SATO M-8400RV Selecting Protocol Control Codes, Using Basic, Programming Reference, DSW2-7 on

Section 4. Programming Reference

These commands set the operational parameters of the printer, like “set the print speed to 3.”

<ESC> {Command} {Parameter} {Data}

Some commands can contain both Parameter and Data elements, such as “print a Code 39 symbol containing the data”.

SELECTING PROTOCOL CONTROL CODES

Protocol codes are the special control characters that prepare the printer to receive instructions. For example, the <ESC> character tells the printer that a command code will follow and the <ENQ> character asks for the printer status.

There are two pre-defined different sets of Protocol Control codes to choose from. Each set is made up of six special characters. The Standard Protocol Control codes are non-printable characters, and the Non-Standard Protocol Control codes are printable characters. The Non-Standard set may be useful on host computers using protocol converters or in an application where non-printable ASCII characters cannot be sent from the host. This manual uses the Standard Protocol Control codes for all of the examples. Alternately, the user may define and download a set of custom Protocol Control Codes (see Appendix E).

The Protocol Control codes are selected by a DIP switch DSW2-7 on the front panel (see Section 2: Printer DIP Switch Configuration, Page 2-15).

CONTROL	STANDARD	NON-STANDARD	DESCRIPTION
CHARACTER	DSW2-7 OFF	DSW2-7 ON
STX	02 Hex	7B Hex = {	Start of Data
ETX	03 Hex	7D Hex = }	End of Data
ESC	1B Hex	5E Hex = ^	Command code to follow
~	7E Hex	7E Hex = ~	Cutter command
ENQ	05 Hex	40 Hex = @	Get printer status, Bi-Com mode
CAN	18 Hex	21 Hex = !	Cancel print job, Bi-Com mode
Off-Line	40 Hex	5D Hex = ]	Take printer Off-Line

USING BASIC

It may be useful to test your printer using a BASIC program on a PC. You may also write your actual production programs in BASIC. Whatever the reason, if you will be working in BASIC, some of the following hints may help you get started:

1.Set the WIDTH of the output device to 255 characters to avoid automatically sending <CR> and <LF> characters after every line. The command string should be continuous and uninterrupted by <CR> and/or <LF> commands. The examples given in this manual are printed on separate lines because they will not fit on one line and do not contain any <CR> and/or <LF> characters. If these characters are needed, they are explicitly noted by the inclusion of <CR> and <LF> notations.

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