JJ Jones wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Does anybody know how to print barcodes on an Epson impact printer
> (FX-2190 or FX-2170) using ESC/P?
>
> Using the ESC/P manual, I entered two sequences that were supposed to
> print barcodes, and neither of them printed. In fact, they froze the
> printer.
>
> I'm using the manual titled "Epson ESC/P Reference Manual, December
> 1997". In the "Recommended Operations" section, there are many
> examples of numeric sequences that are supposed to print barcodes, but
> I can't get them to work. I tried two:
>
> At the top of page R-95, I sent the following hex numbers to the
> printer: 1B,28,42,0D,00,04,02,00,7D,00,03,30,31,32,33,34,35 ,30, but it
> didn't generate the example barcode.
>
> At the bottom of page R-93, I sent the hex numbers:
> 1B,28,42,12,00,04,02,00,7D,00,00,30,31,32,33,34,35 ,36,37,38,39,30,35,
> but it also didn't print the example barcode.
>
> When doing this, I first turned the printer off & on, to initialize it,
> then I sent the hex string. My guess is that there is some magic
> number that I'm missing that will initialize the printer properly, or
> put it into graphics mode or something.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Thanks
>
I used to use these all the time to print bar codes!
You are going about it the wrong way.
First, there are DIP switches that have to be set to allow graphics mode.
Then, instead of sending code sequences, you use software that prints
the kind of bar codes you want. There are many kinds of bar codes.
The sequences you are playing with are for programmers.
Firstly, determine what kind of bar codes you want.
Second, find software to do it.
There is freeware software to do just about anything you want.
i.e. type 'freeware barcode software' in Google and you will find all
kinds of things.
Regards
Lee