| Q7-1: What kind of software supporting can Star give to SI? |
| Q7-2: What is OCX driver? |
| Q7-3: How can I enlarge the character for TCP300II/TCP400? |
| Q7-4: Does TCP300II/TCP400 support GB18030 Chinese character? |
| Q7-5: How many logo image data can be stored to TCP300II/TCP400? |
| Q7-6: What is ¡°external image¡± and ¡°internal image¡±? |
| Q7-7: How large is the size of data can be stored to magnetic stripe? |
| Q7-8: What is MCBF of TCP300II/TCP400? |
| Q7-9: How can I convert from image file to bit image data as clear as possible? |
| Q7-10: How can I convert from picture file to bit image data as clear as possible? |
| Q7-11: What is the difference of the parameter between ¡°Overwrite¡± and¡°added writing¡± for print command such as 41h in command manual? |
| Q7-12: How can I change the baud rate of serial communication? |
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Q7-1: What kind of software supporting can Star give to SI?
In case of TCP300II & TCP400 series, Star provides
 USB device driver for Windows
OCX driver for Windows
OCX driver controlling sample code for VB, VC++, Power Builder
Card setting utility for Windows
Bitmap image data storing utility for Windows
Flash ROM uploading utility for Windows
Ethernet I/F setting up utility for Windows
All above items are free of charge. Please contact Star to get a copy now!
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Q7-2: What is OCX driver?
Star supports OCX driver to simplify the communication between PC and R/W, so user can shorten the developing time.
Basically, even without OCX, communication between PC and R/W is possible by the process which is shown as:
User needs to, open come port, calculate ¡°Block
Check Code¡±, confirm the communication by ACK or NAK sending, judge the time-out timer, and so on.
Communication without OCX Driver
Communication with OCX Driver
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Q7-3:How can I enlarge the character for TCP300II/TCP400?
In text data sending command 41h, you can use escape sequence <ESC> (1Bh)
into text data parameter in order to decorate the character., text data ¡°ABC¡± + Chr(&H1B) + ¡°E22¡± + ¡°DEF¡± is printed as ABCDEF (¡°DEF¡± becomes double height and width by <ESC>¡°E¡± command.)
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Q7-4: Does TCP300II/TCP400 support GB18030 Chinese character?
Yes, since we are seriously considering for printing Chinese name in the card, the GB18030 font can be installed in TCP300II/TCP400.
That is one of Star¡¯s merit.
Please contact Star for further information.
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Q7-5: How many logo image data can be stored to TCP300II/TCP400?
In case of Chinese model, 6 full size of image (480x320 dot) can be stored into Flash ROM.
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Q7-6: What is ¡°external image¡± and ¡°internal image¡±?
An external image is bit image data which is sent from host PC when printing. The command is 43h.
On the other hand, as mentioned in above answer for
question 7-5, an internal image data(logo image) can be stored into Flash ROM.
In case of serial interface, since communication speed is slow, we recommend to store image data internally and thus having fast printing.
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Q7-7: How large is the size of data can be stored to magnetic stripe?
In case of JISII format (command 39h), you can store up to 69 bytes of 7bit data (01h to 7Eh). In details, please refer to the command manual.
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Q7-8: What is MCBF of TCP300II/TCP400?
500,000times cycles. 1 cycle contains reading data in magnetic strip, writing data into magnetic strip, erasing last printed content on card and printing new content
on card. It means, MCBF of print head, erase head are also 500,000 times.
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Q7-9: How can I prevent ¡°mis-insertion of card direction¡± by operator?
Actually whole PET card contains magnetic powder, so there is no ¡°direction¡± physically. In other words, card data can be written from any direction. So it is
better to consider the card design by marking arrow for the direction of insertion.
And also, for software, reading data and verifying the format should be firstly
process. Once data in magnetic strip is not read in correctly format for your system, it is better to eject the card immediately without any data writing or printing.
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Q7-10: How can I convert from image file to bit image data as clear as possible?
For image data(picture), if you just change the file format to mono color BMP by using application such as ¡°MS paint¡± or other simple picture tool,
the image data will not be clear. We recommend to convert the file format with ¡°dithering¡± method by ¡°Adobe Photoshop¡± or other free software. Below right file is ¡°dithering¡±converted, and left file is simple converted file by ¡°MS paint¡±.
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Q7-11: What is the difference of the parameter between ¡°Overwrite¡± and ¡°added writing¡± for print command such as 41h in command manual?
Overwrite parameter (such as ¡°0¡± or ¡°1¡± for 41h command) prints with erasing underneath image.
For example, print with ¡°Overwrite¡± the words ¡°This Text¡± on the words ¡°other Data¡± which was already sent previously.
On the other hand, Added writing parameter (such as ¡°2¡± or ¡°3¡± for 41h command) prints with overlapping with underneath image. For example, print with
¡°Added-writing¡± the words ¡°This Text¡± on the words ¡°other Data¡± which was already sent previously.
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Q7-12: How can I change the baud rate of serial communication?
There is Dip Switches(DSW) on interface card. DSW<1> & DSW<2> is defining baud rate. Although default setting is 9,600 BPS, you can change
the baud rate up to 38,400 BPS.
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