Zebra Windows Printer Driver

Build v5.5.7.19
11/09/2006

Table of Contents

1. Installation
2. Supported Printers
3. Tips and Advice
4. Known Issues
5. Change Log
6. Getting Updates

Welcome!

This version of the Zebra 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 Downloader, Driver-Cloning and Driver Uninstall have been included. The number of printer native bar codes and fonts supported by the driver has been increased. The driver now also supports printing over USB with Zebra printers offering USB connectivity.

1. Installation

This driver is supported on:

• Windows 95
• Windows 98 SE
• Windows ME
• Windows NT v4.0
• Windows 2000
• Windows XP
• Windows Server 2003

The driver is compatible with:

• Windows 2000 Terminal Services
• Citrix Metaframe v1.8 for Windows 2000.

Important Note:

You may see this dialog box - "Digital Signature Not Found" when installing the driver. If you do, click on the "Yes" button to continue with the installation. This driver has not been Digitally Signed, however it has been tested extensively for operating system compatibility.

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 setup.exe utility.
3. Select the language to install in. Currently, English is the only choice.
4. Follow the prompts to select the printer model and port that you will be using.
5. The Utility will install the appropriate files and then run the Configuration Wizard to help you configure your new driver.
6. When the Install/Configure Wizard is complete, your new driver is installed and ready for use.

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.
6. Select the zsd.inf file and click "OK" to continue.
   NOTE: Windows NT users should select the zsdnt.inf file located in the \WINNT directory of the drivers' installation files.
7. Select your printer model from the list of supported printers and click the Next button to continue. There are three categories, one for CPCL printers, one for EPL printers and one for ZPL printers. Click "Next" to continue the installation process.
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:

CPCL printers

Bravo 2
Bravo 4
Cameo 2
Cameo 2 Plus
Cameo 3
Cameo 3N
Encore 2
Encore 3
Encore 3N
Encore 4
Encore 4SE
MZ220
MZ320
QL220
QL320
QL420
RW220
RW420

EPL2 printers

2746
2746e
888-DT
888-TT
LP2443
LP2684
LP2722
LP2742
LP2824
LP2844
S4M-200dpi EPL
S4M-300dpi EPL
TLP2684
TLP2722
TLP2742
TLP2824
TLP2844
TLP3742
TLP3842

ZPL II printers (using X.10 or later firmware)

105SL
110PAX LH/RH
110PAX4 LH/RH
110XiIII Plus
140XiIII Plus
140XiIII
170PAX LH/RH
170PAX4 LH/RH
170XiIII
170XiIII Plus
220XiIII
220XiIII Plus
90XiIII
90XiIII Plus
96XiIII
96XiIII Plus
DA402
LP2844-Z
PA403
PT403
R110PAX3 (200dpi)
R110PAX4 LH/RH
R110Xi
R110XiIII Plus (200 dpi)
R-140
R170Xi
R2844-Z
R402
R4M Plus (200 dpi)
S400
S4M-200dpi ZPL
S4M-300dpi ZPL
S600
T402
TLP2844-Z
TLP3844-Z
Z4M
Z4M Plus
Z6M
Z6M Plus

The driver files also make provision for the installation of a ZPL II based "Firmware Loader" driver. The Firmware Loader driver is intended to allow a printer to Plug and Play with the operating system using a non-model specific USB Plug and Play string. This can allow a user to create a virtual USB port on the operating system that can then be used in downloading printer firmware over a USB connection. The Firmware Loader driver is not intended for regular use.

3. Tips and Advice

1. If you are upgrading from an earlier version of the Zebra printer driver, the font and bar code names have changed. It will be necessary to update your document(s) with the new names used in this version of the driver to ensure correct printing. In some cases, using font or bar codes names from prior driver versions can cause graphics to print incorrectly. Be sure to update documents with new font and bar code names.

2. The ZPL II drivers in this driver are intended for use with ZPL II printers using firmware X.10 or later. Firmware updates are available for selected printers at http://www.zebra.com/

   Printers using older firmware can also be used with the driver.

   This includes the following firmware groups:

   X.8.X
   X.9.X
   X.10.X

   To use the driver with Pre. X.10.X firmware printers, install the driver for a model that is similar to your printer. Once the driver is installed, go to the "Document" tab in the driver and set "Printer Firmware" to "Pre. X.10". The driver will then use pre.X.10 ZPL commands to print graphics, such as True Type fonts, line art or photographs.
   Please note that the driver you select may offer some bar codes and other features that are only supported in newer printer firmware versions.

   The table below indicates which driver to install when using an older printer:

   Older Printer	Similar Driver
   105S/Se	105SL
   140XiII	140XiIII
   160S	220XiIII
   170XiII	170XiIII
   220XiII	220XiIII
   90XiII	90XiIII
   96XiII	96XiIII
   PA400	PA403
   PT400	PT403
   Stripe 300	Stripe 400
   Stripe 500	Stripe 600
   Z4000	Z4M
   Z6000	Z6M

   
   
3. Use the Bar Code Passthrough Mode start and end sequence with 2D bar codes such as Datamatrix, PDF-417, Micro PDF-417, QR Code. The bar code Passthrough Mode can be activated on the Options tab of the driver. The default start sequence is B{ and the default end sequence is }B. Thus, a line of data to be encoded in QR Code would be entered as: B{this is the data}B
4. Use the Bar Code Passthrough Mode start and end sequence with bar codes that cover more than one line in your document. The bar code Passthrough Mode can be activated on the Options tab of the driver. The default start sequence is B{ and the default end sequence is }B. Thus, two lines of data to be encoded in Code 128 would be entered as: B{thisistwolinesofdata}B
5. Applications will not list the internal fonts unless the Zebra printer driver is the selected driver. This can be done by setting the driver to be the default driver before starting the application or by selecting the Zebra driver while designing the document to be printed.
6. All bar codes are represented using the same display font. This means that 2-D bar codes appear as picket fence barcodes on the screen, but print as the intended 2-D bar code. The bar code display font is not WYSIWYG. Users may have to adjust the position of the bar code to achieve the desired placement on the printed label. Please keep in mind that if you are printing multiple labels with variable data, the dimensions of the bar code will change from one label to the next.
7. Multiple bar codes and fonts of the same type, but with different characteristics, can co-exist within the driver. For example, it is possible to have more than one Code 128 bar code type defined - one with human readable on and one with human readable turned off.

   To create a new bar code type, go to the "Printer" tab in the driver properties, click on "Bar Code Options" and then on " Settings". The "Printer Bar Codes" dialog will display. Click on the "New" button, enter a name for the bar code in the "Bar Code Properties" prompt and choose the symbology type and related bar code characteristics that you require. Click "OK" and then "OK" again to confirm your changes. The new bar code definition will be displayed in the font list the next time you start your application.

   To create a new internal font, go to the "Printer" tab in the driver properties, click on "Printer Fonts Options" and then on "Settings". The "Printer Text Fonts" dialog will display. Click on the "New Internal Font" button, enter a name for the font in the "Font Properties" prompt and choose the internal font and related font characteristics that you require. Click " OK" and then "OK" again to confirm your changes. The new bar code definition will be displayed in the font list the next time you start your application.

8. It is possible to use the PassThrough Mode to include additional CPCL, EPL2 or ZPL II commands within the label format sent to the printer. For example, this technique can be used to send ZPL II commands to RFID printers to encode the RFID tag. The commands should be included on the actual document and enclosed in the Pass Through Mode start and end sequences as defined on the Options tab. The default characters are ${ to start and }$ to end the pass through.
9. Using the Cloning Utility requires full Administrative rights. This is due to the need to write directly to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry keys.
10. The Cloning Utility can only be used to clone drivers of the same model number. For example, a LP2844 driver can only be cloned to another installation of a LP2844 driver.
11. The Uninstall Utility may require a restart of the operating system to complete the removal of the drivers files. This can occur when the operating system or an application has not fully released a given driver file.
12. When a new set of drivers is installed in Windows NT, 2K and XP, the operating system creates two files in the WINNT\INF directory. The two files are the OEMx.inf and OEMx.pnf files. The operating system creates one of each file for each new set of a manufacturers drivers. This information is then used to present the list of manufactures and printer models in the " Add Printer" Wizard. The value of the x changes for each new set of drivers introduced into the system, it is possible to have OEM1.inf through OEM22.inf (or larger) Uninstalling a driver, either by deleting the driver from the Printers folder or by using the Uninstall Utility, does not remove these two files. If you wish to remove these files you should be very cautious that you are removing the OEMx.inf and OEMx.pnf files for the Zebra printer driver and not another the ones created by another driver. The OEM.inf file created for the Zebra driver will have the same contents as the zebra.inf file that came with your Zebra printer driver installation files.
13. In certain circumstances lines of rotated text can print on top of each other. This can be resolved by setting the driver to portrait mode and setting the application to landscape mode while designing the label.
14. On the Document tab, when you select "Use Printer Settings" from the "Document Options" portion of the tree menu, those settings that are no longer being sent will turn red to indicate that they are no longer active.

4. Known Issues

1. Some multi-page documents require you to turn on the Smart Download feature on the Document tab. If not turned on, some pages may print more than once (in place of other pages).
   
   
2. The ZPL II Drivers will not print more than 32767 copies of a document. This is a Windows limitation.
   
   
3. Some large documents can cause an error in Acrobat Reader on Windows 98.
   
   
4. 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.
   
   
5. 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.
   
   
6. 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.
   
   
7. There is no printer image for the Bravo 2 or Bravo 4 on the About dialog.
   
   
8. Due to changes in the User Interface, the Cloning Utility cannot copy the settings from builds v5.0.0.2 thru v5.0.0.6 onto v5.2.2.6 or later builds of the driver. Settings from v5.2.2.6 builds can be copied onto later builds.
   
   
9. When pre X.10 firmware is selected with ASCII or Binary Download Method, and SmartDownload is On, you may see corruption in large graphic images. If this happens set SmartDownload to Off.

5. Change Log

This is build v5.5.7.19
The driver engine is v1.0.0.35
The language monitor is v1.0.0.43
The model set is v19

6. Getting Updates

Zebra 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
(C) 2006 ZIH Corp. All rights reserved.