Casio MEP-PC10 User manual

Be sure to keep all user documentation handy for future reference.
E
Using MEP-PC10
Troubleshooting
What you can do
with MEP-PC10
For Windows
User’s Guide
MEP-PC10 version 1.00

Important!
The copyright of this manual and rights related
to the software all revert to CASIO COMPUTER
CO., LTD.
• Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista, and Internet Explorer are
registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the
United States and other countries.
• TrueType is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. in the United States
and other countries.
• Adobe and Reader are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated of
the United States.
• Other company names and product names used herein are trademarks
or registered trademarks of others. Note that TM and ® marks are not
used within the text of this manual.
© 2012 CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. All rights reserved.
Except as required for proper use or for creating backup copy, any
reproduction of this manual and/or the program, either in part or in their
entirety, is strictly forbidden without the express written permission of
CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
Precautions Concerning This Manual
■Note that CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. shall not be held in any way
responsible for any losses or lost profits, or for any claims by third parties
arising out of the use of the examples presented in this manual.
■Any reproduction of this manual, either in part or its entirety, is forbidden.
Note that any use of this manual other than personal use without the
permission of CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. violates copyright laws.
■The specifications and other contents contained in this manual are
subject to change without notice.
• For information about installing this software and the required oper-
ating environment, see the separate “User’s Guide” or the
“Installation Guide”.
• MEP-PC10 is application software that runs on Windows 8,
Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
• Certain equipment configurations may not support proper opera-
tion.

1
Index
Getting Ready
About this manual... · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 3
Read the manual in this sequence · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 3
Information Contained in This Manual · · · · · · · · · · · 3
Introducing MEP-PC10 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 5
MEP-PC10 Features · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 5
MEP-PC10
Using MEP-PC10 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 8
What you can do with MEP-PC10 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 8
Starting Up and Exiting MEP-PC10 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 8
Starting up MEP-PC10 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 8
Exiting MEP-PC10· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 9
Enabling MEP-PC10 Auto Startup · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 10
Basic Operations · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 12
Input Panel · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 12
Print Preview · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 14
Print Image Screen · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 14
Right-click Menu · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 15
Inputting, Editing, and Printing Text · · · · · · · · · · · · 16
Inserting Canned Phrases and the Current Date
and Time into a Label · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 18
Using On-screen Text to Create a Label · · · · · · · · · 20
Inserting an Image into a Label · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 21
Using Previously Printed Content · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 23
Feeding the Printer Tape· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 25
Configuring MEP-PC10 Properties · · · · · · · · · · · · · 25
Using Help · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 31
Appendix
Operation Troubleshooting· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 34
Printing Troubleshooting · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 35
Error Messages · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 36
Label Creation Troubleshooting· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 37

Getting Ready

3
MEP-PC10 also has a Help feature (page 31) that you
can use to find out about procedures and precautions
when performing operations.
Button Operation Notation
All operations in this manual are explained using mouse operations.
Menu command operations are represented as shown below.
Print( P )
Click Print( P ).
Dialog box button operations are represented as shown below.
OK
Click OK.
■
•
•
About this manual...
Read the manual in this sequence
First read the section titled “Getting Ready” (page 3through 6), which
provides a general overview and information about the required
computer operating system.
To actually print a label, see “Using MEP-PC10” (page 8).
Information Contained in This Manual
This manual does not cover Windows.
This manual covers MEP-PC10 for Windows. This software is designed
to run on Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
(referred to collectively here as “Windows”). This manual does not provide
details about Windows operations.
This manual assumes that you are familiar with the following basic
Windows operations, which are required to use this software.
• Click, double-click, right-click, drag and drop,
and other mouse operations
• Using the mouse to perform menu operations
• Using the keyboard to input text
• Common window operations
For information about these basic operations, refer to the user
documentation that came with your computer or your Windows package.
■

4
Key Operations
This software supports use of both mouse operations and keyboard key
operations. The following keyboard key operations are supported: Ctrl,
Shift, Alt. These keys are represented in this manual as Ctrl, Shift, and
Alt. They are used in combination with keyboard letter keys to perform
operations.
Display Screen
Though the screen shots shown in this manual may differ somewhat
from actual screen images, screen contents are accurately
represented.
Screen shots shown in this manual are based on the English version
of Windows XP, and examples assume that “English” was selected as
the display language during installation. Screens produced by other
operating systems or when another display language is selected may
be different from the screen shots shown here.
■
■
•
•

5
Introducing MEP-PC10
MEP-PC10 lets you use your computer to create content for
printing on tape.
This section explains what you can do with MEP-PC10 and provides
information about the types of uses for which it is suited.
MEP-PC10 Features
MEP-PC10 makes it easy to create labels using text displayed on your
computer screen and text that you input.
Right-click
You can print displayed text (text you are inputting or editing input
using other software) on the spot.
Right-click
●
You can use fonts installed on your computer for printing. (TrueType
fonts only.)
Text is automatically adjusted to the optimum size, which eliminates
the need for detailed adjustments.
Select three lines...
Select one line...
●
●

6
Leave it running without worrying that it will interfere with other
software.
MEP-PC10
Software can be exited when required.
Canned phrases for later recall and faster input.
History Manager lets you easily recall and reprint previously printed
text.
Find out more in “Using MEP-PC10” (page 8).
●
•
●
●
•

MEP-PC10

8
Starting Up and Exiting
MEP-PC10
Starting up MEP-PC10
Note that you do not need to perform this procedure if the MEP-PC10
icon is displayed in the Windows task tray.
Windows task tray (Normally located in the lower right corner of the screen.)
MEP-PC10 icon (Indicates the application is
running.)
In Windows XP, the MEP-PC10 icon may not be displayed if the
“Auto-hide the taskbar” option check box is selected on the
Taskbar tab of the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties screen. Clear
the check box to display the icon.
1. On your desktop, double-click the MEP-PC10 icon.
This starts up MEP-PC10. This will cause the Input Panel and a print
preview to appear, and will display the MEP-PC10 icon in the task
tray.
If you specified not to display the MEP-PC10 shortcut on your
desktop, navigate to the location on your computer where you
have MEP-PC10 installed and then double-click the MEP-PC10
icon.
•
•
•
Using MEP-PC10
MEP-PC10 makes it easy to create labels using text displayed on
your computer screen and text that you input.
What you can do with MEP-PC10
Simple label creation without worrying about layout. The layout is
adjusted automatically in accordance with the text length and tape
width.
The application can be left running while using other software, so
text from the other software can be instantly printed as required. See
“Using On-screen Text to Create a Label” (page 20).
MEP-PC10 remains resident in the task tray, so terms can be input at
any time. See “Inputting, Editing, and Printing Text” (page 16).
Preview a label before you print it.
When printing with the right-click menu, an image screen is
displayed before actual printing is performed. See “Print Image
Screen” (page 14).
When inputting with the Input Panel, a preview image shows you
what the label will look like when printed. See “Print Preview” (page
14).
Canned phrases can be recalled when inputting text. You can also
register your own canned phrases. See “Inserting Canned Phrases and
the Current Date and Time into a Label” (page 18).
History Manager remembers the contents of up to 100 labels. You can
recall previously printed content and reprint it. See “Using Previously
Printed Content” (page 23).
Right-clicking inside of another application while MEP-PC10 is
running normally will display the right-click menu for that application.
You can also configure settings so the MEP-PC10 right-click menu
appears when you right-click inside of another application. See “To
configure the MEP-PC10 right-click menu display operation” (page
29).
●
●
●
●
•
•
●
●
•

9
You can also start up MEP-PC10 by performing the following
operation: From the Windows Start menu, click All Programs,
CASIO, MEP-PC10, and then MEP-PC10. Note that the folder
that contains MEP-PC10 depends on settings you configured
when you installed the application.
Print preview
Input Panel
MEP-PC10 icon
Double-click
Exiting MEP-PC10
Use either of the two methods described below to exit MEP-PC10.
To exit MEP-PC10 from the Input Panel
1. In the upper right corner of the Input Panel, click the close button
( ).
Input Panel
Close button
This exits MEP-PC10 and causes its icon to disappear from the task
tray.
•
■
To exit MEP-PC10 from the task tray
1. In the task tray, right-click the MEP-PC10 icon.
2. Click Exit( X ).
This exits MEP-PC10 and causes its icon to disappear from the task
tray.
■

10
Enabling MEP-PC10 Auto
Startup
Normally, MEP-PC10 does not start up automatically.
You can use the procedure below to enable auto MEP-PC10
auto startup.
1. Right-click the Windows Start button.
2. Click Open All Users.
3. Double-click the Programs folder.
Check to make sure that there is a folder named CASIO.
CASIO folder
4. Open the CASIO folder and then double-click MEP-PC10.
Check to make sure there is an MEP-PC10 (shortcut) icon.
MEP-PC10 shortcut
5. Highlight the MEP-PC10 shortcut and then right-click. On the right-
click menu that appears, click Copy.
6. Click Back to return to the Programs screen in step 3.
Note that the above operation will differ depending on the
operating system you are running. Perform the window close
operation in accordance with the settings of your operating system
to return to the Programs screen in step 3.
7. Double-click the Startup folder.
Startup folder
•

11
8. On the Edit menu, click Paste.
This copies the MEP-PC10 shortcut to the Startup folder.
MEP-PC10 shortcut
In the case of Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista, click
Paste on the Organize menu.
Under Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista, a Destination
Folder Access Denied dialog box will appear. On the dialog box,
select Continue. When the User Account Control dialog box
appears, select Continue again.
Now restarting Windows will cause MEP-PC10 to start up automatically
and its icon will appear in the task tray.
To disable MEP-PC10 Auto Startup
1. Right-click the Windows Start button.
2. Click Open All Users.
•
•
■
3. Double-click the Programs folder.
4. Double-click the Startup folder.
5. Delete the MEP-PC10 icon.
The MEP-PC10 icon shown here is a shortcut icon, so deleting it
does not uninstall MEP-PC10.
Delete this icon.
Under Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista, a Destination
Folder Access Denied dialog box will appear. On the dialog box,
select Continue. When the User Account Control dialog box
appears, select Continue again.
•

12
Basic Operations
This section explains the Input Panel for inputting or editing text,
the print preview image and print preview screen for checking
the appearance of a label before printing it, and the contents of
the MEP-PC10 right-click menu. For operational procedures for
each function and item, go to the pages that are referenced in
this section.
Input Panel
Use Phrase button
Displays a list of canned phrases that can be input into the input box.
See “To input a canned phrase or the current date and time” (page
18).
Save Phrase button
Saves text highlighted in the text input box as a new canned phrase
for later recall.
See “To register your own canned phrases” (page 19).
➜
➜
History button
Displays a list of previously printed contents.
See “To view History Manager contents” (page 23).
Feed button
Performs tape feed.
See “Feeding the Printer Tape” (page 25).
Image button
Displays an image selection screen.
See “To insert an image into a label” (page 22).
Properties button
Displays properties.
See “Configuring MEP-PC10 Properties” (page 25).
Minimize button
Closes the Input Panel and displays the MEP-PC10 button in the
task bar. To return the Input Panel to its original size, click the MEP-
PC10 button in the task bar or click the MEP-PC10 icon in the task
tray.
Close button
Closes the Input Panel and exits MEP-PC10.
Help button
Displays simple explanations of functions.
See “To access Help from the Input Panel” (page 31).
Print button
Prints the text in the text input box.
See “Inputting, Editing, and Printing Text” (page 16).
Direction box
Specifies the printing direction.
See “Inputting, Editing, and Printing Text” (page 16).
Image box
For specifying the position and size of a pasted image.
➜
➜
➜
➜
➜
➜
➜

13
Fixed tape length check box
Toggles the tape length setting between fixed and variable.
See “Inputting, Editing, and Printing Text” (page 16).
See “Configuring MEP-PC10 Properties” (page 25).
Length box
Specifies the tape length.
See “Inputting, Editing, and Printing Text” (page 16).
See “Configuring MEP-PC10 Properties” (page 25).
Width box
Specifies the tape width and type.
See “Inputting, Editing, and Printing Text” (page 16).
See “Configuring MEP-PC10 Properties” (page 25).
Font box
Specifies the font.
See “Inputting, Editing, and Printing Text” (page 16).
See “Configuring MEP-PC10 Properties” (page 25).
Text input box
Area for inputting and editing text to be printed.
See “Inputting, Editing, and Printing Text” (page 16).
Important!
You also can use the properties screen to specify items that appear
on and can be set with the Input Panel. For more information, see
“Configuring MEP-PC10 Properties” (page 25).
You can resize the Input Panel by dragging its edges.
➜
➜
➜
➜
➜
➜
➜
➜
➜
•
Tool Button Names
Moving your mouse pointer near a tool button on the Input Panel
will cause the name of the button to appear.
Moving the pointer near
the Length box displays
the supported tape length
settings. Moving the pointer
near the Fixed tape length
check box will display “Fix
Tape Length”.
•
Tool button nameTool button name

14
Print Preview
The print preview image gives you an idea of what the data will look like
when you print it.
Print preview
Scroll bar
Text input box
If the print length is longer than the print preview size, the right side
will be cut off. Slide the scroll bar handle left or right to bring the other
parts of the preview into view. You also can view more of the print
preview by dragging the edges of the preview window to make it
bigger.
Any part of a label that does not fit within the print area (due to settings
or the number of characters) will not be printed. Either decrease the
number of characters or adjust the tape length as you confirm the
result on the print preview, and then print.
When arranging a graphic image, you can display it as a grayscale
image instead of a binary image. See step 3 under “To configure
display settings” (page 28).
●
●
•
Print Image Screen
Selecting Print on the right-click menu will display the print image screen
before actually printing.
Scroll bar
If the print length is longer than the print image screen size, the right
side will be cut off. Slide the scroll bar handle left or right to bring the
other parts of the preview into view. You also can view more of the
print image by dragging the edges of the print image screen to make
it bigger.
Any part of a label that does not fit within the print area (due to settings
or the number of characters) will not be printed. Either decrease the
number of characters or adjust the tape length as you confirm the
result on the print preview, and then print.
Clicking Print( P ) starts printing.
Clicking the Cancel button cancels the print operation.
●
●
●
●

15
Right-click Menu
Right-clicking a screen while MEP-PC10 is running will display the right-
click menu.
Note that the right-click menu will appear only if you selected the
“Display MEP-PC10 shortcut menu on right-click. ( M)” option
check box in step 3 under “To configure the MEP-PC10 right-click
menu display operation” on page 29.
MEP-PC10 Right-click Menu
The MEP-PC10 right-click menu appears when you right-click on a word
processor, mail client, or other application’s screen.
Print( P )
Prints the text that is highlighted on another application’s screen.
See “To use on-screen text to create a label” (page 20).
Save Phrase( S )
Saves the text that is highlighted on another application’s screen as a
canned phrase.
Click USER1, 2, or 3.
Note that Save Phrase( S ) will appear on the right-click menu only if
you selected the Save Phrase option check box in step 2 under “To
configure MEP-PC10 right-click settings” on page 28.
Context Menu( M )
Displays the context menu of the application you are using.
Properties( R )
Displays MEP-PC10 properties.
•
■
➜
•
Right-click Setting( C )
Displays the Operation setup window.
You can use the Operation setup window to disable display of the
MEP-PC10 right-click menu, or to configure it to appear only if you
right-click while the Ctrl, Shift, or Alt key is depressed.
See “To configure the MEP-PC10 right-click menu display
operation” (page 29).
Task Tray Icon Right-click Menu
This menu appears when you right-click the MEP-PC10 icon in the task
tray.
Input Panel( I )
Displays the Input Panel.
See “Input Panel” (page 12).
If this menu item has a check mark next to it, clicking it will hide
the Input Panel.
Properties( R )
Displays a screen for configuring MEP-PC10 settings.
See “Configuring MEP-PC10 Properties” (page 25).
➜
■
➜
•
➜

16
Help( H )
Displays a help menu.
See “To access help from the task tray icon” (page 31), “To access
the CASIO website” (page 32), and “To check version information”
(page 31).
Help Menu
Exit( X )
Exits MEP-PC10.
See “ Exiting MEP-PC10” (page 9).
➜
➜
Inputting, Editing, and Printing
Text
You can use the Input Panel to input text or to edit text from that
you imported from another source, and then print it.
To input and edit text
1. While MEP-PC10 is running, click the MEP-PC10 icon in the task
tray.
If MEP-PC10 is not running, double-click the MEP-PC10 icon on
your computer’s desktop. This will display the Input Panel, so go on
to step 2.
Note that the Input Panel will not appear unless you have the
“Open Input Panel when program is started up.” option’s
check box selected on the Display tab of the Properties screen.
After MEP-PC10 starts up, click the MEP-PC10 icon in the task
tray.
This will display the Input Panel and a print preview.
2. Use the Input Panel to input and edit the text you want to print.
The print preview image will change as you input and edit text.
You can input up to 255 characters per label line. Exceeding 255
characters will automatically break to the next line. Note that the
number of characters that can be printed per label line is restricted
even further if you have fixed tape length specified. Reaching the
limit will cause an automatic break to the next line.
You can configure font, tape width, tape length, and other settings.
See “Input Panel” (page 12).
You can insert graphic images into a label. See “To insert an image
into a label” (page 22).
Functions are available for simple input of canned phrases, and
automatic input of the current date and time. See “Inserting
Canned Phrases and the Current Date and Time into a Label”
(page 18).
■
•
•
•
•
•
•

17
To print a tape
Font
Print preview
Width
Fixed
Length
Direction
Print
Image
1. Use the Width box to select the width of the tape you want to print.
Select the setting that matches the width of the tape you have
loaded in the printer.
2. Use the Length box to specify the label length.
If the Fixed check box is cleared (not selected), you will not be
able to specify a length with the Length box because the tape
length will be adjusted automatically. In this case, the Length box
will show “300 (mm)” (approximately 11.8 inches).
If the Fixed check box is selected, you can use the Length box to
specify a length in the range of 25 mm to 300 mm (approximately
0.9 to 11.8 inches), in 5-mm (approximately 0.2-inch) steps.
Note that you may not be able to print if you fix a tape length that
is very short. In this case, nothing will appear in the print preview
either.
The tape length setting should be considered as an approximation
only. The actual length of the printed tape may be shorter due to
environmental conditions where you are printing, or due to printing
contents.
■
•
•
•
•
•
3. Use the Direction box to specify the print direction.
Select Horizontal or Vertical.
4. Use the Image box to specify the image position and size (page 21).
If you do not want to insert an image, select None.
5. Input you text and select a font, if you want (page 27).
6. Check the layout on the print preview.
The print preview image will change in accordance with the
settings you select.
7. Check to make sure that the printer is connected to your computer.
If the printer has a display, touch the touch panel to turn on power.
On the Main Menu screen that appears, touch the PC Link icon.
Check to make sure that the message “Ready for data transfer”
is displayed on the printer.
8. Check to make sure that you have tape loaded in the printer.
For information about how to load tape into a printer, see the user
documentation that comes with the printer.
9. Click the Print button.
You can also print by pressing Alt + P. This displays a print
confirmation message.
10. Click OK.
This starts printing.
If the print preview screen appears, click Print( P ).
Any part of a label that does not fit within the print area (due to
settings or the number of characters) will not be printed. Either
decrease the number of characters or adjust the tape length as
you confirm the result on the print preview, and then print.
•
•
•
•
•
•

18
Important!
Never disconnect the AC adaptor or USB cable while printing is in
progress. Also, do not open the printer cover.
Take care that the printer’s tape outlet is not blocked by anything
during printing. Do not touch the tape as it comes out of the printer
during printing.
•
•
Inserting Canned Phrases and the Current Date
and Time into a Label
MEP-PC10 comes with a collection of canned phrases that are often
used in labels. These help to make label creation quicker and easier.
You can also register and use your own canned phrases.
To input a canned phrase or the current date and
time
1. On the Input Panel, click the Use Phrase button.
This displays a phrase menu.
The phrase menu shows a list of categories (such as Business
and Personal).
Use Phrase button
■
•