Dot Matrix Printer

Usually, the label format causes page ejects at the end of each page of labels. These appear as blank lines after a few continuous labels have printed, which causes subsequent labels to move out of alignment. This effect is caused by a combination of the label format file and the dot matrix printer driver settings. To overcome this effect, you must adopt a different approach to the label-printing process when using dot matrix printers and continuous labels.

Steps to Follow to Print Labels on Dot Matrix Printer:

1. In the dot matrix printer driver, set a user-defined paper size to represent the label dimensions. Make the length dimension include the distance from the top of one label to the top of the next label.
2. In the application, ensure that the user accesses the Printer Setup Dialog by using the Print Manager icon or the Control Panel Printers icon. If the user accesses the Printer Setup Dialog from anywhere else, the dialog will not allow the user to set a user defined paper size.
3. Ensure that the selected Paper Source is set to Tractor and that the Paper Orientation is set to Portrait.
4. In TSM, click on ‘Reports/Parts/Select Reports‘ buttons and select ‘Parts Label – DMP Custom Size’ or ‘Product Label – DMP Custom Size’, which ever label you want to customise, then click ‘Duplicate’. Select the duplicate report you have just created and click ‘Customise’.
5. In report designer screen from menu bar select ‘file’ then ‘page setup’ and ‘print setup’. Select the dot matrix printer you are using.
6. From paper size select the custom paper size you have just created. Here also select ‘tractor feed’ for the paper source and ‘portrait’ for paper orientation.
7. The column number should be 1 if you are using single column labels. If you are using a different label form then type the correct column number.
8. Select ‘file’ and click ‘Save’ to finish your work and exit the report designer.
9. Select the label you have just created as your default label by clicking on the default check box.
10. Exit the report screen.
11. Before you use your dot matrix printer and the new label form make sure you have selected this dot matrix printer as your ‘default label printer’ on ‘Job Card – 2’ page of Setup screen.

Windows 2000/XP setup for the correct printer driver paper size: If the computer is running Windows 2000/XP, a different process must be followed to set up a custom paper size. In Windows 2000/XP, these custom paper sizes are called custom forms. To create a custom form, follow these steps:

1. In Control Panel, double-click Printers.
2. On the File menu, click Server Properties.
3. On the Forms tab, click the Create A New Form check box to select it.
4. Enter the settings for the new form. Note: When you set up a custom form, the margins cannot go beyond the confines of the specifications for the installed printer driver. Printable regions must be adhered to with regard to margin limits for the printer and driver in use.
5. Click Save Form.

To use the new form as the default form, follow these steps:

1. In Control Panel, double-click Printers.
2. Use the right mouse button to click the printer you want, and then click Document Defaults on the menu that appears.
3. In the Paper Size box, click the new form.
4. Click OK.

To use the new form from a program other then TSM, follow these steps:

1. In the program, click Print.
2. In the Print dialog box, click Properties.
3. In the Paper Size box, click the new form.
4. Click OK.
5. Click OK to print.

Note: New forms are stored on the computer where they were created. When you create a new form for use with a shared printer, create the form on the print server.