Summary of Contents for Datamax DGL
- Page 1 Printer Protocol Interpreter (PPI) DGL™ Programmer’s Reference Manual for DGL, ® ™ a Datamax Printer Protocol Interpreter Thermal Series Printers...
- Page 3 Printer Protocol Interpreter (PPI) DGL Programmer’s Reference Manual for DGL, a Datamax DPL Printer Protocol Interpreter Thermal Series Printers...
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Page 4: Trademark Acknowledgments
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. -
Page 5: Table Of Contents
STX A - Set Time and Date ... 17 STX a - Enable Feedback Characters ... 17 STX B - Get Printer Time and Date Information ... 17 STX c - Set Continuous Paper Length... 17 STX E - Set Quantity For Stored Label... 17 STX e - Select Edge Sensor... - Page 6 STX k - Test RS-232 Port ... 18 STX L - Enter Label-Formatting Command ... 18 STX m - Set Printer To Metric... 19 STX n - Set Printer to Imperial (Inches)... 19 STX o - Cycle Cutter... 19 STX Q - Clear All Modules... 19 STX q - Clear Module ...
- Page 7 n Set Inch Mode (Imperial) ... 23 P Set Print Speed ... 23 Q Set Quantity Of Labels To Print ... 23 R Set Row Offset Amount... 23 r Recall Stored Label Format... 23 S Set Slew Rate... 24 s Store Label Format In Module ... 24 T Set Field Data Line Terminator...
- Page 8 STX g - Internal Batch Software Mode ... 32 STX N - Enter Internal Batch ... 32 STX s - Set Printer to single buffer mode ... 32 e - Recall Printer Configuration... 32 f - Set Present Speed ... 33 M - Select Mirror Mode ...
- Page 9 Bi-Directional Communications... 41 Cutter Commands... 41 Emulations ... 42 Printer Configuration... 42 Command Reference... 42 A Configuration Setting Compatibility... 45 B Contact Information... 53 Printronix Customer Support Center... 53 Printronix Supplies Department ... 53 Corporate Offices... 54...
- Page 10 Table of Contents...
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Page 11: Introduction
Coax/Twinax Interface Requirements 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... -
Page 12: Ppi/Dgl Setup Menu
Chapter PPI/DGL SETUP Menu PPI/DGL SETUP Menu PPI/DGL SETUP Active Yes* Character Set PC-8 CP437* English Win3.1 Latin 2 8859-2 Latin 2 Italian Euro Character 128* (0..255) Control Codes Standard* CC: <SOH> 1* (0..255) CC: <STX> 2* (0..255) CC: <CR>... -
Page 13: Ppi/Dgl Setup Submenu
Process* Format Attr. (A) Process* PPI/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. •... -
Page 14: Euro Character
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]. -
Page 15: Row Offset
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. •... -
Page 16: 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. -
Page 17: Fully Supported Commands
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. -
Page 18: Stx F - Form Feed
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... -
Page 19: Stx M - Set Printer To Metric
The Commands to activate the Cutter (System Level Command <STX>o, and Label Formatting Commands ‘c’ and ‘:’) are only processed when the Media Handling menu is set to ‘Cut’, and the DGL Advanced-User Menu ‘Cut Cmds’ is set to ‘Process’. -
Page 20: Stx V - Software Settings
‘Tear-Off’. Disabling the Cutter or Present bit selects the Factory- Default media handling setting: ‘Continuous’ Media Handling. The <STX>V command can be ignored by setting the DGL Advanced-User menu ‘Soft. Switch (V)’ to Ignore. STX v - Print Firmware Version Information This command causes the printer to respond by sending a version string. -
Page 21: Set Count By Amount
- (<) Make Last Field Entered Decrement Numeric (Alphanumeric) The printer is capable of counting down fields on labels in a batch. This command is useful when printing labels need to be numbered in reverse sequence. The data in the field will decrement by the value after the minus sign with every label printed. -
Page 22: D - Set Dot Size Width And Height
When the printer is processing Label-Formatting Commands and receives an ‘E’ command, it will immediately print a label based upon the data received at that point. Even if no printable data has been received, the printer will generate and feed a label (other termination commands are ‘X’ and ‘s’). -
Page 23: H - Enter Heat Setting
Set Metric Mode This command sets the printer to measure in metric. When this command is sent, all measurements will be interpreted as metric values, (e.g., a column offset of 0010 will be interpreted as 1.0mm). All printers default to Imperial (inch) mode. -
Page 24: Set Slew Rate
This command sets the rate for the printer to feed non-printed areas of the label through the printer. The slew rate remains unchanged unless another slew rate command is sent, the printer is reset or a new rate is set via the menu. -
Page 25: Stx S Recall Global Data And Place In Field
Time and date string data is selected by choosing the string character A through Z and a through h to retrieve data from the printer’s internal clock. The date string characters are not printed, instead the printed label will show the corresponding print values. - Page 26 Chapter : EAN-13 : EAN-8 : Health Industry Barcode (HBIC) (Code 39 barcode with a modulo 43 checksum) : Codabar : Interleaved 2 of 5 with a modulo 10 checksum : Plessey (See Partially Supported Commands) : Interleaved 2 of 5 with a modulo 10 checksum and shipping bearer bars : 2-digit UPC addendum : 5-digit UPC addendum : Code 93...
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Page 27: Soh *- Reset
SOH A - Send ASCII Status String This command allows the host computer to check the current printer status. The printer returns a string of eight characters to the host, followed by a carriage return. Each character is either a ‘Y’ or ‘N’ indicating that the associated condition is true (Y) or false (N). -
Page 28: Soh E - Send Batch Quantity
(1 or 0) represents one of the printer’s status flags, followed by a carriage return, see table below. If an option is unavailable for the printer, the single bit will always be 0. A satisfied condition equals 1. (Not supported.) SOH U - Update System Database with Current Database This command will copy the current User database into the system database. -
Page 29: Stx Kf - Select Factory Defaults
This command controls memory module protection. When “protected”, a module will ignore format, downloads and delete commands. This command can be useful to add data to Datamax reserved modules, Z (ILPC) and Y (EFIGS). (Not supported.) STX KQ - Query Memory Configuration This command causes the printer to transmit its internal DRAM memory configuration to the host device. -
Page 30: Stx Kb - Backfeed Time Delay
(Obsolete Extended System Command.) STX M - Set Maximum Label Length This command instructs the printer to travel this distance in search of top-of- form (label edge, notch, black mark, etc.) before declaring a paper out fault. The fault condition can occur if this value is set too close to the physical length of the label (within 0.1inch/2.54mm). -
Page 31: Stx P - Character (Hex) Dump Mode
STX T - Printhead Dot Pattern Test Label This command instructs the printer to print a dot pattern test label. To view all dots, the labels must be at least four inches (102mm) long and as wide as the maximum print width. -
Page 32: Stx Z - Print Internal Information
Chapter received, the printer will respond with the internal A-D sensor values, see table below. To repeat the display of values, send the printer a ‘SPACE’ (20 hexadecimal). Send <ESC> to terminate the function. (Not supported.) STX Z - Print Internal Information This command prints the configuration. -
Page 33: F - Set Present Speed
WIDTH’. According to the manual, objects extending beyond the page width will not print. However, this does not seem to have any effect on the I-42xx: the full width can always be used. On DGL, objects draw beyond the adjusted page width will not print. -
Page 34: Fonts
Chapter Fonts See the tables below for the different types of fonts that will be available. All Single-Byte fonts will be supported, and will be available in DGL by default. Double-Byte support has not been planned. - Page 35 Internal Bitmapped Non-Proportional fonts: Type DPI Height Width Spacing Point Size 96-character alphanumeric font, uppercase and lowercase. 203 7 300 10 145-character uppercase and lowercase alphanumeric font that includes desenders and ascenders. 203 13 300 19 138-character alphanumeric upper and lowercase font. 203 18 300 27 62-character alphanumeric uppercase font.
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Page 36: Slash Zero
Chapter ISmooth, Scalable and Downloaded fonts: Size field (eee) A04 – A72 000 - 010 100 - 999 S50 - S5z... S90 - S9z U50 -U5z... U90 -U9z u50 -u5z... u90 -u9z Font ID 9 uses the Size field ( eee ) in the Record Format to select the Smooth, Scalable, or Downloaded fonts. -
Page 37: Codepages
<STX>ySxx , and the Label Formatting Command ySxx , where xx is a two letter CP Identifier. Note that on Datamax, not all fonts have an entire compliment of character codes for a given code page. The default codepage is (PT) PC-8 TK, Code Page 437T. -
Page 38: Barcode Symbologies
Advanced Format Attributes can be used to manipulate the font / string attributes. They can even affect partial strings by embedding them in the text data stream. NOTE: DGL will not support these commands when embedded in a text- string (only when they appear as separate commands). Dot Size Label formatting command ‘Dwh’... - Page 39 19 databytes are provided with another AI. DGL does not; the amount of data required is based only on the provided AI. Barcodes Q, R, S and W1R all print the same UCC barcode on DGL (except for differences in PDF placement); required lengths only depend on the provided AI.
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Page 40: Images
Chapter Images Images can be downloaded to the printer to be stored in Flash or DRAM in the following formats using the <STX>I Command. Image Formats: 7-bit Datamax image load file .BMP 8-bit format (image will be flipped) black & white .BMP 8-bit format (save image as received) black &... -
Page 41: Bi-Directional Communications
Module Protection DGL will emulate 2 different Modules: Ram and Flash. Datamax has several Flash and Ram modules, but DGL will map all Flash modules to the same PTX Flash File System, and all Ram Modules to the global Memory Pool. -
Page 42: Emulations
Setting command <STX>V. Enabling the Cutter bit selects ‘Cut’ Media Handling, and the Present bit selects ‘Tear-Off’. Disabling cutter or present bit selects media handling setting ‘Continuous’. The <STX>V command can be ignored by setting the DGL Advanced-User menu ‘Soft. Switch (V)’ to Ignore. Emulations Datamax allows emulation of legacy and other resolution printers through menu settings (Plus, Allegro, Column and SOP emulations). - Page 43 Degrees Label Length: When Datamax receives a label that exceeds the configured physical page-length, it will still print the whole job by spanning it across multiple physical pages. DGL will clip the job at the configured physical page-length. Workaround ·<SOH>U Update System Database with Current Database <STX>KC Get Configuration...
- Page 44 (for <STX>J ), or disable pause mode again (for <STX>p ). Partially Supported Commands <STX>t Test DRAM Memory Module <STX>w Test FLASH Module This command tests the DRAM / Flash, and reports back to the host. DGL always reports ‘OK’ status.
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Page 45: A Configuration Setting Compatibility
Configuration Setting Compatibility The tables below list the Datamax configuration setting along with a description of its behaviour on Datamax printers, and the corresponding Printronix menu setting. Table 1. Media Settings menu Datamax Setting MEDIA TYPE Selects the printing method. - Page 46 Intensity -3* (-15 to 15) Controls the rate of label movement during the printing process. *6 (2-12 ips) MEDIA-CONTROL Speed Automatic*, Manual 6 ips* (1-10 ips) PPI/DGL Setup Offset *00.00in (0-99.99) PPI/DGL Setup Offset *00.00in (0-99.99) → Label → Print →...
- Page 47 Datamax Setting CUSTOM ADJUSTMENTS For finetuning the following settings: DARKNESS XX (1-64) PRESENT ADJUST XXX DOTS (0-128) ROW ADJUST XXX DOTS (- 100 to100) COLUMN ADJUST XXX DOTS (0-128) Table 3. Printer Options Menu Datamax Setting MODULES Memory available for user storage of graphics, fonts and label formats.
- Page 48 VALIDATOR menu GPIO CONTROL menu and GPIO Manager Description PTX Setting CONFIG CONTROL Config CONFIG CONTROL Config CONFIG CONTROL Delete Config CONFIG CONTROL Power-Up Config PPI/DGL SETUP Module *RAM, Flash → Media → Load → Save → → → Default...
- Page 49 Description PTX Setting PRINTER CONTROL Cache Memory 900 KBytes* (50 to 900 KBytes*) PPI/DGL SETUP Character Set *PC-8 CP 437 DATE Menu (only available if the real time clock option is installed.) DIAGNOSTICS Dist DIAGNOSTICS...
- Page 50 METRIC, *IMPERIAL INPUT MODE Defines the type of printer language. *DPL, LINE PLUS EMULATION Provides compatibility with ALLEGRO EMULATION legacy Datamax emulations. DPI EMULATION COLUMN EMULATION SOP EMULATION Description PTX Setting PPI/DGL SETUP Attrib TRANSPARENT, *XOR, OPAQUE...
- Page 51 Table 4. System Settings Menu Datamax Setting BACK AFTER PRINT When the present distance is set with the cutter, present sensor or GPIO option enabled, this setting determines the timing of the label back up. ENABLED, *DISABLED MENU LANGUAGE Selects the language in which...
- Page 52 Quick Test Mode. *000 (0-120) SENSOR READINGS Analog Sensor readings are RIBBON SENSOR LIMITS displayed. Description PTX Setting PPI/DGL SETUP Codes *Standard, Alternate1, Alternate2, User-defined PPI/DGL SETUP Feedback Chars Enable, *Disable PPI/DGL SETUP Cmd, Speed Cmd...
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Page 53: B Contact Information
See “Printing A Configuration” in the Quick Setup Guide . Line Matrix Printer Press PRT CONFIG on the control panel, then press Enter. • Is the problem with a new install or an existing printer? • Description of the problem (be specific) •... -
Page 54: Corporate Offices
Appendix B Corporate Offices Corporate Offices Printronix, Inc. 14600 Myford Road P.O. Box 19559 Irvine, CA 92623-9559 Phone: (714) 368-2300 Fax: (714) 368-2600 Printronix, Inc. Nederland BV P.O. Box 163, Nieuweweg 283 NL-6600 Ad Wijchen The Netherlands Phone: (31) 24 6489489 Fax: (31) 24 6489499 Printronix Schweiz GmbH 42 Changi South Street 1... - Page 56 *250103-001* 250103-001B...