This Article Applies From:
CVI Fusion 6.21 | Infinity Client 6.21 | Infinity Module -- | Core Services -- | DeMeter -- | CVI Net Web -- |
Introduction
The following article explains how to integrate supported printer assets with Infinity Client. The main purpose of configuring a printer asset is to be used for label printing/reporting purposes.
Contents |
Supported Assets
Multiple specific printer makes/models are supported by Pivotware depending on how they can be connected and communicated with. The basic premise is that Pivotware supports the use of :
| Name | Description | Supported Connection Types | Supported File Types | Example Models |
| Zebra Printers | Printers supporting the use of Zebra programming language (ZPL). Generally these printers are made by Zebra. | RS232 | .zpl .epl | Zebra GK420d |
| Windows Supported Printers | Printers that can be installed on the Infinity Client device's Windows Operating system using a windows driver/specific driver installation. | USB Networked (TCP/IP) | .docx | Toshiba BFV4D |
Zebra Printers
Zebra Technologies are a vendor of real-time visibility products including barcode scanners, printers, mobile computers and other similar technologies.
In Infinity Client, we are able to communicate with defined Zebra printer assets using RS232 as a means of communication. We communicating, we send the contents of an imported .zpl file to the asset. The contents of this file should meet the required format for Zebra Programming Language and therefore be understood by the connected Zebra Printer device.
Windows Supported Printers
Windows Supported Printer is a much broader term relating to any printer that can be installed on the Infinity Client device's operating system directly. As a result, this means that the means of communication for this asset can be anything that Windows supports.
In Infinity Client, we communicate with a defined Windows printer asset by asking the local operating to print the file directly. Infinity Client attempts to send the contents of an imported .rtf file that can be created using a word processing application like Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.
Connecting Windows Printers to the Infinity Client Operating System
The method to do this is the same as if you wanted to install a printer for use by Microsoft Word or similar.
- With infinity client closed, install the printer-specific driver or use the device and printers menu to install your printer on to your device.
- To check that the device is installed successfully, open the "Devices and Printers" menu on the Infinity Client device.
- See if your printer is listed.
If the device is listed on "Devices and Printer" then it is likely that it can be used by Infinity Client.
Due to the varied specification of each printer that can be installed to Windows in this way we cannot guarantee all printers will behave the same way for all templates.
Fusion Configuration
- Inside of the asset manager facility, create a new asset.
- Set the Asset Type to "Printer".
- Choose a Vendor.
- See below for what the properties mean for each vendor available.
 | Fore more information about creating assets, please see here |
Zebra Printers
If you choose a Zebra as the 'Asset Vendor' then Infinity Client will try to send the ZPL data contained within the template file over RS232 to a device which understands Zebra Programming Language.
 | - Protocol = Defines how to communicate with the Zebra printer (can only be set to RS232). - COM Port = Defines which COM Port to use for the printer asset's RS232 communication. |
Windows Supported Printers
If you choose an "Other Printer" then Infinity Client will try to send a the template file to the local Windows Operating System to be printed using an installed printer driver.
 | - Protocol = Defines how to communicate with the printer asset (can only be set to System). - Use default printer = Defines whether to use the Windows default printer for step using this asset. - Printer Name = If default printer is not ticked, defines which installed printer to use for steps using this asset. |
Associating Printer Assets to Infinity Client
To find out how to associate an asset to an Infinity Client, see our article here
Configuring Action Printer Steps
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Creating Templates for Action Printer Steps
On activation of an Action Printer, an imported template is loaded by Infinity Client. Any placeholder found are filled with data defined in the configuration and then the finished file to be printed is sent to the defined asset.
The template can contain hardcoded information that never changes or it can contain variable which can alter from process to process.
Zebra Printers
Labels written in Zebra Programming Language(ZPL) can be made using multiple methods. If a user chooses, they can write ZPL directly into a text editor software like Notepad and save the text file with the extension .zpl.
See here for a guide to writing in ZPL:
https://www.zebra.com/content/dam/zebra/manuals/en-us/software/zpl-zbi2-pm-en.pdf
Alternatively a user can use the software called ‘ZebraDesigner 2’ to do a majority of the writing for them automatically. See here for a step-by-step guide on creating a label using this software.
- Download and install ZebraDesigner 2
https://www.zebra.com/us/en/products/software/barcode-printers/zebralink/zebra-designer.html
Creating Labels
- Open ZebraDesigner 2
- Select ‘Create a new label’:
- Choose the printer you want to use:
- Select one of predefined label formats. If you want to define label dimensions manually, select <NONE> and click “Next”.
- Define the page size:
- Select the label orientation:
- Set the label dimensions and then click finish:
- You should now have a blank label with your defined dimensions:
- Add any elements onto the label that you require until your finished label format:
Adding Text to your label design
- Click "Text"
- Click on your label design; the dialog seen here will appear:
- Ensure "Fixed text" is selected
- Enter the desired text to appear on your label
- You can define your font and other text options by clicking "Select…"
- Click Finish
Adding Barcodes to your label design
- Click "Text"
- Click on your label design; the dialog seen here will appear:
- Ensure "Fixed bar code data" is selected
- Enter the desired text to appear on your label
- You can define your barcode type and other barcode options by clicking "Define…"
- Click Finish
Exporting your template from Zebra Designer 2
- Select ‘File’
- Click ‘Print..’
- Check ‘Print to file’
- Click ‘Print’
- Save your label file with the file extension (.zpl) as shown in the example
- Open your file in a text editor such as Notepad or Notepad ++ and remove:
- The top line
- Any blank lines at the bottom of the file
Windows Supported Printers
Labels written for windows printers can be created in word processing software like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Wordpad and Apache Open Office. In Microsoft Word the process is like below:
- Download a free Barcode Font - Code 39 or Code 39
- Open Microsoft Word
- Create a new word document
- Enter any data you need into your design
- Select the variable and apply the barecode font
- Save your design as a .docx file.
Template Placeholders
When creating labels, you can create values surrounded by the percentage sign to indicate that this value is a placeholder and will be replaced by information to be defined in CVI Fusion configuration:
- Below you can see an example
Results 
Errors:
"Bad template error" might be caused by:
- Wrong type of template depending of the printer type.
- The "Print Spooler" is stopped and need to be restarted.