Star Micronics Printer LC 6211 User Manual

USERS MANUAL  
LC-6211  
DOT MATRIX PRINTER  
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HF 80825040  
About this manual  
This manual describes how to set up, use, and care for the Star LC-6211 printer.  
The following is a list of what you can expect to find in each chapter.  
Chapter 1  
Choosing a place for your printer, unpacking and setup,  
ribbon cassette installation, loading paper, connecting to  
your printer  
Chapter 2  
Chapter 3  
How to use the control panel  
How to use the printers Electronic DIP Switch (EDS)  
Mode to set up the printer to match the needs of your  
system and software  
Chapter 4  
Chapter 5  
Selecting the best type of paper, adjusting for paper  
thickness, manual sheet feeding, clearing paper jams  
How to set up for printing with MS-DOS  
Appendix A How to deal with printing problems  
Appendix B Specifications  
Appendix C Interface information  
Appendix D Character sets  
Appendix E Printer control codes  
Appendix F  
Glossary  
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Contents  
Chapter 1: Printer Setup … 1  
Choosing a place for the printer … 1  
Unpacking the printer … 2  
General guide … 3  
Installing the platen knob … 4  
Opening the front cover … 4  
Installing the ribbon cartridge … 5  
Removing the ribbon cartridge … 6  
Connecting to a power outlet and turning power on and off … 7  
Loading paper … 8  
Printing on fanfold paper … 12  
Parking fanfold paper … 12  
Unparking fanfold paper … 13  
Using the tear-off function … 13  
Connecting to your computer … 14  
Chapter 2: Control Panel Operations … 16  
Switching between on-line and off-line … 16  
Paper loading … 17  
Line feed … 17  
Paper eject (cut-sheet paper) … 17  
Form feed (fanfold paper) … 17  
Parking fanfold paper … 18  
Micro feed … 18  
Setting the top of form position … 18  
Clearing a top of form setting … 18  
Setting the printing speed … 19  
Tear-off function … 19  
Chapter 3: Using the EDS Mode … 20  
Entering the EDS Mode … 21  
EDS Mode Settings … 22  
RAM Usage … 22  
Graphics Direction … 22  
Tear-off … 22  
Auto LF with CR … 22  
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Paper Out … 23  
Line Spacing … 23  
Strobe Timing … 23  
Print Mode … 23  
Banking Character … 24  
Zero style … 24  
Character Table … 24  
Page Length … 24  
Chapter 4: Paper Handling … 25  
Selecting paper types … 25  
Cut-Sheet Paper … 25  
Fanfold Paper … 25  
Adjusting for paper thickness … 26  
Automatic fanfold feeding … 27  
Manual sheet feeding … 27  
Clearing paper jams … 30  
Chapter 5: Using the Printer with MS-DOS … 31  
Setting up for printing with MS-DOS … 31  
Appendix A: Troubleshooting … 32  
Appendix B: Specifications … 41  
Appendix C: Interface Pin Outs … 43  
Appendix D: Character Sets … 44  
Appendix E: Printer Control Codes … 46  
Appendix F: Glossary … 50  
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1
Chapter 1: Printer Setup  
This chapter contains important information on setting up your printer. Be sure  
to read this chapter carefully before using the printer for the first time. In this  
chapter you will learn about:  
Choosing a place for the printer  
Unpacking and setting up the printer  
Installing the ribbon cassette  
Loading paper  
Connecting to your computer  
Choosing a place for the printer  
Before actually unpacking the printer, you should take a few minutes to think  
about where you plan to use it. Remember the following points when doing this.  
Choose a firm, level surface where the printer will not be exposed to  
vibration.  
The power outlet you plan to connect to for power should be nearby and  
unobstructed.  
Make sure that the printer is close enough to your computer for you to  
connect the two with your printer cable.  
Allow six inches (15 centimeters) of free space on either side of the printer.  
If you are going to use fanfold paper, make sure that there is adequate space  
for paper behind the printer.  
Make sure that the printer is not exposed to direct sunlight.  
Make sure that the printer is well away from heaters.  
Make sure that the surrounding area is clean, dry, and free of dust.  
Make sure that the printer is connected to a reliable power outlet. It should  
not be on the same electric circuit as copiers, refrigerators, or other  
appliances that cause power spikes.  
Use a power outlet that matches the power rating noted on the label affixed  
to the bottom of your printer.  
Make sure that the room where you are using the printer is not too humid.  
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2
Printer Setup  
Unpacking the printer  
Check to make sure that the carton contains each of the items shown in the  
following illustration.  
Platen knob  
Ribbon cartridge  
Printer  
Users manual  
If anything is missing, contact the store where you bought the printer and ask  
them to supply the missing part.  
A serial-to-parallel interface converter (SPC-8K) is also available as an option.  
Consult with your dealer for details.  
Note:  
It is a good idea to keep the original box and all the packing materials just in  
case you later need to pack the printer up again and send it somewhere at a  
later date.  
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General guide  
3
General guide  
The following illustrations show the major component parts of the your printer.  
Front cover  
Adjustment lever  
Paper guide  
Power switch  
Platen knob  
Interface connector  
Control panel  
Tractor unit  
Release lever  
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4
Printer Setup  
Installing the platen knob  
The platen knob is packed into a recess in the packaging material.  
Install the knob on the shaft located inside the large hole on the right side of  
the printer. Make sure that the flat side of the shaft is aligned with the  
corresponding flat surface inside the knob’s spindle. Press the knob  
carefully but firmly into place as far as it will go.  
Opening the front cover  
Hook your fingers under the two small tabs on either side of the front cover  
and pull forward and up to swing the front cover open.  
Front cover  
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Installing the ribbon cartridge  
5
Installing the ribbon cartridge  
Make sure that printer is unplugged from its power outlet.  
Open the front cover of the printer.  
By hand, move the cartridge holder to the center position of the paper guide  
where there is a cutout to allow easy installation and removal of the ribbon  
cartridge.  
Cartridge holder  
Important!  
Never try to move the print head while the printer is plugged into a power  
outlet. Doing so can damage the printer. If you have just used the printer, let  
the print head cool for a few minutes before you touch it.  
Remove the ribbon cartridge from its package.  
Rotate the knob on the ribbon cartridge clockwise to take up any slack in  
the ribbon.  
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6
Printer Setup  
Carefully place the cartridge onto the cartridge holder making sure that the  
spindle of the holder fits into the socket on the bottom of the cartridge.  
Press down gently but firmly on the cartridge until it snaps securely into  
place.  
Rotate the knob on the cartridge again to take up any slack.  
Close the front cover of the printer.  
Important!  
Printing that is poor quality or too light is almost always due to a ribbon that is  
simply worn out or “used up.” If you experience problems with print quality,  
check the condition of the ribbon. If the black part looks gray and well-worn,  
replace the ribbon with a new one.  
Removing the ribbon cartridge  
Use the following procedure to remove the ribbon cartridge from the printer  
when you want to replace it with a new one.  
Make sure that printer is unplugged from its power outlet.  
Open the front cover of the printer.  
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Connecting to a power outlet and turning power on and off  
7
By hand, move the cartridge holder to the center position of the paper guide  
where there is a cutout to allow easy installation and removal of the ribbon  
cartridge.  
Important!  
Never try to move the print head while the printer is plugged into a power  
outlet. Doing so can damage the printer. If you have just used the printer, let  
the print head cool for a few minutes before you touch it.  
Using your thumb and forefinger to squeeze the two tabs on the ribbon  
cartridge towards the center, carefully remove the cartridge from the holder.  
Use the procedure under “Installing the ribbon cartridge” on page 5 to  
install a new cartridge.  
Connecting to a power outlet and turning power on and off  
Plug the power cord of the printer into a standard power outlet whose  
voltage matches the power rating noted on the label affixed to the bottom of  
your printer.  
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8
Printer Setup  
Set the switch on the front of the printer to ON to turn power on, and to  
OFF to turn power off.  
OFF  
O
ON  
I
Important!  
We recommend that you unplug the printer from the power outlet whenever you  
do not plan to use it for long periods. Because of the this, you should locate the  
printer so that the power outlet it is plugged into is nearby and easy to access.  
At this point you may want to perform a test of the printer to make sure it is  
working properly. See “Testing the Printer” on page 32 for details on how to  
perform tests.  
Loading paper  
This section tells you how to load fanfold paper. Note that you can also use cut-  
sheet paper and multi-page form paper. For details on using other types of paper,  
see “Paper Handling” on page 25 of this manual.  
Position the stack of paper behind the printer.  
Unplug the printer from its AC power supply.  
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Loading paper  
9
Set the release lever on the back of the printer to the fanfold position.  
Fanfold  
Cut-sheet  
Release lever  
Set the adjustment lever to the value that matches the thickness of the paper  
you are using. The setting for normal paper is 1. Set the lever to a larger  
value for thicker paper, or to a smaller value for thinner paper. See the table  
on page 27 for details.  
7
5
Adjustment lever  
3
1
Unlock the tractor on the left (when viewing the printer from behind) by  
pulling its gray lever up, and adjust the position of the left tractor.  
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10 Printer Setup  
Note that there is a guide inside the printer in front of the left tractor. The ▼  
mark of the guide indicates where the left margin of the printing will be.  
Once the left tractor is aligned the way you want it, push the gray lever  
back down to lock it in place.  
Now move the tractor on the right to the approximate position of the right  
side of the paper you are using. Pull its gray lever up to unlock it, and push  
the lever back down to lock it into place. Also move the center paper  
support so that it is approximately halfway between the two tractors.  
Sheet guide  
Pin tractor  
Open the covers of both tractors and align the paper so that the pins on the  
tractors are inserted into the holes of the paper.  
Close the tractor covers. At this point you can make final adjustments to the  
paper position by releasing the gray levers and moving the tractors. After  
making these adjustments, be sure that you re-lock the tractors by pushing  
the gray levers back into their original positions.  
Plug the printer back into its AC power source. The printer will beep a  
number of times to indicate that paper is not loaded properly.  
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Loading paper 11  
Press the control panel’s SET/EJECT/PARK button and the paper will  
feed to the starting position.  
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12 Printer Setup  
Printing on fanfold paper  
When printing on fanfold paper, take care not to print too close to the  
perforations that separate each sheet. The following shows the recommended  
print area for fanfold paper and cut-sheet paper.  
Fanfold paper  
4 mm (0.16")  
Cut-sheet paper  
4 mm (0.16")  
18 mm  
(0.7")  
18 mm  
(0.7")  
5 mm  
(0.2")  
(0.2")  
5 mm  
4 mm (0.16")  
4 mm (0.16")  
Perforation  
6 mm (0.25")  
Bottom of  
Form  
6 mm (0.25")  
Parking fanfold paper  
It is not necessary to remove fanfold paper currently loaded in the printer in  
order to print on cut-sheet paper fed by hand. Instead, simply use the following  
procedure to park the fanfold paper.  
Tear off the paper at a perforation so there is no more than half a page  
sticking out of the front cover of the printer.  
If necessary, you can press the control panel’s ON LINE button to put the  
printer on-line. and then use the SET/EJECT/PARK button to feed the  
paper until a perforation is just past the front cover.  
Press the control panel’s ON LINE button to put the printer off-line.  
Press the control panel’s SET/EJECT/PARK button. The printer  
automatically reverse feeds the fanfold paper until it is no longer in contact  
with the platen.  
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Unparking fanfold paper 13  
Set the release lever on the back of the printer to the cut-sheet position.  
The paper is now parked, and you can load cut-sheet paper into the printer  
using the procedures under “Manual sheet feeding” on page 27.  
Unparking fanfold paper  
After you are finished printing on cut-sheet paper, use the following procedure  
to unparkin fanfold paper and make it available for printing.  
If any cut-sheet paper is still in the printer, put the printer off-line and then  
press the control panel’s SET/EJECT/PARK button to eject it.  
Check to make sure the printer is off-line.  
Set the release lever on the back of the printer to the fanfold position.  
Press the control panel’s SET/EJECT/PARK button. The printer  
automatically feeds the fanfold paper back into position, ready for printing.  
Using the tear-off function  
The following procedure makes it easy to tear off fanfold paper without  
disturbing the current position of the paper.  
Check to make sure that the printer is on-line.  
Press the control panel’s SET/EJECT/PARK button.  
The printer feeds the perforation of the fanfold paper to the tear-off edge of  
the printer cover.  
Tear off the paper.  
When you resume printing, the printer reverse feeds the paper to its former  
position.  
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14 Printer Setup  
Connecting to your computer  
The computer sends data to the printer through a cable. This printer does not  
come with a cable, so you must purchase one of your own. You will probably  
want to use a standard parallel cable for connection, but note that you can also  
use an optional serial-to-parallel interface converter (SPC-8K).  
Important!  
The following instructions apply to the Centronics parallel cable that is used  
with an IBM-compatible personal computer. Note that they do not apply to all  
types of computers and cables. If you are unsure about what type of cable you  
should use to connect with your computer, consult with your dealer.  
For an IBM-compatible personal computer:  
Use a standard 36-pin Centronics parallel cable.  
The parallel cable should be no longer than six feet (two meters). Longer  
cables can result in poor transfer of information.  
Important!  
Make sure that the printer is unplugged from the AC outlet and that the  
computer is switched off before connecting them.  
Plug one end of the parallel cable into the parallel port of your computer.  
The parallel port should be labelled “Printer,” “Parallel,” “PRN,” “LPT1,”  
or something similar.  
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Connecting to your computer 15  
Plug the other end of the parallel cable into the socket on the side of the  
printer and secure it in place with the clips.  
Note:  
Consult with your dealer for details on how to set up your computer when  
using the optional SPC-8K serial-to-parallel interface converter.  
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16  
Chapter 2: Control Panel Operations  
The control panel gives you push-button control over the printer’s power and  
paper feed operations. It also includes indicator lights that tell you the current  
status of the printer at a glance.  
POWER  
NLQ  
MICRO FEED  
SET/EJECT LINE  
PARK  
FEED ON LINE  
FORM FEED  
This chapter describes general functions that can be performed using the control  
panel buttons while the printer is turned on and either on-line or off-line. The  
buttons perform different functions in the EDS and Dot Adjustment Modes.  
Functions of control panel buttons in these modes are described in the sections  
covering them.  
Important!  
The procedures described in this chapter will not work if paper is not loaded  
into the printer. Be sure to use the procedures on page 8 of this manual to load  
paper before trying any of the following operations.  
Switching between on-line and off-line  
Press ON LINE to switch the printer between being on-line and off-line.  
When the printer is in on-line, the ON LINE indicator is lit and the printer  
can receive data from the computer. This means that you should make sure  
that the printer is on-line whenever you are trying to print.  
When the printer is in off-line, the ON LINE indicator goes out, which  
means that the printer cannot receive any data.  
Important!  
Make sure that the on-line/off-line setting of the printer is correct before  
performing any other control panel operations.  
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Paper loading 17  
Paper loading  
Prepare either cut-sheet or fanfold paper for feeding.  
For details on how to prepare for paper feeding, see page 8 for fanfold paper  
and page 27 for cut-sheet paper.  
The POWER indicator flashes to indicate there is no paper in the printer.  
Press SET/EJECT/PARK to feed the paper into the printer.  
Line feed  
Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit).  
Press LINE FEED once to feed paper one line. Holding down LINE FEED  
continually feeds paper, one line at a time, until you release the button.  
Paper eject (cut-sheet paper)  
Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit).  
Press SET/EJECT/PARK to eject the paper.  
After the paper is ejected, the printer will beep and the POWER indicator  
will flash to indicate there is no paper in the printer.  
Later, you can press SET/EJECT/PARK again to feed the paper back into  
the printer.  
Form feed (fanfold paper)  
Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit).  
While holding down LINE FEED, press ON LINE to feed the paper to the  
top of the next page.  
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18 Control Panel Operations  
Parking fanfold paper  
Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit).  
Press SET/EJECT/PARK to eject the paper.  
After the paper is ejected, the printer will beep and the POWER indicator  
will flash to indicate there is no paper in the printer.  
Later, you can press SET/EJECT/PARK again to feed the paper back into  
the printer.  
Micro feed  
Use the following operation to feed the paper in very small increments. This  
makes it possible to align the print head exactly where you want it.  
Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit).  
While holding down ON LINE, press LINE FEED to feed the paper  
forwards or SET/EJECT/PARK to feed the paper backwards.  
Setting the top of form position  
The current position of paper loaded in the printer is automatically set as the top  
of the page whenever you turn power on. You can also use the following  
procedure at any time to specify a different position as the top of the page.  
Prepare either cut-sheet or fanfold paper for feeding.  
Press SET/EJECT/PARK to feed the paper into the printer.  
Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit).  
Use the micro feed operations (see above) to move the paper so that the  
print head is located where you want the new top of form position to be.  
While holding down SET/EJECT/PARK, press LINE FEED.  
The printer will beep once to indicate that a new top of form position has  
been set.  
Clearing a top of form setting  
While holding down SET/EJECT/PARK, press LINE FEED.  
The printer will beep three times to indicate that the top of form position has  
been cleared.  
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Setting the printing speed 19  
Setting the printing speed  
Make sure the printer is on-line (ON LINE indicator is lit).  
Press the control panel’s LINE FEED button to switch between NLQ  
(NLQ indicator is lit) and draft (NLQ indicator is not lit) printing.  
NLQ printing provides high quality, but is somewhat slower. Draft printing  
is quicker, but the quality is not as good as NLQ.  
Tear-off function  
This procedure feeds fanfold paper to a position where it can be torn off easily.  
Make sure the printer is on-line (ON LINE indicator is lit).  
Press the control panel’s SET/EJECT/PARK button.  
Tear off the paper.  
When you resume printing, the printer reverse feeds the paper to its former  
position.  
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20  
Chapter 3: Using the EDS Mode  
The letters “EDS” stand for “Electronic DIP Switches.” Just like the small DIP  
switches that are used by many computers, printers, and other devices, the EDS  
lets you configure the printer so that it matches your system and software needs.  
This chapter describes how to enter the printer’s EDS Mode and provides details  
about available settings and how to change them.  
The following table shows the three categories of EDS settings that are  
available, along with the actual settings under each category.  
Category  
Setting  
RAM Usage  
On  
Input Buffer  
Off  
General  
Download Buffer  
Uni-directional  
Enabled  
Enabled  
Disabled  
1/8-inch  
Graphics Direction  
Tear Off  
Bi-directional  
Disabled  
Disabled  
Enabled  
1/6-inch  
Normal  
Auto LF With CR  
Paper Out  
Line Spacing  
STROBE Timing  
Print Mode  
Reverse  
NLQ  
Font  
Draft  
Banking Character  
Zero Style  
Disabled  
Normal  
Enabled  
Slashed  
Italic  
Character Table  
Graphics  
Page Length  
11  
8”  
11.7  
12  
8.5  
14  
/Letter (default setting)  
/A4  
/letter  
/Legal  
10.5  
7.25  
/Executive  
/Executive  
3.5  
5.5  
All switch settings are ON when the printer is shipped from the factory.  
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Entering the EDS Mode 21  
Entering the EDS Mode  
Turn off the printer.  
Make sure that paper is loaded in the printer.  
While holding down the control panel’s SET/EJECT/PARK button, turn  
the printer back on.  
This causes the following message to be printed.  
Note:  
The paper is not fed after the message is printed, so you will have to open up  
the printer’s front cover to read it.  
Press SET/EJECT/PARK to answer “Yes” or LINE FEED to answer  
“No” for each option as it appears on the printout. Each time you reply,  
printer prints the next setting.  
To jump to the next category at any time, press ON LINE.  
After you are finished making the EDS settings you want, hold down ON  
LINE and press LINE FEED.  
This exits the EDS Mode and registers all of the changes you have made.  
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22 Using the EDS Mode  
EDS Mode Settings  
RAM Usage  
Specify whether RAM should be used as an input buffer or as a download  
buffer.  
Selecting Input Buffer tells the printer to use available RAM to store data it  
receives from the computer. This speeds up the printing operation, but it also  
means that RAM cannot be used to store character patterns used to define down  
loaded characters. Selecting Download Buffer tells the printer to use available  
RAM to store character patterns you define using the download character  
control codes (page 48).  
Graphics Direction  
Select either unidirectional (Uni-direction) or bidirectional (Bi-direction)  
printing for graphics.  
Bidirectional printing is faster, while unidirectional printing generally provides  
better print quality.  
Tear-off  
Enable or disable the tear-off function.  
Selecting Enabled for this switch lets you use the tear-off function with fanfold  
paper. Selecting Disabled causes this function to be switched off. Note that this  
setting controls tear-off function control from application software only. It does  
not affect the manual tear-off function using control panel buttons described on  
page 13. The manual tear-off function is always enabled.  
Auto LF with CR  
Enable or disable auto LF with CR.  
When Disabled is selected for this switch, the computer must send both a line  
feed code and a carriage return code at the end of each line. Most applications  
do this automatically. When Enabled is selected, the printer automatically  
performs a line feed whenever it receives a carriage return from the computer.  
Note the following check points when trying to figure out which setting to use  
here:  
If you find that your output is double-spaced when it should not be, change  
this setting to Disabled.  
If you find that lines are printing over each other, change this setting to  
Enabled.  
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EDS Mode Settings 23  
Paper Out  
Enable or disable the paper out detect function.  
When paper out detection is set to Enabled, the printer automatically stops  
printing whenever it senses there is no more paper. When set to Disabled, the  
printer continues printing as long as there is data. Selecting Disabled makes it  
possible to print right up to the bottom of a page, but it also creates the danger  
of printing when there is no paper loaded in the printer, which can damage the  
print head and platen.  
Line Spacing  
Select the line spacing you want to use.  
Strobe Timing  
Select the timing you want to use for receipt of data by the printer.  
Selecting Normal allows the printer to receive data from the computer when the  
parallel interface’s strobe signal falls. Selecting Reverse allows data receipt  
when the strobe signal rises.  
Print Mode  
Select the print mode you want to use.  
Selecting NLQ provides near letter quality output, while selecting Draft  
provides draft quality. Draft quality printing may be less attractive than near  
letter quality, but the printing operation is faster.  
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24 Using the EDS Mode  
Banking Character  
Enable or disable banking character font.  
When the banking character is set to Enabled, the printer uses a special banking  
font to print the dollar sign and numerals 0 through 9. When set to Disabled,  
the special banking font is not used.  
Zero style  
Select the type of zero you want to use.  
Selecting Normal prints zeros without lines running through them, while  
Slashed prints zeros with a diagonal slash running through them. Note that you  
can make this setting only when you are not using the special banking font (see  
Banking Character, above). The zero style of the special banking font overrides  
any setting you make here.  
Character Table  
Select the character table you want to use for printing.  
For details on what characters are included in these character tables, see  
“Character Sets” on page 44 of this manual.  
Page Length  
Specify the length of the paper you are using.  
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25  
Chapter 4: Paper Handling  
Your printer is designed to print on a variety of different paper types. This  
chapter tells you everything you need to know about paper, and how to set the  
printer up for manual paper feed. In this chapter, you will learn about:  
Selecting the best type of paper to use  
Adjusting for paper thickness  
Manual sheet feeding  
Clearing paper jams  
Selecting paper types  
Use the following information when selecting paper.  
Cut-Sheet Paper  
Width:  
Length:  
5.5to 12/ 140 to 305 mm  
5.5to 11/ 140 to 280 mm  
2
Thickness (1-ply): 52 to 156 g/m / 45 to 135 kg / 14 to 42 lbs  
2
Copy Paper:  
40 to 52 g/m / 34 to 45 kg / 11 to 14 lbs; pressure sensitive  
paper  
Total Thickness: 0.020/ 0.5 mm  
Copies:  
Original + 6  
Fanfold Paper  
Width:  
4.5to 12/ 114 to 305 mm  
Length:  
6/ 152 mm (min.)  
2
Thickness (1-ply): 52 to 81 g/m / 45 to 70 kg / 14 to 22 lbs  
2
Copy Paper:  
40 to 52 g/m / 34 to 45 kg / 11 to 14 lbs; pressure sensitive  
paper  
Total Thickness: 0.020/ 0.5mm  
Copies:  
Original + 6  
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26 Paper Handling  
Adjusting for paper thickness  
Paper comes in different weights, normally expressed as gsm (grams per square  
meter) or lbs (pounds). Some form paper also has multiple pages that make them  
quite thick. Use the following procedure to change the gap between the print  
head and the platen and adjust for paper thickness.  
7
Adjustment lever  
5
3
1
Move the adjustment lever to one of its nine settings. Position 1 is most  
suitable for single-sheet paper.  
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Automatic fanfold feeding 27  
The following table provides a general guide for setting the adjustment lever.  
Experiment with different settings until you find the one that gives you the print  
quality you want.  
Recommended  
Paper Type  
Weight Per Sheet  
Thickness  
Position  
14 lbs (52 gsm)  
17 lbs (64 gsm)  
21 lbs (81 gsm)  
28 lbs (104 gsm)  
42 lbs (156 gsm)  
11 lbs (40 gsm)  
11 lbs (40 gsm)  
11 lbs (40 gsm)  
11 lbs (40 gsm)  
11 lbs (40 gsm)  
11 lbs (40 gsm)  
0.06 mm  
0.08 mm  
0.10 mm  
0.13 mm  
0.19 mm  
0.13 mm  
0.20 mm  
0.26 mm  
0.33 mm  
0.39 mm  
0.45 mm  
1
1
1
1
2
2
3
4
5
6
7
Single-sheet  
2-ply  
3-ply  
4-ply  
5-ply  
6-ply  
7-ply  
Copy  
Continuous use of the wrong adjustment lever setting can drastically reduce  
print head life!  
Automatic fanfold feeding  
See “Loading paper” on page 8 for details on using fanfold paper.  
Manual sheet feeding  
You can use the following procedure to manually feed cut-sheets of paper into  
the printer.  
Make sure that there is no fanfold paper in the printer. If there is, use the  
procedure under “Parking fanfold paper” on page 12 to park the fanfold  
paper and prepare for manual sheet feeding.  
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28 Paper Handling  
Set the release lever on the back of the printer to the cut-sheet position.  
Fanfold  
Cut-sheet  
Release lever  
Set the adjustment lever to the value that matches the thickness of the paper  
you are using. The setting for normal paper is 1. Set the lever to a larger  
value for thicker paper, or to a smaller value for thinner paper.  
7
5
3
1
Adjust the paper guide to the position you want.  
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Manual sheet feeding 29  
Note that the mark of the guide indicates where the left margin of the  
printing will be.  
Scale  
Paper guide  
Making sure that the left edge of the paper is against the paper guide, insert  
a sheet of paper into the front of the printer.  
Paper guide  
Paper  
Table  
Press the control panel’s SET/EJECT/PARK button once to feed the paper  
into the printer.  
Start the printing operation from your software application.  
After the printing is complete, press SET/EJECT/PARK to eject the paper  
from the printer.  
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30 Paper Handling  
Note:  
If you are inserting letterhead paper, insert the sheet so that it is face up with  
the letterhead portion up.  
Clearing paper jams  
Use the following procedure to clear paper jams from the printer.  
Unplug the printer from its AC power outlet.  
Open the front cover of the printer.  
Carefully try to pull the jammed paper from the printer.  
If necessary, move the release lever on the back of the printer to the fanfold  
position or rotate the platen knob to remove the paper.  
Close the front cover of the printer.  
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31  
Chapter 5: Using the Printer with MS-DOS  
This chapter contains information about how to use the printer with applications  
software running under MS-DOS. In this chapter, you will learn about:  
How to set up for printing with MS-DOS  
Setting up for printing with MS-DOS  
To print from an application running under MS-DOS, you must first select the  
printer from within the application. Typically, the program will feature an  
INSTALL or SETUP command for selection of printers. Refer to the manual  
for the application you are using for details on how to select a printer for it.  
Note:  
Remember that you must select a printer for each individual application before  
you can print from it.  
Start up the application and use the correct procedure for that application to  
select a printer. The following is a list of printers that can be used. If your  
application lists more than one of these, select the printer that is nearest to  
the top of this list.  
Star LC-6211  
Star LC-90 / NX-1010  
Star LC-100 / NX-1040  
Star LC-10 / NX-1000  
Epson FX-850  
Epson EX-800  
Epson LX-850 / LX-810  
To print, follow the instructions given in the manual of the application you  
are using. Typically, you would select the application’s PRINT command,  
make any necessary changes in the window that appears (such as the  
number of copies to be printed), and then press the RETURN key to start  
printing.  
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32  
Appendix A: Troubleshooting  
The appendix tells you what you need to know if you experience problems with  
your printer. It tells you how to test the printer, how to check system software  
settings, and how to adjust the vertical alignment. In addition, there is  
information on actions to take for specific problems, and on the meanings of  
printer beep tones.  
Warning!  
The printer uses high voltage. Do not attempt any other repair or maintenance  
except as expressly recommended in this appendix. Unauthorized repair and  
maintenance not only exposes you to the danger of electrical shock, it also may  
damage your printer and void your warranty.  
Testing the Printer  
Use the following procedure to test the printer to make sure that everything is  
working correctly.  
Turn off the printer.  
Make sure that paper is loaded in the printer.  
While holding down the control panel’s ON LINE button, turn the printer  
back on.  
This test continually prints the version number of the software contained in  
the printer’s ROM, the current EDS settings, and the current Dot  
Adjustment settings, followed by the entire character set printed in each font  
and pitch available.  
To stop demo printing, turn the printer off.  
Note:  
The test prints across the entire width of the carriage. Make sure that the  
printer is loaded with the widest possible paper available in order to avoid  
damage to the print head and platen.  
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33  
Hexadecimal dump  
This procedure prints in hexadecimal format all codes (character codes and  
control codes) that are sent to the printer by the computer. The printer does not  
execute any control codes (such as 0A - linefeed), it just prints them out. The  
hexadecimal dump is useful when you are writing programs for printer control.  
Turn off the printer.  
Make sure that paper is loaded in the printer.  
While holding down the control panel’s LINE FEED button, turn the  
printer back on to enter the Hex Dump Mode.  
To exit the Hex Dump Mode, turn the printer off.  
Adjusting the dot alignment  
You may never have to use the procedure described in this section, but after you  
have been using your printer for some time you may find that the dots of some  
graphics do not align correctly. For example, what should look like:  
may come out looking like one of the following:  
or like this:  
This is caused when mechanical parts of the printer get out of alignment. This  
happens only rarely and you may never experience it at all throughout the life  
of the printer. If you do have problems, use the following procedure to correct it.  
Turn off the printer.  
Make sure that paper is loaded in the printer.  
While holding down the control panel’s SET/EJECT/PARK and ON  
LINE buttons, turn the printer back on to enter the Dot Adjustment Mode.  
The printer will print something like the following.  
*** DOT ADJUSTMENT SETTING ***  
DRAFT  
0:  
Note that the printer will feed the paper forward and back each time during  
this operation so you can view the printout.  
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34 Troubleshooting  
If the three lines do not align properly, use SET/EJECT/PARK to move  
the middle line to the left or LINE FEED to move it to the right.  
The above step performs alignment for DRAFT mode only. You must make  
separate adjustments for the D-DENSITY/SPEED, NLQ, NORMAL-  
DENSITY, PLOTTER GRAPHICS, CRT GRAPHICS-1, CRT  
GRAPHICS-II, and DOUBLE-DENSITY modes as well.  
Press ON LINE to change to another printing mode.  
Repeat the above steps for each printing mode, if necessary  
After making changes to the adjustments, hold down ON LINE and press  
LINE FEED to exit the Dot Adjustment Mode and register your  
adjustments.  
Troubleshooting guide  
Use the following table to help track down the causes of problems and to determine the  
best solution to deal with them.  
Problem  
Possible Cause  
Recommended Action  
The ON LINE indicator does  
not light.  
The printer is not receiving  
power.  
Check whether the power  
cord is correctly plugged into  
the power outlet.  
Check whether the power  
outlet is working by  
unplugging the printer and  
plugging in another device.  
Printer sounds like it is  
printing, but it is not.  
The ribbon is jammed,  
twisted, or not set correctly  
between the print head and  
the print head shield.  
Make sure that the ribbon  
cartridge is installed  
correctly.  
Printing is weak.  
The printer is not set up  
correctly for the thickness of  
paper you are using.  
Set up the printer for the  
paper thickness you are  
using. See “Adjusting for  
paper thickness” on page 26.  
The ribbon is worn out or  
“used up.”  
Replace the ribbon with a  
new one.  
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35  
Problem  
Possible Cause  
Recommended Action  
Printer test works, but printer  
will not print out data from  
the attached computer.  
Your application program’s or  
system software’s printer  
selection is wrong.  
Check the printer selection  
of your application software.  
The computer’s system  
software is not set up  
properly for the printer or for  
the type of interface cable  
you are using.  
Check the system software  
settings.  
The interface cable is  
connected incorrectly or  
damaged.  
Check to make sure that the  
printer interface cable is  
connected correctly. If it is,  
try a different cable.  
Printer does not feed paper  
properly.  
Jamming paper.  
Remove all paper from the  
printer and then reload it.  
The printer is not set up  
correctly for the thickness of  
paper being used.  
Set up the printer for the  
paper thickness you are  
using. See “Adjusting for  
paper thickness” on page 26.  
Line spacing is incorrect.  
Jamming paper.  
Set up the printer for the  
paper thickness you are  
using. See “Adjusting for  
paper thickness” on page 26.  
The line spacing or leading  
selected your application  
program is wrong.  
Choose a different line  
spacing or leading setting  
from your application.  
Auto line feed with carriage  
return is enabled by the EDS  
setting.  
Use the EDS Mode to  
disable auto line feed with  
carriage return. See “Auto  
LF with CR” on page 22.  
Printer makes excessive  
noise.  
The front cover is removed.  
The printer is vibrating.  
Replace the front cover.  
Move any objects that are  
touching the printer.  
Make sure that the printer is  
on a level steady surface.  
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36 Troubleshooting  
Problem  
Possible Cause  
Recommended Action  
Lines print over each other.  
Auto line feed with carriage  
return is disabled by the EDS  
setting.  
Use the EDS Mode to enable  
auto line feed with carriage  
return. See “Auto LF with  
CR” on page 22.  
Jamming paper.  
Set up the printer for the  
paper thickness you are  
using. See “Adjusting for  
paper thickness” on page 26.  
Incorrect number of lines are  
printed on the page.  
Auto line feed with carriage  
return is enabled by the EDS  
setting.  
Use the EDS Mode to  
disable auto line feed with  
carriage return. See “Auto  
LF with CR” on page 22.  
The line spacing or leading  
selected by your application  
program is wrong.  
Choose a different line  
spacing or leading setting  
from your application.  
Dot adjustment is not  
correct.  
See “Adjusting the dot  
alignment” on page 33.  
Text and graphics are  
malformed.  
The printer is not set up  
correctly for the thickness of  
paper being used.  
Set up the printer for the  
paper thickness you are  
using. See “Adjusting for  
paper thickness” on page 26.  
Print quality is poor.  
The print head is damaged.  
Return the printer to your  
dealer for repair.  
The ribbon is worn out or  
“used up.”  
Replace the ribbon with a  
new one.  
Printer case is hot.  
The printer’s air vents are  
blocked or obstructed.  
Switch off the printer and let  
it cool. Check the air vents  
on the bottom of the printer  
to see if they are blocked.  
Remove the obstruction is  
possible. If the problem  
persists, return the printer to  
your dealer for repair.  
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37  
Problem  
Possible Cause  
Recommended Action  
Forms are smudged.  
The printer is not set up  
correctly for the thickness of  
paper being used.  
Set up the printer for the  
paper thickness you are  
using. See “Adjusting for  
Printing is too dark.  
paper thickness” on page 26.  
The ribbon is jammed,  
twisted, or not set correctly  
between the print head and  
the print head shield.  
Make sure that the ribbon  
cartridge is installed  
correctly. See “Installing the  
ribbon cartridge” on page 5.  
Print head shield is damaged  
or missing.  
Return it to your dealer for  
repair.  
Printer prints past the edge  
of the paper.  
The paper guide is not  
positioned correctly.  
Remove the paper and  
adjust the position of the  
paper guide. Reload the  
paper and try printing again.  
The ribbon is jammed,  
causing the print head to  
jam.  
Make sure that the ribbon  
cartridge is installed  
correctly. See “Installing the  
ribbon cartridge” on page 5.  
Paper is jamming, causing  
the print head to jam.  
Remove all paper from the  
printer and reload it. Try  
printing again.  
Set up the printer for the  
paper thickness you are  
using. See “Adjusting for  
paper thickness” on page 26.  
Incorrect margin settings  
are selected by your  
application program.  
Choose different margin  
settings from your  
application program.  
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38 Troubleshooting  
Problem  
Possible Cause  
Recommended Action  
Left margin moves to the  
right during printing.  
The paper is not loaded  
correctly, causing the print  
head to jam.  
Remove all paper from the  
printer and reload it. Try  
printing again.  
The ribbon cartridge is not  
installed correctly, causing  
the print head to jam.  
Make sure that the ribbon  
cartridge is installed  
correctly. See “Installing the  
ribbon cartridge” on page 5.  
The printer is not set up  
correctly for the thickness of  
paper being used.  
Set up the printer for the  
paper thickness you are  
using. See “Adjusting for  
paper thickness” on page 26.  
Inappropriate settings are  
selected by your application  
program.  
Choose different settings in  
your application.  
Static electricity caused by  
interference from nearby  
electrical devices or by low-  
level humidity is affecting  
printer operation.  
Make sure that the printer is  
not too close to any devices  
with electric motors or that  
raise the humidity level.  
Some characters are printed  
incorrectly.  
Static electricity caused by  
interference from nearby  
electrical devices or by low-  
level humidity is affecting  
printer operation.  
Make sure that the printer is  
not too close to any devices  
with electric motors or that  
raise the humidity level.  
Inappropriate settings are  
selected by your application  
program.  
Choose different settings in  
your application.  
Wires are missing from the  
print head.  
Return the printer to your  
dealer for repair.  
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39  
Problem  
Possible Cause  
Recommended Action  
Printer behaves erratically.  
The interface cable is  
connected incorrectly or  
damaged.  
Check to make sure that the  
printer interface cable is  
connected correctly. If it is,  
try a different cable.  
Printing suddenly stops.  
Static electricity caused by  
interference from nearby  
electrical devices or by low-  
level humidity is affecting  
printer operation.  
Make sure that the printer is  
not too close to any devices  
with electric motors or that  
raise the humidity level.  
Checking system software settings in Windows  
Whenever you have problems printing from a Windows application, you should  
check the following three things:  
Is the printer you are using set as the default printer?  
Is the printer you are using correctly selected in your application?  
Is the correct port selected?  
You should also refer to your Microsoft Windows User’s Guide for other  
information that might be helpful. If you still experience problems, consult with  
your software dealer.  
To check the default printer selection  
Double-click the Control Panel icon in the Main window.  
Double-click the Printers icon.  
Check to see that the name of your Star printer is the default printer. If it is  
not, double-click on the name of your printer in the list of installed printers.  
Click on Close to return to the Control Panel window.  
To check the application printer selection  
Select Print from the application’s File menu, and a window appears listing  
available printers.  
Check to see that the name of your Star printer is selected. If it is not, select  
it and try printing from your application again.  
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40 Troubleshooting  
To check the port  
Double-click the Control Panel icon in the Main window.  
Double-click the Printers icon.  
Double-click on the name of your Star printer in the list of installed  
printers.  
Click on Connect.  
Make sure that your printer cable is connected to the port highlighted in the  
list of ports.  
If you are using a parallel cable, you will probably be using LPT1. If you are  
using the optional serial-to-parallel interface converter, you should be using  
COM1 or COM2. Click on the correct port name.  
Click OK.  
Click on Close to return to the Control Panel window.  
Checking system software settings in MS-DOS  
If you are using a parallel cable and cannot print a text file using the MS-DOS  
PRINT command, you may have a problem with your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.  
Open the file and look for the following line:  
MODE LPT1:=COM1 or MODE LPT1:=COM2  
These lines indicate printing you are using a serial cable connection, and so you  
should delete them, save the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, and try printing again.  
Of course, if you are having problems printing with the optional serial-to-  
parallel converter, you should conversely check to make sure that one of the  
above lines is included in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The file must also  
contain information on parameter settings. For details, see the user’s manual  
that comes with the optional Serial-to-Parallel Interface Converter.  
If the above is not the problem or if you make the above changes and still  
experience problems printing using the MS-DOS PRINT command, refer to  
your MS-DOS Users’ Guide or consult with your software dealer.  
If you are successful in printing using MS-DOS PRINT command but cannot  
print from an application, check to see what printer driver is select in the  
application. See “Setting up for printing with MS-DOS” on page 31. If this does  
not help, consult with your software dealer.  
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41  
Appendix B: Specifications  
Printing System  
Printing Speed  
Serial Impact Dot-Matrix  
Pitch  
Pica (10 cpi)  
Draft (cps/dpi)  
180/120H  
NLQ (cps/dpi)  
45/240H  
Elite (12 cpi)  
Condensed pica (17 cpi)  
Condensed elite (20 cpi)  
H: half-dot  
216/120H  
154/240H  
180/240H  
54/240H  
77/240H  
90/240H  
Print Direction  
Print Head  
Draft:  
Bi-directional logic seeking  
NLQ:  
Uni-directional or bi-directional logic seeking  
(selectable); Default: bi-directional  
Bit-Image:  
Uni-directional or bi-directional logic seeking  
(selectable); Default: bi-directional  
Number of pins:  
Life:  
9
200 million dots/pin (adjustment lever position 1 to 3)  
100 million dots/pin (adjustment lever position 4 to 7)  
Line Spacing  
1/6  
, 1/8  
, 7/72  
, n/72  
, n/216  
Character Matrix  
Pitch  
Draft  
NLQ  
Pica (10 cpi)  
Elite (12 cpi)  
9
×
×
×
×
11H  
18  
×
×
×
×
23H  
9
9
9
9H  
18  
18  
18  
19H  
12H  
10H  
Condensed pica (17 cpi)  
Condensed elite (20 cpi)  
H: half-dot  
11H  
9H  
Environment  
Paper  
Operating Temperature: 41  
°
°
F to 95  
°
F (5  
°
C to 35  
°C)  
Storage Temperature:  
Operating Humidity:  
Storage Humidity:  
Cut-sheet  
-22  
F to 149  
°
F (-30  
°
C to 65°C)  
30% to 80% (noncondensing)  
20% to 90% (noncondensing)  
Paper width:  
5.5  
5.5  
to 12  
to 11  
/ 140 to 305 mm  
/ 140 to 280 mm  
Paper length:  
Thickness (1-ply):  
Copy Paper:  
52 to 156 g/m2 / 45 to 135 kg / 14 to 42 lbs  
40 to 52 g/m2 / 34 to 45 kg / 11 to 14 lbs; pressure  
sensitive paper  
Total thickness: 0.020  
Original + 6  
/ 0.5 mm  
Copies:  
Fanfold  
Paper width:  
Paper length:  
Thickness (1-ply):  
Copy Paper:  
4.5  
to 12/ 114 to 305 mm  
6
/ 152 mm (min.)  
52 to 81 g/m2 / 45 to 70 kg / 14 to 22 lbs  
40 to 52 g/m2 / 34 to 45 kg / 11 to 14 lbs; pressure  
sensitive paper  
Total thickness: 0.020 / 0.5 mm  
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42  
Copies:  
Original + 6  
Emulation  
ESC/P  
Maximum Buffer Size  
Without download:  
With download:  
Standard:  
15.2 kB  
0.5 kB  
Interface  
Centronics parallel  
RS-232C serial  
Option:  
Ribbon Type  
On-carriage, dedicated  
Monochrome (X9):  
Black only  
Ribbon Life  
2 million characters (ASCII Draft)  
Dimensions and Weight  
Width:  
20.67  
14.57  
/ 525 mm  
/ 370 mm  
Depth:  
Height:  
Weight:  
220V AC  
9.06  
16.1 lbs. / 7.3 kg  
10%; 50/60Hz (depending on country of purchase)  
/ 230 mm  
Power Supply  
±10%, 240V AC  
±
Power consumption  
7W during stand-by  
30W in ASCII draft printing  
Options  
SPC-8K Serial-To-Parallel Converter  
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43  
Appendix C: Interface Pin Outs  
Parallel Interface  
Pin  
Name  
Function  
1
2
STROBE  
DATA0  
DATA1  
DATA2  
DATA3  
DATA4  
DATA5  
DATA6  
DATA7  
ACK  
Goes low for  
0.5µs when active.  
These signals represent information for the 1st through 8th bit of parallel data,  
respectively. Each signal is HIGH when data is logical 1, and LOW when logical  
0.  
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10  
11  
12  
13  
14-15  
16  
17  
18  
19 - 30  
31  
32  
33  
34 - 36  
10µs low to acknowledge receipt of data.  
BUSY  
Printer sets line low when ready to receive data.  
High when paper runs out.  
High when printer is on-line.  
Not used.  
PAPER  
SELECT  
SIGNAL GND  
CHASSIS  
+5V  
Signal ground  
Chassis ground (isolated from signal ground)  
+5V DC output from printer  
Twisted pair ground return  
Printer is reset when this signal goes low.  
Low when printing cannot continue due to error.  
External ground  
GND  
RESET  
ERROR  
EXT GND  
Not used  
Optional Serial Interface  
Pin  
Name  
Function  
1
GND  
TXD  
RXD  
RTS  
CTS  
Printer chassis ground  
2
Data from printer  
3
Data to printer  
4
5
Always space  
Space when computer is ready to send data. Printer ignores this signal.  
6
Not used.  
7
GND  
RCH  
DTR  
Signal ground  
8 - 10  
11  
Not used.  
Printer sets line to space when ready to receive data. Same signal as Pin 20.  
12 - 19  
20  
Not used.  
Printer sets line to space when ready to receive data.  
Not used.  
21 - 25  
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44  
Appendix D: Character Sets  
Character Set #2 (Graphics Character Table)  
Character Set #2 (Italic Character Table)  
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45  
Character Set #1  
Other characters are the same as those for Character Set #2, above.  
International Character Set  
The character codes shown in the table are hexadecimal.  
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46 Printer Control Codes  
Appendix E: Printer Control Codes  
This appendix lists the printer’s control commands. It gives the name of each control  
command and the applicable ASCII code.  
Font and Character Set Control Commands  
Description  
ASCII Code  
Select italic  
ESC 4  
ESC 5  
ESC 6  
ESC 7  
Cancel italic  
Select Character Set #2  
Select Character Set #1  
Select international character set  
Print characters from all character chart  
Select character table  
ESC Rn  
ESC (^  
ESC tn  
ESC x0  
ESC x1  
Select draft print mode  
Select NLQ print mode  
Print Pitch Control Commands  
Description  
ASCII Code  
Select condensed print  
Same as SI  
SI  
ESC SI  
SO  
Select one line expanded print  
Same as SO  
ESC SO  
DC2  
Cancel condensed print  
Cancel one-line expanded print  
Set print pitch to elite  
Set print pitch to pica  
Cancel expanded print  
Select expanded print  
Cancel proportional print  
Select proportional print  
DC4  
ESC M  
ESC P  
ESC W0  
ESC W1  
ESC p0  
ESC p1  
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47  
Top/Bottom Margin and Vertical Tab Commands  
Description  
ASCII Code  
Advance paper to next vertical tab position  
Reverse feed paper one line  
Select VFU channels  
VT  
ESC LF  
ESC /n  
Set vertical tab positions  
Set bottom margin  
ESC Bn…NULL  
ESC Nn  
Cancel bottom margin  
ESC O  
Set VFU in a channel  
ESC bnm…NULL  
Special Print Mode Commands  
Description  
ASCII Code  
Set master print mode  
Cancel underlining  
ESC!  
ESC-0  
ESC-1  
ESC E  
ESC F  
ESC G  
ESC H  
ESC S0  
ESC S1  
ESC T  
Select underlining  
Select emphasized print  
Cancel emphasized print  
Select double-strike print  
Cancel double-strike print  
Select superscripts  
Select subscripts  
Cancel super/subscripts  
Bit Image Graphic Commands  
Description  
ASCII Code  
Select bit image mode  
ESC *m n1 n2  
ESC ? n1 n2  
ESC K n1 n2  
ESC L n1 n2  
ESC Y n1 n2  
ESC Z n1 n2  
ESC ^ n0 n1 n2  
Redefine bit image mode  
8-pin single-density bit image  
8-pin double-density bit image  
8-pin double-density bit image, double-speed  
8-pin quadruple density bit image  
9-pin bit image mode  
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48 Printer Control Codes  
Line Spacing Commands  
Description  
ASCII Code  
Advance paper one line (line feed)  
Reverse paper one line  
LF  
ESC LF  
ESC 0  
Set line spacing to 1/8  
Set line spacing to 7/72  
Set line spacing to 1/6  
ESC 1  
ESC 2  
Set line spacing to  
Set line spacing to  
n
n
/216  
/72  
ESC 3n  
ESC An  
ESC Jn  
ESC jn  
One time feed of  
n/216″  
One time reverse feed of  
n
/216″  
Form Feed and Related Commands  
Description  
ASCII Code  
Advance paper to top of next page (form feed)  
FF  
Set page length to  
Set page length to  
Reverse form feed  
n
n
inches  
lines  
ESC C 00H n  
ESC Cn  
ESC FF  
Download Character Commands  
Description  
ASCII Code  
Cancel download character set  
Select download character set  
ESC %0  
ESC %1  
Define download characters into RAM  
Copy standard ROM font into RAM  
ESC &00H  
ESC :00H n 00H  
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49  
Horizontal Print Position Control Commands  
Description  
ASCII Code  
Move print head to next horizontal tab position  
Return print head to left margin (carriage return)  
Move print head to absolute horizontal position  
HT  
CR  
ESC $ n1 n2  
ESC SPn  
ESC Dn…NULL  
ESC Qn  
Add  
n
dot spaces between characters  
Set horizontal tab positions  
Set right margin  
Move print head to specified horizontal position  
Left justification  
ESC \ n1 n2  
ESC a0  
Centering  
ESC a1  
Right justification  
ESC a2  
Set left margin  
ESC ln  
Other Commands  
Description  
ASCII Code  
Sound printer bell  
BEL  
Move printer head back one space (backspace)  
Set printer on line  
BS  
DC1  
Set printer off line  
DC3  
Cancel line in print buffer  
Delete last character sent  
Cancel MSB control  
CAN  
DEL  
ESC #  
ESC <  
ESC =  
ESC >  
ESC 8  
ESC 9  
ESC @  
ESC U0  
ESC U1  
ESC w0  
ESC w1  
One-line uni-directional printing  
Set MSB to logical 0  
Set MSB to logical 1  
Disable paper out detect  
Enable paper out detect  
Initialize printer  
Cancel uni-directional printing  
Select uni-directional printing  
Cancel double-high mode  
Select double-high mode  
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50 Glossary  
Appendix F: Glossary  
Centronics cable  
Parallel cable normally used to connect the printer to the computer.  
control code  
A numeric code that instructs the computer to perform an operation. For  
example, the computer sends the printer a form feed control code (12) to tell it  
to eject the current page.  
Electronic DIP Switch settings  
Printer settings that take effect when you switch on the printer. You can make  
these settings using the control panel.  
emulation  
Ability of the printer to act like (emulate) certain types of printer.  
hexadecimal dump  
Printout of all character codes and control codes as they are received by the  
printer, along with their hexadecimal values.  
NLQ font  
Near letter-quality font.  
off-line  
pitch  
Printer mode in which the printer cannot be used for printing.  
Spacing between characters.  
power outlet  
Local AC power source that you plug into to supply power to your printer. Be  
sure that your printer is rated for the electrical power in your area. Your printer’s  
rating can be found on the plate on the bottom of the printer.  
on-line  
Printer mode in which the printer is ready to print.  
serial-to-parallel interface converter  
Option that makes it possible to connect the printer to a computer via a serial  
interface instead of the standard Centronics parallel interface.  
serial cable  
Cable that can be used to connect the printer to the computer. Use of a serial  
cable also requires connection of the optional serial-to-parallel interface  
converter.  
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A
D
adjusting dot alignment 33  
adjustment lever 26, 27  
application printer selection  
checking 39  
Auto LF with CR 22  
AUTOEXEC.BAT 41  
default printer selection  
checking 39  
dot alignment  
adjusting 33  
download buffer 22  
Draft 23  
E
B
EDS  
settings 20  
EDS Mode  
Banking Character 24  
bidirectional printing 22  
Auto LF with CR 22  
Banking Character 24  
Character Table 24  
default settings 20  
definition 20  
C
cable  
parallel 14, 15, 40  
length 14  
port connection 40  
entering 21  
Graphics Direction 22  
Line Spacing 23  
Page Length 24  
Paper Out 23  
carton contents 2  
Character Set #1 45  
Character Set #2 44  
Character Table 24  
Choosing a place for the printer 1  
connecting  
to a power outlet 7  
to your computer 14  
control code  
tables 46  
control commands 46  
Print Mode 23  
RAM Usage 22  
settings 22  
Strobe Timing 23  
Tear-off 22  
using 20  
Zero style 24  
eject 17  
Electronic DIP Switches 20  
control panel  
printer 16  
F
cut-sheet paper  
ejecting 17  
fanfold paper  
form feed 17  
parking 12, 18  
perforations 12  
manual feeding 27  
specifications 25  
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printing on 12  
N
specifications 25  
tear-off function 13, 19  
unparking 13  
NLQ 23  
O
off-line  
switching to 16  
ON-LINE  
indicator 16  
on-line  
switching to 16  
form feed 17  
front cover  
opening 4  
G
glossary 50  
Graphics Character Table 44  
Graphics Direction 22  
P
Page Length 24  
paper  
H
hexadecimal dump 33  
automatic feeding 27  
clearing top of form 18  
fanfold 12  
I
handling 25  
input buffer 22  
interface pin outs  
length 24  
letterhead 30  
optional serial interface 43  
loading 8, 17  
parallel interface 43  
micro feed 18  
International Character Set 45  
Italic Character Table 44  
recommended print area 12  
selecting 25  
setting top of form 18  
thickness adjustment 26  
L
paper jams 30  
Paper Out 23  
parallel cable 14  
line feed 17  
Line Spacing 23  
platen knob  
installing 4  
M
manual sheet feeding 27  
micro feed 18  
MS-DOS  
port  
checking 40  
parallel 14  
setting up for printing 31  
system software settings 40  
Print Mode 23  
print speed setting 19  
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printer control codes 46  
Reverse 23  
printing  
system software settings  
Windows 39  
problem 35  
problems  
T
causes and solutions 34  
dark printing 37  
Tear-off 22  
tear-off function 13, 19  
test print 8, 32  
top of form  
clearing 18  
setting 18  
erratic operation 39  
excessive noise 35  
hot printer case 36  
incorrect characters 38  
left margin movement 38  
line spacing 35  
malformed graphics 36  
no printing 34  
troubleshooting 32  
guide 34  
overprinting lines 36  
paper feed 35  
U
power supply 34  
print quality 36  
unidirectional printing 22  
unpacking 2  
printing past paper edge 37  
smudged forms 37  
sudden stoppage 39  
wrong number of lines 36  
Z
Zero style  
Normal 24  
Slashed 24  
R
RAM Usage 22  
ribbon cartridge  
installing 5  
removing 6  
taking up slack in 5  
S
serial-to-parallel interface  
converter 2  
setup  
printer 1  
specifications 41  
Strobe Timing  
Normal 23  
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Custom er service inform ation  
If you experience any technical difficulties with your Star printer, please refer to Appendix A  
How to deal with printing problems. This chapter describes easy methods to diagnose and  
resolve some of the problems which you may encounter.  
For further technical support, you should first contact your Authorized Star Dealer. If you  
require additional support, Star Micronics offers a wide variety of technical support services.  
Please use one of the telephone numbers listed below, depending on the country in which your  
Star printer was purchased.  
Star Micronics Technical Hotline:  
Hong Kong:  
Australia:  
New Zealand:  
852-2795-2335  
61-2-748-4300  
64-9-570-1470  
Star Micronics Bulletin Board Service:  
Australia and New Zealand:  
61-2-748-2960  
Custom er response  
Star Micronics Co., Ltd. invites your suggestions and comments on your printer and this man-  
ual. Please address your correspondence to Attn: Product Manager  
Worldwide Headquarters  
STAR MICRONICS CO., LTD.  
536 Nanatsushinya, Shimizu,  
Shizuoka, 424, Japan  
New Zealand Market  
STAR MICRONICS (N.Z.) LTD.  
64 Lunn Ave. Mount Wellington  
P.O. Box 6255, Wellesley St.,  
Auckland, New Zealand.  
Australian Market  
STAR MICRONICS PTY. LTD.  
Unit A/107-115 Asquith Street,  
Silverwater, NSW 2141  
Australia  
Asian Market  
STAR MICRONICS ASIA LTD.  
18/F Tower 2, Enterprise Square  
9 Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay, HONG  
KONG  
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