Printronix SMARTLINE SL4M User manual

Printer Protocol Interpreter (PPI) DGL™
Programmer’s Reference Manual for DGL,
a Datamax®DPL™Printer Protocol Interpreter
Thermal Series Printers

Printer Protocol Interpreter (PPI) DGL
Programmer’s Reference Manual for DGL,
a Datamax DPL Printer Protocol Interpreter
Thermal Series Printers

Trademark Acknowledgments
DPL is a trademark and Datamax is a registered trademark of Datamax
Technologies Corporation.
PPI is a trademark of Printronix, Inc.
Printronix and PSA are registered trademarks of Printronix, Inc.
COPYRIGHT © 2006 PRINTRONIX, INC.
All rights reserved.

1 Introduction ......................................................... 11
About This Manual............................................................................... 11
Coax/Twinax Interface Requirements (T5000r Printer)................. 11
DGL SETUP Menu .............................................................................. 12
DGL SETUP Submenu ................................................................. 13
Active ...................................................................................... 13
Character Set.......................................................................... 14
Euro Character ....................................................................... 14
Control Codes......................................................................... 14
Feedback Chars ..................................................................... 14
Default Module........................................................................ 14
Units of Measure..................................................................... 14
Row Offset .............................................................................. 15
Column Offset......................................................................... 15
Format Attrib. .......................................................................... 15
Error Handling......................................................................... 15
Vertical DPI Adjust.................................................................. 16
Compatibility ........................................................................... 16
Command Ignore Menus ........................................................ 16
Length Cmd (STXc) ................................................................ 16
Heat Cmd (H).......................................................................... 16
Speed CMD (P,S) ................................................................... 16
Cut Cmd (o,:,c) ....................................................................... 16
Soft Switch (V) ........................................................................ 16
Sensor Cmd (e,r) .................................................................... 17
Format Attr.(A) ........................................................................ 17
2 Fully Supported Commands ............................... 19
System-Level Command Functions .............................................. 19
STX A - Set Time and Date .................................................... 19
STX a - Enable Feedback Characters .................................... 19
STX B - Get Printer Time and Date Information ..................... 19
STX c - Set Continuous Paper Length.................................... 19
STX E - Set Quantity For Stored Label................................... 19
STX e - Select Edge Sensor................................................... 19
STX F - Form Feed ................................................................. 20
Table of Contents

Table of Contents
STX G - Print Last Label Format ............................................ 20
STX I - Input Image Data ........................................................ 20
STX i - Downloading Scalable Fonts ...................................... 20
STX K - Extended-System Commands .................................. 20
STX KE - Character Encoding ................................................ 20
STX k - Test RS-232 Port ....................................................... 20
STX L - Enter Label-Formatting Command ............................ 20
STX m - Set Printer To Metric................................................. 21
STX n - Set Printer to Imperial (Inches).................................. 21
STX o - Cycle Cutter............................................................... 21
STX Q - Clear All Modules...................................................... 21
STX q - Clear Module ............................................................. 21
STX r - Select Reflective Sensor ............................................ 21
STX S - Set Feed Rate ........................................................... 21
STX U - Label Format Field Replacement.............................. 21
STX V - Software Settings ...................................................... 22
STX v - Print Firmware Version Information ........................... 22
STX W - Request Memory Module Information ...................... 22
STX X - Set Default Module.................................................... 22
STX x - Delete File from Module............................................. 22
STX y - Select Font Symbol Set ............................................. 22
Label Formatting Command Functions ......................................... 22
: - Set Cut By Amount ............................................................. 22
+ (>) Make Last Field Entered Increment Numeric
(Alphanumeric) ....................................................................... 23
- (<) Make Last Field Entered Decrement Numeric
(Alphanumeric) ....................................................................... 23
^ Set Count by Amount........................................................... 23
A - Set Format Attribute .......................................................... 23
B - Barcode Magnification....................................................... 23
C - Set Column Offset Amount ............................................... 23
c - Set Cut By Amount ............................................................ 24
D - Set Dot Size Width and Height ......................................... 24
E - Terminate Label Formatting Mode and Print Label........... 24
F - Advanced Font Attributes .................................................. 24
FB +/- Turns Bolding on or off ............................................... 24
FI +/- Turns Italicizing on or off .............................................. 24
FU +/- Turns Underlining on or off ......................................... 24
FPn Points ............................................................................. 24
FSn Points ............................................................................. 24
G - Place Data in Global Register........................................... 24
H - Enter Heat Setting............................................................. 25

Table of Contents
m Set Metric Mode.................................................................. 25
n Set Inch Mode (Imperial) ..................................................... 25
P Set Print Speed ................................................................... 25
Q Set Quantity Of Labels To Print .......................................... 25
R Set Row Offset Amount....................................................... 25
r Recall Stored Label Format.................................................. 25
S Set Slew Rate...................................................................... 26
s Store Label Format In Module ............................................. 26
T Set Field Data Line Terminator............................................ 26
U Make Previous Field A String Replace Field....................... 26
X Terminate Label-Formatting Mode ...................................... 26
y Select Font Symbol Set ....................................................... 26
z Zero (Ø) Conversion to “0”................................................... 26
STX S Recall Global Data And Place In Field ........................ 27
STX T Print Time and Date..................................................... 27
Font Loading Command Functions ............................................... 27
ESC *c###D - Assign Font ID Number ................................... 27
ESC )s###W - Font Descriptor ............................................... 27
ESC *c###E - Character Code ............................................... 27
ESC (s#W - Character Download Data .................................. 27
Barcode Symbologies ................................................................... 27
3 Command Enhancements And Differences........ 29
SOH # - Reset ........................................................................ 29
SOH *- Reset .......................................................................... 29
SOH A - Send ASCII Status String ......................................... 29
SOH B - Toggle Pause ........................................................... 29
SOH C - Stop/Cancel.............................................................. 29
SOH D - SOH Shutdown ........................................................ 29
SOH E - Send Batch Quantity ................................................ 30
SOH F - Send Status Byte...................................................... 30
SOH U - Update System Database with Current Database ... 30
STX J - Set Pause for Each Label .......................................... 30
STX KC - Get Configuration ................................................... 30
STX Kc - Configuration Set..................................................... 30
STX Kd - Set File as Factory Default...................................... 30
STX KF - Select Factory Defaults........................................... 31
STX Kf - Set Present Distance ............................................... 31
STX Kp - Module Protection ................................................... 31
STX KQ - Query Memory Configuration ................................. 31
STX Kq - Query Memory Configuration (new format)............. 31
STX Kr - Resettable Counter Reset........................................ 31

Table of Contents
STX KV - Verifier Enable/Disable ........................................... 31
STX Kx - Delete Configuration File......................................... 31
STX Kb - Backfeed Time Delay .............................................. 32
STX K- - Top of Form, Offset Distance................................... 32
STX KD Database Configuration ............................................ 32
STX KI - GPIO Input ............................................................... 32
STX KM - Configure Internal Memory Module Size................ 32
STX KO - GPIO Output........................................................... 32
STX KR - Reset Memory Configuration.................................. 32
STX KS - Configure Scalable Font Cache Size...................... 32
STX KW - Configure Print Width Size..................................... 32
STX M - Set Maximum Label Length...................................... 32
STX O - Set Start of Print (SOP) Position............................... 32
STX P - Character (HEX) Dump Mode ................................... 33
STX p - Controlled Pause ....................................................... 33
STX R - Ribbon Saver On/Off................................................. 33
STX T - Printhead Dot Pattern Test Label .............................. 33
STX t - Test RAM Memory Module......................................... 33
STX w - Test Flash Memory Module ...................................... 33
STX Y - Output Sensor Values ............................................... 33
STX Z - Print Internal Information ........................................... 34
STX z - Pack Module .............................................................. 34
STX b - Set Cutter signal time ................................................ 34
STX C - Copy Module............................................................. 34
STX D - Memory Dump (Test Mode Only).............................. 34
STX d - Set Printer to double buffer mode.............................. 34
STX g - Internal Batch Software Mode ................................... 34
STX N - Enter Internal Batch .................................................. 34
STX s - Set Printer to single buffer mode ............................... 34
e - Recall Printer Configuration............................................... 34
f - Set Present Speed ............................................................. 35
M - Select Mirror Mode ........................................................... 35
p - Set Label Backup Speed ................................................... 35
W - Wait mode (Prodigy only)................................................. 35
Z - Zip Mode (Prodigy only) .................................................... 35
Print Area................................................................................ 35
Fonts....................................................................................... 36
Slash Zero .............................................................................. 38
Codepages ............................................................................. 39
Barcode Symbologies............................................................. 40
Images .................................................................................... 42
Graphics - Supported graphics objects:.................................. 42

Table of Contents
Flash / Ram Module compatibility........................................... 42
Bi-Directional Communications............................................... 43
Cutter Commands................................................................... 43
Emulations .............................................................................. 44
Printer Configuration............................................................... 44
Command Reference.............................................................. 44
A Configuration Setting Compatibility..................... 47
B Contact Information............................................. 57
Printronix Customer Support Center.................................................... 57
Printronix Supplies Department ........................................................... 57
Corporate Offices................................................................................. 58

Table of Contents

11
1Introduction
About This Manual
This manual explains the differences between the Printer Protocol Interpreter
Datamax Graphic Language (DGL) Utility and the Datamax®DPL™language.
Use this manual with your
SL5000r / T5000r or SL4M/T4M User’s Manual for
complete printer-protocol operation.
NOTE: When substituting a Datamax printer with an SL5000r/T5000r or
SL4M/T4M printer, refer to the DGL Menu Conversions on page 47.
Coax/Twinax Interface Requirements (T5000r Printer)
If you are using a coax or twinax interface, you must select the correct control
code in the DGL configuration menu. Refer to the
Coax/Twinax Programmer’s
Reference Manual
and your printer User’s Manual for instructions on how to
select the appropriate control code.

12
Chapter 1 DGL SETUP Menu
DGL SETUP Menu
Imperial* Metric
DGL SETUP
Active Yes* No
Control Codes
Feedback Chars
CC: <SOH>11* (0..255)
Units of Measure
French
Standard* Alternate
Enabled Disabled*
German
Italian
(Continued on next
page)
Default Module Flash
RAM*
PC-8 CP437*
Character Set Roman 8 Spanish Swedish
English Ascii Win3.0 Latin 1 Win3.1 Latin 1
Win3.1 Latin 2 Win3.1 Latin 5 Danish/Norweg. 8859-1 Latin 1
8859-2 Latin 2 8859-5 Latin 5
Euro Character 128* (0..255)
2* (0..255)
CC: <STX>1
CC: <ESC>127* (0..255)
CC: <CNT>194* (0..255)
CC: <CR>113* (0..255)
Legal Code Page 852 Code page 850
Alternate2 User-Defined
Notes:
* = Factory Default.
1
These menus are only present when ‘User Defined’ is
selected in the ‘Control Codes’ menu.
2For SL5000r/T5000r printers, these menus are only present
when ‘Admin User’ is set to ‘Enable’ in the ‘PRINTER
CONTROL’ menu.
3For SL4M/T4M printers, these menus are only present
when ‘Admin User’ is set to ‘Enable’ in the ‘PRINTER
SETUP’ menu.

DGL SETUP Submenu
13
DGL SETUP Submenu
Active
This setting determines if the DGL parser should process all incoming data or
pass all the data to the underlying emulation.
•Yes. DGL is active; processes all DPL commands.
•No. DGL is inactive; data is processed as pure text.
The default is Yes.
DGL SETUP
Con’t
Process*
Heat CMD (H)2Ignore
0* (-100 to 100 dots)
Row Offset 0 * (0-99.99 Inch
Column Offset 0* (0-99.99 inch
Format Attrib. XOR
* Transparent
Error Handling Off* Report
Opaque
Beep
Process*
Speed CMD (P,S)2Ignore
Process*
Cut CMD (o,:,c)2Ignore
Process*
Format Attr. (A)2Ignore
Process*
Length CMD (STXc)2Ignore
Process*
Soft. Switch (V)2Ignore
Process*
Sensor Cmd (e,r)2Ignore
Vert. DPI Adjust2
Notes:
* = Factory Default.
1
These menus are only present when ‘User Defined’ is
selected in the ‘Control Codes’ menu.
2For SL5000r/T5000r printers, these menus are only present
when ‘Admin User’ is set to ‘Enable’ in the ‘PRINTER
CONTROL’ menu.
3For SL4M/T4M printers, these menus are only present
when ‘Admin User’ is set to ‘Enable’ in the ‘PRINTER
SETUP’ menu.
Standard*
Compatibility2S-462

14
Chapter 1 DGL SETUP Menu
Character Set
Allows the operator to select the character set.
Euro Character
Allows the operator to select the position of the Euro character in the code
page.
Control Codes
Allows the operator to change the prefix of the software commands
interpreted by the printer.
When ‘User-Defined’ is selected, 5 additional sub-menus are inserted in the
menu tree. These sub-menus allow the user to set a value for each of the
control codes. The default ‘User-Defined’ values are shown in the table
above.
Feedback Chars
When enabled, the printer returns a Hex 1E [RS] after each label successfully
prints, and Hex 1F [US] after each batch of labels is printed.
For invalid characters, the printer responds with Hex 07 [BEL].
•Enabled. Feedback characters are sent to the host.
•Disabled. No feedback characters are sent.
The default is Disabled.
Default Module
Sets the default module used to store files when no module or default module
is specified in the command. (See Chapter 3 for further details.)
.
•RAM.
•Flash.
The default is RAM.
Units of Measure
Sets the printer to interpret measurements as Imperial or Metric values.
•Imperial.
•Metric.
The default is Imperial.
NOTE: <STX>n and <STX>m commands override this setting, and stay in
effect until the printer is take Offline and back Online.
SOH STX CR ESC ‘Count By’
Standard 0x01 0x02 0x0D 0x1B 0x5E
Alternate 0x5E 0x7E 0x0D 0x1B 0x40
Alternate 2 0x5E 0x7E 0x7C 0x1B 0x40
User-Defined 0x01 0x02 0x0D 0x1B 0x5E

DGL SETUP Submenu
15
Row Offset
Shifts the vertical start of the print position. This is the user setting for row
adjustment.
•0(0 to 99.99 Inch or 999.9 mm)
The default is 0.
NOTE: The Label Formatting command [R] only temporarily overrides this
setting; it reverts back to this setting after the current label format is
finished.
Column Offset
Shifts the horizontal, left-justified start of the print position to the right without
shifting the Label Width termination point to the right. This is the user setting
for row adjustment.
•0(0 to 99.99 Inch or 999.9 mm)
The default is 0.
NOTE: The Label Formatting command [C] only temporarily overrides this
setting; it reverts back to this setting after the current label format is
finished.
Format Attrib.
Affects the manner in which overlapping text and graphics are treated as the
label is printed.
•XOR. Intersecting text strings, images, and barcodes print on top of one
another.
•Transparent. Intersecting text strings, images, and bar codes will not be
printed. (An odd number of overlapping objects will print.)
•Opaque. Intersecting text strings, images, and barcodes are obliterated
by those formatted last. Each character cell is treated as opaque.
The default is XOR.
Error Handling
This setting defines how the emulation handles errors detected in the data
stream. For all selections, data processing will not be aborted when errors are
detected: labels will be printed as good as possible. Commands containing
errors will be ignored.
•Off. No signal to the user when errors are detected.
•Report. The printer will beep when one or more errors are detected, and
the first command that contains an error is shown on the printer’s LCD in
mnemonic form.
•Beep. The printer will beep once if one or more errors are detected.
The default is Off.

16
Chapter 1 DGL SETUP Menu
Vertical DPI Adjust
This option fine adjusts the resolution used to scale the page elements/
coordinates. In cases where the printed label length is incorrect, the vertical
resolution value DGL uses for calculations can be fine adjusted by this menu
between -100 and +100. Negative values result in a lower DPI value and thus
a longer label. Positive values result in a higher DPI value, and thus a shorter
label. Note that this adjustment does not affect the size of images and
downloaded bitmap fonts.
•0 (-100 to +100).
The default is 0.
Compatibility
This setting defines the emulation compatibility.
•Standard. Datamax I-Series and W-Series compatible.
•S-462. Avery S-462 compatible. The difference with standard is that
dimensions for barcodes and graphics lines are always in 1/100 inches,
independent of the selected Units of Measure (can be 1/100 inches or 1/
10 mm). The selected Units of Measure value is used for all other
parameters.
The default is Standard.
Command Ignore Menus
The Admin User menus allow ignoring of several configuration commands in
the host data. This allows using their corresponding front-panel settings,
without being overridden by host commands.
The default is to process all commands.
Length Cmd (STXc)
Allows the user to disable the Length Command.
Heat Cmd (H)
Allows the user to disable the Heat Command.
Speed CMD (P,S)
.Allows the user to disable the speed commands (Print, Feed, and Reverse).
Cut Cmd (o,:,c)
Allows the user to disable the commands affecting the cutter.
Soft Switch (V)
Allows the user to disable the ‘Software Switch Settings’ Command (this
command enables Cut or Tear-Off mode, or disables both by selecting
Continuous mode).

DGL SETUP Submenu
17
Sensor Cmd (e,r)
Allows the user to disable the commands that select the Gap / Mark sensor
(<STX>e and <STX>r).
Format Attr.(A)
Allow the user to disable the commands that select the Format Attribute.

18
Chapter 1 DGL SETUP Menu

19
2Fully Supported
Commands
System-Level Command Functions
STX A - Set Time and Date
This command sets the time and date. The initial setting of the date will be
stored in the printer’s internal memory. This date can be verified by printing a
configuration label.
STX a - Enable Feedback Characters
This command enables the feedback ASCII HEX characters 07, 1E, and 1F to
be returned from the printer following specific events.
STX B - Get Printer Time and Date Information
This command retrieves the time and date information from the printer and
transmits the response to a host device. See <STX>A for details and
restrictions.
STX c - Set Continuous Paper Length
This command is used to define the page (label) size when printing on
continuous media. It disables the media sensor top-of-form function but
continues to monitor paper-out conditions.
STX E - Set Quantity For Stored Label
This command sets the number of labels to print for the label format currently
stored in the print buffer. (The printer automatically stores the most recent
label format in the buffer until the printer is reset or turned ‘Off’.) To print, this
command is used in conjunction with the <STX>G command.
STX e - Select Edge Sensor
This command enables “see-through” sensing for top-of-form detection of die-
cut and notched media. The printer’s transmissive media sensor will detect a
minimum gap of 0.05 inches (1.27mm) between labels. Label stock must be
at least 0.1 inches (2.5mm) between each top-of-form (start of print point on
the next label).

20
Chapter 2
STX F - Form Feed
This commands the printer to form feed one label.
STX G - Print Last Label Format
This command prints a previously formatted label and restarts a canceled
batch job after the last processed label. This is used when there is a label
format in the print buffer. The <STX>E command is used to enter the quantity.
STX I - Input Image Data
This command must precede image data downloading from a host computer
to the printer. The data that immediately follows the command string will be
image data.
STX i - Downloading Scalable Fonts
The command structure for downloading TrueType (.TTF) scalable fonts
follows, (font files must be single character systems).
STX K - Extended-System Commands
This expands the System-Level Commands. See the Extended-System
Commands for more information.
STX KE - Character Encoding
This command specifies a character in the DPL datastream to be substituted
with a delimited two-character ASCII hexadecimal numeric equivalent.
Any character in the DPL datastream may be substituted with a delimited two-
character ASCII hexadecimal numeric equivalent. The command allows the
delimiting character to be selected, and the encoding to be enabled or
disabled. When character encoding is enabled, the printer will decode any
ASCII hexadecimal numeric pairs following the delimiter as single byte
values. This command is used where control characters cannot be
transmitted or where control characters within data may prematurely
terminate a label format record. Although the delimiter may be changed at any
time (except within a label format definition) there cannot be more than one
defined delimiter, and character encoding must be disabled with <STX>KN
prior to re-enabling, regardless of any change in the delimiter.
STX k - Test RS-232 Port
This command instructs the printer to transmit the character Y from the
printer’s RS-232 port. (Failure to receive Y could indicate an interfacing
problem.)
STX L - Enter Label-Formatting Command
This command switches the printer to the Label-Formatting command input
mode. Once in this mode, the printer expects to receive Record Structures
and Label-Formatting commands. Status and Control, System-Level, and
Font-Loading commands will be ignored until the label formatting mode is