Instruction manual

Configuring the Printer 2-9
Defining the Control Characters Packet
Use the control characters packet (E) to change the MPCLII control characters, enable and
disable the immediate commands, and change the default terminator character for job requests
and ENQs.
Changes take effect with the first character following the end of header character of the
configuration packet. Each control character must be unique and cannot appear anywhere else
in your packet, except within quotation marks. You can customize the trailer characters to work
with your host.
Note: Wait two seconds for the new characters to take effect before sending packets using
the new characters.
Use the following syntax for the control characters packet. Notice all but the first parameter
are within quotation marks.
Syntax {I,E,"ANSI_cd","string1","string2" | }
E1. E Control Characters Packet
E2. “ANSI_cd” ~123 Start of header { (left bracket)
~044 Parameter , (comma) separator
~034 Quoted strings “ (quotes)
~124 Field separator | (vertical bar)
The field separator is the split vertical bar (|). The decimal value is 124. To
enter this character, use the Shift key plus the Split Vertical Bar key on
your computers keyboard. Depending on your text editor, it may appear as
a solid vertical bar or as a split vertical bar.
~125 End of header } (right bracket)
~126 Data escape ~~ (double tilde)character (optional)
def. ch. Immediate command character (optional). Up to any 3 characters in the
0 to 255 decimal range. The character must be defined before this
command can be used. The caret (~094) is normally used.
Note: “ANSI_cd” includes seven separate parameters. The first five parameters are
required. The other parameters are optional.
E3. “string 1" Terminator for status requests and ENQ requests. Up to any 3 characters in the 0-
255 decimal range. The default is “013". Sending "" disables this sequence.
E4. “string 2" Terminator for job requests and data uploads. Up to any 3 characters in the 0-255
decimal range. The default is none. Sending "" disables this sequence.
After you change these parameters, all packets, including any future configuration packets,
must use the new control characters. We recommend using the tilde and ASCII character code
sequence when sending this packet multiple times. Also, set the packet delimiters to
characters within the 21 hex to 7E hex range.
You must send the control characters packet to enable the immediate commands. An
immediate command executes immediately, even if it is embedded within quotation marks, and
all data following the command in the string is ignored.
Example {I,E,"~123~063~034~124~125~126~094" | }
Changes the parameter separator character from , to ?. The other control characters remain
unchanged. It also enables the immediate commands by defining the ^ symbol as the command
identifier.