Are the SDKs on this website available for free? 

Yes, the SDKs on this website are available free of charge, once you have registered. 

Which models support ESC/P commands? 

Brother mobile printers have printer fonts and you can print by using ESC/P compatible printer commands.
If you develop a program which sends print data from a host device, then you can use these commands to print from the printer.

Please visit the Brother Solutions Center where our ESC/P Command Reference Manuals are available. ESC/P compatible commands are standard in all of our mobile printers, but there are some differences between models.

How do I print logos? 

Please check the supported commands of your model, and use either of the following methods: 

• Using a raster SDK or printer driver 
• Using an ESC/P graphic command
• Using P-touch template. Prepare template data including logos in P-touch Editor and transfer them in advance to the printer main body by using the transfer manager 

Is it possible to print Chinese characters, Hindi or other languages using the SDK? 

Yes, this is possible.
Our standard SDK has a printing feature that uses API tools from Windows. It is possible to draw a bitmap picture on to a device and send the data to a printer. You can print out any text that you can see on the screen of your handheld device which is running either Windows Mobile or Windows CE without mis-encoding. If it cannot be shown on the screen of your handheld device, it cannot be printed from the machine.

I already have an application to print from a Brother mobile printer. Can I also print from other Brother mobile printers using this?

Small changes to your application will be required if you used the SDKs for the same platform and developed a program for a different printer. Please download the latest version of the SDK and then rebuild the program. Please refer to the manuals which are included in the SDKs.

When I print directly to the machine via Bluetooth, it will produce an incorrect printout, or a printing error will occur when not using the Software Development Kit.

When you are connecting the machine via Bluetooth®, the printer may not start to receive the data immediately after the port is opened. We advise to wait for an interval of 500 msec before sending the print data to the machine.

If you normally close and re-open the Bluetooth® port between prints, we would again advise to leave 500 msec between the port being closed and re-opened.

Also, once you have sent the print data, and the printing process has begun, do not close the port.

How many digits of CODE128/EAN128 can be handled?

P-touch Editor 4.0, b-PAC SDK Ver.1.4 and later versions can handle up to 250 digits. Please download and use the latest version.
P-touch Editor 3.x can handle only up to 30 digits. To print data with more than 30 digits, you need to leave sufficient space on a template you create so that the barcode can fit into the space even when the number of data digits has increased.

Can I change barcode size? 

Yes. You can change it with b-PAC SDK Ver.3.0.
For b-PAC SDK Ver.2.0 and earlier versions, you need to do the following.

For example, if you want to change the barcode size to 4 cm or 6 cm according to the intended use, it is convenient to create two types of template files, i.e. 4-cm and 6-cm barcode template files, beforehand and let the program use either of the two files. The barcode width is selectable only from 3 types (or 4 types depending on the resolution of P-touch Editor and P-touch), large, medium and small (and ultra-small), due to print precision constraints of P-touch.

Can a label layout file (*.lbl) merged with a database in P-touch Editor be opened with the Open() method?

Since there is no database merging function in the b-PAC component, layout files merged with a database cannot be used as templates. The connection with a database must be performed within the user's program, not with b-PAC or the layout file.
You must create a new layout that is not merged with a database, and use it as a template.

The procedure for easily creating a layout that can be used as a template with b-PAC from an existing layout merged with a database is described as follows:

1. Use P-touch Editor to open the layout merged with a database.
2. From the File menu, select Database, then click Disconnect.
3. From the File menu, select Save As and save this template file newly.
As this layout is not merged with a database, it can be used as a template with b-PAC.

Is it possible to make the printed label size changeable depending on the text length? 

Yes. Make the label template file as follows: 

< To be changeable depending on the number of lines of text > 

Direction: paper = vertical, text = horizontal 

Tape Length: Auto 

"Specifies how text is displayed" of the text object: Long Text 

If "Long Text" is selected, calling the SetText method repeatedly for the same object after the Open method fixes the tape length to the largest size. The solve this problem, call the Open method/Close method on each printing occasion though it is less efficient. 

< To be changeable depending on the length of one line > 

Direction: paper = horizontal, text = horizontal 

Tape Length: Auto 

"Specifies how text is displayed" of the text object: Automatic Length or Free Size 

Can I add an extra line of text to be added to a text object (i.e. add a return character)? 

Specify Fixed Frame Size (Wrap) as the text layout of the text object. The overflowed characters are placed in the next line.
To enter a return character at a certain point, include a return character code in the text to be replaced.
Refer to the Asset1.xls, VBA sample program, included in b-PAC SDK Ver. 3.0.

What are the different Merge Options settings for a text object?

Merge Options is a function that, depending on the label that you wish to create, specifies the area in which text is printed and either automatically enlarges or reduces the character size or uses a fixed character size.
As for detail, refer to the P-touch Editor Help.

Fixed Frame Size - The size of the object does not change as text is added or deleted. The text is enlarged or reduced so that all entered text is displayed. 

Fixed Frame Size (Wrap) - Text that is typed in is wrapped automatically. If there is not enough space for wraps, the size of all characters is reduced. 

Long Text - As text is added, the text frame is enlarged vertically 

Automatic - As text is added, the text frame is enlarged horizontally 

Free Size - The object frame is enlarged or reduced depending on whether text is added or removed 

Is it possible to use Unicode text? 

Yes. Use the label template file from P-touch Editor 5 with b-PAC Ver. 2.0 or later.

When sending a command via a network (wired/wireless LAN), what network protocols are available? 

Any one of the following protocols is available:

• TCP/IP (Port 9100)
• LPR 
• FTP

How do I get the status via a network? 

Please send the following OID to the printer by using the SNMP protocol.
1.3.6.1.4.1.2435.3.3.9.1.6.1.0
This enables you to retrieve MIB information of the status from a printer.
This retrieved information is the same as the return value of the status request information in the ESC/P command reference. For details, please refer to the ESC/P command reference.

Target Models:

RJ-2050, RJ-2140, RJ-2150
RJ-3050, RJ-3050Ai, RJ-3150, RJ-3150Ai
RJ-3250WB
RJ-4040
RJ-4250WB
TD-2120N, TD-2130N
TD-4420DN, TD-4520DN, TD-4550DNWB
PJ-773, PJ-883
PT-P750W, PT-P900W, PT-P950NW
QL-810W, QL-820NWB, QL-1110NWB

How do I send a command via Bluetooth Low Energy? 

There are two ways to send commands via Bluetooth Low Energy.

Please use Brother Print SDK for iOS/Android™. They have the ability to send commands easily.
Target Models:

PJ-883, RJ-3230B, RJ-3250WB, RJ-4230B, RJ-4250WB, TD-4550DNWB

Please use Brother Print SDK for iOS Type B. They have the ability to send commands easily.
Target Models :

RJ-2035B, RJ-3035B

Another solution is Brother Bluetooth Low Energy Parser Service. This is the minimal GATT(Generic Attribute Profile) service designed to facilitate parser communication in as similar a fashion to SPP(Serial Port Profile) as the GATT model allows.

Target Models:

PJ-883, RJ-3230B, RJ-3250WB, RJ-4230B, RJ-4250WB, TD-4550DNWB

The data structure of GATT is as follows.
For details on how to connect via GATT, please refer to the Bluetooth Low Energy communication standard.

We would like to know the wiring layout for a serial cable to send a command with serial interface.

For the wiring layout for a serial cable at the printer main body side, please refer to the instruction manual of the printer. 

How do I configure the printer's Busy Control settings to receive commands from a PLC using a serial connection? 

Configuration method depends on your printer model.

PT, TD-2, and TD-4D:

If the PLC uses DTR/DSR control, launch the Brother Printer Setting Tool, click P-touch Template Settings > Communication Settings, and in the Busy Control drop-down menu, select "DTR".
If the PLC uses DC code control (DC1/DC3), launch the Brother Printer Setting Tool, click P-touch Template Settings > Communication Settings, and in the Busy Control drop-down menu, select "XON/XOFF".

TD-4T and TJ:
These models do not require configuration changes.

When sending an ESC/P command from the host, does the printer respond to the command? 

No response returns. You have to send a status check command every time. 

When sending an ESC/P command from the host, does the printer return an error response? 

No error response returns. You have to send a status check command every time. 

How do I detect whether the printer is connected via USB or whether the printer is turned on with a program? 

When the PC and the printer is connected via USB and your program is based on the Windows printer driver, you can determine whether the powered printer is connected before sending a print command by checking the online status of the printer with the OS functions.
If the printer is determined as offline, it cannot be determined whether the printer is disconnected or it is connected and turned off.

How do I detect whether the printer is out of paper with a program? 

When paper shortage condition occurs after you turn on the printer and print once, if recovery printing is disabled, you can check whether the printer is out of paper with a command.
To check this, while an out-of-paper error occurs, send a printer status request and check the "End of media" error flag of the error information 1.
For details, refer to the "ESC i S printer status request" of the Printer Status Request Command Reference Manual.
For the recovery print setting, refer to the Command Reference Manual.
For the printers with no paper detection function, it cannot be detected whether paper shortage condition occurs before printing immediately after power-on due to their specifications.

Which of the 32 bit and 64 bit version b-PAC SDK should I use?

Use the b-PAC SDK version that matches the version of your printer, applications, and Windows OS.

Windows 32 bit
Use b-PAC SDK (32 bit version) and 32 bit applications with a printer supporting b-PAC SDK (32 bit version).

Windows 64 bit
Use b-PAC SDK (64 bit version) and 64 bit applications with a printer supporting b-PAC SDK (64 bit version), or use b-PAC SDK (32 bit version) and 32 bit applications with a printer supporting b-PAC SDK (32 bit version).

Windows 32 bit and 64 bit coexisting on the same computer
Use b-PAC SDK (32 bit version) and 32 bit applications with a printer supporting b-PAC SDK (32 bit version).

Note
Microsoft Office software also has 32 bit and 64 bit versions.

Is there any information useful for development? 

Make use of the help files that are installed in addition to sample files written in major development languages.

Access the files from: Windows Start Menu -> All Programs -> Brother b-PAC3 SDK

What are the new functions and features supported in b-PAC SDK Ver3.0 and later versions?

Newly added functions

b-PAC is newly equipped with functions frequently requested by users, such as follows:

• Printer status detecting function
• Loaded tape width detecting function 
• Print-completion event acquiring function 
• A function that allows the use of multiple fonts in a single text object

Keeping the conventional "simple installation"

• b-PAC's highly valued "simple installation" feature is kept available. With a simple interface, you can create a program to print a label you want. 
• If you are not changing any features, you can migrate the conventional b-PAC version to b-PAC SDK Ver.3.0 or a later version just by uninstalling the previous version and installing b-PAC SDK Ver.3.0 or a later version. To use a new feature of b-PAC SDK Ver.3.0 or a later version, you may need to correct conventional sections depending on the methods used. In that case, you can refer to the code rewriting examples in the documents.
• Since there is no change in frequently used methods such as Open(), Close(), GetText(), SetText() and SetBarcodeData(), you do not need to correct conventional sections even if new features of b-PAC SDK Ver.3. 0 or a later version are added.

What is more, the enhanced functions are available 

• An interface that allows easy programming in a program language commonly used today, such as C# and .NET, is added.
• HTML Help format documentation improved contents and searchability. The document describes program rewriting examples for all methods, which is helpful when you add new features of b-PAC SDK Ver.3.0 or a later version to a program in previous version.
• Practical examples are added so that customers can use them almost as they are just by making a slight change in contents.

When I print using b-PAC, an error occurs ("Active X component can't create object" or "Automation Server can't create object")

Check if your application is compatible with the b-PAC version you are using (32 bit or 64 bit).
The compatibility of applications built with "Any CPU" may vary depending on the Windows version (32 bit or 64 bit). Make sure you select the compatible b-PAC version.

For more information, see the following related FAQs:

Q - "Which of the 32 bit and 64 bit versions of b-PAC SDK should I use?"

Q - "Which platform should I use to build an application in the Visual Studio development environment"? 

How can I upgrade b-PAC on a client PC? 

Install the provided Client Component Installer (CCI) on the client PC. Or create an installer using the merge module included in the b-PAC SDK and install it on the client PC.

How can b-PAC be copied to a computer not in the development environment? 

Download the client installer package from the b-PAC Download page. Components needed to run applications using b-PAC will be installed by the installer.

(Documents, samples, sample template files and others that are included in SDK are not copied. A P-touch driver must be correctly installed on the computer used.)

An error occurs when printing is executed in an environment where installation is performed by an installer created using a redeployment merge module (bPAC3.msm).

It is because there are insufficient modules for the created installer.
Based on the version of your b-PAC, add the following merge modules and others provided by Microsoft to the installing project and re-create the installer.

* The following merge modules are normally stored in the Program Files folder of a computer installed with Visual Studio.
e.g. C:¥Program Files (x86)¥Common Files¥Merge Modules¥

With b-PAC 3.0:

- Visual C++ 8.0 MFC (Microsoft_VC80_MFC_x86.msm)       *Stored in Visual Studio 2005

- Visual C++ 8.0 CRT (Microsoft_VC80_CRT_x86.msm)       *Stored in Visual Studio 2005

- GDI+ and MSXML4 are required in some cases.

With b-PAC 3.2:

<32 bit version>

- Visual C++ 14.0 MFC (Microsoft_VC140_MFC_x86.msm) *Stored in Visual Studio 2015

- Visual C++ 14.0 CRT (Microsoft_VC140_CRT_x86.msm) *Stored in Visual Studio 2015

<64 bit version>

- Visual C++ 14.0 MFC (Microsoft_VC140_MFC_x64.msm) *Stored in Visual Studio 2015

- Visual C++ 14.0 CRT (Microsoft_VC140_CRT_x64.msm) *Stored in Visual Studio 2015

- Visual C++ 11.0 CRT (Microsoft_VC110_CRT_x64.msm) *Stored in Visual Studio 2012