Epson LX-86 User Manual

EPSON®LX-86TM PRINTERUser's Manual

About This ManualWe’re not going to waste your time with unnecessary information,but we won’t neglect anything you need to know about the Ix-86and its

ESC aSelect Justification ModeFormat:ASCII code:ESCDecimal:27 97 (n)Hexadecimal: 1B 61 (n)Explanation:See Chapter 7 for information on this command.Ch

soFormat:ASCII code:soDecimal:14Hexadecimal: OESelect Double-width (one line)Explanation:Double-width mode doubles the width of all characters,includi

ESC MSelect Elite PitchFormat:ASCII code:ESC MDecimal:2777Hexadecimal: 1B 4DExplanation:Selects elite pitch (12 characters per inch).ESC PSelect Pica

ESC GFormat:ASCII code:ESC GDecimal:27 71Hexadecimal: 1B 47Select Double-Strike ModeExplanation:Makes text bolder by printing each line twice, with th

ESC-Select UnderliningFormat:ASCII code:ESC -- (n)Decimal:27 45(n)Hexadecimal: 1B 2D (n)Explanation:When the value of n = 1, underlining is turned on,

ESC !Master SelectFormat:ASCII code:ESC !(n)Decimal:27 33 (n)Hexadecimal: 1B 21 (n)Explanation:This command enables a number of commands to be addedto

ESCRSelect International Character SetFormat:ASCII code:ESC R (n)Decimal:27 82(n)Hexadecimal: 1B 52 (n)Explanation:Some character codes produce differ

ESC 6Select International Character GraphicsFormat:ASCII code:ESC 6Decimal:27 54Hexadecimal: 1B 36Explanation:When the character graphics set is selec

ESC EMAutomatic Sheet Feeder ControlFormat:ASCII code:ESC EM (n)Decimal:27 25 (n)Hexadecimal: 1B 19 (n)Control:Ctrl[ Ctrl Y (n)Explanation:This comman

ESC sSelect Half Speed ModeFormat:ASCII code:ESC s (n)Decimal:27115(n)Hexadecimal: 1B73 (n)Explanation:Selects half speed printing if n= 1 or returns

Chapter 1Setting Up Your LX-86 PrinterSetting up your LX-86 printer is a simple matter of attaching twoparts, putting in the ribbon and paper, and con

ESC 1Select 7/72 Inch Line SpacingFormat:ASCII code:ESC 1Decimal:27 49Hexadecimal: 1B 31Explanation:Selects the line spacing to 7/72 of an inch for su

ESC JPerform n/216 Inch Line Feed for One LineFormat:ASCII code:ESC J(n)Decimal: 27 74 (n)Hexadecimal: 1B 4A (n)Explanation:Advances the paper by one

ESC 8Format:ASCII code:ESC 8Decimal: 27 56Hexadecimal: 1B 38Disable Paper-Out SensorExplanation:Turns off the paper sensor so that you can print right

ESC COSet Page Length in InchesFormat:ASCII code:ESCC NUL (n)Decimal: 27 67 0 (n)Hexadecimal: 1B 43 00 (n)Explanation:Sets the page length to n inches

Page FormatESC BSet Vertical TabsFormat:ASCII code:ESC BDecimal:27(n1) (n2) . . . NUL66 (n1) (n2) . . . 0Hexadecimal: 1B 42(n1) (n2). . .00Explanation

ESC /Select Vertical Tab ChannelFormat:ASCII code:ESC / (c)Decimal:27 47 (c)Hexadecimal: 13 2F(c)Explanation:This command is used to set the vertical

ESC DSet Horizontal TabsFormat:ASCII code:ESC D (n1) (n2) . . . NULDecimal:2766 (n1) (n2) . . . 0Hexadecimal: 1B 44 (n1) (n2). . .00Explanation:This c

ESC QFormat:ASCII code:ESC Q (n)Decimal:27 81 (n)Hexadecimal: 1B 51 (n)Explanation:Set Right MarginThis command sets the right margin to n columns in

ESC &Define User-Defined CharactersFormat:ASCII code:ESC & NUL (data1) (data2) . . . (data n)Decimal:27380 (data1) (data2) . . . (data n)Hexad

ESC LSelect Double Density Graphics ModeFormat:ASCII code:ESCL (n1) (n2) (data1) (data2) . . . (data(d))Decimal:2776 (n1) (n2) (data1) (data2) . . . (

In addition to the items in the box, you need a cable and possiblyan interface board. The cable connects the printer to your computer,and the interfac

ESC ZSelect Quadruple Density Graphics ModeFormat:ASCII code:ESCZ (n1) (n2) (data1) (data2) . . . (data(d))Decimal:2790 (n1) (n2) (data1) (data2) . .

ESC ?Format:ASCII code:ESC ?Decimal:27 63Hexadecimal: 1B 3FExplanation:Reassign Graphics Mode(s) (n)(s)(n)(s) (n)Change one graphics mode to another.

BELFormat:ASCII code:BELDecimal:7Hexadecimal:7Explanation:Sounds the beeper.BeeperDELFormat:ASCII code:DELDecimal:127Hexadecimal: 7FDeleteExplanation:

Appendix DThe DIP SwitchesSeveral tiny switches called DIP (for Dual In-Line Package)switches are in the back of your LX-86 printer. They control a nu

Always turn the power OFF (with the switch on the right side ofthe printer) before you change the setting of any of these switches.Any changes made wh

Switch l-5 controls the paper-end detector. When it is ON, thedetector is inactive, causing printing to continue even when the print-er is out of pape

Appendix EUsing the Optional Tractor UnitThe optional tractor unit for the LX-86 allows you to usecontinuous paper with pin feed holes along the sides

Figure E-2. Continuous paper without standTractor Unit InstallationTo install the removable tractor unit, first pull the friction levertoward the fron

In each tractor slot are two pegs that fit into the notches on thetractor fittings. Tilt the tractor back so that the rear notches fit overthe rear pe

When you want to use single sheet paper in your LX-86, you canremove the tractor unit quite easily. Just push back the two tractorrelease levers shown

Figure 1-2. Paper feed knob installationRibbon InstallationThe LX-86 printer uses a continuous-loop, inked fabric ribbon,which is enclosed in a casset

Figure E-6. Pin feed bolder adjustmentNext, open the pin feed covers as shown in Figure E-7 and feed thepaper under the paper separator and into the p

Next pull the paper up until the top is above the pin-feed holders.Fit the holes on the left side of the paper over the pins in the leftholder and clo

Appendix FTroubleshooting and Advanced FeaturesThis appendix approaches troubleshooting from several directions.The first section uses a columnar form

affect your system if possible.You can also POKE the problemcodes directly to the printer port.Seven- bit computers cannotuse the eighth pin (12 8). I

Paper-out sensorCan’t deactivate paper-out sensorComputer systems that monitorwith DIP switch l-5 or ESCape printer cable pin 12 will ignore"8&qu

The hexadecimal numbers are the codes received by the printer,and the guide section helps you find a certain place in the list of codes.Each character

A hex printout of a program shows you exactly what the printer isreceiving, regardless of what the computer is sending. The followingtest program lets

The second approach is to use commercially available software thatis specifically designed to overcome these coding problems. Consultyour computer dea

The printer interface card furnished with the Apple II computeronly passes seven bits to the LX-86, which means that you have a7-bit system. Should yo

he 255 is a special number that prevents the computer system frominserting a CR-LF into the line. Unless, of course, there’s one in yourprogram.The ex

To install the ribbon, first open the lid at the front of the LX-86 sothat you can see the print head assembly shown in Figure l-4. Movethe assembly b

Appendix HTechnical SpecificationsPrintingPrinting method. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Impact dot matrixPrinting speed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Characters per line:Maximum characters per linePica80Pica double-width40Elite96Elite double-width48Condensed132*Condensed double-width66*Condensed eli

EnvironmentTemperature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Operating 41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C)Storage -- 22°F to 149°F (-30°C to65°C)Humidity. .

INDEXFor information on specific commands, see Appendix B or Appendix C.AAmerican Standard Code for Information Interchange. See ASCIIApple computers,

EElite mode, 35Emphasized mode, 39 - 40Environment, specifications for, H-3Error, F3ESCape code, 28listed by function, C-l -C-24listed by number, B-l

MMaintenance, G-lMargins, 53 -- 54Master Select, 45 -- 47Matrix. See Dot matrixNNear Letter Quality (NLQ) mode, 24 -- 25, 370ON LINE light and button,

UUnderline mode, 44 -- 45User-defined characters, 59 -- 70WWIDTH statements, 80Zero, slashed, D-2 -D-3zJ-4

Then hold the ribbon cassette so that the small knob is on top andthe exposed section of ribbon is away from you. Insert the cassette inits holder by

Now turn the knob on the cassette in the direction of the arrow totighten the ribbon. As you turn the knob, see that the ribbon slipsdown into its pro

Paper LoadingNow put a sheet of paper in your LX-86 so you can test it. Figurel-7 shows the names of the partsthat you need to know.Friction leverFigu

See that the printer is turned off, open the front lid, and push thefriction lever back and the paper bail forward. Then move the printhead by hand to

There are three buttons and four indicator lights on the control panel.Lightsl The POWER light glows green when the power is on.l The READY light glow

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENTFOR AMERICAN USERSThis equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed andused properly, that is, in

Test PatternNow you’ll see your Lx-86 print something even though it’s notconnected to a computer yet. Make sure that your printer has paper in itand

Connecting the LX-86 to Your ComputerNow that the test pattern has shown that your printer is workingwell, it’s time to hook it up to your computer. I

Next connect the other end of the printer cable to your computer.On most computers you can easily find the correct connector for theprinter cable, but

Chapter 2SelecTypeThe LX-86’s SelecType feature can produce four specialtypestyles:This is emphasized printing.This isin the double-strike mode.This i

Note: If the printer beeps twice before you release the buttons,you have pressed the FORM FEED button before the OFFLINE button instead of at the same

After turning on SelecType, follow these three steps to selecta typestyle:1. Find the typestyle you want in Table 2-1.Table 2-l. SelecType modesModeTy

Now, run the program by typing RUN and pressing RETURN, orprint your file or document by following the printing instructions ofyour software. The LX-8

SelecType TipsOnce you have learned the simple technique for controlling printstyles with SelecType, you can use it whenever you wish.You should be aw

Chapter 3Elements of Dot Matrix PrintingThis chapter is for those of you who want to know somethingabout how your printer works. It’s a simple, non-te

Bidirectional PrintingIn nearly all of our discussions in this manual, we describe theaction of the LX-86 print head as moving from left to right, as

ContentsList of Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . .viiList of Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In Figure 3-3 there is a grid of lines behind the pica characters sothat you can more easily see how they are designed. As you look atthese characters

The panel buttons make it especially easy to change from draftto NLQ, but you can also select and cancel the NLQ mode with asoftware command which you

Chapter 4Printer Control CodesThe LX-86 printer is easy to use, especially with commercial soft-ware that has print control features. This chapter exp

Computer and printer interaction would be terribly confusing ifdifferent kinds of computers and printers used different numbers forthe same letter of

Printer CodesTo take advantage of the many print features of the IX-86, youcan use a software program that sends the correct codes or you canuse anoth

l The ESCape and control keys on your computer’s keyboard. Withthis system you send the ESCape code by pressing the ESCapekey and a carriage return by

If your word processing program allows inserted codes, it willprobably do standard printing without such codes. It is only forspecial features that yo

Chapter 5IX-86 FeaturesBeginning with this chapter we describe many of the printing fea-tures of the LX-86. Although we include programs that demonstr

If you don’t want to do the exercises in BASIC, you don’t have to.Many users are quite happy with their printers without ever learningany more about t

5IX-86 Features...Demonstration Programs...Pica Printing...Changing Pitches...Canc

Now run the program. You should get the results you see below,10 pica characters per inch.ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQTRSTUVWXYZ[\]ˆ_`abcdefghiChanging PitchesNo

To avoid having one program interfere with the printing modes ofanother, you can cancel a mode one of two ways:l With a specific cancelling code, such

In fact, if you need even more than the 132 characters per linethat condensed gives you, you can combine elite and condensedfor a mode we call condens

All the modes demonstrated in this chapter are compared in Table5-l.Table 5-1, Summary of LX-86 pitchesPrint sampleCPICodesonoft1 inchNear Letter Qual

Chapter 6Print Enhancements and Special CharactersNow that you have seen how you can change the pitch of yourIX-86 printing, we can show you many more

Emphasized works only in draft pica and NLQ modes. In eliteand condensed the dots are already so close together that evenwith the reduced print speed,

You should get the following printout when you run this programand type “E” and “emphasized” in answer to the questions.This sample Uses ESCape Eto pr

Double-width ModePerhaps the most dramatic mode on the LX-86 is double-width.It produces extra-wide characters that are good for titles andheadings. F

Mode CombinationsYou can combine nearly all of the print modes on the LX-86.Indeed, your Ix-86 printer can print such complicated combina-tions as dou

Standard Pica PrintItalic Pica PrintFigure 6-4. Italic and picaThe code to turn italic mode on is ESCape “4”. Try it in the masterprogram if you wish.

9Introduction to Dot Graphics...71Dot Patterns...72Print Head...73Graph&

This uses the underline mode.Figure 6-5. The underline modeAs shown in Figure 6-5, the underline mode is continuous, butsome word processing and other

For any combination,. just add up the values of each of the modesyou want and use the total as the number after ESCape “!“. Forexample, to calculate t

Indeed, Master Select is such a powerful feature that it may occa-sionally be more powerful than you want it to be. Because it controlseight different

If n is 1, the command turns the Character Graphics set on; ifn is 0, the command turns that set off.If you prefer to have the Character Graphics set

You select the character set in one of two ways: with an ESCape codeor with a switch in the back of your printer. The ESCape code inBASIC has the foll

Table 6-3. International characters in draft italic35366491929394 96123124 125126USAFRANCEGERMANYUKDENMARKSWEDENITALYSPAINJAPANNORWAYDENMARK IIThe num

Graphics character setThe Lx-86 printer’s Read Only Memory (ROM) also contains the32 graphics characters that you see in Figure 6-6.Figure 6-6. Specia

The next printout shows the characters in emphasized double-width pica:Because normal line spacing leaves space between the lines ofgraphics character

Chapter 7Page FormattingAlthough the LX-86 printer has many sophisticated commands toset margins, line spacing, and horizontal and vertical tabs, we w

You should be aware that a few applications programs reset theprinter before each document or file they print. These programs will,of course, cancel y

FTroubleshooting and Advanced Features...Problem / Solution Summary...Setting print styles...Tabbing...

Skip Over PerforationIf you are using continuous pin-feed paper for printing programlistings or other material not controlled by an applications progr

l/6 inch1/6 inch3 blankrows3 blankrowsFigure 7-l. Standard line spacingThe default line spacing illustrated in Figure 7-l is the only oneyou need for

Paper-Out SensorUnder the platen (the black roller) of your LX-86 printer is a smallswitch that senses whether or not paper is in the printer. When th

Chapter 8User-Defined CharactersThe LX-86 has several hundred different characters stored in itsROM (Read Only Memory). Although this number includesd

After you have created your own characters with our programs,certain keys that you seldom use will generate the user-defined char-acters. For example,

When you place your dots on this grid, remember that dots cannotgo on horizontal lines, but they can go on vertical lines so long as theydo not overla

So that you can see how the program works, we’ll present thesteps used to create the symbol for Mercury. First is the grid weused to design the charac

Now wait a moment for your computer to calculate the dot pat-terns and your LX-86 to print the new character in two differenttypestyles. Your printout

90 FOR P=58 TO 63: LPRINT CHR$(P);" ";: NEXT P95 LPRINT100 K=l: IF K>3 THEN A=58 ELSE A=60110 LPRINT CHR$(27)":"CHR$(O)CHR$(O)C

The two lines when printed by your own program provide youwith a key to the characters your LX-86 will now print. When youpress the key for one of the

List of Figuresl-l Printer parts...l-2Paper feed knob installation...l-3Ribbon cassette...

12854321684211286432168421128641 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Figure 8-5. Grid for NLQ charactersOn this grid you can use any numbered line or space. As yo

FirstdatanumberSeconddatanumberThirddatanumber128 8432188421128 6432168421128 641286432 =22941168=28464}=64Figure 8-6. Data numbers for one columnTo c

12864321684 211286432168421128648 3225532 8000 255 0 0 000 192000IIf you look at each column individually, you can see how the datanumbers were calcul

10 LPRINT CHRS(27);"xl";20 LPRINT CHR$(27);":";CHR$(O);CHR$(O);CHR$(O);30 LPRINT CHR$(27);"%";CHR$(l);CHR$(O);40 LPRINT

When you run this program it prints six characters, then redefinesone or more of them and prints them again. As with the draft charac-ters, you use th

Chapter 9Introduction to Dot GraphicsThe Epson dot graphics mode allows your LX-86 printer to pro-duce pictures, graphs, charts, or almost any other i

Bookstore InventoryMAGAZINESBEST-SELLERSSCIENCE FICTION-----ROMANCENON-FICTIONCLASSICS MYSTERIESWESTERNSIf you have a program that produces graphics,

Print HeadThe graphics mode on the LX-86 is quite different from the textmodes. Instead of sending codes for letters and printing functions,you send c

The LX-86 has several different graphics densities, but we’ll keepthings simple by using only one in the first exercises. The code forentering single-

1286432168421not usedFigure 9-1. Pin labelsTo fire any one pin, you send its number. To fire more than onepin at the same time, add up the numbers of

E-lE-2E-3E-4E-5E-6E-7E-8I-l2-l5-16-16-26-39-lD-lD-2I-lI-2Continuous paper with printer stand...Continuous paper without stand...

With this numbering system any combination of the eight pinsadds up to a unique decimal number between 0 and 255. Althoughyou use a decimal number, it

30 LPRINT CHR$(27)"K"CHR$(100)CHR$(O);40 FOR X=1 TO 50: LPRINT CHR$(85)CHR$(42);50 NEXT XIf you run the program now, you’ll see how one line

Line 20 begins a loop to produce multiple print lines. Lines 30 and40 were covered above, but an LPRINT is added to line 50 to pro-duce a line feed af

You are familiar with the command format that uses the ESCapecode and a letter, but LX-86 graphics commands can also be in thefollowing format:LPRINT

the maximum number of dots you can reserve on the IX86, then, is:CHR$(27)"Z"CHR$(128)CHR$(7);or, in the other format:CHR$(27)"*"CH

Design Your Own GraphicsIn this section we take you through the development of a graphicsprogram. The example is not especially complicated, but it do

Figure 9-4. Arrow designAfter plotting all the dots as in Figure 9-4, you calculate the num-bers for each pin pattern by dividing the design grid into

The numbers for the second and third lines were calculated in thesame manner. Once the numbers for the pin patterns are calculated,they go in DATA sta

Graphics Programming TipsNow that we’ve shown you how to design your own graphics,we’ll review and emphasize a few elements of graphics programming.As

What went wrong? To help you understand the graphics commandand avoid some of the more common errors made with it, we’llexamine this program in detail

IntroductionThe Epson IX-86printer combines low price with the high qualityand advanced features formerly available only on more expensiveprinters.LX-

You may also wonder why the program prints not only the differ-ent pin patterns but also the character “J” a number of times. Thereason lies in the nu

10 G$=-CHR$( 27) + ”K” + CHR$( 100) + CHR(0)20 A$=CHR$(85)+CHR$(42)30 B$=CHR$(42)+CHR$(85)40 LPRINT CHR$( 27 ”1” ;50 FOR R=l TO 360 LPRINT G$;70 FOR

Appendix AIX-86 CharactersThis appendix gives the control codes and characters for each codefrom 0 through 255 decimal (00 through FF hex). Page A-3 s

Dec Hex CHR Dec Hex CHRDecHex CHRDecHexCHR000 none101none202 none303 none64 40@6541A66 42B6743C68 44D69 45E70 46F7147G7248H7349I744AJ754B K764CL774D M

Epson Character GraphicsStandard InternationalDec Hex CHR12880 none12981none13082 none13183 none13284 none13385 none13486 none135 87BEL13688BS13789HT1

Appendix BCommands in Numerical OrderThis appendix lists all the LX-86 commands in numerical order.The page number column indicates where a complete d

ASCIIDecHex DescriptionPage refBEL707BS808HT909LF100AVT110BFF120CCR130Dso140ESI15OFDC11711DC21812DC31913DC42014CAN2418DEL1277FESC SO140EESC SI150FESC

ASCIIDecHexDescriptionPage refESC GESC HESC JESC KESC LESC MESC NESC OESC PESC QESC RESC SOESC SlESC TESC UESC WESC YESC ZESC /\ESC aESC bESC eESC fES

Control Key ChartSome applications programs can use control key codes for decimalvalues O-27. The table below gives you the proper values. The Con-tro

Appendix CCommand SummaryThis appendix lists and describes all the commands available onthe LX-86. This summary is divided into the following topics:N