98 M-Class
7.2 Hex Dump Mode
The Hex Dump Mode is a useful tool for diagnosing problems, including communication and DPL syntax errors,
allowing a comparison of input strings (sent by host) to output data (received by printer). To decode this information, the
Class Series Programmer’s Manual is an essential reference. This output can be used for debugging the label format. In
addition, by repeatedly sending a format, this mode can uncover handshaking problems (if they exist). Handshaking
problems are identified by sections of missing data in the character string.
To print the Hex Dump Label:
Non-display printers: With the printer on, loaded with media (at least 4 inches wide) and ribbon
(if printing with thermal transfer media), press and hold the
FEED
button while turning the
printer on. Continue holding the
FEED
button until the
STOP
light turns off. Now, all data
received by the printer will be output in hexadecimal code, along with the printable ASCII
equivalents, as shown below. To exit Hex Dump Mode, simply turn the printer off and then back
on.
Display printers:
To begin, go to the Diagnostics menu and enable Hex Dump Mode; see Section
5.1.7. Exit the menu and save the changes. Now, ‘HEX DUMP MODE’ will be indicated by the
display and all data sent to the printer will now be output in hexadecimal code, along with the
printable ASCII equivalents, as shown below. To exit Hex Dump Mode, re-enter the Diagnostics
Menu and disable the Hex Dump Mode, exit the menu, then save the changes.
The figure below is a sample Hex Dump Label. After sending a label format to the printer, the hex code output will be
immediate. As a final note, many software programs use bit mapping to construct the label, making diagnosis difficult.
Contact Datamax Technical Support with any questions.
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