Datamax-O'Neil microFlash 2te Quick Reference Programming Guide - Manual (Page 14)

10
Using Easy Print
Mode
Overview
The Easy Print protocol is much more than just a printing protocol. In its most basic form,
Easy Print mode allows the user to send and execute commands. As part of the command
execution, the printer may return data to the host. In addition to printing, commands also
allow paper motion, configuring, and control of peripherals such as the magnetic and smart
card readers.
All commands begin with an opening "left curly bracket" or '{' (ASCII 0x7C) and end with a
closing "right curly bracket" or '}' (ASCII 0x7D). The commands immediately follows the
opening bracket '{'. A colon ':' separates the command from the data that follows. The
general format of any Easy Print command is: {[COMMAND]<:DATA>}.
Easy Print mode controls the printer down to a single dotline. At the printer's resolution of 8
dots per mm, or approximately 200 dots per inch, one dotline is approximately .005". Most
dimensions in Easy Print are in dotlines. For example, a simple command that allows paper to
advance or retract would be {AHEAD:200} or {BACK:50} (the command AHEAD or BACK is
followed by the number of dotlines to move paper).
COMMAND MEANING
ORIGINAL
MF2/MF3/3t/4t
Radio Ready
2t/3l/4t
PAPER MOVEMENT
AHEAD:nnn Advances paper by nnn dotlines X X
BACK:nnn Retracts paper bu nnn dotlines X X
S Status (returns a fixed status string) X X
SWITCH PROTOCOLS
DP Puts printer into configured default protocol X
LP Puts printer into Line Printer mode X X
ESC Synonym for LP X
EMZn Puts printer into emulation mode EMZn
(where n=1, 2, 3, etc.) X
EMCn Puts printer into emulation mode EMCn
(where n=1, 2, 3, etc.) X
EMPn Puts printer into emulation mode EMPn
(where n=1, 2, 3, etc.)
PRINTING
TP Prints a self-test printout (does not require
any data) X X
PRINT:data Prints the data received. Note that the data
must be in a particular format (see AN07
for Printing With Easy Print) X X
DOWNLOADING FONTS AND GRAPHICS
Easy print is used for downloading fonts and graphics. It is best to use the Windows Configuration
Program or the OPDI Suite for downloading, rather than attempt to write the code yourself. Other
application notes describe this process in detail.
CONFIGURATION
Easy Print is used to set configuration values into the printer. More detailed information is available in
other application notes.