Brother Ql500 Owners Manual

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QUICK START GUIDE
English
[
Getting Started]
Printed in China
LB9213001
www.brother.ca
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Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the QL-500.
Your new QL-500 is a label printer that connects to your personal computer, enabling you to quickly and easily print professional custom labels that you 
have created on your personal computer using the label editing software provided.
This guide briefly describes the steps to start using your QL-500.
Refer to the Users Guide for more detailed information. The Users Guide can be found in the Manuals folder of the CD-ROM included with the QL-500.
Press the ON/OFF button to turn the 
QL-500 off. Hold the DK Roll 
compartment cover at the sides near 
the front of the QL-500 and firmly lift 
up to open the cover.
Place the spool into the 
spool guides in the DK 
Roll compartment.Lift the label lever and then thread 
the end of the DK Roll into the 
slot immediately before the cutter.
Lower the label lever and then close 
the DK Roll compartment cover.
Connect the AC power cord to the QL-500 and then plug the power supply cord into a standard electrical 
outlet.
• Check that the electrical outlet is 120 V before inserting the plug.
• Remove the power supply cord from the electrical outlet after you have finished using the QL-500.
• Do not pull the cord when removing it from the electrical outlet. The wire in the cord may become damaged.
Check that the package contains the following 
before using your QL-500. If any item is missing 
or damaged, please contact your Brother dealer.
Unpacking Your QL-500
The installation procedure differs depending on the operating system running on your personal computer. Refer to the 
installation procedure for the appropriate operating system to install the software.
Installing the SoftwareConnecting to the Power Supply
Your QL-500 comes with a paper guide that collects strips of printed labels 
that have not been cut off from the machine. 
Attach the paper guide to the front of the QL-500 as shown in the 
figure.
Installing the Paper Guide Installing the DK Roll
When using Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional/XP (Home/Professional)
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Start up the PC and put the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM 
drive.
The QL-series Installer starts up and the P-touch Setup screen 
is displayed.
•It may take a short time to display the screen.
•If it does not start up automatically, double click the “Setup.exe” 
icon on the CD-ROM.
If you are happy with you settings, click [Next].
•It may take some time to display this screen.
•If it is not set correctly, click [Back] and set it again.
The Add-In settings screen is displayed.
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Click [Next].
The installation of the driver is completed, the User Registration 
screen is displayed.10
Read the license agreement carefully. If you agree with the 
terms and conditions of the license agreement, click [Yes] 
to continue the installation.
The Customer Information screen is displayed.
Click [Next].
The Add shortcut screen is displayed.
To instaIl to a different folder click [Browse] and select another 
folder.
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USB cable
CD-ROM
Starter roll
Front
Back
FEED button
LED lamp
ON/OFF button CUT lever DK Roll compartment cover
AC Power cord
USB port
·Make sure that the 
spool arms are 
inserted firmly in the 
spool guides on the 
left and right.
·Insert the spool with 
the DK Roll located 
on the right hand 
side of the QL-
 500.
When unable to thread the end of the DK Roll 
into the slot, thread it as far as possible, then 
lower the label lever and close 
the cover. Press the ON/OFF 
button to turn the QL-500 on, 
and then press the FEED 
button to set the roll.
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See the reverse side for an example of creating a label. See the reverse side for an example of creating a label.
Paper guideCleaning Sheet QL-500
The QL-500 includes one starter roll 
of DK Die-cut Standard Address 
Labels (100 labels).Do not connect the QL-500 to your 
personal computer until directed to do so 
when installing the printer driver.
• Quick Start Guide
• DK Label & Tape Guide
• Warranty Card
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Safety Precautions
•Do not expose the QL-500 to direct sunlight.
•Do not place or store the QL-500 near heaters or other hot appliances, in any location exposed to extremely high or low temperatures, high humidity or dusty 
locations. Doing so could cause the machine to malfunction.
•Do not place any heavy objects containing water on top of the QL-500. If water or any foreign object enters the QL-500, immediately disconnect the machine 
from the power and contact your Brother dealer.
•Do not insert any objects into or block the label output slot, or USB port.
•Use only the authorized power source for the QL-500.
•Do not disassemble the QL-500 or let it come into contact with water to avoid possible fire or electric shock. Do not remove the power cord from nor insert it into 
the electrical outlet with wet hands. Doing so could cause an electrical shock.
•If the QL-500 will not be used for an extended period, remove the power cord from the electrical outlet.
•Always hold the plug when removing the power cord from or inserting it into the outlet. Do not pull on the cord when removing it from the electrical socket. 
The wire in the cord may become damaged. 
•You should position the QL-500 near an easily accessible, standard electrical socket.
•Do not connect the QL-500 to your personal computer until directed to do so when installing the printer driver.
•To prevent injury from a broken cutter blade and unit, follow these points: Close the top cover when 
operating the cutter unit.
Do not  apply excessive pressure to the cutter unit.
When the cutter blade has difficulty cutting the label, replace the existing cutter unit with a new one.
If the cutter blade should break off, unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet and remove the 
cutter unit carefully with tweezers so you do not touch the blade. 
•If a paper jam should occur due to a build up of adhesive on the paper guide surface, unplug the 
power cord from the electrical outlet and wipe away the adhesive buildup on the paper guide surface 
with a cloth dipped in ethanol or isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol.  It is recommended that you clean the 
paper guide when replacing the cutter unit. 
•The average number of cuts is 5,000 or more depending on the operating environment. Difficulty 
cutting, the inability to cut straight, or frequent paper jams may indicate that the cutter life is near the 
end.  Replace the cutter if these conditions occur. 
•The last label on the DK roll is not attached to the core. 
As a consequence, the last label may not be cut correctly, however this does not indicate a problem with the QL-500 printer. 
Should there be a problem with the last label, remove any existing labels, insert another DK Roll and re-print. 
Each roll contains a few more labels than stated. 
Paper guide surface
Click “Standard 
Installation”.
The preparation for 
installing the software 
starts and the License 
Agreement screen is 
displayed.
Each button selects the 
following operations.
Standard Installation
P-touch Editor 4.2, P-touch Address Book 1.0, Printer Driver, 
and Users Guide are all installed.
Custom Installation
P-touch Editor 4.2, P-touch Address Book 1.0, Printer Driver, 
and Users Guide can be installed individually.
Show Users Guide
The Software Users Guide PDF manual can be viewed without 
actually installing the QL-500 software.
Install Acrobat Reader
“Adobe
® Acrobat® Reader®” can be installed so that you can 
view the Software Users Guide (PDF Manual).
Adobe
® Acrobat® Reader® 5.1 will be installed. If you have a 
later version already installed you do not have to install it.
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Click [Finish].
The software installation is now complete. Connect the printer 
to complete the driver installation.
When the installation is complete, you may be prompted to reboot 
the PC. To restart the PC, select “Restart” and click [Finish].
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Select if you want to register your printer and then [Next].
•If you select “Yes, display the page”, you will be directed to 
the online user registration page. After user registration, 
continue with the installation (registration is recommended).
•If you select “No, do not display the page”, the installation will 
continue.11
Starting up the installed software.
•When starting P-touch Editor, click [Start] - [All Programs 
(Programs)] - [Brother Ptouch] - [P-touch Editor 4.2].
•When starting P-touch Address Book, click [Start] - [All 
Programs (Programs)] - [Brother P-touch] - [P-touch Address 
Book 1.0].13
Check the box for each 
Microsoft® Office® 
application that you 
want to install the Add-
in for, then click [Next].
Make sure that you 
have closed all 
Microsoft
® Office® 
applications.
For details on Add-In 
setting, See the 
“Software Users Guide 
(PDF Manual)”.
The Driver Setup (Brother P-touch) screen is displayed.
Industry Canada Compliance Statement (Canada Only)
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
When using Mac OS® X
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The Pre-Installation 
Summary screen is 
displayed.
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Click [Next].You can choose which 
programs are installed. 
Uncheck any programs that 
you do not want to install.
The Choose Alias Folder 
screen is displayed.
Check the content and click [Continue].
The License agreement screen is displayed.
When continuing the installation, click [Agree].
The Select a Destination screen is displayed. Start up your Mac
® and put the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.
The QL-Series screen is displayed.
If it does not start up automatically, double click the QL-Series (CD-ROM) 
icon.
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Click [Install].
The screen in which the name and password of the administrator is 
now displayed.
Input the “Name” and the “Password” of the administrator and 
click [OK].
The screen to check the installation is displayed.
When continuing the installation, click [Continue Installation].
The installation starts.13
Select the destination you 
want to install, and click 
[Continue].
The Easy Install screen is 
displayed.
Select the drive where the 
Mac OS® X is installed.
When the installation is completed and the message “The 
software was successfully installed” is displayed, click [Restart].
Your Mac® will restart.
The installation of the printer driver is now complete.
Connect the USB cable to the USB port of the Mac
®.
Press the ON/OFF button (   ) of the printer to turn on the power.
If you are using a USB hub and your Mac® has problems recognizing the 
printer, try connecting the printer directly to your Mac®.
Double click the drive where Mac OS® X is installed, and click in
order [Applications]-[Utilities]-[Printer Setup Utility (Print Center)].
The Printer List screen is displayed.
When the Printer List screen is displayed, click [Add].
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After rebooting, connect the USB cable to the printer.
Remove the caution label before connecting the USB cable.
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Click  [USB], “QL-500” and 
[Add].
The screen returns to Printer 
List screen.
Click [Add] (Add Printer).
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You can start using your Brother QL-500.
Double click the drive where P-touch Editor is installed, click in 
order [Applications] - [P-touch Editor 3.2] and double click 
P-touch Editor 3.2 icon. P-touch Editor will start. 
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Check the content and click [Next].
The Important Information screen is displayed.
Check the content and click [Next].
Click [Install].
The installation starts.
When the installation is complete, click [Done].
The software installation is now complete.
Next, install the printer driver.
Click [Continue].
The Important Information screen is displayed.
Click [Continue].
The Software License Agreement screen is displayed.
Select the location where you want to create the alias, and click 
[Next]. Click the [Mac OS X] folder and double click [P-touch Editor 3.2 
Installer].
P-touch Editor 3.2 Installer starts up and the Introduction 
screen is displayed.
Double click [QL-Series Driver.pkg] in [Mac OS X] folder.
The Driver Installer starts up and the Driver Setup 
screen is displayed.
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Enter your user name 
and company name, 
then click [Next].
The Choose the 
Destination Location 
screen is displayed.
Check the locations 
where you want the 
installer to add the 
program shortcuts and 
click [Next].
The Start Copying Files 
screen is displayed.
Click [OK] on the Driver Setup (Brother P-touch) screen 
to start the installation.
See the reverse side for an example of creating a label. See the reverse side for an example of creating a label. 
						

							QUICK START GUIDE
[
Creating Labels]
English
Printed in China
LB9213001
www.brother.ca
Click on        to print your label.
This section describes the general procedure for creating labels using your QL-500.
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Shown above are a few of the type of labels you can create with the 
QL-500.Select an appropriate DK Roll for the label you have in mind, and insert the DK Roll in the QL-500.  
Separate DK Roll purchase may be necessary.Enter text directly using P-touch Editor, or copy text from a Microsoft® Office® application.
Use P-touch Editors variety of editing functions to format and decorate your label.Print the label from the QL-500.
Learn the basic workflow of P-touch Editor while creating a general label.
Creating an Address Label using P-touch Editor Label Creation Outline
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Click [Start] - [All Programs (or Programs)] - [Brother P-
touch] - [P-touch Editor 4.2]. Select New Layout in the 
dialog box displayed, and then click              .Click         on the Page Property box.
If the required Property box is not displayed in the 
Property dock, click the corresponding button at the 
left of the dock to open it.Click       in the Object dock to create a text box, and then 
enter the text.
You can use the Text Property box to select options for 
formatting the text.Click       in the Object dock.
The Frame Properties dialog box appears. Select a frame 
and then click              .Click                 in the Print Property box.
If the required Property box is not displayed in 
the Property dock, click the corresponding button 
at the left of the dock to open it.Peel the printed label from the backing and 
apply the label.
Choose the type of label you want to create.
Start P-touch Editor and create a new label layout.Select the label size. Enter the text. Add a frame to the label. Print the label.
Completed label
Select the DK Roll. Edit the label data. Print the label.
Copy text from Microsoft Word and create an address label.
Creating an Address Label using Microsoft Word Add-In
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In MS Word, select the text to be imported, and then 
click       in the toolbar.
Text can also be copied from MS Excel and MS 
Outlook.The Add-in Preview Window appears. Verify the 
contents. To make formatting changes click        .
Changes to the layout of a label can also be made 
using the Layout Style Function.  For details refer to 
IV  step 2 below.
Click the text box of the text you wish to format to select it.
Use the Text Property box to change the text formatting.Select the text box you wish to move, then drag and drop 
to move it to the desired position.Click                in the Print Property box.If the required Property box is not displayed in the Property dock, 
click the corresponding button at the left of the dock to open it.
Peel the printed label from the backing and 
apply the label.
Copy text. Verify the copied data.
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Format the text. Position the text box. Print the label.
Completed label
Peel the printed label from the backing and 
apply the label.
Completed label
Create a banner using DK Continuous Durable Paper Tape.
Creating a Banner Label
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Insert the DK Continuous Durable Paper Tape 62 mm 
into the QL-500. Start P-touch Editor and create a new label layout.
Use the tape length spin buttons in the Page Property box 
to set the banner length.Click      in the Object dock to create a text box, and then 
enter the text. Click       in the Object dock.
The Clip Art Gallery dialog box appears. Select a piece 
of clip art and then click             .Click                in the Print Property box.
If the required Property box is not displayed in 
the Property dock, click the corresponding 
button at the left of the dock to open it.Peel the printed label from the backing and 
apply the label.
Insert the DK Roll. Select the Tape Length.Enter the text. Add clip art to the banner. Print the label.
Completed label
Create a name badge label quickly and easily using the Auto Format Wizard.
Creating a Name Badge Label using Auto Format Wizard function
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Start P-touch Editor, select Use the Auto Format Wizard 
in the dialog box displayed, and then click              .
This label cannot be created using the Starter Roll(s) provided with the 
QL-500.
The Auto Format Wizard dialog box appears. Select 
a category For Visitor Name Badges and then click
            .A list of templates for the selected category appears. 
Select a template and then click             .Change the text in the templates Input field.
Use the                 and                buttons to move between 
Input fields.
Click              when finished.Check the Print Immediately After Creating the 
Layout checkbox, and then click             .Peel the printed label from the backing and 
apply the label.
Start the Auto Format Wizard. Select a category. Select a template. Enter the text. Print the label.
Completed label Create an address label using data from Microsoft Outlook, taking advantage of the Layout Style Function.
Creating an Address Label using Microsoft Outlook Add-In
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The Add-in Preview Window appears. Verify the contents. 
To change the style, click         . In Microsoftted, and then click      in the Toolbar. The Add-In Preview Window appears. Verify the Layout.
If further editing is required, enter the P-touch Editor 
by clicking        . Refer to step 2 of 
III.Click             to print your label.
If the contact does not have a Job Title, there 
may be a blank space before the address. Use 
P-touch Editor to change any formatting.Peel the printed label from the backing and 
apply the label.
Select a Layout style.Verify the copied data.Copy the text from MS Outlook - Contacts.Verify the Layout. Print the label.
Completed label
• Enter text in P-touch Editor.• Copy text from Microsoft® Office®.
The Apply Layout Style Window appears.
Select the Standard_Address_02 layout and click
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DK Continuous 
Durable Paper 
Tape 62 mm