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• IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines, Inc. • Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation, USA. • The names of other software or products used in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies that developed them. (Only for Australia) Nothing contained in this statement shall be deemed to restrict any warranty required to be given under the Trade Practices Act (Commonwealth of Australia) or any...
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Warranty. For warranty service (repair) of your Brother product you will need to retain a copy of your sales docket and contact the Support Centre for location of the nearest Authorised Warranty Centre (AWC).
Contents BEFORE USING YOUR P-TOUCH ............4 Safety Precautions ......................4 General Precautions...................... 8 Symbols Used in this Guide ..................8 GETTING STARTED ................9 Unpacking Your P-touch ....................9 General Description..................... 10 LCD Display & Keyboard..................... 11 LCD Display ......................11 Key Names and Functions..................
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Setting Character Attributes ..................31 Setting Character Attributes by Label ..............31 Setting Character Attributes by Each Line.............31 Setting Auto Fit Style .....................34 Setting Label Attributes ....................35 Using Auto-Format Layouts ..................37 Using Templates - Example creating an Asset Tag..........37 Using Block Layouts ....................41 Creating a Barcode Label ....................45 Setting Barcode Parameters..................45 Entering Barcode Data ..................46...
BEFORE USING YOUR P-TOUCH Thank you for purchasing the P-touch 2100. Your new P-touch is an easy to operate, feature packed labelling system that makes creating professional, high quality labels a breeze. In addition to easy label creation via pre-formatted label layouts, the P-touch editing software features advanced label formatting, block formats, barcodes and auto-numbering functions.
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P-touch. Failure to observe this may Do not use a damaged power cord. result in an accident or damage. Brother shall not assume any Do not overload the power outlet. responsibility for any accident or damage resulting from not using the Do not place heavy objects on, specified AC adaptor.
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BEFORE USING YOUR P-TOUCH WARNING P-touch Follow these guidelines to avoid fire, damage, electric shock, and choking. Do not allow the P-touch to get wet in Do not disassemble the P-touch. For any way. inspection, adjustment, and repair of Do not touch any metal parts near the the P-touch, contact the retail outlet print head.
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CAUTION Tape Cutter Follow these guidelines to avoid personal injury and damage of the P-touch. Do not touch the blade of the cutter unit. Do not open the tape compartment cover when operating the cutter unit. Do not apply excessive pressure to the cutter unit.
• Depending on the environmental conditions and the applied settings, some characters or symbols may be difficult to read. • Use only Brother TZ tapes with this machine. Do not use tapes that do not have the mark. • Do not pull or press on the tape in the cassette. Otherwise the tape cassette or P-touch may be damaged.
GETTING STARTED Unpacking Your P-touch Check that the package contains the following before using your P-touch. P-touch PT-2100 TZ tape cassette CD-ROM USB cable AC adaptor User’s Guide (The design of the adaptor may differ by country.) Software Installation Guide Unpacking Your P-touch...
GETTING STARTED General Description Tape compartment cover Tape viewer Tape cassette compartment Tape exit slot LCD display Keyboard Tape cutter Print head Release lever When shipped from the factory, the LCD display is covered with a protective sheet to prevent damage. Remove this sheet before using the P-touch. Battery compartment cover AC adaptor connector Battery case...
LCD Display & Keyboard LCD Display 1. Line number Displayed at the beginning of each line, this mark indicates the line number within the label layout. 2. Cursor Indicates the current position of the cursor. New characters are entered to the left of the cursor, and the character to the left of the cursor is deleted when the key is pressed.
GETTING STARTED Key Names and Functions 9 10 11 (Power): Turns the P-touch labeler on and off. • Prints the current label design onto the tape. • Opens the Print Options menu when Moves the cursor in the direction of the used in combination with the key.
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(Backspace): • Opens the Text menu, where you can • Deletes the character to the left of the set character attributes for the label. cursor. • Character attributes can be set to each • Clears all text entered, or all text and line of the label when the Text menu is current label settings when used in opened in combination with the...
GETTING STARTED Power Supply Battery After making sure that the power is off, remove the battery compartment cover on the back of the machine. If the batteries are already in the machine, remove them. Make sure that the power is turned off when replacing batteries.
WARNING • Use only the AC adaptor (AD-5000/AD-24U) designed exclusively for your P-touch. Failure to observe this may result in an accident or damage. Brother shall not assume any responsibility for any accident or damage resulting from not using the specified AC adaptor.
GETTING STARTED Inserting a Tape Cassette Tape cassettes of 3.5 mm, 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm, 18 mm width can be used in your P-touch. Use only tape cassettes with the mark. • If the new tape cassette has a cardboard stopper, be sure to remove the stopper before inserting the cassette.
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Insert the tape cassette into the tape compartment, with the end of the tape facing the machine's tape exit slot, and press firmly until you hear a click. When inserting the tape cassette, make sure that the tape and ink ribbon do not catch on the print head.
GETTING STARTED Turning Power On/Off Press the key to turn the P-touch on. Press the key again to turn the P-touch off. • Your P-touch has a power saving function that automatically turns itself off if no key is pressed within a certain time under certain operating conditions. Refer to the Auto Power-Off Time table below for details.
Creating Your First Label Create a label with the P-touch Prepare the P-touch. Install the batteries Set a tape cassette. Turn the P-touch on. and/or connect the AC adaptor. P. 14 P. 16 P. 18 Enter the label text. In addition to entering text, the P-touch has a large range of editing functions.
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Enter the label text using P-touch Quick Editor. Start P-touch Quick Enter the label text in P-touch Quick Editor. Editor. For example, click on the layout area and then type "Brother". Software Help Software Help Print the label. Click on the "Print" The label is printed. button.
Quick Index This section provides quick and easy access to information on tasks often needed by users. Quick Quick Simply look for your task below and then go to Index Index the page indicated. If the task you are looking for is not shown here, try the Contents or Index pages.
GETTING STARTED Feeding Tape Feed & Cut The Feed & Cut function feeds 23 mm of blank tape then cuts the tape, which may be needed when installing a new tape cassette. Hold down the key and press the key. "Feed &...
LCD Display LCD Contrast You can change the contrast setting of the LCD display to one of five levels (+2, +1, 0, -1, -2) to make the screen easier to read. The default setting is "0". Press the key to display the Setup menu, select "LCD Contrast"...
GETTING STARTED Setting Language and Unit Language Select the language("English", "Español", " ", "Dansk", "Deutsch", "Français", "Italiano", "Magyar", "Nederlands", "Norsk", "Português", "Suomi", or "Svenska") for menu commands and messages shown on the LCD display. The default setting is "English". Press the key to display the Setup menu, select "Language"...
EDITING A LABEL Entering and Editing Text Using the keyboard of your P-touch is very similar to using a typewriter or word processor. Entering Text from the Keyboard • To enter a lowercase letter or a number, simply press the desired key. •...
EDITING A LABEL Inserting Text • To insert additional text into an existing line of text, move the cursor to the character to the right of the position where you want to start inserting text and then enter the additional text. The new text is inserted to the left of the cursor. Inserting a Tab •...
Entering Symbols In addition to the symbols available on the keyboard, there are various symbols (including international and extended ASCII characters) available with the symbol function. There are two methods of entering symbols: • Using the key. • Using the Symbol function. Entering Symbols Using Symbols printed in upper-right corner of the keys on the keyboard can be entered using key.
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EDITING A LABEL Symbol List Category Symbols Punctuation Business Mathematics Bracket Arrow Unit International Number Pictograph Electrical Others The use of the CE mark is strictly governed by one or more European Council directives. Ensure that any labels you produce which use this mark conform with the relevant directives. Entering Symbols...
Entering Accented Characters The P-touch can display and print a set of accented characters such as other language specific characters. Enter the character you wish to change to a composite character. Caps mode can be used with the Accent function. Press the key.
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EDITING A LABEL Accented Character List Character Accented Characters Character Accented Characters Entering Accented Characters...
Setting Character Attributes Setting Character Attributes by Label Using the key, you can select a font and apply size, width, style, line, and alignment attributes. Press the key. The current settings are displayed. Select an attribute using the key, and then set a value for that attribute using the key.
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EDITING A LABEL Setting Options Attribute Value Result (Helsinki) (Brussels) Font (Florida) (Calgary) When Auto is selected, the text is Auto automatically adjusted to print in the largest size available for each tape width. 42pt 36pt 24pt Size 18pt 12pt Setting Character Attributes...
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Attribute Value Result Width x2/3 x1/2 (Bold) (Outline) (Shadow) (Solid) Style (Italic) I+BLD (Italic Bold) I+OUT (Italic Outline) I+SHD (Italic Shadow) I+SLD (Italic Solid) (Vertical) Setting Character Attributes...
EDITING A LABEL Attribute Value Result Line (Underline) (Strikeout) Left Center Align (Alignment) Right Just (Justify) Setting Auto Fit Style When "Size" is set to "Auto" and "Length" is set to a specific length, you can select the way of reducing the text size to fit within the label length. When "Text Size"...
Setting Label Attributes Using the key, you can create a label with a frame around the text and specify the label length and tab length. (Cut Options which may be needed when printing a label can also be set by using the key.
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EDITING A LABEL Setting Options Attribute Value Result Frame Setting Label Attributes...
Attribute Value Result Frame The length of the label can be set within the range 30 mm - 300 mm. Length When Auto is selected, the length of the label is automatically adjusted based on the amount of text entered. The length of the tab can be set within the range 0 mm - 100 mm.
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EDITING A LABEL Press the key. The Style screen is displayed. Select an attribute using the key, and then set a value for that attribute using the key. Press the key. The Barcode Setup screen is displayed. Select an attribute using the key, and then set a value for that attribute using the key.
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• Press the key to return to the previous step. • On the Style and Barcode Setup screens, press the key to return the selected attribute to the default value. • Refer to the Templates table for a list of available templates. •...
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EDITING A LABEL Templates Attribute Value Details Binder Spine (18 mm x 219 mm) File Folder Tab (12 mm x 82 mm) Divider Tab (Hanging Folder) (12 mm x 42 mm) Asset Tag (18 mm x 70 mm) Bin Box (18 mm x 76 mm) Template Name Equipment Label...
Attribute Value Details CD Case Spine 1 (6 mm x 113 mm) CD Case Spine 2 (3.5 mm x 113 mm) Template Name VHS Spine (18 mm x 140 mm) MiniDV Spine (9 mm x 42 mm) Using Block Layouts Press the key to display the Auto-Format screen, and then select "Block Layouts"...
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EDITING A LABEL Select an attribute using the key, and then set a value for that attribute using the key. Press the key to set the selected attribute to the default value. Press the key. The block layout text entry screen is displayed. Caps mode can be used when entering text.
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Block Layouts Attribute Value Details 2LineA 2LineB 3Line 1+2LineA Block layout (18 mm tape) 1+2LineB 1+3Line 1+4Line 1+5Line 2LineA 2LineB Block layout (12 mm tape) 3Line 1+2Line Using Auto-Format Layouts...
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EDITING A LABEL Attribute Value Details 2LineA Block layout 2LineB (9 mm tape) 1+2Line Block layout 1+2Line (6 mm tape) Using Auto-Format Layouts...
Creating a Barcode Label Using the Barcode function you can create labels with barcodes for use with cash registers, stock control systems or other barcode reader systems, or even asset control tags used in an asset management system. • The P-touch is not designed exclusively for creating barcode labels. Always check that barcode labels can be read by the barcode reader.
EDITING A LABEL Barcode Settings Attribute Value CODE39, CODE128, EAN8, EAN13, EAN128, Protocol UPC-A, UPC-E, I-2/5, CODABAR Large Width Small Under# (characters printed below barcode) C.Digit (check digit) (only available for the CODE39, I-2/5 and CODABAR protocols) Entering Barcode Data Press the key.
• Press the key to return to the previous step. • Refer to the Special Characters List table for a list of all available settings. Special Character List CODE39 CODABAR Code Special Character Code Special Character (SPACE) CODE128, EAN128 Code Special Character Code Special Character Code Special Character (SPACE) FNC3 FNC2...
EDITING A LABEL Code Special Character Code Special Character Code Special Character Editing and Deleting a Barcode • To edit the barcode data position the cursor beneath either of the barcode marks on the data entry screen and then open the Barcode Input screen. Refer to "Entering Barcode Data"...
LABEL PRINTING Label Preview Using the Preview function you can check the layout of the label before printing it onto the label. Press the key. An image of the label is displayed on the screen. The length of the label is shown in the lower-right corner of the screen.
LABEL PRINTING Printing a Single Copy Make sure that the appropriate tape cassette is inserted and ready for printing. Press the key. The message shown on the right is displayed while the label is being printed. To stop printing, press the key to turn off the P-touch.
Auto-numbering Labels Using the numbering function you can create a set of sequentially numbered labels from a single label format. Make sure that the appropriate tape cassette is inserted and ready for printing. Hold down the key and press the key to display the print options screen, and then select "Numbering"...
LABEL PRINTING • Press the key to return to the previous step. • Unless set otherwise, the tape is automatically cut after each copy is printed. Refer to "Tape Cutting Options" on page 53 to change this setting. • The figures shown on the screen during printing indicate the "count / number of copies". •...
• Press the key to return to the previous step. • Text should be printed on clear tape when using the mirror printing function. • The copy and auto-numbering functions cannot be used together with the mirror printing function. Tape Cutting Options The tape cutting options allow you to specify how the tape is fed and cut when printing labels.
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LABEL PRINTING Tape Cutting Setting Description Example Automatically cuts the tape after each label is Large printed. The labels have a 24 mm margin on Margin 24 mm 24 mm the left and right ends. • When printing labels one at a time: 23 mm It automatically cuts a piece of blank tape before printing the label, and then cuts the...
Adjusting the Label Length Accuracy You can adjust the accuracy of the printed label length in increment of -5 to +5. Press the key to display the setup menu, select "Adjust Length" using the key, and then press key. Select "Adjust Length" by using the key, and then set the value by using the key.
USING THE FILE MEMORY You can store up to 9 of your most frequently used labels in the file memory. Each label is stored as a file, allowing you to quickly and easily recall your label when needed again. • When the file memory is full, each time you save a file you will need to overwrite one of your stored files.
Opening a Stored Label File Press the key to display the File screen. Select "Open" using the key. Press the key. The file number of a stored label is displayed. The label text is also displayed to identify the label. Select a file number using the key, and then press the...
USING THE FILE MEMORY Printing a Stored Label File Press the key to display the File screen. Select "Print" using the key. Press the key. The file number of a stored label is displayed. The label text is also displayed to identify the label. Select a file number using the key, and then press the...
Deleting a Stored Label File Press the key to display the File screen. Select "Delete" using the key. Press the key. The file number of a stored label is displayed. The label text is also displayed to identify the label. Select a file number using the key, and then press the...
MAINTAINING YOUR P-touch Resetting the P-touch You can reset the internal memory of your P-touch when you want to clear all saved label files, or in the event the P-touch is not working properly. Turn off the machine and then while holding down , press turn the machine back on.
Cleaning the Tape Cutter Tape adhesive can build up on the cutter blade after repeated use, taking the edge off the blade which may result in the tape jamming in the cutter. About once every year, wipe the cutter blade using a cotton swab moistened with alcohol.
TROUBLESHOOTING What to do when... Problem Cause Solution The screen ‘locks’, or Refer to "Resetting the P-touch" on page 60 and reset the the P-touch does not internal memory to the initial settings. If resetting the P-touch respond properly. does not solve the problem, disconnect the AC adaptor and remove the batteries for more than 10 minutes.
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Problem Cause Solution The LCD messages Is the language set Refer to "Setting Language are displayed in properly? and Unit" on page 24 and foreign language. select the desired language for the LCD messages. The label is not Is the tape cassette installed When installing a cassette, printed correctly.
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TROUBLESHOOTING Problem Cause Solution The label is not cut Is Cut Option set to Chain or When these options are set, automatically. No Cut? the tape is not fed after printing the label. Check the Cut Option setting, or hold down the key and press key to feed and...
Error Messages When an error message appears on the display, follow the directions provided below. Press any key to clear the error message. Message Cause/Remedy The installed batteries are getting weak. The installed batteries are about to run out. Replace with new batteries or connect the AC adaptor before continuing.
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TROUBLESHOOTING Message Cause/Remedy There are more than two lines of text when you press the key while using 9 mm or 6 mm tape. Limit the number of lines to two, or change the tape cassette to a larger one. There is more than one line of text when you press the key while using 3.5mm tape.
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Message Cause/Remedy The value entered for setting the tape length, tab length, multiple copies, or numbering function is invalid. Enter a valid value for the setting. The tape length is shorter than the total margin length set in the "Large Margin" cutting option. The length of the label to be printed using the text entered is longer than the length setting.
APPENDIX Specifications Main Unit Item Specification Input Device (Keyboard) 65-key, QWERTY layout keyboard Display Display device Dot matrix LCD Character display 16 characters x 3 lines (128 dot x 48 dot) *line indicator and 15 characters = 16 characters Back light display Printing Print method Thermal printer...
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Item Specification Memory Memory size Maximum 1800 characters File storage Maximum 9 files Other Features Frame Total of 16 frame patterns (including shaded pattern) Auto-Format Templates: 14 Block layouts: 18 mm : 8, 12 mm : 4, 9 mm : 3, 6 mm : 1 Screen contrast 5 levels (+2, +1, 0, -1, -2) Power Supply...
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APPENDIX ® Operating Environment: Windows Item Specification ® ® Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional/XP/ Windows Vista ® Memory Windows 2000 Pro, XP: 128MB or more required Windows Vista : 512MB or more Hard disk 70MB or more required Monitor SVGA High colour graphics support or higher Interface USB Port (USB specification 1.1 or later protocol) Other...
Accessories Brother recommends the use of genuine Brother accessories (tape cassettes, AC adaptor, etc.) with your P-touch. The use of other products may effect the print quality or may damage your P-touch. Availability of accessories subject to change without notice. Also, the availability of accessories may vary in different countries.
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APPENDIX Stock No. Description TZ-232 Red characters on white tape TZ-233 Blue characters on white tape TZ-334 Gold characters on black tape TZ-335 White characters on black tape TZ-431 Black characters on red tape TZ-435 White characters on red tape TZ-531 Black characters on blue tape TZ-535...
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Non-laminated tapes (length: 8 m) Stock No. Description 18 mm TZ-N241 Black characters on white tape TZ-N641 Black characters on yellow tape 12 mm TZ-N231 Black characters on white tape TZ-N631 Black characters on yellow tape 9 mm TZ-N221 Black characters on white tape 6 mm TZ-N211 Black characters on white tape...
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APPENDIX Flexible ID tapes (length: 8 m) Flexible laminated tapes ideal for labelling network cables, electrical wires, etc. Stock No. Description 18 mm TZ-FX141 Black characters on clear tape TZ-FX241 Black characters on white tape TZ-FX641 Black characters on yellow tape 12 mm TZ-FX131 Black characters on clear tape...
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Iron-on fabric tapes (length: 3 m) These fabric labels can be affixed to other fabric using an iron. Stock No. Description 12 mm TZ-FA3 Blue characters on white tape TZ-FAE3 Blue characters on pink iron-on fabric tape TZ-FA53 Blue characters on blue iron-on fabric tape TZ-FA63 Blue characters on yellow fabric tape Acid free adhesive tapes (length: 8 m)
INDEX Accented Character List ....30 Return mark ........11 accented characters ......29 alignment ...........31 size ............31 Auto power-off time ......18 style ...........31 Symbol List ........28 Caps mode ........11, 25 symbols ..........27 contrast ..........23 cursor keys ........25 tape cassettes ........16 tape length ........11 deleting text text and formatting ....26...