Dymo printer help/advice

[Lonewolf10]

Hi folks,

Well, some (ok, very few) of you know that I am making software using AMOS Pro, and have also just started getting into assembler.

I was going to purchase the Dymo label printer ( www.dymo.co.uk ) so i could make professional looking labels for my disks and packages I send out. I currently hand write everything which is ok, but I'd love to stick other info on the disks which won't fit unless printed.

Before anyone says it, I don't have a PC. I also, don't have any printer (no space for a full sized printer at the moment) or modem (not got round to it yet!) for my amiga 600 at present. I surf the net on my Sega Dreamcast (launched in 1999/2000).


Has anyone tried using the Dymo label printer with an Amiga?

If so how did you get it to print? (I have been reliably informed by someone who used it with a PC that it doesn't (or his model didn't) have any fonts in it's cache, it only prits graphics - not a problem, I have my own font already made on my amiga!)

Has anyone thought of, or started, making a device file for it?

If not, can someone please give me some helpful suggestions on getting started.



Thanks for taking the time to read this.


Regards,
Lonewolf10

A600
-----
CPU: 68000
MMU/FPU: None
Memory: 2MB (1MB RAM extension in trapdoor) + 2 MB PCMCIA card (if needed)
Harddrive: SCSI 4GB Hitachi HD
2 External disk drives (only 1 works)
Kickstart 37.300
Workbench 2.04

[InTheSand]

You might be able to get it to print something, provided it has a parallel port interface and not USB...

This page from a Linux printing guide may be of use. It indicates that Linux is able to make use of some of the Dymo printers. That's a good sign, as it probably means that these printers use normal driver software as opposed to being Windows-based GDI printers.

Have you contacted Dymo and asked if any technical docs are available to end users?

 - Ali

[Lonewolf10]

Thanks for that.

I'll try to contact them this week and see what they say. I'm also gonna try and get the label printer cheap off Ebay


Regards,
Lonewolf10

[Lonewolf10]

Well, theres a Dymo 310 Thermal label printer on Ebay at the moment that was going for £60 GBP (as a Buy It Now item), but the seller told me it uses a USB cable, so thats that one off the list ;(

I don't suppose a USB to parallel port convertor exists?


Regards,
Lonewolf10

[Lonewolf10]

The guy got back to me:


Serial.  It was the EL40 & EL60 (wider that the 40 IIRC), which looks very similar to the 300 series.


Also according to Dymo's website the LabelWriter 330 Turbo connects to USB or Serial Port (Windows or Mac).


Oh, and I found a USB to parallel port cable thing on Ebay last night, so I might try out for that Thermal one after all!



Last question:

When sending stuff to the printer using

TYPE "ram:text.txt" > PRT:


which port does PRT: automatically use, or is that set up by the appropriate driver/device file?



Regards,
Lonewolf10

[InTheSand]

Be careful with USB to parallel port converters - I think you'll find most of these are designed to provide a parallel port to a computer that only has USB ports.

You won't be able to use one of these to provide a USB port to an Amiga.

You might still be OK with a serial-based Dymo printer, but again you really need to have some technical documentation first in order to make an informed decision...

 - Ali

[spavatch]

I only have this one: CLICK! ;-)

[X-ray]

Actually that may be the way to go you know. I saw a digital hand-held DYmo printer at work. It prints flat strips and has basic font choices, no computer needed.

Edit: similar to this.

[Lonewolf10]

Yeah, I figured thats what the parallel port to USB conertors were for, thats why I ended up getting the Dymo 330 Thermal label printer, (EDIT: -->) which does use the serial port

It hasn't arrived yet, but as soon as it does I'll do some basic tests with the various printer drivers I have for the Amiga, aswell as testing it under PCTask (a 386/486 PC emu for the Amiga!) as I think I have PC drivers too.
Before anyone says it, I have been informed that someone else who uses PCTask that formatting a PC disk with it creates a virus on the boot-block! He also told me he couldn't find software old enough to get rid of the virus
I have no intention of formatting disks under PC emulation so I should be fine



If this fails I shall try the ones you guys mentioned

Regards,
Lonewolf10

[Piru]

@Lonewolf10

Before anyone says it, I have been informed that someone else who uses PCTask that formatting a PC disk with it creates a virus on the boot-block!

That someone is misinformed or is pulling your leg.

PCTask does no such thing.

[Lonewolf10]

I don't think so, he is a trustworthy person and this was from his own experience of using it.



Anyway, getting back on topic... I wrote a letter to Dymo and I got a reply from their Helpdesk centre in the Netherlands:

"Thank you for contacting the Dymo Helpdesk.

Unfortunately you will not be able to connect your LabelWriter 330Turbo to your Amiga PC. Your Amiga uses an operating system we do not support and therefore incompataible with each other.
To be able to use the LabelWriter you will need a Windows [*cough*] operating system sch as Windows 98, 2000, ME or XP.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us."


I did actually send it to the UK offices, but it seems they only offer help via a Netherlands-based center. I don't believe them, for one they got my address slightly wrong... even when I wrote it clearly as day on the letter.
Ok... next step... hook it up to my Amiga and start the tests....


Merry Christmas,
Lonewolf10


She's here, she's acoming and she'll make you smile Amy '05

[Piru]

@Lonewolf10

I don't think so, he is a trustworthy person and this was from his own experience of using it.

Well, something is wrong with his information. PC Task does NOT write viruses to disks.

[Lonewolf10]

I haven't forgotten about this project.

I have recently found a PDF manual for the Dymo 300 series labelprinters, so work shall start on it shortly. Thankfully the data can be sent compressed or uncompressed, so i think I shall use the latter method

The only possible stumbling block is that the printers use something like 11,250 baud. Can amiga's send data that fast?


Regards,
Lonewolf10

[amigakit]

This is what happens when you plug the Dymo310 into your Classic Amiga with Subway USB:

[Flashlab]

@AmigaKit

OK, but can you actually print from it?