Datamax 123 Print v1.1x User Manual

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Visualize · Mobilize · Realize MCL-Collection

123 Print v1.1x

User Manual

Visualize…printers with intelligence

Realize…123 Print

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i. Preface

Background

123 Print is developed by MCL Technologies to bring intelligence to Datamax printers.

123 Print v1.1x User Manual

DATAMAX is a registered trademark of Datamax Bar Code Products

Corporation. Seagull and BarTender are trademarks or registered

trademarks of Seagull Scientific, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, Windows XP,

Windows 2000, and Windows 98 are trademarks or registered

trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

All specifications, terms and descr iptions of products and services are subject to change without notice or recourse.

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1. Primer

Overview

Document

introduction

Chapter 1

introduction

Topics This chapter covers the following topics:

Chapter 1 : Primer

This document is a User Guide for 123 Print V1.x. It is divided into several chapters to give you a thorough understanding of the use of 123 Print.

Chapter 1 – Primer Chapter 2 – Getting Started Chapter 3 – Creating a Project Chapter 4 – Designing a Label Chapter 5 – Using Processes Chapter 6 – Simulating Your Project Chapter 7 – Deploying a Printer Project

Accompanying appendices provide supplementary information.

This chapter is a Primer that explains the basic concepts of 123 Print and introduces you to its purpose and the philosophy behind it.

The goal of this Primer is to give you an understanding of the:

General capabilities of 123 Print Kinds of labels you can print using 123 Print General project flow behind the creation of static and dynamic

labels

Topic Page

1.1.

1.2

1.3

123 Print Purpose The purpose of 123 Print is to help you create and deploy simple

printing applications for your Datamax Printers. 123 Print manages one printer at a time. Compatible with Seagull’s BarTender V7.72 and above, it also allows you to easily create a nd integrate new printer labels into your application.

What is 123 Print Sample Labels Project Flow

6 7 9

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Chapter 1 : Primer

1.1. What is 123 Print

General introduction This section gives an overview of 123 Print, its purpose and its benefits.

123 Print 123 Print is a design environment to create simple, stand-alone

Purpose The purpose of 123 Print is to:

Benefits 123 Print:

applications that run on Datamax printers. 123 Print is an all-in-one product for:

Label design through integration with Seagull Scientific’s BarTender Data capture design Application simulation and debugging Application deployment to drive the printing process

123 Print lets you create printer applications that can initiate an interactive screen dialogue with the user. This allows the user to input variable data that is then merged with the labels you print.

123 Print is integrated with Seagull’s BarTender for easy addition of multiple BarTender labels into your printer application.

Note: If you are interested in connectivity with host systems or database access to BackOffice or ERP systems from your printer application, consider using MCL-Designer for Datamax printers. As a component of MCL-Collection, MCL-Designer allows you create printer applications with easy host integration.

Make your Datamax printers intelligent Quickly and easily create simple applications to run on your

Datamax printers

Provide a full application creation environment including label

design through integration with Seagull’s BarTender

Intelligence is in the printer thereby eliminating the need for an

intermediate PC application server to create and send labels to your printers.

Inputs from barcode scanners, weight scales, etc. are handled

directly on the printer.

Variable input data from, for example, barcode scanners can be

inserted into labels and printed directly from the printer.

Integration with BarTender means you can quickly create new

labels or import existing BarTender labels into 123 Print for use with your 123 Print projects.

Multi-purpose, multi-label projects for your Datamax pr inters with

up to 50 screens per selected label.

Ability to create friendly printer user interfaces easily.

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Chapter 1 : Primer

1.2. Sample Labels

General introduction This section shows some sample labels to give you an idea of the

Sample labels The sample labels shown here were designed using Seagull’ s

kinds of labels you can print using 123 Print projects on Datamax printers.

BarTender label creation software. 123 Print provides the capability to associate and print variable data

on labels. Consider the sample labels shown below. The labels on the left are

templates that would be saved on your printer with your 123 Print project. The labels on the right show the actua l label that will come off the printer after the 123 Print project inserts the variable data into the template and initiate s a print of the completed label.

Your 123 Print project can receive variable data from many sources—barcode scanner input, weight scale input, user keyboard input, lookup files, etc.

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Chapter 1 : Primer

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Chapter 1 : Primer

1.3. Project Flow

General introduction 123 Print structures your project flow using a combination of screens

User Interface Every 123 Print project follows a pre-defined screen flow. You configure

and processes that you create via 123 Print’s User Interface and Labels.

This section gives a high level view of the flow and interrelation ship between the screens that are created via the User I nterface and those created via Labels.

With User Interface, you can print any static label you want. With Labels, you can change a static label into a dynamic label by

merging in variable data from data collection, user screen prompts, and processing logic.

Please reference Section for detailed information about these functions.

these screens through the User Interface function. This is the only screen flow function you need if you want to print static labels.

This core flow is depicted here.

3.2 – User Interface and Section 3.3 – Labels

Your Project Name

Ver 1.00

1

Select Label:

2

3

Qty to Print:

The first screen 1 is a Welcome screen.

The second screen is the Select Label screen.

The third screen 3 is the Quantity to Print screen.

These screens are displayed in a black font on the Datamax printers. When your 123 Print project is run on the printer, it first displays the

Welcome screen. It then goes into a lo o p alternating display between the Select Label screen and the Quantity to Print screen.

Your application will loop infinitely between the second and third screens until you press the Menu (ESC) button on the front panel of the Datamax printer.

As you design your project in 123 Print, you have the option to customize the Welcome screen. By default 123 Print proposes your project name for the Welcome screen.

You then add the labels you want to be able to print from your project. When your project is run, this list of labels is presented on screen (2).

The user presses the Fwd ↑ and Rev ↓ buttons on the printer’s front panel to scroll through the list of available labels and, by pressing the Ent ↵ button, selects the label that is required for a given operation.

Here is an example of what screen (2) might look like on a printer when the fourth label in your project is a label f or pallets:

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Chapter 1 : Primer

Select Label:004

▼▲

Pallet Label

2

In this case, the third screen will look like the scr een below. Notice that

the label name, Pallet Label, from screen (2) has au tomatically been displayed on the first line of screen (3).

Pallet Label Qty to Print:1..

The user presses the Fwd ↑ and Rev ↓ buttons on the printer’s front panel to increment or decrement the quantity of the label to be printed. The user then presses the Ent ↵ button on the printer’s front panel to initiate the printing. The label is printed in the quantity specified. The project then loops back to display screen (2) again. The user can select the same label for printing again, or may select a different label to print.

This is useful in pallet building, for example. You may want to print many item labels. Then, when all the items on the pallet have been labeled, you can print a label for the e ntire pallet. In this case, the user selects the item label many times and then finally selects the pallet label once. The user then returns to printing item labels for the next pallet build.

A fourth standard screen of the 123 Print application logic but rather is displayed by the Datamax

printer whenever a print error occurs after The default print error screen is as shown here

4

, a Print Error screen, exists. It is not part

3

above has been initiated.

3

▼▲

Print Error

4

Exit Retry

This message will be displayed, for example, if the label roll is out of

labels. The User Interface function allows you to customize this error message.

Labels If you are only concerned with static labels, you only need to use the

Labels function to identify the static labels you want to include in your project.

If, however, you want to create dynamic labels, you will want to take advantage of the full capabilities provided in the Labels function.

The flow described above under User Interface is not sufficient to include variable data on the label. Consider an item label, for example. You want to print an item label with an item barcode, an item description, and an item weight. However, you do not know in advance which item, the item description, or the item weight (fruit, meat, etc.) for the label to be printed. You want to collect this information and merge it with your label format at the moment you print the label.

123 Print allows you to design this capability into your project. It allows you to create a series of screens for user interaction, and implement a series of processes for data manipulation or peripheral communications. Since each label may involve a different set of variable data, these screens and processes are associated with the given label in what is called a label program.

Using the Labels function, you can design a series of screens and processes to collect data that you then merge as variables into the label to be printed.

The following diagram depicts the relationship between User Interfa ce created screens and flow, and Labels created screens and flow.

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Chapter 1 : Primer

User Interface:

Core screen flow

Select Label:003 Item Label

Item Label Qty to Print:1..

▼▲

Labels:

Label program

2

Enter Item Code _____________

Process:

Get Item Descripti on

from Lookup File

Item on Scale? Y/N _

Process:

Weigh Item

Map variables into

label format

3

C

Item Code

A

D

Item

X

Description

B

E

Item’s Weight

Y

Z

Label printed

with item

code, item description and weight

merged in

User Interface:

 The left-hand side of the diagram shows the core flow created

by User Interface. User input is required on screens

Labels:

 The right-hand side of the diagram shows the flow of a label

program to capture the variable data needed to complete the item label selected at

 User input is required on screens at  The item code entered in  A process at

X

is used to browse through a lookup file to get

the item description for the item code entered in

 The item description is saved in a variable at  When the user indicates at

weighed, a process at save the item’s weight in a variable at

 Label Mapping is used at

C

in

, D and E with the label format for the item label

 The variable label information is then passed back to the User

Interface function at

User Interface and Labels relationship:

 The selection of the item label at

program depicted on the right-hand side of the diagram

 When the label program is finished, it passes control back to

the User Interface at

A

and B

A

is saved in a variable at C

A

D

B

that the item is ready to be

Y

is used to read the weight scale and

E

Z

to merge the variable data saved

3

for printing

starts the related label

3

to print the label

and 3

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2. Getting Started

Overview

Chapter 2

introduction

Topics This chapter covers the following topics:

This chapter describes the installation and setup of 123 Print.

Topic Page

Chapter 2 : Getting Started

2.1.

2.2

2.3

Installation Activation General Setup

2.3.1 DPL Connection

2.3.2 MCL Connection

2.3.3 Local Settings

2.3.4 Others

13 17 25

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2.1. Installation

General introduction This section describes how to install 123 Print.

Chapter 2 : Getting Started

Installation

1 Double-click on the 123 Print installation executable which you

have downloaded. The default folder in which 123 Print is installed is C:\123Print

A welcome screen is displayed as shown below

2 Click Next to proceed with the installation

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Chapter 2 : Getting Started

An end-user license agreement is displayed as shown below

To accept the license terms and proceed

3 Click Yes

As shown below, a screen is displayed prompting you to enter the location where you want to install 123 Print.

4 Click Next to use the default folder for your installation, or 5 Edit the entry or browse for the folder where you want to install

123 Print

6 Click Next

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As shown below, a screen is displayed to show you the progress of the installation

Chapter 2 : Getting Started

The following is displayed when installation is completed

7 Click Finish

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Starting 123 Print Once 123 Print is installed, start it by:

1 Double click on the 123 Print shortcut icon on the Windows

desktop

Chapter 2 : Getting Started

The 123 Print splash screen is superimposed on the 123 Print environment

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Chapter 2 : Getting Started

2.2. Activation

General introduction This section describes the activation process for 123 Print.

During the activation process you will be prompted to choose between a Software Activation and a Hardware Activation for your 123 Print license. Be sure to understand the benefits of each method and the consequences of choosing one method over the other.

Be sure to make your choice carefully. The activation method you choose cannot be changed at a later stage.

Activation The first time you run 123 Print, you will be prompted to Activate the

software. To do this, you will need to have the License Certif icate ready which you have received, by email, when you ordered 123 Print.

1 Get out your 123 Print License Certificate. Please see Appendix A

for a sample certificate.

2 Click Next to begin the Activation Process.

Note: No activation is requir ed to run the software in demo mode.

However, 123 Print has reduced capabilities when it is run in demo mode. For example, you cannot download a project or execute a script.

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Chapter 2 : Getting Started

3 Enter the License Number found on your License Certificate

4 Click Next

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End-user license

agreement

Chapter 2 : Getting Started

MCL’s End-User License Agreement is displayed as shown below. Before

proceeding, you must read and accept these license terms.

5 Read and scroll down to the bottom of the terms 6 Check the checkbox to accept the license terms 7 Click Next

The 123 Print software registration form is displayed

8 Enter the details of the company to whom the License should be

registered

9 Click Next

Note: Only Organisation and Country are compulsory fields. However, the more details you provide, the easier it will be for MCL Technologies to provide technical assistance in the future, should assistance be necessary.

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Software versus

hardware activation

Chapter 2 : Getting Started

The next step is to choose between Software Activation and Hardware

Activation.

This choice is very important as it cannot be changed at a later stage.

Software Activation: Using this method of activation, 123 Print

computes a Serial Number from various components on your PC. 123 Print then ties your license number to this computed Serial Number. Thus, your software becomes PC Dependent. You will not be able to transfer your licensing details over to a different PC if you want to install and run 123 Print on a different PC.

Hardware Activation: This method of activation requires the

purchase of a Hardware Serial Number Key. Using this method of activation, 123 Print ties your license number to the serial number of your Hardware Key. Thus your software becomes PC Independent. This means you can install and run 123 Print on a different PC at anytime, providing you are able to plug your Hardware Serial Number Key into the other PC. The Hardware Key must be present for the software to run.

Once you have made your choice between Software and Hardware

activation:

10 Check the appropriate checkbox 11 Click Next

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You are prompted to confirm your selection as shown below

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Chapter 2 : Getting Started

12 Click Next to confirm and proceed

The Activation mode screen is displayed as shown here

Indicate if you want to use on-line or off-line activation

13 Click the appropriate radio button 14 Click Next

Your system needs internet access for on-line activation to be possib le. This example uses on-line activation. Consequen tly, the On-Line

Activation screen is displayed as shown below. The off-line activation mode will step you through the activation process

in a similar fashion.

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Chapter 2 : Getting Started

15 Enter the Password found on your License Certificate 16 Click Next

You are prompted to confirm that your registration information is accurate

17 Click Next to confirm the details you entered on the previous

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screens.

123 Print now connects to MCL’s Licensing Server and records your details on the server. The Licensing Server then returns an Activation Key. When the Activation Key is received, your software is ready to be used.

An Activation successful screen is displayed as shown below.

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18 Print this information and keep it in a safe place for later use in

case of disaster recovery.

Chapter 2 : Getting Started

19 Click Next to validate your activation.

You are now prompted to save a backup of your License Key. It includes your license number, serial number and activation key.

20 Edit the entry or browse to the location where you want your

License Key backed up

21 Click Next

Note: It is very important for you to record and save a backup of your license key. This is the only way MCL Technologies can help you recover your 123 Print license in the event of a disaster.

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A successful backup screen is displayed as shown here.

Chapter 2 : Getting Started

Starting 123 Print When the activation is completed, 123 Print is started automatically. To

22 Click Finish

start 123 Print again in the future, double click on the 123 Print short cut on the Windows desktop

The main 123 Print window is displayed as shown here

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Chapter 2 : Getting Started

2.3. General Setup

General introduction This section describes the setup of 123 Print to allow it to operate in

Setup To enter 123 Print’s setup, on the menu bar:

your environment. This setup involves the settings that are required by 123 Print to work with your printer, simulate your project, and integrate with BarTender.

1 Click Tools 2 Click 123 Print Settings

The Setup dialogue box is displayed as shown here

Before you can do anything using 123 Print, you need to set up 123

Print for initial communicat ions with your printer for DPL Mode and MCL Mode where:

DPL Mode refers to the mode in which 123 Print communicates with

the printer using DPL commands. DPL is the Datamax language used to print a label and control the

printer. These are commands like <STX>F. Please refer to your Datamax manual for more information.

DPL Mode is a one-way communication between 123 Print and the printer.

MCL Mode refers to the mode in which 123 Print communicates

with the printer using MCL commands to direct the printer and run MCL applications.

These are commands like NO|001|TF|INVENTORY.DAT|AA.DAT. Please refer to your MCL-Link manual for more information.

MCL Mode is a two-way communication between 123 Print and the printer. For example, 123 Print may ask for a parameter and receive values in return, or 123 Print may send a file and receive an acknowledgement upon the successful completion of the transmission.

123 Print determines which mode to use—DPL Mode or MCL Mode.

123 Print always tries to use MCL Mode as the default mode. However, if it cannot establish communications using MCL Mode, then 123 Print reverts to using DPL Mode. This will occur if the printer settings and 123 Print settings do not match for the values given in Section

Connect/Disconnect Printer

2.3.2 – MCL Connection and Section 7.1 –

.

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2.3.1. DPL Connection

DPL Connection Setup your printer interface fo r DPL Mode communications. In the

Setup dialogue box:

1 Click on the DPL Connection tab

If you want to use network communications for your DPL commands :

2 Edit the Printer TCP port with the appropriate port number

(typically 9100 or 3000).

If you want to use serial communications for your DPL commands:

3 Edit the Serial settings with values appropriate for your printer

These values may be found through the menu on your printer or in your Datamax printer manual.

Chapter 2 : Getting Started

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Chapter 2 : Getting Started

2.3.2. MCL Connection

MCL Connection Next setup yo ur printer interface for MCL Mode communications. In the

Setup dialogue box:

1 Click on the MCL Connection tab

The MCL Connection options screen is displayed as shown here

MCL Group ID can be any number from 001 to 255.

In the MCL Group ID setting, enter the value of the Group ID you assigned to the printer to which you want to connect.

Think of the Group ID as a way of segmenting your printers similar

to a subnet segmentation of network devices.

Each printer is identified by 123 Print by combining Group ID +

MCL ID. (See Section

If you have, for example, 750 printers on your network, segment

your printers into 3 groups of 250 printers each. Assign each of the 250 printers to the same group and assign a Group ID of 001, 002 or 003, for example, to those printers. Then assign a unique MCL ID such as a number from 001 – 250 to each of the printers within the group.

These assignments will allow you to uniquely identify all 750 printers on your network.

MCL Host ID can be any number from 001 to 255. It is typically set to

099. This ID is used by the MCL protocol for communications between the Datamax Printers and 123 Print. The MCL Host ID is used to identify 123 Print as the host for these printer communications.

UDP Port is typically 5000. Comm Port is the port that 123 Print should use on its own platform to

communicate serially with a printer. Speed is the baud rate of the serial port as determined by the printer.

Please reference your Datamax manual for information about serial comm speed.

7.1 – Connect/Disconnect Printer).

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2.3.3. Local Settings

Local Settings Next, setup project simulation options. In the Setup dialogue box:

1 Click on the Local Settings tab

The Local Settings screen is displayed as shown here

Chapter 2 : Getting Started

The project you run on a printer may require inputs from peripherals such as a barcode scanner on printer port 1 and weight scale on printer port 2.

Therefore, when you simulate your project in 123 Print, you will want to emulate the input these peripherals give or connect directly to the given peripheral to receive its input on your development PC. (See Chapter 6

– Simulating Your Project).

This Simulation setup lets you define the source—emulation or peripheral connection to a port on your PC—of these inputs for your simulation.

Assign Com 1 Printer Port To

 This option lets you indicate from where the simulator should

fetch the port 1 input in simulation. This is to simulate what the final project will receive from printer port 1 when th e project is running on a printer.

 If this is a barcode scanner, you can choose to emulate the

scanner input, or you can connect the scanner to any port on your PC. Indicate the port to which the barcode scanner will actually be connected on your PC. The 123 Print simulator will map this port as port 1 input.

2 Select the desired option for printer port 1 simulation.

The com 1 simulation setting options are as shown below

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Assign Com 2 Printer Port To

 This option is identical to the Assign Com 1 option. This option

simply lets you simulate a peripheral, such as a weight scale, that would normally be connected to port 2 on the printer.

Chapter 2 : Getting Started

3 Select the desired option for printer port 2 simulation

Assign Internal Printer Port To

 This option allows you to simulate label printing when you are

running your project in simulation.

 You can emulate the label print or send the label as output to a

port on your development PC.

 The output may be sent to a serial com port, an LPT (parallel)

port, or to a file. Sending the output to a file is useful if you want to see the DPL code your project is using to print labels

The internal printer port simulation options are as shown below

on your printer.

4 Select the desired option for label printing simulation 5 Click OK

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2.3.4. Others

Others Set up the values for 123 Print’s integration with BarTender or DPL

labels. In the Setup window:

1 Click the Others tab

The Others dialogue box is displayed as shown here

Chapter 2 : Getting Started

If BarTender is installed and activated on your system:

2 In the Printer Name field, identify the default printer to be used for

your project. 123 Print passes this printer model to BarTender to use as the default printer for label design for your project when you invoke BarTender from the 123 Print toolbar while creating your project.

3 In the BTW Folder field, navigate to the folder you plan to use as

your common folder for your BarTender labels.

By default if BarTender is installed on your system, 123 Print assigns MyDocuments/BarTender/Formats for your BarTender labels. This is the default path BarTender uses when saving labels.

If BarTender is not installed on your system, 123 Print expects your labels to be DPL labels. It assigns a default path of C:\123Print\Label as the location of your DPL label folder.

4 Click OK to use this path or navigate to the folder you want to use

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Timer is used to set the duration, in seconds, of the display of the

Welcome screen. The Welcome screen is typically displayed momentarily only

Chapter 2 : Getting Started

5 Edit the timer value, or 6 Use the up and down arrows beside the timer field to increment

or decrement the value of the field.

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3. Creating a Project

Overview

Chapter 3

introduction

Description 123 Print provides you with all the tools necessary to create

Topics This chapter covers the following topics:

This chapter describes how to use 123 Print to create projects and label programs for your Datamax printers.

applications for your Datamax printer. A 123 Print project involves 4 basic screens:

Welcome Screen Select Label screen Quantity to Print screen Print Error Message screen

You may associate several additional screens (up to 50) with each label in your project. As you create these additional screens you are creating what is called a label program.

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Topic Page

33 35

51

89

110

Display Only

3.1.

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

Project Description User Interface

Labels

Lookup Files

System Setup

3.2.1 Welcome Screen

3.2.2 Select Label Screen

3.2.3 Quantity to Print Screen

3.2.4 Print Error Message Screen

3.3.1 Edit

3.3.2 Variables

3.3.3 Mapping

3.4.1 Add Lookup File

3.4.2 Add Lookup File from Import File

3.4.3 Add Lookup File from Scratch

3.4.4 Edit Lookup File Data

3.5.1 Soft Keys Setup – Graphical

3.5.2 Auxiliary Co mmunications

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.1. Project Description

General introduction This section describes how to begin creating your 123 Print project.

New Project Start first by creating a new project. On the menu bar:

1 Click File 2 Click New

Alternatively, on the tool bar, click on the New Project The Project Description screen is displayed as shown here

icon.

Notice that there are 6 fields available to describe the p roject you are

creating:

Project Name *

Version *

Author

Printer Type *

Printer Name

Notes

The three fields flagged by * are compulsory fields.

The name you wish to assign to your project/application

The build version of your application. This is a number you assign for project version control

Typically your name or the name of the company creating the application

The target Datamax printer model for the project you are creating.

An alias for the targeted printer. This is useful for the later management of a group of printers

Notes you write about this project for future reference

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On the Project Description screen:

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3 Edit the fields with the appropriate data

When you have completed editing these fields, notice that the following

buttons appear on the left-hand side of the main window:

The functions associated with these buttons are discussed in the subsequent sections of this chapter. These are the functions used to create your 123 Print project.

To return to the Project Description at any time, on the menu bar:

4 Click Project 5 Click Project Description.

Alternatively, simply cli ck the Project button on the left-hand side of the main window

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.2. User Interface

General introduction This section describes the User Interface core screens of your 123 Print

User Interface

project. The User Interface is where you configure the core screens with which

the user will interact on the Datamax printer.

Click the User Interface hand side of the main window, or on the menu bar:

button on the left-

1 Click Project 2 Click User Interface

The User Interface window is displayed. By default, the User Interface uses the project description values

entered in Section information to present a User Interface, as shown below, that is appropriate for the display type — text display or graphical display — available on the printer model selected for the given project.

The User Interface window shows 4 default screens:

Welcome Screen Select Label Quantity to Print Print Error Message

These 4 screens form the basis of all 123 Print projects you create. These screens can be edited. They contain a combination of data entry fields and editable text.

A variety of colors are used on these screens to help config ure them: Gray Blue Red Green

= User read-only text on printer = Variable content in project development = User variable input field on printer from barcode scanner = User variable input field on printer from front panel or

3.1 – Project Description. It also uses this

connected keyboard

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Text Display

The User Interface for a text display printer is as shown here:

Graphical Display -

Large

The User Interface for a large graphical display printer is as shown here.

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Graphical Display -

Small

The User Interface for a small graphical display printer is as shown here:

Graphical Display -

Status Toolbar

The status toolbar across the top of the graphical display screens gives the following printer status:

Printer is Ready

Printer is Paused

Printing Error

Printer is Printing

The Printer is Printing status is accompanied by the Printer Ready status and a Printing Progress indicator as shown here:

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.2.1. Welcome Screen

Welcome Screen The Welcome screen is the first screen the user will see when they start

Text Display The Welcome Screen editing window for a text display printer is as

your 123 Print project on the printer. You can edit the welcome you want to give the user. Notice that, by default, 123 Print uses the details you entered in the Project Description in Section 3.1.

To edit the Welcome screen, on the User Interface window:

1 Click on the Welcome screen, or 2 Click the Welcome button at the bottom of the window

As with the Interface Screen, the Welcome Screen varies according to the display type available on the printer model s elected for the given project.

shown here:

Edit the Welcome screen to give the desired information

3 On Line 1 enter up to 20 characters of text 4 On Line 2 choose one of the system variables as shown below:

If you select Project Version, the Version you enter in th e Project

Description in Section 3.1 is displayed on Line 2 of the Welcome screen. Similarly, if you select Printer Model, the Printer Type you enter in the

Project Description in Section 3.1 is displayed on Line 2 of the Welcome screen.

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As you make your changes, the result will appear in the display in the top-half of the editing window.

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Graphical Display -

Large

The clock window sets the delay period for this screen. By default, this delay is set to 2 seconds. This means that when the project is run on the printer, the printer will pause for 2 seconds on the Welcome screen before moving on to the Select Label screen. You can edit the Welco me screen delay:

next to the Welcome screen in the top-half of the editing

5 Edit the value of the delay from 0 - 99 seconds, or 6 Increment or decrement the value of the delay using the up and

down arrows

If the delay is set to zero (0) seconds, a user will have to press a button on the printer to advance the application to the next screen.

To accept the changes made to the Welcome screen:

7 Click OK

To edit the Welcome screen for a graphical display project, on the User

Interface window:

beside the delay entry field.

1 Click on the Welcome screen, or 2 Click the Welcome button at the bottom of the window

Alternatively, on the User Interface window:

3 Simply double click on the thumbnail view of the Welcome screen

The Welcome Screen editing window for a large graphical display

printer is as shown here:

Graphical Display

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Elements

Notice that this screen displays a Status Toolbar in a header across th e

top, printer key labels in a footer across the bottom, and two lines of text on the main display. Each of the screens for graphical display printers uses this same format.

From left to right, the Status Toolbar shows respectively Printer Status, printer system date, and printer system time. For more information about Printer Status see Section

Display - Status Toolbar.

3.2 – User Interface - Graphical

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The Footer Soft Keys show the function of the Datamax printer keys in an MCL application. These may be defined on a project-by-project basis as described is Section

Only

.

The two lines of the main graphical d isplay show the same information as that shown on the two lines of a text display screen for the equivalent screen. For example, as shown above, by default, the <Project name> and <Project Version> are displayed on the Welcome screen for both the text display and graphical display printers.

Although default content is provided, each of the screens provides a number of options for screen content. To edit the Welcome screen:

3.5.1 - Soft Keys Setup – Graphical Display

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

4 Select a Header option 5 Select a Line 1 option 6 Select a Line 2 option 7 Select a Footer option. 8 Click OK

Below shows the options available for a Header.

Alternatively, instead of choosing one of the pre-defined options,

9 Type fixed text in any of the edit boxes

Some screens, such as the Welcome Screen and Printer Error Message screen also support the addition of an optional image. The image must be a monochrome wallpaper image in *.bmp format with a size of 240x320 pixels.

To add an image:

10 Click on the Image checkbox or Image button.

A standard Windows browse window is displayed.

11 Navigate to and select the image to be displayed on the given

screen.

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Below shows an example of a Welcome screen edited to ha ve an image

and fixed text on Line 2:

Graphical Display -

Small

As with the text display screen, the clock the Welcome screen delay:

control allows you to edit

12 Edit the value of the delay from 0 - 99 seconds, or 13 Increment or decrement the value of the delay using the up and

down arrows

beside the delay entry field.

14 Click OK

If the delay is set to zero (0) seconds, a user will have to press a button on the printer to advance the application to the next screen.

The Welcome Screen editing window for a small screen graphical

display printer is as shown below. The properties and options available for this screen are identical to those described above for the large screen graphical display.

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.2.2. Select Label Screen

Select Label screen The Select Label screen is displayed after the Welcome screen has been

Text Display The Select Label Screen editing window for a text display printer is as

displayed. You may edit this screen to give the user different prompts than those supplied by default by 123 Print.

To edit the Select Label screen, on the User Interface window:

1 Click on the Select Label screen, or 2 Click the Select button at the bottom of the window

As with the Welcome Screen (Section Select Label Screen varies according to the display type available on the printer model selected for the given project.

shown here:

3.2.1 – Welcome Screen), the

This screen is the default screen that is displayed when a user is

required to select a label on a printer running a 123 Print application. Edit this screen to create the user screen prompt you want displayed

3 On Line 1 enter up to 15 characters of text. The arrows on this

line are not removable. By default the user can always scroll through the list of available labels.

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Graphical Display -

Large

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

4 On Line 2 choose the method you want to use to select t he label

The Datamax printer cannot accept input from both a co nnected keyboard and a barcode scanner for a given input field. However, it can accept input from the front panel and a connected keyboard, or from the front panel and a barcode scanner, or from just the front panel.

To edit the Select Label screen, on the User Interface window:

1 Click on the Select Label screen, or 2 Click the Select button at the bottom of the window

Alternatively, on the User Interface window:

3 Simply double click on the thumbnail view of the Select Label

screen

The Select Label Screen editing window for a large graphical display

printer is as shown here:

October 2007 Page

Notice that this screen has the same display screen editing options — a Header, Footer and two lines on the main display — as tho se described in Section

The two lines of main display text show, by default, the same content on the Select Label screen for both the text display and graphical display printers:

Fixed user prompt “Select Label to Print” and The option “List of Label Names (Up/Dwn Scrolling)”

3.2.1 – Graphical Display Elements.

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Graphical Display -

Small

4 Select a Header option 5 Edit the User Prompt box to display the desired prompt 6 On Select Label choose the method you want to use to select the

label. These options are the same as those described above for Select Label - Text Displays.

7 Select a Footer option 8 Click OK

Alternatively, instead of choosing one of the pre-defined options,

9 Type fixed text in any of the edit boxes 10 Click OK

The Select Label Screen editing window for a small screen graphical

display printer is as shown below. The properties and options available for this screen are identical to those described above for the large screen graphical display.

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3.2.3. Quantity to Print Screen

Quantity to Print

screen

Text Display The Quantity to Print Screen editing window for a text display printer is

To edit the Quantity to Print screen, on the User Interface window:

1 Click on the Quantity to Print screen, or 2 Click the Quantity button at the bottom of the window

As with the Welcome Screen (Section Quantity to Print Screen varies according to the display type available on the printer model selected for the giv en project.

as shown here:

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.2.1 – Welcome Screen), the

This screen is the default screen displayed for a user to select the

quantity of a label to be printed. Line 1 automatically displays the name of the Label chosen on the

Select Label screen. Line 1 is therefore not editable.

By default the user can always increment or decrement the quantity of

the labels to be printed. Therefore, the arrows on line 2 are not removable.

Three quantity input methods are available as shown here:

3 On Line 2 choose the quantity input method you want to use

The Datamax printer cannot accept input from both a co nnected keyboard and a barcode scanner for a given input field. However, it can accept input from the front panel and a connected keyboard, or from

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Graphical Display -

Large

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

the front panel and a barcode scanner, or from just the front panel.

 If you choose Qty Using Front Panel, the user must use the

Fwd ↑ and Rev ↓ buttons on the front panel to increment or decrement the quantity.

 If you choose Qty Using Keyboard, keyboard and front panel

input is enabled; the user may input a quantity from t he keyboard or use the Fwd ↑ and Rev ↓ buttons on the front panel to increment or decrement the quanti ty.

 If you choose Qty Using Barcode Reader, the user can scan

the quantity or use the Fwd ↑ and Rev ↓ buttons on the front panel to increment or decrement the quanti ty.

4 Click OK

The graphical display Select Quantity Screen is equivalent to the text

display Quantity to Print Screen.

To edit the Select Quantity screen, on the User Interface window:

1 Click on the Select Quantity screen, or 2 Click the Quantity button at the bottom of the window

Alternatively, on the User Interface window:

3 Simply double click on the thumbnail view of the Select Quantity

screen

The Select Quantity Screen editing window for a large graphical display

printer is as shown here:

October 2007 Page

Notice that this screen has the same display screen editing options — a Header, Footer and two lines on the main display — as tho se described in Section

The two lines of main display text show, by default, the same content on the Quantity to Print screen for both the text display and graphical display printers:

Fixed user prompt “Select quantity to print” and The option “Qty Using Front Panel”

3.2.1 – Graphical Display Elements.

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Graphical Display -

Small

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

4 Select a Header option 5 Edit the User Prompt box to display the desired prompt 6 On Select Quantity choose the method you want to use to input

the quantity. These options are the same as those des cribed above for Quantity to Print - Text Displays.

7 Select a Footer option 8 Click OK

Alternatively, instead of choosing one of the pre-defined options,

9 Type fixed text in any of the edit boxes 10 Click OK

The Select Quantity Screen editing window for a small screen graphical

display printer is as shown below. The properties and options available for this screen are identical to those described above for the large screen graphical display.

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3.2.4. Print Error Message Screen

Print Error Message

screen

Text Display The Print Error Message editing window for a text display printer is as

The Print Error Message Screen is displayed by the Datamax printer

whenever it detects a print error. You can display whatever message is appropriate here for your environment.

To edit the Print Error Message screen, on the User Interface

window:

1 Click on the Print Error Message screen, or 2 Click the Error button at the bottom of the window

As with the Welcome Screen (Section Print Error Message Screen varies according to the display type available on the printer model selected for the given project.

shown here:

3.2.1 – Welcome Screen), the

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Graphical Display -

Large

Line 1 and Line 2 are both editable. Both allow up to 20 characters of

text. By default, Line 1 displays the message Print Error. By default, Line 2 displays the actions available to the user when a

print error occurs. When a print error occurs, two user actions are possible—exit the

project or retry to print the label. These actions are initiated by pressing buttons on the front panel of the printer.

 The project will exit when either the REV or ESC button on

the left-hand side of the printer front panel is pressed.

 The printer will retry to print the label when the ENT button

on the right-hand side of the printer front panel is pressed.

You are not obligated to maintain this convention and may edit both lines of the screen to suit your environment.

3 Edit Line 1 with the desired error text message 4 Edit Line 2 with the desired error text message 5 Click OK

To edit the Print Error Message screen, on the User Interface

window:

1 Click on the Print Error Message screen, or 2 Click the Error button at the bottom of the window

Alternatively, on the User Interface window:

3 Simply double click on the thumbnail view of the Print Error

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Message screen

The Print Error Message Screen editing window for a large graphical

display printer is as shown here:

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Graphical Display -

Small

Notice that this screen has the same display screen editing options — a

Header, Footer and two lines on the main display — as tho se described in Section

3.2.1 – Graphical Display Elements.

4 Select a Header option 5 Edit Line 1 to display the desired print error message 6 Select a Line 2 option 7 Select a Footer option 8 Click OK

The option <Label Name> is the name of the label that is being printed

when this print error occurs.

Alternatively, instead of choosing one of the pre-defined options,

9 Type fixed text in any of the edit boxes 10 Click OK

The Printer Error Message screen also supports the addition of an optional image. The image must be a monochrome wallpaper image in *.bmp format with a size of 240x320 pixels.

To add an image:

11 Click on the Image checkbox or Image button.

A standard Windows browse window is displayed.

12 Navigate to and select the image to be displayed on the given

screen.

The Print Error Message Screen editing window for a small scr een

graphical display printer is as shown below. The properties and options available for this screen are identical to those described above for the large screen graphical display.

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.3. Labels

General introduction The Labels function allows you to add the following capabilities to your

Associate a label To associate an existing label to your 123 Print project, enter the Labels

123 Print projects

Associate pre-designed labels Associate screen prompts with a label to collect user input, suc h as

an item product code, to be printed dynamically on the label

Collect input from printer peripherals, such as a barcode scanner or

weight scale, to be printed dynamically on a label

Add logic to manipulate the input data, such as extract the weight

from a weight scale input data stream , and merge it into the label to be printed

This section describes how to associate an existing label to your project. This can be a static label you simply want to print. It can also be a static label you want to use as a template for creating dynamic labels.

This section also describes the functions available for cr eating a dynamic label using screen prompts, peripheral inputs, and processing logic. This combination of screens, variable data, and logic is referred to as a label program.

The pre-designed labels that you associate with your 123 Print project may be any DPL label or a label created using Seagu ll Scientific’s BarTender. Please reference information about creating BarTender labels for 123 Print.

function

Chapter 4 – Designing a Label

for

1 Click the Labels button on the left-hand side

of the main window.

Alternatively, on the 123 Print menu bar,

2 Select Project 3 Select Labels

The Labels List window is displayed as shown here

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

To associate a label with your 123 Print project,

4 Click the button at the bottom of the Labels List window

Each time you add a label, 123 Print assigns a sequence number to the label. This system assigned number is displayed in the Labels List window in the left most column called #. This number determines the sequence order in which the labels are displayed on the Select Label Screen (see Section

When you Add a label, the Label Properties screen is displayed as shown here

3.2.2 – Select Label Screen).

Label Properties

The Label Properties screen allows you to associate a given label to your project. The Label Properties screen is also the entry point to create a label program.

5 Set the label properties as appropriate for the given label:

Nbr

File Name

Label Name

Quantity to

Print

After Print

Enter the number you wish to assign to the label in your 123 Print project. This number is displayed on the Select Label Screen when the user is choosing which label to print for a given operation

Enter the path and name or browse to search for the label you want to add to your project. Valid file types are *.btw, *.dpl and *.txt (if the *.txt file contains DPL code)

Assign a name to this label. This is displayed on the Select Label screen when the user is choosing which label to print for a given operation.

If you want the user to enter a quantity, check the Prompt for quantity checkbox. Assign a default value and maximum value to help the user. If you want to set a fixed quantity to print with no user prompting, uncheck the Prompt for quantity checkbox and enter the fixed value in the default value box. These entries are used on the Quantity to Print screen as described in

Setup what you want to do after the label has been printed. You can

 Loop on the same label. This returns you

to the first screen of the label program

 Return to the Select Label screen  Run a different label. Identify a label to

print next, automatically, without user input. Reference it by its Nbr number.

Section

3.2.3.

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Label template for

dynamic label

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Static label If you are simply associating a static label, you are done using the

Labels function for this label

6 Click OK to close the Labels Properties and return to the Labels List

window to add other labels as necessary

Once you have added a label, in this case the labe l LocationMCL2.btw, and setup the Label Properties, three buttons become functional on the Label Properties window as shown here

Note: Any static label may be used as a template for a dynamic label The functions associated with these buttons are discussed in the

subsequent sections of this chapter. These are the main functions used to create your label programs.

When you have completed your Edit, Variables, and Mapping functions for a given label,

 Edit allows you to modify your label design from within 123

Print.

 See Section

 Variables allows you to add screen prompts and logic to your

label design.

 See Section

 Mapping allows you to associate variable data with a label

template.

 See Section

3.3.1 - Edit

3.3.2 - Variables

3.3.3 – Mapping

7 Click OK to close the Labels Properties and return to the Labels List

window to add other labels as necessary

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.3.1. Edit

General Introduction If you have Seagull Scientific’s BarTender installed and activated on

Edit

your system, and are working with a BarTender *.btw file, when you press Edit, 123 Print starts Bartender wi th your active label open for editing.

If you do not have a BarTender label and are working directly with a *.txt or *.dpl file, Edit will display the DPL code of the label for editing.

1 Click the Edit button to view and edit your selected label.

If you are working with a *.dpl label, the DPL co de is opened in the Edit DPL File window as shown here

If you are working with a *.btw label, the label is opened in BarTender

as shown here

For more information on label design with BarTender, please refer to

Chapter 4 – Designing a Label

.

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3.3.2. Variables

General introduction

Variables

Text Display

Variables is one of the main functions in 123 Print to enable you to create labels that are printed with dynamic content.

Consider the labels shown in include variable data such as the date and time at the moment the label was printed. This function allows you to include this kind of variable information on your labels.

This section describes how to use the Variables function to collect dynamic content for your labels.

After adding a label to your 123 Print project as described in Section 3.3 – Labels, to add variable content to your labels, on the Label Properties dialogue box:

1 Click the Variables button

The Variables function allows you to build a dialogue between your label program (see Section screen prompts. These are displayed on the left-hand side of the 123Print Designer window as shown below. You can assign up to 50 screens to each label. Each screen is editable. The first line is text to prompt the user about what data to enter. The second line is where the user will enter the required data. You define these screen prompts in the editing window on the right.

Text displays are used in this section to show how to use Variables. The procedure is identical for graphical display printers.

The 123Print Designer window for a text display printer is as shown here. Up to four prompt screens are displayed at a time for text display printers.

Use the scroll bar provided to navigate through your prompt screens.

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Section 1.2 – Sample Labels. These labels

1.3 – Project Flow) and the user via a series of

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Graphical Display -

Large

The 123Print Designer window for a large graphical display printer is as shown here. Only one prompt screen is displayed at a time for large graphical displays.

Use the scroll bar provided to navigate through your prompt screens.

Graphical Display -

Small

The 123Print Designer window for a small graphical display printer is as shown here. Up to 2 prompt screens are displayed at a time for small graphical displays.

Use the scroll bar provided to navigate through your prompt screens.

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Creating a label

program

To show you how to design a label program, an example is used extensively herein. This example creates Warehouse Shelving labels, like the one shown below, for a self-service warehouse. The user would print labels like this to indicate t he location for all the products in the warehouse. The labels would then be applied to the shelving racks in the warehouse to assist customers in finding the prod uct they want to purchase.

Text displays are used in the following example. However, the procedure is identical for graphical displays.

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

To get started designing your label program,

1 Select the first (from top to bottom) available prompt screen on the

left-hand side of the 123Print Designer window

In the Warehouse Shelving example, the program first prompts the User to enter the location in the warehouse for a given product. To do this, on line 1,

2 Type Product Location:

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Input Methods When you enter a prompt, you must select an Input Method for the

prompt. This determines how the user will be able to enter data on the given screen. The Input Methods are entered on Line 2 of a screen prompt. The following Input Methods are available:

Front Panel UP/Down Numeric External Keyboard External Barcode Reader Weight Scale Select Value From List Select Value From File Display Data

The various Input Methods available for line 2 are discussed in Section

3.3.2.1 to 3.3.2.7. Please see these sections for more detailed

explanations about the Input Methods you can use to create a us er friendly interface for your label program.

For the Warehouse Shelving example, on line 2 of the screen prompt you are creating,

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

s

3 Select External Keyboard, as shown here

Once an Input Method has been selected, 123 Print displays a window

in which you set the properties of the chosen input type. Each Input Method has its own specific set of properties.

The properties window for the External Keyboard input is as shown below

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

The Warehouse Shelving example only requires two of the input

properties to be setup:

 Result Variable  Force Uppercase

The Result Variable is the variable where the user’s input will be saved when they enter a location on the screen prompt.

The Force Uppercase will prevent the user from entering lowercase letters when they enter a location on the screen prompt.

To assign a Result Variable for the location for the Warehouse Shelving example,

4 Click on the next to the Result Variable field

The Variables window is displayed as shown here

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Various kinds of Variables may be used in a 123 Print label program. To

work with the variables, select one of tabs:

User Local All Local Global System

 You cannot write to a System Variable. Therefore, these are

not applicable for use as a resultant variable and are grayed

Please see Section detailed information about variables.

Returning to the Warehouse Shelving example, create the Variable in which you wish to store the input Location information:

out whenever you are creating a resultant variable.

5.1 – Introduction to 123 Print Variables for more

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

5 Click on the first available user local variable – in this case, A0 6 Type in the name you want to assign to this Variable – in this case,

Location

7 Click OK

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Notice that the Result Variable field has now been filled with the name

of the Variable you just created: [A0] Location. You have now completed the first prompt screen of your label program.

For this Warehouse Shelving example, repeat the above steps to create a second prompt screen— Enter Product Name:. Create a Resultant Variable [A1] Product_Name as the storage location for the user input for this screen prompt. This prompt will allow the user to enter the Product Name to be printed on the given label.

After creating the Enter Product Name: screen prompt, the 123Print Designer window looks as shown here

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Continuing with the Warehouse Shelving example, create a screen that allows the user to confirm that the product name they entered is correct.

8 Select Screen 3 on the left-hand side of the 123Print Designer

window. Then proceed as for Screen 1 and 2, by first entering the text to be displayed on Line 1, and then the action to be performed on Line 2.

9 Type Product Name: on Line 1 10 For Line 2 select the Display Data option. This function allows you

to display data stored in a variable.

11 To select which Variable is to be displayed, click on the next to

the Default Value field

The Variables list is displayed as shown here

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12 Click on the User Local tab

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

13 Select the Variable [A1] Product_Name. 14 Click OK

In order for the user to be able to see this screen and read the

displayed data, you must display the screen long enough for the user to be able to read it. To do so, set the Display Time option. This will display the screen momentarily only—for the period you set (in seconds).

15 Set the Display Time to 2 seconds

When completed, the properties for Screen 3 are as shown above.

Continuing with the Warehouse Shelving example, create a fourth

screen to ask the user to confirm, by entering Y Name displayed on the previous screen. The choice made here by the user will determine the next step in the program.

es or No, the Product

16 Type the text Confirm Name: Y /N? on Line 1 17 Select the External Keyboard on Line 2. 18 Create a Result Variable using the next available user local

variable—in this case, A2. Call this Variable Confirmation as shown below

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When completed, the properties for Screen 4 are as shown here

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

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65

Processes

In the Warehouse Shelving example, you will want to perform different operations depending upon the input the user gives to the confirmation prompt. If the user enters Y correct, you want to proceed to print the label. If the user enters N indicate that the Product Name is incorrect, you will want to return to the product name prompt screen to give the user an opportunity to enter the Product Name again.

This kind of decision logic and subsequent next operation to be performed is done using commands called processes in 123 Print. Processes are actions performed in-between screen prompts in your label programs. Please reference Chapter 5 – Using Processes complete information on all the processes available in 123 Print.

Processes are added by selecting the reverse tria ngles/arrows between the screens on the left-hand side of the 12 3 Print Designer window.

A given process is performed after the related screen prompt is handled. If more than one process is added after a screen prompt, the processes are performed in the order in which they are found in the process list.

To continue with the Warehouse Shelving example,

es to confirm that the Product Name is

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

o to

for

19 Click on the process arrow between screen 4 and screen 5.

A Process list window is displayed on the right-hand side of the 123Print Designer window as shown here

20 Click the button at the bottom of the Process list to add a

process.

The Add Process dialogue box is displayed as shown here

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

21 Select the Test and Branch process

A Conditional Branching dialogue box is displayed as shown here

Using this process, one action will be performed if Y

on screen 4. Otherwise, a different action will be performed. This is referred to as Conditional Branching.

The first thing to do is to choose the Variable on which the test is to be performed. In this example the Y in variable [A2] Confirmation.

es or No input from screen 4 is stored

es has been entered

22 Select [A2] Confirmation in the If Value field

The test to be performed is to determine whether the value entered on

screen 4 is equal to Y.

23 Set the Condition field to <Equal to> 24 Type Y in the Value 2 field.

If the value is Y, the program should continue. If, however, the user

has entered N, or anything other than Y, the program should return to the screen which prompts the user to input the product name, that is, Screen 2.

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

25 Set the Then Goto field to Continue 26 Set the Else Goto to [S_02] (Screen 2).

The final Conditional Branching process entries for this example are as shown here

27 Click OK

The process setup is completed. The 123Print Designer window is displayed again, as shown below, with an entry for the Test & Branch process you just defined.

28 Click the OK button to accept the screen prompts, program flow,

and processes you have created and return to the Label Properties window

The addition of this Conditional Branch ing process to the Warehouse Shelving example is intended to show you why, where, and how you add processes to your label programs. See Chapter 5 – Using

Processes for information about the use of other processes.

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.3.2.1. Front Panel Up/Dw Numeric

General introduction As discussed in Section

methods are available for your screen prompts. This section discusses the Front Panel Up/Dw Numeric input method

and the properties you need to set up when you select this input type.

3.3.2 – Variables, Input Methods, several input

Front Panel Up/Down Numeric allows the User to input a number within the range specified (e.g. 1-100).

For Front Panel Up/Down Numeric, the property settings are as follows:

Increment

Range Min

Range Max

Default Value

Result Value

Output Format

Set the rate the number will increment with each up/down click

Set the minimum value for the range. This is the lowest number which will be accepted

Set the maximum value for the range. This is the highest number which will be accepted (maximum value = 999)

Type a value or set a default value using the contents of a variable. If you use a variable, remember to assign a value to the variable someplace in your label program

Select the variable in which the user input should be stored

Set the format you want to use when saving the user input. Several options are available such as fill blank on left, fill zeros on left. Select the appropriate format for your program design.

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3.3.2.2. External Keyboard

General introduction As discussed in Section

methods are available for your screen prompts. This section discusses the External Keyboard input m ethod and the

properties you need to set up when you select thi s input type.

3.3.2 – Variables, Input Methods, several input

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

External Keyboard allows the User to use an external keyboard for inputs to the label program screen prompts.

For External Keyboard the property settings are as follows:

Input Type

Min. Length

Max. Length

Integer

Decimal

Pattern

Extract From

Set the type of input that should be accepte d (e.g. Alphanumeric, Numeric, Deci mal, …)

Enter the minimum number of characters needed for the input to be accepted

Set the maximum number of characters allowed for the input to be accepted

Enter the number of integer positions to accept in a number entry (when using the Cash Input Type)

Enter the number of decimal positions to accept in a number entry (when using the Cash Input Type)

Set a required pattern for the input. Possible pattern masks include the letters A-Z, the numbers 0-9 and the special characters $“_ *. These pattern masks and their use are described in Chapter 5 – Using Processes. See

5.2.2 Control and Branch for a detailed

Section

description about the use of patterns. The user will not be able to input characters

that do not match the pattern. Set the starting position if extracting only

certain characters from the input

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Extract To

Force Uppercase

Default Value

Result Value

Output Format

Set the ending position if extracting only certain characters from the input

For example, if you set Extract From 4 and Extract To 6, you will extract “555” out of 0005550

Force Uppercase input. Users will not be able to enter lower case letters into a screen prompt if this option is selected

Type a value or set a default value using the contents of a variable. If you use a variable, remember to assign a value to the variable someplace in your label program

Select the variable in which the user input should be stored

Set the format you want to use when saving the input from the external keyboard. Several options are available such as fill blank on left, fill zeros on left. Select the appropriate format for your program design.

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

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3.3.2.3. External Barcode Reader

General introduction As discussed in Section

methods are available for your screen prompts. This section discusses the External Barcode Reader input method and

the properties you need to set up when you select this input type.

3.3.2 – Variables, Input Methods, several input

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

External Barcode allows the User to use an external barcode scanner for inputs to the label program.

For External Barcode reader the property settings are as follows:

Symbologies

Min. Length

Max. Length

Pattern

Extract From

Extract To

Set which types of Barcode Symbologies may be read

Set the minimum number of characters needed for the input to be accepted

Set the maximum number of characters needed for the input to be accepted

Set a required pattern for the input. Possible pattern masks include the letters A-Z, the numbers 0-9 and the special characters $“_ *. These pattern masks and their use are described in Chapter 5 – Using Processes. See

5.2.2 Control and Branch for a detailed

Section

description about the use of patterns. The user will not be able to input a value that

does not match the pattern. Set the starting position if extracting only

certain characters from the input Set the ending position if extracting only certain

characters from the input For example, if you set Extract From 4 and

Extract To 6, you will extract “555” out of 0005550

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Default Value

Result Value

Output Format

Type a value or set a default value using the contents of a variable. If you use a variable, remember to assign a value to the variable someplace in your label program

Select the variable in which the user input should be stored

Set the format you want to use when saving the input from the external barcode reader. Several options are available such as fill blank on left, fill zeros on left. Select the appropriate format for your program design.

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

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3.3.2.4. Weight Scale

General introduction

As discussed in Section input methods are available for your screen prompts.

This section discusses the Weight Scale input method and the properties you need to set up when you select thi s input type.

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.3.2 – Variables, Input Methods, several

Weight Scale allows the user to connect and use a weight scal e to give inputs to the label program running on the printer.

For Weight Scale the property settings are as follo ws:

Data to Send

 Start With

 Data  End With

Check the Data to Send checkbox if your weight scale requires a request from the printer before it will send weight information. The following options allow you to specify the format of this request. You should check the manual for your weight scale to find out how your model requires the request to be formatted

 Set a “start of text” character

for your request. You can use none, the default STX, or type in your own specific character(s)

 Enter the weight request

command to be sent to the scale

 Set an “end of text” character(s)

for your request to the weight scale

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Data to Receive

 Start with

 End With

Extract from

Received Data

 From Position  To Position

Validation Mode

Repeat Sequence

Result Variable

Output Format

This function is automatically active and cannot be unchecked. This allows your printer to receive and interpret the data from the weight scale. The following options allow you to indicate to your label program the format of the data coming from the weight scale. Check your weight scale manual for message formatting details.

 Set the “start of text character”

 Your label program can

Check the checkbox beside this option if you wish to extract only a specific set of characters from the received data

 Set the starting position for the  Set the ending position of the

For example, if you set From Position 4 and To Position 6, you

will extract “555” out of 0005550

Set the mode with which the data received from the weight scale should be validated. For example, you can select to only validate an input after having received two consecutive identical weight measurements from the weight scale

If you have set the Validation Mode to validate only after having received the same data twice, you should specify the delay (in seconds) you want to wait between accepting consecutive inputs from the scale. This will allow you to eliminate any bounce from the scale and be confident that the weight measurement you receive is accurate.

Select the variable in which the input from the weight scale should be stored

Set the format you want to use when saving the weight data from the scale. Several options are available such as fill blank on left, fill zeros on left, replace leading zeros with blanks, etc. Select the appropriate format for your program design.

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

the label program will look for as the start of a valid data stream from the scale

determine that it has receive d all the data from the scale in one of two ways—by looking for an “end of text” character(s) in the data stream from the scale, or by receiving a specified number of characters after the STX has been received. Select the appropriate “end of text” character(s), or select <Number of char>. If you select this option, enter in the accompanying property box the exact number of characters to be received from the weight scale.

extraction extraction

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Following is an example to illustrate the use of some of the options described above.

If the request to ask your scale to send weight information has the following structure: <STX> as a start of text character, followed by the command SP64, and ending with a <CRLF> (Carriage Return, Line Feed), then your Data To Send settings should look as shown below:

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

If, in return, you weight scale’s return data stream starts with <STX>, followed by the weight, and ends with a <CR>, yo ur Data To Receive settings should look as shown below

When the entire data stream is received from the scale, the <STX> and <CR> are automatically stripped off—leaving only the information you are requesting, i.e. the weight.

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The remaining weight data may be further refined by selecting an output format, such as stripping leading zeros. The result may then be saved in a variable for additional processing or printing.

Below shows what the complete Input Method properties might be for a Weight Scale input.

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

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3.3.2.5. Select Value from List

General introduction

As discussed in Section input methods are available for your screen prompts.

This section discusses the Select Value from List input method and the properties you need to set up when you select this input type.

3.3.2 – Variables, Input Methods, several

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Select Value From List allows the User to select the input value from a predefined list of values or from existing variables.

For Select Value From List the property settings are as follows:

Variable/Value selection

Result Variable

Following is an example to illustrate the use of some of the options

described above.

Create the list from which the user will choose the desired input. Create the list by typing entries directly in the property table provided. Alternatively, select existing variables to create the list. To select a variable, click the

variables entry and select the desired variable from the Variables list box.

Select the variable in which the user input should be stored

icon beside the table

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3.3.2.6. Select Value from File

General introduction As discussed in Section

methods are available for your screen prompts. This section discusses the Select Value from File input method and the

properties you need to set up when you select thi s input type.

3.3.2 – Variables, Input Methods, several input

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Select Value From File allows the user to select the input from a predefined lookup file (please reference Section

For Select Value From File the property settings are as follows:

Local File Name

Select Record Using Field

Start Browse With

Keyboard Input to

Search Data (F1)

Copy Value to Variable

Select the file to be used to lookup the desired input. Files are available for selection here only once they have been added to your label program as Lookup Files

Select the field in your file which you want to use as your browse or search field.

Indicate from which point in the file you want to begin your browse.

Check this checkbox to allow the user to enter, via an external keyboard, the item for which they want to search in the file. The user first presses the F1 key to enable the keyboard entry.

Select the variable(s) in which the user input should be stored

3.4 – Lookup Files).

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Example Following is an example to illustrate the use of some of the options

described above. This example involves a product file (Product.dat) with 4 fields per

record. The first field in each record is a Product Code. If in the Select Record Using Field you select the Product Code, then this is the field that is used for browsing and searching.

If the Keyboard Input checkbox is not checked, the Product Codes are displayed on the printer and the user simply scrolls through the list until the desired entry is found. The user then presses <ENTER> to select that entry as the input.

If the Keyboard Input checkbox is checked, the user presses F1 to enter, via a keyboard, the item they want to lookup. The user input is then used to initiate a search in the file. This approach can help find an item more quickly than browsing for the item by scrolling through the entire list. If a match is found, the entry is displayed and t he user presses <ENTER> to select that entry as the input. The user can also use this as the starting point to browse for a different item to enter.

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Once the desired entry is found, the fields from that record are saved in

the variables you assign in the Copy Value to Variable fields. In the Result Data table, click the

assign a Result Variable. In the above example, when the desired Product Code is found in the

file, all the fields in that record are copied to local user variables [A4], [A5], [A6] and [A7]. You are not required to assign a local user variable to every field in the file record. You only need to assign local user variables for the data you want to save for further processing or printing.

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beside each field to which you want to

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3.3.2.7. Display Data

General introduction As discussed in Section

methods are available for your screen prompts. This section discusses the Display Data input method and the properties

you need to set up when you select this input type.

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.3.2 – Variables, Input Methods, several input

Display Data allows the user to view the data stored in a variable. For Display Data the property settings are as follows:

Display Value

Extract From

Extract To

Display Time

<ENTER> to continue

Type a value or set a value using the contents of a variable. If you use a variable, remember to assign a value to the variable someplace in your label program

Set the starting position if extracting only certain characters from the input

Set the ending position if extracting only certain characters from the input

For example, if you set Extract From 4 and Extract To 6, you will extract “555” out of 0005550

Set the number of seconds this screen should be displayed before the program proceeds to the next screen

Check this checkbox to force the user to press the <ENTER> button to proceed. At the same time, set the Display Time to zero. If the display time is not equal to zero and the display time expires without a user <ENTER>, the program will continue without waiting for the user to press the <ENTER> button.

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.3.3. Mapping

General introduction Mapping is the function in 123 Print that allows y ou to convert a static

Mapping The last step to complete your label program is to make the printed

label or label template into a dynamic label. Firstly, you require a static label that has the layout you want for the

dynamic label. Next, you must associate this label with your 123 Print project as described in Section as a template, map the variable data to the elements on the static label.

The label to be mapped must be of the format *.btw, *.dpl, or *.txt providing the *.txt file contains DPL code .

This section discusses 123 Print’s Mapping function to create labels that print with variable content.

label display the variable data entered using the Variables function as described in Section label involves “mapping” the variables to the elements on the selected static label.

As an example, consider the label, Location MCL2.btw, that was added to the 123 Print project in Section

3.3.2 - Variables. Printing the variable data on a

3.3 – Labels. Then, using the static label

3.3 – Labels.

To map this label, in this label’s Label Pr operties dialogue box,

1 Click the Mapping button

The Mapping window is displayed as shown below

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In the Mapping window, you will see the various elem ents (text fields,

barcodes, etc) of the given label. If you have BarTender installed and activated on your system and are

using a BarTender label, you will see a thumbnail of your label on the left of the Mapping window.

The Mapping window gives you the following details about your label:

Type of label element is indicated by a variety of icons that are

displayed if BarTender is installed and you are working with *.btw label:



icon identifies a text element using an internal print er font

icon identifies a text element using a scalable font



icon identifies a barcode element



icon identifies a barcode element with human readable text

  

X and Y position of the field on the label The original static (default) da ta for the field (Original Field Data) The data which should replace the default data (Replac e By)

Replace By Replace By allows you to associate your different Variables with the

label elements, so that what is stor ed in the selected variable(s) will replace the original label data at the time of printing.

Simply double-click in the Replace By column on the element you w ish to replace and select the Variable whose content should be used instead of the original default data. You may also enter a fixed value instead of a variable.

If you want to replace a graphic image, the variable should contain the name of the graphic image as it is called on the printer after being downloaded to the printer.

icon identifies an image element icon identifies the default print quantity for this label

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Note: If you are using BarTender to create your labels and if you want to map a variable graphic image to a graphic element on a label, be sure the label only includes one image. Use native fonts. For barcodes, choose the Print Method option: “Bar codes and human readable text controlled by the printer.”

For more information please see Appendix E – Mapping Label Graphic

Elements.

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Returning to the Warehouse Shelving example started in Section

Variables

would be mapped using the variables created in the example.

, the following describes how the LocationMCL2.btw label

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.3.2 -

2 Double-click on the Replace By field for the first entry in the

Mapping table – this element is the first of the two Barcodes on the example label

The Variables list is displayed as shown here

3 Select the Location variable ( [A0] Location ) 4 Click OK

The variable [A0] Location is mapped to the first barcode as shown below. When the label is printed, the contents of the [A0] Location variable will be printed as a barcode where the barcode “location” was printed in the static label.

5 Double-click on the Replace By field for the second entry in the

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Mapping table – the Human Readable beneath the first Bar code

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Again the Variables list is displayed. Select the variabl e to be associated

with this text field. When the label is pr inted, the contents of that variable will be printed as text where the te xt “location” was printed beneath the barcode on the static label.

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

6 Repeat the above steps for the remaining element s of the label.

Select an element and assign a variable to it.

If no Replace By assignment is made for a given element, the original static data will be printed for that element.

When all the element-to-variable mapping assignments are completed, the mapping of the example label looks as follows

7 Click OK to return to the Label Properties window

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Result Labels The static LocationMCL2.btw label used in this Warehouse Shelv ing

example looks as follows:

When you run the label program you created for the Warehouse

Shelving example, your screen prompts will request Location and Product Name for a given product. If you input a location of A78 – 25Z and a product name of OAK BOOKCASE, then the variables you created will contain the following:

 [A0] Location = A78 – 25Z  [A1] Product_Name = OAK BOOKCASE

When you print the label using these variables and using the mapping assignments made in the Mapping sectio n, the resulting dynamically created label will look as shown here:

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

8 Click OK to return to the Labels List window as shown below

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Labels List When you return to the Labels List window, an entry will have been

added for your label. Notice that several buttons are now active across the bottom of the

window. These represent actions you can perform on the label. Right click on the label entry to get a more exhaustive list of the

possible label actions—Add, Properties, Delete, Insert, Duplicate, Generate DPL File, Move Up and Move Down. Select the desired action.

123 Print allows you to view the labels associated with your project in two different ways—as a list or as thumbnails.

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

To see your labels in a list view, click the view list the Labels List window. Your labels will be displayed in the Labels List as shown here

Notice that in the Type column, icons are displayed with your label

entry:

The Process icon indicates that you have processes associated

with this label

icon on the left of

The Mapping icon indicates that you are mapping certain

elements of this label

The BarTender icon indicates that this is a BarTender *.btw

label

If you have BarTender installed on your system and you are working with *.btw label files, you can also view your labels as thumbnails. This allows you to quickly recognize which label you want to work with when you have several labels attached to your project.

To see your *.btw labels as thumbnails, click the view list the left of the Labels List window. Your labels will be displayed in the Labels List as shown here

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Adding more labels To add a new label, simply click on the button.

If you wish to add a new label and have it appear before the existing label in your Labels List, you should use the

If you wish to duplicate your existing la bels, including the screens associated with it – so as to only need to make minor modifications for the second label rather than having to start from nothing – you can simply right-click on the existing label and choose duplicate.

If you wish to re-arrange the sequence in which the labels appear in your labels list, you can do so using the

right-hand corner of the window.

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

arrows in the bottom

button.

Deleting a label

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If you delete a label from your project, please note that the label and all of the screens associated with it are fully and permanently removed from your project. They cannot be recovered, even if you do not save the project.

It is therefore highly recommended that you always save the original label as a master copy in your default label folder. 123 Print will automatically create a working copy of the label when asso ciating it with your project. If you proceed this way, only the working copy will be deleted.

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.4. Lookup Files

General introduction 123 Print allows you to use lookup files in your printer project. Using

Lookup files

printer inputs, such as a weight scale, and a lookup file you could print, for example, labels that include a product code, product description, product weight, and a date stamp.

This section describes how to create Lookup files for your 123 Print projects.

Click the Lookup Files button side of the main 123 Print window or on the menu bar:

on the left-hand

1 Click Project 2 Click Lookup Files

The Lookup Files window is displayed as shown here

Lookup files Initially the only Lookup File optio n available is Add Lookup File.

Add Lookup File

However, once a Lookup File has been added, other file options become available.

You may add a Lookup File to your 123 Print project. On the Main Lookup Files window:

1 Click on the Add button 2 Add the Lookup File. See Sections 3.4.1 - 3.4.3 for details 3 Click OK

Modify Lookup

Properties

You may modify the Lookup File Properties at any time, on the main Lookup Files window:

1 Click on the Modify button 2 Modify the properties as appropriate 3 Click OK

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Lookup File Data To review and edit the data in the Lookup file at any time, on the main

Lookup Files window:

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

1 Click on the Data button 2 Edit the data. See Section 3.4.4 – Edit Lookup File Data for details

Delete Lookup File To delete a Lookup File from your project,

1 Select the file you want to delete 2 Click on the Delete button

You are prompted to confirm the request to delete a Lookup File.

3 Click Yes to proceed with the deletion

The Lookup file is deleted from your project without any further warning.

If you delete a lookup file from your project, please note that the lookup file and all of its contents are fully and permanently removed from your project. They cannot be recovered, even if you do not save the project.

It is therefore highly recommended that you always save a backup of the lookup file in a safe folder.

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3.4.1. Add Lookup File

Add Lookup file When adding a Lookup File, you can either create a lookup file from

scratch or import data from another data source to create the lookup file. The file you create is of ty pe *.dat.

If you used the default paths when installing 123 Print, your lookup files are saved in:

C:\123Print\Projects\<your project>.prj\lookup On the Lookup Files window:

1 Click the Add button

The Lookup File Properties screen is displayed as shown here

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

A file code is automatically assigned to your lookup file. Use this code in

your 123 Project when referring to this lookup file. The file codes include 99 predefined two character codes; t he first is

<LA>; the last is <OV>. 123 Print automatically assigns the next available reference code when you add a new lookup file to your project.

The following discusses the rest of the lookup file properties.

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

2 Give this lookup file a name, for example, Product Description

The next lookup file property is the Memory property. The lookup file

may be saved in flash, RAM, or optional flash memory on your Datamax printer when you download your 123 Print project and lookup files into your Datamax printer.

If you select <Default>, the lookup file is stored wherever the MCLClient is stored. This is typically in Flash memory.

3 Indicate where you want this file to be saved on the printer

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

As shown below, you can leave the data in the lookup file unsorted, or

you can sort it using the first field or the first and second fields of the file records. The lookup file will be sorted and saved according to this sort selection.

4 Select the desired sort field(s), if any.

The next file property is the Separator property. 123 Print provides a variety of separators that can be used as field delimiters in the lookup file you are creating.

5 Select the desired field separator, if any.

If you want to create a lookup file from scratch, you have now entered all the properties necessary to create the file.

6 Click OK

The lookup file is created as shown below

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

Add Lookup File from

Scratch

Add Lookup File from

Import

To see how to put data in the Lookup File you hav e created, please see

Section

3.4.3 – Add Lookup File from Scratch

To create your lookup file from an existing data source,

1 Complete the Lookup File Properties as described above. 2 Click on the Import button in the Lookup File Properties

To see how to create your Lookup File with data from an existing data

source, please see Section

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.4.2. Add Lookup File from Import File

Add Lookup File from

import file

In 123 Print, you can create a Lookup File from an existing data source. Several file types are valid for import:

*.dat, *.txt, *.xls, *.cvs

First, complete the Lookup File Properties as described in Section

Add Lookup File

.

3.4 –

1 Click on the Import button

The Select a file – Import structure & data window is displayed as shown here

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To select the file to be imported,

2 Enter a path and filename, or

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3 Click on the browse icon

If you click browse, an Add a Lookup File browse window is displayed as shown here

4 Select the appropriate file type of the file to be imported 5 Navigate to the file you want to use 6 Click Open

The file you select appears in the Select a file – Import structure & data screen as shown here

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If you are importing a *.dat, *.txt., or *.cvs file:

7 Indicate which separator (if any) is being used to delimit the fields

in the Lookup File you are importing. This step is not required for an excel spreadsheet import. 123 Print knows how the fields of a *.xls file are delimited.

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

If you are importing a file, such as an excel file, in which the first row of

your spreadsheet contains column headers that you want to use as field descriptors in your lookup file:

8 Check the checkbox beside First line = Column Title

To preview the structure and data of the lookup file you are creating

from the file being imported:

9 Indicate how many lines you want to view by editing the value

beside Number of Lines, or use the arrows to increment or

decrement the value in the field

10 Click on the Preview button

The first few lines of the imported file are displayed as shown below

Number of Lines is useful if you are importing from a large file and do

not need to view all the data to be satisfied that the import fields and data are being properly processed in creating the lookup file.

11 Click OK

As shown below, the Lookup File Properties window is displayed again

with the fields and field lengths filled in to reflect the data found in the imported file. The fields of your lookup file are from the column headers of the excel spreadsheet. The field lengths are calculated using the data found in the related spreadsheet columns by using the numb er of characters from the largest data entry found in said co lumn.

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The lookup will be created using the properties given here, using these

field names, field lengths, field separators, etc.

Any of the properties such as the field names or field length may be

edited at this time.

Edit the Product Description field leng th to 25, for example, and the Manufacturer field length to 20

Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

12 Double Click on the field to be edited 13 Enter the revised value for the field

You may also decide to sort the data at this time, if you did not do so earlier, in the Sort On entry field

14 Select the desired option

A key

icon is displayed beside the sele cted sort field, as shown here

15 Click OK

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

The Lookup Files window is displayed with an entry for the Product

Description lookup file being created.

You have now created a Lookup File from a data source. The resulting

Product Description.dat file for this example looks like this:

If you decide you would like a different separator, select the desired

separator in the Lookup Files Properties window and click OK. This example changes the separator to a semi-colon.

You are prompted to confirm

16 Click Yes

The revised Product Description.dat file now looks like the following

212 |Datamax 208 |Datamax 210 |Datamax

1234567890123;DMX A-4212 ;Datamax 2345678901234;DMX I3456789012345;DMX M4567890123456;DMX A-

212 ;Datamax 208 ;Datamax 210 ;Datamax

If necessary, you can modify the data in the Lookup File. (Please see

Section

3.4.4 – Edit Lookup File Data

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Chapter 3 : Creating a Project

3.4.3. Add Lookup File from Scratch

Add Lookup File from

scratch

In 123 Print, you can create a Lookup File from Scratch. First, complete the Lookup File Properties as described in Section 3.4 –

Add Lookup File

123 Print assigns the next available file code <LB> to this new file.

.

Now create the structure for your lookup file

1 Enter field names for the data in the Lookup File you are creating 2 Enter the field lengths for the fields you created in step 1

This example shows the possible structure for a Purchase Orders Lookup File.

3 Click OK

October 2007 Page

100

Datamax 123 Print v1.1x User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

123 Print v1.1x

i. Preface

Background

Table of Contents

1. Primer

Overview

1.1. What is 123 Print

General introduction This section gives an overview of 123 Print, its purpose and its benefits.

Purpose The purpose of 123 Print is to:

Benefits 123 Print:

General introduction This section shows some sample labels to give you an idea of the

Sample labels The sample labels shown here were designed using Seagull’ s

General introduction 123 Print structures your project flow using a combination of screens

User Interface Every 123 Print project follows a pre-defined screen flow. You configure

Labels If you are only concerned with static labels, you only need to use the

2. Getting Started

Overview

2.1. Installation

General introduction This section describes how to install 123 Print.

Installation

Starting 123 Print Once 123 Print is installed, start it by:

2.2. Activation

General introduction This section describes the activation process for 123 Print.

Activation The first time you run 123 Print, you will be prompted to Activate the

Starting 123 Print When the activation is completed, 123 Print is started automatically. To

2.3. General Setup

General introduction This section describes the setup of 123 Print to allow it to operate in

Setup To enter 123 Print’s setup, on the menu bar:

2.3.1. DPL Connection

DPL Connection Setup your printer interface fo r DPL Mode communications. In the

2.3.2. MCL Connection

MCL Connection Next setup yo ur printer interface for MCL Mode communications. In the

2.3.3. Local Settings

Local Settings Next, setup project simulation options. In the Setup dialogue box:

2.3.4. Others

Others Set up the values for 123 Print’s integration with BarTender or DPL

3. Creating a Project

Overview

3.1. Project Description

General introduction This section describes how to begin creating your 123 Print project.

New Project Start first by creating a new project. On the menu bar:

3.2. User Interface

General introduction This section describes the User Interface core screens of your 123 Print

User Interface

Text Display

3.2.1. Welcome Screen

Welcome Screen The Welcome screen is the first screen the user will see when they start

3.2.2. Select Label Screen

Select Label screen The Select Label screen is displayed after the Welcome screen has been

3.2.3. Quantity to Print Screen

3.2.4. Print Error Message Screen

3.3. Labels

Label Properties

3.3.1. Edit

Edit

3.3.2. Variables

General introduction

Variables

Variables

Text Display

Processes

3.3.2.1. Front Panel Up/Dw Numeric

3.3.2.2. External Keyboard

3.3.2.3. External Barcode Reader

3.3.2.4. Weight Scale

General introduction

3.3.2.5. Select Value from List

General introduction

3.3.2.6. Select Value from File

3.3.2.7. Display Data

3.3.3. Mapping

Simply double-click in the Replace By column on the element you w ish to replace and select the Variable whose content should be used instead of the original default data. You may also enter a fixed value instead of a variable.

Adding more labels To add a new label, simply click on the button.

Deleting a label

3.4. Lookup Files

Lookup files