Specifications

Chapter 6: Commands 7193 Owner’s Guide
August 199864
Printer Status Commands
For RS-232C printers, these commands enable the printer to communicate with the host
computer following the selected handshaking protocol, either DTR/DSR or XON/XOFF.
They are stored in the printer’s data buffer as they are received, and are handled by the
firmware in the order in which they were received.
When a fault occurs, the printer will go busy at the RS-232C interface and not respond to
either of the Printer Status commands. If the fault causing the busy condition can be
cleared, such as by loading paper, or letting the thermal printhead cool down, the printer
will resume processing the data in its receive buffer.
Printers manufactured after mid 1996 include Real Time commands which are handled
when the printer is busy at the RS-232C interface. See the following section, “Real Time
Commands,” for details about these commands.
Transmit Cash Drawer Status
Transmits current status of the cash drawers. One byte is sent to the host computer. This
command is available only on RS-232C printers.
In DTR/DSR protocol the printer waits for DSR = SPACE. If a drawer is not connected, the
status will indicate closed.
Hexadecimal Decimal ASCII Bit 1 Signifies 0 Signifies
1B 75 0 27 117 0 ESC u 0 0 Drawer 1 Closed Drawer 1 Open
1 Drawer 2 Closed Drawer 2 Open
Request Alternate Status
This command is available only on Parallel printers. It allows the printer to inform the host
when the data in the buffer has been processed, compensating for the lack of bi-directional
communication. Status information is limited to what can be sent by the dedicated lines:
BUSY, ACK, PAPER EXHAUST, and FAULT.
Hexadecimal Decimal ASCII Value of n
1B 75 n 27 117 n ESC u n
See Table Below
When this command is sent to the printer, the printer goes “Busy” until all data which has
been sent to the printer has been processed. The PAPER EXHAUST line shows the status
for the cash drawer or receipt paper as follows:
Value of n Function Description
00 Drawer 1 High = Open
Low = Closed or Not Present
01 Drawer 2 High = Open
Low = Closed or Not Present
02 Paper Low (Not Implemented.
Interpreted as Paper Out.)
High = Paper Out
Low = Paper Present
03 Paper Out (Default) High = Paper Out
Low = Paper Present
>03 Ignored, No Change
Printer Does Not Stay BUSY
1
1
PAPER EXHAUST LINE is valid to indicate previously requested status.