Using Printer Code Templates
A printer code template is a file that is written mainly in the language of a printer, but it is not a pure
printer language file. Certain delimiters are inserted in significant places in the file, such as at the
start and end of each line, and placeholders are added that are replaced at print time by actual
data. Delimiters include headers, footers, start and end line delimiters, start and end print code
delimiters, and delimiters at the start and end of data fields.
How Printer Code Templates Work
Implementing and using printer code templates requires specialized technical knowledge, but the
basic process is straightforward, as follows:
1. Use BarTender to export your document to a printer code template.
2. Upload the printer code template to a hardware device or an external application.
3. Manually insert the data into your hardware device or import it from your external application.
4. Send the merged file to the printer.
When to Use Printer Code Templates
Printer code templates can be useful in the following situations:
l SAPscript-ITF Integrations: You can "upload" a printer code template to an SAP system and
then configure the SAP system to run the appropriate SAPscript report and merge in the
required data whenever an SAP transaction requires one or more labels.
l Portable Keypad Devices: Portable keypad devices include a portable keyboard, a small
screen display, and a printer port. You can use such devices to download and store printer
code templates. The devices can then prompt you for the data, merge it with the printer code
template, and then output the printer code to the attached printer.
l XML-enabled Printers: Some thermal printers have an option to accept printer code
templates. After you download a printer code template to the printer, you can send data only
(without printer code) to the XML-enabled printer.
l Non-Windows Environments: In situations where a controlling application may not have
access to Windows computers on the network, you can embed a printer code template to
take advantage of the convenience of Windows-based label and barcode design (although not
Windows-based printing).
Technical Challenges of Printer Code Templates
To create printer code templates, the Automation or Enterprise edition of BarTender must be
installed. However, unlike in a conventional print job, when a printer code template is used,
BarTender does not serve as the print engine for the print jobs. Therefore, BarTender cannot provide
the variety of advanced printing features that Seagull Scientific has developed over many years.
Some of the technical and security challenges of printer code templates include the following:
l The user must have advanced printer coding knowledge.
l Multiple printer models are not supported.
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