Communicating With the Printer | IBM EasyCoder 3400e specs

EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual

Communicating With the Printer

You are now ready to print labels by downloading data from the host to the printer. Downloading is the universal term used to describe the transfer of information from the host to any connected peripheral device, such as your printer. When you transfer data from your printer to the PC or host, you are performing a process called uploading.

You can use several methods to download information in your data collection system. The next sections describe different ways to communicate with the printer.

Using the PrintSet Software

Use the PrintSet application software to easily configure your printer from your PC. You can upload the current configuration settings, modify them, and then download them to your printer. PrintSet also lets you

•download graphics and fonts.

•print test labels using resident fonts, user-defined bitmap graphics, or resident bar code symbologies.

•allocate printer memory.

•download configuration files to multiple printers.

•use flash-based firmware (e series).

For help using PrintSet, refer to the online help portion of the application software.

Using Third-Party Software

You can use third-party software to set many of the printer parameters. You can configure the parameters that your software does not set by using the printer command set or the configuration DIP switches.

Use your third-party software to create label formats and convert graphics into a user- defined character (UDC) format that the printer can interpret. Refer to your third-party documentation and the IPL Programming Reference Manual (Part No. 066396) for more information.

Using Intermec Printer Language (IPL) Commands

You can create labels by downloading formats (designs) and data with IPL commands. You can use the printer to perform any function or activate any feature of the printer except for those features or functions that you set with the DIP switches. See the IPL Programming Reference Manual for more information.

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Contents

EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer Page Contents Inspecting the Printer Tools for Cleaning the Printer Optimizing and Maintaining Print Quality Using Test and Service Mode Procedures Printer Specifications A-3 Bar Code Symbologies Supported A-8 Extended Character Sets B-6Communication Protocols C-3 Printer Serial Port C-11 Full Ascii Table D-3 Full Ascii Control Characters Table D-5 ViiPage Warranty Information Safety SummaryBefore You Begin EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual Avertissement About This Manual What You Will Find in This ManualFor Information On Refer To Terms and Conventions TermsConventions Convention Description Other Intermec Manuals XiiiPage Getting Started Page Getting to Know Your Printer Back View LED Preparing the Printer for Installation Plugging In the PrinterTo plug in the printer Opening the Printer To open the printer Loading Media for Fanfold Printing To load media for fanfold printing Head lift lever Printing the Hardware Configuration Test Label To print the hardware configuration test labelHardware Configuration Test Label Connecting the Printer to Your System What the Hardware Configuration Test Label Tells YouIf a Hardware Configuration Test Label Does Not Print Connecting Your Printer to a PC Connecting the Printer to a PC Serial PortUse Intermec Cable Part Number To connect your printer to a PC serial port Connecting Your Printer to a Network Connecting the Printer to a PC Parallel PortTo connect your printer to a PC parallel port Connecting the Printer to an AS/400 Connecting Your Printer to a Network Connecting the Printer to a Mainframe Cabling in Noisy Electrical Environments Configuring the Serial Port for Communications To configure the printer serial portDIP Switch Setting Descriptions Parameter Description Bottom Bank Switch Number Verifying Printer Communications With Your System To verify communications with your system At the DOS prompt, type this command and press Enter Operating the Printer Page Learning How to Operate the Printer Understanding the Front Panel Understanding the Front Panel LEDs LED Using the Feed/Pause Button Printer Mode You Want To What to Do Loading Media Into the Printer Loading Roll Media for Straight-Through PrintingTo load the media Loading Roll Media for Straight-Through Printing Loading Media for Self-Strip Printing To load self-strip media Loading Media for Self-Strip Printing Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon To load thermal transfer ribbon Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon Setting the Media Sensitivity Number Setting the MSN for Intermec Media and Ribbon To print a software configuration labelSensitivity Media or Ribbon Number Description Setting the MSN for Other Media and Ribbon 3400e Printer Direct Thermal Media Sensitivity SettingsApproximate Sensitivity Maximum Numbers Setting Direct Thermal Media Print Speed Using the PrintSet Software Using Third-Party SoftwareUsing Intermec Printer Language IPL Commands Communicating With the Printer Printing a Test Label To print the test labelPage Maintaining the Printer Page Tools for Cleaning the Printer Inspecting the Printer Maintenance Schedule Printer Component Maintenance Period Locating the Printer Parts You Need to Maintain Cleaning the Printhead To clean the printhead Cleaning the Printer Covers Cleaning the Printhead Cleaning the Drive Roller and Tear Bar To clean the drive roller and tear bar Cleaning the Media Guides and Media Path To clean the media guides and media path Cleaning the Label Sensors To clean the label sensors Cleaning the Label Sensors Page Troubleshooting Page Troubleshooting Checklist Printer Operation ProblemsTroubleshooting Symptom Possible Causes Solution Print Quality Problems Troubleshooting Printer Operation ProblemsSymptom Possible Causes Solution Symptom Possible Causes Communication Problems and Preventing Data Loss Troubleshooting Print Quality Problems To check for communication problems Optimizing Printer Performance Page Optimizing and Maintaining Print Quality Correcting Uneven Print Quality To adjust the bias adjust screw Adjusting the Print Darkness To adjust the print darkness Adjusting the Label Mark Sensor To adjust the label mark sensor Platen roller Using the Printer Memory Efficiently How Is the Printer Storage Memory Used?Making the Most of Your Memory What Is an Image Band? How the Image Bands Command WorksIncreasing Throughput Optimizing Print Speed and Image Band Setting To optimize the number of image bands for your print speed Using Test and Service Mode Page Using Test and Service Mode Procedures To enter Test and Service modeTo exit Test and Service mode Test and Service DIP Switch Settings Tests Using Data Line Print To enter Data Line Print modePrinting Test Labels To print a test label Setting Configuration Commands in Test and Service Mode Resetting the Memory on Your PrinterTo use memory reset Setting the Number of Dot Increments Configuration DIP Switch Settings Bottom Bank Adjusting the Label Rest Point To set the number of dot increments To adjust the label rest point Top Bank Setting Emulation Mode To set the printer to Emulation mode using DIP switchesSetting Description Using Forms Adjust Format Forms Adjust To set the X forms adjust To set the Y forms adjust Specifications Page Printer Specifications Specifications Printhead 200 dpi Printhead 400 dpiRibbon Printing Speed Media Number Description Minimum Maximum Printer Options Communication InterfaceFinishers Specifications Signal Pin Return Direction Description Bar Code Symbologies Supported Hibc 2D Symbologies 2D Stacked Symbologies2D Matrix Symbologies EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual Character Sets Page International Character Sets Advanced Character Table Emulation Mode Character Table IBM Translation Character Table Code Page 850 Character Table Extended Character Sets 10 x 14 Standard Monospace fonts 6 point to 36 point OCR a Characters in Font C24 Page Communications Reference Page Communication Protocols Intermec Standard ProtocolPrinter Status Character XON/XOFF Protocol Software and Hardware Flow Control Polling Mode D XON/XOFF, No Status ProtocolMulti-Drop Protocol User-Defined Protocol Character Protocol Affected Communications Interfaces Host RequirementsCommunications Boundaries RS-232 Serial Interface RS-422 Serial Interface RS-485 Serial InterfaceInterface Pin No Name Operation RS-232 Null Modem Cable for PC/XT Part Number RS-232 Null Modem Cable for PC/AT Part Number RS-422 Intermec Pin Assignments PIN Plug D-SUB Metal Backshell Printer Serial Port Page Full Ascii Table Page Full Ascii Table Full Ascii TableBinary0 Hex1 Dec2 C393 Binary0 Hex1 Dec2 C393 Full Ascii Control Characters Table Control Character DefinitionPage Glossary Page Configuration Data Line Print modeGlossary G Backing Emulation mode Direct thermalFeed/Pause Field Glossary G Graphic Human-readable Image bandsImaging Ips EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual Margin MediaMnemonic code Multi-Drop protocol Polling Mode D protocol Glossary G Point sizePrint speed Printhead Symbology EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual ScanSelective transfer Self-strip User-Defined Characters UDC User-Defined Fonts UDFVariable data field XON/XOFF protocolPage Index Page Numbers Index EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual LED RAM XON/XOFF