[ic] Linux label printers

Grant emailgrant at gmail.com
Wed Jan 19 17:22:51 EST 2005


> > Zebra printers are not capable of printing a TIF. Newer zebra printers are
> > capable of printing PCX files.  Most of the older ones use a GRF format.
> > The GRF format is an uncompressed pure hexadecimal data stream without any
> > of the PCX header information.  The simplest way to create a GRF file is
> > to parse the PCX header for the size and then strip off the first 128
> > bytes.
> >
> > To quote my zebra users guide the format of the command to download
> >   graphics is:
> > ~DGd:o.x,t,w,datastream
> > where ~DG puts the printer into graphic mode
> > d = destination name dfault value R: (DRAM)
> > o = name of image
> > x = extension (always GRF)
> > t = total bytes
> > w = byte per row
> > data = actual data stream in uncompressed hex
> >
> > Here is a small program to print a triangle:
> > ~DGR:TRIANGLE.GRF,42,6,
> > F0000000000000
> > FF000000000000
> > FFFF0000000000
> > FFFFFF00000000
> > FFFFFFFF000000
> > FFFFFFFFFF0000
> > 00000000000000
> > ^XA
> > ^F050,50
> > ^XGTRIANGLE.GRF,1,1^FS
> > ^XZ
> >
> > The DGR command loads the stripped PCX file into the printers RAM. The ^XA
> > marks the start the label command string.  The ^F050,50 sets the X and Y
> > coordinate to 50 dots from the left and 50 dots down from the top.  The
> > ^XG command print the triangle prints the triangle.  The 1,1 on the end
> > of the XG command controls the magnfication (scaling) on the X and Y
> >   axis.  The ^XZ command renders the label.
> >
> > This may sound complicated but once you get the hang of it, it's not too
> > difficult.  The hardest part is parsing the PCX header information to get
> > the PCX size and then stripping off the header information.
> >
> > Bruce
> 
> Hey Bruce, I've got ImageMagick converting the TIF labels I get from
> USPS to PCX.  My Zebra LP 2844 is supposed to support PCX:
> 
> "Graphic features: Line and box drawing & PCX graphic storage"
> http://www.zebra.com/PA/Printers/product_LP2844_hs.htm
> 
> I'm having no luck getting the Zebra to print it with the methods I've
> tried though.  I haven't tried setting up commands like you outlined
> above, but it sounds like your printer might be a bit older than mine?
> 
> Do you know if the printer should be in line mode or page mode?  I
> believe mine is in page mode, but Zebra's instructions for switching
> to line mode don't seem to work.  I'll call them if you think I should
> be in line mode.
> 
> - Grant

I wanted to mention that you can option to have the USPS label
returned as a PDF.  Would that be easier to make print on this Zebra? 
>From what I can tell, the PCX should be ideal.

- Grant


More information about the interchange-users mailing list