TAPE PRINTING APPARATUS

1 - 77 . (canceled)

78 . A tape printing apparatus comprising:

input means;

a display;

a processor arranged to control said display in response to an input received by said input means, said input means being arranged to permit a user to define a label having a predetermined length, said processor being arranged to determine if an image can be accommodated in said predetermined length and to cause the display to display a part of the image which cannot be accommodated in said predetermined length in a different way to that part of the image which can be accommodated in said predetermined length.

79 . A tape printing apparatus as set forth in claim 78 , wherein said different way of displaying said part of the image that cannot be accommodated in said predetermined length comprises at least one of a different coloured background, a reverse background, a different font or a flashing image.

80 . A tape printing apparatus as set forth in claim 78 wherein said display is configured to display said predetermined length.

81 . A tape printing apparatus as claimed in claim 78 , wherein when part of the image cannot be accommodated in said predetermined length a user is provided with the option of continuing or canceling printing.

82 . A tape printing apparatus as set forth in claim 78 , said tape printing apparatus having a patch panel mode, and when in said patch panel mode an area outside a label is displayed with a different appearance from areas within the label.

83 . A tape printing apparatus as set forth in claim 82 wherein a line is provided between an end of the label and the area outside the label.

84 . A tape printing apparatus as set forth claim 78 , wherein when a user inputs a label that is too big to be displayed on said display, scroll bars are provided on said display to enable a user to scroll around said image.

85 . A tape printing apparatus as set forth in claim 84 wherein a first scroll bar indicates which part of said image is displayed horizontally, and a second scroll bar indicates which part of said image is displayed vertically on said display.

86 . A tape printing apparatus as set forth in claim 78 , in which a cursor is provided which a user can move within the display.

87 . A tape printing apparatus as set forth in claim 78 in which the display further comprises an area providing text information to assist a user to create a label, and a further area displaying attribute information.

88 . A method comprising:

receiving an input defining a label having a predetermined length;

determining if an image can be accommodated in said predetermined length; and

causing a display to display a part of the image which cannot be accommodated in said predetermined length in a different way to that part of the image which can be accommodated in said predetermined length.

89 . A method as claimed in claim 88 wherein said different way of displaying said part of the image that cannot be accommodated in said predetermined length comprises at least one of a different colored background, a reverse background, a different font or a flashing image.

90 . A method as claimed in claim 88 comprising displaying in said display said predetermined length.

91 . A method as claimed in claim 88 further comprising providing a user with the option of continuing or canceling printing when part of the image cannot be accommodated in said predetermined length.

92 . A computer program arranged when executed to perform one or more of the steps of claim 88 .

93 . A computer readable medium including a computer program which is arranged when executed to perform one or more of the steps of claim 88 .