Citizen Faq

Paper and Media issues – Sensor Calibration

• Printer is not sensing the end of the media
• Printer does not line up correctly with the top of each label
• Printer over-runs at the end of each label
• The sensors need recalibrating
• The media sensors are not correctly aligned
• Specialist media is being used with very thin or light-coloured backing paper

Generally, all of the above issues can be fixed by adjusting or calibrating the media sensors. Click on one of the following links depending on your printer model:

• CLP 521, 621, 631 (also PDF version available here)
• CLP 1001, 2001, 6001, 6002, 7201e, 7202e
• CLP 8301, 9001, 9301, 9001R, 9301R
• CLP 8301, 9001, 9301, 9001R, 9301R – special instructions on how to recalibrate paper sensor for wider gaps between labels

Changing the printer’s settings

• Disabling the extra features of the IEEE 1284 interface (521,621,631,7200) – some older systems can be confused by the extra features available from the enhanced parallel port. Also relevant for AS/400-type minis.
   
• Changing the baud rate on a 521, 621, 631 – How to change the baud rate using VuePrint settings via the control panel. Also how to produce a configuration print
   
• “Virtual LCD panel” on 521, 621, 631 using Hyper Terminal – How to configure the PC and printer to view the printer configuration like a ‘virtual LCD’ screen
   
• Quick Mode Switching via control panel on 521, 621, 631 – Switching between TT and DT etc using the control panel.
   
• Control Panel Short Cuts on 521, 621, 631 – Shows all the key short cuts and error codes all on one page.
   
• Quick Software Configuration Utility for the CLP 521, 621 and 631: Change the printer’s menu settings from a convenient utility program under Windows.
   
• Using the VuePrint Configuration system on the CLP 521, 621, 631 and CL-S700 printers. This allows you to customise the menu settings using software commands rather than the VuePrint menu system.
   
• Small Media Adjustment – Explains what it is and how to use it. Especially useful if you get alignment issues with very short labels of less than 20mm long.
   
• Mechanism adjustments, CLP 8301 – wide width printers often need more careful adjustment of print head pressure to improve print quality and stop ribbon wrinkle.
   
• For sensor calibration, see the section above – Paper and Media Issues.

General printing

• Common Problems on CLP printers  – Explanations and answers to common questions on CLP printers. This is one document and contains its own index and extends to about 20 pages.
   
• Recommended Serial Cable Connections for Citizen CLP labels printers:

Connecting your printer to “AS/400” systems

• Connecting to “AS/400 systems” – advice on how to connect to systems that cannot send “non-printable characters” easily. This is not just for AS/400 systems!
   
• Creating a remote printer – again for AS/400 users.
   
• Disabling the extra features of the IEEE 1284 interface (521,621,631,7200) – some AS/400-type computers need this feature switching off.

Programming Examples and Command Reference Manuals

• Click here for programming examples and programming manuals
• Using the VuePrint Configuration system on the CLP 521, 621, 631 and CL-S700 printers. This allows you to customise the menu settings using software commands rather than the VuePrint menu system.

Drivers, including install and removal

• Windows Driver Installation (version 1) – Short explanation of how to install a printer driver in Windows (text version)
   
• Windows Driver Installation (version 2) – as shown on our printer driver download page (with some screenshots) for Windows XP in “classic” and “XP” appearances.
   
• Windows Driver Installation (version 3) – a detailed explanation but contains most of the screens seen during printer driver install. Can be used as a general instruction tool to explain how to install the driver but does not currently show the first few screens seen using the Citizen utility and driver disk.
   
• Citizen Printers Driver “has not passed Windows Logo Testing” – Why you get this message and also what to do (just click “Continue Anyway”)
   
• Common Network Settings for drivers – This explains how to set the latest printer driver for use over a network. It allows the Administrator to set common profiles on all printers across a network, including paper sizes etc.
   
• Sending extra commands and the beginning and end of print job – Print screen on how to set the specific command in the Citizen printer driver. In the example a “reset” command is added
   
• Sending a file to printer – Explains the process in a single document rather than having to look through several other documents for the information.
   
• Enabling a printer “option” in the driver – How to enable a Cutter, Peeler or switch on the Tear Bar function. This file explains, by screen shots, how to turn on turn an individual option on. It also explains briefly how to do the same thing on the printer.
   
• Tear Bar not selected (521) – Label not advancing to tear bar, explains why and how to fix. This was an early issue with an early printer driver.
   
• Remove all drivers – We have made this process much easier in the latest version of printer driver, V7.0.3 and above. A small program called “DriverCleaner” is included in each driver which removed most driver files and cleans the registry. This document explains the ‘old process’ just in case you still need it.

Ribbon Adjustment Issues

• Ribbon out CLP 7200 series – Expanded explanation of how to make adjustments to the Ribbon Tension unit in the CLP 7200 series printers. Includes details of where to find it in the user manual and includes descriptive pictures.

Seagull Bartender Information

• Bartender “cuts off” keyboard-entered data – Windows Security Patch Issued February 13, 2007 by Microsoft Can Cause Text Truncation with BarTender v7.10, 7.50 and v7.51
   
• What are the different versions of Bartender  – Details the different version of Bartender Software produced by Seagull Scientific and supplied with Citizen printers. Summary explaining the difference between Bartender Ultralight, Lite, Enterprise, etc.
   
• Printing Serialised Labels – Using Bartender, this explains the process of designing and printing serialised numbers and barcodes etc on labels.

How to install printheads and guides

• Print Head Installation (CLP 1001, 2001, 6000, 7200e) – How to fit the print head to these models
   
• Print Head Installation (CLP 8301) – How to fit the print head to this model.
   
• Fitting Batch Rewinder Guide Plate to CLP 9001R or 9301R – How to fit the metal batch rewinder guide plate to a CLP 9000 “R” printer.

Networking and Network installation

• Common Network Settings for drivers – This explains how to set the latest printer driver for use over a network. It allows the Administrator to set common profiles on all printers across a network, including paper sizes etc.
   
• Finding an Internal network – How to find, configure and then (if needed) return the card to the factory settings, as originally sold by Citizen
   
• Upgrading Net Card firmware – This shows the process, including screen captures for upgrading the firmware on both the Ethernet and WiFi network cards.