Oki Microline ML380 Handbook
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Oki Microline ML380 Handbook

Oki Microline ML380 Handbook

Dot matrix printer
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Chapter 0
Front Cover
Microline
380
Printer Handbook
ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )

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  • Page 1: Chapter 0 Front Cover

    Chapter 0 Front Cover Microline Printer Handbook ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )
  • Page 2 %Introduction Introduction Your ML380 is a 24-pin, dot matrix printer which will give you years of high-quality printing service. It features six resident letter quality (LQ) fonts, a direct access control panel, automatic paper feed, paper park, no-waste paper tear-off, and a quick-change cartridge ribbon. With six resident LQ fonts, its easy to give your manuscript the polished, professional appearance of a typeset document.

  • Page 3: Chapter 1 %What's Included

    Chapter 1 %What's Included What's Included When you remove your ML380 Printer from the carton, place it on a sturdy surface such as a printer stand, desk, or table. As you proceed to unpack the printer, it's a good idea to save the packing materials and carton in case you ever need to ship the printer.
  • Page 4 %Choosing the Interface Choosing the Interface How you connect your ML380 to your computer depends on whether you are using a parallel or a serial interface. The printer has a parallel interface; for serial interfacing you need a serial interface adapter, sold separately.
  • Page 5 %Installing the Parallel Interface Cable Installing the Parallel Interface Cable You'll need a shielded parallel interface cable not more than 10 feet (3 meters) long, with a Centronics 36-pin male connector for attachment to your printer. 1.If you have not already done so, remove the styrofoam end pieces and the plastic wrapping from the printer.
  • Page 6 %Setting Up Setting Up Note:Don't plug in the printer until it is set up and ready to operate! 1.Open the access cover and remove the shipping retainer. The printhead won't move freely until you do so. 2.Hold the paper separator at an angle of about 30ñ to the printer housing and slide the slots at either end onto the pins at the back of the printer.

  • Page 7: Installing The Ribbon Cartridge

    %Installing the Ribbon Cartridge Installing the Ribbon Cartridge Your printer ribbon is a cartridge type which pops in and out. Note:When you open the bag containing the ribbon cartridge, do not remove the clear plastic shield mounted over the ribbon. 1.Lift the access cover.
  • Page 8 Note:Use only ribbons specifically made for MICROLINE 380, 390, or 391 printers. The use of ribbon not designed for the MICROLINE 380/380/391 printers could damage the printhead. Please also note that while ribbon cartridges for other MICROLINE printers look similar, they will either not fit the ML380 or they will give poor print quality because the ribbon and ink don't meet the requirements of 24-pin printers.

  • Page 9: Adjusting The Printhead Gap

    %Adjusting the Printhead Gap Adjusting the Printhead Gap Your ML380 comes preset for single-sheet paper. If you'll be using multiple sheets, envelopes or very thick paper, you'll need to adjust the gap between the printhead and the platen. 1.Make sure the printer is turned off. 2.Open the access cover.

  • Page 10: Loading Paper

    %Loading Paper Loading Paper Your ML380 Printer takes standard paper, weight 14 to 22 lbs., with a maximum thickness of 0.01 inches (0.25 mm). It can be used with single sheets, forms, continuous-form paper, and envelopes. It can also be used to print labels, but the labels must be fed in from the bottom, requiring the optional pull tractor (see page 33).

  • Page 11: Loading Single Sheets

    %Loading Single Sheets Loading Single Sheets Note:If you have continuous-form paper in the printer and wish to switch to single sheets, use the paper park feature described on page 27 to move the continuous-form paper out of the paper path. 1.Make sure the paper lever is toward the back, in the single sheet feed position.
  • Page 12 5.Pull the bail lever forward. Your ML380 will automatically load the sheet of paper into the printer, and the select light will go out. 6.Push the bail lever back. The SELECT light will automatically come back on and glow continuously to indicate that the printer is selected. 7.Set the top of form, following the instructions below.
  • Page 13 %Setting Top of Form for Single Sheets Setting Top of Form for Single Sheets When setting the position on the page where you want the first line of printing to appear, use the lower red line on the paper shield as a guideline_it shows the baseline of the current printing position.

  • Page 14: Loading Rear Feed Paper

    %Loading Rear Feed Paper Loading Rear Feed Paper The tractor feed mechanism for use with continuous-form paper is located at the rear of the printer. If you wish to load continuous-form paper from the bottom of the printer, you will need to purchase and install the optional pull tractor: see page 33.
  • Page 15 5.Readjust the tractors as necessary to ensure that the left edge of the paper will cover the groove in the left side of the platen. If it doesn't, the printer will signal paper out (SELECT light flashes). 6.Press the lock levers back to lock the tractors in place. 7.If you removed the paper separator, reinstall it.
  • Page 16 %Setting Top of Form for Rear Feed Paper Setting Top of Form for Rear Feed Paper When setting the position on the page where you want the first line of printing to appear, use the lower red line on the paper shield as a guideline_it shows the baseline of the current printing position. 1.Press the SELECT button to deselect the printer (SELECT light goes out).
  • Page 17 %Loading Rear Feed Paper w/ Optional Pull Tractor Loading Rear Feed Paper with Optional Pull Tractor Installed The superior paper control provided by using both tractors for rear paper feed is especially good when you're printing on multi-part forms. See page 33 for instructions on how to install the optional pull tractor. Don't use the Paper Park feature when the pull tractor is installed_the paper will disengage from the pull tractor if you do.
  • Page 18 9.Close the pull tractor covers and make any necessary final adjustments to the position of the tractors. Push the lock levers back to lock the tractors in place. 10.Pull the paper selection lever forward to the continuous-form position to re-engage the built-in tractor.
  • Page 19 %Setting Top of Form for Rear Feed with Pull Tractor Setting Top of Form for Rear Feed with Pull Tractor 1. Press the SELECT button to deselect the printer (SELECT light goes out). 2. Use the platen knob to move the paper to the position you want for top of form. The lower red line on the paper shield serves as a guideline_it shows the baseline of the current printing position.
  • Page 20 %Loading Bottom Feed Paper Loading Bottom Feed Paper You must have the optional pull tractor installed in order to feed continuous-form paper into the printer through the bottom. See page 33 for instructions on how to install the pull tractor. Bottom feed is required for printing labels.
  • Page 21 10.Make any final adjustments in the positioning of the tractors and push the lock levers back to lock them in place. 11.Push the bail lever back and close the access cover. 12.Turn the printer ON and press the SELECT button to deselect it. 13.Press and hold the FEED button to form feed the paper.
  • Page 22 %Setting Top of Form for Bottom Feed Paper Setting Top of Form for Bottom Feed Paper 1.Press the SELECT button to deselect the printer (SELECT light goes out). 2.Use the platen knob to move the paper to the position you want for top of form. The lower red line on the paper shield serves as a guideline_it shows the baseline of the current printing position.
  • Page 23 Chapter 2 %Using the Paper Park Feature Using the Paper Park Feature This feature permits you to switch back and forth between continuous-form paper and single sheets. It parks the continuous-form paper for you so you can use single-sheet feed. The continuous-form paper will retract back off the platen and down into the printer housing without disengaging from the built-in tractor.
  • Page 24 %Using the Paper Tear-Off Feature Using the Paper Tear-Off Feature This feature permits you to set your ML380 to automatically advance continuous-feed paper to the tear-off position after it finishes printing the last page in your document. This lets you tear off the last printed page without wasting paper or readjusting the printer.
  • Page 25 ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )

  • Page 26: Running The Self Tests

    %Running the Self Tests Running the Self Tests Your ML380 has two self tests: the Font Test which gives samples of the various fonts and sizes available and the Rolling ASCII Test which gives a continuous sample of the default print style. You can run the tests any time you want to make sure the printer is functioning properly.
  • Page 27 %Printing the Font Test Printing the Font Test To print the Font Test, hold down the FEED button while turning on the printer. ML380 will print a limited sample of the print styles available. When the test is complete (prints about two pages), the printer will stop and the SELECT light will come on.
  • Page 28 %Printing the Rolling ASCII Test Printing the Rolling ASCII Test To print the Rolling ASCII Test, hold down the TOF/PARK button while turning on the printer. ML380 will print a continuous sample of the default print style and will keep printing until you press the SELECT button to stop it.

  • Page 29: Installing Options

    %Installing Options Installing Options If you wish to use bottom paper feed on your printer (necessary for printing labels), youll need to install the optional pull tractor. If you require a serial interface connection to your computer, youll need to install the optional serial interface adapter.
  • Page 30 %Installing the Optional Pull Tractor Installing the Optional Pull Tractor The optional pull tractor includes the tractor assembly and a special, high-top access cover. The pull tractor is required for feeding continuous-form paper or labels from the bottom of the printer. You can also use the pull tractor together with the built-in push tractor for feeding paper in from the rear to provide more precise paper control.
  • Page 31 5.Swing the paper guide wire on the tractor unit to the back. Rest the wire on the paper separator while lowering the tractor until the tractor pins engage the notches at either end behind the platen. 6.Swivel the tractor unit forward until the clips at either end clamp onto the platen shaft. 7.
  • Page 32 %Installing the Serial Interface Adapter Installing the Serial Interface Adapter The serial interface adapter mounts in the parallel interface cavity on the bottom of the printer. 1.Unplug the printer. 2.Remove the paper separator, optional pull tractor cover and the optional pull tractor, if installed. 3.Remove the knock-out from the side of the printer housing.
  • Page 33 7.Push in the adapter just until the connectors begin to engage, then swing the adapter down and press on it until the tabs engage the tabs on the printer housing (youll hear a loud snap). 8.While pressing down on the top of the adapter, grasp the molded finger grips and push in the adapter until the parallel interface connection is firm.

  • Page 34: Chapter 3 %Control Panel

    Chapter 3 %Control Panel Control Panel The ML380's control panel does more than manipulate paper: it gives you fingertip command over most of the printing features that affect the look of your documents. You can change basic features of each document straight from the panel.

  • Page 35: Basic Controls

    %Basic Controls Basic Controls There are five control buttons on your ML380. The functions represented by the labels at the top of each button are engaged when the printer is operating in the Print Mode. When the printer is operating in the Menu Select Mode, the functions represented by the labels at the bottom of each button are engaged and you can use the front panel controls to change the printers default settings.
  • Page 36 When the printer is deselected, push this button to set the position of the first print line on the page (top of form). If you hold down this button while turning on the printer, it will engage the Rolling ASCII test. (See page 32 for more information on the Rolling ASCII test.) If you hold down this button and the SELECT button while turning on the printer, it will place the printer in the hexadecimal dump mode (See page 112 for more information on the hex dump...

  • Page 37: Menu Select Mode

    %Menu Select Mode Menu Select Mode In this mode, you can customize your printer so that the features you want are automatically active when you turn it on. The selections you make on the menu are stored in the printers permanent memory and, in effect, become default settings, although they can be changed through software commands, through the control panel, or by resetting the menu.
  • Page 38 %To enter the Menu Select Mode from the Power Off State To enter the Menu Select Mode from the Power Off State: 1.Make sure the printer has ribbon and paper, and that it is turned off. 2.Hold down the FONT button while turning the printer on. The POWER light will come on (SELECT light remains off) and Menu Mode will print.

  • Page 39: Control Buttons

    %Control Buttons Control Buttons 1.GROUP Button: Push this button to move to the next Group in the menu. 2.ITEM Button: Push this button to move to the next Item within the Group. 3.SET Button: Push this button to move to the next Setting within the Item. Once you have changed a setting, it will be stored in the printers permanent memory, even if you turn off the printer, until you once again press the SET button with that Group and Item selected.
  • Page 40 Vertical Control Form Tear-Off Press the SET button once to change the setting from Off to On. ML380 will print: Vertical Control Form Tear-Off You have now engaged the Form Tear-Off feature. If youre through making menu changes, simply press the EXIT button to enter the Print mode. ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )

  • Page 41: Explanation Of Menu Items

    %Explanation of Menu Items Explanation of Menu Items The listings here are organized alphabetically for your convenience in looking up a particular item. The listing in Appendix B is in the sequence in which the groups and items appear as you press the control buttons in the Menu Select Mode.
  • Page 42 speed. Choose Bi-directional for faster print speed. I-Prime Signal. For parallel interface. Choose Invalid if you want the printer to ignore your softwares I-Prime signal. This will permit you to enter settings through the printers control panel which will not be automatically overridden by the softwares settings when the I-Prime signal is sent. Interface.
  • Page 43 this setting: the optimum setting can vary from program to program. If for some reason you cant seem to get the registration right, try switching to unidirectional printing. Protocol. For serial interface. Sets serial interface protocol. Select X-ON/X-OFF if you wish to use X-ON/X-OFF protocol rather than Ready/Busy.
  • Page 44 %Fonts Fonts A font is a collection of printing characteristics, all of which combine to produce a distinctive and unique style of print. These printing characteristics include the actual shape of the characters, the spacing between characters and between words, and the size of the characters. There are generally several fonts within a type family, whose characters are similar in shape, but differ in thickness, angle, or style.

  • Page 45: Selecting Fonts

    %Selecting Fonts Selecting Fonts Your ML380 printer has six built-in type styles: Courier Gothic Orator Prestige Roman Swiss Each type family can be printed in five different non-proportional sizes expressed in characters per inch (cpi)_10, 12, 15, 17, or 20 cpi_as well as in proportional. For each type family and size, you can use any combination of the following characteristics: Regular Italics...

  • Page 46: Type Styles

    %Type Styles Type Styles Using the right type style is important if you want to create a professional-looking document. Your ML380 provides a choice of three types styles: typewriter, serif, and sans-serif. Courier is an example of a typewriter type style. It looks just like what youre used to seeing when you type a letter on a pica typewriter.
  • Page 47 %Type Size (Pitch) Type Size (Pitch) Choose your type size carefully. Most body text should be set no smaller than 10 or 12 cpi. Use the 10 or 12 cpi pitch settings for routine memos, letters, etc., that you want to appear to be typewritten. For a polished, professional typeset look in your document, use the proportional pitch setting.

  • Page 48: Special Effects

    %Special Effects Special Effects Your ML380 provides the special effects of emphasized/enhanced (equivalent to bold face type), outline, shadow, double height, and double width printing which can be applied to either regular or italic type in any combination you like, to produce headlines for your document. Here are some examples: ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )
  • Page 49 %Formatting Guidelines Formatting Guidelines Your ML380 printer can be used to create all sorts of documents. If youre going to use the type fonts available with your printer, you should adhere to a few simple rules of typesetting in order to gain maximum impact from the printed page.

  • Page 50: Basic Programming

    %BASIC programming BASIC programming The LPRINT command in BASIC makes output go to the printer rather than to the screen. To send text to the printer, simply enclose the words in double quotes: LPRINT "A line of text" The statement above will cause the printer to print the text, then move the printing position to the beginning of the next line.
  • Page 51 Since the control codes don't represent any character on your keyboard, you can't send them to the printer enclosed in double quotes, as you would with text. Instead, you have to use the CHR$ function, which lets you send the decimal or hexadecimal value for a character. For example, the escape character is represented as CHR$(27), or, in hexadecimal, as CHR$(&H1B).

  • Page 52: Chapter 5 Control Codes

    Chapter 5 Control Codes This chapter describes your ML380's print command set. It's not just for programmers; if you want to modify your software to add a particular function, or if you want to embed extra commands in a document, you'll find the necessary information here. Even if you just use the front panel to control your printer, the explanations of the features and how they work will be helpful.In this chapter we give both the ASCII and the decimal equivalents for each...

  • Page 53: Character Style

    %Character Style Character Style Print Quality Control Codes Use LQ print quality for letter quality printing in any of the six available typefaces. The FONT lights on the front panel indicate which typeface is engaged. Enter the typeface command described below to choose the typeface you wish to use.
  • Page 54 %Typeface Typeface Use these commands to select the typeface (font) you wish to use. If your ML380 is set for printing in the Utility mode, you must first enter the command ESC x 1 in order to change from the Utility mode to the LQ mode. If you don't, the Utility mode will override the typeface commands.
  • Page 55 %Italics Italics Italics printing is slanted like this, and is used to lend emphasis to phrases, sentences or entire paragraphs.If you intend to print an entire document in italics, you may choose to select this printing style in the Menu Select Mode.You can also use the ESC ! n command to specify or end italic printing (see page 81).
  • Page 56 %Emphasized and Enhanced Printing Emphasized and Enhanced Printing Emphasized and enhanced printing provides the equivalent of bold face type. Your ML380 produces bold type by printing each dot of a character twice instead of once. In emphasized printing, the pairs of dots are offset horizontally. In enhanced printing, the dots are printed on top of each other.You can use a combination of both emphasized and enhanced printing to produce an even bolder effect.
  • Page 57 %Outline and Shadow Outline and Shadow Use the outline and shadow effects to produce more interesting and stylish headings. They can be combined together as well as with emphasized and/or enhanced printing, double width, etc., for an even more striking effect. Outline and shadow can only be used for printing characters;...

  • Page 58: Character Size - Pitch

    %Character Size - Pitch Character Size Pitch This pitch requires two commands: the compression command (SI) plus the pitch command. Character pitch, or width, is measured in characters per inch (cpi). For example, at 10 cpi, each character is 1/10-inch wide. The double width and compressed printing commands interact with the basic pitches listed above to produce a range of character widths.
  • Page 59 %Character Width Values Character Width Values ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )

  • Page 60: Compressed Printing

    %Compressed Printing Compressed Printing If the current pitch is 10 cpi, the compressed printing command will produce 17.1 cpi printing. If the current pitch is 12 cpi, the compressed printing command will produce 20 cpi printing.When you send the DC2 command, the printer will return to whatever basic pitch was in effect before you began compressed printing.

  • Page 61: Double Width

    %Double Width Double Width Use these commands to produce characters twice as wide as regular characters. They can be used with any of the character pitches. For example, if the current pitch is 12 cpi, double width characters will print at 6 cpi.

  • Page 62: Double Height

    %Double Height Double Height Double height printing produces characters that are twice as tall as normal size characters. It can be mixed with standard height characters on the same line, in which case the double height characters will print twice as high as the normal height characters, on the same baseline.Double height can be combined with double width and emphasized printing for an even more striking effect.

  • Page 63: Superscripts And Subscripts

    %Superscripts and Subscripts Superscripts and Subscripts Superscript characters are printed above the normal print line and are used for exponents, footnotes, and other special typographic effects (x2). Subscripts are handy for chemical formulas (H2>O). Both are printed in a smaller size than standard characters.Superscripts and subscripts can't be used with double height printing.
  • Page 64 %Character Spacing - Proportional Spacing Character Spacing - Proportional Spacing When the pitch is set to proportional spacing, the printer automatically adjusts the space between letters to compensate for the varying widths of individual characters. Unlike fixed spacing, where all characters are formed within a matrix of uniform width at a specified pitch, proportional spacing gives more horizontal space to wide characters, like w or M, and less space to narrow characters, like I or f.

  • Page 65: Set Character Spacing

    %Set Character Spacing Set Character Spacing Use this command to adjust the amount of space to the right of each character. This value (n) is expressed in dots. The number of dots per inch (dpi) depends on the current print mode: in utility mode there are 120 dpi;...
  • Page 66 %Print Features - Underlining Print Features - Underlining Use this command to underline all text, including spaces and punctuation marks. The underlining will print at the same time the character is printed. This command will not underline spaces produced by the horizontal position commands (see page 93), nor will it underline bit-image or line draw graphics.

  • Page 67: Unidirectional Printing

    %Unidirectional Printing Unidirectional Printing Your printer is designed to maximize speed by printing alternately from the left and right (bidirectional printing), rather than by moving the printhead back to the left margin so that each line prints from left to right (unidirectional printing).
  • Page 68 %Combined Print Characteristics Command Combined Print Characteristics Command This command provides a shortcut for specifying combinations of features in a single escape sequence. To determine the value of n in this command, add up the values for each of the features you wish to use. To turn off these features and return to 10 cpi printing, send the command ESC ! 0.For example, to print text at 12 cpi, in italics and underlined, assign n the value 193 (164128).Each time you send the ESC ! n command, it sets or cancels the values for all of the features it controls.

  • Page 69: Character Sets International

    %Character Sets International Character Sets International This command allows you to select character sets that replace some less-frequently used characters with symbols used in a variety of foreign languages. You can print these symbols both in the normal and the italics print mode.To access these character sets, replace n with the appropriate value from the table.The character set will automatically revert to the factory default (USA), if the printer receives the command ESC @, the command ESC R 0, or the I-Prime signal (see page 111).
  • Page 70 %Italics and Graphics Characters Italics and Graphics Characters You can use this command to specify the set of characters which is to occupy decimal values 128 to 255 to be italics characters, special symbols and graphics characters, or custom characters you have stored using the custom character commands (see page 101).

  • Page 71: Ibm Character Sets

    %IBM Character Sets IBM Character Sets Both these character sets contain special symbols and graphics characters in addition to the standard alphanumerics. The difference is that in Set II, decimal values 3 to 6 , 21, and 128 to 159 represent printable characters, while in Set I, these positions are either occupied by control codes or are unused.
  • Page 72 %Page Setup Commands - Left and Right Margins Page Setup Commands - Left and Right Margins Use these commands to set margins by character columns. The actual position of the margin depends on the current pitch; a margin of 10 columns will come out as one inch in 10 cpi and one-half inch in 20 cpi. If the current pitch is proportional, the margin is set as though it were 10 cpi.
  • Page 73 %Justification Justification These commands let you specify the alignment of the text on the page. You can align the text with the left margin or with the right margin. You can set the text for full justification, where the printer adds space as needed to align the text with both margins.
  • Page 74 %Tabs - Horizontal Tabs Tabs - Horizontal Tabs When you turn on your printer, the horizontal tab stops are automatically set for every eight columns. Each time you send a tab character (ASCII HT, decimal 9), the printhead moves to the next tab stop position before printing the next character.You can use the ESC D n1...nk NUL command to set up to 32 horizontal tab stops at specific columns on the page.

  • Page 75: Vertical Tabs

    %Vertical Tabs Vertical Tabs Substitute the line number(s) where you wish the stop(s) to occur for the n's in the command. Be sure to enter the stops in ascending order. Once you've set the stops, each time you send the VT command, the printer will print out any data in the buffer and move to the next stop position.
  • Page 76 ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )

  • Page 77: Line Spacing

    %Line Spacing Line Spacing The most common spacings for text are 6 and 8 lines per inch (lpi). A spacing of 8 lpi works well with compressed character pitches and lets you fit more lines on a page.The ESC 3 n command sets the line spacing in increments of as little as 1/180-inch.
  • Page 78 %Line Feed Control Line Feed Control The line feed command (ASCII LF, decimal 10) tells the ML380 to print a line and then move the print position down one line on the page. The amount of vertical movement depends on the current line spacing (see above). This command also cancels one-line double width printing.Use the ESC J n command to execute fine line feeds in increments of 1/180-inch.
  • Page 79 %Horizontal Dot Placement Commands Horizontal Dot Placement Commands These commands let you place text or graphics very precisely on the page. (For precise vertical positioning, see the description of the fine line feed and line spacing on pages 92 and 91.) The ESC $ n1 n2 command uses the left margin as a reference point and moves the print position horizontally in 1/60-inch increments, regardless of the pitch.
  • Page 80 %Horizontal Print Positions Horizontal Print Positions Example Suppose you have the LQ print mode engaged and want to instruct the printer to move the print position 2 inches to the left of the current position. From the table, the number of dots per inch in the LQ print mode is 180.
  • Page 81 %Forms Control - Form Feed Forms Control - Form Feed When you send a form feed command, ML380 prints any data that is in its buffer, executes a carriage return, and moves the printhead to the next top of form position. This command also cancels one-line double width printing.You can also use the FEED button on the control panel to feed a page through the printer.

  • Page 82: Form Length

    %Form Length Form Length You can specify the form length in either inches or lines. If you will most often be using one of the standard page lengths listed on the menu, we recommend that you use the Menu Select Mode to set a default form length, and then use one of the form length commands whenever you want to change it temporarily.When you use either of these commands to change the form length, the skip over perforation setting returns to the menu default (0) and the top of form is set at the current print position.When setting...

  • Page 83: Skip Over Perforation

    %Skip Over Perforation Skip Over Perforation If skip over perforation is set to Yes on the menu, the printer will automatically skip an inch from the bottom of one page to the top of form on the next page. Use the ESC N n command to change the number of lines skipped.

  • Page 84: Cut Sheet Feeder Control

    %Cut Sheet Feeder Control Cut Sheet Feeder Control The following commands are active only when the Cut Sheet Feeder accessory is installed on the printer. Use the ESC EM I command to feed a sheet of paper from the cut sheet feeder to the top of form position.

  • Page 85: Bit-Image Graphics

    %Bit-Image Graphics Bit-Image Graphics The ESC K, ESC L, ESC Y, and ESC Z commands are shortened versions of the ESC * m n1 n2 command and are used to set the density of your graphics in dots per inch. They are set up at the factory to represent the first four 8-pin graphics modes shown in the "Graphics Codes"...

  • Page 86: Graphic Codes

    %Graphic Codes Graphic Codes You can use the ESC ? m n command to change the ESC K, ESC L, ESC Y, or ESC Z command to be any of the eleven possible ESC * m n1 n2 commands. The m designates which command (K, L, Y, or Z) will be changed.

  • Page 87: Custom Characters

    %Custom Characters Custom Characters Your printer's custom (downline loadable) character feature enables you to design your own characters and symbols, even entire character sets if you choose, and download them from your computer to the printer. You can design and store up to 256 characters. Your custom characters are assigned to the keys of your choice on your keyboard.
  • Page 88 %Custom Character Widths Custom Character Widths Use the ESC % command to switch between the standard character set and the custom character set. The custom character set will stay in the printer's memory until:you turn the printer offyou overwrite them with new custom charactersyou use the ESC : NUL NUL NUL command to overwrite them with the standard character set.
  • Page 89 %Miscellaneous - Backspace Miscellaneous - Backspace The backspace command prints any data that's in the print buffer and moves the printhead one character to the left. The actual width of the backspace depends on the current pitch. If you're using proportional spacing, the BS command moves the printhead 1/10-inch to the left.

  • Page 90: Carriage Return

    %Carriage Return Carriage Return When the printer receives the carriage return command, it will print data from the print buffer and return the printing position to the beginning of the line. If the Auto Line Feed item is On (factory default is Off) in the menu, the printer will add a line feed to each carriage return.

  • Page 91: Clear Buffer

    %Clear Buffer Clear Buffer This command clears all the data from the print buffer, but does not reset the printing features that have been set using control codes. ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )
  • Page 92 %Delete Delete This command deletes the last character sent to the printer. It will not delete graphics data, nor will it delete a horizontal tab or skip. Control codes are not affected. If the justification is set for other than left margin justification, the delete command will be ignored.
  • Page 93 %Most Significant Bit (MSB) Most Significant Bit (MSB) The ESC > command sets the most significant bit (MSB) of an 8-bit data input to 1. The ESC command sets the MSB to 0. The ESC # command cancels MSB control established by either of these commands and all data is interpreted exactly as sent from the computer.

  • Page 94: Print Suppress

    %Print Suppress Print Suppress Begin print suppress mode DC3 19 End print suppress mode DC1 17When the printer receives the command to begin Print Suppress mode, it ignores all data until it receives the DC1 code. This means that any data received after the print suppress command will be lost. ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )

  • Page 95: Reset To Defaults

    %Reset to Defaults Reset to Defaults This command removes any data in the printer's buffer and returns the printer to the current menu settings. It will override any features set on the printer's front panel. This is also called initialization.Many software packages send the reset command to initialize the printer before or after printing.

  • Page 96: Chapter 6 %Cleaning The Printer

    Chapter 6 %Cleaning the Printer Cleaning the Printer You should clean the printer every six months (or after about 300 hours of operation). To do this, turn the printer OFF and use a clean, dry cloth to dust the area around the carriage shaft and platen. Be sure to remove any loose particles of paper.

  • Page 97: Problem Solving

    %Problem Solving Problem Solving Here are some of the most common printer problems and how to solve them. If you're still having difficulties, see the Customer Service Guide, included with your printer. It will tell you how to get help from your dealer or from OKIDATA, and how to get your printer serviced.
  • Page 98 default set of features; otherwise the printer might accidentally print using features set for a previous job. These codes will override panel or menu settings. Check your word processor's manual to see if you can customize the initialization string; if so, remove any codes that interfere with your printer's settings.
  • Page 99 Appendix A Lower ASCII Character Set Character Sets Lower ASCII Character Set These characters apply to all three character sets (Epson, IBM Set I, IBM Set II), except the characters in red which print ony when IBM Character Set II is selected. Hex.
  • Page 100 (SPACE) Hex. Dec. Character Width " & ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )
  • Page 101 > Hex. Dec. Character Width ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )
  • Page 102 Hex. Dec. Character Width ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )
  • Page 103 ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )
  • Page 104 %Upper ASCII Upper ASCII IBM Character Sets I and II The Epson italics character set also occupies the upper ASCII range. To determine the decimal value for any particular italics character, simply locate that character in the lower ASCII character set on the preceding two pages and add 128 to the decimal value.
  • Page 105 ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )

  • Page 106: Superscript/Subscript Characters

    %Superscript/Subscript Characters Superscript/Subscript Characters ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )
  • Page 107 ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )

  • Page 108: Appendix B Menu Selections

    Appendix B Menu Selections Menu Selections Factory settings are the first item listed. Group Item Settings Font Print Mode LQ Courier, LQ Swiss, LQ Roman, LQ Orator, LQ Prestige, LQ Gothic, Utility Pitch 10 cpi, 12 cpi, 15 cpi, 17.1 cpi, 20 cpi, Proportional Style Normal, Italics...
  • Page 109 Auto Feed XT Invalid, Valid Pin 18 Output 0v, 5v Serial Interface Parity None, Odd, Even Serial Data 7 or 8 bits 8, 7 Protocol Ready/Busy, X-ON/X-OFF Diagnostic Test No, Yes Busy Line SSD-, SSD+, DTR, RTS Baud Rate 9600 BPS, 4800 BPS, 2400 BPS, 1200 BPS, 600 BPS, 300 BPS, 19200 BPS DSR Signal Valid, Invalid...
  • Page 110 Appendix C Code Function Index Code Function Index Function ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal Page Character Style, ESC x 1 27 120 49 1B 78 31 Print Quality Select NLQ print quality Select Utility print ESC x 0 27 120 48 1B 78 30 quality Character Style, ESC k 0...
  • Page 111 End italics ESC 5 27 53 1B 35 Character Style, ESC q SOH 27 113 01 1B 71 01 Outline and Shadow Begin outline Begin shadow ESC q STX 27 113 02 1B 71 02 Begin both ESC q ETX 27 113 03 1B 71 03 outline and...
  • Page 112 Begin subscript ESC S 1 27 83 49 1B 53 31 ESC T 27 84 1B 54 superscript/subs cript Character ESC p n n=1: 27 112 n 1B 70 n Spacing, begin Proportional proportional Proportional spacing n=0: end spacing proportional spacing Character ESC (SPACE) n...
  • Page 113 Character Sets, ESC R n n=0: 27 82 n 1B 52 n International USA n=1: French Select n=2: German international n=3: British n=4: character set Danish I n=5: Swedish n=6: Italian n=7: Spanish I n=8: Japanese n=9: Norwegian n=10: Danish II n=11: Spanish Ii n=12: Latin American n=13: French...
  • Page 114 Tabs, Horizontal Move to next horizontal tab stop Set horizontal ESC D n1...nk 27 68 n1...nk 0 1B 44 n1...nk 00 tab stops NUL n=1 to 255 (tab position) k=1 to 32 (number of tab stops) Clear all ESC D NUL 27 68 0 1B 44 00 horizontal tab...
  • Page 115 Fine line feed ESC J n n=0 to 27 74 n 1B 4A n (n/180-inch) Horizontal Dot ESC $ n1 n2 27 36 n1 n2 1B 24 n1 n2 Placement n1=0 to 255 Absolute n2=0 to 3 horizontal dot position Relative ESC n1 n2 27 92 n1 n2...
  • Page 116 Reassign ESC ? m n m=K, 27 63 m n 1B 3F m n graphics codes L, Y, or Z n=0: 8-pin, single density n=1: 8-pin, double density n=2: 8-pin, fast double density n=3: 8-pin, quadruple density n=4: 8-pin, CRT I n=6: 8-pin, CRT II n=32: 24-pin, single density...
  • Page 117 Miscellaneous, ESC > 27 62 1B 3E Most Significant Bit (MSB) Set 8th data bit to 1 Set 8th data bit ESC = 27 61 1B 3D to 0 Reset 8-Bit Mode ESC # 27 35 1B 23 Miscellaneous, Print Suppress Begin print suppress mode End print...

  • Page 118: Control Code Index

    Control Code Index Control Code Index This index is in two sections. The first section is arranged in sequence alphabetically by the ASCII control codes. The second section is grouped by control code function, following the same sequence used in Chapter 5.
  • Page 119 ESC B n1...nk 27 66 n1...nk 1B 42 n1...nk Set vertical tab stops ESC C NUL n 27 67 0 n 1B 43 00 n Set form length by inches ESC C n 27 67 n 1B 43 n Set form length by lines ESC D n1...nk 27 68 n1...nk 1B 44 n1...nk...
  • Page 120 ESC SPACE n 27 32 n 1B 20 n Set character spacing ESC t n 27 116 n 1B 74 n Select italics/graphics characters table ESC T 27 84 1B 54 End superscript/subscript ESC U n 27 85 n 1B 55 n Unidirectional printing ESC w n 27 119 n...
  • Page 121 ESC ? m n 27 63 m n 1B 3F m n Reassign graphics codes Form feed Horizontal tab Line feed Begin compressed printing Begin one-line double width printing Vertical tab ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )
  • Page 122 Appendix D Interfacing Interfacing This appendix will help you design a shielded interface cable that connects your printer to your computer. This requires some knowledge of electronics_signals, wiring, soldering, and crimping_to be designed properly. If youre not technically oriented, we recommend that you purchase a shielded interface cable from your dealer.

  • Page 123: Parallel Interfacing

    %Parallel Interfacing Parallel Interfacing The printer requires a Centronics-equivalent parallel cable with the following: Amphenol 57-30360 or AMP 552274-1 plug (or equivalent) with 36 pins AMP 552073-1 (or equivalent) cover Beldon (or equivalent) shielded cable with twisted pair conductors. It can't exceed 3 meters (10 feet) in length and must be UL and CSA approved.
  • Page 124 %Signals for Pin Assignments (Parallel): Signals for Pin Assignments (Parallel): Pin # Signal Return Pin # Direction Strobe To Printer Data 1 To Printer Data 2 To Printer Data 3 To Printer Data 4 To Printer Data 5 To Printer Data 6 To Printer Data 7...
  • Page 125 19-30 Ground 31ó I-Prime To Printer Fault From Printer Signal Ground 34-36 Not Used *50 mA maximum Pin 14 is controlled by the menu item Auto Feed XT in the Parallel Interface group. The factory setting of this item is Invalid, which means that the printer ignores the signal on pin 14. When this item is set to Valid, the signal on pin 14 controls automatic line feed (low = auto line feed).

  • Page 126: Rs232-C Serial Interfacing

    %RS232-C Serial Interfacing RS232-C Serial Interfacing To construct a cable for an RS232-C serial configuration, you will need: DB-25P equivalent 25-pin plug, shell equivalent to DB-C2-J9. Beldon (or equivalent) shielded cable with twisted pair conductors. Must be UL and CSA approved. The cable must be shielded.
  • Page 127 %Signals for Pin Assignments (RS232-C serial): Signals for Pin Assignments (RS232-C serial): Pin # Signal Symbol Direction Protective ground Transmitted data From printer Received data To Printer Request to send From Printer Not used Data set ready To Printer Signal ground 8-10 Not used Supervisory send data...
  • Page 128 %Serial Interface Test Serial Interface Test After youve made an interface cable for your computer and printer, you may want to spend a few extra minutes making a test connector. This test connector can be used to monitor the operation of the interface by isolating the printer from the computer.
  • Page 129 turning on the printer. Then change the setting for the item Diagnostic Test in group Serial Interface back to No. If you dont, each time you turn the printer off, then back on again, it will enter the test mode. ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )

  • Page 130: Appendix E Specifications

    Appendix E Specifications Specifications Print method Impact dot matrix Printhead 24-pin Print speed Utility 180 cps (characters per second) @ 12 cpi LQ 60 cps @ 12 cpi Characters per line at 10 cpi 80 at 12 cpi 96 at 15 cpi 120 at 17.1 cpi 137 at 20 cpi 160 Reliability...
  • Page 131 0.0028" to 0.0039" (0.07 to 0.1 mm) Continuous Forms Multipart (carbon lined or pressure sensitive) Weight 9 to 11 lbs. Number of copies Original plus 2 copies Thickness 0.083" (0.21 mm) maximum Multipart (interleaf) Weight Paper: 10 to 12 lbs. Carbon: 9 lbs.
  • Page 132 Specifications subject to change without notice. ML 380 ( 96-02-03 )

  • Page 133: Appendix G Glossary

    Appendix G Glossary Glossary Access cover. Generally, the top cover on the printer, providing access to the printhead for changing ribbons and clearing paper jams. Ascender. Printing above the normal top of a character. Sometimes also used to denote a character which is all above the baseline, i.e., has no descender.
  • Page 134 A basic unit of information consisting of 8 bits. One byte can represent any ASCII character or any number between 0 and 255. Cable. The term cable generally denotes an interface cable_the wire and connectors used to attach the printer to the computer.
  • Page 135 Driver. A printer driver is a file used to translate the printing requests of a software package into the commands of a specific printer. Elite. 12 cpi printing. Embedded commands. Embedded commands are printer commands placed within the body of a document created by a word processor, database program, spreadsheet, etc.
  • Page 136 Hexadecimal. A numbering system based upon 16 rather than 10. The letters A-F substitute for the decimal values 10-15. Hexadecimal is commonly used in computer programming because each digit represents exactly half a byte. This makes translation to and from binary easy and the notation takes less space than the equivalent decimal notation. Horizontal Tabs.
  • Page 137 A menu is a list of possible commands or characteristics with some means of making a selection. Printer menus reside in the printers read-only memory (ROM) and print the current value of each item on paper. Values are changed by stepping through the possibilities using buttons on the front panel. MODE.
  • Page 138 Resolution. The number of dots per inch (dpi) in a graphics pattern. Ribbon cartridge. The cartridge containing the printer ribbon. You should always make sure that the cartridge is correct for the printer and is properly seated. Your ML380 printing ribbon cleans and lubricates the head while printing, so using the wrong ribbon could actually damage your printhead.
  • Page 139 Standard sheet. The standard paper size is 8.5" by 11". Most printer defaults (margins, page length, top of form) are set for this standard. Subscripts. Characters, generally of a smaller size, printed below the normal character line and used for chemical formulae, fractions, and other related functions.

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