Microcom 465 User manual

MICROCOM CORPORATION
MODEL 465
DIRECT THERMAL / THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTER
OPERATOR'S MANUAL
Part Number 880011-0131
August 1995 Software Version 1.31

Operator's Manual
465 Direct Thermal/Thermal Transfer Printer
- Revised 08/16/95 MSG -
Centronics is a registered trademark of Data Computer Corporation.
HP and LaserJet II are trademarks of Hewlett-Packard Company.
Comstar and I.D. Images are trademarks of Comstar Incorporated.
FastFont is a trademark of Page Technology Marketing, Inc.
Other products, names, and brands are trademarks of their respective holders.
FastFont Typefaces are Copyright ©1993, Page Technology Marketing, Inc.
This manual is subject to change without notice.
Copyright ©1993-1994, Microcom Corporation, Westerville, Ohio - All rights reserved.
Printed in the U.S.A.

Table of Contents
List of Tables
.................................................................. vi
List of Figures ............................................................. vi
Introduction ................................................................1
CHAPTER 1: FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS .................................3
1.1 SPECIAL FEATURES ............................................3
1.2 BAR CODES ...................................................4
1.3 FONTS .......................................................4
1.4 PRINTING .....................................................4
1.5 INTERFACE COMMUNICATIONS ...................................4
1.6 PHYSICAL .....................................................5
1.7 ENVIRONMENT ................................................5
1.8 ELECTRICAL ...................................................5
1.9 OPTIONS .....................................................5
1.10 APPROVALS ...................................................5
CHAPTER 2: BASIC OPERATION ..............................................7
2.1 UNPACKING THE 465 PRINTER ...................................7
2.2 MOUNTING THE LABEL SUPPLY RACKS ............................7
2.3 INITIAL POWER UP .............................................7
2.4 FRONT PANEL KEYPAD AND STATUS DISPLAY ......................8
2.4.1 LABEL PRINT KEY ........................................8
2.4.2 LINE FEED KEY ..........................................8
2.4.3 ON/OFF LINE KEY ........................................9
2.5 THE STATUS LIGHTS/TONE ......................................9
2.6 LOADING PAPER ...............................................9
2.6.1 NORMAL AND TAG/TEAR MODES ..........................10
2.6.2 PEEL-AND-DISPENSE MODE ..............................10
2.7 CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS ......................................11
CHAPTER 3: COMMUNICATIONS .............................................13
3.1 CABLE PINOUT ................................................13
3.2 PRINTER CABLES .............................................14
CHAPTER 4: DESIGNING LABELS USING LDS ..................................15
4.1 CONTROL CHARACTERS .......................................15
4.2 GETTING STARTED ............................................15
4.2.1 PC CONNECTION (SERIAL) ................................15
4.2.2 PC CONNECTION (PARALLEL) .............................16
4.2.3 LEARNING LDS ..........................................17
4.3 FORMATTING LABELS: AN OVERVIEW............................17
4.4 LABEL HEADER ...............................................19
4.4.1 A SAMPLE SESSION (HEADER) ............................24
4.5 LABEL FIELDS ................................................25
4.5.1 BIT MAPPED TEXT AND BARCODE FIELDS ...................25

4.5.2 GRAPHIC IMAGE FIELDS ..................................31
4.5.3 LINES/RECTANGLES .....................................33
4.5.4 A SAMPLE SESSION (FIELDS) ..............................35
CHAPTER 5: PRINTER COMMANDS ..........................................37
5.1 SPECIAL PRINTER CONTROL CODES .............................38
5.2 PRINTER ENQUIRIES ...........................................39
5.3 SENDING ^D PRINTER COMMANDS ...............................40
5.3.1 SOFTWARE SWITCHES/BATTERY BACKED COMMANDS .......40
5.3.2 PRINTING COMMANDS ...................................47
5.3.3 AUTOSIZING AND VALID GAP COMMANDS ...................48
5.3.4 REAL-TIME CLOCK ......................................50
5.3.5 SERIAL NUMBER COMMANDS .............................51
5.3.6 LABEL HEADER COMMANDS ..............................54
5.3.7 SAVED FORMAT FILE COMMANDS .........................55
5.3.8 LABEL PRESENCE SENSOR CONTROL ......................57
5.3.9 TEXT STRINGS COMMANDS ...............................58
5.3.10 MISCELLANEOUS PRINTER COMMANDS ....................61
CHAPTER 6: GRAPHIC IMAGES ..............................................63
6.1 PROCEDURE FOR USING MICROCOM PCX2465 SOFTWARE ..........63
6.2 FORMAT OF GRAPHICS FILES ...................................64
6.3 GRAPHIC IMAGE COMMAND SUMMARY ...........................66
CHAPTER 7: SPECIAL DESIGNS .............................................67
7.1 DESIGNING WITH BARCODES ...................................67
7.1.1 HUMAN READABLES .....................................68
7.2 REVERSE VIDEO ..............................................69
CHAPTER 8: SOFT FONTS ..................................................71
CHAPTER 9: OPTIONS .....................................................73
9.1 MICROCOM GRAPHICS CONVERSION UTILITIES ....................73
9.2 MICROCOM SOFT FONT UTILITY .................................73
9.3 ADDITIONAL SOFT FONTS ......................................73
9.4 WYSIWYG SOFTWARE PACKAGES ...............................73
9.5 CLEANING KIT ................................................74
APPENDIX A: WARRANTY AND REPAIR PROCEDURES ..........................75
APPENDIX B: MORE LABEL SAMPLES ........................................76
POSTNET ..........................................................76
BARCODES ........................................................76
FONTS 465 .........................................................79
APPENDIX C: SAMPLE BASIC PROGRAM ......................................82
APPENDIX D: QUICK REFERENCE COMMAND SUMMARY ........................83
APPENDIX E: HARDWARE DIP SWITCHES .....................................95
Index ....................................................................96

List of Tables
Status Light ................................................................9
Serial Port Configuration .....................................................13
Parallel Port Configuration ...................................................14
Print Speed ...............................................................22
Bitmapped Font Descriptions .................................................27
Barcode Symbologies .......................................................28
Character Starting Positions ..................................................29
Enquiry Responses .........................................................39
Clock Field Parameters ......................................................50
List of Figures
Front View .................................................................6
Rear View .................................................................6
Printer Parts ...............................................................7
Keypad Layout .............................................................8
Printer Feed Mechanism .....................................................10
Microcom Label ............................................................18
Label Header Parameters of a 4" X 3" Label ......................................20
Lines ....................................................................34
Status Label ..............................................................61
Four Graphic Images .......................................................63
Barcode Rotations .........................................................67
Barcode Human Readables ..................................................68
Reverse Video ............................................................69

Introduction
The Microcom 465 is a Direct Thermal or Thermal Transfer label printer with a high resolution (832
dots or 8 dots/mm), 4.09 inch wide print head. The printer has the ability to handle a wide variety of
labeling tasks - even the most demanding applications.
The resident Label Design Software (LDS) is a powerful and easy-to-use package that allows you
to create personalized label formats. It can be driven from a PC, mini-computer, mainframe, and
most special purpose computers.
Among many other features, LDS supports graphics functions and multiple serial numbering. It
offers virtually unlimited text font sizes and all popular barcode symbologies. Graphic images can
be printed or stored in the printer's memory for future use. Bitmapped Fonts, barcodes, and graphic
images can be multiplied in size and printed in 0,90,180,270 degree rotations. Once the labels are
designed, they can be stored in the 465's memory for high speed printer access.
The 465 is capable of printing on most types of label stock or fax paper. It offers operation in a
tag/tear, peel-and-dispense, batch mode, and user-defined advance mode. It can handle blow-
hole, black-line, label gap, and continuous stock.
Many printer applications use the same label format, but change the data on every label. This is not
a problem for the Microcom 465 printer. Data may be changed without down-loading the same
fixed format, or fixed data fields, time after time. This, along with a greatly increased
communication speed, increases data access time and productivity.
Microcom also offers a complete line of software packages which allow quick and easy on-screen
label designing, along with complete database capabilities.

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