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Interface manual - English Thermal transfer printer Pica series 79.28.065 • April 2009 Technical modifications are subject to change without prior notice. Carl Valentin GmbH • Neckarstraße 78 – 80 & 94 • 78056 Villingen-Schwenningen support@valentin-carl.de • www.valentin-carl.de...
Interface manual SERIAL DATA TRANSMISSION XON / XOFF - Protocol The XON / XOFF protocol is used in "memory"-mode. The XON-code (HEX 11) indicates that the printer is ready to receive data. When XOFF-code (HEX 13) is shown the transmission of data has to be interrupted.
Interface manual PARALLEL DATA TRANSMISSION parallel Interface Interface: synchronising with STROBE - signal handshake with BUSY - signal all signals are TTL - compatible AMPHENOL - plug 57-30360 Connection: PIN 1 In regular condition, this signal is in "HIGH" position. With decreasing amplitude the data acceptation is completed from DATA 1 .
Interface manual Connection AMP 36 (Centronic's socket) Signal Signal name Direction Function Pin-No. (input) STROBE STROBE signal indicates that data can be received. The impulse width to the receiving line has to be 0,5 µs at least. DATA 0 (input) The signals are data bits sent to the printer.
Interface manual ROTATION OF TEXT, CODE AND GRAPHIC DATUMPOINT The so-called datumpoint is the relation point for indication of position. In the meantime the datumpoint is also the point at which the selected object is rotated. To determie the datumpoint in the mask sets, the possible datumpoints are numbered from left top (1) to right bottom (9).
Interface manual DATA FORMAT The format of data consists of 4 parts, the mask part, the text, the code (if necessary) and the command part. For a n-line label the following has to be transmitted: mask sets text sets graphic sets (if necessary) command set The command set always has to be transmitted at the end! To each text on a label belongs one MASK SET and one TEXT SET with the same field number.
Interface manual Explanations x coordinate: distance from right label rim in mm is measured from the right label rim up to the lower left point of the corresponding line y coordinate: distance from upper label rim in mm is measured from the beginning of the label down to the lower left point of the corresponding line Bitmap fonts bitmap fonts - not proportional (Matrix –...
Interface manual Definition of field attributes/field properties (optional) Additionally to mask set 'AM[ ] ...' the possibility was created to define further field Explanation: properties. In order to achieve a high flexibility, the field properties received own names/identifications. Therefore the sequence as well as the number of field properties are free.
Interface manual Field names Application (customized) The label is created with Labelstar PLUS. Label data are saved on memory card of printer. An external control (SPS, balance, ERP system, etc.) modifies variable fields of the label (e.g. weight, article no., batch no., etc.) and starts the print of label. Explanation So far the fields were designated by numbers (1, 2, 3, ...) which were determined by the order of creation in Labelstar PLUS.
Interface manual Field selection by free definable field number With the following described attribute it is possible to assign a free definable field number to a field. This field number does not have to be clear, i.e. several fields can have the same field number. In this way the same field contents can be assigned to different fields.
Interface manual Foreground and background For following objects/fields the foreground and background can be specified explicitely: • • Bitmap text (only foreground) Post Identcode (only foreground) • • TrueDoc text (only foreground) ITF 14 (only foreground) • • Graphic from memory card (only foreground) Code 39 (only foreground) •...
Interface manual MASK SET Text AM[n]y;x;p;a;d;z;dy;dx;lp;dp identification for mask set identification for protocol version field number Y coordinate in 1/100 mm X coordinate in 1/100 mm identification for phantom field 0 = print 1 = no print identification for field type Bitmap font Bitmap font inverse Vector font proportional...
Interface manual Standard code AM[n]y;x;p;a;d;h;v1;v2;pz;z;dp identification for mask set identification for protocol version field number Y position in 1/100 mm X position in 1/100 mm identification for phantom field 0 = print 1 = no print identification for field type 30 = Code 39 31 = Code 2/5 interleaved 32 = EAN 8...
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Interface manual ITF Code AM[n]y;x;p;a;d;h;v1;v2;pz;z;dp identification for mask set identification for protocol version field number Y position in 1/100 mm X position in 1/100 mm identification for phantom field 0 = print - 1 = no print identification for field type 31 = Code 2/5 interleaved rotation 0°...
Interface manual 2D bar codes PDF417 AM[n]y;x;p:a;d;s;sw;ah;ec;z;dp identification for mask set identification for protocol version field number Y position in 1/100 mm X position in 1/100 mm identification for phantom field 0 = print 1 = no print identification for field type 50 = PDF417 rotation 0 = 270°...
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Interface manual MAXICODE AM[n]y;x;p;a;d;0;sn;ns;m;0;dp identification for mask set identification for protocol version field number Y position in 1/100 mm X position in 1/100 mm identification for phantom field 0 = print 1 = no print identification for field type 51 = MAXICODE rotation 0 = 270°...
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Interface manual DataMatrix AM[n]y;x;p;a;d;s;aw;ah;ec;f;dp identification for mask set identification for phantom field field number Y position in 1/100 mm X position in 1/100 mm identification for phantom field 0 = print; 1 = no print identification for field type 52 = DataMatrix rotation 0 = 270°...
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Interface manual CODABLOCK F AM[n]y;x;p;a;d;h;nc;nl;m;s;dp identification for mask set identification for protocol version field number Y position in 1/100 mm X position in 1/100 mm identification for phantom field 0 = print 1 = no print identification for field type 53 = CODABLOCK F rotation 0 = 270°...
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Interface manual GS1 DataBar (RSS) AM[n]y;x;p;a;d;s;m;k;t;0;dp identification for mask set identification for protocol version field number Y position in 1/100 mm X position in 1/100 mm identification for phantom field 0 = print 1 = no print identification for field type 54 = GS1 DataBar (RSS) rotation 0 = 270°...
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Interface manual QR Code AM[n]y;x;p;a;d;mo;cs;ms;cw;ec;dp identification for mask set identification for protocol version field number Y position in 1/100 mm X position in 1/100 mm identification for phantom field 0 = print 1 = no print identification for field type 57 = QR Code rotation 0 = 270°...
Interface manual Rectangle AM[n]y;x;p;a;h;b;s;m;dp identification for mask set identification for protocol number field number Y position in 1/100 mm X position in 1/100 mm identification for phantom field 0 = print 1 = no print identification for field type 10 = rectangle height of rectangle in 1/100 mm width of rectangle in 1/100 mm line width in 1/100 mm...
Interface manual Internal graphic AM[n]y;x;p;a;d;dx;dy;dp identification for mask set identification for protocol version field number Y position in 1/100 mm X position in 1/100 mm identification for phantom field 0 = print 1 = no print identification for field type 3 = internal graphic rotation 0 = horizontal...
Interface manual TEXT SET BM[n]text identification for text set identification for extended protocol field number text data contents, text BV[n]text identification for text set identification for selection by field name field name text data contents, text BF[n]text identification for text set identification for selection by free definable field number field number text...
Interface manual Examples text set with variable definition: [SOH]BM[125]=CN(0,0,3,1,1)000[ETB] Example label ASCII data Identification ⊗AM[1]3600;4600;0;33;0;1500;0;4;1;1⊕ mask set for bar code ⊗BM[1]444444444444⊕ appropriate text set ⊗AM[2]600;4700;0;4;0;1;300;200;24⊕ ⊗AM[3]600;3100;0;4;0;1;400;300;24⊕ five mask sets vector font / ⊗AM[4]1100;4700;0;4;0;1;400;300;24⊕ proportional font ⊗AM[5]1800;4700;0;4;0;1;300;200;24⊕ ⊗AM[6]1900;3700;0;4;0;1;600;400;24⊕ ⊗BM[2]Art.Nr. ⊕ ⊗BM[3]44444⊕ ⊗BM[4]Artikelbezeichnung⊕...
Interface manual GRAPHIC General graphic format This format is supported by all our printers but note that a 8 bit transmission is absolute necessary. SOH D p p p p lb lb lb b b b gb........min. max. identification for graphic set pixel line from above '0000' '1900' 1.
Interface manual Graphic in PCX format It is possible to transfer graphic data as a PCX-file (e.g. PaintBrush) to the printer. With this type of data transfer the PCX-file is transferred in a compressed form. Hereby the RLE-procedure is used and therefore the graphic data were reduced by approx.
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Interface manual Example of PCX file -*** PCX_GRAPHIC-INFO ***- ⊗AX0010015300100941⊕############################################### ⊗AM[1]3600;4600;0;33;0;1500;0;4;1;1⊕ mask set for bar code ⊗BM[1]444444444444⊕ appropriate text set ⊗AM[2]600;4700;0;4;0;1;300;200;24⊕ ⊗AM[3]600;3100;0;4;0;1;400;300;24⊕ five mask set vector font / proportional font ⊗AM[4]1100;4700;0;4;0;1;400;300;24⊕ ⊗AM[5]1800;4700;0;4;0;1;300;200;24⊕ ⊗AM[6]1900;3700;0;4;0;1;600;400;24⊕ ⊗BM[2]Art.Nr. ⊕ ⊗BM[3]44444⊕ Five appropriate text sets ⊗BM[4]Artikelbezeichnung⊕...
Interface manual VARIABLES Set structure SOH BM [n] = v p1 p2 p.. pn ) t1 t2 t.. t70 ETB The grey marked part corresponds to the variable definition. The text entered from t1 to t70 is added to the function result of variable. start of function variable type link field...
Interface manual Counter SOH BM [n] = C N ( +/- s ; t1 t2 t.. t70 ETB = CN identification counter type of counter numerical letters only 2...36 radix, base of the counter function mode of the counter standard return to start value enter the start value at the beginning of printing (default = existing start value)
Interface manual Extended counter SOH BM [n] = C C ( +/- s ; = CC identification of numeric counter direction counter adding counter subtracting step width update interval (number of labels with identical number) function mode of counter standard return to start value enter the start value at the beginning of printing (default = existing start value)
Interface manual Currency variable SOH B n n = C U ( a ; b ; c ; d ; e ; f ; g ) t1 t2 t.. t70 ETB = CU Signification of variable Euro ANSI-Code of thousand separator as decimal figure ANSI-Code of comma separator as decimal figure Quantity of numbers after the comma as decimal figure Operand A...
Interface manual EPC calculation (Electronic Product Code) * BM [n] = E P C ( ; P ; N1 ; {N2} ) ETB = EPC identification of EPC calculationKennung EPC Berechnung coding method length of manufacturer number (company prefix) filter value verification of check digit identification of link element (field number) identification of link element (field number) - optional...
Interface manual PARAMETER SETS Label parameter Set label photocell type C D E - N = 0 – transmission photocell normal N = 1 – reflection photocell N = 2 – transmission photocell inverse N = 3 – reflection photocell inverse Enquire label photocell type C D E - Answer...
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Interface manual Set label length in 1/100 mm C C L N N N N N N N - N: value of label length in 1/100 mm, 7 digit ASCII number Enquire label length in 1/100 mm C C L w N N N N N N N - Answer A N N N N N N N -...
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Interface manual Set label synchronisation C D G B - N = 0 – Off N = 1 – On Enquire lable synchronisation C D G B - Answer A N - Set number of columns C C H A - N = number of columns (1..9) Enquire number of columns C C H A -...
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Interface manual Set contrast C A B - N N N - NNN: Indication of contrast in % (010...230) - It is necessary to transmit a 3 digit ASCII number Enquire contrast C A B - Answer A N N N - Set flip label C D O - N = 0 –...
Interface manual Label photocell Enquire minimal measured level at label photocell C M A A - Answer A N N N - NNN: value of measured level, 3 digit ASCII number in 1/100 V Enquire maximum measured level at label photocell C M A B - Answer A N N N -...
Interface manual Dispensing photocell Enquire condition of dispensing photocell C M B E A w p Answer A N - N = 0 – no label is at photocell N = 1 – label is at photocell The set switching threshold of dispensing photocell is taken into consideration.
C A A - N N N - NNN: Indication of print speed in mm/s Pica 104/8 = 50 - 80; Pica 108/12 = 50 - 100 It is necessary to transmit a 3 digit ASCII number Enquire speed C A A -...
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Interface manual Set external printer parameter C C P - 0 = parameter settings by interface are not taken into consideration 1 = parameter settings by interface are processed Enquire external printer parameter C C P - Answer A N - Set Codepage C C N - N = 0 - ANSI...
Interface manual Interface You can set the parameter of the serial interface by the following commands but you have to note that after sending one of the commands also the host computer changes the corresponding parameter of its interface to allow further communications Host computer – printer. For all interface commands the interface is fixed with x.
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Interface manual Data memory Set data memory C G D - M = 0 Off, after receiving FBCA0r or FBDA0r the interface is locked until the end of the print order, i.e. you cannot write more data in the receiving buffer. M = 1 Standard, after starting a print order no data of the receiving buffer are processed but it is possible to write more data in the receiving buffer until it is full.
Interface manual Offset values Set zero point displacement (Offset 2) C C D - V N N N - V: pre-sign of offset (+ or -) NNN: offset value, 3 digit ASCII number in 1/10 mm Enquire zero point displacement (Offset 2) C C D - Answer A V N N N -...
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Interface manual Set cutter offset C S C A - V N N N - V: pre-sign of offset (always +) NNN: offset value, 3 digit ASCII number in 1/10 mm Enquire cutter offset C S C A - Answer A V N N N - Set dispenser offset C S D A -...
Interface manual Service functions Mileage (kilometre) counter It is only possible to enquire the kilometre values of printer and printhead by interface and not to set them to 0. Enquire printer's mileage C H A - Answer A N N N N N N N N p Enquire printhead's mileage C H B - Answer...
Interface manual Print Set line number of label (n digits) B A A - N ETB N: Indication of line number in ASCII (1, 10, 100, ...) Enquire line number of label B A A - Answer A N - Start /Stop command Additionally to the start / stop command it is possible to interrupt a print order via parameter / remote set.
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Interface manual Item number of print order By means of this command the Host computer can enquire following item numbers: Complete numbe of current print order B B A - Number of labels which are still to print B B B - Number of labels which are already printed B B C - Interval in cutter mode...
Interface manual Start printing B C - This command starts the print order which is actually set in the printer. The current parameter such as print mode, speed, initialisation etc. are used. Therefore it is possible to print e.g. item numbers with 5 digits.
Interface manual Feed Release a label feed Test print Release a test print Status print Parameter set in order to print status report C M Q - N = 0: Printer settings N = 1: Bar codes N = 2: Fonts Cancel print orders Cancel all active print orders G A -...
Interface manual Internal memory Save a label onto internal memory M A O - O - In case a label with the entered name exists already then the label is overwritten without an enquiry. If you enter another value as 0, an enquiry appears demanding if you want to overwrite. F - File name of the label which is to save.
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Interface manual Save graphic onto internal memory Cancel function: no graphic is saved onto internal memory No parameter necessary Activate function F – File identification, optional drive and directory identification Accept function: save graphic from print buffer onto internal memory C O - In case a label with the entered name already exists, then it is overwritten without an enquiry.
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Interface manual Create directory P ETB P = Drive and directory identification Delete directory P ETB P = Drive* and directory identification Note that it is impossible to delete the current directory! Change directory M K - P ETB P = Drive* and directory identification * From beginning of version 1.34 printers of Pica series are equipped with an internal 128 KB drive which is called A.
Interface manual PARAMETER SETS FOR OPTIONS Network Sets for option Ethernet General Example: All network parameter sets start in the third column with a 'L'. Column 4 shows the identification for the corresponding network parameter. Column 5 can show another sub-identification. Because of the fact that the argument size is limited to 8 characters, the IP addresses (IP address, network mask, gateway address) which consist of 32 bit are transmitted in HEX presentation.
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Interface manual Set Gateway address (e.g. 192.168.0.1) Enquire Gateway address w C 0 Answer A C 0 Set transmission mode (e.g. auto recognition) 0 = auto recognition 1 = 10 MBit/s half duplex 2 = 10 MBit/s full duplex 3 = 100 MBit/s half duplex 4 = 100 MBit/s full duplex Enquire transmission mode Answer...
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Interface manual Set MAC address (e.g. 00-07-4A-43-19-08) M B - M A - A MAC address has a width of 48 bit and is normally indicated in hexadecimals. With a B record it is possible to modify our identification of the MAC address. All our machines start with 00-07-4A as default.
Interface manual Cutter Set cutter mode C D D - N = 0 – cutter mode Off N = 1 – single cut N = 2 – mode 1 (w/o cutter offset), print no. of pieces w. cut after each label w/o backfeed N = 3 –...
Interface manual Dispenser Set dispenser mode C D C - N = 0 – dispenser mode Off N = 4 – dispenser photocell continuous N = 1 – external I/O static N = 5 – external I/O dynamic N = 2 – dispenser photocell N = 6 –...
Interface manual Save configuration permanent In case you want to save the described settings permanent into the printer, then you have to transmit the following command to the printer. N: 0 = save current parameter 1 = set all parameters to default values Readout configuration The printer sends as answer all current settings as parameter sets.
Interface manual AUTOSTATUS The printers are equipped with an auto status function, i.e. in certain operating modes the printer actively sends the corresponding status. This can be enquired by the serial interface. To activate the auto status, the host computer has to send the following command to the printer: G 1.
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Interface manual The printer sends the auto status in the following format to the host computer: G 1. Byte 2. Byte 1. Byte 8. Bit 7. Bit 6. Bit 5. Bit 4. Bit 3. Bit 2. Bit 1. Bit start start start start...
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Interface manual Beginning with version 1.41a different character sets were offered but as default the printers are equipped with Latin 1. Following languages are supported: Afrikaans English Italian Serbian Albanian Estonian Latvian Slovak Basque Faeroese Lithuanian Slovenian Belarusian Finnish Macedonian (FYROM) Spanish Bulgarian French...
Index INDEX ANSI, character set ........................65 Auto status............................61 Bar code Mask set............................14 Rotation............................6 Bitmap fonts, font examples ......................75 Buzzer, parameter set ........................41 Character sets ANSI............................65 Codepage 437 ..........................66 Codepage 850 ..........................67 Codepage 852 ..........................68 Codepage 857 ..........................69 GEM Danish..........................74 GEM English ..........................71 GEM French..........................72 GEM German..........................70 GEM Swedish ..........................73...
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Index Device settings Buzzer ............................41 Codepage selection ........................41 External print parameters......................41 Field handling..........................40 Print speed..........................40 Printer language..........................40 Transfer ribbon control........................40 DHCP support, parameter set ......................56 Directory (internal memory) Change, parameter set .......................54 Create, parameter set .........................54 Delete, parameter set .........................54 Dispenser Photocell (status), parameter set....................39 Dispenser (option)
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Index Graphic General format ..........................26 Internal, mask set........................23 PCX format, example........................28 PCX format, general information ....................27 Rotation............................6 Save (internal memory), parameter set ..................53 GS1 DataBar (RSS), mask set.......................20 Interface All interface parameters ......................42 Date memory ..........................43 Interface protocol ........................42 Port transmission ........................43 SOH/ETB ............................42 Unknown interrogative set, reaction ...................43 Interrogatibe sets (unknown), reaction ...................43...
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Index MAC address (network), parameter set ..................57 Mask set Bar code............................14 CODABLOCK F ..........................19 DataMatrix...........................18 Example ............................25 Graphic internal...........................23 GS1 DataBar (RSS)........................20 ITF 14............................15 Line .............................22 MAXICODE..........................17 PDF417 ............................16 QR Code .............................21 Rectangle............................22 Text .............................13 MAXICODE, mask set ........................17 Memory (internal) Change directory.........................54 Create directory ..........................54 Delete directory...........................54...
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