Applies to version: 8.1 and above; Author: Wojciech Mleczko
WEBCON BPS supports barcodes as a method of identifying documents and workflow instances. Using barcodes allows to automate the process of scanning and registering paper documents. Stickers with barcodes simplify archiving documents, and based on barcode labels it is possible to quickly find the right workflow instance in the system. The main part of the configuration is preparing label templates.
1. How to create new template using Zebra Designer
Select ‘Create a new label’
Choose the printer you wish to use:
Select one of predefined label formats. If you wish to define label dimensions manually, select <NONE> and click “Next”.
Define the page size:
Select label orientation:
Set label dimensions and then click finish:
Blank label with defined dimensions:
To create a label template with two barcodes and information about the date and author, select elements from left menu. First add a text object. Select an appropriate icon from menu and then place an object on the label. In wizard, define text: Date: {CURRENTDATE}
Choose font:
If you want use standard font size (without scaling) please select the smallest size.
The same actions should be performed for text: Author: {N:CURRENTUSER}
Afterwards, select barcode icon from menu and choose its location. Enter: {WFD_ID} to barcode data field.
Default barcode type used in BPS is Code 128. To set barcode options, click “Define”:
Barcode size depends on “width of narrow bar”. 2 dots it’s about 0.25 mm. In tab ‘Human Readable’ you can configure if you want to display barcode interpretation below the code itself.
Second barcode will be 2D DataMatrix. From menu, select Barcode, place it on label and configure barcode data as {DBCODE}{WFD_ID} (It is important to include the variable referencing the database acronym: {DBCODE}).
Barcode size may be configured by setting Y and X Expansion factors:
Designed label:
Save your project for future usage.
To use template in BPS select ‘Print’ and check ‘Print to file’ option.
Save file, and open it using text editor.
Copy and paste file content paste to configuration of barcode printout action:
Save process and test it.
2. EPL language
Generated file contains printer commands in EPL Language. Below you may find some short information about basic commands.
Default print template in BPS is made of:
I8,B,001 rY JF WY S1 D14 R24,0 ZB UN q448 Q151,28 N A20,20,0,2,1,1,N,"Date: 2015-02-27" A20,40,0,2,1,1,N,"Author: Wojciech Mleczko" B40,60,0,1,3,9,56,N,"0000000999" A30,120,0,2,1,1,N,"00000033" P1
First part contains printer configuration commands. Second part has information about printable elements.
Printer setup commands:
I8,B,001
Character set selection. Sets: 8bit data, Windows-1250 printer code page, Country Code USA
rY
Double buffer mode. Y – enable double buffer mode.
JF
Enable “Top Of Form Backup”. Enables “Top Of Form Backup” feature.
WY
Enable escape sequence. Value Y means that escape sequence is supported
S1
Select the print speed. Higher value means higher speed of printout.
D14
Select the print density. Higher value means darker printout.
R24,0
Set reference point. Value given in “dots”. Defines place from which printing starts.
ZB
Set print direction. Value B sets printing from bottom of image buffer.
UN
Disable error reporting.
q448
Set label width (in dots)
Q151,28
Set form length. First parameter defines label width, second defines length of gap between labels.
N
Clear image buffer.
P1
Print image buffer.
If your print result is not satisfying you can try to modify speed, density, label width, label length or gap length.
Label content is defined in lines:
A20,20,0,2,1,1,N,"Date: 2015-02-27" A20,40,0,2,1,1,N,"Author: Borys Szyc" B40,60,0,1,3,9,56,N,"0000000999" A30,120,0,2,1,1,N,"00000033"
Lines starting with A generate text on label.
Parameters for A command:
1) horizontal start position
2) vertical start position
3) rotation
4) font selection
5) horizontal multiplier
6) vertical multiplier
7) print mode – (normal or reverse image)
8) data field
Lines started with B generate 1D barcode.
1) horizontal start position
2) vertical start position
3) rotation
4) barcode selection
5) narrow bar width
6) wide bar width
7) barcode height
8) print human readable code
9) data field
Standard font size:
Zebra5 font supports only capital letters.
Label above contains three texts using Zebra1 font, but using multipliers. Horizontal and vertical multipliers are sets by fifth and sixth parameters in EPL codes. Using multipliers, you can generate bigger text with bigger character gap length.
Barcode width can be modified by changing narrow bar width:
One more thing – What is a size of a dot?
Printer Zebra TLP 2824 has resolution 203 dpi, so 8 dots are equal to 1 mm.
Full EPL language specification is available on www.zebra.com