Printronix P4280, Maintenance Manual

Page: 56 / 298

3–30 Troubleshooting
Hex Code Printout
Hex dumps list all ASCII character data received from the host computer
with their corresponding two–digit hexadecimal codes. (The ASCII character
set is on page 3–31.) You can use hex dumps to troubleshoot printer data
reception problems.
Printable characters print as the assigned symbol; nonprintable characters are
indicated by a period [.]. The letter [p] before a hex code indicates an active
Paper Instruction (PI) line. A blank space before a hex code indicates an
inactive PI line.
To make a hex printout:
1. On the control panel, press the ON LINE switch to place the printer
off–line. “Off–line Ready” displays.
2. Raise the printer cover.
3. On the control panel, press the UP and DOWN switches
simultaneously. “ENTER Switch Not Locked” briefly displays. (If
“Locked” displays, simply press UP and DOWN again.)
4. Press the DOWN switch. “Ribbon Life” displays.
5. Press the PREV switch. “Diagnostics” displays.
6. Press DOWN. “Configuration Print Out” displays.
7. Press NEXT until “Printer Data Stream in Hex Code” displays.
8. Press DOWN. “Off–Line Hex Dump” displays.
9. Press ON LINE. The display indicates that the printer is on–line in hex
dump mode (“On–Line Hex Dump”).
10. Send the data from the host — the data print in hex dump format.
(Any data remaining in the buffer will print before the hex code
printout starts.)
11. Press ON LINE again to stop the hex dump. The display reads
“Off–line Hex Dump”.
12. Press CLEAR. “Off–Line Ready” displays.