Intermec EasyCoder PD4 User manual

Programmer’s
Reference Manual
ESim v5.12 for
EasyCoder® PD4
Bar Code Label
Printer

Intermec Technologies Corporation
Corporate Headquarters
6001 36th Ave. W.
Everett, WA 98203
U.S.A.
www.intermec.com
e information contained herein is proprietary and is provided solely
for the purpose of allowing customers to operate and service Intermec-
manufactured equipment and is not to be released, reproduced, or used
for any other purpose without written permission of Intermec.
Information and specifications contained in this document are subject to
change without prior notice and do not represent a commitment on the
part of Intermec Technologies Corporation.
© 2003, 2006 by Intermec Technologies Corporation. All rights
reserved.
e word Intermec, the Intermec logo, Norand, ArciTech, CrossBar,
Data Collection Browser, dcBrowser, Duratherm, EasyADC, EasyCoder,
EasyLAN, Enterprise Wireless LAN, EZBuilder, Fingerprint, i-gistics,
INCA (under license), InterDriver, Intermec Printer Network Manager,
IRL, JANUS, LabelShop, Mobile Framework, MobileLAN, Nor*Ware,
Pen*Key, Precision Print, PrintSet, Ready-to-Work, RoutePower, Smart-
Systems, TE 2000, Trakker Antares, and Virtual Wedge are either
trademarks or registered trademarks of Intermec Technologies Corpora-
tion.
roughout this manual, trademarked names may be used. Rather than
put a trademark (™ or ®) symbol in every occurrence of a trademarked
name, we state that we are using the names only in an editorial fashion,
and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of
infringement.
ere are U.S. and foreign patents pending.
e name Centronics is wholly owned by GENICOM Corporation.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual iii
Contents
1 General Information
Introduction ..................................................................................2
Test Label.......................................................................................3
Dump Mode..................................................................................4
Memory.........................................................................................4
Direct Mode ..................................................................................4
Form Edit Mode ............................................................................5
Form..............................................................................................5
Text Editor.....................................................................................5
Commands ....................................................................................5
Field...............................................................................................6
Field Positioning ............................................................................7
2 Commands List
Direct Mode ................................................................................10
Form Edit Mode ..........................................................................12
3 Setting Up the Printer
Default Setup...............................................................................14
Example.......................................................................................15
4 Editing in Direct Mode
Example.......................................................................................18
5 Editing in Form Edit Mode
Example.......................................................................................20
6 Retrieving and Printing a Form
Example.......................................................................................26
7 Commands
Syntax.......................................................................................... 30

iv ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual
A – Print Text ..............................................................................31
B – Standard Bar Codes ...............................................................37
b – Two-Dimensional Bar Codes, General Part ............................42
b – MaxiCode..............................................................................43
b – PDF417.................................................................................44
b – Data Matrix ...........................................................................46
b – QR Code ...............................................................................47
C – Counter.................................................................................50
C – Cut Immediate......................................................................54
D – Density .................................................................................55
EI – List Soft Fonts ......................................................................56
EK – Delete Soft Font..................................................................57
ES – Store Soft Font.....................................................................58
eR – User-Defined Error/Status Character Control ......................61
f – Cut Position............................................................................63
FE – End Store Command...........................................................64
FI – Print Form Information........................................................65
FK – Delete Form ........................................................................66
FR – Retrieve Form......................................................................67
FS – Form Store...........................................................................68
GG – Print Graphics....................................................................69
GI – Print Graphics Information .................................................70
GK – Delete Graphics..................................................................71
GM – Store Graphics in Memory ................................................72
GRP – Reply Graphics from Printer Buffer..................................74
GW – Store Graphics in Image Buffer..........................................75
I – Character Set Selection ...........................................................76
i – Asian Character Spacing..........................................................77
JB – Disable Top of Form Backup................................................78
JF – Enable Top of Form Backup .................................................79
j – Media Feed Adjustment ..........................................................80
LE – Line Draw Exclusive............................................................81
LO – Line Draw Black.................................................................82
LS – Line Draw Diagonal ............................................................83
LW – Line Draw White ...............................................................84
N – Clear Image Buffer................................................................85
O – Options Select ......................................................................86
oR – Character Substitution.........................................................88
P – Print ......................................................................................89
PA – Print Automatic...................................................................90
PF – Feed Media..........................................................................91

ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual v
Q – Set Form Length (gap or slot) ...............................................92
Q – Set Form Length (Black Mark)..............................................94
q – Set Label Width .....................................................................96
R – Set Reference Point................................................................97
r – Set Relative Reference Point....................................................98
S – Speed Select ...........................................................................99
SA – Setup Adjust ......................................................................100
SPC – Setup Print Copy ............................................................101
SPR – Setup Print Engine Ribbon Control ................................102
TD – Define Date Format .........................................................103
TS – Set Real Time Clock ..........................................................104
TT – Define Time Format .........................................................105
U – Print Configuration (General).............................................106
UC – Command Reply Accept Character Control.....................107
UE – Soft Font Information Inquiry..........................................108
UF – Form Information Inquiry ................................................109
UG – Graphics Information Inquiry..........................................110
UI – Enable Prompts/Code Page Inquiry ...................................111
UM – Code Page & Memory Inquiry ........................................112
UN – Disable Error Reporting...................................................113
UP – Code Page & Memory Inquiry/Print ................................114
US – Enable Error Reporting .....................................................115
UV – Product Identity and Asian Font Types.............................116
V – Define Variable....................................................................117
W – Windows Mode..................................................................119
X – Draw Box............................................................................120
Y – Serial Port Setup ..................................................................121
Z – Print Direction ....................................................................122
? – Download Variables ..............................................................123
^@ – Reset Printer .....................................................................124
^default – Restore Factory Default .............................................125
^ee – Immediate Error Report....................................................126
8 Fonts
Resident Fonts ...........................................................................129
Font Sizes 1-5 ............................................................................130
9 Code Pages and Character Sets
Printout Samples........................................................................133

vi ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual
A Error-Handling
Error-Handling Principles..........................................................149
Error Types ................................................................................151
Error Replies ..............................................................................152

ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual 1
1 General Information
is chapter explains the basic functions and modes
of the ESim v5.12 protocol and helps understanding
the more comprehensive explanations in the other
chapters in this manual.

2 ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual
Chapter 1—General Information
Introduction
e EasyCoder PD4 printers from Intermec are provided with a built-in
protocol (ESim) by which you can use any computer, terminal, scanner
or keyboard, that can produce ASCII characters, to control the printer.
is is a useful alternative to the Intermec InterDriver, which requires a
PC operating under Microsoft Windows.
With the ESim protocol, you can use any editor to control the printer,
either by means of the serial RS-232 channel, the parallel Centronics
channel, or the USB channel.
Note that EasyCoder PD4 has a flash memory for forms and graphics,
which requires special consideration. Avoid storing frequently changing
data in flash (see GM and GW commands in Chapter 7) and use printer
drivers developed for EasyCoder C4 and PD4.
is manual will assist you in designing labels using the ESim protocol. It
has been organized to provide you with an understanding of the printer’s
functions and command structure.
e manual describes version 5.12 of the ESim protocol.
If you have any questions regarding the protocol or this manual, please
contact your Intermec distributor for technical assistance.

ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual 3
Chapter 1—General Information
Test Label
e best way to start programming is to find out how the printer is set
up. If you have an EasyCoder PD4 with a display, you can browse the
Setup Mode and see some parameters, but the most comprehensive infor-
mation is obtained by printing the test labels.
To print test labels:
• Switch off the power to the printer.
• For best result, load the printer with full width labels or tags.
• Hold down the Feed key and turn on the power again.
• Release the Feed key within 3 seconds.
• e printer emits a beep and “Self test” is shown in the display, if any.
• A single test label is printed.
• After the test label has been printed, the printer automatically enters
the Direct Mode.
PartNo ,ESimversion, &checksum
SerialRS-232port setup (seeY cmd)
USBport
Test pattern
DRAMsize installed
Imagebuffer size
Flash memorysize
Formmemoryused/Noof forms
Graphicmemory used/Noofimages
Fontmemoryused/Noof fonts
Asianfonts memoryused/Noof fonts
Character set(seeI command)
Speed–Density–Ref. point–Dir–Errors
(seeS, D,R,Z & UN/UScmds)
Labelwidth–Formlength
(seeq& Qcmds)
Options(seeO& C cmd)
SetupAdjust –SetupPrintCopy–Setup
Print EngineRibbonControl(seeSA,SPC
&SPR cmds)
LSS(liner+label–detection level–liner)
Date &Time
Example of a test label from an 203.2 dpi (8 dots/mm) EasyCoder PD4.

4 ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual
Chapter 1—General Information
Dump Mode
e printer has the capability to perform in dump mode, which means
that the printer will print out the echo of the received ASCII. Use this
capability to debug your software when the printer does not perform as
you expect.
To enter Dump Mode:
• Switch off the power to the printer.
• Hold down the Feed key and turn on the power again.
• Keep on holding Feed key for more than 2 seconds.
• Send a string of characters or a label form to the printer and tap the
Feed key to produce a printout. Dump mode will also print control
characters, see character set table on at the end of Chapter 9.
• To return to normal mode, briefly tap the Feed key.
Memory
e firmware has dynamic memory allocation for print image buffer,
form, graphic, and external font memory. e first time the printer is
used, it is automatically initialized to default settings, see Chapter 3.
Direct Mode
You can print a label without using a predefined format by sending write
commands (text, bar codes, graphics, lines and boxes) to the printer after
having cleared the image buffer using an Ncommand. e label remains
stored in the image buffer and can be printed over and over again by
sending new Pprint commands, until the buffer is cleared by an Ncom-
mand, or by retrieving and printing a Form (see FR command).
e Direct Mode is also used for retrieving and printing preprogrammed
label formats, for the issuing of global setup commands, for deleting
forms and graphics from memory, and to make the printer produce a
number of different reports.

ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual 5
Chapter 1—General Information
Form Edit Mode
is mode is used to permanently store label forms and graphics in the
printer memory. In addition to plain text, bar codes, graphics, lines,
and boxes, form edit mode also allows the use of variables and counters,
which are not available in the Direct Mode. e individual label forms
can be retrieved and printed in the Direct Mode.
Some setup parameters can be included in forms in order to adapt the
printer for different applications. However, such setup parameters will
affect the global setup after the form has been retrieved and printed.
Form
Every label is made up of various fields. A form is the complete set of
commands that define the content and the design of the label. A form
can be saved in memory and retrieved when required.
Text Editor
Use any ASCII output device with a parallel, serial, or USB port and a
text editor to design the form and programming the printer. Communi-
cation is based on the 8 bit ASCII characters 10 dec. and 32-255 dec.
Commands
e command syntax is based on upper and lower case characters,
numeric characters, commas (as separators), quotation marks and line
feeds (LF; ASCII 10 dec.). e LF in this manual is listed as ↵in the
command descriptions. Some commands require to be appended by both
a carriage return and a line feed (<CR/LF>).
Note that all programming examples start with LF (depicted as ↵). It is
strongly recommended to start any sequence of command lines with a
Line Feed (LF).
Most PC based systems send CR/LF when pressing the <Enter> key. e
CR (carriage return) sent in a CR/LF sequence will be ignored. CR alone
will not work.
Refer to Chapter 2 for a list showing for which purposes the various com-
mands can be used.

6 ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual
Chapter 1—General Information
Field
Each command line of printable data will create a field, which is defined
in regard of start position, rotation, magnification, etc.
X Axis
Y Axis
Feed
Direction
Variable
Text V00
Graphic
Rotated
text
Fixed Text
Line
Counter C0
Counter C1
Box
EASYCODER PD4
FRAGILE
PACKED BY: SAM
SERIAL NO. 654
76532
Bar Code
The illustration shows how a label is printed and fed out
when using the default direction.

ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual 7
Chapter 1—General Information
Field Positioning
e printable area of the label forms a grid, where the X-axis runs across
the media and the Y-axis runs along the media path. Dots are used as the
unit for establishing position of the upper left corner of each field in rela-
tion to a specified reference point.
e printer is available with two different printhead densities (the 203.2
dpi printer and the 300 dpi printer have different firmware versions):
Density Medium High
X-axis 203.2 dpi (8 dots/mm) 300 dpi (11.81 dots/mm)
Y-axis 203.2 dpi (8 dots/mm) 304.8 dpi (12 dots/mm)
Number of active dots: 832 1208
Max. print width: 104 mm 102.2 mm
Dot line to tear bar: 136 dots 204 dots
Dot line to cutter blade: 256 dots 384 dots
Text and bar code fields can be rotated around their insertion points,
whereas lines, boxes and graphics cannot be rotated. However, the entire
print image can be rotated 180°. e illustration below shows coordinates
for the default print direction (ZT).

8 ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual
Chapter 1—General Information
Example of field positioning when using an 203.2 dpi (8 dots per mm) printhead.
800832 750 700 650 600 550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
550
X-axis
Y-axis
Reference Point
at direction ZT
X000;Y000
Feed
Direction
TEXT
TEXT
CODE 39
Rotated Text Field
X500;Y400
Bar Code Field
X150;Y300
Text Field
X100;Y100
Graphic Field
X650;Y050
Print Width 104 mm (832 dots)

ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual 9
2 Commands List
is chapters lists which commands can be used in the
Direct Mode and the Form Edit Mode respectively.

10 ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual
Chapter 2—Commands List
Direct Mode
Setup Commands
Used to set up the printer globally, that is, affect both the Direct Mode
and Forms.
DDensity
eR User-Defined Error/Status Character Control
fCut Position
ICharacter Set Selection
iAsian Character Spacing
JB Disable Top of Form Backup
JF Enable Top of Form Backup
jMedia Feed Adjustment
OOptions Select
oR Character Substitution
QSet Form Length
qSet Label Width
RSet Reference Point
rSet Relative Reference Point
SSpeed Select
SA Setup Adjust
SPC Setup Print Copy
SPR Setup Print Engine Ribbon Control
TD Set Date Format
TS Set Real Time Clock
TT Set Time Format
UC Command Reply Accept Character Control
UN Disable Error Reporting
US Enable Error Reporting
WWindows Mode
YSerial Port Setup
ZPrint Direction
Store Commands
GM Store Graphics in Memory
GW Store Graphics in Image Buffer
ES Store Soft Font
Clear and Delete Commands
Used to erase data from the printer’s memory.
EK Delete Soft Font

ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual 11
Chapter 2—Commands List
FK Delete Form
GK Delete Graphics
NClear Image Buffer
^default Restore Factory Default
^@ Reset Printer
Editing Commands
Used to edit labels in the Direct Mode.
APrint Text
BPrint Standard Bar Codes
bPrint Two-Dimensional Codes
GG Print Graphics
LE Line Draw Exclusive
LO Line Draw Black
LS Line Draw Diagonal
LW Line Draw White
XDraw Box
Print Commands
Used to produce printouts of labels edited in the Direct or retrieved form
edited in the Form Edit Mode.
CCut Immediate
FR Retrieve Form
PPrint
PF Feed Media
?Download Variables
Report Commands
Return information on serial channel and/or produce printed informa-
tion.
EI List Soft Fonts
FI Print Form Information
GI Print Graphics Information
GRP Reply Graphics from Printer Buffer
UPrint Configuration
UE Soft Fonts Information Inquiry
UF Form Information Inquiry
UG Graphics Information Inquiry
UI Enable Prompts/Code Page Inquiry
UM Code Page & Memory Inquiry
UP Code Page & Memory Inquiry/Print
UV Product Identity and Asian Font Types
^ee Immediate Error Report

12 ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual
Chapter 2—Commands List
Form Edit Mode
Setup Commands in Forms
Will affect the global setup after printing a form including such a com-
mand.
DDensity
QSet Form Length
RSet Reference Point
SSpeed Select
ZPrint Direction
Editing Commands
Used to edit forms.
APrint Text
BPrint Standard Bar Code
bPrint Two-Dimensional Codes
CCounter
FE End Form Store
FS Form Store
GG Print Graphics
LE Line Draw Exclusive
LO Line Draw Black
LS Line Draw Diagonal
LW Line Draw White
PA Print Automatic
VDefine Variable
XDraw Box

ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual 13
3 Setting Up the Printer
is chapter shows the default setup of the printer and
gives an example of how to change the setup.

14 ESim v5.12 for EasyCoder PD4—Programmer’s Reference Manual
Chapter 3—Setting Up the Printer
Default Setup
Parameter Command Meaning
Error/Status Char. eR0,0 XOFF/XON-handling
Density D10 10
Character Set I8,0,001 8 bits, code page 0, country code 001
Top of Form backup JF Enabled
Media feed adjust j136
j204
136 dots (at 203.2 dpi)
204 dots (at 300 dpi)
Options ON,D LTS disabled, DT mode, reverse gap disabled,
cutter disabled
Char. substitution oR No substitution
Form Length Q24,0 Continuous mode, print gap 24 dots
Label Width q832
q1208
832 dots (at 203.2 dpi)
1208 dots (at 300 dpi)
Reference Point R000,000 X:000;Y000
Print Speed S375 mm/sec. (3 inches/sec.)
Date Format TDme/dd/Y4 For example JAN/15/2004
Time Format TTh:m:s For example 13:25:00
Reply character UC0None
Error Handling US Error reporting enabled
Windows Mode WNDisabled
Serial Port Y96,N,8,1 9600 baud, no parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit
Print Direction ZTStart printing at top of image buffer
Printhead Resolution Measures
203.2 dpi printheads 203.2 dpi (8 dots/mm) in both directions
300 dpi printheads 300 dpi (11.81 dots/mm) across the media path
304.8 dpi (12 dots/mm) along the media path
The setup will be reset to default values if the Cancel key is pressed more
than 3 seconds in the Dump Mode.