ZDesigner Windows Printer Driver

Build v2.X

Table of Contents
Installation
Supported Printers
Tips and Advice
Known Issues
Change Log
Getting Updates

Welcome!

This version of the ZDesigner Windows Printer driver offers many new features and user conveniences. Currently shipping Zebra printers using CPCL, EPL2 or ZPL II can now be driven using one set of driver files. A common user interface for all of the printer languages makes it easy to work with any of the supported printers listed below. New utilities, such as a Font and Graphic Downloader and a Status Monitor have been included.

1. Installation

This driver is supported on 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Windows OS (2000, XP, 2003, 2008, Vista and Win 7).

(Windows and Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.)

How to Install Zebra Printer Drivers

Drivers can be installed from the Windows "Add Printer Wizard" or using the Installation Utility that came with the driver. NOTE: your user account must have the necessary rights to install a driver otherwise contact your system administrator for further assistance.

To install using the Installation Utility:

1. Uncompress the driver files. Be sure to note the location that the files are placed into.

2. Run the PrnInst.exe utility.

3. Follow the prompts to select the printer model and port that you will be using.

4. The Utility will ask if you want to install the Font and Graphic Downloader and Status Monitor - select these items if they are needed in your application.

5. The Utility will install the appropriate files.

To install the driver using the Windows "Add Printer Wizard":

1. Uncompress the driver files. Be sure to note the location that the files are placed into.

2. Using the START menu select "Settings" and then "Printers". The Printers folder will open up.

3. Double click on "Add Printer" and follow the prompts to begin the installation process.

4. When you come to the dialog screen that lists Manufacturers and Printers, select "Have disk".

5. Point to the location that contains the uncompressed driver files. If you are running a 32-bit system, look in the Win32 directory, if you are using a 64-bit system look in the Win64 directory.

6. Select the ZBRN.inf file and click "OK" to continue.

7. Select your printer model from the list of supported printers and click the Next button to continue.

8. If your printer is connected via a RS-232 serial connection, select "No" to the question "Would you like to print a test page?". This is suggested to avoid an error message in case you have not configured the port on the computer to match the serial settings on the printer. If your printer is connected via a parallel port and is ready to print, select "Yes" to print the test page.

9. Follow the remaining prompts to complete the Wizard. Once the install is done your printer driver is now installed and ready for use.

2. Supported Printers

The following Zebra printers are supported in this version:

105SL 203DPI
105SL 300DPI
110PAX3 203DPI
110PAX3 300DPI
110PAX3 600DPI
110PAX4 203DPI
110PAX4 300DPI
110XiIII Plus 200DPI
110XiIII Plus 300DPI
110XiIII Plus 600DPI
110Xi4 203 dpi
110Xi4 300 dpi
110Xi4 600 dpi
140XiIII
140XiIII Plus
140Xi4 203 dpi
170PAX3 203DPI
170PAX3 300DPI
170PAX4 203DPI
170PAX4 300DPI
170XiIII
170XiIII Plus
170XiIII Plus 200DPI
170Xi4 203 dpi
170Xi4 300 dpi
220XiIII
220XiIII Plus
220XiIII Plus 300DPI
220Xi4 203 dpi
220Xi4 300 dpi
2746e
888-DT
888-TT
90XiIII
90XiIII Plus
96XiIII
96XiIII Plus
DA402
GK420d
GK420d (EPL)
GK420t
GK420t (EPL)
GX420d
GX420d (EPL)
GX420t
GX420t (EPL)
GX430t
GX430t (EPL)
HC100 300 dpi
LP 2824
LP 2824-Z
LP 2824 Plus (EPL)
LP 2824 Plus (ZPL)
LP 2844
LP 2844-Z
MZ 220
MZ 320
P4T (CPCL)
P4T (ZPL)
QL 220 Plus
QL 320 Plus
QL 420 Plus
R-402
R110PAX4 LH-203DPI
R110PAX4 LH-300DPI
R110PAX4 RH-203DPI
R110PAX4 RH-300DPI
R110Xi 200DPI
R110Xi 300DPI
R110Xi HF 200DPI
R110Xi HF 300DPI
R110XiIII Plus
R170Xi 200DPI
R170Xi 300DPI
R2844-Z
R4Mplus
RP4T (ZPL)
RW 220
RW 420
RZ400 200 dpi
RZ400 300 dpi
RZ600 200 dpi
RZ600 300 dpi
S400
S4M-203dpi EPL
S4M-203dpi ZPL
S4M-300dpi ZPL
S600
T402
TLP 2824
TLP 2824-Z
TLP 2824 Plus (EPL)
TLP 2824 Plus (ZPL)
TLP 2844
TLP 2844-Z
TLP 3842
TLP 3844-Z
Z4M 203DPI
Z4M 300DPI
Z4Mplus 203DPI
Z4Mplus 300DPI
Z6M 203DPI
Z6M 300DPI
Z6Mplus 203DPI
Z6Mplus 300DPI
ZM400 200 dpi (EPL)
ZM400 200 dpi (ZPL)
ZM400 300 dpi (ZPL)
ZM400 600 dpi (ZPL)
ZM600 200 dpi (EPL)
ZM600 200 dpi (ZPL)
ZM600 300 dpi (ZPL)

3. Tips and Advice

1. Use the Use Printer Settings option on the Advanced Tab to stop the driver from sending the printer configuration and save configuration commands. This has the effect of improving throughput in some applications.

2. For ZPL printers, use the use ZIP compression option on the Other Settings dialog to cause the driver to create compressed graphics. This has the effect of improving throughput in some applications.

3. Windows Vista has enhanced control over permissions. When installing in Vista, it is recommended that an Administrator account be used.

4. Microsoft Word splits strings into single characters. To avoid this select "Merge characters" option on driver's "Printer settings" tab.

5. The Status Monitor regularly checks the printer for current status information. When the driver is being used over a network connection, this can have the effect of consuming connection ports that would otherwise be used for accepting print jobs at the printer. If the Status Monitor is in use and you are experiencing a delay in printing, try right clicking over the Status Monitor in the system tray (by the clock) and closing the Status Monitor.

4. Known Issues

1. The drivers will not print more than 32767 copies of a document. This is a Windows limitation.

2. Graphics print best when a monochrome image is used. Because Zebra printers are monochrome printers, color and grayscale images will be printed using the dithering method you select on the Options tab. There are four available dithering methods, each offering some control over the final printed image. However, monochrome images will print in a more predictable fashion.

3. When using Word, the application forces the driver to insert spaces into any edited line of text using the ZPL Font 0 (ZB:Zebra CG Triumvirate). If you save the document after editing the text, but before printing it, the spaces will not be inserted on the printed label.

4. Not all Applications will read internal font information from drivers. Some applications will not present the list of native fonts and bar codes even if the operating system is restarted after installing and the driver is set as the default driver. This is a limitation of some applications.

5. The Command Font Prefix and Suffix value are inserted before and after each character of text in Command Font when an EPL or CPCL printer driver is used. Microsoft Word splits strings into single characters. To avoid this select "Merge characters" option on driver's "Printer settings" tab.

6. In Windows 7 and Windows 2008 R2, some applications do not allow the fonts that are native on the printer to be displayed as selectable when the user accesses the Properties of a field. In most applications they are displayed and selectable from the Fonts drop-down menu.

7. If Permissions on the computer do not allow the driver to write in the Registry then the Command Fonts and/or Stocks Tabs in the driver dialogs will have buttons disabled. To change Command Fonts and Stocks, open the Printers folder the in Control Panel, select the printer and then open its “Printing Preferences”. Then the user will be able to modify Command Fonts and Stocks. These properties are set per device and not per document.

5. Change Log

V2.0

01/08/2010

Initial release of new platform. New features include:

· Status Monitor

o For use with EPL and ZPL printers

o Optionally installable when using the PrnInst.exe utility

o Regularly checks printer status and displays an error message when an error occurs

· Advanced TCP Port

o Provides a defined TCP port type

· Tools tab:

o Simple method to send common printer commands.

o Send File and Send Command options.

o Supports all communication ports.

· Use Printer Settings” option on Advanced Setup tab:

o Allows user to configure driver to not send printer settings

· Inverse option on Advanced Setup tab:

o Allows user to cause the entire label to be printed in inverted format (white text on black background)

· Passthrough feature on Other Settings dialog:

o Allows user to create blocks of commands to be sent to the printer unchanged by the driver.

· Control Character Substitution on the Other Settings dialog:

o Allows the ZPL driver to use the internal characters for the Format (^) and Control (~) characters

· On-screen barcode rendering, display only for design purposes

6. Getting Updates

ZDesigner Printer Drivers are frequently updated and modified to take advantage of new developments. Updated drivers will be available on our web site: http://www.zebra.com/

Zebra Technologies Corporation