PMI Lite Software for Windows® Easiest to use Label Design and BAR-CODE program available today! Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 11150 Woodward Lane Cincinnati, OH 45241 Phone: 513-782-5050 Fax: 513-782-5051 Table of Contents Running PMI Lite --------------------------------------------------------------4 Main Menu (Design) ------------------------------------------------------------4 SETUP -----------------------------------------------------------------------------5 Printer Output -------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Label Setup -----------------------------------------------------------------------6 Print Speed -----------------------------------------------------------------------6 Slew Rate -------------------------------------------------------------------------6 Heat Setting / Contrast --------------------------------------------------------7 Send Logo / Graphics ----------------------------------------------------------7 Printer Mode Select ------------------------------------------------------------7 Media Type Select --------------------------------------------------------------7 Offset Mode ----------------------------------------------------------------------8 Ribbon Saver----------------------------------------------------------------------8 Number of Labels Cut ----------------------------------------------------------8 Distance to Cutoff ---------------------------------------------------------------8 Black Strip ------------------------------------------------------------------------8 Set Form Length ----------------------------------------------------------------9 Horizontal / Vertical Dot Size -------------------------------------------------9 DESIGN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------10 Insert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 Insert Text -------------------------------------------------------------------------11 Select Font ------------------------------------------------------------------------11 Text Rotation ---------------------------------------------------------------------12 Font Magnify ---------------------------------------------------------------------12 Fixed Text Field -----------------------------------------------------------------12 Paragraphing Fixed Fields ----------------------------------------------------13 Variable Text Field --------------------------------------------------------------13 Select Field Description -------------------------------------------------------14 Field Definitions -----------------------------------------------------------------14 Maximum Length ---------------------------------------------------------------- 14 Minimum Length ----------------------------------------------------------------- 15 Prompt -----------------------------------------------------------------------------15 Incremental / Decremental Numbers ---------------------------------------15 Value to Start / Save -----------------------------------------------------------15 Step Size --------------------------------------------------------------------------16 Save Last Inc / Dec Number -------------------------------------------------16 Match (Copied) Fields ---------------------------------------------------------16 Linked Fields ---------------------------------------------------------------------16 Paragraphing Variable Fields ------------------------------------------------17 Insert Barcode -------------------------------------------------------------------17 Barcode Options ----------------------------------------------------------------17 Select Barcode ------------------------------------------------------------------18 Barcode Height ------------------------------------------------------------------18 Human Readable On / Off ----------------------------------------------------18 Rotate Barcode ------------------------------------------------------------------19 Barcode Ratios ------------------------------------------------------------------19 Barcode Magnification ---------------------------------------------------------19 Reverse Block -------------------------------------------------------------------20 Adjust Block ----------------------------------------------------------------------20 Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. Draw a Box -----------------------------------------------------------------------21 Draw a Line -----------------------------------------------------------------------21 Logo / Graphics ------------------------------------------------------------------21 Time / Date -----------------------------------------------------------------------22 Check Digit -----------------------------------------------------------------------23 Creating PDF417 ----------------------------------------------------------------24 Common ASCII Delimiter Values -------------------------------------------26 Edit a Field ------------------------------------------------------------------------27 Variable Fields Edit -------------------------------------------------------------27 Variable Fields Resequence -------------------------------------------------28 Delete a Field --------------------------------------------------------------------28 Copy a Field ----------------------------------------------------------------------28 Cut a Field ------------------------------------------------------------------------29 Copy Bar Code ------------------------------------------------------------------29 Copy PDF 417 -------------------------------------------------------------------29 FILE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------29 New Format ----------------------------------------------------------------------30 Select Format --------------------------------------------------------------------30 Copy Format ---------------------------------------------------------------------30 Save Format ----------------------------------------------------------------------30 Delete Format --------------------------------------------------------------------31 Logo Size -------------------------------------------------------------------------31 PRINT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------32 Test Print --------------------------------------------------------------------------32 Direct Print ------------------------------------------------------------------------32 Resequence ----------------------------------------------------------------------33 Merge Print -----------------------------------------------------------------------33 Command Output ---------------------------------------------------------------34 Exit ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------35 QUICK START TUTORIAL --------------------------------------------------35 Design Label Format -----------------------------------------------------------36 Run PMI Lite Software ---------------------------------------------------------36 Setup -------------------------------------------------------------------------------36 Begin Designing a Label ------------------------------------------------------37 Insert a Fixed Field -------------------------------------------------------------37 Creating a Variable Text Field -----------------------------------------------37 Insert Variable UPCA Barcode Field ---------------------------------------38 Adjust Barcode Height ---------------------------------------------------------38 Draw a Box -----------------------------------------------------------------------39 Test Print Label ------------------------------------------------------------------39 Save Format ----------------------------------------------------------------------39 Direct Print Tutorial -----------------------------------------------------------39 Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. RUNNING PMI Lite After the PMI Lite Software installation has been completed, you simply go onto the program group that was created and double click onto one of the PMI icons to execute the program. Main Menu (Design) The Main Menu selections include File, Design, Setup, Exit, Print, View, Status, and Help. To select a menu option, use the key and the appropriate underlined letter or click your choice with the mouse. To select the options in the pull-down menu, use the up or down arrow keys to highlight your choice and press . You can also use a mouse or simply type the underlined letter in the menu selection. The Design Format option will take the most time to learn so we recommend that the beginner refer to the QUICK START TUTORIAL Section. We have tried to make designing labels as simple as possible through the use of a Status-Help box located at the bottom right side of the screen. The help box aids you by displaying important information including the name of the field that is being worked on, X-Y coordinates, font size, magnification, rotation, bar code type, and how to proceed. Edit Field - Press Up & Down Arrow Keys and to select Press ESC to Exit 12 X=0, Y=0 Code 39 The Status-Help box can be removed from the screen or returned by clicking onto the Status selection or the status Icon from the Main Menu. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. Setup The Setup option allows you to configure your label format for the printer selected, choose the printer you will use, select the port the printer is connected to, change the speed that data is sent out the serial port, and setup the serial port. Choose your printer by clicking on to the Select Printer option from the Setup Menu. After selecting the printer, you can move on to setup your printer output and label specifications. Printer Output Select this option to choose which port you want to send out your data. This version of software is only configured to operate with the parallel (LPT) ports. If you select some other port you will get an error message. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. Label Setup The label setup allows you to enter such things as the label width, height, printer speed, slew rate, heat setting, send logo graphic, dot advance, database name, save database records, off set mode, ribbon saver, cutter time, eject, distance to cut off, logo download, etc. The label size will be shows as a white work area on the screen during the design process to help keep you within the labels' parameters. Use your mouse or the and keys to change fields within the setup definition window. You must enter three (3) characters and the decimal point for the labels’ width and height. Print Speed This allows you to control the printing speed of the printer. Changing the print speed will allow you to increase or decrease the number of labels the printer will print per minute. Enter an alpha or numeric character, depending which printer you are using, to control the print speed. The higher the number or letter, the faster you will print. Slew Rate The slew rate is the speed at which the blank space on a label is advanced when no printing is taking place. Adjusting the slew rate allows you to increase or decrease the number of labels per minute that the printer will form feed. Enter a value between "A" (slowest) and "O" (fastest) to control the slew rate. This feature is only available on Datamax/Fargo printers. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. Heat Setting / Contrast To change the contrast you need to alter the heat setting for the print head, thereby making the image lighter or darker. To make the image lighter, you need to select a lower number or letter. Conversely, to darken the image, select a higher number or letter. Send Logo / Graphics There are two basic methods used by printers to print logos. One uses a memory module and the other uses internal memory. If your label format uses a logo or graphic, answering "YES" to this option will cause the logo/graphic to be sent to the printer’s memory each time that the label is printed. For those printers that use internal memory, printing should begin immediately. If your printer is equipped with a memory module it may take a few moments before the printing begins. The delay is due to the time required for the logo/graphic to be downloaded to the printer's memory module. Printers with memory modules can change the send logo/graphics to "NO" in the setup once the logo/graphic has been downloaded. Depending on which type of memory module you are using, you should not have to download the logo/graphic again unless it has been lost or overwritten. Printers with internal memory usually need to keep the send logo/graphic set for “YES”. NOTE: In order to use the Logo/ Graphics option, Fargo and Datamax printers must be equipped with a memory module. Printer Mode Select This command enables you to select the type of printing you will use. 0 = Direct Thermal Printing (default setting) 1 = Direct Thermal Printing on linerless label stock 2 = Thermal Transfer Printing using single-pass ribbon 3 = Thermal Transfer Printing using multi-pass ribbon Media Type Select This command enables you to select the type of media you will be using. 0 = Label Media (Die-Cut with a gap between each label) 1 = Notched Media 2 = Reflective Media (Uses printed sense marking on the label liner) 3 = Continuous Media (No gaps in label stock) The default setting is 0. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. Offset Mode The Offset Mode option allows you to adjust the location on the label where printing will begin. The number selection can range from 0000 to 9999. The default setting is 0100 for the Prodigy Plus (which is equal to 27.9 MM or approximately 1.00 inch) 0250 for the Prodigy, and 0220 for the Allegro. If you use the default settings, printing will begin at the top of your label; whereas, increasing the offset number will cause the printing to begin further down the label. The lowest available setting is 0050 which equals 12.5 MM or approximately 0.5 inches. Any setting lower than 0050 will automatically change to the default. The value of each number represents 1/100th of an inch of label to feed before data begins printing. Ribbon Saver This option allows you to activate the ribbon saver feature on printers so equipped. The ribbon saver, when turned on, will be activated any time there is .95" (24mm) or more of unprinted space on a label. The print head is lifted at the same time the ribbon drive mechanism is disengaged, thereby allowing the label to feed through without wasting any of the ribbon. # of Labels Cut Sets the number (#) of labels that will be printed before the cutter is engaged. Distance to Cutoff Used to set the distance that a label will feed out after printing before the cutter is activated. This can also be used to get labels to feed out so that the label gap is positioned at the tear bar. (140-145 for Prodigy Plus.) Black Strip If you are using label stock that has the black sense mark on the back, set the Black Strip option to "Y". Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. Set Form Length With Eltron printers it is necessary to set the label and gap length in dots to ensure that the printer advances the media correctly. The Eltron printer uses a 203 dot print head meaning that there are 203 dots to each inch of printing. If you enter the label width and length then click onto the “Calculate a Value” button, the software will calculate the proper label length in dots and enter the number in the box. You can manually set the label length “a” by measuring the distance from top of the one label to the bottom of the next label and multiply by 203. EXAMPLE: 1.25” X 203 = 253.75 or 254 Enter this number in the box marked “a”. For a 1¼” long label the number would be 254. The standard label gap for most media stock is 1/8” or .125”. To get the “b” setting, multiply the gap by 203. Enter this number in the box marked “b”. EXAMPLE: .125” X 203 = 25.37 or 25 The “c” setting or offset is only used with labels that are die cut and have a gap. If you want printing to begin down the label instead of at the top you need to enter the number of dots to be advance in box “c”. This feature is often used with pre-printed labels. Horizontal / Vertical Dot Size Datamax printers can stretch barcodes, text, graphics, and Time/Date in both the X and Y direction. The X setting can be set for either 1 or 2. Selecting 2 will approximately double the width of the affected fields. All the above fields except a barcode can also be stretched approximately 2 or 3 times in the Y direction. This feature is especially valuable when Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. making very large labels for drums and pallets when using the DMX 600, 800, or one of the other wide web printers. After you have selected all the setup options and clicked on OK, you will be asked if you want to use the fields currently on the screen. Make sure that if there is a format on the screen you answer "YES". Your label format will be lost if you answer "NO" to this question. Design Once you have selected your printer and completed your label setup, you are ready to begin designing your label. The Design menu offers various options including: Insert, Edit, Variable Fields - Edit, Variable Fields - Resequence, Delete, Copy, Paste, Cut, copy Bar Code, copy PDF-417 and ESC- Main Menu. Use your mouse to click onto Design or with your keyboard press the key along with the letter "D" to bring up the Design menu. After the pull down menu has been displayed, you simply use your mouse or the appropriate arrow key to highlight your selection. Insert The Insert option gives you an opportunity to put text, bar codes, boxes, blocks, lines, logos/ graphics, PDF417, Time/Date and human readable check digits into your label format. You can also select the specific options by simply clicking onto the appropriate Icon in the toolbox. Using the icons eliminates keystrokes and speeds up design process. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 10 Insert Text Selecting the Insert Text option from the pull down menu or clicking onto the “ABC” icon in the toolbox lets you create a label using fixed or variable text. A fixed text field is one which is constant and does not require data to be entered at print time. Once a fixed field is inserted into a label format it will be printed each time the label is run, without any additional input required. A variable field is one that allows you to input data at print time. There are a maximum of 140 total fields permitted for each label. Of those, 42 are designated as variable fields. The maximum length of a fixed field is 290 characters and a variable field is 99 characters. The Text options menu displays all of the different choices available for the text field you are currently creating or editing. Selections include: Select Font, Rotation, Magnification, Reverse On/Off, Location X/Y, Paragraph, Characters per line, and Line Space. Simply clicking into the appropriate field and making the desired changes can modify the default settings. Select Font To change the character font size from the default setting with the keyboard, use the tab key to highlight the font selection then the arrow keys to scroll through the available fonts. If you are using a mouse, click onto the arrow adjacent to the font selection. You will be presented with a pull down menu listing the available fonts from which you can make your selection. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 11 The printer you have selected determines the fonts available. Some printers have proportional fonts while others do not. Text Rotation To change the Text Rotation, use a mouse or the arrow keys to select the Text Rotation option. Click onto the desired rotation with your mouse or use the arrow keys to make your selection. Font Magnify To change the magnification of the font, select the Font Magnify option. Enter the X multiplier to make the fonts wider or narrower, and the Y multiplier to make the fonts taller or shorter. The multipliers available are 1 to 9. If the font is rotated, then the X multiplier will affect the height, and the Y multiplier will affect the width. Fixed Text Field A fixed field is one which is constant and does not require any input at print time. If you want to produce a fixed text field, select text from the Insert menu or click onto the “ABC” icon. When the Text Option menu is presented, type in the desired text in the ‘TYPE HERE’ box. You can use any of the characters on the keyboard except a left or right square bracket [ ] as these are used to designate a variable field. When you are satisfied with your text and the other available options, press or click onto OK with your mouse. The typed information in the TYPE HERE box will be displayed in the upper left corner of the work screen or at the X and Y coordinate that you entered in the text option menu. You can make Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 12 changes to your text field anytime by either clicking on the “EDIT” icon or pointing your cursor at the field and clicking the right mouse button. Paragraphing Fixed Fields The paragraphing feature enables you to create multi-line fields with up to 290 characters per fixed field. To create a paragraph, change the default setting to “yes” in the Text Option screen. Next you need to enter the number of characters you want per line and how much space between lines. Begin entering your text in the TYPE HERE box using any of the characters on the keyboard except the square brackets [ ]. When you have completed entering the desired text, press the enter key or click onto OK with your mouse. The paragraph will be displayed in the upper left corner of the work screen or at the X and Y location you specified on the Text Option screen. The software will automatically wrap the text into a paragraph that is left justified. If you need to move the paragraph, click on and drag it to the desired location, or use the edit feature to change the X and Y coordinate. A text paragraph can be modified for font type, rotation, magnification, etc. like any other text field. Variable Text Field A variable text field is one which allows data to be input at print time. Selecting the Text option from the pull down menu or clicking onto the “ABC” icon enables you to create a label using a variable text field. In the TYPE HERE box enter a left bracket [ followed by an alpha/numeric field name ending with a right bracket ]. The field name between the brackets must begin with an alpha character. No spaces are permitted in the field name between the brackets. The alphanumeric characters inside the brackets will only be used as a reference to identify the field. A variable text field is displayed on the screen as a series of 0s equal to the maximum number of characters that were set when the field was designed. EXAMPLE: TYPE HERE > [PART] TYPE HERE > [A1] [B] [C2] When creating a variable field you will also need to select the field type. The field type options are as follows: Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 13 Select Field Description The select field options are described as follows: • Characters and Numbers - Alphanumerical characters up to a total of 99 per variable field. • Fixed Length - Numeric only - A string of numbers that are a fixed length. (max 99 numbers) • Variable Length - Numeric only- A string of variable length numbers. (0 to 99 numbers) • Fixed Length - Incremental - A numeric string made up of fixed length incremental numbers. (max 7 numbers) • Variable Length - Incremental - A numeric string made up of a variable length incremental numbers. (0 to 7 numbers) • Price Field -A numeric string with a variable length up to 99 numbers. The last two numbers will be printed to the right of the decimal point and a $ sign will be printed in front of the number. Field Definitions After you have chosen the field type, you will be directed to answer the appropriate Field Definition questions. Use the , , or mouse to move from line to line. Maximum Length This determines the maximum number of characters that will be allowed in a variable field. The maximum length is 99 for a non-incremental field and 7 for an incremental field. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. Minimum Length This will determine the minimum amount of characters that will be allowed in a variable field. The minimum number can be 0. Prompt The prompts are the instructions that will guide the user when entering information at print time. They should be constructed to tell the operator what information needs to be entered into a particular field. ENTER VARIABLE DATA Enter Part # -<>-12345 Enter Description -<>-Widget Enter Ship to -<>-PMI Incremental / Decremental (Sequential Numbers) Incremental/decremental (sequential) fields can be either fixed or variable. The maximum length permitted is 7 numbers and the minimum is 0. Besides choosing the length of the field you also have to enter the prompt, the start value, the step size and whether the software should remember the last number printed. Value to Start / Save This feature allows you to enter a starting number for an incremental/decremental field. At print time, the start value will automatically be displayed. You can change the start value at print time if desired. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 15 Step Size Enter the number by which you want this field to be increased or decreased, i.e. 1, 2, 5, 10. To decrease the step size insert a minus (-) sign in front of the number entered in the “enter step size” field. The default value is plus "1". This means the incremental field will increase by one number at a time. Save Last Inc / Dec Number If you enter “Y” the software will remember the last incremental number printed and automatically display the next number; however, you will still have the option to change the number at print time if desired. The default is “N” which means the last number printed will not be saved. If you change the number at print time, the last number printed in the sequence will be the new number remembered. When the field definition questions are completed, press the key or click onto OK with your mouse. You can now exit the field definitions, or go back in and make changes. Match (Copied) Fields A match (copied) field(s) allows you to enter one field of variable information, and then print the same information in one or more additional locations on the same label. To make a match/copied field, use the same description inside of the [brackets] as were used to make the original variable field. Match (copied) fields can be used for both text and bar codes including PDF-417. The original field type and field description will be automatically copied and the new field will be displayed on the screen. You can now pick font size, rotation, change magnification, etc. Linked Fields This feature allows you to tie together or link data from multiple fields and print them as one large field. An example of a linked field would be if you wanted to tie together a part number, serial number and a date into a single bar code field. To use this feature you would insert, at the’ TYPE HERE’ prompt, all of the variable fields without spaces on one line separated by square brackets [ ]. EXAMPLE: TYPE HERE > [PART] [SERIAL] [ DATE] Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 16 Link fields can be made using both text and bar codes. You can also link matched (copied) fields to reduce the time needed to enter your data at print time. Paragraphing Variable Fields Creating a paragraph using variable fields is done by combining the link field procedure with the paragraphing option as described previously. At the TYPE HERE box you enter the variable fields the same way you do a link field. EXAMPLE: TYPE HERE > [A] [B] [C] [D] The above example would generate the following paragraph arrangement: Variable Field A Variable Field B Variable Field C Variable Field D The maximum length of a paragraphed variable link field is 290 characters. The maximum number of characters per individual field component is 99. A paragraphed variable text field can be very useful when creating ingredient or nutrition type labels. Insert Bar Code Selecting Bar Code from the Insert Selection menu or clicking onto the bar code icon enables you to insert a bar code into your label. In the TYPE HERE box enter the desired characters or a variable field identifier in [brackets]. If the bar code is a variable field, use the same procedure as with text. Bar Code Options The Bar code Options menu includes such selections as Select Bar code, Bar code Height, Rotation, Ratio, Human Readable On/Off, Bar code Magnifications, X/Y Location, and double wide. Features not applicable to your selected printer will be grayed out. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 17 Select Bar Code To change your bar code from the default setting of code 39, click onto the arrow adjacent to the select bar code option or use the arrow keys to scroll through the available bar codes. After you have chosen the desired bar code you can go on to make any other changes or you can click onto OK or press the key. Bar Code Height To change the bar code height, increase or decrease the number in the options menu. Changing the height by one digit will alter the height of the bar code by 1/100th of an inch. You can also change height on the design screen by clicking on to the bar code with your left mouse button. Move your cursor to the outside of the upper right corner of the bar code and a + will appear. Click onto the + and a double headed arrow will appear. If you move the double headed arrow onto the bar code field, press and hold the left mouse key you can drag the bar code up or down to adjust the height. Human Readable On/Off You can select whether or not the human readable will be displayed on your label by clicking the Human Readable On/Off with a mouse or by using the Tab key. When using the Tab Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 18 key, once you have highlighted the Human Readable selection, use the arrow keys to make the necessary change. If you want the human readable to be larger than the default size, turn the human readable off and make a text match field with a font type and size to meet your needs. Rotate Bar Codes This option allows you to rotate the bar code 0, 90, 180, or 270 degrees. To change the bar code rotation, use a mouse or the Tab and Arrow keys to select one of the rotation options. The bar code will then be displayed in a rotated position. Bar Code Ratios Some bar codes can be printed using different ratios for the wide to narrow elements. To change the ratio, select the Ratio option using your mouse or the Tab and Arrow keys. Selecting the desired ratio from the pull down menu will change the size of the bar code on the screen. Some bar code specifications do not permit changing ratios, in which case you will get an error message. Bar Code Magnification A bar code can be made wider by selecting the Bar code Magnification option. The available magnifications will be displayed in a pull down menu. Use a mouse or the arrow keys to select the desired magnification. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 19 Reverse Block You can create a Reverse Block by selecting this option from the Insert Menu, or by clicking onto the Reverse Block icon from the toolbox. You will then get a Block Option pull down menu where you can set the length, width, X and Y location. Once you are finished setting your block size, click onto “OK” or press the key to display the reverse block on the work screen. You can move the reverse block by clicking on to it with your left mouse button and dragging it to the desired new location or by editing the field and changing the X and Y location. Adjust Block This function allows you to change the size and shape of the reverse block by using a mouse or the edit function. If you are using a mouse, simply click onto the outside of the upper right corner of the block with your left mouse button. A black + will be displayed. Click on the black + then move your cursor into the block and a double headed arrow will appear. Move the double headed arrow onto the reverse block field. If you press and hold the left mouse key you can adjust the reverse block by dragging it up or down, left or right to increase or decrease the size. You can also adjust the reverse block by editing the field and changing the number of dots in either the width and or height selection. Using a reverse block is the best way to create a line because you can adjust it to any thickness or length. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 20 Draw a Box The Draw A Box option allows you to design any size box. You can create a box by selecting this option from the Insert Menu, or by clicking onto the box icon from the toolbox. You will then get a Box Option pull down menu where you can set the width, height, line thickness, X and Y location. Once you are finished setting your box size, click onto “OK” or press the key to display the box on the work screen. The box can be moved or adjusted by using a mouse the same way you do a reverse block. Draw a Line Printing a line can be accomplished in several ways. With some printers you only need to select the line option from the Insert menu. With other printers, you can draw a line by inserting a reverse block or box then adjusting the length and thickness with your mouse or the edit function. A line can be lengthened or shortened using the same procedure as adjusting a box or reverse block. A reverse block is best suited for making thick lines or borders. Logo / Graphics The insert Logo/Graphic option allows you to display pictures generated with Publishers Paintbrush or other software package capable of generating .pcx, .tif, .bmp, or most other type of graphic files. You will need to copy the graphics files onto the PMI Lite Software directory in order to use them in a label format. Select the Logo/Graphic option from the Insert menu or by clicking onto the Logo icon in the toolbox. You will then get an Open file source pull down menu where you can use your mouse or the tab and arrow keys to select the Logo/Graphic you want. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. Once the graphic has been chosen click onto “OK” or press the key. The Graphics Option menu will then be displayed showing the graphic name, rotation, reverse, the width, height, and the X/Y location. You can now make any modifications you want including rotating 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees, reverse printing, adjusting the size, and locating the X/Y coordinates the same way you would for a reverse block or box field. When you are satisfied with your selections click onto “OK” or press the key. The graphic will be displayed on the screen at the appropriate X/Y coordinates. You can adjust the size of the logo from the design screen by doing an edit or by simply clicking onto the outside of the upper right corner of the graphic with your left mouse button. A black + will be displayed. Click on the black + then move your cursor into the graphic and a double headed arrow will appear. Move the double headed arrow onto the reverse graphic field. If you press and hold the left mouse key you can adjust the graphic by dragging it up or down, left or right to increase or decrease the size. You can also adjust the graphic by editing it and changing the number of dots in either the width and or height selection. Time / Date The Time/Date option allows time and date stamping to be done when labels are printed. The time is input from your computer internal clock. After the Time/Date field is chosen, you can select an option in the Time/Date Selection Menu. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 22 The Select Font, Rotation, Magnification, and X/Y Location options for time/date stamping work the same way as described previously in the insert text and bar code sections. The Time/Date Format option allows you to select various time/date configurations including Julian date Check Digit A check digit is an alpha/numeric character that is attached to the end of a bar code to ensure that the information in the bar code is not misread. The Check Digit feature allows you to create a match text field for a bar code that uses a mod 10 or 43 check digit, such as compliance labels for Penney's, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc. These label formats require that the human readable be located above the bar code. The check digit is normally calculated by the printer and imbedded into the bar code and the human readable, located under the bar code. The default check digit is a mod 10. In order to comply with a requirement to locate the human readable above the bar code you need to create a match field using the same input characters as in the bar code and allow the software do the check digit calculation. Once the software has completed the calculation, the check digit will be added to the end of the character string. EXAMPLE: Bar code TYPE HERE 000001234555555555 Human Readable Match Field TYPE HERE 00 0 0012345 55555555 When you enter the character string in the TYPE HERE box, be sure that it is exactly the same information that you used for the bar code. The match field can have spaces to separate some of the characters if desired. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. You can now use the mouse or keyboard to position the match filed wherever you want it on the label or you can change the font selection, size, and magnification to meet your specific requirements. When the human readable match field is displayed on the screen, it will be presented with the check digit included. EXAMPLE: 00 0 0012345555 555555555 8 After you have entered the desired characters in the Type Here box you can go on to select the font, font size, magnification, and X/Y location just as you do for other type fields. The human readable match field can be edited by clicking onto the EDIT icon then the desired field or place your cursor on the field and click your right mouse button if it is not assigned. The edit process is the same as for other field. Creating PDF417 In addition to conventional bar codes, you can also print the two-dimensional PDF417s symbology. The PDF417 can be created using a text (.txt) file or can be setup to accept variable input with or without a delimiter. Once created, a PDF417 can be cut out and pasted into some other compatible program such as a word-processing or graphics package. You can choose a PDF417 from the Insert Menu or click onto the PDF icon in the toolbox. Once you have chosen to put a PDF into your label, a pull down options menu will be presented. Before you can go on to configure your 2 dimensional field, you need select what type of PDF information you will be using. There are 3 PDF type selections that you can Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 24 choose from. Selecting "File" will allow you to create a PDF417 using any text file created by any word processing package such as Write. The text file cannot be larger that 1,400 characters and must have a (.txt) extension. When creating a text file in your word processing program it must be saved onto the PMI directory in order to use it in a PDF417. The PDF417 that you create using a .txt file will be made up of fixed characters that can only be changed by editing the file in your word processor. Once you’ve created a PDF417 it can be copied to the "clip board" and pasted into another application or printed directly from the PMI program. The "input" selection will allow you to create a PDF417 using fixed or variable data. A fixed data field only requires you to type in the desired text. To create a variable field PDF417, use the same procedure used for a variable text field and link fields. If you want the input characters that make up the PDF to be printed out in human readable form, you will need to use the "Match Field" feature that has been discussed previously in the manual. A variable form PDF417 can be created using a maximum of 14 individual variable fields with a total of 1386 characters. The "input- delimiter" selection will allow you to use a delimiter to separate fields. The default is the tilde (~), which is selection 126. A delimiter is a character that is used to mark the end of a field in a multi-field PDF417. You can use up to a maximum of two delimiters between fields. If you want to change the delimiter, select the 3 digit number from the following table and type into the appropriate location. After you have selected "File", "Input", or "Input Delimiter", and the data has been entered you will need to determine the shape of the PDF. You can have a square or rectangle shape configured to fit into most any location on your label. The shape of your PDF is determined by the number you use for the rows and columns. Your choices are Default, which produces a shape that is relatively close to being square, or Rectangle. After you make a selection, the security, rows and columns will be displayed for that PDF417. You can use the default values or you can change them as you like. The security level is used to duplicate the information that is encoded in the PDF. Increasing the security level will make the PDF417 larger because you will be encoding the information more often. The more often the information is encoded into the PDF the more of it can be destroyed and still be scanned. If you change the security, rows or columns and get a message that says, "Insufficient columns and rows for NNN code words", you will have to make one of the values larger until it will accept the data. The number of rows multiplied by the number of columns must be equal to or larger than the number of code words. If you don't wish to manually change the rows and columns, you can have the software automatically make the necessary adjustments by selecting "calculate". Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 25 COMMON ASCII DELIMITER VALUES VALVE DELIM VALVE DELIM VALVE DELIM 010 LF 063 ? 095 _ 013 CR 064 @ 096 ` 032 (space) 065 A 097 a 033 ! 066 B 098 b 034 “ 067 C 099 c 035 # 068 D 100 d 036 $ 069 E 101 e 037 % 070 F 102 f 038 & 071 G 103 g 039 ‘ 072 H 104 h 040 ( 073 I 105 I 041 ) 074 J 106 j 042 * 075 K 107 k 043 + 076 L 108 l 044 , 077 M 109 m 045 -078 N 110 n 046 + 079 O 111 o 047 / 080 P 112 p 048 0 081 Q 113 q 049 1 082 R 114 r 050 2 083 S 115 s 051 3 084 T 116 t 052 4 085 U 117 u 053 5 086 V 118 v 054 6 087 W 119 w 055 7 088 X 120 x 056 8 089 Y 121 y 057 9 090 Z 122 z 058 : 091 [ 123 { 059 ; 092 \ 124 | 060 < 093 ] 125 } 061 = 094 ^ 126 ~ 062 > The magnify selection is an important part of creating a PDF417 that will scan. Monitors, graphic cards, printers, and software programs affect the scaling of the PDF417 as it is displayed on the screen and printed. After the PDF417 has been created, we recommend that you print several test labels using different magnifications and scan them to see which best suits your requirements. Once you have created a scanable PDF417 with your system, continue to use the same procedure for creating all future PDF417 data files. Remember that different software programs may require different magnifications in order to produce the same PDF417. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 26 Edit a Field This option allows you to modify an existing field. The best way to edit a field is to put your cursor on the field that you want to edit and click your right mouse button. If your right mouse button is assigned to some special operation, you will need to click onto the Edit icon in the tool box with your mouse and either use the up or down arrow keys or your mouse to select the field to be edited If you are using a keyboard, use the arrow keys to move from field to field until the cursor arrow is pointing to the field that you want to edit, then press . Once you have chosen the field to be edited, the field option menu will be displayed on the screen. You will notice that the Status-Help box shows information about the field you are editing. Edit Field – Press Up & Down arrow keys and to select Pres to Exit. 1234567 X-213, Y+217 CODE39-0*-2:1 Mag=2 At this point the operation is the same as inserting a new field with one additional function. When you are satisfied with your changes, exit the edit function by hitting escape, OK, or clicking onto the End Edit icon. Variable Fields - Edit If you click onto "Enter Variable Fields", you can change the variable data information. Double click onto the field you want to change. You will then be presented with the Select Field Type Menu. You may now continue making changes. After completing the edit changes to the first field, go on to the next until all editing has been completed. When you have completed your entire changes click onto the Close button to return to the Main screen. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. Variable Fields – Resequence The Resequence option allows you to rearrange the prompts in a different sequence from that which was originally designed. On the left side of the screen the prompts will be displayed. On the right side will be the current order. Change the numbers to the desired order and press or click onto OK. Delete a Field This option allows you to delete a specific field from the label format currently being displayed on the screen. Use your mouse and click onto the delete icon or select delete from the Design menu. Use the up and down arrow keys or your mouse to select field to be deleted. Once you have selected the field you will be asked to confirm your choice. Select your answer by using a mouse or the key to choose either YES or NO. If you answer YES to the confirmation question, the field will be deleted from the screen. Copy a Field The Copy feature allows you to duplicate any field or multiple fields onto another part of your label format. You can only use this option if you have a mouse. To copy a field, click onto Copy from the Design Menu. With the mouse, move the cursor arrow to the lower left-hand corner of the field you want duplicated. Hold down the left button while dragging the mouse up and to the right to outline the area that you want to copy. Be sure that the entire field is within the copy box, then release the mouse button. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 28 Click onto Paste in the Design Menu, then position the cursor arrow in the location where you want the copy field or multiple fields to be located. The cursor arrow should be positioned in the upper left corner of the area on the work screen where the field is to be pasted. Click the mouse one time and the field will be duplicated in the selected location. Cut a Field The Cut option allows you to move any field or multiple fields from one location to another on a label. The Cut option works the same way as the Copy option except that the selected field(s) disappear from the screen when the mouse button is released. After selecting Paste, move your cursor arrow to the location on the screen where you want the cut field(s) to be located. The cursor arrow locates the upper left corner of the field. Clicking the left mouse button will place the field(s) on the screen. Copy Bar Code The copy bar code option allows you to copy your bar code to the clipboard, so you can add it to a document created in other program such as a word processing program. Copy PDF- 417 The copy PDF-417 option allows you to copy your PDF-417 to the clipboard, so you can add it to a document created in other program such as a word processing program. File The File menu includes options that enable you to clear the screen, select previously saved formats, save formats, delete formats, check logo size, and the change printer setup. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 29 New Format The New Format option is only used if you have an existing format on the screen and you want to refresh the screen to create a new label. All newly designed formats must be saved before you begin a new label design. The program reminds you that the current label will be lost unless it has been saved. The New Format option will clear the screen but retain the setup selections that were associated with the previous label. To build a new format when there is no design on the screen, go into Setup and enter the labels' width, height and printer speed. From setup go into Design and begin to build your new format. Select Format The Select Format option displays an alphabetical listing in Windows® of all formats that have been designed and saved. After you have selected the format you want, click onto “OK” with your mouse and the format will be displayed on the work screen. You can now Insert, Edit, Delete, Cut, Paste, Copy, Print or run a test label. Copy Format A label can be copied by selecting a format from the Select Format option and then saving it using a new name. This is useful if you are going to create a label similar to one that has already been designed. After the copy is completed, you can delete the fields that are not needed and add new ones to make the new label format. Save Format A newly designed or edited label format must be saved before exiting or your format will be lost. Select Save Format from the File Menu. You will be presented with the Save As pull down menu. Enter the new label name using a maximum length of eight characters excluding the .lbl extension. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 30 You do not have to include the extension, as the program will automatically add it. Click onto “OK” and the label will be saved. If the label format has been edited and you wish to save it without changing the file name, you will be asked if you want to replace the existing file. If you select “YES” the file will be saved using the existing name. If you select ”NO”, you will be taken back to the Save As menu where you can then select another name for your label file. Delete Format To delete an entire format from the file, choose the Delete Format option from the File Menu. Select the label file that you want to delete from the pull down menu and click onto “OK”. You will be asked to confirm if you want to delete the selected file by answering "Yes" to the confirmation question. If you answer "No", the delete function will be terminated and you will be returned to the work screen. Logo Size You can view the size of an uncompressed graphic file by selecting Logo Size option. The PMI Lite Software can accommodate up to 64K of uncompressed memory for imported logo Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 31 files. Since most Paintbrush programs generate compressed files, it is important to insure the files copied to the PMI software do not exceed 64K. Print The Print option can be very useful during the design function because you can test print your label to see how it will look. Other options include Test Print, Direct Print, Merge Print, and Command Output. Test Print The Test Print option allows you to print a test label. It is generally used during the design function to review your label format to see how it will look when printed. It is suggested to print a test to ensure the correct size and placement of text, bar codes, etc. Clicking onto the Printer icon in the toolbox can also do test printing. Direct Print The Direct Print option allows you to enter your variable data and the quantity of labels to be printed. You can access Direct Print either from the Design menu or from the Direct Print icon in the Program Manager. After Direct Print is selected, you will be presented with the Direct Print Resequence menu. You will need to select the label format if one has not already been loaded. Clicking onto File gives you the Select Format option, which will display a list of label formats that have been previously saved. After you have selected the desired label format to be printed, the following message will be displayed: Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 32 CURRENT FORMAT IS: YOURFILE.LBL SELECT FORMAT TO PRINT OR RESEQUENCE Resequence You can now select Print and go on to finish the printing sequence. Use the key at any time to move back and forth between the Design Menu and the Direct Print Menu. If you select Direct Print and your label format does not have variable fields, you will be presented with an input screen requesting the quantity of labels to be printed. If your label includes variable or incremental fields, you will be presented with a pull down menu requesting you to enter your variable data. Use the key or your mouse to move from one field to another. When all the variable data and the quantity to print has been entered, press or click onto OK to begin the print cycle. Merge Print The Merge Print option allows you to merge a fixed or delimited ASCII data file with a label format and print them on any printer. The ASCII data file should be copied to the PMI directory and given an .imp extension. The data file must match exactly the structure of the label format. If a fixed ASCII data file is used, each field in the label format needs to match the structure of the ASCII file. Both must include the same number of fields, in the same order, and each have the same number of characters per field. There should be no separators between fields, and a carriage return and line feed sequence must terminate each record. If a delimited ASCII data file is used, the same rules apply as with a fixed file with the Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 33 exception that the characters per field can vary. If a record field in a delimited data file contains more characters than can fit in label’s corresponding field, the additional characters will be ignored. On the other hand if a record contains fewer characters than does the corresponding label field, the field will be padded with blanks to fill in the unused spaces. In order to ensure that no field data is lost, it is best to design the label fields equal to or greater then the maximum length of the corresponding data field. After you have selected your label format, click onto the Merge Print option from the Print Menu. You will then be presented with the Import Options menu. Choose whether your data file is fixed or delimited. If the ASCII data file is delimited, enter the delimiter value on the appropriate line of the Merge Print option. Once you have selected either a fixed or delimited file structure and entered the appropriate delimiter you can now go on to select the data file to be merged. Enter the quantity of each record to be printed. The labels will begin to print. Command Output The Command Output option allows you to send the command string of a label format to the screen, a line printer, or a file disk. With your label format displayed on the screen select Command Output from the Print Menu. Next choose where you want the label format. The command string will be printed showing both the format structure and programming string. The format structure includes the field number, name, prompt, field type, maximum length, and minimum length. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. The Programming string is a valuable tool if you need to create a label format to be used with another device such as a programmable scale. If you choose to output the label format to a disk, the software will create a file using the same name as your label format with a .mic extension. The .mic file will be created onto the PMI directory. You can them load the file into your program or device. Exit To return to DOS or Windows® select the Exit option. If a format has been designed or changed you will be asked if you want to save before exiting. If YES, enter the file name using a maximum of 8 characters. The .lbl extension is automatically added for you. If the file name already exists you will be asked if you want to overwrite it. Follow the prompt to exit the program. Quick Start Tutorial This section provides a step by step procedure for learning the most commonly used features of the PMI Lite Software. It is recommended that you go through the tutorial at least twice before you begin designing your own labels because it is the best way to learn the PMI System. This is especially important for the DESIGN FORMAT section because it is the most involved. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 35 Design Label Format WARNING: If up and down arrow keys don't work, turn the "NUM LOCK" key OFF. NOTE: This tutorial is based on designing a 4 X 3 inch label. Colons (:) are used to separate instructions. Anything after a semicolon (;) is just a comment Run PMI Lite Software Step 1: Click onto Design icon in Windows® Program Manager; runs program Step 2: Click onto OK with your mouse or press ; passes the copyright screen & displays Design screen Setup Step 3: Click onto Setup; setups label and printer parameters Step 4: Click onto select Printer Step 5: Scroll down through printer selections and highlight the Eltron TLP2742/2842 printer, click “OK” Step 6: Click onto Printer Output; Select the parallel (LPT) port to which your printer is connected Step 7: Click onto Label Setup Step 8: Type 4.00 for label width and press Step 9: Type 3.00 for label height and press Step 10: Click onto Calculate a Value; Sets the Q command Step 11: Leave the other setup settings as they are; Default settings Step 12: Click onto “OK” when you've completed your label setup selections Step 13: Click onto YES to save fields NOTE: The setup for the tutorial label has been completed. Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. BEGIN DESIGNING A LABEL Insert a Fixed Text Field Step 14: Click onto 'TEXT' icon in the tool bar; text options menu is displayed Step 15: Type 'DEPT' in the type here box Step 16: Select a different font size or use the default Step 17: Change any other selections as desired; features that aren’t applicable to your printer will be grayed out Step 18: After all selections have been chosen, click ‘OK’; the text field will be displayed in the top left corner of the work area or at the coordinates that you entered Step 19: Click onto the field with your left mouse button and drag it to the desired location Step 20: Release the mouse key when the field is at the new location NOTE: Placing the cursor on the text field or any other field and clicking the right mouse button will return you to the input screen Creating a Variable Text Field Step 21: Click onto 'TEXT' icon again Step 22: Type '[A]' at 'Type Here' prompt NOTE: Be sure to use Square Brackets [ ] and the first character must be a letter and not a number. The text within the brackets is case sensitive Step 23: Change the font size if desired Step 24: Change any other selections as desired; features that aren’t applicable to your printer will be grayed out Step 25: Click onto ‘OK’ Step 26: Characters and numbers allowed is highlighted: Double click on high-lighted selection; presents field definition screen Step 27: Type 8 then press ; sets maximum length Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 37 Step 28: Press again; leaves minimum length 0 Step 29: Type 'ENTER DATE:' in the prompt box; click OK Step 30: Click onto ‘YES’ indicating that you want to exit; The text field will be displayed in the top left corner of the work area or at the coordinates that you entered Step 31: Move the field by clicking onto the field with your mouse and drag it to the desired location Step 32: When the field is at desired location release the mouse Insert Variable UPCA Bar Code Field Step 33: Click onto the 'BAR CODE icon Step 34: Type '[BC]' in the TYPE HERE box; don’t forget the [ ] Step 35: Click onto the down arrow next to the Select Bar code selection; the bar code selection pull down menu is displayed Step 36: Double click onto the UPC-A bar code Step 37: Change any other selections as desired; features that aren’t applicable to your printer will be grayed out Step 38: Click onto OK; you get Select Field screen Step 39: Select 'Fixed Length Numeric Only (Non-Incremental) Step 40: Type '11' and press ; UPCA bar code requires exactly 11 input numbers Step 41: Type 'ENTER UPCA #’ in the prompt box: and click on OK; sets prompt Step 42: Select ‘YES’; indicating that you want to exit Step 43: Move the field by clicking onto it with your mouse, drag it to the desired location Step 44: Release the mouse when bar code is at desired location Adjust Bar Code Height Step 45: Click onto bar code with right mouse button; the bar code options screen will be displayed Step 46: Change the value in the height field to 50; height is in 1/100 of an inch, i.e. 50 = 50/100” or a ½” high Step 47: Click onto “OK” to complete your change; notice the bar code height has changed to ½” Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 38 Draw a Box Step 48: Click onto the ‘BOX' icon; box input screen is displayed Step 49: Adjust the box height, width, and line thickness as desired. Click onto ‘OK’; the box will be displayed in the upper left corner of the work area or at the coordinates that you entered Step 50: Click on box and drag to desired location Step 51: Release the mouse when box is positioned Step 52: To adjust the box size, click onto box with right mouse and the; box input screen will be displayed Step 53: Make any changes you want then click onto ‘OK’ Test Print Label Step 54: Select the 'PRINT' icon from the tool bar and select Test Print. Step 55: If printer selection is correct, click onto OK to start printing; if printer is wrong change setup NOTE: Variable fields print as all 0s = to the maximum length of the field. If the test label doesn’t look the way you want it, use the Edit function to make changes. Save Format Step 56: Select 'SAVE' icon from the tool bar; the save as screen is displayed Step 57: Enter the file name 'TEST' and click onto OK; the file name could be any 8character name, .lbl extension is added automatically Step 58: Congratulations, you have just designed and saved your first label! Direct Print Tutorial Step 59: Click onto the Direct Print icon in the program manager; Direct Print Menu displayed Step 60: Select ‘FILE’ Progressive Microtechnology, Inc. 39 Step 61: Click onto ‘OPEN’; pull down menu displayed Step 62: Choose the ‘test.lbl’ file, then click OK Step 63: Select ‘PRINT’ Step 64: Select ‘DIRECT PRINT’; the enter variable date screen is presented Step 65: Type "06/30/99" at the ‘Enter Date Prompt’ and press Step 66: Type "12345678901" at the ‘Enter UPCA #’ prompt and press Step 67: Type “2” in the ‘Enter Print Quantity’ and click onto OK; two labels will be printed Step 68: Click onto CANCEL; returns you to Direct Print Menu Step 69: Click onto Exit; returns to Main Menu Step 70: Congratulations, you have just completed the Direct Print Tutorial! Progressive Microtechnology, Inc.