Brother Driver

This page provides a place to discuss/plan the Brother driver in LPrint.

Files

• "lprint-brother.c": Driver code
• "lprint-brother.h": Driver name, make/model, and IEEE-1284 device ID strings

Commands

Command	Description
<00>	Invalidate (128 or more bytes)
<0C>	Print command
<1A>	Print command with feeding
<1B> @	Reset
<1B> i A <n>	Set page number for "cut every"
<1B> i K <n>	Set advanced settings
<1B> i M <n>	Set each mode
<1B> i S	Query status (all but PT-E550W/PT-P750W)
<1B> i a <01>	Set raster command mode
<1B> i d <n1..2>	Set margins
<1B> i z <n1..10>	Set print information
M <n>	Set compression mode
Z	Zero raster graphics (all but QL-800)
g <00> <n> <d1..n>	Raster graphics transfer (QL-Series)
g <n1..2> <d1..n>	Raster graphics transfer (PT-Series)
w <c> <n> <d1..n>	Two-color raster graphics transfer (QL-800/810W/820NWB)

ESC i K "Set Advanced Settings" Command

<n> is a single byte whose bits are:

PT-series:

Bit	Description
0	1 = draft printing, 0 = normal printing (PT-P900/P900W/P950NW)
1	Not used
2	1 = half cut, 0 = full cut (all but PT-P710BT)
3	1 = cut at end, 0 = no cut
4	1 = special tape being used, 0 = normal tape
5	Not used
6	1 = high resolution, 0 = normal (see below)
7	1 = don't clear expansion buffer, 0 = clear buffer

QL-series;

Bit	Description
0	1 = two-color printing, 0 = one-color printing (QL-800/810W/820NWB)
1	Not used
2	Not used
3	1 = cut at end, 0 = no cut
4	Not used
5	Not used
6	1 = high resolution, 0 = normal (see below)
7	Not used

Resolutions:

Model(s)	High	Normal
PT-E550W/P750W/P710BT	180x360dpi	180dpi
PT-P900/P900W/P950NW	360x720dpi	360dpi
All other PT-series	360dpi	360dpi
QL-570/580N/700/800/810W/820NWB/1100/1110NWB/1115NWB	300x600dpi	300dpi
All other QL-series	300dpi	300dpi

ESC i M "Set Each Mode" Command

"n" bits:

• 0x40: Auto cut
• 0x80: Mirror printing (PT-series)

When “auto cut” is specified, the "ESC i A " command is valid.

ESC i S "Query Status" Command

Returns a 32-bit buffer of status information:

Byte(s)	Description	Value(s)
0	Print head mark	<80>
1	Size	<20> (32 bytes)
2	Brother code	"B" (<42>)
3	Series code	See below
4	Model code	See below
5	Country code	"0" (<30>)
6	Battery level	See below
7	Extended error	See below
8	Error information 1	See below
9	Error information 2	See below
10	Media width	See below
11	Media type	See below
12	Number of colors	<00>
13	Fonts	<00>
14	Japanese fonts	<00>
15	Mode	Last "ESC i M" value
16	Density	<00>
17	Media length	See below
18	Status type	See below
19	Phase type	See below
20-21	Phase number (little-endian)	See below
22	Notification number	See below
23	Expansion area	<00>
24	Tape color	See below
25	Text color	See below
26-31	Reserved	<00>

Series/Model codes:

• "0O" (<304F>): QL-500/550
• "0P" (<3050>): QL-1050
• "0Q" (<3051>): QL-650TD
• "0d" (<3064>): PT-H500
• "0e" (<3065>): PT-E500
• "0f" (<3066>): PT-E550W
• "0g" (<3067>): PT-P700
• "0h" (<3068>): PT-P750W
• "0o" (<306f>): PT-P900W
• "0p" (<3070>): PT-P950NW
• "0q" (<3071>): PT-P900
• "0x" (<3078>): PT-P910BT
• "41" (<3431>): QL-560
• "42" (<3432>): QL-570
• "43" (<3433>): QL-580N
• "44" (<3434>): QL-1060N
• "45" (<3435>): QL-700
• "46" (<3437>): QL-710W
• "47" (<3437>): QL-720NW
• "48" (<3438>): QL-800
• "49" (<3439>): QL-810W
• "4A" (<3441>): QL-820NWB
• "4C" (<3443>): QL-1100
• "4D" (<3444>): QL-1110NWB
• "4E" (<3445>): QL-1115NWB
• "4G" (<3447>): QL-600

Battery levels:

• 0x00: Full (PT-P900/P900W/P950NW)
• 0x01: Half (PT-P900/P900W/P950NW)
• 0x02: Low (PT-P900/P900W/P950NW)
• 0x03: Needs to be charged (PT-P900/P900W/P950NW)
• 0x04: Using AC adapter (PT-P900/P900W/P950NW)
• 0x20: Full, not using AC adapter (PT-P910BT)
• 0x22: Half, not using AC adapter (PT-P910BT)
• 0x23: Low, not using AC adapter (PT-P910BT)
• 0x24: Needs to be charged, not using AC adapter (PT-P910BT)
• 0x30: Full, using AC adapter (PT-P910BT)
• 0x32: Half, using AC adapter (PT-P910BT)
• 0x33: Low, using AC adapter (PT-P910BT)
• 0x34: Needs to be charged, using AC adapter (PT-P910BT)
• 0x37: Battery not installed, using AC adapter (PT-P910BT)
• 0xff: Unknown

Extended error values:

• 0x10: FLe tape end
• 0x1d: High-resolution/draft printing error
• 0x1e: Adapter pull/insert error
• 0x1f: Incompatible media error

Error information 1 bits:

• 0x01: No media
• 0x02: End of media
• 0x04: Cutter jam
• 0x08: Low battery
• 0x10: Printer in use
• 0x20: Printer turned off
• 0x40: High-voltage adapter
• 0x80: Fan motor error

Error information 2 bits:

• 0x01: Incorrect media
• 0x02: Expansion buffer full
• 0x04: Communication error
• 0x08: Communication buffer full
• 0x10: Cover open
• 0x20: Overheating error/cancel key
• 0x40: Black marking not detected (load/feed error)
• 0x80: System error

Media widths:

• 0: No tape loaded
• 4: 3.5mm tape
• 6: 6mm tape or 5.8mm HS
• 9: 9mm tape or 8.8mm HS
• 12: 12mm tape or 11.7mm HS
• 18: 18mm tape or 17.7mm HS
• 21: 21x45mm FLe
• 24: 24mm tape or 23.6mm HS
• 29: 29mm tape
• 36: 36mm tape
• 38: 38mm tape
• 50: 50mm tape
• 54: 54mm tape
• 62: 62mm tape
• 90: 90mm tape
• 102: 102mm tape
• 103: 103mm tape

Media lengths:

• 0: Unknown
• 45: FLe 21x45mm
• Other values: die-cut labels

Media types:

• 0x00: No tape loaded
• 0x01: Laminated tape
• 0x03: Non-laminated tape
• 0x04: Fabric tape
• 0x0a: Continuous labels (QL-500/550/560/570/580N/650TD/700/1050/1060N/1100/1110NWB/1115NWB)
• 0x0b: Die-cut labels (QL-500/550/560/570/580N/650TD/700/1050/1060N/1100/1110NWB/1115NWB)
• 0x11: Heat-Shrink Tube (2:1)
• 0x13: FLe tape
• 0x14: Flexible ID tape
• 0x15: Satin tape
• 0x17: Heat-Shrink Tube (3:1)
• 0x4a: Continuous labels (QL-600/QL-710W/QL-720NW/800/810W/820NWB)
• 0x4b: Die-cut labels (QL-600/QL-710W/QL-720NW/800/810W/820NWB)
• 0xff: Incompatible tape

Notification numbers:

• 0x00: Not available
• 0x01: Cover open
• 0x02: Cover closed
• 0x03: Cooling (started)
• 0x04: Cooling (finished)

Phase types:

• 0x00: Editing/receiving
• 0x01: Printing (number is 0 if printing, 20 for cover open)

Status types:

• 0x00: Reply to status request
• 0x01: Printing completed
• 0x02: Error occurred
• 0x03: Exit IF mode
• 0x04: Turned off
• 0x05: Notification
• 0x06: Phase change

Tape colors:

• 0x01: White
• 0x02: Other
• 0x03: Clear
• 0x04: Red
• 0x05: Blue
• 0x06: Yellow
• 0x07: Green
• 0x08: Black
• 0x09: Clear (White Text)
• 0x20: Matte White
• 0x21: Matte Clear
• 0x22: Matte Silver
• 0x23: Satin Gold
• 0x24: Satin Silver
• 0x30: Blue (D)
• 0x31: Red (D)
• 0x40: Fluorescent Orange
• 0x41: Fluorescent Yellow
• 0x50: Berry Pink (S)
• 0x51: Light Gray (S)
• 0x52: Lime Green (S)
• 0x60: Yellow (F)
• 0x61: Pink (F)
• 0x62: Blue (F)
• 0x70: White (Heat-shrink Tube)
• 0x90: White (Flex. ID)
• 0x91: Yellow (Flex. ID)
• 0xf0: Cleaning
• 0xf1: Stencil
• 0xff: Incompatible

Text colors:

• 0x01: White
• 0x02: Other
• 0x04: Red
• 0x05: Blue
• 0x08: Black
• 0x0a: Gold
• 0x62: Blue (F)
• 0xf0: Cleaning
• 0xf1: Stencil
• 0xff: Incompatible

ESC i d <n1..2> "Set Margins" Command

n = n1 + 256 * n2

Use 0 for die-cut labels, 35 for continuous tape on QL-550/560/570/580N/700.

ESC i z <n1..10> "Set Print Information" Command

Bytes are as follows:

Byte(s)	Description
0	Information bits (see below)
1	Media type value (see above)
2	Media width (mm)
3	Media length (mm) or 0 for continuous
4-7	Raster size in bytes (little-endian)
8	0 for first page, 1 for subsequent pages
9	Reserved, 0

Information bits:

• 0x02: Media type
• 0x04: Media width
• 0x08: Media length
• 0x40: Quality
• 0x80: Recover (always on)

M "Set Compression Mode" Command

"n" is 0 for uncompressed and 2 for PackBits compression.

PackBits is supported by QL-580N/650TD/1050/1060N.

g <00> <d1..n> QL-Series "Raster Graphics Transfer" Command

"d1..n" are the bytes for the current line.

g <n1..2> <d1..n> PT-Series "Raster Graphics Transfer" Command

n = n1 + n2 * 256 (number of bytes)

"d1..n" are the bytes for the current line.