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Printing to Zebra S4M Using Java and ZPL II

with 17 comments

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#/etc/cups/printers.conf
<Printer Zebra>
Info
Location
DeviceURI socket://10.1.1.5:9100
State Idle
StateTime 1223445299
Accepting Yes
Shared Yes
JobSheets none none
QuotaPeriod 0
PageLimit 0
KLimit 0
OpPolicy default
ErrorPolicy stop-printer
Option orientation-requested 3
</Printer>

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import javax.print.Doc;
import javax.print.DocFlavor;
import javax.print.DocPrintJob;
import javax.print.PrintException;
import javax.print.PrintService;
import javax.print.PrintServiceLookup;
import javax.print.SimpleDoc;
import javax.print.attribute.PrintServiceAttribute;
import javax.print.attribute.standard.PrinterName;
 
public class SimplePrint {
 
   public static void main(String[] args) {
 
       try {
 
           PrintService psZebra = null;
           String sPrinterName = null;
           PrintService[] services = PrintServiceLookup.lookupPrintServices(null, null);
 
           for (int i = 0; i < services.length; i++) {
 
               PrintServiceAttribute attr = services[i].getAttribute(PrinterName.class);
               sPrinterName = ((PrinterName) attr).getValue();
 
               if (sPrinterName.toLowerCase().indexOf("zebra") >= 0) {
                   psZebra = services[i];
                   break;
               }
           }
 
           if (psZebra == null) {
               System.out.println("Zebra printer is not found.");
               return;
           }
           DocPrintJob job = psZebra.createPrintJob();
 
           String s = "^XA^FO100,40^BY3^B3,,30^FD123ABC^XZ";
 
           byte[] by = s.getBytes();
           DocFlavor flavor = DocFlavor.BYTE_ARRAY.AUTOSENSE;
           Doc doc = new SimpleDoc(by, flavor, null);
           job.print(doc, null);
 
       } catch (PrintException e) {
           e.printStackTrace();
       }      
   }
}

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import java.io.FileInputStream;
import org.apache.commons.net.ftp.FTP;
import org.apache.commons.net.ftp.FTPClient;
 
public class FtpPrint {
 
   public static void main(String[] args) {
 
       try {
 
           FTPClient f = new FTPClient();            
 
           f.connect("10.1.127.3");
           f.login("anonymous", "");
           f.setFileType(FTP.ASCII_FILE_TYPE);                            
 
           FileInputStream in = new FileInputStream("/path/to/file");
           if (f.storeFile("filename", in)) {
               System.out.println("Upload ok");
           }                
 
           f.logout();
           f.disconnect();
 
       } catch (Exception e) {
           e.printStackTrace();
       }
   }
}

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import java.io.DataOutputStream;
import java.net.Socket;
 
public class SocketPrint {
 
   public static void main(String argv[]) throws Exception {
 
       for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
           Socket clientSocket = new Socket("10.1.127.3", 9100);
           DataOutputStream outToServer = new DataOutputStream(clientSocket.getOutputStream());
           outToServer.writeBytes("^XA^FO100,40^BY3^B3,,30^FD123ABC^XZ");
           clientSocket.close();
       }
   }
}

17 Responses to 'Printing to Zebra S4M Using Java and ZPL II'

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1. ty this helps! is there a way to test this codeif you dont have a thermal printer – on a normal dev system? i guess can make a port watcher … but anyway if nothing else will test on client dev.

   Tushar Kapila

   4 Jul 08 at 09:01 AM
   
2. @Tushar Kapila

   I’m not sure about that, but the best way is of course to test it on your client’s printer and the codes above definitely work. I tested it using JRE 1.6 and Zebra S4M. Good luck !

   amree

   4 Jul 08 at 02:35 PM
   
3. UPDATE: This only works on S4M with a PrintServer attached to it. I still don’t know how to print directly using USB cable. If anyone has an idea, please contact me or put your link in the comment box. Thanks :)

   amree

   18 Jul 08 at 06:14 PM
   
4. In Windows you can use “Enable Printer Pooling” to merge the USB port to LPT1. You can then print to LPT1 programmatically and it will go to the printer.

   It’s in the Printer properties under Ports.

   cd

   30 Jul 08 at 04:27 AM
   
5. @cd

   I’m not sure how can I apply your information in solving problems printing to S4M without a PrintServer. Care to explain more ?

   amree

   30 Jul 08 at 11:07 PM
   
6. Hello,

   I print to Zebras S4M and S600 anytime by sending ZPL II command in a following way:

   Install Zebra printer (I use standard TCP/IP port). Go to properties of the printer, advanced tab, and change printer driver to “generic text”. (Alternatively, you could just create it as text printer).

   Now, print txt file with ZPL II commands inside directly to that “generic / text” printer. This is it.

   Good luck,
   Oleg.
   OCB Reprographics, Inc.

   Oleg

   8 Oct 08 at 04:02 AM
   
7. @Oleg

   That’s what I’m looking for, thanks for your comment. I’ve updated my post accordingly.

   amree

   23 Oct 08 at 09:29 AM
   
8. hello

   I am trying to work on implementing a similar thing on Zebra TLP2844 which uses EPL. I used the same code that you have used to print out a barcode. I have various requirements of printing text, graphics and a barcode. At the moment, with your code, I am able to connect to the printer in that, I am able to open a tiny printer window but there are no jobs queued in it.
   The printer is connected to my machine via a USB cable. At the moment I am trying to print just a line in the EPL language. I am not sure what it is that I am doing wrong, do I have to change the DocFlavor as it seems to me that the program is connecting to the printer but not printing the job.

   Any help in resolving this issue will be appreciated.

   Thanks.

   lakshmi

   14 Nov 08 at 12:28 AM
   
9. @lakshmi

   I’m sorry, can’t really help you since I don’t have any Zebra connected using USB port, but if I do know about it, I’ll update my post accordingly.

   amree

   9 Feb 09 at 08:28 PM
   
10. The easest way is to connect the printer using the serial cable using an USB to serial converter like we do. This guarantees bidirectional communication in one easy step.

    You can also just use the parallel port, however the port must be set in bidirectional mode in the BIOS to make sure the communication is bidirectional. On some older PC’s such a bidirectional port is not always available, so the serial channel is always the safest.

    You will of course need to use one of the serial / parallel implementations for java, such as the RXTX library or the Java Comm library.

    Federico

    21 Apr 09 at 04:43 PM
    
11. i know the above works for text files. if i have a pdf file how do i go about printing to Zebra Printer. I tried reading the pdf file as text and sending it to Zebra using the same method as above…but Zebra Printer Tells me it received x bytes of data but does not physically print anything…Any help is appreciated!

    @pree

    16 Sep 09 at 04:12 AM
    
12. @pree

    I think you need a way to read the pdf file to a normal text and then write it to the printer. But of course, that’s just a suggestion, I don’t know how to do it, maybe Google can help you with that. Good luck!

    amree

    18 Sep 09 at 04:12 PM
    
13. It’s not the Java way, but I write the ZPL or EPL code to a temporary file and then print it using the operating system’s ‘command line’ print program:

    Windows: print /d:\\WINDOWS\PRINTER_PATH filename.epl
    Linux/OS X: lpr -l -P CUPS_PRINTERNAME filename.epl

    chris_farley

    23 Oct 09 at 09:41 PM
    
14. You can use a passthrough Mode on the Zebra Printer driver.

    I installed the latest Zebra printer driver for my S4M that came with it.
    Go to Printers and find your S4M, right click and select properties to display the driver info.
    On the General tab, click the Printing Preferences… button. On the Printing Preferences dialog, select the Options tab. Make sure “Enable Passthrough Mode” is checked. Click the options button next to it to check/change the start and end sequence for passthrough mode. By default, the start sequence is “${“, and the end sequence is “}$”.
    So if you put that around you ZPL and then print, it should work. I am connected over USB.

    ${ }$

    Sean

    9 Nov 09 at 11:05 PM
    
15. sir how could i print in a web app using a java applet for a datamax barcode printer

    Rencie

    22 Jan 10 at 08:36 PM
    
16. We also had major issues with settings and all for our Windows applications.

    “Zebra Setup Utilities” is a great tool to config your Zebra. Make a custom .zpl file and upload using this tool is only 1 of many possibilities.

    Download tool here from the manufactors site (www.zebr.com):
    http://www.zebra.com/id/zebra/na/en/index/drivers_downloads/utilities/other_utilities/zebra_setup_utilities.html

    Or, if the download location is changed/link doesn’t work, find it this way:
    Home > Drivers & Downloads > Utilities > Other
    Utilities > Zebra Setup Utilities

    SuperTrooper (compenz.nl)

    28 May 10 at 06:31 PM
    
17. Great blog, been having problems myself with my Zebra Lp2844 barcode label printer. But after reading this it has helped me no end.

    Many Thanks

    Yan Happler

    15 Jun 10 at 10:14 PM
    

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