ZPL to PCL in runtime

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Dear All,

I am using Zebra printer for printing tags.
It uses ZPL codes for tag printing.
Now i want to change the printer to Laser jet.
So is there any utility which can change the ZPL output to PCL and print on laserjet printer?
I tried to google and could find only 1 site name "labelary.com"
But it is web supported or paid (Quite expensive.)
I am finding some free tool or scripts in perl, vbs, dot net.

I am using VB.net in front end.
If any one out there who can guide and advise me will be helpfull.

Thank you.

What I have tried:

I tried to google and could find only 1 site name "labelary.com"

Posted 24-Jul-19 3:50am

Abhijeet Bhurke

Updated 24-Jul-19 21:50pm

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Richard MacCutchan 24-Jul-19 10:13am

If you are using standard .NET PrintDocument classes then there is nothing to change.

Abhijeet Bhurke 24-Jul-19 10:19am

Hi Richard, Thank you for reply. Tomorrow i am going to check it by using HP Laserjet _2055DN printer. Will inform you my output.

Richard MacCutchan 24-Jul-19 10:26am

Maybe you should have tried it first, before posting this question.

Patrice T 24-Jul-19 11:48am

Quote:It uses ZPL codes for tag printing.
This imply some kind of raw printing and that the zebra is building the label by itself.

Richard MacCutchan 24-Jul-19 11:57am

Implications are all well and good but do not explain the problem. From the comment above they have not even tried to run it to the laser.

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Patrice T · Answer 1 · 2019-07-24T13:42:00

Not a real solution to your problem, but:

Quote:
Now i want to change the printer to Laser jet.

Zebra printers are specially conceived to deliver labels/stickers 1 by 1, with high contrast and sophisticated contain like barcodes. The ZPL is fully autonomous and allow the printer to build the sticker from a simple text description, this allow simple embedded systems to print complex stickers even id they have no graphical capabilities.

Details that need attention when switching to laser printer:
- Sticker size: Stickers are commonly smaller than the standard page format of a laser printer, this imply to change the app to tell where is the next sticker on page.
- Sticker glue: you need to make sure that the sticker glue is make to resist to the heat, most glues are not made for laser. And if a page is multiple sticker, last one get heated many times, The problem is that glue loose its sticking quality with time. I have seen glue leaking on fuser and stickers starting to stick inside the printer, ugly.
- ZPL vs PCL: as you already found, ZPL barcode functions do not exist in PCL, you need a converter/emulator to translate ZPL code to get in PCL.

Quote:
I am finding some free tool or scripts in perl, vbs, dot net.
I am using VB.net in front end.

If you don't find a solution in VB.net, an autonomous app that get a text file and give back a picture may do the trick.
As you have already started, you need to check every solutions you find to see which 1 fit your needs.

Gerry Schmitz · Answer 2 · 2019-07-24T11:27:00

Solution 1

Look for "ZPL emulators". e.g.

Zpl Printer - Chrome Web Store[^]

Posted 24-Jul-19 11:27am

Gerry Schmitz