Microcom 438 - Manual (Page 27)

Designing Labels Using LDS Chapter 4
4-2 438 Operator’s Manual - 880052-0100
Figure 4-1 HyperTerminal™ Window Example
4.2.2 Format Creation
Special Control code functions (see Chapter 5, Special Control Codes) and/or label formats
may be entered directly through the keyboard but this is not the most efficient method if
entering a large amount of data or numerous commands. Large formats and/or numerous
commands should be entered in an ASCII text editor and then uploaded to the printer.
Microsoft® Notepad has been used for the creation of label designs in this manual because
it is simple to use and does not add formatting characters.
The LDS programming language uses thermal dots as the unit of measure. All commands
and parameters, unless noted otherwise, should be entered using dots. The 224 and 424
printers may be fitted with either a standard density 203dpi head, or a higher density 300dpi
print head.
These are the conversion values for each print head:
Print head Dots/mm Dots/inch Inch/Dot
203 8 203 0.0049
300 12 300 0.0033
EXAMPLE: To enter the width of a label that is 2” wide when using a 203dpi head, the
value entered would be 406 (2” x 203 dots/in. = 406).
The printer can accept either the one-character control code (“Ctrl + E” (HEX05)) or the two-
character caret (^) plus alpha character (“^E”). In other words, for a PC keyboard, the same
command can be generated either by holding down the “Ctrl” key and pressing the alpha
character or by entering the two characters; the “^” (the character generated when you
press the “Shift” key and the “6”) plus the alpha character. See Chapter 5 for additional
information regarding control codes and printer commands.