[Erp5-dev] [HOWTO] Zebra printers usage in ERP5 with example BT

[Lukasz Nowak]

Hello,

In our company we are using Zebra printers [http://www.zebra.com/], which are 
using ZPL-II tag-language to print varouis kinds of labels: product labels, 
inventory stickers, packing lists.

This short how-to and attached exmaple BT will show, how to connect and use 
such printer directly from ERP5 system.

I wonder if it would be good, to put this information in wiki, but I do not 
want to do it without Nexedi permission.

How to create a ZPL template?

1. Open Zebra Designer and create a new label
2. Edit your label in any way you want - add text, frames, images and barcodes
3. Print the label to file - the label will be saved in the text file

Attached BT do have pre-prepared BT which demonstrates basics of ZPL.
For more information about ZPL please read 'ZPL II Programming Guide', which 
is avaiable online on Zebra's site.

How to use demo template?

1. Install ERP5 (based on erp5_xhtml_view) and erp5_base.
2. Install ventis_zebra_gpl.
3. Restart Zope.
4. Set preferences for Zebra printer and activate them.
5. Navigate to portal_skins/ventis_zebra_gpl/ZPLPrintExampleSticker_form
6. Choose amount of copies, type some text and print labels.
7. They will be send to printer.

Some technical information

This BT is connecting to Zebra printer via FTP port and its sending pure ZPL 
information. While creating ZPL templates you may set print quality and so 
on. As its shown, images could be attached to template. Then this template 
shall be put as Page Template in Zope instance and can be 'TALed'.

This example was tested on Zebra Z4Mplus printer, but should also work 
on other ZPL network enabled printers.

Have fun,
Luke

-- 
Łukasz Nowak R&D Ventis http://www.ventis.com.pl/
tel: +48 32 392 10 60 int 37 fax: +48 32 392 10 61
https://ssl.ventis.com.pl/keys/lukasz.nowak.pub.asc
``Use the Source, Luke...''
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: ventis_zebra_gpl.bt5
Type: application/x-gzip
Size: 7753 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mail.tiolive.com/pipermail/erp5-dev/attachments/20061005/c9b7ca20/attachment.bin>