Abstract: Plural types of fixed format data for printing on a label tape are previously stored in a ROM in a label printer. The label printer displays a menu for selecting a fixed format on a display section. A user operates a key input section to select a fixed format and then input character data. The input character data is printed on a label tape in accordance with a format based on selected fixed format data. Therefore, the printing apparatus can easily input data and prepare elaborate label tapes.

Abstract: Plural types of fixed format data for printing on a label tape are previously stored in a ROM in a label printer. The label printer displays a menu for selecting a fixed format on a display section. A user operates a key input section to select a fixed format and then input character data. The input character data is printed on a label tape in accordance with a format based on selected fixed format data. Therefore, the printing apparatus can easily input data and prepare elaborate label tapes.

Abstract: A plurality of types of format data items are stored in a format storage section according to the width of a label tape and the number of lines of print data. A tape width sensing section senses the width of the label tape. A control section senses the number of lines of print data. The control section reads from the format storage section a plurality of formats corresponding to the sensed label tape width and the number of lines of print data sensed, and displays them on a display section. The user selects a suitable one from the plurality of formats displayed. The control section causes a printing section to print the entered data on the label tape according to the selected format.

Abstract: In a data inputting apparatus, marks are represented in a matrix form on a surface of a cylindrical data drum. These marks are constructed of characters/symbols, character ornamentation symbols, and character type designation symbols. The data drum is rotated by manipulating a knob to select a mark row containing a desired mark in correspondence with a data selection window, and also the marks present in this selected mark rows are selected in unit of column by operating column selecting keys, thereby selecting a single desired mark. A selection signal of the desired data corresponding to the above-described desired mark is produced by selecting these row and column of the marks. When this selection signal corresponds to the character/symbol mark, data about this character/symbol mark is read out from a font ROM employed in the data inputting apparatus.