Format Creation - Microcom 424M Operator's Manual

Designing Labels Using LDS
COM1:115200,n,8,1,p) before copying the files to the port. Create a text file, enter "^D3"
<CR> (carriage return) and save it as "D3.txt". Send the file to the printer by either using the
DOS COPY (C:\>copy d3.txt com1) command or by using a terminal program.
4.2.2

Format Creation

Special Control code functions (see Chapter 5, Special Control Codes) and/or label formats
may be entered directly through the keyboard but this is not the most efficient method if
entering a large amount of data or numerous commands. Large formats and/or numerous
commands should be entered in an ASCII text editor and then uploaded to the printer.
Microsoft® Notepad has been used for the creation of label designs in this manual because
it is simple to use and does not add formatting characters.
The LDS programming language uses thermal dots as the unit of measure. All commands
and parameters, unless noted otherwise, should be entered using dots. The 324M and
424M printers may be fitted with either a standard density 203dpi head, or a higher density
300dpi print head.
These are the conversion values for each print head:
Print head
EXAMPLE: To enter the width of a label that is 2" wide when using a 203dpi head, the
value entered would be 406 (2" x 203 dots/in. = 406).
The printer can accept either the one-character control code ("Ctrl + E" (HEX05)) or the two-
character caret (^) plus alpha character ("^E"). In other words, for a PC keyboard, the same
command can be generated either by holding down the "Ctrl" key and pressing the alpha
character or by entering the two characters; the "^" (the character generated when you
4-2
Figure 4-1 HyperTerminal™ Window Example
Dots/mm
203 8
300 12
Dots/inch Inch/Dot
203 0.0049
300 0.0033
324M/424M Operator's Manual - 880026-0144
Chapter 4