NewDeal Technical Support Document 272
Specific Printer Notes, Citizen
This document contains notes about using Citizen
printers with NewDeal software
Note: You must have NewDeal software to use NewDeal print drivers.
NewDeal print drivers will not work with other Windows, OS/2, or DOS programs.
Citizen 200 GX
Citizen 200 GX/15
Citizen GSX 130
Citizen GSX 140
Citizen GSX 140 Plus
Citizen GSX 145
Citizen PN 48
Users have reported that when you "print all"
from NewDex in version 1.0 on a Citizen 200 GX printer, the first
character of each field in each column gets skipped. Text-mode
printing in other applications seems unaffected. The 200GX is
also compatible with Citizen 140 escape codes.
The Citizen 200GX/15 is a wide carriage (15-inch)
version of the 200GX. If it's not listed, try the 200GX driver.
The Citizen 130 is a low-end replacement for the
140. If it's not listed, use the Citizen 140 driver. The Citizen
GSX 130 might not switch from bidirectional to unidirectional
printing when using the Citizen GSX 140 driver. The potential
result of this is "jagged" printing. Bidirectional printing
is where the print head moves in both directions when printing,
printing first left-to-right, then back, right to left. The problem
with bidirectional printing is that the quality is not as good
if there is any "slop" or "play" in the printer
mechanism. Unidirectional printing, where the print head is homed
all the way to the left on each print pass reduces this problem.
You can force the GSX 130 to print unidirectionally by setting
dip switch #7 to the "on" position.
Check to see if you have a setting on your GSX-140
to disregard software changes to your printer's configuration.
This should be something like "SW Lock" and is accessed
through your printer macro. If SW Lock is off, select on, save
your macro and load it. This will keep the software from resetting
your printer. If you have installed the color option kit, using
the software lock will also let you select any one of the seven
printer colors using the quick select function on your printer.
In some situations, you may need to set the Top of
Form to a negative number (less than zero).
To do this, follow the instructions on page 56 in
the printer manual. Paraphrased, they are as follows:
- Turn on printer.
- Set Paper select lever forward for continuous
paper (fan fold, tractor feed) or toward the rear for single sheet.
- Load paper (if you are using single sheet, skip
step #4).
- For continuous feed paper, press PARK LOAD (unless
paper is already loaded).
- Confirm that printer is ON LINE ("ON LINE"
with two dashes "--" underneath should be in the command
view display). The two dashes "--" means the paper is
at the current top of form setting. (If the display reads OFF
LINE, then press the ON LINE button.)
- Press and hold the PARK LOAD button or the LF/FF
button for 1-2 seconds. (PARK LOAD will let you adjust the paper
UP, you want the other one. LF/FF will let you adjust the paper
DOWN for the top of form setting.)
- HOLD the LF/FF key down until the display reads
OFF LINE/VTOP (#) The number is a number corresponding to the
TOF setting.
- VTOP 0 means "variable top-of-form; current
setting is zero" (this is the factory setting and is normally
around 1" from the top of the paper). VTOP can ONLY be set
when the paper is at the TOF position (the two dashes are displayed
"--" in the command view screen).
- Press PARK LOAD to adjust the paper UP by increments
of 1/60th of an inch. Use the LF/FF button to adjust the paper
DOWN by 1/60th of an inch increments (your printer may need to
go about DOWN to -44 according to my own setting for tractor feed).
The typical limit on negative settings is -26. To exceed this,
simply hold the LF/FF key down for about three seconds when you
reach -26 and THEN press the LF/FF key again to reach the appropriate
setting (up to -50).
- Save your setting. When you have reached the
desired TOF setting, press the SAVE key. The panel will display
"SAVE?/VTOP##" (where ## is the number of your TOF setting).
- Press the SAVE key again and the setting will
be saved to your CURRENT macro.
- You can repeat the same procedure for single
sheet paper and save both a "single sheet" and a "continuous
feed" paper TOF to the same macro by changing the paper feed
lever to the appropriate position.
- There is more information in the printer manual
than what appears here.
The Citizen 140 Plus is a high-end replacement for
the 140. If it's not listed, use the Citizen 140 driver.
Citizen 145 is a wide carriage (15-inch) version
of the 140. If it's not listed, use the Citizen 140 driver.
Make sure that your printer is set to emulate Epson
in your installed macro if you are using a GSX Epson mode driver
or set to IBM mode if using an IBM mode driver. This stuff works
for the GSX-145, but is poorly explained by the Citizen book.
The PN 48 printer emulates the Epson LQ-850. Set
the copy intensity to as low a value as possible when the ribbon
is new. You'll find that the ribbons get used up very quickly,
especially when printing graphics. You will get the most use out
of the multistrike ribbon (it can be reused). The single strike
ribbon is best for final copy (can only be used once). The Citizen
PN 48 is a portable laptop printer. It should work with the Citizen
140 driver, too.