Intermec EasyCoder 501XP Programmer's Reference Manual page 8

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 fi elds with fi xed 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 fl exible 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 fl ex-
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 fi rmware 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).
2 Intermec Direct Protocol v7.80 Programmer's Reference Manual