Unicode And Downloaded Fonts; Unicode Encoding - TransAct Ithaca 280 Programmer's Manual

Programming Codes

Unicode and Downloaded Fonts

The iTherm® 280 Printer supports Unicode encoding. This Unicode support is exclusive
to the downloaded fonts.
You must have downloaded and selected the downloaded font before you can reference
the font via Unicode encoding. See the following group of commands for how to select
and use a download font.
There is a font downloading utility available from TransAct, call your sales person or tech
support for more information.
WARNING: You must have proper rights to use a font in this manner.
Do not download a font to the printer if you do not have the right to use
the font as a downloaded printer font.
The commands that control access to the downloaded fonts are all in the group that
starts as ―[ESC]+‖ commands. Other commands that manipulate the resident fixed pitch
fonts do not apply to the downloaded fonts described in this section. If commands that
reference internal fonts or change the pitch are selected, the down loaded font will be
deactivated and the last used internal font selected.
To access characters located above 255 you must use a Unicode encoding method.

Unicode Encoding

UTF-16 is the most straightforward way to access characters above 255. UTF-16 is
basically sending two 8-bit bytes that form a 16-bit address to access the desired
character.
UTF-16BE uses the big-endian method of sending the two bytes. This method sends the
high byte first and then the low byte.
UTF-16LE uses the little-endian method of sending the two bytes. This method sends
the low byte first and then the high byte.
UTF-8 uses a Multiple Byte Character Sequence (MBCS) to identify the desired Unicode
character. This encoding method is less straightforward. This method uses unique bit
sequences at the MSBs of a byte to determine its location and meaning within the MBCS
encoding. See the table below for more information.
Scalar Value
000000000xxxxxxx
00000yyyyyxxxxxx
Zzzzyyyyyyxxxxxx
Function Set Font ID
Page 154
1 Byte
st
0xxxxxxx
110yyyyy
1110zzzz
Rev K
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iTherm 280 Programmer's Guide
2nd Byte 3rd Byte
10xxxxxx
10yyyyyy 10xxxxxx