### Contents

Getting Started
Detailed Usage
Operating Environment
Legal Information

# Star SP500 Windows Printer Driver

Installing this printer driver allows you to use the standard print functionality found in most Windows applications.

## Getting Started

### Creating a Printer Queue

You can create a printer queue with the following procedure.

- Via USB Plug & Play:
  Connect your printer to the PC and switch on. Once connected, Windows will automatically create a printer queue via plug & play.
- Via a Non-USB Interface:
  You can create the printer queue with the Windows Printer Queue Function found in the Star Printer Utility. For detailed information please refer to the information Here.

As soon as the printer queue is created, you are able to change the printer settings. Change the printer settings with the following procedure.

1. Open the 'Control Panel'. On Windows 7, open the 'Devices and Printers' folder. On Windows Vista, open the 'Printers' folder. On Windows XP, open the 'Printers and Faxes' folder.
2. Right-click the printer queue that you want to configure to open the shortcut menu. On Windows 7, click 'Printer properties'. On Windows Vista, click 'Run as administrator', and then click 'Properties'. On Windows XP, click 'Properties'.
3. Configure the printer settings by clicking 'Printing Preferences' on the 'General' tab or by using the 'Device Settings' tab.

You can configure different printer functions according to each printer queue.

### Printer Driver Functions

The available functions in SP500 printer driver are as the following. Click the function names link for detailed descriptions.

Device Settings
Paper Type
Black Mark Detect at Power On
Page Cut Type ( SP542 Cutter Model )
Document Cut Type ( SP542 Cutter Model )
Document Feed Type ( SP512 Tear Bar Model )
Bidirectional Printing
Reverse Printing
External Peripheral Control Function

Other Functions
Paper Size
Print Quality
Device Fonts

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## Detailed Usage

### Device Settings

The 'Device Settings' tab of your printer queue's properties window contains many different settings. Open the 'Device Settings' tab with the following procedure.

1. Open the 'Control Panel'. On Windows 7, open the 'Devices and Printers' folder. On Windows Vista, open the 'Printers' folder. On Windows XP, open the 'Printers and Faxes' folder.
2. Right-click the printer queue that you want to configure to open a shortcut menu. On Windows 7, click 'Printer properties'. On Windows Vista, click 'Run as administrator', and then click 'Properties'. On Windows XP, click 'Properties'.
3. Click the 'Device Settings' tab.

Memo: Some functions can not be selected at the same time.
If you find that the '!' mark appears in your device configuration, please check it by referring to the descriptions on each item.

The description of the contents for each function listed below.

#### Paper Type

Three kinds of 'Paper Type' setting allow you to print variable-length 'Receipt', fixed-length 'Tickets', or 'Black Mark' delimited pages.
Use the 'Receipt' option if your print jobs vary in length and you want them cut immediately following the last line. (You may set your receipt paper size at Paper Size)
Use the 'Ticket' option if your want your print jobs to have a consistent length that you set via Paper Size. The paper will be cut when it reaches your set value.
Use the 'Black Mark' option if you want the printer to cut the paper based on black marks.

#### Black Mark Detect at Power On

When you want to use black mark paper, please set the 'Paper Type' setting to 'Black Mark'.

Note This function is only available when the Paper Type setting is configured to 'Black Mark'.

#### Page Cut Type ( SP542 Cutter Model Only)

The 'Page Cut Type' setting controls how all of the pages of your print job are cut, except the last page.
If you do not want the pages of your document to be cut, choose the 'No Cut' option. When you want your print job to be cut partially, choose the 'Partial Cut'. When you want your print job to be fully cut, choose the 'Full Cut'.

#### Document Cut Type ( SP542 Cutter Model Only )

The 'Document Cut Type' setting controls how the last page of your print job is cut.
If you do not want your print job to be cut, choose the 'No Cut' option. When you want your print job to be cut partially, choose the 'Partial Cut'. When you want your print job to be fully cut, choose the 'Full Cut'.

#### Document Feed Type ( SP512 Tear Bar Model Only)

Sets the document feed operation after printing.
If you do not want your print job to be feed, choose the 'No Feed' option. When you want your print job fed to the tear bar , choose the 'Tear Bar' option.

#### Bidirectional Printing

Sets the print method.
If you want to perform bidirectional printing (the normal setting), choose the 'Bidirectional' option. If you want to prioritize print quality over print speed, choose the 'Unidirectional' option to print in a single direction.

#### Reverse Printing

Configure the 'Reverse Print' setting to 'Enable' to print upside-down.

#### Peripheral Unit 1

The printer can activate the external peripheral connected to circuit number 1 at various times during document printing.
Choose the 'Document Top' option to activate your peripheral unit 1 before printing begins. Choose the 'Document Bottom' option to activate your peripheral unit 1 only once after printing completes.

Note If you do not have a peripheral connected to your printer, choose the 'No Use' option.

#### Peripheral Unit 2

The printer can activate the external peripheral you've connected to circuit number 2 at various times during document printing.
Choose the 'Document Top' option to activate your peripheral unit 2 only once before printing begins. Choose the 'Document Bottom' option to activate your peripheral unit 2 only once after the printing data is received.
Because the printer controls peripheral unit 2 in real time, the commands are executed when data is received regardless of the printing timing. Therefore, the peripheral may be activated at an unintended time when ’Document Bottom’ is chosen.

Note If you do not have a peripheral connected to your printer, choose the 'No Use' option.

#### Cash Drawer 1 - Pulse Width

If you've connected a cash drawer as your external peripheral, you can control its activation pulse width via this setting.
Different cash drawers require different pulse widths, choose from the available options until your cash drawer opens reliably.
As external peripheral 2, the pulse width of your cash drawer is fixed to '200 milliseconds'.

### Paper Size

This driver provides you several Pre-defined Paper Sizes.
You can also create custom paper sizes with User-defined Paper Size using the Windows Printer Queue.
Each paper size is defined to be a specific width and height which denotes the printable area. You need not apply any margins to your documents.
The paper size(s) that include the word 'Receipt' in their name are intended for variable length print jobs, like receipts; when using this paper size be sure to choose the 'Receipt' option of the Paper Type setting.

Your paper size configuration may be changed according to the current configuration of the applications you are using.
If there is not any paper size configuration within your application, please use the following setting. Within Windows there are three different settings associated with your paper size choice. It is best to set these all to the same option.

1. Open the 'Control Panel'. On Windows 7, open the 'Devices and Printers' folder. On Windows Vista, open the 'Printers' folder. On Windows XP, open the 'Printers and Faxes' folder.
2. Right-click the printer queue that you want to configure to open a shortcut menu. On Windows 7, click 'Printer properties'. On Windows Vista, click 'Run as administrator', and then click 'Properties'. On Windows XP, click 'Properties'.
3. Click on the 'Printing Preference...' button found on the 'General' tab, then click on the 'Advanced...' button found on the new window's 'Layout' tab; you will then see the 'Paper Size' setting - choose the same paper size option here.
4. Select the 'FRICTION' option in the 'Form To Tray Assignment' branch of the 'Device Setting'.
5. Click on the 'Printing Preference...' button found on the 'General' tab, then click on the 'Advanced...' button found on the new window's 'Layout' tab; you will then see the 'Paper Size' setting - choose the same paper size option here.

#### Pre-defined Paper Size

The pre-defined paper sizes which are provided by the SP500 driver are shown below.

Configuration Value | Default Value | Printing Width | Length
--- | --- | --- | ---
63mm x 200mm |  | 63mm | 200mm
63mm x Receipt |  | 63mm | 3,000mm
60mm x 200mm |  | 60mm | 200mm
60mm x Receipt |  | 60mm | 3,000mm
48mm x 200mm |  | 48mm | 200mm
48mm x Receipt |  | 48mm | 3,000mm
45mm x 200mm |  | 45mm | 200mm
45mm x Receipt |  | 45mm | 3,000mm
A4 |  | 210mm | 297mm
Letter | ○ | 8.5inch | 11inch

#### Creating User-defined Paper Sizes

To create user-defined paper sizes, you can use the Windows Printer Queue function and follow the procedure below.

1. Open the 'Control Panel'. On Windows 7, open the 'Devices and Printers' folder. On Windows Vista, open the 'Printers' folder. On Windows XP, open the 'Printers and Faxes' folder.
2. On Windows 7, select the printer you want to configure, and click 'Printer Server Properties' from the menu. On Windows Vista and XP, right-click the blank area in the folder that you opened. On Windows Vista, click 'Run as administrator', and then click 'Server Properties'. On Windows XP, click 'Server Properties'.
3. On Windows Vista, the 'User Account Control' dialog box appears. Click 'Continue'.
4. Click the 'Paper' tab.
5. Click the 'Create a new form' checkbox.
6. Type a new name into the 'Form Name' box.
7. Choose the 'Units' in the 'Form Description' and input the value you want into 'Width' and 'Height' for the 'Paper Size'.
8. Click the 'Save Form' button and click 'Close' to finish.

Paper Sizes which are provided by the SP500 Printer Driver are as following.
The user-defined paper size is in the following range.

Paper width | Minimum Value | 25.4mm
Maximum Value | 63mm
Paper Height | Minimum Value | 25.4mm
Maximum Value | 3276.7mm

### Print Quality

This printer driver provides the ability to change the Print Quality in order to change the print resolution.
The following is the procedure.

1. Open the 'Control Panel'. On Windows 7, open the 'Devices and Printers' folder. On Windows Vista, open the 'Printers' folder. On Windows XP, open the 'Printers and Faxes' folder.
2. Right-click the icon of the print queue whose print quality you want to change, and click 'Printing Preferences'.
3. Select the 'Layout' tab and click the 'Advanced...' button.
4. You can configure the 'Print Quality' in the 'Graphic' section.

You may select from the following options.

Configuration Value | Default Value | Details
--- | --- | ---
170 x 144 dots per inch | * | Print 170dpi (Width) 144dpi (Height).
170 x 72 dots per inch |  | Print 170dpi (Width) 72dpi (Height).
85 x 72 dots per inch |  | Print 85dpi (Width) 72dpi (Height).

### Device Fonts (Printer and Control Fonts)

Your printer supports a range of printer resident fonts. These fonts are built into your printer and are selectable from within your application.

Using device fonts, you can get both high printing quality and high printing speed. The control font allows you to control various aspects of the printers behaviour, with specific behaviours mapped to specific characters printed using the control font.

Click Hereto open another help page describing these fonts in greater detail.

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## Operating Environment

### Supported models

SP500

### System Requirements

Windows XP SP2 or later (32bit only)
Windows Vista (32bit/64bit)
Windows 7 (32bit/64bit)

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## Legal Information

Copyright 2010 Star Micronics Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.