Cognitive Advantage DLX, Printer Testing Guide (JAdmin Utility)

Go to cognitivetpg.com/support/downloads/ and, under the Utilities & Tools section, click JAdmin & Utilities to download the installer package.

• Once the download finishes, extract the package if needed.
• Open the JAdminStandalone folder in File Explorer.
• Locate the JAdminStandalone application file.

Right-click the JAdminStandalone file and select Run as administrator from the context menu.

Administrator rights are required for the installer to register the software correctly.

In the JAdmin Standalone installer window, check Enable Production Mode, then click Install. Wait while the installer extracts and installs the program files.

Part 2, Verify the Printer Port in Windows

Open Windows Print Management (printmanagement.msc), expand your print server, and select Printers. Locate Cognitive Advantage DLX DBD42 (203 dpi) in the list. If the printer shows an Error status with jobs queued, that queue will clear once the port and connection are confirmed in the steps below.

Right-click the printer and open Properties, then go to the Ports tab. Confirm that LPT3: Printer Port is checked and shows the Cognitive Advantage DLX printer as the assigned device. Click OK once confirmed.

Part 3, Test the Raw Connection with the Printer Test Harness

Browse to the installed JAdmin folder (for example, the x64 subfolder) and locate the JAdminNI-U application file. Double-click it to open the printer test harness, titled “cjay – printer test harness.”

Click Scan to detect connected devices, then select parallel:LPT3 from the dropdown list, this corresponds to the Cognitive Advantage DLX printer connected to LPT3.

With parallel:LPT3 selected in both dropdowns, click Connect to open the connection to the printer.

Once connected, the device appears in the list as 1: parallel:LPT3 [connected]. Click Test Label to send a test print job over the connection and confirm the printer receives data on LPT3.

Part 4, Connect Using CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator

Open CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator. On the Connection Settings tab, select Use Parallel Connection and choose LPT3 from the LPT Port dropdown. Click Connect.

The Printer Status banner at the top of the window turns green and reads Connected, confirming CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator has a live connection to the printer over LPT3.

Part 5, Run the Manufacturing Test

Go to the Manufacturing Test tab and click Start. When prompted, confirm the printer is powered on, the Power and Ready lights are green, and labels are loaded. Click OK to continue.

The test walks through Initial Setup, Firmware Load, and Printer Identification automatically. Watch the Ready light on the printer turn red, then green, then red again briefly, and finally steady green.

Once the light stays green for more than five seconds, click OK.

When the dialog reads Please raise the print-head and press OK, lift the print head on the printer, then click OK to continue the test.

When the dialog reads Please lower the print-head and press OK, close the print head back down, then click OK.

After the Print Quality test runs, the printer produces a sample label. Inspect it, and if the print quality is clear and acceptable, click Yes. If the print looks faded, streaked, or uneven, click No and check the print head, ribbon path, and darkness setting before re-running the test.

Once the sequence finishes, review the full results list on the right. Each stage, Initial Setup, Firmware Load, Printer Identification, Font Loading, CPR Download, Feed Button Test, Print-Head Test, Print Quality, and Final Settings, should read PASSED. Stages that don't apply to this connection type (such as Control Panel or Ribbon Wrinkle) will read SKIPPED, which is expected and not a failure.

Click Submit Logs to upload the test results, and click OK once the confirmation message reads Log upload completed successfully. This completes the printer testing procedure.

Final Installation Checklist

Before returning the printer to service, verify the following:

• JAdmin Standalone installed successfully with Production Mode enabled.
• The printer's port assignment (LPT3) is confirmed in Windows Print Management.
• The printer test harness (cjay) connects to parallel:LPT3 and sends a test label successfully.
• CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator shows a green Connected status over the parallel connection.
• The Manufacturing Test completes with all applicable stages showing PASSED.
• The test logs uploaded successfully.

Quick Troubleshooting Reference

• Printer shows an Error status with jobs queued in Print Management. Confirm the correct port (LPT3) is selected on the Ports tab (Step 6) and that the printer is powered on and connected. Clear the stuck queue once the connection is verified.
• Test harness or Printer Administrator can't connect to LPT3. Re-check the parallel cable connection, confirm no other application is holding the port open, and re-scan for devices (Step 8) before retrying Connect.
• Manufacturing Test fails or print quality is rejected. Check the print head is seated and latched correctly, confirm labels (and ribbon, if applicable) are loaded straight, and re-run the Manufacturing Test from Step 13.