Aligning forms in a dot-matrix printer for Lot Wizard

Although more and more forms can be printed in Lot Wizard using modern laser and ink jet printers, a dot-matrix or impact style printer may be required to print car deal forms. Not because of our software, but because your state government or a bank you finance with may require carbon copy multi-part forms. Modern printers like ink jet and laser printers do not strike paper to transfer output to the second or third layers on carbon copy forms. Older printers formally called "dot-matrix" are nicknamed impact printers because they do exactly that--impact the paper. This is required to transfer data to multiple layers of paper.

We recommend the Okidata 320/420 and 321/421 printers simply because our office is full of them. We have used the Okidata printers for years, and therefore, we have a great understanding of how they work with Windows computers. Other impact printers will work but we cannot offer support for these.

Read on to learn how to align forms in an Okidata printer while using Lot Wizard, or watch our video that demonstrates this process.

• Set the paper lever to TOP
• Position the left paper guide
• Insert the form into the printer correctly
• Follow the "Align on" instructions from Lot Wizard
• Fine tune with vertical and horizontal alignment controls

Set Paper Lever to "TOP"

If you have continuous-form paper in the path, press PARK to remove it before loading your documents.

1. Make sure the printer is on and the SEL light is off.
2. Place the paper lever in the position marked "TOP".

Position the left paper guide

• Slide the left paper guide so that there is an approximate 1/8" gap as shown:
  

Insert the form into the printer

• Make sure the left edge of paper is touching the left paper guide.
  

Follow the "Align on" instructions from Lot Wizard

• Make sure to take note of the alignment window which will instruct you where to align the form for proper printing. The printer has a red line on a clear piece of plastic that indicates the baseline position of the output. Lot Wizard's align on instruction will tell you which line to match up with this red marker.
  

Fine tune with vertical and horizontal alignment controls

If the print drifts above or below the line follow the procedure below:

1. Start the form you need to adjust from Step 6 Document Printing
2. Click OK on the options screen to get to the "Alignment Window"
   
3. Click on the "Alignment" button. The "Form Alignment Settings" window will open.
   
   • Use the Line Feed Drift Adjustment slide bar to align the print vertically.  For instance, if you are printing above the line, then move the bar down.  If you are printing below the line, then move the bar upwards.
   • Use the Horizontal Adjustment slide bar to align the print horizontally.  Using the same method as above, if it is printing too far left, then move the slide bar a little to the right. If it is printing too far right, then move the slide bar to the left.
4. Click "OK" once you have made your adjustments.
5. A new window asking if you wish to save the changes to your Defaults will appear. Click "Yes".

Print your document once again to view the adjustments. Use trial and error may come into play with aligning your forms perfectly, since printers and their environments vary with use.