Zebra printer "loses" labels (label data) when printer is paused
Background: I write VB6 programs that write ZPLII code to txt files. Then when the files are complete, in the program I copy the txt file to the LPT1 port/printer with this code:
Shell("CMD /CCOPY Lbl.txt LPT1", vbHide). This all works fine - have been doing this for years.
Now I have a need where I print label A, label B, label A, label B... These all need sent to the printer at one time. So I create a txt file, 66Kb in size and send it to the printer as stated above.
Here is the issue: If I let the labels print continously (64 labels), it prints fine and I get all 64 labels. However, where the labels are used they cannot do that. They assemble product, put on 2 labels, press pause button on printer, repeat. When it is done this way, they get around 30 labels and that is it. The printer "loses" the rest. I checked the file that is sent to the printer and it contains the code for all 64 labels. The printer has 16MB of memory so there is plenty of room to hold a 66Kb file.
I tried a test. I took the Lbl.txt file and opened a command prompt and typed "Copy Lbl.txt LPT1". The printer starts to print and then I press pause button on the printer after a couple labels. The Command prompt cursor is flashing, but it does not return to input mode to where you can type in another command. Then after a while it returns the message "The requested resource is in use. 0 file(s) copied."
Anyone have any idea how I can get the whole file into the printer so I don't not lose my labels?
thanks
Shell("CMD /CCOPY Lbl.txt LPT1", vbHide). This all works fine - have been doing this for years.
Now I have a need where I print label A, label B, label A, label B... These all need sent to the printer at one time. So I create a txt file, 66Kb in size and send it to the printer as stated above.
Here is the issue: If I let the labels print continously (64 labels), it prints fine and I get all 64 labels. However, where the labels are used they cannot do that. They assemble product, put on 2 labels, press pause button on printer, repeat. When it is done this way, they get around 30 labels and that is it. The printer "loses" the rest. I checked the file that is sent to the printer and it contains the code for all 64 labels. The printer has 16MB of memory so there is plenty of room to hold a 66Kb file.
I tried a test. I took the Lbl.txt file and opened a command prompt and typed "Copy Lbl.txt LPT1". The printer starts to print and then I press pause button on the printer after a couple labels. The Command prompt cursor is flashing, but it does not return to input mode to where you can type in another command. Then after a while it returns the message "The requested resource is in use. 0 file(s) copied."
Anyone have any idea how I can get the whole file into the printer so I don't not lose my labels?
thanks
eerwalters
I would break the labels up into print jobs of 2 labels per file instead of all 64 per file for at least troubleshooting purposes.
This is a printer issue--its been a long time since I dealt with a similar issue but there is a settings in the printer related to spooled jobs (front panel on printer--not windows setting for printer)
ASKER
It does the same the with single files. You get approximately 30 labels out of the printer before it "loses" the rest.
I agree "it is a printer isse". If I do a "COPY lbl.txt LPT1" in a command prompt, I get the same results.
Also, after the labels that are going to print stop printing, the green data light stays on solid and nothing else prints out.
I called Zebra support and sent my files to them to see if they can figure it out.
I agree "it is a printer isse". If I do a "COPY lbl.txt LPT1" in a command prompt, I get the same results.
Also, after the labels that are going to print stop printing, the green data light stays on solid and nothing else prints out.
I called Zebra support and sent my files to them to see if they can figure it out.
"the green data light stays on solid and nothing else prints out"
This is a good piece of information but for the life of me I can't tell you the exact solution--there is some buffer setting that the printer is either waiting for a certain amount of data before it will continue printing or waiting for a certain character to tell it the job is ended and to print what is has in its buffer. I hope my brain will bring it to the forefront but maybe you hearing this will spur you to it. Its been so long since I worked on dos based printing--used to print yellow pages with dos programs.
This is a good piece of information but for the life of me I can't tell you the exact solution--there is some buffer setting that the printer is either waiting for a certain amount of data before it will continue printing or waiting for a certain character to tell it the job is ended and to print what is has in its buffer. I hope my brain will bring it to the forefront but maybe you hearing this will spur you to it. Its been so long since I worked on dos based printing--used to print yellow pages with dos programs.
ASKER
I thought I about had it by using the DOS "PRINT" command.
PRINT /D:LPT1 C:\Lbl.txt
It is suppose to use some kind of spooling I guess. It does not generat an error, even after over a half hour. But the 1st print only printed 31 sets of labels out of 32 (62 labels) and one of the labels was only printed half way. On the 2nd print attempt, I only got 28 sets of labels and one time label A was followed by another label A with no lable B in between them.
I read online that you are suppose to be able to add buffer commands with the PRINT statement, but mine on XP rejects them. Also, in cmd prompt a PRINT/? only shows the destination and source as the only parameters for the command.
Really confused.
PRINT /D:LPT1 C:\Lbl.txt
It is suppose to use some kind of spooling I guess. It does not generat an error, even after over a half hour. But the 1st print only printed 31 sets of labels out of 32 (62 labels) and one of the labels was only printed half way. On the 2nd print attempt, I only got 28 sets of labels and one time label A was followed by another label A with no lable B in between them.
I read online that you are suppose to be able to add buffer commands with the PRINT statement, but mine on XP rejects them. Also, in cmd prompt a PRINT/? only shows the destination and source as the only parameters for the command.
Really confused.
Try to use LPR to send the file(s) to see if there are any differences
Step 1- Install LPR on the sending Windows PC (instructions for XP or Win7)
Step 2- Send the file using LPR
Step 1a - Enable LPR on the Windows 7 workstation(s) that will need to send the file
a- GoTo Start and type appwiz.cpl in the search box and hit Enter
b- Click on Turn Windows features on and off in the left pane
c- Click the + sign next to Print and Document Services
d- Enable the feature for LPR Port Monitor
e- Click OK
f- You may be prompted to Restart
Step 1b - Enable LPR on any Windows XP PC that will need to send the file
a- GoTo Start and type appwiz.cpl in the search box and hit Enter
b- Click on Add/Remove Windows Components in the left pane
c- Click on Other Network File and Print Services
d- Click on Details
e- Enable Print Services for UNIX
f- Click on OK
g- Click on Next
h- Click on Finish
i- Close the Add/Remove Programs window
Step 2 - Send the file to the Zebra printer with the following command
a- LPR -S printerIPaddress -P raw path\filename
example: LPR -S 192.168.1.10 -P raw c:\test\myfile.txt
Step 1- Install LPR on the sending Windows PC (instructions for XP or Win7)
Step 2- Send the file using LPR
Step 1a - Enable LPR on the Windows 7 workstation(s) that will need to send the file
a- GoTo Start and type appwiz.cpl in the search box and hit Enter
b- Click on Turn Windows features on and off in the left pane
c- Click the + sign next to Print and Document Services
d- Enable the feature for LPR Port Monitor
e- Click OK
f- You may be prompted to Restart
Step 1b - Enable LPR on any Windows XP PC that will need to send the file
a- GoTo Start and type appwiz.cpl in the search box and hit Enter
b- Click on Add/Remove Windows Components in the left pane
c- Click on Other Network File and Print Services
d- Click on Details
e- Enable Print Services for UNIX
f- Click on OK
g- Click on Next
h- Click on Finish
i- Close the Add/Remove Programs window
Step 2 - Send the file to the Zebra printer with the following command
a- LPR -S printerIPaddress -P raw path\filename
example: LPR -S 192.168.1.10 -P raw c:\test\myfile.txt
If eerwalters suggestion doesn't work then try to contact zebra and ask them what the code is for their printer for it to know that it has reached the end of the print job--once you have that you have to add that to the end of your print file so that data does not sit in the buffer.
ASKER
eerwalters, thanks for the suggestion, but I'm not ready to go to those extra measures to send a 66Kb file to a printer. It crazy that what should be such a simple process cannot be handled by the zebra printer. I may try to break it up into 2 files to see if that makes a difference.
I tested the "PRINT" command on a new Zebra 110xi4 printer and got the same results - only 28 sets of labels instead of 32 (short 8 labels).
Still waiting to hear back from Zebra support... (Turns out they had email trouble yesterday never got my files so I had to resend it today.)
I tested the "PRINT" command on a new Zebra 110xi4 printer and got the same results - only 28 sets of labels instead of 32 (short 8 labels).
Still waiting to hear back from Zebra support... (Turns out they had email trouble yesterday never got my files so I had to resend it today.)
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Keep the points, but just as an FYI, the LPR solution would have accomplished the same thing.
ASKER
This is what actually solved the issue and what I am using in production.