Printer Enquiries; Enquiry Responses - Microcom 470 Operator's Manual

Printer Commands
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^M Terminate Text or Data String: Must be used to terminate a text or data string. (Same
as a carriage return or enter key on computer keyboard)
^H Deletes The Last Printable Character Entered: This is used only when
communicating to the printer through the keyboard. (Same as Delete key on computer
keyboard.)
^K Print Test Label: A test label consists of a series of diagonal lines. It is useful in
determining the condition of the dots on the printhead (equivalent to ^D115).
^L Print Blank Label: (Equivalent to ^D125)
^Q XON: Instructs the printer to continue sending data.
^S XOFF: Instructs the printer to stop sending data.
5.2

PRINTER ENQUIRIES

It is important for the host computer to know the status of the printer as labels are produced.
This facilitates security in the system and flags electrical and mechanical errors. Enquiries can
also be used to adjust the pace of the printer with that of the operator.
The 470 printer is capable of returning responses to enquiries in three different ways
depending on how the machine is programmed. (see software dip switch #1 position 1 and 2,
^D21, Section 5.3.) The text equivalent response returns a text string, giving the state of the
machine. The ^ equivalent returns an ASCII '^' response followed by the defining alpha
character. The control code equivalent returns an actual control code.
The printer will send to the host one of the following responses in response to a ^E or ^D55:
TEXT
>RESTARTED<
>READY<
>DATA ERROR<
>LOW STOCK<
>LOW TEMP<
>OVER TEMP<
>OVER VDD<
>TAKE LABEL<
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42

Enquiry Responses

^ALPHA or
CONTROL CODE
^Z Software has restarted
^F Printer is ready to process
^U Serial I/O error
^Y Out of labels
^^ Head temperature is low
^[ Head temperature is high
^\ VDD voltage is high
^V Printer senses a label is present
of the printer
Table 9
DEFINITION
470 Operators Manual
Chapter 5