OT-sorta Zebra Label Printers

[Jim Asman]

--------------- Original Message ---------------
At 10:57P Sun Nov 13 2016, Frank Gemeinhardt via Filepro-list wrote:

> 
> Any one have success with printing from Filepro-lynux  to Zebra ZT410 Label 
printer?  Years ago JP helped me with something like this but I have lost 
> all the references and examples. This is becoming a BIG thing with food 
companies because of new Food Safety Law. Labels and tracking for everything. 

I have done many labels with zebra ZPL printers. The thing is that you have
to build the output in processing with ZPL code and the output format is very
simple populated with all the long variables built in processing, maybe a
or so, one per line. Consider that each element on a ZPL label will require
a positioning code, a font selection perhaps, a barcode selection, or maybe
a line or box drawing instruction. First step is to look at the ZPL manual.

I have done similar things with SATO and DataMatrix printers. You have to
learn the printer's internal language. You can maybe get the static parts of
the label into a bitmap and send that (in ZPL format) to the printer as an 
"overlay" sort of, and then add the code to put in the live fp data. The main
thing the printcode table would be used for is to download an init file.

In the past I have actually done the label design in PCL, converted that to
a bitmap and then to ZPL format. You can get very creative.

Start out with modest goals and build on it from there.


Jim 
--
jlasman at telus.net                      Spectra Colour Services Ltd.
Phone: (604)584-0977                   Surrey, BC  CANADA            
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