
Inserting a Tape Cassette
If the new tape cassette has a cardboard stopper, be sure to remove
the stopper before inserting the cassette.
WATNLATION
End of tape
Tape guide
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When inserting the tape cassette,
make sure that the tape and ink
ribbon do not catch on the print head.
Tape exit slot
3

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Inserting a Tape Cassette
GETTING STARTED
Close the tape compartment cover.
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.
• Be sure to feed tape to remove any slack in the tape and ink ribbon after inserting the tape
cassette. Refer to "Feeding Tape" on page 21.
• 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.

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zGETTING STARTED
Turning Power On/Off
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
8 hours 8 hours
With battery 5 minutes 5 minutes with no operation.
1 hour after printing from PC.

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Creating Your First Label
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.
P. 13 P. 15 P. 17
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"
P. 24
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"
P. 58