Host Status Commands

This command allows a label to start printing at a specified point before the entire label has been completely formatted. On extremely complex labels, this command can increase the overall throughput of the printer.

The command works as follows: you specify the dot row at which the

^SP

command is to take affect. This then creates a label ‘segment.’ Once the

^SP

command is processed, all information in that segment will be printed. During the printing process, all of the commands after the

^SP

will continue to be received and processed by the printer.

If the segment after the

^SP

command (or the remainder of the label) is ready for printing, media motion does not stop. If the next segment is not ready, the printer will stop “mid-label” and wait for the next segment to be completed. Precise positioning of the

^SP

command is somewhat of a trial-and-error process as it depends primarily on print speed and label complexity.

The

^SP

command can be effectively used to determine the worst-case print quality. You can determine if using the

^SP

command is appropriate for the particular application by using the following procedure. If you send the label format up to the first ^SP command and then wait for printing to stop before sending the next segment, the printed label will be a sample of the worst case print quality. It will also drop any field that is out of order.