Data Dump Mode

The printer has a feature to find the cause of communication problems between the printer and application programs. In data dump mode a printout of the codes reaching the printer is produced.

1.To enter the data dump mode, hold down the FORM FEED and LINE FEED buttons at the same time while you turn on the printer.

2.Next, run either an application program or one you have written in any programming language. Your printer prints all the codes sent to the printer in hexadecimal format as shown below:

16 40 1B 52 00 16 74

01

 

18

50

18

70

00

.@.R..t..6..P.p.

20 20

54

68

69

73

20

 

 

6E

20

65

78

61

This is

an

exa

6D 70 6C 65 20 6F 66

 

 

61 74

61

20

64

mple of a data d

75 6D

70

20

70

72

69

 

 

74

2E

20

54

68

ump

printout.

Th

69 73

20

66

65

61

74

 

20

6D

61

68

65

73

is

feature

makes

OA 20 20

20

20

20

69

 

5 61

73

79

20

66

6F

 

it easy

io

3.To turn off the data dump mode, press the ON LINE button to take the printer off line, and then turn off the printer. (The data dump mode can also be cancelled by sending an INIT signal from the computer.)

Look at the data dump shown in Step 2. By comparing the characters printed in the right column with the printout of the hexadecimal codes, you can check what codes are being sent to the printer. If characters are printable, they appear as their true ASCII characters. Nonprintable codes, such as control codes, are represented by dots.

As an example of how to interpret a data dump printout, look at the first three hex codes on the second line of the printout sample (20 20 54). Each hex 20 represents a space, while hex 54 represents the letter T Check the second line of the right column and you will find the letter T preceded by two spaces.

The chart below interprets part of the first line of codes:

1

Hex codes

1

Command

1

Function

 

lB40

 

ESC @

 

Initialize printer

 

lB5200

 

ESC RO

 

Select USA character set

 

lB7401

 

ESC tl

 

Select Epson Extended Graphics

6-6

Troubleshooting