Control of dual printing mechanisms

1. A printing system comprising:

a printing device having first and second similar printing mechanisms;

first and second similar holding means for holding respective first and second rolls of label stock in a position to pass the first and second printing mechanisms respectively; and

a local processor connected to supply print data to a selected one of said first and second printing mechanisms and comprising means for receiving print data and a command for supplying said print data to the selected one of said first and second printing mechanisms to print an image on a label of the respective associated one of said first and second rolls of label stock, based on said command; and a host computer connected to the printing system and arranged to execute a common printer driver for supplying said print data and command to the printing device, regardless of which printing mechanism is selected; and

wherein the local processor is arranged to read an automatic code in the command received with said print data, and is configured on receipt of said automatic code to direct print data to the second printing mechanism when the first roll of label stock has expired.

2. A printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the printing device comprises a memory holding a status report representing the status of the printing device.

3. A printing system according to claim 2 , wherein said status report includes a printer empty indication which is set, if the selection code has been read, in the ease that the selected one of the first and second rolls is expired and, if the automatic code has been read when the second roll of label stock is expired, if the first roll has already expired and not been reloaded.

4. A printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the status report holds a reprint request indicator which causes a last label printed on the first roll to be reprinted as the first label of the second roll, if the automatic cod has been read.

5. A printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the host computer is arranged to execute a reprint monitor which organizes print data into complete labels and holds a last label to be printed so that such a last label can be reprinted in response to receipt of a set reprint request indicator.