Citizen 120D+ User manual

CITIZEN
USER'S MANUAL
120D-/-
DOT MATRIX PRINTER

Citizen 120D +: Citizen Watch Co. Ltd., Japan
Amstrad: Amstrad CPC
Apple, Apple II, Applesoft BASIC: Apple Computer Inc
Atari, Atari BASIC: Atari, Inc., a Warner Communications
Company
Commodore, Commodore BASIC: Commodore Business
Machines, Inc.
CP/M: Digital Research
Diablo: Xerox Corporation
Epson LX, Epson FX: Epson America Inc.
IBM Personal Computer, IBM PC, IBM Graphics
Printer: International Business Machines Corp.
Kaypro: Kaypro Computer Corporation
Microsoft BASIC: Microsoft Corporation
Sanyo: Sanyo Corporation
Spinwriter: NEC Information Systems, Inc.
TRS-BO, TRS-80 Model III, TRS-80 Basic: Radio Shack,
Tandy Corp.
WordStar: MicroPro International Corporation
© Copyright 1990 Europe Ltd.
All rights reserved

INTRODUCTION
Your new Citizen 120D + printer represents the state of the
art in dot matrix printers, with all the features of a printer
that would cost much more. It is designed to work with
almost all of today's microcomputers in a wide variety of
applications, using either commercial software or your own
programs.
The Citizen 120D + is capable of all the printing functions
you would expect of a top-quality dot matrix printer, as well
as some additional features you may not expect:
■ Expanded, compressed, emphasised, and doublestrike
print, italics, superscripts, and subscripts
■ Correspondence standard, near letter quality print, dual
pitch, high speed mode and reverse white-on-black print
■ Built-in international characters for 11 countries as well
as line and block graphics and accented characters
■ Dot-addressable graphics in six densities
■ Two self-tests: a comprehensive printer self-test that
prints all of the 120D + 's standard characters as well as line
and block graphics and accented characters, and a
maintenance self-test that identifies the version of the
control program, the dipswitch configuration and character
generators and performs a printing alignment test
■ A hex dump feature that is a powerful program
debugging feature, printed in a format that is
unprecedented in the printer marketplace. It not only prints
the hexadecimal value of every code it receives, but also
prints all the corresponding characters and the control code
abbreviations. (Most printers either print only the hex codes
or just the corresponding characters and not the control
codes.)
■ And at 120 characters per second and 144 characters
per second in high speed elite mode, the Citizen 120D +
will make short work of your printing needs!
If versatility and ease-of-use is "the name of the game", the
Citizen 120D + is a step ahead of its time! Check these
additional design features:
■ Your Citizen 120D + printer is designed to be like two
printers in one. It can act just like an Epson FX or Epson LX
printer, or, with the flip of a switch, it can act just like an
IBM Graphics Printer. And the Epson FX/ LX configuration
has two different combinations of printer functions!
■ The standard tractor-feed mechanism can be installed
and removed in seconds. In fact, you'll see that the entire
printer can be easily assembled in just a few minutes.
■ The standard parallel (and optional serial) interface is
cartridge-removable. Slip one interface cartridge out and
insert another — it's really that simple!
■ The 120D + 's internal switches are conveniently located
on the interface cartridge. This means no more searching
inside the printer or completely removing the cover to
access the internal switches. You can quickly make
adjustments to the switches that control many of the
120D + 's functions. (In addition, many of the switch
functions can be controlled by software commands.)
hi

This 120D+ User's Manual is a complete, concise manual
that is well illustrated and highly informative, yet plainly
written. The manual is written not just for the computer
expert who wants to know about hex codes and bit maps,
but also for the non-programmer who simply wants
professional printing results. With this manual, learning to
use your 120D + printer will be a fast, easy and pleasant
experience.
Before you unpack your printer (no matter which type of
user you are), you should begin by reading Chapter 1. It
tells you how to unpack and set up your printer.
When you have the 120D + set up and connected to your
computer, read Chapters 2 and 3. Chapter 2 covers the
basics of dot matrix printing and how the 120D + interacts
with your computer and your software. Chapter 3 provides
information about using BASIC and advice on how to
program the printer when using certain computers.
Chapter 4 gets you started printing. In fact, if you plan to
use your printer only with commercial software and are not
interested in programming, you can skip the next six
chapters and just read Appendix A about maintenance.
(We told you it was fast and easy!)
If you plan to do your own programming or design custom
graphics, Chapters 3 through 9 and the appendices are for
you. These chapters contain explanations of all the features.
Example programs, written in Microsoft BASIC, will show
you how to send the commands to the 120D + printer. If
your computer does not use Microsoft BASIC, you can
modify the programs for your computer as discussed in
Chapter 3.
If you plan to write your own programs, you'll find the
example programs handy as subroutines. If you don't know
BASIC, you can still use all of the 120D + 's features. Just
copy the codes in the example programs. (So that your
sample programs come out the same, this manual assumes
that you have configured your 120D + as an Epson FX/LX
printer; see Appendix D for Epson configuration options.)
The appendices provide handy reference guides to
maintenance, the 120D + 's codes, internal switch settings
and specifications. Appendix A is about maintenance and
should be read by everyone. It tells you how to take care of
your 120D+ printer so that it maintains its high quality of
printing.
Congratulations on your wise investment and enjoy your
new Citizen 120D+ printer!

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Unpacking and assembly
Installing the ribbon
Installing the printer cover
Getting acquainted
Printer components
The control panel
Control panel procedure
Selecting and loading paper
The paper select lever
Loading single sheets
Installing the tractor-feed mechanism
Loading continuous paper
Bottom-feeding continuous paper
Paper thickness
The printer self-test
The maintenance self-test
Connecting your computer
Internal switches
CHAPTER 2
PRINTER BASICS
Using commercial software
Dot matrix printing
ASCII codes
Hexadecimal numbers
Non-printing codes
Printer installation
Choosing the right configuration
Software printer choices
Word processors
Literal characters
Spreadsheets, databases, and other programs
CHAPTER 3
USING BASIC
Which BASIC?
IBM and compatible computers
Apple II computers
Amstrad computers
TRS-80 computers
CP/M computers
Atari computers
Commodore computers
BBC computers
Listing a program
The escape code
Initialising the printer

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 4
PRINTING TEXT
Near letter quality
Character print width
Character pitch
Normal mode (10 cpi, Pica pitch)
High-speed mode (12 cpi, Elite pitch)
Continuous expanded print
One-line expanded print
Compressed print
Proportional print
Proportional spacing
Justified printing
Print density
Emphasised print
Doublestrike print
Special effects
Italics
Underlining
Overscoring
Reverse print
Superscripts
Subscripts
Character height and width
Enlarged print
The master commands
Master reset
Master pitch
Master print mode
Special characters and symbols
Character font selection
Accented (international) characters
Switching configurations
ASCII codes 128 to 159
Select graphics and accented characters
Select graphics and accented characters
(IBM-compatible)
Characters from all characters chart
(IBM configuration)
Character tables — top set selection
CHAPTER 5
PAGE FORMATTING
The end of the line
Carriage return
Line feed
A note about BASIC
Automatic line feed
Line spacing
Fixed line spacing
1/6 inch line spacing
1/8 inch line spacing
7/72 inch line spacing
Variable line spacing
Line spacing of n/72 inch
Line spacing of n/144 inch
Line spacing of n/216 inch
A variable line spacing example
Variable line feeds
Line feed of n/216 inch
VI

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page design
New page (form feed)
Top of form
Page length
Set page length by lines
Set page length by inches
Margins
Top and bottom margins
Left margin
Right margin
CHAPTER 6
USING TABS
Horizontal tabs
Move to next Htab
Fixed Htabs
Variable Htabs
Relative Htab
Dot tabs
Absolute dot tabs
Relative dot tabs
Vertical tabs
Move to next Vtab
Fixed Vtabs
Variable Vtabs
Relative Vtab
Vtab channels
Define Vtab channels
Select Vtab channel
CHAPTER 7
GRAPHICS
Block and line graphics
Dot graphics
Graphics commands
Pin numbers
Graphics density
Single density
Double density
High-speed double density
Quadruple density
Comparing graphics densities
Sending graphics data
Line length: number of columns
Putting it all together
Graphics for special applications
Master graphics command
Change graphics density
Nine-pin graphics
Designing graphics
Defined shapes
Calculated shapes (plotting)
CHAPTER 8
CREATING CHARACTERS
How the 120D + prints characters
Designing your own characters
Copying standard characters
99

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Saving character designs in printer's memory
1. Epson configuration
Attribute byte
Data bytes
2. IBM configuration
Printing defined characters
Special effects
109
117
CHAPTER 9
ODDS AND ENDS
Buffer commands
Delete
Cancel
Master reset
Backspace
Unidirectional print
Continuous unidirectional print
One-line unidirectional print
Slashed zero
Off-line/on-line
Paper-out sensor
The eighth bit
Eighth bit on
Eighth bit off
Cancel eighth bit control
Cut-Sheet Feeder
Hex/ASCII dump
CHAPTER 10
SERIAL INTERFACE
Introduction
Specifications
Switch Settings
Recommended Connecting Circuit
Installation
APPENDIX A
123
MAINTENANCE
Cleaning
Ribbon cartridge
The print head
APPENDIX B
127
THE 120D+ CHARACTER SET
APPENDIX C
133
COMMANDS IN NUMERICAL ORDER