Intermec EasyCoder 501XP User manual

Programmer’s
Reference Manual
Intermec
Direct Protocol
v7.80

Intermec Technologies Corporation
Corporate Headquarters
6001 36th Ave. W.
Everett, WA 98203
U.S.A.
www.intermec.com
The 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.
© 2004 by Intermec Technologies Corporation. All rights reserved.
The word Intermec, the Intermec logo, Norand, ArciTech, CrossBar,
Data Collection Browser, dcBrowser, Duratherm, 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, RoutePower, TE 2000, Trakker Antares, UAP,
Universal Access Point, and Virtual Wedge are either trademarks or regis-
tered trademarks of Intermec Technologies Corporation.
Throughout 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 infringe-
ment.
There are U.S. and foreign patents pending.
The name Centronics is wholly owned by GENICOM Corporation.
Kimdura is a registered trademark of Kimberly Clark.
Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
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.

Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual iii
Contents
Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Introduction.........................................................................2
2 Getting Started
2.1 Computer Connection .........................................................4
2.2 Media and Ribbon Supply....................................................4
2.3 Switch On the Printer...........................................................5
2.4 Intermec Shell Startup Program............................................5
2.5 No Startup Program .............................................................6
2.6 Serial Communication Test ..................................................6
3 Principles of Operation
3.1 Entering from Intermec Shell .............................................10
3.2 Entering from Immediate Mode.........................................10
3.3 Special Intermec Direct Protocol Features...........................10
3.4 Sending Instructions...........................................................11
3.5 Fields..................................................................................14
3.6 General Formatting Instructions.........................................14
3.7 Field-Related Formatting Instructions ................................15
3.8 Layout Instructions ............................................................16
3.9 Printable Data Instructions.................................................16
3.10 Feeding and Printing Instructions.......................................16
3.11 Setting Up the Printer ........................................................17
3.12 Reading Printer’s Status ......................................................18
3.13 File-Handling Instructions .................................................18
3.14 Syntax Descriptions............................................................19
4 Label Design
4.1 Introduction.......................................................................22
4.2 General Formatting Instructions.........................................23
4.3 Text Fields ..........................................................................29
4.4 Bar Code Field ...................................................................32

iv Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual
Contents
4.5 Image Field.........................................................................37
4.6 Box Field............................................................................39
4.7 Line Field ...........................................................................40
4.8 Layout Instructions ............................................................41
4.9 Printable Data Instructions.................................................43
5 Feeding and Printing Instructions
5.1 Media Feed.........................................................................50
5.2 Label Printing.....................................................................53
5.3 Batch Printing ....................................................................54
6 Setting Up the Printer
6.1 Enabling/Disabling Intermec Direct Protocol.....................58
6.2 Selecting Standard I/O Channel.........................................58
6.3 Setting Time and Date........................................................59
6.4 Selecting Format for Time and Date...................................60
6.5 Changing Separators...........................................................62
6.6 Creating Counters..............................................................63
6.7 Enabling/Disabling Label Taken Sensor..............................64
6.8 Enabling/Disabling Automatic Cutting ..............................65
6.9 Enabling/Disabling the Print Key.......................................65
6.10 Producing Audible Signals..................................................65
6.11 Formatting the Printer’s Memory........................................66
6.12 Preprocessing Input Data....................................................67
6.13 Selecting Character Set .......................................................68
6.14 Rebooting the Printer .........................................................69
6.15 Setting Verbosity Level .......................................................69
6.16 Selecting Type of Error Message .........................................69
6.17 Error Handling...................................................................70
6.18 Setting Break for Batch Printing .........................................72
6.19 Changing the Printer’s Setup ..............................................73
6.20 Selecting Centronics Type...................................................75
6.21 Clearing Media Feed Data at Headlift ................................75
6.22 Minimum Gap Length.......................................................75
6.23 Equal Safe for TESTFEED.................................................75
6.24 Overriding Media Feed Setup.............................................70

Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual v
Contents
7 Reading the Printer’s Status
7.1 Introduction.......................................................................78
7.2 Returning Information to Host ..........................................78
7.3 Reading Date and Time......................................................78
7.4 Testing the Printer’s Memory..............................................78
7.5 Testing the Printhead..........................................................79
7.6 Reading System Counters...................................................79
7.7 Reading Sensors and Straps ................................................80
7.8 Reading Printer’s Status ......................................................80
8 File Handling
8.1 Reading the Printer’s Memory ............................................84
8.2 Removing Fonts, Images, and Files.....................................84
8.3 Copying Files .....................................................................85
8.4 Downloading Binary Files ..................................................85
8.5 Downloading Image Files ...................................................85
9 Advanced Features
9.1 Specifying Complex Bar Codes...........................................88
9.2 Using International Character Sets .....................................89
10 Character Sets and Fonts
10.1 Character Sets.....................................................................94
10.2 Resident Fonts..................................................................118
11 Error Messages
11.1 Interpretation Table..........................................................120
12 Reference Lists
12.1 Instructions in Alphabetical Order ...................................124
12.2 Instruction Syntax List .....................................................129

vi Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual
Contents

Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual 1
1 Introduction
This chapter gives a quick introduction to the
Intermec Direct Protocol.

2 Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual
Chapter 1 — Introduction
1.1 Introduction
Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 is an easy-to-use printer protocol that
has been developed for use with the EasyCoder 501 XP/601 XP and
EasyCoder F2/F4 direct thermal and/or thermal transfer printers manu-
factured by Intermec Technologies Corp.
The 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 instructions as a continuous string
of data directly from the host computer.
In both cases, the Intermec Direct Protocol provides a flexible error
handler, which allows you to compose your own error messages in any
language.
The 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, and has little or no use for the sophistication and flex-
ibility offered by Intermec’s BASIC-inspired programming language
Intermec Fingerprint, yet needs a versatile error handler.
• Applications, which are provided with a comprehensive printer
control program in the host computer, making the use of Intermec
Fingerprint programming more or less an overkill.
Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 is a subset of the Intermec Fingerprint
v7.80 firmware and can be selected using Intermec Shell.
Refer to Chapter 12 at the end of this manual for lists of the various
instructions in the Intermec Direct Protocol.
We recommend that you have the following manuals accessible:
• The User’s Guide for the printer model in question.
• This Programmer’s Reference Manual.
• Intermec Fingerprint v7.80, Programmer’s Reference Manual (useful,
but not necessary).

Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual 3
2 Getting Started
This chapter how to connect the printer to a
computer using the serial interface, switch on the
printer, use Intermec Shell to select the Direct
Protocol, and how to check that the communication
between printer and the host computer is working.

4 Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual
Chapter 2 — Getting Started
2.1 Computer Connection
The Intermec Direct Protocol is included in the Intermec Fingerprint
firmware, which is stored in the Flash SIMM package fitted on the
printer’s CPU board at delivery. No operative system, such as Microsoft
Windows, is required. The printer only needs to be connected to an
AC supply and to some device, which can transmit characters in ASCII
format. It can be anything from a non-intelligent terminal to a main-
frame computer system.
For running the printer, we recommend a computer or terminal with a
screen, an alphanumeric keyboard, and a communication program, that
provides two-way serial communication using RS-232.
It is possible to use a parallel communication board in the printer for
receiving data. However, since the parallel interface provides one-way
communication only, no data or messages can be returned to the host.
For the same reason, the printer’s USB port is not recommended.
Connect the printer and host as described in the printer’s User’s Guide.
If the printer has several serial communication ports, it is recommended
to use the serial port "uart1:" for controlling the printer. It is possible to
set up the printer’s communication protocol to fit the host computer, as
described in the User’s Guide. However, until you have become familiar
with the Intermec Direct Protocol, it may be easier to adapt the host to
the printer’s default setup parameters.
Default serial communication setup on "uart1:"
• Baud rate: 9600
• Character length: 8
• Parity: None
• No. of stop bits: 1
• Flow control: none
• New line: CR/LF (Carriage Return + Line Feed)
2.2 Media and Ribbon Supply
Check that the printer has an ample supply of media (that is, paper or
similar) and, in case of thermal transfer printing, of thermal transfer
ribbon. Also check that the printer is set up accordingly in regard of
media size, media type, and paper type. Refer to the User’s Guide for
setup and loading instructions.

Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual 5
Chapter 2 — Getting Started
2.3 Switch On the Printer
Check that the printhead is lowered. Switch on the power using the
On/Off switch, which is fitted on the printer’s rear plate, and check that
the “Power” control lamp comes on. Then check the display window.
What happens next depends on what kind of startup program there is in
the printer.
If you have an EasyCoder 501XP/601 XP printer fitted
with a paper cutter, make sure the cutter is locked in closed
position. The cutter will be activated when the power is
switched on!
2.4 Intermec Shell Startup Program
After about 30 seconds, when the printer has performed certain self-diag-
nostic tests and loaded the startup program, a countdown menu will be
displayed:
ENTER=SHELL
5 sec. v.4.6
This menu indicates that the printer is fitted with the Intermec Shell
startup program. Before the 5 seconds countdown is completed, you
should take action as to select the Intermec Direct Protocol by means
of Intermec Shell as described in the Installation & Operation manual.
Should you fail to take any action before the 5 seconds countdown
runs out, you can start all over again by simply cycling the power to the
printer.
Note: Once you have selected Intermec Direct Protocol, the
printer will automatically enter it again at each startup, until
you select another application in Intermec Shell.

6 Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual
Chapter 2 — Getting Started
2.5 No Startup Program
If the printer starts up in the immediate mode of Intermec Finger-
print (because you have already selected the Fingerprint application in
Intermec Shell, or because the printer for some reason is not fitted with
any startup program at all), the display window should show the follow-
ing message directly after power-up:
Fingerprint
7.80
To use the Intermec Direct Protocol, you will have to send an INPUT ON
instruction to the printer as described in Chapter 3.2.
2.6 Serial Communications Test
Check that you have a working two-way serial communication by send-
ing a simple instruction from the host to the printer. On the host, type:
? VERSION$ ↵(↵= Carriage Return key)
Provided you have a serial two-way communication, the printer should
respond by immediately returning the version of the installed Intermec
Fingerprint software to the screen of the host:
Fingerprint 7.50
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 and if the connection is made between
the correct ports. Then try the communication test again.
Once you know that the communication is working, you may proceed
by sending a line of text to make sure that characters transmitted from
the terminal are interpreted as expected by the printer’s firmware:
FT "Swiss 721 BT" ↵
PT "ABCDEFGHIJKLM" ↵
PF ↵

Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual 7
Chapter 2 — Getting Started
Each line will be acknowledged by an “Ok” on the screen, provided it has
been entered correctly. When you press the “Carriage Return” key the
third time, the printer will feed out a label, ticket, tag, or piece of contin-
uous stock 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.
Should any unexpected characters be printed, you may need to select
another character set, see Chapter 6.13.

8 Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual
Chapter 2 — Getting Started

Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual 9
3 Principles of Operation
This chapter explains how to enter the Direct Protocol
from Intermec Shell and from the Immediate Mode.
It also describes the special features of the Direct
Protocol and shows how to send instructions to the
printer. Finally, it provides a quick overview of the
instructions used for various purposes in the Direct
Protocol. These are explained more comprehensively
in the chapters that follow.

10 Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual
Chapter 3 — Principles of Operation
3.1 Entering from Intermec Shell
In Intermec Shell, select the “Intermec Direct Protocol” option under the
“Select Application” headline. After a few seconds, the display will show
the message:
Direct Protocol
7.80
3.2 Entering from Immediate Mode
If you want to enter the Direct Protocol from the immediate mode of
Intermec Fingerprint, issue the following instruction:
INPUT ON ↵(↵is carriage return, ASCII 13 dec. )
The display will show the message:
Direct Protocol
7.80
By default, no messages or characters will be returned to the host (see
Chapter 6.15) until you leave the Intermec Direct Protocol.
3.3 Special Intermec Direct Protocol Features
If you are familiar with Intermec Fingerprint, you will notice that the
Intermec Direct Protocol is rather similar to the Immediate Mode. There
are, however, some important differences:
• The Intermec Direct Protocol has a built-in error handler, that can
indicate selected error conditions and produce error-messages of your
own creation in any language you like.
• The Intermec Direct Protocol is able to receive variable input data in a
special format to fields in a predefined layout.
• The Intermec Direct Protocol allows you to create counters without
extensive programming.
• The Intermec Direct Protocol provides a simple way to enable the
Print key to produce printouts.
• By default, verbosity is off in the Intermec Direct Protocol. While you
develop your Direct Protocol files, we recommend setting the verbos-
ity to ON using a SYSVAR (18) instruction, see Chapter 6.15

Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual 11
Chapter 3 — Principles of Operation
• Some instructions only work in the Intermec Direct Protocol:
COUNT&
ERROR
FORMAT INPUT
INPUT ON|OFF
LAYOUT END
LAYOUT INPUT
LAYOUT RUN
PRINT KEY ON|OFF
3.4 Sending Instructions
The Intermec Direct Protocol allows you to send instructions to the
printer in two ways:
• You can send instructions that the printer will act upon directly. This
method is used for setting up the printer, for reading various data
from the printer back to the host, and for managing files, fonts, and
images.
Examples:
PRINT KEY ON ↵(enable Print key)
? DATE$ ↵(read printer’s calendar)
KILL "LAYOUT1" ↵(delete a layout or file)
This method can also be used for creating label layouts including all
the printable data as illustrated below.
• The other method is only intended for creating labels. First create a
layout containing formatting instructions for a number of variable
fields. Also include such fields that you do not need to change. Then
send a string of printable data to the empty variable fields plus a print
instruction. You can create a number of different layouts, select the
one you need, and then add the variable data.

12 Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual
Chapter 3 — Principles of Operation
Layout and Printable Data in One Sequence
Continuous String
Enter the instructions as a continuous string, where the instructions are
separated by colons (:).
BF ON:BF "Swiss 721 BT",6:PP 10,10:
PX 430,340,15:PP 30,30:PM "GLOBE.1":
PP 75,270:BT "CODE39":PB "ABC":PP 75,220:
FT "Swiss 721 BT",6:PT "My FIRST label":PF ↵
Line-by-Line
You can also send the same string line by line:
BF ON ↵(enable bar code interpretation)
BF "Swiss 721 BT",6 ↵ (select bar code interpr. font)
PP 10,10 ↵ (insertion point for box field)
PX 430,340,15 ↵ (create a box)
PP 30,30 ↵ (insertion point for image field)
PM "GLOBE.1" ↵ (select image)
PP 75,270 ↵ (insertion point for bar code field)
BT "CODE39" ↵ (select bar code type)
PB "ABC" ↵ (input data to bar code field)
PP 75,220 ↵ (insertion point for text field)
FT "Swiss 721 BT",6 ↵ (select font for text field)
PT "My FIRST label" ↵ (input data to text field)
PF ↵ (print one label)
A label looking like this should be printed regardless if you use a continu-
ous string or send the instructions line-by-line:

Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual 13
Chapter 3 — Principles of Operation
Layout and Variable Input Data in Separate Sequences
All necessary commands for setting up the printer (see Chapter 6) should
be issued before the LAYOUT INPUT...LAYOUT END sequence. The only
exceptions are NASC and NASCD, see Chapters 6.13 and 9.2.
Creating the Layout
LAYOUT INPUT "tmp:LABEL1" ↵ (start layout recorder)
BF ON ↵(enable bar code interpretation)
BF "Swiss 721 BT",6 ↵(select bar code interpretation font)
PP 10,10 ↵(insertion point for box field)
PX 430,340,15 ↵(create a box)
PP 30,30 ↵(insertion point for image field)
PM "GLOBE.1" ↵(select image)
PP 75,270 ↵(insertion point for bar code field)
BT "CODE39" ↵(select bar code type)
PB VAR1$ ↵(variable input data to bar code field)
PP 75,220 ↵(insertion point for text field)
FT "Swiss 721 BT",6 ↵(select font for text field)
PT VAR2$ ↵(variable input data to text field)
LAYOUT END ↵(save layout)
COPY "tmp:LABEL1","c:LABEL1" ↵(save layout in "c:")
The layout was created in the printer’s temporary memory ("tmp:")
because it is faster and then, as a safety measure, copied to the permanent
memory ("c:") which is slower but safer than ("tmp:"). The instructions
could also have been sent as a continuous string rather than line-by-line.
Add Variable Data and Print
COPY "c:LABEL1","tmp:LABEL1" ↵ (copy layout)
LAYOUT RUN "tmp:LABEL1" ↵(select layout)
<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)
This should produce a label looking exactly like the one shown on the
previous page.

14 Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer’s Reference Manual
Chapter 3 — Principles of Operation
Note: If a label has been printed using a predefined layout
and you want to return to the method of printing labels using
layout and printable data in one sequence, the predefined
layout must first be cleared from the printer’s working memory
using the instruction: LAYOUT RUN ""
3.5 Fields
The printable information on a label, ticket, tag, or piece of strip consists
of various types of fields. A field can consist of:
• A single line of text
• Several lines of text with line-wrap and hyphenation optionally sur-
rounded by a box
• A bar code with or without human readable interpretation
• An image, for example picture or logotype, in bitmap format
• A box, that is a hollow square or rectangle
• A line
3.6 General Formatting Instructions
Any type of field should be specified in regard of:
• Position
• Alignment
• Direction
Refer to Chapter 4.2 for more information.