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Intermec PC43d Fingerprint Developer's Guide (PC23d, PC43d/t, PM23c, PM43, PM4 - Page 132

Temporary Memory, Other Memory Devices - printing slow

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Chapter 7 - Controlling the Printer Temporary Memory Temporary memory has no battery backup and is completely erased at power-off. However, the following Fingerprint commands can be used to prevent variables from being lost at a power failure: • SETPFSVAR - Register variable to be saved at power off. • GETPFSVAR - Recover saved variable. • LISTPFSVAR - List saved variables. • DELETEPFSVAR - Delete a saved variable. The temporary memory is used for the following purposes: • To execute Fingerprint instructions. At startup, the kernel in the permanent memory is copied to the temporary memory, where all Fingerprint instructions are executed and the print image bitmaps are created. • For print image buffers. The current image buffer can be saved as a file using the IMAGE BUFFER SAVE statement. The file will automatically converted to an image, that can be used in new label layouts like a preprint or template. • For the font cache. • For the Receive/Transmit buffers. Each serial communication channel must have one buffer of each kind. The size of each buffer is decided separately by the printer. • For communication buffers. In a program, you may set up one communication buffer for each communication channel. This makes it possible to receive data simultaneously from several sources to be fetched at the appropriate moment during the execution of the program. • To store data that does not need to be saved after power-off. • To temporarily store data before it is copied to the permanent memory or to a memory card. Because the permanent flash memory has to reorganize itself occasionally, is becomes comparatively slow. Thus, it is more efficient to first create files in the temporary memory and then save them to the permanent memory. When speed is important, avoid using the permanent memory to save data that will be of no use after power off. Note: There are no fixed partitions in the temporary memory. After the firmware has been copied to it and the Receive/Transmit buffers have been set, the remaining memory will be shared between the various tasks. Other Memory Devices The "storage:" device is a memory device that is used for special applications and should not be used for normal Fingerprint programming. 120 Fingerprint Developer's Guide

Section	Page
Send Feedback	11
Before You Begin	11
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Fingerprint	13
What Is Fingerprint?	14
Learning the Structure of Fingerprint Commands	14
Fingerprint Operating Modes	15
Sending Fingerprint Commands to the Printer	15
Chapter 2 - Understanding Fingerprint Syntax	17
Learning Fingerprint Syntax	18
About Keywords, Statements, and Lines	18
About Functions	19
About Constants, Variables, and Expressions	20
About Operators	21
Using Arithmetic Operators	21
Using Relational Operators	21
Using Logical Operators	22
About Devices	23
About Immediate Mode	24
Sending Command Strings in Immediate Mode	24
About Programming Mode	25
Using Line Numbers	25
Programming Without Line Numbers	26
Sending Programs to the Printer	26
Commands for Editing Code	27
Using Conditional Instructions	28
Using an IF...THEN...[ELSE] Instruction	28
Using an IF...THEN...[ELSE]...END IF Instruction	28
About Branching	29
Branching to Subroutines	29
Instructions for Conditional Branching	30
Using an IF...THEN GOTO...ELSE Instruction	30
Using an ON...GOSUB Instruction	30
Using an ON...GOTO Instruction	30
Using an ON BREAK...GOSUB Instruction	31
Using an ON COMSET...GOSUB Instruction	31
Using an ON KEY...GOSUB Instruction	32
Unconditional Branching Using a GOTO Statement	32
Branching to an Error-Handling Subroutine	33
Using an ON ERROR GOTO Instruction	33
Resuming Execution After Error Handling	33
About Loops	34
Using a FOR...NEXT Instruction	34
Using a WHILE...WEND Instruction	35
Structuring Your Program	36
Executing the Program	37
Writing, Executing, and Listing a Short Program	37
Breaking Program Execution	38
Using a BREAK Statement	38
Using a BREAK...ON or BREAK...OFF Statement	39
Using an ON BREAK ...GOSUB...Statement	39
Saving the Program	39
Naming the Program	40
Protecting the Program	40
Saving Without Line Numbers	40
Making Changes	41
Making Copies of Programs	41
Renaming a Program	41
Creating a Startup Program	41
Chapter 3 - Managing Files	43
Using Directories in the Printer File System	44
Using Path Shortcuts	44
About File Types	45
Commands for Listing Files	45
Listing a File With the FILELIST Program	45
Commands for Creating and Managing Program Files	46
Commands for Creating and Managing Data Files	46
Commands for Transferring Text and Binary Files	47
Using the TRANSFER KERMIT Statement	47
Using the ZMODEM Protocol	47
Using a TRANSFER STATUS Statement	47
Commands for Transferring Files Between Printers	48
Checking Transferred Files With CHECKSUM	48
Commands for Working With Arrays	48
Specifying Array Dimensions Using DIM	49
Sorting Arrays	49
Splitting String Expressions	50
Calculating String Array Checksums	50
Chapter 4 - Managing Input and Output	51
Preprocessing Input Data	52
Modifying Character Sets Using a MAP Statement	52
Choosing a Character Set with a NASC Statement	53
Converting Input Data	54
Generating Random Numbers	55
Calling the RANDOM Function	55
Using a RANDOMIZE Statement	55
Setting the Standard IN and OUT Channels	56
Input From a Host	56
Input From Sequential Files	57
Reading Data to a Variable With INPUT#	57
Reading a Specific Data Length With INPUT$	58
Reading a Line to a Variable With LINE INPUT#	58
Close a File	59
Verify the End of a File With EOF	59
Counting Data Blocks with LOC	59
Determining File Length with LOF	59
Input From a Random File	60
Creating a Buffer with FIELD	60
Copying a Specific Field with GET	60
Closing a File	61
Finding the Last Field Read with LOC	61
Determining File Length with LOF	61
Input From the Printer Keypad	61
Controlling Communication	62
Using BUSY or READY Statements	62
Using an ON LINE \| OFF LINE Statement	63
Controlling Printer Response with VERBON \| VERBOFF	63
Managing Background Communication	63
Background Communication Example	64
Retrieving Buffer Status With LOC or LOF	66
Setting Up RS-422 Communication	67
Output to the Standard OUT Channel	68
Printing Expressions With PRINT	68
Printing Characters by ASCII Values With PRINTONE	69
Redirecting Output to a File	70
Output to Sequential Files	70
Using an OPEN Statement	70
Printing Expressions to a Sequential File With PRINT#	71
Printing Characters by ASCII Values With PRINTONE#	71
Using a CLOSE Statement	71
Counting Data Blocks and Determining File Length With LOC and LOF	71
Output to Random Files	72
Opening a File for Random Input or Output With OPEN	72
Creating a Buffer With FIELD	72
Left or Right Justifying Data With LSET and RSET	73
Transferring Data to the File with PUT	73
Using a CLOSE Statement	74
Finding the Last Field Read and Determining File Length With LOC and LOF	74
Output to Communication Channels	74
Output to the Printer Display	75
Chapter 5 - Managing Fonts, Bar Codes, and Images	77
Managing Fonts	78
About Font Types	78
Selecting Fonts	78
Controlling Font Direction, Size, Slant, and Width	78
Adding and Removing Fonts	79
Creating and Using Font Aliases	79
About Bar Code Symbologies	79
General Rules for Bar Code Printing	81
Commands for Working With Bar Codes	81
Understanding Images and Image Files	82
Standard Images	82
Downloading Image Files	83
Listing Images	83
Removing Images and Image Files	84
Chapter 6 - Designing Bar Code Labels	85
Creating a Layout With Fields	86
Positioning Fields in the Layout	87
About Units of Measure	88
About Insertion and Anchor Points	88
About Print Directions	90
Checking the Current Position	90
Checking the Size and Position of a Field	91
Creating Single-Line and Multi-Line Text Fields	91
Specifying a Typeface with FONT	91
Inverting Black and White Printing with NORIMAGE or INVIMAGE	91
Specifying Text for Printing with PRTXT	92
Defining Borders With PRBOX	92
Summary for Text Fields	92
Creating Bar Code Fields	93
Specifying a Bar Code Symbology With BARSET	93
Choosing the Human-Readable Font with BARFONT	94
Specifying Input Data with PRBAR	94
Summary for Bar Code Fields	94
Creating Image Fields	95
Magnifying Images with MAG	95
Inverting Black and White Printing with NORIMAGE or INVIMAGE	95
Specifying Images by Filename with PRIMAGE	95
Summary for Image Fields	96
Creating Boxes	97
Summary for Boxes	97
Creating Lines	97
Summary for Lines	98
Additional Printing Instructions	98
Printing Partial Fields With the CLIP ON Command	98
Inverting Intersection Printing With XORMODE	98
Using the LAYOUT Command	99
About Layout Requirements	100
Creating a Logotype Name File	103
Creating a Data File or Array	104
Creating an Error File or Array	104
Creating an Error Array	104
Creating an Error File	105
Using the Files in a LAYOUT Statement	105
Creating a Simple Label	107
Handling Errors With ERRHAND.PRG	111
Renumbering Lines When Merging Files	111
Merging Programs	111
Using the Print Key	112
Chapter 7 - Controlling the Printer	113
Using Fingerprint to Control the Printer	114
Controlling Media Feed	114
Adjusting Media Feed Distance With TESTFEED	114
Feeding Media With FORMFEED	115
Overriding Start and Stop Adjust Values With LBLCOND	115
Rotating the Platen Roller With CLEANFEED	115
Checking Media Feed Distance With ACTLEN	115
Controlling Printing	116
Enabling the Automatic Paper Cutter With CUT ON	116
Enabling the Label Taken Sensor With LTS& ON	116
Repeating the Last Printing Operation With PRINTFEED	116
Enabling Manual Printing With PRINT KEY ON	117
Checking the Transfer Ribbon and Printhead With SYSVAR	117
Handling Faulty Dots With HEAD, SET FAULTY DOT, and BARADJUST	117
Checking Printhead Status With FUNCTEST or FUNCTEST$	118
Reprinting Labels After Interruptions	119
About Batch Printing	119
Clearing the Print Buffer With CLL and FIELDNO	120
Maintaining Print Speed With OPTIMIZE “BATCH” ON	120
Interrupting Batch Printing	121
Using the Printer Keypad	121
Branching to Subroutines With KEY...ON and ON KEY...GOSUB	121
Defining Audio Beeps With KEY BEEP	122
Entering ASCII Characters With INPUT#, INPUT$, or LINE INPUT#	122
Remapping the Keypad With KEYBMAP$	122
Using the Keypad in Immediate Mode	123
Using the Printer Display	124
Customizing the Printer Display	124
Controlling the LEDs and Beeper	124
Using an LED ON\|OFF\|BLINK Statement	124
Using a BEEP or SOUND Statement	125
Setting the Date and Time	125
Reading the Clock and Calendar	125
Using Setup Mode Programmatically	127
Reading the Current Setup	127
Creating a Setup File	127
Changing the Setup Using a Setup File	127
Changing the Setup Using a Setup String	128
Saving the Setup	128
Using the SYSVAR System Variable	128
Checking Hardware and Firmware Versions	130
Checking Immediate Mode and STDIO Status	130
Restarting the Printer	131
About Printer Memory	131
Permanent Memory	131
Temporary Memory	132
Other Memory Devices	132
Changing the Current Directory	133
Checking Free Memory	133
Providing More Free Memory	133
Formatting the Permanent Memory	133
Using the Industrial Interface	134
Chapter 8 - Error Handling	135
Standard Error Handling	136
Choosing an Error Message Format	136
Checking for Programming Errors	137
Using a TRON\|TROFF Statement	137
Using STOP and CONT Statements	137
Specifying Breakpoints	137
Commands for Error-Handling Routines	138
Branching to Subroutines With ON ERROR GOTO...	138
Checking Error Codes with ERR and ERL	138
Resuming Execution After Errors	138
Returning Print Job and Printhead Status with PRSTAT	138
Error Handling Example	139
Using the ERRHAND.PRG Utility Program	139
Modifying ERRHAND Variables and Subroutines	140
Complete Listing of ERRHAND.PRG	141
Extensions to ERRHAND.PRG	143
Standard Error Codes	144
Appendix A - Character Sets and Keywords	145
Introduction to Character Sets	146
About the UTF-8 Character Set	147
Example	148
Reserved Keywords and Symbols	149
Symbols	152
A	152
B	152
C	153
D	153
E	154
F	154
G	155
H	155
I	155
K	156
L	156
M	157
N	157
O	157
P	157
R	159
S	159
T	160
U	160
V	160
W	160
X	160
Y	160

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Chapter 7 — Controlling the Printer

120

Fingerprint Developer’s Guide

Temporary Memory

Temporary memory has no battery backup and is completely erased at power-off.

However, the following Fingerprint commands can be used to prevent variables

from being lost at a power failure:

•

SETPFSVAR - Register variable to be saved at power off.

•

GETPFSVAR - Recover saved variable.

•

LISTPFSVAR - List saved variables.

•

DELETEPFSVAR - Delete a saved variable.

The temporary memory is used for the following purposes:

•

To execute Fingerprint instructions. At startup, the kernel in the permanent

memory is copied to the temporary memory, where all Fingerprint instructions

are executed and the print image bitmaps are created.

•

For print image buffers. The current image buffer can be saved as a file using the

IMAGE BUFFER SAVE statement. The file will automatically converted to an

image, that can be used in new label layouts like a preprint or template.

•

For the font cache.

•

For the Receive/Transmit buffers. Each serial communication channel must

have one buffer of each kind. The size of each buffer is decided separately by the

printer.

•

For communication buffers. In a program, you may set up one communication

buffer for each communication channel. This makes it possible to receive data

simultaneously from several sources to be fetched at the appropriate moment

during the execution of the program.

•

To store data that does not need to be saved after power-off.

•

To temporarily store data before it is copied to the permanent memory or to a

memory card. Because the permanent flash memory has to reorganize itself

occasionally, is becomes comparatively slow. Thus, it is more efficient to first

create files in the temporary memory and then save them to the permanent

memory. When speed is important, avoid using the permanent memory to save

data that will be of no use after power off.

Other Memory Devices

The “storage:” device is a memory device that is used for special applications and

should not be used for normal Fingerprint programming.

Note:

There are no fixed partitions in the temporary memory. After the firmware has

been copied to it and the Receive/Transmit buffers have been set, the remaining

memory will be shared between the various tasks.