Microcom 410, Operator'S Manual

Page: 56 / 104

Printer Commands Chapter 5
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410 Operators Manual 50
5.3.7 SAVING FORMAT FILES COMMANDS
The printer has the capability to store a format file in RAM without processing it. Later,
this file can be accessed repeatedly at very high speeds, because access is now a
direct memory fetch. With the use of battery backed RAM socket, the printer will retain
these format files after the removal of power. The printer can be configured through
software dip switch 2 (see section 5.3) to automatically process the file at power up. The
printer treats these files exactly as if they were sent through the communication port.
^A ^D Command
XX 54 Send Saved Format File to Serial Port: ^A selects which one (1-8).
XX 58 Process Saved Format: ^A selects which user entered format (1-8) is to be
printed.
XX 59 Save Format File: ^A selects which slot (1-8) in which the user entered format is
to be placed. The format file must be terminated by an ESC (1B hex) character.
66 66 Initialize Storage Area for Format Files: Used when format files are to be
stored into Ram. This command must be issued before saving format files or
when saved format files need to be changed. There is no way to erase or change
one data stream, they must all be initialized. A ^A66 must precede this command.
USAGE:
Before sending the first format file, the RAM must be initiated by sending ^A66^D66<CR>.
This command sequence reserves an area of memory for format storage. When this
command is issued, all previously saved format files will be erased. Therefore, it also
works as a memory clear operation. Only use this command before sending the first file.
Next send the ^A1^D59<CR> command sequence. This indicates to the printer that file
#1 of a possible 8 is being sent to the printer. After this command, follows the format file.
The format file must be terminated with an escape character (1B hex) so that the printer
knows that the complete file has been sent down. The printer will not accept an ASCII
representation of the escape character.
To access the stored file, serially send ^A1^D58<CR>, where ^A1 indicates the number
of the file that is accessed. The printer will now process the stored file.
All proceeding files sent to the printer to be saved also receive the ^AX^D59 command,
where X denotes the number of the file. Be sure that the ^A66^D66 command is not sent
again. This will erase all stored files. These files can also be accessed through the
^AX^D58 command, where X denotes the number of the file to be processed.
It is important to note that the saved format file mode works very well with variable text.
Configure the format file with all the positioning data, header information and fixed text.
Terminate the file with an escape character. Select the saved format and send the