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Glossary
alphanumeric Indicating letters, numerals, and
characters such as punctuation marks.
backfeed When the printer pulls the media and
ribbon (if used) backward into the printer so
that the beginning of the label to be printed is
properly positioned behind the printhead.
Backfeed occurs when operating the printer
in tear-off, peel-off, or cutter mode.
bar code A code by which alphanumeric
characters can be represented by a series of
adjacent stripes of different widths. Many
different code schemes exist, such as the
universal product code (UPC) or Code 39.
black mark A registration mark found on the
underside of the print media which acts as a
start-of-label indication for the printer. (See
non-continuous media.)
calibration (of a printer) A process in which the
printer determines some basic information
needed to print accurately with a particular
media and ribbon combination. To do this,
the printer feeds some media and ribbon (if
used) through the printer and senses whether
to use the direct thermal or thermal transfer
print method, and (if using non-continuous
media) the length of individual labels or tags.
character set The set of all letters, numerals,
punctuation marks, and other characters that
can be expressed by a particular font or barcode.
check digit A character added to a barcode
symbol that indicates to the scanner that it has
read the symbol correctly.
configuration The printer configuration is a
group of operating parameters which are
specific to the printer application. Some
parameters are user selectable while others
are dependent on the installed options and
mode of operation. Parameters may be switch
selectable, front panel programmable or
downloaded as ZPL II commands. A
Configuration Label listing all the current
printer parameters may be printed for
reference.
continuous media Label or tag-stock media that
has no notch, gap, or web (backing material
only) to separate the labels or tags. The media
is one long piece of material.
core diameter The inside diameter of the
cardboard core at the center of a roll of media
or ribbon.
cutter An optional mechanical device that cuts
the media into individual labels or tags
immediately after it is printed.
diagnostics Information about which printer
functions are not working that is used for
troubleshooting printer problems.
die-cut media A type of label stock where
individual labels are stuck to a backing
material. The labels may be either lined up
against each other or separated by a small
distance. Typically the material surrounding
the labels has been removed. (See
non-continuous media.)
direct thermal A printing method in which the
printhead presses directly against the media.
Heating the printhead elements causes a
discoloration of the heat-sensitive coating on
the media. By selectively heating the
printhead elements as the media moves past,
an image is printed onto the media. No ribbon
is used with this printing method. Contrast
this with thermal transfer.
direct thermal media Media that is coated with
a substance which reacts to the application of
direct heat from the printhead to produce an
image.
dynamic ram DRAM is the term used to
describe the memory devices used to store the
label formats in electronic form while they
are being printed. The amount of DRAM
memory available in the printer determines
the maximum size and number of label
formats that can be printed. This is volatile
memory which loses the stored information
when power is turned off.
170PAX2-Series User’s Guide
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