Brother PT-1230PC User Manual

Getting Ready

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for choosing the PT-1230PC. Your new P-touch labeler uses P-touch Editor Lite software, which is already installed on your labeler.  
There is no need to install any software or drivers onto your PC in order to make creative labels. This manual includes important precautionary 
information and simple instructions for operating your new P-touch labeler. Be sure to read the instructions before use and use the product in 
accordance with these instructions.  Keep this manual handy for future reference. If new versions of the PT-1230PC software become available, 
this manual may not re

fl

 ect the updated features.  Therefore, you may 

fi

 nd that the software and the contents in this guide are different. 

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Declaration of Conformity (For USA Only)

Responsible Party: Brother International Corporation 100 Somerset Corporate Boulevard Bridgewater, NJ 08807-0911 USA

TEL: (908) 704-1700

declares that the product: Product Name: P-touch Labeler PT-1230PC

Model Number: PT-1230PC

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful 
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These 
limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and 
can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio 
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful 
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to cor-
rect the interference by one or more of the following measures:

- 

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

- 

Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

- 

Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

- 

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

-

 Changes or modi

fi

 cations not expressly approved by Brother Industries, Ltd. could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

-

 The enclosed interface cable should be used in order to ensure compliance with the limits for a Class B digital device.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

WARNING

CAUTION

General Precautions

• Always use the speci

fi

 ed voltage and the suggested AC adapter (AD-24ES) for this machine to prevent any damage or failure.

• Unplug the power cord immediately and stop using the P-touch labeler during an electrical storm. There may be a remote risk of electric shock from lightning.
• Do not use the AC adapter in places of high humidity such as bathrooms.
• Do not overload the power cord.
• Do not place heavy objects on, or damage the power cord or plug. Do not forcibly bend or pull the power cord. When disconnecting the power cord from the power outlet, al-

ways hold the plug.

• To prevent 

fi

 re or electric shock, make sure that the plug is fully inserted to the power outlet. Do not use an outlet that is loose.

• Do not get the machine/AC adapter/power plug wet, such as by handling them with wet hands or spilling beverages on to them.
• Do not disassemble or modify P-touch labeler/AC adapter/batteries.
• Do not use metallic articles, such as tweezers or a metallic pen, when exchanging the batteries.
• Do not throw into 

fi

 re or heat up the battery.

• Disconnect the AC adapter, remove batteries and stop using immediately if you notice any abnormal odor, heat, discoloration, deformation or anything unusual while in use, or 

in storage.

• To avoid injuries, do not touch the blade of the cutter unit or any metal parts near the print head.
• Do not apply excessive pressure to the cutter lever.
• Remove the batteries and disconnect the AC adapter if you do not intend to use P-touch labeler for an extended period of time.
• Do not use old and new batteries together or mix alkaline batteries with other type batteries, or set the positive and negative end in the wrong position. Otherwise, the batter-

ies may leak or be damaged.

• To prevent damage or breakage, do not drop or hit P-touch labeler/AC adapter.
• Use only the USB cable included with the P-touch labeler.

• Depending on the location, material, and environmental conditions, the label may unpeel or become irremovable, the color of the label may change or be transferred to other 

objects. Before applying the label, check the environmental condition and the material.

• Do not use the P-touch labeler in any way or for any purpose not described in this guide. Doing so may result in accidents or damage the machine.
• Use only Brother TZ tapes with this machine. Do not use tapes that do not have the 

 mark.

• Do not clean P-touch labeler with alcohol or other organic solvents. Only use a soft, dry cloth.
• Do not touch the print head with your 

fi

 ngers anytime to prevent from a burn. Use a soft wipe (e.g. a cotton swab) when cleaning the print head.

• Do not put any foreign objects into the tape exit slot or AC adapter connector, etc.
• Do not place the P-touch labeler/battery in direct sunlight or rain, near heaters or other hot appliances, in any location exposed to extremely high or low temperatures (e.g. on 

the dashboard or in the back of your car), high humidity, or dusty locations.

• Do not try to print labels using an empty tape cassette in the P-touch labeler. Doing so will damage the print head.
• Do not pull the tape being fed from the P-touch labeler, otherwise the tape cassette or P-touch labeler may be damaged.

Open the cassette 
cover.

Insert a tape 
cassette.

Close the cassette 
cover.

Verify that the P-touch labeler is 
turned off. Open the cassette cover 
as shown by the arrow in the above 
illustration while pressing the part 
marked "<<".

Insert a TZ tape cassette as shown 
in the above illustration.

• Make sure that the end of the tape feeds under the tape 

guides.

• If the ink ribbon is loose, use your 

fi

 nger to wind the toothed 

wheel in the direction of the arrow on the cassette.

• Use only Brother TZ tapes with the P-touch labeler.
• For initial use of the tape, install the tape, press and hold the 

power/feed button to feed the tape. Then, push in the tape cut-
ter lever to cut the tape.

Connect the P-touch labeler's power supply.

Insert six new AAA alkaline batteries (LR03), 
making sure that their poles point in the 
correct directions. Always replace all six 
batteries at the same time using brand new 
ones.

Auto Power Off Function

When the P-touch labeler is operating on battery power only, 
it will turn off automatically if not used for a period of 20 min-
utes. The message “

Unsafe Removal of Device

” may be 

displayed depending on the Operating System running on 

your PC. Any data being displayed will be saved. When you 
turn the labeler back on, click on the Editor Lite icon to re-
sume creating your label.

Connect the USB cable and start P-touch Editor Lite.

Download and install the PT-1230PC’s 
driver and P-touch Editor 5.0 from Broth-
er’s website. Connect the P-touch labeler 
to your PC when requested during this 
installation.

For more information about install-
ing the software, visit http://solu-
tions.brother.com/

If you would like to use the more advanced software that is available for your P-touch labeler, 
you are able to download P-touch Editor 5.0 from the Brother web site.  This advanced soft-
ware will give you greater label making functionality.

Do not connect the P-touch labeler to your PC before you begin the P-touch Edi-

tor 5.0 installation.

Starting P-touch Editor 5.0

Start 
P-touch Editor 5.0.

• Double-click the short-

cut icon on the desktop 
(P-touch Editor 5.0).

• Click P-touch Editor 5.0 

under All Programs on 
the Start menu.

Use 
P-touch Editor 5.0.

If you have trouble using 
the software, refer to the 
help information available 
in P-touch Editor 5.0.

Review the names of P-touch labeler parts.

Install a TZ tape cassette.

The PT-1230PC has 2 mode selector settings - “EL” and “E”. The mode 
selector switch is pre-set at the factory to the EL mode, for use with 
P-touch Editor Lite. For E mode, you need to download P-touch Editor 5.0 
and the required drivers. For details on how to download the P-touch Edi-
tor 5.0, see “Starting P-touch Editor 5.0” below.

Connect the 

USB cable.

Turn on the P-touch labeler.

The LED lamp will light up.

Click 

Open folder to 

view 

fi

 les

.

It will take longer 

than usual to start 

P-touch Editor Lite when 
connecting P-touch la-
beler to your computer 
for the first time. If the 
software does not start 
automatically when you 
connect the machine, 
you may launch it from 

My Computer

. Start 

P-touch Editor Lite by 
d o u b l e - c l i c k i n g  

PTLITE10.EXE

.

For details on using 
P-touch Editor Lite, 
see the back of this 
sheet.

P-touch Editor Lite

starts immediately.

*Microsoft Windows and Windows Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States 

and other countries.

*The name of other software or products used in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of the 

respective companies that developed them.

When using the optional AC adapter 
(AD-24ES), insert the plug on the 
adapter cord into the adapter jack 
on the bottom end of the P-touch la-
beler. Insert the plug into the nearest 
standard electrical outlet.

Move the mode selector 
switch on the back of the 
P-touch labeler to the “E” 
position before connect-
ing the USB cable.

Do not turn off the power or remove the labeler while 
using P-touch Editor Lite.

How to disconnect the P-touch 

labeler

 Exit P-touch Editor Lite by clicking on the   at the top 

right.

 To disconnect the labeler, click the icon in the computer’s 

task bar ( ,  , or 

).

 Click 

Safely remove USB Mass Storage Device

.

 When 

The device can be safely removed

 is displayed, 

turn off the P-touch labeler and disconnect the USB ca-

ble.

Double-click 

PTLITE10

.

The following 
screens 
may differ 
depending on 
the Operating 
System on 
your PC.

LED lamp

Power/feed

button

Tape cutter 

button

Tape exit slot

AC adapter(optional) 

connecter

Mode selector 

switch

USB port

Print head

Tape cutter

Click 

P-touch Editor Lite.

E L E C T R

O N I C   L

E L E C T R

O N I C   L A

B E L I N G

  S Y S T E M

A B E L I N

G   S Y S T

E M

E L E C T R

O N I C   L A

B E L I N G

  S Y S T E M

USER’S GUIDE

USER’S GUIDE

English

Printed in China

LW5497001

USER’S GUIDE

www.brother.com

When using 
Windows Vista

®

When connecting the device for the 

fi

 rst time, perform the 

scan and then select the 

Always do this for software and 

games

 check box on the dialog box displayed when the 

scan completes. P-touch Editor Lite will start automatically 
the next time you connect the P-touch labeler.

PT1230PC_UG_US(EN).indd   1

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