User-defined Characters

With this printer, it is possible to define and print characters of your own design. You can design an entirely new alphabet or typeface, create special characters for use as mathematical or scientific symbols, or create graphic patterns with user-defined characters to serve as building blocks for larger designs.

Below, you can see samples of typefaces created with the user- defined character function.

Note: To use user-defined characters, you must turn DIP switch 2-5 off.

You can make the task of defining characters easier by using a commercial software program that assists you in creating characters or simply supplies you with sets of characters already created. Also, some popular software programs make use of the printer’s user- defined character function to enhance printouts. (These characters are called download characters in some programs.)

The standard ASCII characters are stored in the printer’s Read Only Memory (ROM), and the user-defined characters are stored in the printer’s Random Access Memory (RAM).

D e s i g n i n g Y o u r C h a r a c t e r s

User-defined characters are like dot graphics because you send the printer precise instructions on where you want each dot printed. In fact, planning a user-defined character is like planning a small dot graphics pattern.

Software and Graphics4-17