Intermec EasyCoder E4 User manual

Programmer’s
Reference Manual
EasyCoder E4
Direct Protocol
v2.10

Information in this manual is subject to change without prior notice and does not represent a
commitment on the part of Intermec Printer AB.
© Copyright Intermec Printer AB, 2002. All rights reserved. Published in Sweden.
EasyCoder is a registered trademark of Intermec Technologies Corp. The word Intermec and the
Intermec logoare trademarks of Intermec Technologies Corp.
Centronics is a registered trademark of Genicom Corporation.
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Torx is a registered trademark of Camcar Division of Textron Inc.
TrueDoc is a registered trademark of Bitstream, Inc.
TrueType is a trademark of Apple Computer Inc.
Unicode is a trademark of Unicode Inc.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 – Programmer’s Reference Manual 1
Contents
1.Introduction 1. Introduction...........................................................................4
2.Getting Started 1. Computer Connection..........................................................5
2. Check Media Supply .............................................................6
3. Switch On the Printer............................................................6
4. Serial Communications Test..................................................6
3.Principles of Operation 1. Intermec Direct Protocol Special Features.............................8
2. Sending Commands..............................................................8
3. Fields ....................................................................................11
4. General Formatting Commands .........................................11
5. Field-Related Formatting Commands.................................11
6. Layout Commands..............................................................12
7. Printable Data Commands..................................................12
8. Feeding and Printing Commands .......................................13
9. Setting Up the Printer..........................................................13
10. Reading Printer’s Status........................................................13
11. File-Handling Commands ..................................................14
12. Syntax Descriptions .............................................................14
13. File Storage Devices and File Names...................................15
4.Label Design 1. Field Types ...........................................................................17
2. General Formatting Commands .........................................18
3. Text Field .............................................................................21
4. Bar Code Field.....................................................................25
5. Image Field...........................................................................21
6. Box Field..............................................................................33
7. Line Field .............................................................................34
8. Layout Commands..............................................................35
9. Printable Data Commands..................................................36
5.Feeding and Printing Commands 1. Media Feed ..........................................................................42
2. Label Printing ......................................................................44
3. Batch Printing......................................................................45
6.Setting Up the Printer 1. Layout Mode/Immediate Mode..........................................47
2. In/Out Channel...................................................................47
3. Date and Time.....................................................................48
4. Date and Time Format........................................................49
5. Separators.............................................................................51
6. Counters ..............................................................................52
Contents

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual2
Contents
6.Setting Up the Printer,cont. 7. Label Taken Sensor ..............................................................53
8. Feed Button .........................................................................50
9. Memory Formatting............................................................54
10. Input Data Preprocess..........................................................54
11. Character Set Selection ........................................................55
12. Printer Reboot .....................................................................57
13. Verbosity Level.....................................................................57
14. Error Message Types ............................................................57
15. Error Handling ....................................................................58
16. Break in Batch Printing .......................................................60
17. Printer Setup........................................................................61
18. Setting the LSS Threshold...................................................63
19. Enabling/Disabling Automatic Cutting..............................63
7.Reading the Printer’s Status 1. Introduction.........................................................................64
2. Date and Time.....................................................................64
3. Memory ...............................................................................64
4. Printhead..............................................................................65
5. System Counters..................................................................65
6. Sensors .................................................................................66
7. Printer’s Status......................................................................66
8. Firmware and Hardware Versions........................................66
9. Label Length........................................................................67
10. Gap Length..........................................................................67
11. Media Light Transmission....................................................67
8.File Handling 1. Reading the Printer Memory...............................................68
2. Removing Images, Files, and Fonts .....................................69
3. Copying Files .......................................................................70
4. Downloading Binary Files ...................................................70
5. Downloading Image Files....................................................71
9.Advanced Features 1. Specifying Complex Bar Codes...........................................72
2. Using International Character Sets......................................73
3. Font Scaling .........................................................................77
10.Firmware Upgrade 1. Firmware and Fonts.............................................................78
11.Character Sets,Fonts, 1. Character Sets ......................................................................79
and Bar Codes 2. Resident Fonts .................................................................. 106
3. Resident Bar Codes........................................................... 107
Contents, cont.

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual 3
Contents
12.Error Messages 1. Error Messages in Numerical Order................................. 108
13.Commands and Functions 1. Commands ....................................................................... 110
2. Command Syntax............................................................. 115
3. Function Syntax................................................................ 118
Contents, cont.

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual4
Chapter 1
Introduction
Intermec Direct Protocol is an easy-to-use printer programming
language that has been developed for use with the computer-
controlled direct thermal and thermal transfer printers manufac-
tured by Intermec. The version (v2.10) described in this manual
is only applicable to EasyCoder E4 printers, but is in most
respects compatible to other versions of the Intermec Direct
Protocol, so applications created for other types of EasyCoder
printers can be used on an EasyCoder E4 with few or no
modifications.
Intermec Direct Protocol can be used in two ways:
• To create label layouts consisting of fields with fixed or variable
information. A layout can then be selected and provided with
variable input from the host computer in the form of a simple
string of data.
• To send input data and formatting commands as a continuous
string of data directly from the host computer.
In both cases, Intermec Direct Protocol provides a flexible error
handler, which allows you to compose your own error messages
in any language.
Intermec Direct Protocol has been created with two main types
of application in mind:
• Applications where the end-user requires a simple printer
control program, but needs a versatile error handler.
• Applications which have a comprehensive printer control pro-
gram in the host computer.
Refer to chapter 13 in this manual for lists of the various com-
mands in Intermec Direct Protocol.

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual 5
Chapter 2
Intermec Direct Protocol is stored in two Flash EPROM pack-
ages fitted as standard on the printer’s CPU board. No floppy
disks or operating system, such as MS-DOS, are required. The
printer only needs to be connected to an AC supply and to a
device capable of transmitting characters in ASCII format, which
can be anything from a non-intelligent terminal to a mainframe
computer system.
For running the printer, we recommend a computer with a
screen, an alphanumeric keyboard, and a communication pro-
gram which provides two-way communication via an RS 232C
serial port. A Centronics parallel port can also be used, but it will
provide one-way communication only: no data or messages can
be returned to the screen of the host.
Connect the printer and host as described in the EasyCoder E4
User's Guide.
It is possible to set up the printer’s communication protocol to
fit the host computer, as described in the EasyCoder E4 User's
Guide. However, until you have become familiar with Intermec
Direct Protocol, it may be easier to adapt the host to the printer’s
default setup parameters. There is no communication setup for
the Centronics parallel interface.
Default serial communication setup on ”uart1:”
•Baud rate: 9600
•Parity: None
•Character length: 8
•No. of stop bits: 1
•Flow control: Disabled
•New line: CR/LF (Carriage Return + Line Feed)
Getting Started
1. Computer Connection

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual6
Chapter 2 Getting Started
Check that the printer has an ample supply of media and, where
applicable, of thermal transfer ribbon. Refer to the EasyCoder E4
User’s Guide for loading commands.
Check that the printhead is lowered. Turn on the mains switch,
which is fitted on the printer’s rear plate, and check that the
Power LED comes on.
Check that you have a working two-way serial communication
by sending a simple command from the host to the printer. On
the host, type:
? VERSION$ ↵
Provided you have serial two-way communication, the printer
should respond by immediately returning the version of the
installed Intermec Direct Protocol firmware to the screen of the
host, for example:
V2.10
Ok
This indicates that the communication is working both ways.
If the communication does not work, switch off the printer and
check the connection cable. Also check if the communication
setup in the host corresponds to the printer’s setup, check the
verbosity level, and check if the connection is made between the
correct ports. Then try the communication test again using the
Dump Mode.
Once you know that the communication is working, you may go
on and send a line of text to make sure that characters transmitted
from the terminal are interpreted as expected by the printer’s
firmware:
PP 10, 10 ↵
FT "Swiss 721 BT" ↵
PT "ABCDEFGHIJKLM" ↵
PF ↵
2. Check Media Supply
3. Switch On the Printer
4. Serial Communications Test
↵= Carriage Return

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual 7
Chapter 2 Getting Started
Each line will be acknowledged by Ok on the screen, provided it
has been entered correctly. When you press ↵(Carriage Return)
the third time, the printer will feed out a label, ticket, tag, or
a piece of strip with the text printed in the lower left corner of
the printable area.
ABCDEFGHIJKLM
You can try using other characters between the quotation
marks in the third line, especially typical national characters like
ÅÄÖÜ¿¢¥ç, etc. If any unexpected characters are printed, you
may need to select another character set (see Chapter 6.11), or
change the communication setup from 7-bit to 8-bit character
length.
4. Serial Communications Test, cont.

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual8
Chapter 3
There is a built-in error handler, that can indicate selected error
conditions and produce error-messages of your own creation in
any language you like.
Variable input data (in a special format) can be inserted into fields
in a predefined layout.
You can create counters without extensive programming.
You can easily enable the Feed key to produce printouts.
By default, verbosity is On in Intermec Direct Protocol1.
Intermec Direct Protocol allows you to send commands to the
printer in two ways:
•Immediate Mode
•Layout Mode
• Immediate Mode
You send commands that the printer will act upon immedi-
ately. This method is used for setting up the printer, for
returning information from the printer back to the host and
for managing files, fonts and images.
Examples:
PRINT KEY ON ↵(enable Feed key)
? DATE$ ↵(read printer’s calendar)
KILL "LAYOUT1" ↵(delete a layout or file)
Immediate Mode can also be used for creating label layouts
including all the printable data as illustrated below.
• Layout Mode
Layout Mode is only intended for creating labels. Firstly, create
a layout containing formatting commands for a number of
fields and such printable data that you do not need to change.
Secondly, send a string of printable data to the empty fields
plus a print command. You can create a number of different
layouts, select the one you need, add the variable data, and
print out the labels.
Principles of Operation
1. Intermec Direct Protocol Special Features
2. Sending Commands
1/. While you are experiment-
ing with Intermec Direct
Protocol, we recommend that
you retain the default ver-
bosity setting (ON). Later
you should change it to OFF,
since this will produce opti-
mum printer performance.

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual 9
Chapter 3 Principles of Operation
Therre are two methods for creating the label shown to the left:
Immediate Mode
You can send the string as a single line:
BF ON:BF "Swiss 721 BT",9,0:PP 10,20:
PX 400,300,10:PP 25,25:PM "ROM:GLOBE.1":
PP 75,250:BT "CODE39":PB "ABC":PP 75,200:
FT "Swiss 721 BT",9,0:PT "My FIRST
label!":PF ↵
You can also send the same string line by line:
BF ON ↵(enable bar code interpretation)
BF "Swiss 721 BT",9,0 ↵(select bar code interpr. font)
PP 10, 20 ↵(insertion point for box field)
PX 400,300,10 ↵(create a box)
PP 25,25 ↵(insertion point for image field)
PM "ROM:GLOBE.1" ↵(select image)
PP 75,250 ↵(insertion point for bar code field)
BT "CODE39" ↵(select bar code type)
PB "ABC" ↵(input data to bar code field)
PP 75,200 ↵(insertion point for text field)
FT "Swiss 721 BT",9,0 ↵(select font for text field)
PT "My FIRST label!" ↵(input data to text field)
PF ↵(print one label)
Layout Mode
First, create a layout:
LAYOUT INPUT "LABEL1" ↵(start layout recorder)
BF ON ↵(enable bar code interpretation)
BF "Swiss 721 BT",9,0 ↵(select bar code interpr. font)
PP 10,20 ↵(insertion point for box field)
PX 400,300,10 ↵(create a box)
PP 25,25 ↵(insertion point for image field)
PM "ROM:GLOBE.1" ↵(select image)
PP 75,250 ↵(insertion point for bar code field)
BT "CODE39" ↵(select bar code type)
PB VAR1$ ↵(variable input data to bar code field)
PP 75,200 ↵(insertion point for text field)
FT "Swiss 721 BT",9,0 ↵(select font for text field)
PT VAR2$ ↵(variable input data to text field)
LAYOUT END ↵(save layout)
2. Sending Commands, cont.
ABC

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual10
Chapter 3 Principles of Operation
2. Sending Commands, cont.
ABC
Layout Mode
First, create a layout:
LAYOUT INPUT "LABEL1" ↵(start layout recorder)
BF ON ↵(enable bar code interpretation)
BF "Swiss 721 BT",9,0 ↵(select bar code interpr. font)
PP 10,20 ↵(insertion point for box field)
PX 400,300,10 ↵(create a box)
PP 25,25 ↵(insertion point for image field)
PM "ROM:GLOBE.1" ↵(select image)
PP 75,250 ↵(insertion point for bar code field)
BT "CODE39" ↵(select bar code type)
PB VAR1$ ↵(variable input data to bar code field)
PP 75,200 ↵(insertion point for text field)
FT "Swiss 721 BT",9,0 ↵(select font for text field)
PT VAR2$ ↵(variable input data to text field)
LAYOUT END ↵(save layout)
Then add the variable input data and a print command:
LAYOUT RUN "LABEL1" ↵(select layout)
INPUT ON ↵(enables layouts and var. data fields)
<STX> (start of input data, ASCII 02 dec)
ABC ↵(variable input data to VAR1$)
My FIRST label! ↵(variable input data to VAR2$)
<EOT> (end of input data, ASCII 04 dec)
PF ↵(print one label)
INPUT OFF ↵(disables layouts and var. data fields)
Note:
If a label has been printed using a predefined layout and you want to
return to Immediate Mode, the predefined layout must first be cleared
from the printer’s working memory using the following command:
LAYOUT RUN ""

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual 11
Chapter 3 Principles of Operation
3. Fields
The printable information on a label, ticket, tag or piece of strip
consists of various types of field. A field can consist of:
•A single line of text
•A bar code with or without human readable interpretation
•An image, that is, a black&white picture, logo, or sign in
.PCX format
•A box, that is, a hollow square or rectangle
•A line
Any type of field should be specified with regard to:
•Position
•Alignment
•Direction
Depending on the type of field, additional formatting commands
can be used:
•Text Field:
- Font (typeface)
- Font Size
- Font Slant
- Magnification
- Normal Image/Inverse Image
•Bar Code Field1:
- Bar Code Type
- Height (height of bar pattern)
- Ratio (wide bars/narrow bars)
- Magnification (bar pattern)
- Bar Code Interpretation On/Off
- Bar Code Interpretation Font
- Bar Code Interpretation Font Size
- Bar Code Interpretation Font Slant
•Image Field:
- Magnification
- Normal image/Inverse image
•Box Field:
- Size (height, width, line thickness)
•Line Field:
- Size (length, line thickness)
4. General Formatting Commands
5. Field-Related Formatting Commands
1/. This refers to one-dimen-
sional bar codes only. Com-
plex two-dimensional bar or
dot codes may have other for-
matting parameters.

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual12
Chapter 3 Principles of Operation
5. Field-Related Formatting Commands, cont.
Text, bar code and image fields also require some input data:
•Text Field: Alphanumeric text
•Bar Code Field: Alphanumeric or numeric value
(depending on type of code)
•Image Field: Name of the image
The input data to text and bar code fields may either be provided
by the host or read from the printer’s firmware, for example coun-
ter values or various data related to the printer’s clock/calendar.
In Intermec Direct Protocol, you can either specify the fields
both with regard to formatting parameters and input data in the
same string, or you can create a layout to which you can send
variable data later.
The layout should contain formatting parameters for all fields
and input data to such fields that will always contain the same
information. When the variable input data are added, they will
be inserted into their respective fields (like filling in a pre-printed
form).
When creating predefined layouts, special commands must be
used for:
•Starting the layout recorder
•Saving the layout
Depending on the type of field and the type of bar code, print-
able data to text and bar code fields may consist of:
•Alphanumeric data (text)
•Numeric data
•Counter values
•Current date
•Current time
•Current date +/- nn days
•Current time +/- nn seconds
•Current week number
•Current weekday
6. Layout Commands
7. Printable Data Commands

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual 13
Chapter 3 Principles of Operation
8. Feeding and Printing Commands
9. Setting Up the Printer
10. Reading the Printer’s Status
Some commands control printing and media feed, for example:
•Changing media feed speed
•Rotating the platen roller during cleaning
•Feeding out an empty label, ticket, tag, or piece of strip
•Adjusting the label stop/black mark sensor.
•Printing one label or a batch of labels (or similar).
You can control how the printer will work, for example:
•Select standard IN and OUT channels
•Set the printer’s clock/calendar
•Set formats for the printing of date and time
•Set separators for input data strings to predefined layouts
•Create label counters
•Enable/disable the optional label taken sensor
•Enable/disable Feed key
•Format the printer’s RAM memory or a memory card
•Remap certain incoming characters
•Select character set(s)
•Restart the printer
•Select verbosity level
•Select type of error message
•Enable error handling and create customized error messages
•Select method for breaking the printing of a batch of labels
•Change the printer’s setup
Provided you have two-way serial communication between
printer and host, you can return the printer’s status with regard to
a number of functions to the host, for example:
•Current date and time
•Memory status
•Printhead status and characteristics
•Value of various system counters
•Status of various sensors
•Firmware and hardware version

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual14
Chapter 3 Principles of Operation
11. File-Handling Commands
12. Syntax Descriptions
A number of commands are used to control the printer’s memory,
for example:
•Read the names of files, fonts, or images stored in the printer’s
memory
•Download binary files
•Download .PCX files
•Remove files
•Remove downloaded images
•Copy files
Many commonly used commands have a shorthand version to
minimise the transfer of data. In the explanations of the various
command that follow, both the full name and the shorthand ver-
sion will be shown, separated by a thin vertical line, for example:
PRPOS |PP
Upper- and lower-case characters can be used at will in com-
mands. Parameters for commands are shown like this:
<parameter> numeric value
"<parameter>" alphanumeric text (enclosed by double quota-
tion marks)
•Compulsory space characters are indicated by a double-headed
arrow (↔).
•Square brackets [ ] indicate optional parameters.
•Thin vertical bars ( |) indicate alternatives.
•Always enter parentheses, commas, colons, semicolons, minus
signs, quotation marks and period characters exactly as shown.
•Negative values are indicated by leading minus signs (-)

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual 15
Chapter 3 Principles of Operation
13. File Storage Devices and File Names
Files can be stored in the EasyCoder E4 on one of five devices:
•"ROM:"
Contains the built-in files necessary for using the printer. This
is a read-only device that resides in the flash memory.
•"RAM:"
Contains files created by the user. This is a read/write device
that resides in the flash memory.
•"CACHE:"
Can only contain images. This device is volatile, that is, its
contents will be lost at power off or reboot.
•"CARD1:"
A PCMCIA card in the slot nearest the ON/OFF switch,
which can be a DOS-formatted card or a specially formatted
font cartridge.
•"CARD2:"
A PCMCIA card in the slot farthest from the ON/OFF
switch, which can be a DOS-formatted card or a specially
formatted font cartridge.
The files in each device can be listed using the FILES command,
for example FILES "RAM:".
In general, "ROM:" and font cartridges in "CARD1:" or
"CARD2:" are read-only devices; you cannot create, copy, or
delete files on these devices. For example. the following com-
mands would cause errors:
FILE&LOAD "ROM:NEWFILE",123
COPY "RAM:OLDFILE","CARD1:NEWFILE"
(if CARD1: contains a font cartridge)
KILL "CARD2:OLDFILE"
(if CARD2: contains a font cartridge)
In contrast, "RAM:", "CACHE:", and DOS-formatted cards in
"CARD1:" or "CARD2:" are read/write devices which support
all file operations.

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual16
Chapter 3 Principles of Operation
When using a Direct Protocol command which has the name of
an existing file as a parameter, you can:
•specify the device name before the filename, for example
KILL "RAM:MYFILE.TXT"
•omit the device name, for example
KILL "MYFILE.TXT"
in which case, the printer will search each device in turn until
it finds a file with this name.
If you use a Direct Protocol command which creates a file, you
can either
•specify the device on which the file is to be stored, for example
FILE&LOAD "CARD1:MYFILE.TXT", 123
•or omit the device name, for example
FILE&LOAD "MYFILE.TXT", 123
in which case the file will be stored on "RAM:".
The EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol supports wildcards, that is,
devices, filenames, or filename extensions can be substituted by
asterisks (*; ASCII 42 dec.).
For example, the command KILL "RAM:*.PRG" will erase
all files with the extension .PRG in the device "RAM:”.
A file downloaded under the name “Autoexec.bat”will automati-
cally start running when the printer is started, see Chapter 8.4
13. File Storage Devices and File Names, cont.

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual 17
Chapter 4
A label layout is made up of a number of fields. There are five
different types of field:
•Text Field A text field consists of a single line of text.
•Bar Code Field A bar code field consists of a single bar
code, with or without a bar code interpre-
tation in human readable characters.
•Image Field An image field is a picture, drawing, logo,
or other type of illustration in bitmap
format.
•Box Field A box field is a square or rectangular non-
colored area surrounded by a black border
line. If the border is sufficiently thick, the
whole area may appear black.
•Line Field A line field is a black line that goes either
along or across the media path. A short
but thick line can look like a black box.
There are no restrictions, other than the size of the memory, on
the number of fields on a single label.
Label Design
1. Field Types
ABC
Box Field
Bar Code Field
(with interpretation)
Text Field
Line Field
Image Field

EasyCoder E4 Direct Protocol v2.10 –Programmer’s Reference Manual18
Chapter 4 Label Design
Origin
The positioning of all printable objects on the label uses a
common system. The starting point (called the origin) is the
point on the media that corresponds to the innermost active dot
on the printhead at the moment when printing is started. The
location of the origin is affected by the following factors:
•Position across the media path (X-axis):
The position of the origin in the X-axis is determined by the
Xstart value in Setup Mode.
•Position along the media path (Y-axis):
The position of the origin in the Y-axis is determined
by the Startadj and Stopadj values in Setup Mode and by any
FORMFEED command executed before the current PRINT-
FEED command or after the preceding PRINTFEED.
Coordinates
Starting from the origin, the X-axis runs across the media path
from the center section and outwards and the Y-axis runs along
the media path from the printhead and back towards the media
supply.
Units of Measurement
The unit of measurement is always “dots”, that is, all measures
depend on the density of the printhead. The EasyCoder E4 has
an 8 dots/mm printhead where a dot is 0.125 mm = 0.00492 in.
Insertion Point
The insertion point of any printable object is specified within the
coordinate system using PRPOS|PP. The coordinates must be
selected so the field fits entirely inside the printable area.
PRPOS | PP <x-coordinate>,<y-coordinate>
<x-coordinate> the distance in dots along the x-axis from the
origin to the insertion point
<y-coordinate> the distance in dots along the y-axis from the
origin to the insertion point
Default value: PRPOS 0,0
Reset to default by: PRINTFEED|PF
Example:
PP 100, 200 ↵
2. General Formatting Commands