Communicating With The Printer; Connecting The Printer To Your System - Intermec EasyCoder 3400 Getting Started Manual

Communicating With the Printer

You are now ready to print labels by downloading data from the host to your printer. Downloading
is the universal term used to describe the transfer of information from the host to any connected
peripheral device, such as your printer. When you transfer data from your printer to the host, you
are performing a process called uploading.
You can use several methods to download information in your data collection system. The next
sections describe different ways to communicate with the printer.
Using the PrintSet Software
Use PrintSet to quickly and easily configure the printer. You can upload the current configuration
settings, modify them, and then download them to your printer. Other features of PrintSet include
the ability to:
• download graphics and fonts (including TrueType).
• print test labels.
• allocate memory.
• download configuration files.
For help using PrintSet, refer to the online help portion of the application software.
Using Third-Party Software
You can use third-party software to set many of the printer parameters. You can configure the
parameters that your software does not set by using the IPL command set or the printer's
DIP switches.
Use your third-party software to create label formats and convert graphics into a user-defined
character (UDC) format that your printer can interpret. Refer to your third-party documentation,
for more information.
Using the Intermec Printer Language (IPL) Command Set
You can also create labels by downloading formats (designs) and data you create with the printer
command set. For help, see the IPL Programming Reference Manual available on the Internet at
www.intermec.com. You can use the printer command set to perform any function or activate any
feature of your printer except for those features or functions that are set with the DIP switches.
16

Connecting the Printer to Your System

You can connect your printer to a PC, a local area network, an AS/400 (or other midrange
system), or a mainframe. Use this section to connect the printer to your system.
Connecting the Printer to a PC
You can connect your printer to either a serial port or a parallel port (if you have the parallel option
installed) on your PC. You must provide the correct cables to connect the printer. Contact your
Intermec representative for ordering assistance if you do not have the appropriate cables.
Use the following table to determine the correct Intermec cable for your application. Cable
schematics for the PC serial cables appear on the next page.
For Connecting To
PC serial port
25F-25M, null modem, 9-wire
9F-25M, null modem, 7-wire
PC parallel port
Parallel port cable
1
O
3440G.042
Turn the On/Off switch to the off (O) position.
Note: If you are connecting the printer to a serial port on your PC, you may need to change the serial port
configuration of your PC to match the printer. See "Configuring the Serial Port for Communications" later in
this guide for the default printer configuration settings.
Use Intermec Cable
048668
048693
051211
2
O
3440G.025
Plug the 25-pin connector into the serial (A) or parallel
(B) communications port on the rear of the printer.
Plug the other end of the cable into a serial (COM port)
or parallel port on your PC.
9