Unit 6: Bi-Directional Communications
SATO GL4xxe SBPL Programming Reference Page 6-3
ENQUIRE & RESPONSE
ENQUIRE (SOH + ENQ)
Upon receipt of an ENQ command, the printer responds with status information bounded by an
STX/ETX pair. The status information is defined as follows:
<STX>{ # Byte ID }{ # Status Byte }{ # Byte Label Remaining }{ # Byte Job Name }<ETX>
ID Identifies the current print job ID. Is defined using the Job ID
(<ESC>ID) command transmitted with the print job.
Status Defines the current status of the printer.
Label Remaining Defines the quantity of labels remaining in the current print job.
Job Name ASCII characters identify the assigned job name by the Job
Name (<ESC>WK) command. If the name is less than the
required characters, the field will be padded with zeroes.
If an ENQ is received after the print job specified in the ID bytes has been completed, or the
buffer is empty of data, the printer will respond with “space” characters for the ID number
(Remaining Labels & Job Name bytes).
The host computer transmits an ENQ to the printer which responds within five milliseconds
unless actively printing. If printing, it will respond upon finishing and then resume printing.
Refer to Appendix: Reference Tables 41 and 42 for additional information.
CANCEL (SOH + CAN)
If a CAN command is received, it will stop the print job and clear all data from the buffers. A delay
of five milliseconds is required before any new data may be downloaded. The CAN command is
effective upon receipt, even if the printer is offline or in an error condition. The printer will return
an ACK if the printer is not in an error condition and a NAK if an error condition exists.
PRINT JOB
Upon receipt of a valid print job (<ESC>A....<ESC>Z), an ACK will be returned by the printer if an
error condition does not exist and a NAK if an error condition exists.
PRINT STOP (SOH + DLE)
This command stops the printing process and the host sends an ENQ command to confirm
execution. Execution should be avoided while sending print or other data. If an error condition
occurs, a NAK is returned and an ACK is returned if one does not.
RETURN STATUS BYTES & FORMAT
1 5 2 5 2 6 1
STX Item Number Item Status
Item Number in
Process
Item Status in
Process
Issues of Item
in Process
ETX