AMT Datasouth 4500 Series manual PAL Quick Start, Establishing the Development Environment

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Applications Overview

PAL Quick Start

This section contains instructions for establishing communication with the printer to setup a PAL development environment for label applications. The development environment makes use of a terminal emulator program such as HyperTerminal. A text editor, such as Notepad, may also be used for typing and editing sample programs to be sent to the printer. The descriptions below assume an interactive environment, however the examples may be created using a text editor and saved for subsequent transmission to the printer using the send file command that is implemented in most terminal emulators.

After establishing the printer communications, the Label Tutorial provides instructional steps guiding the reader through a series of labels. Each label introduces a basic concept and builds on the preceding label. Upon completion of the tutorial, the reader will have constructed a label consisting of text in two orientations, a line, a box and a bar code.

For a deeper understanding of the concepts behind the sample label, please refer to subsequent sections of this manual as well as the PAL Programmer's Reference Manual.

Establishing the Development Environment

Before a label can be created and printed, it is necessary to establish communications with the printer and a means of sending command sequences to it. The following instructions describe how to establish communications:

The first step is to establish a reliable communication channel with the printer. Connect the printer to the host computer using a serial communication cable. For details, see the Data Communications section.

Power up the Codewriter Printer and wait for the "Online" message to appear.

Press the Line".

ONLINE

PAUSE key to take the printer off-line. The display will indicate "Off-

MENU

ITEM

Repeatedly press the key until "I/O Config" is displayed. Press the FEED key to set the Baud Rate, Flow Control, etc.

ONLINE

Press the PAUSE key to place the printer back on line.

Start a terminal emulation program such as HyperTerminal (Windows 95/98/NT) and set its communication settings to correspond to the printer's.

Test the communication channel by entering an undefined sequence to elicit an error response:

S[ENTER]

The printer should respond with

!undefined!

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Contents CodeWriter 4500 Series Operator’s Manual Page Warnung Warnung Adventercia Software Extended MaintenanceHardware Warranty Datasouth CodeWriter 4500 Disclaimer of WarrantiesDatasouth Table of Contents Contents Table of Figures CodeWriter 4500 Series Models IntroductionCodeWriter 4505 Front/Side View External Media Feed Slot Operator Panel Document Exit Tear BarCodeWriter 4500 Series Features Media Compatibility FeaturesGuide to the Operator’s Manual This Page Intentionally Blank Equipment Checklist Unpacking and Power UpQuick Start Guide Applying Power to the Printer Loading and Feeding Label Roll Media LoadingRibbon Take-Up Ribbon Supply Roll Ribbon Guide Bar Loading and Feeding the RibbonCodeWriter 4500 Series Operator Panel Operator Panel Media SettingsSet Label Parameters Without saving. Press the saving the changes Printer Model Print Speed 4505 100% 4505+ 4510 50% Set Print ParametersPrinting Test Labels Feature/Settings LabelPrint Test Label Quick Start CD Connecting the PrinterRunning the Quick Start CD Cable Connecting to a Personal ComputerConnecting the Cable Data CommunicationsMode COMx9600,n,8,1 Configuring the Personal ComputerSettings Control Panel Port Settings Value Bits per secondSending Data to the Printer Mode COMx9600,n,8,1 where x = the COM port numberType File.pal COMx Cable Examples Serial Port SpecificationsSeries Printer DCE Modem DB25 Connector Hardware Flow Control Flow ControlDSR Xon/Xoff Flow ControlSetting RTS Polarity Operator Panel Settings for Data CommunicationsSetting the Baud Rate Setting the Flow Control MethodSetting the Stop Bits Setting the DTR PolaritySetting the Parity Setting the Data BitsThis Page Intentionally Blank Setting the Document Dimensions Media SettingsDie-Cut Labels Notch or Hole Label Black Bar LabelsEnter to save new defaults. Press Programming the Label DimensionsPressing the settings Programming the Print Method Setting the Printing MethodPrint Speed and Darkness Setting the Print ParametersSpeed Darkness Setting Print Speed and DarknessAdjusting Print Position Forward Distance Presentation DistanceBar Code Orientation Bar Code QualityPicket Fence Horizontal Bar Code Ladder Vertical Bar Code Bar Code Print Settings This Page Intentionally Blank Display and Panel Keys Operator Panel ReferenceOff-line Menu Reference 80% 100% Percentage of the printer’s Accessing this parameterParameter Values Description Print Speed % Printing Speed as aLabel Parameters Config Revision are displayed Settings LabelSystem Params Firmware Part No Firmware part numberSystem Parameters Default Parameter ValuesConfiguration Print ParametersOff-Line Menu Map Removing the Ribbon Take-up Roll MaintenancePaper Path Cleaning Printhead CleaningHeater Line Location Response to Display Messages Troubleshooting GuideRemove Ribbon Print or CANCEL? Media Feed Fault Print or CANCEL? Halt Ribbon Wrinkling Causing Poor Print Print Quality IssuesFirst Part of Label Content is Missing Sides or Top of Label Content is MissingMissing Dots in Label PC Reports Write Fault Error Writing to Device COMx Data Communications IssuesHost System Does Not Report Errors, But Nothing Prints Controlling Hex Dump Mode Hex Dump ModeAdjusting the Gap Sensor Sensitivity Adjusting Sensor SensitivityPrinter is Displaying Media Feed Fault Message Adjusting the Black Bar Sensor Sensitivity Press the Pause key. This takes you to the off-line menu Adjusting the Ribbon Sensor Sensitivity Printer Displays Ribbon Out Message in Thermal Transfer Mode Verifying the Sensor Operation Key until the Enter to Select Diagnostics is displayedThis Page Intentionally Blank Printer Application Language PAL Applications OverviewLabel Genesis Fonts PAL Fonts and Bar CodesBar Code Bar CodesEAN-13 EAN13 Codabar Postnet Maxicode MSI Plessy Establishing the Development Environment PAL Quick StartUndo Ctrl/U Function Keystroke Hex ValuePAL will display the line as it Has been typed so farLabel Tutorial Hello World Label OutputPAL Command SequencePAL Coordinate System Printing a Line Applications Overview Label Output World!Hello Hello World PAL Command SequencePrinting a Bar Code Label Output WorldApplications Guide Physical SpecificationsPower Input and Output EnvironmentalProcessing MediaSerial Communications PrintingFlash Memory Management Advanced FeaturesHigh Speed Firmware Update Download Mode Auto-Baud Firmware Update Download ModeRelease Identification Message Pause PAL Application Bootstrap BypassPrint Darkness Control Setting Contrast and PreheatKey until Enter to Select Expert Settings is displayed Enter to save new defaults . PressAdvanced Features