SATO CL4NX RIDF User manual

About This Manual

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Table of Contents
About This Manual..................................................................................................... 3
Legal Information....................................................................................................... 5
Copyrights...........................................................................................................................................5
Limitation of Liability...........................................................................................................................5
Trademarks......................................................................................................................................... 5
Introduction.................................................................................................................6
Overview............................................................................................................................................. 6
Features..............................................................................................................................................7
Getting Started........................................................................................................... 8
Installation...........................................................................................................................................8
License Activation...............................................................................................................................9
Initial Printer Settings....................................................................................................................... 12
Sending PDF Data to Printer........................................................................................................... 15
Various Printout Settings........................................................................................ 16
Rotating the Page Orientation..........................................................................................................16
Resizing the Image to Fit the Page.................................................................................................19
Specifying the Number of Media Printed Before Cut.......................................................................22
Adjusting the Print Image Position...................................................................................................25
PDF Direct Print Menu.............................................................................................26
The [DIRECT PRINT] Menu.............................................................................................................27
[Enable]........................................................................................................................................27
[Rotation]......................................................................................................................................28
[Fit page sizing]........................................................................................................................... 29
[Cut number unit].........................................................................................................................30
[PDF License].............................................................................................................................. 31
[License Type]........................................................................................................................ 31
[Product]................................................................................................................................. 32
[Activation Status]...................................................................................................................32
[Activation Key].......................................................................................................................32
[DEACTIVATE]........................................................................................................................33
Maintenance Support............................................................................................... 34
Contact Information for When You Are in Trouble............................................... 35
Frequently Asked Questions.................................................................................. 36

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About This Manual
Thank you for using the SATO PDF Direct Print.
This document is intended for users who want to know how to configure SATO printers with PDF
Direct Print function or system integrators who want to develop a solution that can send PDF data from
their system and directly print the PDF data without graphics conversion on SATO printers with PDF
Direct Print function.
This document describes only the information and instructions related to PDF Direct Print. For more
details on other printer operations and settings, please refer to each printer's operator manual.
Click the link below for the CL4NX/CL6NX operator manual.
http://www.manual.sato-global.com/printer/cl4nx_cl6nx/main/index.html
Click the link below for the CL4NX Plus operator manual.
http://www.manual.sato-global.com/printer/clnxplus/main/index.html

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Symbols
This document uses the following symbols:
Item Description
Warning
The Warning symbol indicates that you can cause death or serious injury
if you do not follow the instructions or procedures.
Caution
The Caution symbol indicates that you can cause injury or property
damage if you do not follow the instructions or procedures.
Note
The Note symbol indicates useful and supplemental information that you
should know.
Reference
The Reference symbol indicates the link of relevant information.
• Reproduction in any manner of all or part of this document is prohibited.
• The contents of this document may be changed without prior notice.
• Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document, but if any problems,
mistakes, or omission are found, please contact your SATO reseller or technical
support center.
• This manual uses the build version 1.11.3-u327_r18 firmware in its descriptions.

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Legal Information
Copyrights
Any unauthorized reproduction of the contents of this document, in part or whole, is strictly prohibited.
© 2020 SATO Corporation. All rights reserved.
Limitation of Liability
SATO Corporation and its subsidiaries in Japan, the U.S. and other countries make no representations
or warranties of any kind regarding this material, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. SATO Corporation shall not be held responsible
for errors contained herein or any omissions from this material or for any damages, whether direct,
indirect, incidental or consequential, in connection with the furnishing, distribution, performance or use
of this material.
Specifications and contents in this document are subject to change without notice.
Trademarks
• SATO is a registered trademark of SATO Holdings Corporation and its subsidiaries in Japan, the
U.S. and other countries.
• SAP is the trademark or registered trademark of SAP SE or its affiliates in Germany and in
several other countries.
• Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle and its affiliates.
• Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other
countries.
• Android is a trademark of Google LLC.
• Mac OS is a registered trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
• IOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries and is used
under license.
• Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States and other countries.
• All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Introduction
Overview
This document is intended for users who want to know how to configure SATO printers with PDF
Direct Print function or system integrators who want to develop a solution that can send PDF data from
their system and directly print the PDF data without graphics conversion on SATO printers with PDF
Direct Print function.
About PDF Direct Print
PDF data becomes a standard document format for most of the ERP system, OS and PC applications,
etc. However, when printing PDF data on most of the barcode printer, it requires a printer driver or
custom software that converts PDF to graphic for printing.
SATO PDF Direct Print is the solution implemented as a special firmware installed on the printer. It
allows users to print PDF files directly to the SATO printers without using any printer driver, utilities,
middleware or application installed to the system.
It provides a cost-effective, secure, simple and reliable direct printing solution.
Supported Printers and Interfaces
The supported printer models of this function are CL4NX, CL6NX, CL4NX Plus and CT4-LX.
Users can send PDF data via any available interface of the supported printers, such as LAN, WLAN,
USB, etc.

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Features
The SATO PDF Direct Print functions include:
• Printing PDF data without external conversion
• Multilingual fonts support
• Embedded font support
• Image rotation support
• Optional cutter support
• Various interfaces support
• AEP support in building API for intelligent printing

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Getting Started
Installation
There is no need for users to perform the firmware installation as the printer comes with the special
firmware installed after purchasing the PDF Direct Print.
In the event of printer replacement, SATO technical support personnel will install the firmware and
enable the PDF Direct Print function on the new printer.
• Installation of PDF direct print firmware should be performed by SATO technical
support personnel.

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License Activation
The PDF Direct Print license is initially activated on the printer if the user has already purchased the
license. A license activation key is required to perform the activation.
If the license is not activated, the PDF Direct Print will be running on Demo mode.
• The license activation should be performed by SATO technical support personnel.
The license activation procedure intended for SATO technical support personnel is as follows:
1. When the printer is in Online mode, press the button to change to Offline
mode.
2. Press the button to show the [Settings] menu.
3. Press the / button to select [Applications] and then press the button.

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4. Press the / button to select [DIRECT PRINT] and then press the
button.
5. Press the / button to select [PDF License] and then press the
button.
6. Press the / button to select [Activation Key] and then press the
button.

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7. Enter the license activation key.
The activation key is an 8-digit number issued by the license management server.
8. Press the button to select to save the entered activation key.
The [Activation Status] will show [Activated] if the key matches.
• [License Type], [Product] and [Activation Status] are read-only.
• The initial [License Type] is [Demo] and the [Activation Status] shows [Not Activated].
• The [Activation Status] will show [Key Error] if the license key does not match.

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Initial Printer Settings
To print the PDF data properly, you need to perform the following initial printer settings:
1. Make sure that the PDF direct print mode is enabled.
Once the PDF Direct Print firmware is installed on the printer, the direct print mode is enabled by
default.
The DP (Direct Print) status icon is shown on the status bar at the top of the display.
If the DP status icon is not shown, you can enable the direct print mode in the [Settings] >
[Applications] > [DIRECT PRINT] menu. Select [Enable] to show the [Enable] menu and select
[Enabled].

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2. Set the print language to SBPL.
PDF Direct Print works only on SBPL (SATO Barcode Printer Language) protocol. You need to set
the printer language to SBPL in the [Settings] > [Applications] > [Protocol] menu.
• Do not set the [Protocol] to [AUTO].
3. Set the media size.
Set the length and width of the media in the [Settings] > [Printing] > [Label Length] and the
[Settings] > [Printing] > [Label Width] menus.
• The Auto Measure function is not recommended to be used for PDF direct print.
Disable the [Auto Measure] and set the [Label Length] and [Label Width] of the media
accordingly.

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4. Set other printer settings to match the media.
Set the following printer settings based on the media used.
◦ [Settings] > [Printing] > [Printing Mode]
◦ [Settings] > [Printing] > [Speed]
◦ [Settings] > [Printing] > [Sensor Type]
◦ [Settings] > [Printing] > [Darkness]
• Please refer to the CL4NX/CL6NX operator manual or CL4NX Plus operator manual
for more detailed information.
Click the link below for the CL4NX/CL6NX operator manual.
http://www.manual.sato-global.com/printer/cl4nx_cl6nx/main/index.html
Click the link below for the CL4NX Plus operator manual.
http://www.manual.sato-global.com/printer/clnxplus/main/index.html

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Sending PDF Data to Printer
You need to set up the connection between your source (i.e. core IT system, PC application, mobile
device, cloud, etc.) and the printer via the supported connectivity. The available interfaces (LAN,
WLAN, USB, RS-232C, IEEE 1284 and others) are depending on the printer.
Supported Print Data
• The Direct Print function enables you to print documents and graphic data without using printer
commands such as SBPL commands. The supported document format is PDF.
• Make sure that the font data is embedded in the PDF file. Otherwise, the data might not be
printed correctly due to the printer will substitute the original font with its internal font.
• Do not use outlined PDF data as this will result in larger file size. Recommended using PDF data
(ISO 32000-1) that is not outlined.
• The maximum available file size that can be sent depends on the printer's memory. The
recommended PDF file size is less than 50 MB.

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Various Printout Settings
Rotating the Page Orientation
You can specify the rotating angle of the page orientation for PDF direct printing.
The setting procedure for rotating the page orientation is as follows:
1. When the printer is in Online mode, press the button to change to Offline
mode.
2. Press the button to show the [Settings] menu.
3. Press the / button to select [Applications] and then press the button.

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4. Press the / button to select [DIRECT PRINT] and then press the
button.
5. Press the / button to select [Rotation] and then press the button.
6. Press the / button to select the rotating angle of the page orientation.
The options are as follow:

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[0 degree]
Prints the page without rotation.
[90 degree]
Rotates the page orientation in 90 degrees clockwise.
[180 degree]
Rotates the page orientation in 180 degrees.
[270 degree]
Rotates the page orientation in 270 degrees clockwise.
7. Press the button or button to save the setting.
8. Press the button to change to Offline mode.
9. Press the button again to change to Online mode.
You can print to check the page orientation.
• The initial setting of [Rotation] is 0 degree.

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Resizing the Image to Fit the Page
By enabling the [Fit page sizing] function, the printer automatically rotates, enlarge or reduce the print
image to best fit the label page size.
This function is convenient for correcting the cropped print out if the print image is too big for the label
size, or removing the whitespace if the print image is too small for the label size.
To enable this function, perform the following procedure.
1. When the printer is in Online mode, press the button to change to Offline
mode.
2. Press the button to show the [Settings] menu.

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3. Press the / button to select [Applications] and then press the button.
4. Press the / button to select [DIRECT PRINT] and then press the
button.
5. Press the / button to select [Fit page sizing] and then press the
button.
The [Fit page sizing] screen appears.