User`s guide

Chapter

Printer Setup (VARIABLE)

Commands

VARIABLE commands let you change some of the printer's

characteristics. These changes stay in effect until the printer is turned

off or until they are changed by another VARIABLE command.

NOTE: Do not confuse VARIABLE commands that control the printer with

variable values which are used to represent data.

Variable Command Rules

It is important to follow a few fundamental rules when using the

VARIABLE commands:

• Enter all VARIABLE commands in upper case letters.

• Place any VARIABLE commands immediately after the header

line in the label format.

• Enter all VARIABLE commands exactly as shown in the

command descriptions. VARIABLE may be abbreviated as V,

but do not use any other abbreviations unless specifically

allowed in the command description.

• As a general rule, avoid using VARIABLE commands in stored

label formats. A few VARIABLE commands that control label

appearance (for example, VARIABLE DARKNESS) are

permissible in stored formats, but there is little advantage to

using them there. It is better to use conventional label

formats for printer setup.

• Use VARIABLE WRITE and VARIABLE COMM only in non-

printing label formats. Some other VARIABLE commands will

not work well except in non-printing formats. These cases are

noted in the command descriptions.