Programming Guide Volume Two: The X.10 Environment ZPL II Programming Guide Volume Two: The X.10 Environment Rev. 1 Customer Order # 45542L Manufacturer Part # 45542LB Proprietary Statement This manual contains proprietary information of Zebra Technologies Corporation. It is intended solely for the information and use of parties operating and maintaining the equipment described herein. Such proprietary information may not be used, reproduced, or disclosed to any other parties for any other purpose without the expressed written permission of Zebra Technologies Corporation. Product Improvements Continuous improvement of products is a policy of Zebra Technologies Corporation. All specifications and signs are subject to change without notice. Liability Disclaimer Zebra Technologies Corporation takes steps to assure that its published Engineering Specifications and Manuals are correct; however, errors do occur. 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Table of Contents CHAPTER ONE: Introduction to ZPL II The Zebra Programming Language II (ZPL II) .............................................................1 How ZPL II Differs from ZPL .......................................................................................1 Working with Examples.................................................................................................2 CHAPTER TWO: ZPL II Basics and Printer Configuration More Information on ZPL II ..........................................................................................5 Format Commands .........................................................................................................6 Control Commands ........................................................................................................7 Prefix Rules and Syntax for ZPL II Commands ............................................................7 An Example of a Basic Label.........................................................................................8 Zebra Fonts...................................................................................................................10 Understanding Bitmapped Font Magnification Factors...............................................10 Font Selection...............................................................................................................10 Proportional Spacing....................................................................................................11 Bitmap Font Size..........................................................................................................11 Differences Between Download Scalable Fonts and Bitmap Fonts.............................12 Downloadable Scalable Fonts ......................................................................................13 Bar Codes .....................................................................................................................14 Basic Format for Bar Codes.........................................................................................14 Bar Code Field Instructions..........................................................................................15 Further ZPL II Basic Concepts.....................................................................................18 Introduction to Device Names......................................................................................18 i ZPL II Programming Guide Volume Two: The X.10 Environment Introduction to ZPL II Object Names and Extensions .................................................19 Using Device and Object Names with ZPL II Instructions..........................................19 Printer Configuration....................................................................................................20 Print Mode....................................................................................................................22 Media Tracking ............................................................................................................22 Media Type ..................................................................................................................22 Media Darkness ...........................................................................................................23 Label Top Position .......................................................................................................23 Set Media Sensors ........................................................................................................23 Mode Protection ...........................................................................................................24 Reprint After Error.......................................................................................................24 Configuration Update...................................................................................................24 Set ZPL.........................................................................................................................24 Setting Up Customized Configuration Formats ..........................................................25 CHAPTER THREE: ZPL II Programming Exercises Introduction ..................................................................................................................27 EXERCISE 1: Saving Label Formats as Graphic Images............................................28 EXERCISE 2: Downloading and Printing Graphic Images.........................................31 EXERCISE 3: Printing Quantities of Labels, Printing Entire Labels in Inverted Orientation, Setting the Print Rate and Suppressing Backfeed....................................34 EXERCISE 4: Slew Command, Form Feed, Printing Entire Formats in Reverse.......36 EXERCISE 5:Using Serialized Fields .........................................................................40 EXERCISE 6: Stored Formats .....................................................................................42 EXERCISE 7: Erasing Stored Formats........................................................................46 CHAPTER FOUR: Advanced Techniques Special Effects for Print Fields.....................................................................................49 Reverse Printing a Field ...............................................................................................49 Reverse Printing a Label ..............................................................................................49 Printing a Mirror Image................................................................................................49 ii ZPL II Programming Guide Volume Two: The X.10 Environment Printing a Label Inverted 180 Degrees.........................................................................49 Serialized Data .............................................................................................................50 Variable Data ...............................................................................................................50 Stored Formats ............................................................................................................50 Initialize/Erase Stored Formats ....................................................................................51 Download Format Command.......................................................................................51 Field Number Command..............................................................................................51 Field Allocate ...............................................................................................................51 Recall Stored Format Command..................................................................................51 More Examples of Using Stored Format......................................................................52 Control Commands ......................................................................................................52 Test and Setup Commands...........................................................................................53