Support DPL

[tresf]

Placeholder to obtain DPL hardware for adding it to our list of label printing options. DPL is a language by Datamax O'Neil.

@lite1979 this one is all you.

• Add DPL example to wiki (scroll down for an example)
• Add DPL image support

[lite1979]

Hardware ordered!

[tresf]

@lite1979 any progress with DPL? Just a basic example for sample.html would do the trick.

[tresf]

@lite1979 bump for DPL support. Please post any progress here. :)

[tresf]

Lite, can you please try the following example which has been adopted from the page 151 of the DPL programming guide?

Assuming it works, we need to add image support. The guide explains this on page 19. We'd be using the 8-bit image format because we can reuse code already in ImageWrapper.

var data = [
   '\x02L\n',
   'D11\n',
   'A2\n',
   'FA+\n',
   '1911S0105000020P018P018DPL allows \\<FP36FS36>FONT\\<FS10FP10> sizes \\<FS8FP12>in the string\n',
   '1911S0103500100P018P018\\<FR80>D\\<FR-5>P\\<FR-5>L\\<FR-5> \\<FR-5>l\\<FR5>e\\<FR->t\\<FR-5>s\\<FR-5>\\<FR-5>y\\<FR-5>o\\<FR-5>u\\<FR-5> \\<FR-5>w\\<FR5>r\\<FR-5>i\\<FR-5>t\\<FR-5>e\\<FR-5> \\<FR-5>i\\<FR-5>n\\<FR-5> \\<FR-5>c\\<FR5>i\\<FR-5>r\\<FR-5>c\\<FR-5>l\\<FR-5>e\\<FR-5>s\\<FR-5> \\<FR-5>t\\<FR-5>o\\<FR5>o\\<FR-5>!\n',
   '1911S0102400040P018P018\\<FR+45>DPL allows \\<FB+>Rotations\\<FB-FR-90> in the string\n',
   '1911S0102000040P018P018DPL allows \\<FB+>BOLD\\<FB-> in the string\n',
   'FU+\n',
   '1911S0101400040P018P012DPL allows \\<FI+>ITALICS\\<FI-> in the string\n',
   'FI+\n',
   'U1911S0101000040P018P012DPL allows \\<FB+I+>COMBINATIONS\\<FB-I-> in the string\n',
   'FB+I\n',
   '1911S0100600040P018P018DPL allows \\<FB+>BOLD\\<FB-> in the string\n',
   'FU+I+\n',
   '1911S0100200040P018P018DPL allows \\<FB+>BOLD\\<FB-> in the string\n',
   'FB-U-IE\n'
];

[lite1979]

I have yet to get anything to print from my Datamax E-4203. The paper advances, the transfer ribbon turns, and still nothing. Windows test print doesn't work, and switching to direct thermal from thermal transfer still gives me nothing. I'm afraid the print head may be bad. It is cold to the touch after attempting several Windows test prints.

[lite1979]

Maybe once I fix these wires I'll have some success...

[lite1979]

Still no print after fixing the wires. Ordering new hardware.

[lite1979]

New hardware is a Datamax E-class mark III model E4205A.

I'm having trouble getting a test print, and it would appear that the sensor that senses where to feed to isn't recognizing the paper.

It's not clear if the sensor supports gap (like the DYMO 450 Turbo, for example), or black mark, but I wasn't able to get it to recognize the small DYMO labels, even after adjusting the sensors to be above/below the obvious hole in that label stock. 4x6" stock (with no black mark or hole) does not work either.

This model should support either thermal transfer printing or direct thermal printing provided the media are correct. Since I only have direct thermal labels, that is what I'm testing against. The printer did not come with a thermal transfer ribbon, and the ribbon from the old Datamax won't fit.

[lite1979]

Got the firmware on the printer to spit out its configuration, but I still can't print from a PC because the gap sensor is throwing an error. Ordered black mark-sensing labels to test with (configurable via driver).

[lite1979]

Labels arrived, but they have a smaller spindle size (fine for Zebra, but too narrow for Datamax). Talked to a rep from barcodesinc.com and they're getting me four rolls of the proper stock; just waiting for them to email me an invoice.

[lite1979]

New label stock feeds to the top of form just fine, but I can't get any results from DPL commands. PDFs print fine...