Unicode and Fonts
Page 208 100-88002 Rev B
Function Initiate Unicode UTF-8 Encoding (MBCS) All
ASCII [ESC] + M
Hexadecimal 1BH 2BH 4DH
Decimal <27> <43> <77>
Description The [ESC] + M command will put the printer into UTF-8 character
encoding mode of operation. If you wish to access characters above 255, You must
select a Unicode encoding such as UTF-8.
You must select a downloaded font, as described in this section, before issuing this
command.
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.
Note: Once selected, all information sent to the printer must then use this
encoding, even for non-print commands.
Scalar Value 1st Byte 2nd Byte 3rd Byte
000000000xxxxxxx 0xxxxxxx
00000yyyyyxxxxxx 110yyyyy 10xxxxxx
zzzzyyyyyyxxxxxx 1110zzzz 10yyyyyy 10xxxxxx
Function Initiate Unicode UTF-8 Text only Encoding (MBCS) All
ASCII [ESC] + T
Hexadecimal 1BH 2BH 54H
Decimal <27> <43> <84>
Description The [ESC] + T command will put the printer into UTF-8 Text only
character encoding mode of operation. This mode is identical to the UTF-8 mode
described above, except commands and there parameters are not UTF encoded. For
example the following command would be used to select underline on:
[ESC] W 128.
If true UTF-8 encoding were in effect, the 128 parameter would be UTF encoded to
[ESC] W 194 128. With UTF-8 Text only mode this command is simply [ESC] W 128.
Note: This command also applies to
g
raphic data bein
g
sent to the printer.
The graphic data is a command and not text. It is not UTF-8 encoded.