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Printing: how this screen works

H
Written by Hayko

Printing: how this screen works

Printing Settings is where you connect QrX to your printers. QrX prints through PrintNode, a small program that runs on the computer your printers are connected to. Here you add your PrintNode key, choose a default printer for each kind of document and, when you use QrX warehouse stock, set up your product and location labels.

What you see on this screen

  • The back arrow (top left): back to Settings.

  • The tabs (left, above the settings card): PrintNode, Default printers and Product labels. Product labels only shows when you use QrX warehouse stock.

  • Cancel: leave without saving and go back to Settings.

  • Save: saves everything on all tabs at once. You see "Print settings saved successfully." when it worked.

Switching tabs does not lose your changes. Press Save once when you are done.

Connect PrintNode

  1. Create a PrintNode account on the PrintNode website and install the PrintNode client on the computer that has your printers.

  2. Copy your API key from your PrintNode account.

  3. Paste it in PrintNode API Key. Use the eye icon to show or hide what you typed.

  4. Click Load Printers. QrX checks the key and shows how many printers it found, for example "3 printer(s) loaded".

  5. Press Save.

Your key is stored encrypted and is never shown again. That is why the field is empty when you come back ("Leave empty to keep existing key"). Only type a key when you want to replace it.

Choose your default printers

Pick a printer for each kind of document. Every list shows the printers PrintNode found, with the computer name and status. Choose None to leave one empty.

  • Default Picking Printer: prints your pick lists.

  • Default Packing Printer: prints packing slips.

  • Default Label Printer (Zebra): prints shipping labels.

  • Default Label Paper Format: the paper used for shipping labels: ZPL 4×6 (Zebra), PDF 4×6 or PDF A6.

These are the defaults for the whole account. If you use the pack station, each packing table (station) can use its own label and packing slip printer instead. You set that up in Settings, Pack station.

Test a printer and save its paper setup

Next to each printer field is a small scan icon, Test this printer. It works once a printer is chosen. It opens the Test printer window:

  • Printer: the printer to test. You can switch to another one here.

  • What to print: a Test page in a size you pick (Dymo 11352, 50 x 25 mm, 100 x 50 mm, 4 x 6 in, A6 or A4), or one of your label designs. Designs print with sample data. A test page has a border: when the whole border is on the paper, the size and position are right.

  • Paper: Saved setup (what you saved for this printer before), Automatic (match the label size), Printer default (no paper sent), or one of the papers the printer reports.

  • Rotation: Automatic, 0°, 90°, 180° or 270°.

  • Send labels as: PDF (Dymo, any printer) or Raw ZPL (Zebra).

  • Print test: sends the test to the printer. The window then shows the PrintNode job and its status, so you can see when the printer accepted it.

  • Save as printer setup: remembers the paper and rotation for this printer. Product, location and tote labels then use it. Choose a paper or rotation first; the button is off while Saved setup is selected.

Tip: if a label comes out blank or cut off, try another paper or rotation, print again, and save the setup that prints right.

Product and location labels

Only shown when you use QrX warehouse stock. Use a small label printer, such as a Dymo LabelWriter, for barcode labels on products and shelves, next to your shipping label printer.

  • Product and location label printer: for example your Dymo LabelWriter 450 Turbo. Choose Same as the label printer to use the Default Label Printer.

  • Send labels as: keep PDF (Dymo, any printer) for Dymo printers, they cannot read ZPL. Raw ZPL (Zebra) is only for Zebra-type printers.

  • Product label layout: the layout for product barcode labels. The barcode is the EAN, else the internal barcode, else the SKU.

  • Location label layout: the layout for shelf (bin) labels with the location code and zone.

  • Design a label: opens the ZPL label designer, where you make your own layouts. Saved product and location designs then appear in the layout lists.

The Dymo 11352 label (54 x 25 mm) is ready to use without any design work.

Tips and common questions

  • "No PrintNode API key configured yet. Enter your key and click "Load Printers".": you have not connected PrintNode yet. Follow the steps under Connect PrintNode.

  • "Failed to load printers. Check your API key.": the key is wrong or no longer valid. Copy it again from your PrintNode account.

  • "No printers found. Make sure PrintNode client is running.": the key works, but the PrintNode program is not running on your printer computer, or no printers are shared there.

  • The printer lists are empty: load your printers on the PrintNode tab first.

  • The test button is grey: choose a printer in that field first.

  • "Failed to save print settings. Please try again.": nothing was saved. Check your connection and press Save again.

  • A Dymo prints strange text or nothing: set Send labels as to PDF. Dymo printers cannot print Raw ZPL.

  • Need help? Click Chat at the bottom of the Help Center.

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