Microcom 400 - Manual (Page 46)

Printer Commands Chapter 5
400 Operators Manual 38
^M Terminate text or data string: Must be used to terminate a text or data string. (Same as
a carriage return or enter key on a PC keyboard.)
^H (or DEL) Deletes the last printable character entered: This is usually only used when
communicating to the printer through the keyboard. (Same as the backspace key on a PC
keyboard.)
^K Print test label: A test label consists of a series of diagonal lines. It is useful in
determining the condition of the dots on the print head (equivalent to ^D115).
^L Form Feed. (Equivalent to ^D12)
^Q XON: Instructs the printer to continue sending data.
^S XOFF: Instructs the printer to stop sending data.
5.2 PRINTER ENQUIRIES
It is important for the host computer to know the status of the printer as labels are produced. This
facilitates security in the system and flags electrical and mechanical errors. Enquiries also aid the
system designer in adjusting the pace of the printer with that of the operator.
The 400 printer is capable of returning responses to enquiries in three different ways depending
on how the machine is programmed (see software dip switch #1, ^D21, section 5.3. The text
equivalent response returns a defining word, giving the state of the machine. The ^ equivalent
returns an ASCII '^' response followed by the defining alpha character. The control-code
equivalent returns an actual control code.
The printer will send to the host one of the following responses in response to a ^E or ^D5: