Datecs LP-1000 User manual

LP 1000 1
LABEL
PRINTER
S
1DATECS LP-1000
PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY BEFORE STARTING WORK
USER’S MANUAL
USER’S MANUAL
book
item No.:
65231
3 444223 3004763 444223 300476
3 444223 3004763 444223 300476
3 444223 300476
Current price : 24.50 c
“PROXIMA - 92”

2 LP1000
THEINFORMATIONINTHISDOCUMENT
ISSUBJECTTOCHANGEWITHOUTNOTICE.
ITCANNOTBEREPRODUCEDINANY
MECHANICAL,ELECTRICALORELECTRONICWAY
ANDUNDERANYCIRCUMSTANCESWITHOUT
THEWRITTENCONSENTFROM
DADA
DADA
DATECS Ltd., SOFIATECS Ltd., SOFIA
TECS Ltd., SOFIATECS Ltd., SOFIA
TECS Ltd., SOFIA 11
11
111
11
113 - BULGARIA13 - BULGARIA
13 - BULGARIA13 - BULGARIA
13 - BULGARIA
Tel.[phone], Fax [phone] e-mail: [email protected]
http://www.datecs.bg
DATECS- LP1000
Data on the Printer
Date of purchase:..................................................
Manufacturer’s serial number:..............................
Service maintenance
Servicing company:...........................................................................
Address:.............................................................................................
phones:...............................................................................................
Working hours: from.......................to...............................................

LP 1000 3
CONTENTS:
1.Basicrulesforoperatingthe LP1000.....................................................
2.Generaldescription....................................................................................
2.1.Unpackinganddeliverycontent..................................................
2.2.Cabinetanddescriptionofparts.................................................
2.3.Cablesandconnections................................................................
2.4.Placingandreplacingpaperrolls................................................
2.5.Placingthe58mmpapersplitter.................................................
2.6.Configurationkeyssetup..............................................................
2.7.Operatingtheprinter.....................................................................
2.8.Configurationkeys........................................................................
2.9.Operationkeys...............................................................................
2.10.Indicators......................................................................................
3.UsingtheLP1000 softwarepackage......................................................
3.1.Workingwithfilesandforms.......................................................
3.2.Labelsetup.....................................................................................
3.3.Testprint.........................................................................................
3.4.Printingformsfromtheprinter....................................................
3.5Drawingtexts
3.6.Drawingbarcodes..........................................................................
3.7.Drawingarectangle......................................................................
3.8.Drawingadiaginalline.................................................................
3.9.Drawingaframe............................................................................
3.10.Insertinggraphics..........................................................................
3.11.Definingvariablesandcounters................................................
3.12.Settingsanddiagnostics..............................................................
3.13.Terminal........................................................................................
3.14.Reference......................................................................................
3.15.Exit.................................................................................................
3.16.Designingalabel-example........................................................
4.Listofcommands(bycategory)...............................................................
5.Listofcommands(alphabeticalorder)...................................................
6.Detaileddescriptionofcommands...........................................................
5
7
7
8
8
9
10
11
11
14
14
14
15
15
17
18
19
20
23
24
25
25
26
26
27
28
29
29
29
32
33
34

4 LP1000
1. BASIC RULES FOR OPERATING THE LÐ-1000
FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS CLOSELY
MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE UNIT
i
The LP-5000 is operated ONLY with its own power-feed adapter.
Attempts to print on other types of paper, stickers, folio not specified
as acceptable in the present MANUAL may seriously damage your
printer.
When changing the paper roll be carefull not to let any pins, paper
clips or other hard objects fall inside the printing mechanism.
Do not spill liquids of any kind on the device.
Print only on specified thermal paper-rolls.
Don’t force paper out from the printing mechanism.
Should the printer behave unusually during operation immediately turn
off the cash register!
Printerrepairsareperformed only by service technicians.Donotattempt
to repair the unit yourself.
!!
!!
!
!!
!!
!
!!
!!
!
!!
!!
!
!!
!!
!
!!
!!
!
!!
!!
!
!!
!!
!
ATTENTION! The printer operates with
paper rolls with sizes:
- roll with labels: width 58 mm or 80 mm
- maximum diameter of roll: 83 mm
i

LP 1000 5
The printer may be cleaned with a dry and when needed, with a slightly moist (use
water) cloth. Do not use benzine-based or other such chemicals to clean the printer.
Do not touch the printer mechanism when the
device is switched ON!
DAILY MAINTENANCE RULES
Daily cleaning of the paper-feed roller mechanism is desirable. Use a piece of soft, dry
cloth.
ATTENTION! Do not clean the thermal head immediately after a printing
session - the unit is still very hot!
Cleaning the thermal head:
1. Switch the printer OFF. Open the top cover and using a slghtly moist piece of cloth
(use water) clean the head from dust, blots or other dirt.
!!
!!
!
Do not touch -
hightemperature area!

6 LP1000
1DATECS
http://www.datecs.bg
Sofia 1113 - BULGARIA
phone: [phone] fax: [phone]
WE WISH YOU
LOTS OF SUCCESS
WITH THE DATECS LP1000
LABEL PRINTER!
WE WISH YOU
LOTS OF SUCCESS
WITH THE DATECS LP1000
LABEL PRINTER!

LP 1000 7
2. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE LÐ-1000
The delivery package should contain:
1. An LP1000 thermal printer unit with PC-connection cable (also DT-15 elec-
tronic scales),
2. A 58 mm paper roll spliter,
3. AC power supply adapter,
4. Paper roll with labels,
5. User’s Manual (the book you’re now reading).
The LP 1000 is a thermal printer designed to print small sized labels and graphics on
thermo-sensitive paper. It is particularly useful when printing information, arranged in a
template form, which has to be partially modified under customer demand. The printing
speed is 50 and 150 mm/sec.
The memory of the printer contains a command file which stores data on the arrange-
ment and design of the separate graphic elements, easing your work considerably when
you have to print a greater number of labels. On the other hand it supports the PCX
format and gives you the opportunity to design the graphics of parts of the label with an
appropriate program under Windows and store it in the memory of the printer in
advance.The inbuilt 5 matrix fonts with different sizes, as well as the freely selectable
option for additional scaling and rotation, gives you greater freedom in desiging the
inscriptions on your labels. Should these fonts fall short of your requirements you are
free to load additional fonts in the memory of the device.
In addition the LP 1000 prints bar codes, thus becoming an absolute must for stores and
warehouses, where the printing of this type of information is often needed.
In conslusion, the LP 1000 offers fast and flexible printing at a quality which is very
similar to that of most contemporary laser printers (printing density - 203 dpi).
2.1. Unpacking and delivery content

8 LP1000
2.2. Cabinet and description of parts
Cover (lid)
“Open Cover” button
Cabinet
ON/OFF button
Power feed indicator
Error indicator
Paper feed button
General view
Rear view
Outlet for connection to
PC or DT15 electronic scale
Power feed
NOT USED!
2.3. Cables and connections
b/ Connecting the cable for connection to a PC or the DATECS DT-15 elec-
tronic scale (only one at a time).
Power supply
cable AC Adapter Power supply
connector Power supply in Serialinterface cable RS connector
a/ Connecting the power supply cable (when you need to dissasemble the printer
disconnecting the cables must be done after switching OFF. Don’t pull the cable itself
but disconnect it by holding connector head - shown below)

LP 1000 9
2.4. Placing and replacing paper rolls
1. Switch the printer ON
2. Press the “open cover” button
3. Raise the cover to vertical position (as shown)
4. Check for the correct direction of unrolling the paper and if OK place it in the
paper housing
5. Pull out about 5 cm of paper out of the cabinet (see illustration) and carefully
close cover. A distinctive clicking sound should be heard.
6. Press FEED button to position the label.
Top
cover “Open cover”
button
Thermalprinting
unit
Thermal paper
roll
PRESS DOWN
RIGHT
WRONG

10 LP1000
2.5. Placing the 58 mm paper restrictor
1. Switch the printer OFF
2. Open the cover of the printer
3. Unscrew the two screws shown on illustration and take cover off.
4. Take off the screw which holds the paper holder
5. Replace the controller in the direction shown by the arrow
6. Fasten screw back again
7. Place printer cover back and fasten the two screws
8. Place the separator as shown on illustration
9. Set switch 5 to work with the narrow roll
Take off screws and dismantle part
Unscrew holder, turn to opposite
position and fasten on again.
Place the separator in the
special slots

LP 1000 11
2.6. Configuration keys setup
Cover of configuration keys
Button -
pull to open To reach the configuration keys:
1. Swich printer OFF
2. Open the cover of the printer
3. Take out the paper roll
4. Pull the button and raise the cover of the
keys
5. Set the configuration key as described
furtherin theManual
6. Fix cover back and swich printer ON.
2.7. Operating the printer
The functions of the printer are controlled by commands, sent via a serial interface. It is
able to maintain 8 baud rates set up by adjusting the configuration keys: 1200, 2400,
4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600 and 115200 bps, 8 bits without a control bit. The
printer uses a software protocol which permits its direct control under DOS but can
also support Xon/Xoff protocol.
Each printer command consists of one line of text ending with an LF (0Ah). Commands
are made up of one or two letters followed by a different number of parameters divided
by a comma. Intervals MUST NOT BE ENTERED in these commands – this will be
treated as syntax error. Capital and small letters are identified. A detailed description of
the commands follows but it must here be underlined that if a command starts with “;” it
will not generate any action on the part of the printer. This command may be used for
comments if we register the commands in a text file.
The fastest and easiest way to work with this printer is to use the accompanying soft-
ware program LP 1000.EXEq with the help of which you can arrange the elements of he
label and see its final appearance on the computer screen even before loading it into the
printer. You can also print it out as a test trial. In order to work with the program
successfully you will only need to have a general idea about the functions of the printer

12 LP1000
– no special knowledge of the commanding language will be needed. A more detailed
description of the program you will find further in the present Manual.
It is, off course, possible to prepare the information for printing in advance in a text file
and send this over the serial channel. Here is a description of one possible option for
preparing a label. It includes the following stages;
- When working under DOS, the setup of the PC serial port is done with the
MODE COMn command in parallel to the setup of the printer, the format of this com-
mandbeing:
MODE COMn:baud rate,n,8,1 where “n” is the number of the serial port and
“baud rate” is the set up speed of the printer.
- Select a name for the form. In any case it is advisable that the first line of the text
file should include the command for deleting a form of the same name (FK) - if such
exists, it will be deleted and replaced with the new one. You may then proceed with the
loading of a new form (command FS).
- The length of the label is defined as well as the distance between the separate
labels. When using paper rolls these distances may be arbitrarily selected and set but
when working with stick-labels, the length of the label must be set as close to its actual
dimensions as possible or the result may be incomplete printouts or empty labels. The
command Q, with all demanded parameters, is placed at the beginning of the text file.
Other commands my also be located here - starting point (R), select code table (I), print
density (D) and printing speed (S).
- Designing the appearance of the label. Setting the elements which will not be
subject to changes - they will need no counters or variables.
-Setting and defining the elements subject to changes for each label. When some
of them are whole numbers and will change at regular rates a counter may be defined for
them. The rest must be variables. Depending on the case in question the information on
a given inscription or bar code may be set in several different variables and/or counters.
- Defining variables and counters includes an assessment of their maximum pos-
sible length, alignment if and when the text is shorter than the maximum length, rate of
growth of the counters. The selection of the initiating text is important too in that if it is
not informative operating with the forms later on may be difficult. A line with the
command “V” or “C” is added in the text file for each counter or variable.
If we wish to insert graphics in the label, we must select a name and position for this
element and add a command for its layout in the text file (GG). The PCX file must be
prepared in advance on a PC and loaded into the printer prior to the execution of the

LP 1000 13
form. Before sending it to the printer its length must be verified and noted because the
loading program GM will demand this information. One possible way for doing this is
bysending thefile from aterminal program with theDOS commandFile Name COMn:/
B (sending the file as binary in this case is obligatory - “n” is the number of the serial
port.
- Selecting the position, font, size and orientation of the inscriptions on the label.
“A” commands are added for this purpose and if necessary, the inclusion of text
modifiers for the counters and the variables for receiving the necessary strings for
printing.
- Selection of the type, position, size and orientation of the bar codes - if there
will be such - where modifiers may also have to be used.
- If drawing of lines and frames is needed the following commands may be added
- LE, LO, LW, X.
- At the end of the file the command FE is added - “Form End”.
- The ready file is then sent to the printer: the form should be loaded into the
memory and be printer out in the list next with the F1 command.
With the FR command the form may become active. Values of the variable and counters
are added with the command “?” from the terminal program. In this– no special knowl-
edge of the commanding language will be needed. A more detailed description of the
program you will find further in the present Manual.
The forms, the graphics and loadable fonts use a common memory of the printer, i.e., if
we enter more graphic information there will be less memory left for forms and vice-
versa. This memory restriction comes for two reasons; on the one hand not more than
64 forms, graphic files and fonts can be stored in the memory, irrespective of how small
they happen to be. On the other hand is the restriction related to the volume of the
memory itself, which is 63 kB. It must be remembered that the memory intended for
storing forms and graphics is distributed in parts of 256 bytes each meaning, that even a
form of only 10 Bytes will take up 256 bytes of the volume of the memory.
The maximum length of the printed label is defined by the size of the graphic buffer -
1640 dots (205 mm). The maximum width is 608 dots (76 mm) given complete width of
the paper roll - 80 mm. A plastic-made separator can be placed to make possible the use
of narrower paper roll with printing surface of 432 dots (54 mm) - see illustrations.
When the printer is used for longer printing sessions the printing head unit may heat
considerably and printing is interrupted for cooling off. It is for this reason that when

14 LP1000
OFF ON
sw4 Hardware protocol Xon/Xoff protocol
sw5 Narrow papaer roll Wide paper roll
sw6 Paper roll printing Sticker labels
sw7 No separator used Separator included
sw8 Normal operation mode DATECS LP50 compatible
2.8. Operation keys
The FEED button extracts paper until it is released. In the “sticker type labels” mode
positions the printing head over the next label.
ATTENTION! If you keep the button pressed when printer is switched off and switch
it on in the meantime it will print out diagnostic information. After this operation the
printer MUST be switched off and on again.
printing labels with larger black areas the printer be switched off at shorter intervals for
cooling. CONFIGURATION KEYS
SW1 SW2 SW3 Baud rate
off off off 1200
on off off 2400
off on off 4800
on on off 9600
off off on 19200
on off on 38400
off on on 57600
on on on 115200
2.8. Indicators
POWER Active when printer is ON.
ERROR Normally - when printer is OFF - it is not active.
Permanently active when the cover is opened and paper roll is
installedin position.
When no paper is installed it blinks at intervals of half a second.
Blinks each half second when printing head unit is overheated.

LP 1000 15
3. USING THE LP1000 SOFTWARE PACKAGE
The LP1000 is a graphic and text editor of labels. It gives you the abilily to create your
own labels and the opportunity to evaluate its appearance before actually seeing it in
print. The product is included in the set which comes with the purchase of the printer
and using it demands a minimum of computer-related knowledge.
Computer hardware and software requirements are also nothing to worry about - only
about1 MB of disc space is needed and a mouse! Copy the contents of the diskette in
any directory and start the LP1000.EXE file. You’ll see this window.
This is the main dialog window of the program. The wide field correlates to the label and
its dimensions may be changed depending on the selected size of the label you will
work with. Follows a detailed description of the buttons.
3.1. Working with files anf forms
All actions related to the loading, saving in the memory and downloading from the
printer of forms, graphics and fonts are executed from here. Clicking on this button
opens a dialog window having the following appearance and content:
Button <FORMS> shows a list of forms, loaded in the printer. Select one of
them by clicking on it and edit by clicking <Edit>, save it on the disk with <Save> or
delete it from the printer by clicking <Delete>.
Button <GRAPHICS> shows a list of the graphics, loaded in the printer. Select
one of them by clicking on it, save it with <Save> or delete by clicking <Delete>.

16 LP1000
Button <FONTS> displays a list of all fonts, loaded in the printer.
Processing: select with <Select>, save to disc with <Save> or delete with <De-
lete>. Button <New Label> starts the editing of a new label. ATTENTION! Informa-
tionon thescreen willbedeleted withoutwarning. Savethe label whichyou haveworked
on in the memory of the printer or the disc!
Button <Load Label> loads a label, saved earlier from the disc. ATTENTION!
Information on the screen will be deleted without warning. Save the label which you
have worked on in the memory of the printer or the disc!
Button <Save as Label> is clicked when you have to give a name to the label on
the screen and save it as a file to the disc. This file will contain the adjustments made on
the label and the objects on the screen including graphics, fonts, definitions and the
current status of the variables and counters.
Button <Save as Form> is clicked to give a name to the label on the screen and
save it as a file to the disc. This file will contain the adjustments made on the label and
the objects on the screen but without the graphics, the loadable fonts and the current
status of the variables and counters. To print a label with this information the graphics
and the fonts must be loaded into the printer in advance.

LP 1000 17
Button <Store current label> stores the label from the screen under the selected
name. Button <Store form to printer> opens a dialog for the selection of a file from
the disc. The form selected by the user will be loaded in the printer and if this form
contains graphics and loadable fonts you must load them yourself by using the buttons,
shown below.
Button <Store graphics to printer>. Opens a dialog for the selection of a file
from the disc. Acceptable are only PCX format, monochrome files of no more than 32
kB. Button <Store font to printer> Opens a dialog for the selection of a file from
the disc. The fonts must be in a specified format. The command for loading a font must
be compatible to the EPL2 language. For the generation of a font you may use the
“Eltron Font Downloader” and the needed TrueType font with the given number.
3.2. Label setup
This part of the program gives you the option to set the different parameters of
the label and the print. The fields on the screen have the following meaning:
Label width: The width of the label in dots. If you know the size in millimeters,
multiply this times 8 and note down the result. Possible values are between 80 and 608.
Length:The length of the label in dots. If you know the size in millimeters, multiply this
times 8 and note down the result. Possible values are between 200 and 1640.
Orientation: Sets the printing orientation of the label. Select between “Top” -
normal orientation and “Bottom” - rotated to 180o.
Darkness: Sets printing density, where the possible values are between 0 and 15,
15 being the darkest possible option. Greater printing density setups may cause a slow
down in the printing speed, especially when surrounding temperatures are lower.
Speed: Sets the printing speed. Set in inches per second possible values are
between 2 (about 50 mm/sec) to around 6 (about 150 mm/sec). It must be born in
mind that the quality of the printed image may deteriorate at speeds above 125 mm/sec
depending on the thickness of the labels and the quality of the paper. Additional adjust-
ments to the printing density in such cases may have to be done.
Language: Sets the language of the printed label. Possible selections are be-
tween “English”, “Bulgarian” and “Russian”.
Label gap: Sets the distance between the pages when labels on paper rolls are
used or the distance between the separate labels/ the thickness of the black line when
working with labels. Maximum 80 points.
Offset: Additional shifting of the start of the printout. Its value depends on the
type of the labels used. Possible values are between - 80 and 80 dots.
Paper: Paper type (of no importance at present)
Left margin: Horizontal shift of the image in dots. Possible values are between
- 607 and 607.

18 LP1000
Top margin: Vertical shifting of the image on the label in dots. Possible values
are between -1639 and 1639.
Date format: The date print format must of the type AAxBByCC, where AA,
BB and CC may be:
DD: Day of the month
ME or MN: The month, shown in digits or letters
Y2 or Y4: The year, shown in 2 or 4 digits
Time format: The hour/minutes print format must of the type AxByC, where A, B and
C may be: H: Hour
M: Minutes
S: Seconds
A field of one type may be used only once or may not be employed at all. Select from
the symbols “x” and “y” - the printer will use them as spaces.
3.3. Test print
The option includes printing the created label on the screen without having to load it into
the memory of the printer. If the label contains graphics or loadable fonts the available
options are two:

LP 1000 19
- To send the data on the graphics and the fonts during the actual printing. The
method will work even when the graphics and the fonts have not been loaded into the
printer although some more complicated images will take some time to get saved into
the printer’s memory.
- The program accepts that the graphics and the fonts have already been saved
into the printer’s memory. Sending the data on them will be fast but if the graphics and
the fonts cannot be found in the memory of the printer they will not be printed.
The selection of one of the above modes is done from the dialog “Settings and diag-
nostic” (the gauge).
Text field <Copies>: Defines the number of similar labels for print.
Button <Variables>: If the label contains variables or counters their current
values can be seen and edited from here.
Button <Print>: Send the command to print out the set number of labels.
Button <Continue>: Sends a command to the printer to resume printing (after
aninterruption)
Button <To file>: Instead of being sent to the printer the data and the com-
mands for printing are saved in a file under an entered name.
3.4. Printing forms from the printer
Print a form, which has been stored in the printer in advance.
Button <Select form>: Opens a list of all forms, stored in the printerm from
which a selection for printing may be done. The name of the selected form appears in
the header of the dialog.
Text field <Copies>: Sets the number of the absolutely similar labels which will
be printed.
Text field <Sets>: Sets the number of the existing packs of similar labels.Could
be different from 1 only if there are defined counters in which case after printing the
Copies label the image is recalcutade with new values of the counters and this is re-
peated Set-times.

20 LP1000
Button <Variables>: If the label incorporates variables and counters it is from
here that you can view the current values or set new ones.
Button <Print>: Sends to the printers a command for printing a given number of
labels.Button <Continue>: Sends a command to the printer to complete a previously
started printing job.
3.5. Drawing texts
Inserts a line of text in the immage on the label.
Field < Start X>: X- coordinate of the left upper corner of the text in dots
Field <Start Y>: Y-coordinate of the upper left corner of the text in dots
Field <Size X>: Multiplying the font times the horizontal size - from 1 to 8
ield <Size Y>: Multiplying the font times the vertical size - from 1 to 9
List < Fonts>: Defines the font currently in use. The printer has 5 in-built fonts
with sizes 8 x 12, 10 x 16, 12 x 20, 14 x 24 and 32 x 48., which have names from 1 to 5
respectively. If additional fonts have been loaded they will appear in the name with a
capital Latin letter and height (the width of each of the loadable fonts may differ).
List <Style>: Defines the set printing style, the options being:
Normal: Unchanged
Bold: Bold characters
Inverse: Inverted (white on black background)
BoldInv: Bold inverted
Loadable fonts always appear as Normal.
List <Rotation>: Defines the orientation of the text- 0o, 90o, 180oor 270o.
Button <Addfont>: Load a new font in the printer - it will appear in the <Fonts>
list and can be selected for use.
Button <Remove font>: Presents a list of the loadable fonts used in the current
label with the option to select and delete any one of them.