Compuprint 6314 CZL - Manual (Page 37)

CZL – Programmer Manual
 37
3.1.8.4 Variable fields
When it is necessary to modify a certain number of fields on a label which is for the most part
uniform, printer performance can be optimized by using variable fields. Accordingly, only a portion
of the image affected by the modified fields is processed, producing a saving in processing time.
The mechanism by which this effect is produced is similar to what is described in section 3.1.7.3 on
page 33. In this case, rather than saving the label image and giving it a name (although the operation
is rapid, it nonetheless takes a little time, and even more so if the image is saved in flash memory),
it is saved in the working RAM until the machine is turned off or it is explicitly deleted. It forms the
background for labels printed afterwards, on which variable fields are updated and placed.
See section 5.5 on page 57 where an example of printing with variable fields is described.
^MCa (Map Clear)
Normally, after a label is printed, its image (bitmap) is deleted from the working RAM. When using
variable fields, the image is saved (just as described above) with this command.
a is the letter Y for deleting the bitmap, N
163 not to delete it.
When the ^MCN command is received, the machine saves the image of the current label (until it is
switched off or it receives the next ^MCY command) and prints it as the background for all
following labels. Accordingly the variable fields can be superimposed on it with the following
command ^FV
164 .
^FVaa…a (Variable Field Data)
This command replaces the corresponding command ^FD (page 13) when the field is variable.
aa…a is an alphanumeric string of at most 255 characters. If it is omitted the command is ignored.
The ^FV fields are always deleted after they have been printed, while ^FD fields are not.
If there is more than one variable field on the label, they are updated in the same order in which they
were first entered.
3.1.8.5 Saving the “format”
Aside from saving the graphic image of the label (see section 3.1.7.3 on page 33), it is possible to
save the formats. The format is comprised by all the commands that describe the label image.
By saving the format, transmission time is optimized, since similar labels (which differ by only a
few fields) are not sent n times. However, processing time is not shortened. In fact, when the label is
recalled from memory before printing, its image is processed with the addition of any variable
fields; this happens whenever the label is printed. Aside from optimizing the aforementioned
transmission time, saving the format reduces the memory space used since the space occupied by
the format is less than that of the graphic image.
The formats can be saved in both RAM and flash memory within the limits of available space. CZL
is not programmed to give any error message if the format is larger than the space available on the
destination unit. In this case, the format is not saved in its entirety, and the user becomes aware of
163
Default value.
164
The machine operates by default in OR mode. See note 157 on page 35.