Using the RS232C Serial Interface | SATO M-8400RV manual

Section 6. Troubleshooting

USING THE RS232C (SERIAL) INTERFACE

1.Is the RS232C Serial cable connected securely to your serial port on the PC (DB- 25S Male) and to the RS232C connector on the printer?

WARNING: Never connect or disconnect interface cables (or use a switch box) with power applied to either the printer or the host. This may cause damage to the interface circuitry and is not covered by warranty.

2.Is the cable defective? At the very least, you should be using a “Null Modem Cable,” which crosses pins in a specific manner. This should enable your printer to print. But we recommend that you eventually use a cable built to specifications as described in Section 5: Interface Specifications.

3.Check for obvious errors in the data stream. Remember that all print jobs for serial data must be framed by an STX and ETX. Again, see Section 5 if necessary.

4.If after sending your job to the printer, it only “beeps” (or displays a Framing Error message on the LCD panel) indicating a “framing error” message, you may have a configuration problem. There may be some inconsistencies with the Baud Rate, Parity, Data Bits, or Stop Bits in relation to your host computer. If you are confused as to what the printer’s current RS232 settings are, you may choose the SATO defaults (all DIP switches in the OFF position) to achieve 9600 baud, no parity, 8 databits, and 1 stop bit.

5.If you still are unable to get printer output, try the Hex Dump as described in Step 5 under the Centronics Interface troubleshooting. In this case, the printer monitors its RS232C interface for incoming data.

6.From the Hex Dump, if you are seeing extra 0D 0A (CR and LF) characters, and are using BASIC, refer to the beginning of the Command Code section. It provides hints for writing a SATO program in BASIC.

SATO M-8400RV

9001041 Rev. D

Page 6-3

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SATO M-8400RV manual Using the RS232C Serial Interface

Contents

Operator and Technical Reference Manual Sato M-8400RV 8400RV Printer OPERATOR’S Manual Preface Appendices Preface Table of Contents Programming Interface Specifications UPC-A/EAN-13 Preface This page left intentionally blank Compatibility Introduction Printer Overview 8400RV General Printer SpecificationsSpecification Potentiometer Adjustments Matrix Fonts Character Fonts UCC/EAN-128 BAR Codes Physical Power Requirements Accessory Optional Accessories Section Installation and Configuration Unpacking and Parts Identification Installation and Configuration Setting UP the Printer LCD Loading Labels or Tags Loading LABELS, Tags and Ribbon Installation and Configuration Installation and Configuration Loading the Ribbon Tape Ribbon Core Rewind Spindle Operator Panel LED, illuminated when there is a system fault such as LED, illuminated when ribbon motion sensor does notLED, illuminated when printer is ready to receive data Momentary switch. Pressing this key toggles Rear Panel Switches and Sensors Label Sensor Adjustment Setting Printer DIP Switch ConfigurationDSW1-1 DSW1-2 DSW1-3 DSW1-7 DSW1-8 DSW1-5 DSW1-6DSW2-1 DSW2-2 DSW2-7 DSW2-5DSW2-8 DSW3-1 DSW3-2 DSW3-8 DSW3-5DSW3-6 DSW3-7 Printer Adjustments Power on Print Darkness Setting User Mode Pitch Offset and Direction Print Speed AdjustmentLabel Feed Direction Sensor Position Pitch Direction Cancel Print Job Vertical Offset Setting Zero Slash SettingAuto Online Setting Horizontal Offset and Direction VERT. Offset Sensor Threshold Level Backing with Label Label Backing Only 0V to Less than GAP Input Label Only Eye Mark Less than 5V to Calendar Set Ignore CR/LF Calendar Print Darkness Type Exit Advanced ModeAdvanced Mode Counters COUNTERs Hd dsp cut life Exit Mode Print Size Print Size Direction Potentiometer Adjustments Offset Receive Buffer Hex Dump HEX Dump Diagnostic LabelsPrint Buffer Hex Dump Hex Dump Label Darkness Print Procedures Print Potentiometer Cleaning and Maintenance Sato SA070 Cleaning Kit Cleaning the Print HEAD, Platen and RollersCleaning the Print Head and Platen Supplies needed Cleaning the Rollers and Guides Cleaning the Sensors Replacing the Print Head Open the Top and Side Access doors Print Head Mounting Screw Head Latch Connector 250V 3A Fuse Replacing the Fuse This page left intentionally blank ESCCommand Data ESCCommandESCCommand Parameter Sato Risc Programming Language ESC Command Parameter Data Using BasicSelecting Protocol Control Codes Programming Reference Lprint E$A Open COM19600,E,8,1,CS,DS AS #1 Print Area New Base Reference Point = Maximum Print Width Label Width Label Width = 2 x 25.4 mm/in x 8 dpmm = 406 dots ESCH0050ESCV0200ESCB103100*SATO ESCAESCA3H426V0001New Base Reference Point = 832 dots 406 dots = 426 dots Sato Rotated Fields Command Default Settings Base =200 Point =800 Label Feed Direction =100 Command Codes MSI Bar Codes Input to Printer Printer Output With Incrementing UCC-128Without Incrementing Special Notes Command Function Command Structure ESCBWaabbbBar Codes, Expansion ESCBW02100 Bar Codes, Variable Ratio Command Structure ESCBTabbccddee You may use only one variable ratio bar code per label Code Expansion command seeIndividual bar code symbols ESCA3H100V0050 Command Structure ESCA3H-aaaaVbbbbBase Reference Point Panel. See Printer Configuration Printer configuration until a new Base Reference PointThis command may be used more than once in a print job Current Horizontal and Vertical Print Position commands see Characters, Custom-Designed Command Structure Store Command ESCTabccESCK1H903F Printer Input If the printer power is lost Character is affected by the following commandsCharacter Expansion see Character Pitch see Character Expansion Command Structure ESCLaabb This command will also affect the following commands This command will expand the following fontsUntil a new expansion command is specified Line and Box command, if used within the data stream, may Character, Fixed Spacing Command StructureSpacing XM, XS, XL and XB Label constraints or to enhance readability Character Pitch Command see Page 4-23. The character pitch is actually This command is affected by the Escl Character ExpansionCharacter Expansion command and this command together This command affects fonts U, S, M, XU, XS, XM, OA & OB see End of the print job unless a reset command is sent Reset to fixed spacingCharacter, Proportional Spacing Set to proportional spacing Special Note Command Structure ESC*aClear Print Jobs & Memory Continuous Forms Printing Command Structure None ESCWDH0100V0050X0600Y0400 Command Structure ESCWDHaaaaVbbbbXccccYddddCopy Image Area Image For the duplicate image seeWill not be printed Allowable ranges for these fields are as follows Command Structure ESCNULaaaa Cutter CommandOr label at a specified interval within a print job Between each cut Fonts U, S, M, OA, OB, XU, XS & XM Command Structure Font XU Pitch command see Page 4-26. The default is 2 dots between Expansion command seeCustom-Designed Characters command Default font ESC$a,b,c,d Font, VectorESC$=data ESC$A,100,200,0ESC$=123456 Value of 50 is used Pitch command can be used with Vector fontsFont width and height values include asenders, desenders Other space Fonts WB, WL, XB & XL Command Structure Font WB Character Pitch command see Character Expansion command seeExpansion rate is at least 3 times in each direction Characters may be enlarged through the use of the Escl Blank label or tag Form FeedESCAspaceESCZ Form Overlay, Recall Form Overlay, Store Loses power, the overlay must be sent againLabel image may be stored in this memory area at a time Overlay buffer Graphics, Custom Command Structure ESCGabbbcccdata Commands. Therefore, always design and locate your graphic Expansion commandCustom graphic cannot be enlarged by the Escl Character Custom graphic is not affected by either of the Rotation Graphics, PCX Command Structure ESCGPaaaaa,data Job ID Store Simply issue an Ascii CR at the end of each text line Command, you automatically select Font S with a CharacterJournal Print Expansion of 2x2. You also establish a base reference point ESCFWaabcccc Lines and BoxesESCFWaabbVccccHdddd ESCFW02H0200 Normal print direction It is recommended that all lines and boxes be specifiedMaximum allowable lengths are as follows LINE/BOX Line Feed Sato M-8400RV Mirror Image Command Structure ESCHhhhhESCVvvvvESCRMaaaa,bbbbTo be applied to a glass or other transparent surface Label #1 This command can be used with the ESC% Rotate Fixed Base All data preceding the command will be mirroredReference Point command see Page 5-66. It cannot be used With the Escr Rotate Moving Base Reference Point command To an On-Line status see Operator Panel in of this Off-Line mode as soon as the current print job is finishedOff-Line/Pause ESCBP123456789 Command Structure ESCBPn...nPostnet Print Darkness Escax Sets the print length to 14 356 mm ESC AR Resets the maximum print length to 7 178 mmPrint Length, Expanded It may be included in an independent data stream to specify Print length, or until the printer is repoweredSize of the maximum print area Escax Print Position ESCA3 commands Bbbb Print Quantity Command Structure ESCQaaaaaa Default As previously set in the printer configuration Placement Must be placed immediately after EscaCommand or through the Operator Panel Allowable Print Speed settings are as follows To print duplicate of the last label printed Repeat LabelDuplicate of the previous label will be printed Cycled off and back on since printing the previous label Changes specified within the current data stream Replace Data Partial EditESC0 ESCzero Sato M-8400RV ESC100,50 Command Structure ESCaaaa,bbbbReverse Image Orientation when designing and sending the Reverse Image Reverse image area is affected by the rotate commandsBefore the Form Overlay command in the data stream Maximum allowable settings are as follows Rotate, Fixed Base Reference Point Command Structure ESC%a Command is received Do not combine this command and the Escr Rotate commandDefault value See Page 4-70 in the same data stream Rotate, Moving Base Reference Point Escn command returns to the original base reference pointNormal Direction Escn Rotated Direction Escr Custom graphic is not affected by this command. Therefore Do not combine this command and the ESC% rotate commandSee Page 4-68 in the same data stream Always design and locate your graphic image to print ESCF001-001,04,03 Command Structure ESCFaaaabcccc,dd,eeSequential Numbering This command can not be used with the following commands Labels, we need 50 total labels. The commands would be asValue specified for Print Quantity see Page 4-61 should be Equal to the number of different sequential values desired Start/Stop Label Calendar Option Commands Placement Anywhere within the data stream Default None Command Structure ESCWPabbbThen be printed on the label. This command does not change Printer’s internal clock setting Sato M-8400RV ESCWAMM/DD/YY hhmm Command Structure ESCWAelementsCalendar Print Sato M-8400RV ESCWT9101311200 Command Structure ESCWTaabbccddeeCalendar Set Memory Card Option Commands Memory Card Function Clear Card Memory Command Structure ESC*a,bb Memory Card Function Expand Memory Area Command Structure ESCEXa Standard Print Dots Length 178 mm Expanded with Memory Card Function Fonts, TrueType Recall This command requires the Memory Card option. See your SatoExample ESCBJR1020201000004SATO Memory Card ESCBJDcccccddddee...e Memory Card Function Fonts, TrueType StoreESCBJ50 byte header ESCBJD5 byte hex memory offsetdata ESCYR,01 ESC/D,01,99 Command Structure ESCYR,aa ESC/D,bb,cc...cMemory Card Function Format/Field Recall Escyr Format/Field Recall command Command Structure ESCYS,aaESC/N,bb,ccMemory Card Function Format/Field Store ESCYS,01ESC/N,01,05 Memory Card Function Graphics, Custom Recall Command Structure ESCGRaaa Memory Card Function Graphics, Custom Store Command Structure ESCGIabbbcccddddata Esca Memory Card Function Graphics, PCX Recall Command Structure ESCPYaaa This command requires Memory Card option. See your Sato PCX Graphics Recall commandMemory Card Function Graphics, PCX Store ESCPIaaa,bbbbb,data Memory Card Function Initialize Command Structure ESCBJFaaaaaaaaPrepares the card to accept data Your local Sato representative for information Memory Card Function Slot Select Command Structure ESCCCa Memory Card Function Status PlacementMemory Card Example Example ESCLD,,,%,#,&,*,~,0,0 Custom Protocol Command Codes DownloadCommand Structure ESCLD,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i Protocol Command codes for that parameter will be used. See Is omitted between two commas, the default Non-StandardThis command must be sent as an independent data stream Preceding the Escz Stop code. No other commands can be Two-Dimensional Symbols ESCBX03080505000000001 Two-Dimensional Bar Codes Data Matrix, Data FormatCommand Structure ESCBXaabbccddeeefffghh Bit CRC Character SET Encoding Number Scheme ESCDC00006000 Two-Dimensional Bar Codes Data Matrix, Print Data Command Structure ESCFXaaabcccdddeee Two-Dimensional Bar Codes Data Matrix, Sequential NumberingPrint Data Command To print sequential numbered Data Matrix symbols Sato M-8400RV Example ESCBV1,2,3,123456789,222,333,MESSAGEESC Two-Dimensional Bar Codes MaxicodeCommand Structure ESCBVa,b,c,ddddddddd,eee,fff,gggg.....ESC Padded with exclamation point characters Secondary Message field ee...e must contain exactlyRs represents Hex 1E, Gs represents Hex 1D, Eot Represents Hex 04, ESC represents Hex 1B and Sp Command Function Printer Input Two-Dimensional Bar CodesOptimum configuration Dd andee are set to all zeroes, the printer will calculate Sato M-8400RV Interface Types Section Interface Specifications Receive Buffer Interface SpecificationsSingle Job Buffer Multi Job Buffer RS232C Serial Interface PIN Direction Signal Definition RS232C Interface Signals Data Streams Cable RequirementsOn/X-Off Flow Control Host Interconnection Printer BI-DIRECTIONAL Communications STX 2 Byte ID1 Status Byte6 Byte Label RemainingETX Status Response Status Byte Definition, Bi-Com Protocol Cable Connector Printer ConnectorSignal Level Centronics Parallel Interface PIN Direction Signal Description Accessory EXT Connector External Output Signal Types This page left blank intentionally Using the Centronics Parallel Interface Initial Checklist ESCA-DATA-ESCZ Troubleshooting Using the RS232C Serial Interface LED LCD Audible Error Condition To Clear Message Beep Error Signals A3H-aaaa AspaceZVbbbb Babbcccd Appendix a Command Quick Reference BXaabbccdd BWaabbbEeefffghh CSa Ddee FaaaabccccFWaaHbbbb FWaabbVccc GPaaaaa GabbbcccdataHaaaa IDaa RMaaaa,bbbb PaaQaaaaaa XccccYdddd WBaWLa XBa $a,b,c,d Rotate. Fixed Base Reference Point. Rotates printing$=data Data for Vector font #Ea Aaaa,bbbb ~aaaa @, nn...nWAelements WPabbb BJS GIabbbcccdd EXaGRcc PIaa,bbbbb A-12 9001041 Rev. D BAR Code Symbologies Appendix B BAR Code Specifications ESCB0bbcccd data d Ratio ESCBD0bbcccd data d CodabarESCD0bbcccd data d Character Set Code Command Structure Ratio ESCB1bbccc* dataESCBD1bbccc* data ESCD1bbccc* data Interleaved Two of Five I 2/5 Use the Line and Box command seeRatio ESCB2bbccc data ESCD2bbccc data Value of bb Narrow Bar Width Magnification Mils Factor Symbol= Width of narrow element in dots Mod 10 Check Digit CalculatingSteps to find the correct check digit ODD Even Check digit is automatically calculated for EAN-8 Command Structure ESCB4bbccc data ESCD4bbccc dataCode and the human readable text below the symbol B5bbccc data Industrial Two of FiveBD5bbccc data D5bbccc data ESCB6bbccc data Matrix Two of FiveESCBD6bbccc data ESCD6bbccc data Subset B for 789, then shift to Subset C for Command Structure ESCBGbbcccdd dataSee Code 128 Character Table on Page B-18 ESCBDAbbccc data d ESCBAbbccc data dESCDAbbccc data d Ccc Bar height in dots Data A-Z, -, ., Space, $, /, +, % Density Ratio Dimension Char/inch Mils Bar code UPC-E Bookland UPC/EAN Supplements UCC-128 Command Structure ESCBIbbcccd data B-16 9001041 Rev. D Command Structure Escbp data Data Matrix Command Structure Data FormatSequential Numbering ESCFXaaabcccdddeee Print Data ESCDCxxx...x Structure of this symbology Mode Postal Code Country Code Service Class Message Length Symbology Command Structure ESCBFaabbcddeeffffnnn...n Value Subset a Subset B Subset C Code 128 Character Table Code 128 Character Table Code 128 Character Table cont’d 9001041 Rev. D C-1 CUSTOM-DESIGNED Character ExampleSato M-8400RV ROW BIT MAP HEX Appendix C Custom Characters and Graphics 9001041 Rev. D C-3 Custom Graphics Example 9001041 Rev. D C-5 C-6 9001041 Rev. D 9001041 Rev. D C-7 PCX Graphics Example Removing and Unwinding the Roll InstallationLabel Rewinder Operator Setup Appendix D Optional FeaturesLabel Cutter General Operation Label Dispenser Routing Label Dispense Option Label Dispense Option is ready for use Error Description Indication Remedy Error HandlingPcmcia Memory Cards Description D-6 9001041 Rev. D Calendar D-8 9001041 Rev. D Description Download Command StructureParameter Standard Setting Alternate Setting Appendix E Custom Protocol Command Codes ResetDownload Procedure 9001041 Rev. D E-3 E-4 9001041 Rev. D