LabelWriter II V 1.0.3 General Notes as of 5/10/92
Thank you for purchasing the LabelWriter II printer. Please send in your LabelWriter II user registration card, complete with serial number and type of computer, to register for software updates.
How to reach us:
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CoStar Corporation
22 Bridge St.
Greenwich, CT 06830-5238
203-661-9700
203-661-1540 FAX
Electronic Mail Addresses
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You can send technical support and customer service requests, place orders, or send general comments to us via these online services. In addition to these online addresses you can post messages and download CoStar software from our forums on Compuserve and America OnLine. On Compuserve we are located in the Mac Vendor C forum and on America Online we are in the Industry Connection.
America Online: COSTAR2 Tech Support: CoStarTech
Compuserve: 75300,2225
AppleLink: COSTAR1
IF YOU DON'T READ MANUALS READ THIS
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If you don't read manuals please follow the instructions in the section called "10 Easy Steps to Set Up Your LabelWriter II" in the LabelWriter II Users Manual. It was written for experienced computer users and provides quick instructions for getting your LabelWriter II up and running. Otherwise follow the instructions below:
1) Once you have set up your LabelWriter II printer you are ready to install the software. Before installing the software, double check that the LabelWriter II is connected to one of your computers serial ports, loaded with labels, and plugged into a power outlet via the power transforemer. Next, insert the floppy disk labeled "Program Disk with Installer."
(Note: Make sure you are not running any other programs besides the finder or the installer will not run.)
2) Double click on the file called "Install LabelWriter II." The Installer program will launch. Follow the instructions in the installer program for installing the software onto your hard drive. When the installer finishes it will restart your computer.
3) After your computer restarts open the Chooser desk accessory, select the LabelWriter II driver, and select the serial port to which your LabelWriter II is connected.
4) Next, reselect your main printer (i.e., LaserWriter, ImageWriter, DeskWriter.) and close the Chooser.
5) Now find and open the folder named "LabelWriter II Folder" on your hard drive. Double Click on the file named "LabelWriter II App." The first time you launch the program it will ask you to find a LabelWriter II list. Choose a sample list in the LabelWriter II Folder.
6) When finish using the application program, select the LabelWriter II desk accessory from the apple menu. The first time it will ask you to find the "LabelWriter II Templates" file and a LabelWriter II list. Your software is now ready to use.
Things to Remember:
1) The LabelWriter II app and the LabelWriter II desk accessory cannot be run simultaneously because both use the same template and list files.
2) Use the application program to create address lists, import and export text file lists, modify and create the templates, and print. Use the desk accessory to print from any of your LabelWriter II lists and use any of the templates. Remember, however, that you cannot save any changes to a template from the desk accessory.
3) The LabelWriter II software uses the LabelWriter II chooser driver in the system folder to print. DO NOT move or change the name of the LabelWriter II chooser document located in your system folder or the software will not print.
COMPATIBILITY ISSUES
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SYSTEM 7.0
The LabelWriter II software is system 7.0 COMPATIBLE. It does not, however, support Balloon Help, AppleEvents, or Publish and Subscribe. Some of these features will added in the next release of the software.
32-BIT ADDRESSING
The LabelWriter II software is 32 bit clean. If you experience a problem with the software under 32 bit mode try turning off all of your inits. If the problem goes away one of your inits is probably not 32bit clean.
POWER BOOK 140 &170
The LabelWriter II is completely compatible with the Powerbooks. If your Powerbook has an internal modem, however, you must turn the modem off by going into the Portable control panel and switching from Internal Modem to External Modem. This will allow the data being sent to the modem port to actually go to the modem port instead of being redirected to the internal modem.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
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NOW UTILITES-WYSIWYG MENUS
There is a conflict with the LabelWriter II Desk Accessory and WYSIWYG MENUS Version 3.0.1 or lower by NOW software. When selecting a size or style from the type menu in the DA, the font will change instead. This bug is being fixed by NOW Software. If you experience this problem request an upgrade from NOW at 503-274-2800.
DAYSTAR DIGITAL-FAST CACHE
Users of the Fast Cache for the IIci by Daystar Digital may experience a problem with the LabelWriter II software. The software will work fine the first time. When you quit the program and then relaunch the program before restarting the machine, however, you may get an error message "Volume does not exist." If you experience this problem or something similar call Daystar Digital at 800-962-2077 to request a ROM upgrade for your Fast Cache.
FILEMAKER PRO
Selecting a page range in the LabelWriter II Print dialog box does not work when printing from FileMaker Pro. One work around is to select the records you want to print with the Find command instead of using the Page Range in the Print dialog. This is a known bug in Filemaker Pro and cannot be fixed by CoStar.
MACINTOSH IIFX
Owners of the Macintsoh IIfx may experience compatibility problems with the LabelWriter II. If you experience problems you should install the IIfx Serial Switch control panel. On the "Utilities and Samples" disk you will find a folder named IIfx Serial Switch. Copy the IIfx Serial Switch control panel to your system folder. Then, open the control panel, select IIfx serial switch and select Compatibility Mode. This should alleivate any incompatibilities between the IIfx and third party serial devices like the LabelWriter II.
LabelWriter II Plus
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The LabelWriter II Plus is a 2.25" wide version of the LabelWriter II that can print Disk Labels, Shipping Labels, 2 Across Address Labels, and more label sizes to be announced. The LabelWriter II is completely upgradable to the LabelWriter II Plus. Contact CoStar Customer Service for information.
AppleTalk Interface
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CoStar will be offering an AppleTalk interface box for the LabelWriter II and LabelWriter II Plus in the first quarter of 1992. This box will allow you to connect a LabelWriter II anywhere on your AppleTalk network. All users on the network can then access the printer as simply as accessing a Laser printer. The AppleTalk Interface box will retail for $199.00. Contact CoStar Customer Service for information.
A-B Switches:
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The LabelWriter II uses a Macintosh serial port. Therefore, you may need to get an A-B switch if you are already using a printer or network on the printer port and a modem, scanner, MacRecorder™, or any other serial device on the modem port. If you need an A-B switch call CoStar Customer Service at 1-800-426-7827 for special pricing on a third party switch tested for compatibility with the LabelWriter.
If you already have an A-B switch and experience problems using it with the LabelWriter make sure the cable you have connecting the computer and the switch-box is an 8-pin straight through connected serial cable. The standard ImageWriter cable is not straight through connected and, therefore will not work.
NOTE: The LabelWriter II does not work when connected to the pass through serial port on the back of the Apple Fax Modem. Also, fax modems that receive faxes usually use the modem port constantly because they are waiting for incoming faxes. Therefore, you may need to deactivate your fax-modem software if you also want to use the LabelWriter on the modem port.
Fonts
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CoStar recommends that all LabelWriter II owners use either Adobe Type Manager or TrueType to obtain the best possible print quality from the LabelWriter II printer. The resolution of the LabelWriter II is 138 X138 dpi. This is very close to 144 x144 dpi. So, (just as with any non-Postscript printer (i.e., ImageWriter, DeskWriter, StyleWriter, Personal LaserWriter LS, etc.) if you want to print a bitmapped font you must have twice the size you want to print installed in the system. For example, if you want to print 14 point you have to have 28 point installed. Most people don't have all sizes installed so they get poor or inconsistent print quality. Using ATM or TrueType will eliminate this problem because outline fonts can be calculated for any point size. If you have questions about fonts or you are experiencing poor print quality call CoStar Tech Support at 203-661-9700.
Heap Space
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If you experience system bombs while using the LabelWriter II DA under system 6.x, you may need to increase the amount of memory allocated to the system heap. This can be done by using the Heap Rx program on the "Utilities and Samples" Disk. Simply launch Heap Rx and increase the amount of memory allocated to the heap. Restart the machine and select About the Finder from the Apple menu. Check to make sure that %25 of the system bar is white. If not repeat the procedure until approximatly %25 is free.
IF YOU FIND A BUG
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If you find a bug in our software we want to know about it. The LabelWriter II software has been extensively tested but it is impossible for us to recreate every possible system configuration. If you find that something in our software is not working correctly please call CoStar Tech Support at 203-661-9700 and be ready to give the following information:
type of computer and amount of RAM, version of System and Finder, version of LabelWriter II software, any inits, cdevs and DA's, and a complete description of the problem including the steps needed to reproduce the bug. You can also send or fax us a bug report. Use the program TattleTale that is provided on the "Utilities and Samples" disk to print out a bug report. If you report a bug that is reproduceable by our product development team and that has not been reported already, we'll send you a free two pack of labels.
DeskWriter is a trademark of Hewlett Packard Inc.
Adobe, Adobe Type Manager and PostScript are trademarks of Adobe
