Epson FX-870 Product Information Guide - Page 10

FX-870/1170 Data Dump Mode In data dump mode, the printer produces a printout of all the codes it receives. To use data dump mode, follow these steps: 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. 2. Hold down the PAUSE button while you turn on the printer. 3. Load the paper. 4. Next, run an application program or a program you have written in any programming language. Your printer prints all the codes it receives in hexadecimal format and text, as shown below. 5. To turn off data dump mode, press the PAUSE button to stop printing and then turn off the printer. By reading the characters printed in the text field on the right side of the printout or the printout of hex codes, you can check which codes are being sent to the printer. In the text field, characters appear as their true ASCII characters if they are printable. Nonprintable codes, such as control codes, are represented by dots. Application Software Most application programs allow you to specify the type of printer you use so that the program can take full advantage of the printer's features. Many of these programs provide an installation or setup section that presents a list of printers. Choosing from a menu To take full advantage of your printer's features, choose your printer when you set up your program. If your printer is not listed, choose from the following list (the printers are listed in the order of preference): FX-870 FX-1170 FX-850 FX-1050 EX-800 EX-1000 FX-86e FX-286e FX-80+ FX-l00+ FX-80 FX-100 Epson printer 9-pin printer If you plan to use the IBM printer emulation mode, choose IBM Proprinter (X for narrow carriage or XL for wide carriage), IBM Graphics printer, or IBM printer, in that order of preference. To use all the features of your printer, it is best to choose a program that lists one of the FX printers on its menu. If your program does not list one of these printers, contact the software manufacturer to see if an update is available. Using Continuous Paper You can load continuous paper through the front, rear, or bottom paper slots, depending upon the position of the tractor unit and the placement of your paper supply. Your printer can handle continuous paper up to 254 mm (10.0 inches) wide on the standard-width carriage and up to 406 mm (16.0 inches) wide on the wide carriage. To print on continuous paper, you can install the tractor unit in one of the following positions: front, rear, or pull. Be sure you set the paper-release lever correctly before you print. Tractor position and available paper paths Below are the possible ways of feeding continuous paper. Always set the paper-release lever to the position indicated for the paper-feed method you want to use. Tractor position Front pushtractor Paper-release lever position Rear pushtractor Pull-tractor Paper paths I 45 i 8 43I PULL Single-sheet position For all single sheets, whether loaded from the top or either of the optional cut-sheet feeders; also for loading single sheets from the front with the optional frunt sheet guide. Front push-tractor position For continuous paper with the tractor unit installed in the front. Rear push-tractor position For continuous paper with the tractor unit installed in the rear. Pull-tractor position For continuous paper with the tractor unit installed on the top. In this case, you can load paper from the front, rear, or bottom. FX-870/1170-10 10/13/92 9-Pin Printers