TransAct Epic Edge, Oem Integration Manual

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100-14444 Rev B August 2018 Page 63
Text Objects
A text object is simply a line of printable characters. A text object is created whenever
the Epic Edge™ receives a printable character that is not otherwise part of a command.
Once it is created, a text object will remain active until it is terminated.
While a text object is active, any printable characters sent to the Epic Edge™ will be
added to that text object. The only exceptions are printable characters that are sent as
part of a command. While a text object is active, commands that alter text line attributes
(such as font and double-high character commands) are ignored. Commands that alter
text character attributes (such as double-wide and inverse) may be sent at any time.
Line attributes include the five basic fonts (P, M, U, and T), plus the double-high font
command (
GS DC2
). These commands may not be issued while a text object is active;
instead they should be issued before a text object is begun. The text line attribute
persists until another font command is received. The double-high line attribute persists
either until the cancel double-high command (
GS DC3 ) is sent or the current font is
changed.
The character attribute commands include the set font to double wide (
SO ) and set
inverse print mode ( GS RS ) commands. These commands may be issued or canceled at
any time. Character attributes persist only until the end of a text object.
A text object can be terminated with a carriage return, a line feed, or both, in either
combination. If the length of the text object exceeds the space allowed for printing, it will
either wrap to the next line or truncate at the end of the printable area. The decision to
wrap or truncate is determined by the select line wrap/truncate mode command (
GS T ).
By default, text objects will wrap to the next line.
Bar Code Objects
A bar code object is created by the print bar code command ( GS k ). Specified within the
command is the symbology to be used, amount of data to be encoded, and data itself.
Other attributes of the bar code, such as height and width, can be set using other
commands.
The set bar code height command (
GS h ) specifies the height of the bar in increments of
1/8 mm. The maximum height for a bar code is 32 mm. In cases where a taller bar code
is needed, a second bar code can be printed below the first at the same left offset. The
set bar code module width (
GS w ) and set bar code element width ( GS W ) commands
can be used to alter the width of the bar code. See the command descriptions later in the
next section for a full explanation of the differences between these two commands.
The limitations of each symbology must be adhered to when sending data for a bar
code. For example, you should not send alphabetic characters to symbologies that only
accept numeric data (like the UPC/EAN symbology).
Other items must also be considered when printing bar codes:
(If any of these items are ignored, the printed bar code may be unreadable.)