~DB - Download Bitmapped Font

Overview

The ~DB command sets the printer to receive a downloaded bitmap font and defines the native cell size, baseline, space size, and copyright information. Bitmap fonts are pixel-based fonts with fixed sizes that are stored in printer memory. This instruction consists of a ZPL II command that defines font parameters and a structured data segment that defines each character.

Syntax

~

Parameters

• d = Destination device
  • R: = DRAM (default, always used for bitmap fonts)
• o = Font name (1-8 alphanumeric characters, default: Unknown)
• x = Extension (.FNT, fixed)
• a = Orientation
  • N = Normal (0°, default)
  • R = 90° clockwise
  • I = 180°
  • B = 270° (Note: Only N is currently supported)
• h = Maximum height of cell in dots
• w = Maximum width of cell in dots
• base = Dots from top of cell to character baseline
• space = Width of space character in dots
• #char = Number of characters in font (must match number of character definitions)
• © = Copyright holder (max 63 characters)
• DATA = Character definitions (structured format shown below)

Character Definition Format

#xxxx.h.w.x.y.i.hexdata

• #xxxx = Character code (1-4 characters for international sets)
• h = Bitmap height in dots
• w = Bitmap width in dots
• x = X-offset in dots
• y = Y-offset in dots
• i = Typesetting motion (width including gap)
• hexdata = HEX bitmap data

Description

• Downloads custom bitmap fonts to printer DRAM
• Enables use of custom fonts not in the printer's standard font library
• Fonts are pixel-based with fixed sizes
• Cannot be scaled without loss of quality
• Requires character-by-character definition
• Resolution-dependent (looks different at different DPI)

Usage Notes

• Bitmap fonts always stored in DRAM (R:)
• Extension is always .FNT and cannot be changed
• Currently only Normal (N) orientation is supported
• Character count must match number of definitions
• Copyright holder can be up to 63 characters
• Character codes support international character sets (1-4 characters)
• Consume more memory than scalable fonts at multiple sizes

Example

~

Related Commands

• ~DS - Download Scalable Font
• ~DT - Download TrueType Font
• ~DU - Download Unbounded Unicode TrueType Font
• ^A - Scalable/Bitmapped Font (select font for use)
• ^CW - Font Identifier
• ^CF - Change Alphanumeric Default Font

See Also

• Download Scalable Font (~DS)
• Download TrueType Font (~DT)
• Scalable/Bitmapped Font (^A)