Printer
com.brother.ptouch.sdk.Printer class provides APIs to print data or get information from the printer.
Instance Methods
setPrinterInfo
Set PrinterInfo object to specify the printer and print settings.
Declaration
boolean setPrinterInfo(PrinterInfo printerInfo);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| printerInfo | Printer and print setting information. |
Return Value
Always true.
getPrinterInfo
Get the printer information which is currently set.
Declaration
PrinterInfo getPrinterInfo();
Return Value
Current PrinterInfo object.
setBluetooth
Set the Bluetooth adapter which is required to communicate with printer via Bluetooth.
Declaration
void setBluetooth(BluetoothAdapter bluetoothAdapter);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| bluetoothAdapter | Bluetooth adapter of Android SDK. |
startCommunication
Open a session to communicate with the printer based on the connection type. You need to call it before calling any API communicating with the printer. You need to call endCommunication when it becomes unnecessary.
Declaration
boolean startCommunication();
Return Value
true if success, otherwise false.
endCommunication
Close the session opened via startCommunication
Declaration
boolean endCommunication();
Return Value
Always true.
printImage
Print the image using print settings set by setPrinterInfo.
Declaration
PrinterStatus printImage(Bitmap bmp);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| bmp | Bitmap object to be printed. |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
printFile
Print the image file or print data file (.prn) using print settings set by setPrinterInfo.
Declaration
PrinterStatus printFile(String filepath);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| filepath | The image (.jpg/.jpeg, .bmp, .png) file path or print data (.prn) path to be printed. |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
printFileList
Print the image files using print settings set by setPrinterInfo.
Declaration
PrinterStatus printFileList(List<String> fileList);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| fileList | The image file (.jpg/.jpeg, .bmp, .png) path list to be printed. |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
printPdfFile
Print the pdf file using print settings set by setPrinterInfo. Available on Android 5.0 or later.
Declaration
PrinterStatus printPdfFile(String filepath, int pagenum);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| filepath | The PDF file path to be printed. |
| pagenum | The page number. |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
getPDFFilePages
Get the page count of the specified pdf file. Available on Android 5.0 or later.
Declaration
int getPDFFilePages(String filepath);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| filepath | The PDF file path. |
Return Value
The page count.
printPdf
Same functionality as printPdfFile. Available on less than Android 6.0.
Declaration
PrinterStatus printPdf(String filepath, int pagenum);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| filepath | The PDF file path to be printed. |
| pagenum | The page number. |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
getPDFPages
Same functionality as getPDFFilePages. Available on less than Android 6.0.
Declaration
int getPDFPages(String filepath);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| filepath | The PDF file path. |
Return Value
The page count.
cancel
Cancel printing. Invalid while sending data.
Declaration
boolean cancel();
Return Value
Always true.
getPrinterStatus
Retrieves the printer status.
Declaration
PrinterStatus getPrinterStatus();
getFirmVersion
Get the firmware version of the specified printer as a string.
Declaration
String getFirmVersion();
Return Value
For example, "0102". This means "ver.1.02".
getLabelParam
Get the detail information of the media (for QL, PT, TD and RJ series) specified by setPrinterInfo.
Declaration
LabelParam getLabelParam();
Return Value
The media information as LabelParam.
getLabelInfo
Retrieves the label information from the printer. Available for QL and PT series only.
Declaration
LabelInfo getLabelInfo();
Return Value
The label information as LabelInfo.
getBatteryInfo
Retrieves the battery information of the printer.
Declaration
BatteryInfo getBatteryInfo();
Return Value
The battery information as BatteryInfo.
getSystemReport
Retrieves the system report of the printer like self-print contents. Available if port is other than Port.NET.
Declaration
String getSystemReport;
Return Value
The system report.
setMessageHandle
Set a message handler to the SDK to receive the message from it.
Declaration
void setMessageHandle(Handler handler, int MsgType);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| handler | Message handler. |
| MsgType | Identifies the messages. |
sendBinaryFile
Send the binary file containing the command. Since the status check is not performed, it is sent even if the printer specified by printerModel is different from the actually connected printer.
Warning
If you pass a file including raster commands customized by yourself, automatic status notification mode must be turned off (Do not notify). The notifications from printers are not received in this function. For information on the mode, see a command reference for your printer.
Declaration
PrinterStatus sendBinaryFile(String filepath);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| filepath | File path to be sent. |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
sendBinary
Send the binary data containing the command. Since the status check is not performed, it is sent even if the printer specified by printerModel is different from the actually connected printer.
Declaration
PrinterStatus sendBinary(byte[] data)
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| data | Data to be sent. |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
sendDatabase
Send the database data described in .csv format.
In addition, this updates the database for printers that have templates and databases created and linked by P-touch Editor.
.csv data format restrictions :
- the delimiter is
,(comma) only - Alphanumeric & symbol in ASCII only
Declaration
PrinterStatus sendDatabase(String filepath)
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| filepath | The path of the .csv file. |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
startPTTPrint
Start creating the command and print data string for a P-touch Template. Specify a template and the character encoding. This function assumes the default P-touch Template settings. Your application may not be able to print if the printer's settings differ from the defaults. If necessary, use the P-touch Template Setting Tool to configure the printer.
Declaration
boolean startPTTPrint(int key, String encode);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| key | Key number assigned to the template. The key starts from 1. |
| encode | "SJIS" for printer models with Japanese fonts, "GB18030" for printer models with Chinese fonts or null for all other printer models. |
Return Value
false if the key is out of range or the printer doesn't support P-touch template, otherwise true.
replaceText
Replaces the next replaceable text in a P-touch Template. Text strings are replaced in order of small object number.
Declaration
boolean replaceText(String data);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| data | Replacement text. |
Return Value
false if the printer doesn't support P-touch template, otherwise true.
replaceTextIndex
Replaces the text in an object of a P-touch Template, specified by its object number.
Declaration
boolean replaceTextIndex(String data, int index);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| data | Replacement text. |
| index | Object number in which to replace the text. The range depends on models. |
Return Value
false if the index is out of range or the printer doesn't support P-touch template, otherwise true.
replaceTextName
Replaces the text in an object of a P-touch Template, specified by the object's name.
Declaration
boolean replaceTextName(String data, String objectName);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| data | Replacement text. |
| objectName | Object name of the object in which to replace the text. |
Return Value
false if the data length longer than 20 or the printer doesn't support P-touch template, otherwise true.
flushPTTPrint
Transmits command and print data used to print a P-touch Template.
Declaration
PrinterStatus flushPTTPrint();
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
updateFirm
Send firmware files. For Bluetooth and USB transfers, use pdz files. For all interface, use blf files.
Declaration
public PrinterStatus updateFirm(String filepath)
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| filepath | Template file path. |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
transfer
Transfers a P-touch Template file to the printer. The template file (*.pdz, *.blf) is created by P-touch Transfer Manager, a Windows application. For Bluetooth and USB transfers, use pdz files. For all interface, use blf files.
Declaration
PrinterStatus transfer(String filepath);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| filepath | Template file path. |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
removeTemplate
Removes templates from the printer.
Declaration
PrinterStatus removeTemplate(List<Integer> keyList);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| keyList | List of template IDs to be removed. |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
getTemplateList
Gets a list of the templates that have been downloaded to the printer.
Declaration
PrinterStatus getTemplateList(List<TemplateInfo> tmplList);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| tmplList | List to hold the acquired template information. |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result. The PrinterStatus.ErrorCode is set to ERROR_TEMPLATE_NOT_EXIST if there are no templates on the printer.
getNetPrinters
Discover printers of the given model that are connected to the same network.
Declaration
NetPrinter[] getNetPrinters(String modelName);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| modelName | Printer model name. |
Return Value
Array of discovered NetPrinter.
getNetPrinters
Discover printers of the given models that are connected to the same network.
Declaration
NetPrinter[] getNetPrinters(String modelName[]);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| modelName | Array of printer model name. |
Return Value
Array of discovered NetPrinter.
getBLEPrinters
Discover printers which are connectable via Bluetooth Low Energy. Available on Android 5.0 or later.
Declaration
List<BLEPrinter> getBLEPrinters(BluetoothAdapter adapter, long timeout);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| adapter | Bluetooth adapter of Android SDK |
| timeout | Discovery time in mili second |
Return Value
Array of discovered BLEPrinter.
getUsbDevice
Gets a connected USB device.
Declaration
UsbDevice getUsbDevice(UsbManager usbManager);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| usbManager | android.hardware.usb.UsbManager |
Return Value
Connected Brother UsbDevice. null if no supported Brother printer is connected.
updatePrinterSettings
Update printer settings. See Printer Configurations for available values. Some settings are not applied until the printer is restarted. Restart the printer, then confirm the values are properly applied via getPrinterSettings after the restart.
Declaration
PrinterStatus updatePrinterSettings(Map<PrinterSettingItem, String> settings)
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| settings | Setting keys and values |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
getPrinterSettings
Get printer settings. See Printer Configurations for available values.
Declaration
PrinterStatus getPrinterSettings(ArrayList<PrinterSettingItem> keys, Map< PrinterSettingItem,String> values);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| keys | Index of settings. |
| values | Output argument the SDK stores the result. Need to be inistantiated by the caller. |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
updateBluetoothPreference
Updates Bluetooth settings of the MW series. Refer to BluetoothPreference. This method does not check if the request has been reflected on the device. Please check using getBluetoothPreference if needed.
Declaration
PrinterStatus updateBluetoothPreference(BluetoothPreference btPre);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| btPre | Bluetooth settings |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
getBluetoothPreference
Gets Bluetooth settings from the MW series. Refer to BluetoothPreference.
Declaration
PrinterStatus getBluetoothPreference(BluetoothPreference btPre);
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| btPre | Output argument the SDK stores the result. Need to be instantiated by the caller. |
Return Value
PrinterStatus object as the result.
setPrinterModelFromStatus
Set PrinterModel from PrinterStatus instead of from PrinterInfo.
It is used when the model name cannot be determined by the search API, such as TD-2350D.
Declaration
void setPrinterModelFromStatus(PrinterStatus status)
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| status | Status returned by getPrinterStatus |
Notes
Template Object Number Range
| Object Number Range | Printer Model |
|---|---|
| 1 - 50 | MW series, PT-P9xx, QL series |
| 1 - 200 | PJ-663 |
| 1 - 99 | TD series, RJ series |
| 1 - 255 | PJ-7xx |