At this point, you should have the software and relevant drivers installed, if not please take a look at our “How to set up a Zebra desktop printer” blog post.

First things first, you’ll need to open Zebra Designer. To do this click the Start button, select All Programs >> Zebra Designer >> Zebra Designer. Once open the screen below will be displayed (Fig 1).

Fig 1

To create a new label, select ‘Create a new label’ and click ‘Finish’.

The next screen (Fig 2) you will be presented with allows you to select your printer. Select the printer that you have previously installed. Once you have selected your printer, click next.

Fig 2

Labels come in many different shapes and sizes. The next screen (Fig 3) you are presented with will ask you for the page size. Ensure that the ‘Automatic sizing’ box is ticked and then click ‘Next’.

Fig 3

The next screen (Fig 4) presents you with a prompt asking if you wish to print portrait or landscape. Select the orientation you want (portrait is generally the norm) and if you want the document to be rotated or not, and then click ‘Next’.

Fig 4

The next screen (Fig 5) allows you to select your label size. You will need to enter the height and width of your label along with the left and right margin sizes (you can leave the top and bottom margins set to 0). Please note that the size you enter will depend on the unit of measure which can be changed by clicking the button.

Once you have entered your label details, click the ‘Finish’ button. A blank canvas which matches the size you label you have entered should be displayed.

Fig 5

Now that you have set up the size of your label, it is time to start adding objects onto it. Zebra Designer Basic allows you to add text, barcode, pictures and basic line objects to your label.

Fig 6

To add objects to a label, simply select them from the left hand tool bar (Fig 6), and then click on the label to add the object. Upon adding a text or barcode object, a wizard (Fig 7) will be displayed allowing you to enter what information should be displayed.

Text and barcode objects can contain either static fixed text (typed into the wizard) or variable text. Variable text allows elements on a label to change at print time, and can do things such as allow user input or draw from the clock on your computer to display the date and time. To specify a variable field, select the variable field option and click next. The following screens will allow you to select your variable information. Please note that some variable fields may appear as a line of question marks on the label. This is down the fact that the package doesn’t know the contents of the field until you print.

Adding a text object

1. Select the ‘Text’ option from the left hand tool bar (Fig 6).

2. Enter the data you want to display into the box provided (Fig 7), or alternatively select the variable text option and follow the on screen prompts.

Fig 7

3. Click ‘Finish’ button. The text should now be displayed on the label (Fig 8).

Fig 8

Adding a barcode Object

1. Select the ‘Barcode’ option from the left hand tool bar (Fig 9).

Fig 9

2. Enter the data you want to display, or alternatively, select the variable barcode option and following the on screen prompts.

Fig 10

3. Click the ‘Finish’ button. The barcode should now be displayed on the label (Fig 11).

Fig 11

]]> http://blog.amlabels.co.uk/index.php/2009/11/how-to-set-up-a-label-in-zebra-designer/feed/ 3 http://blog.amlabels.co.uk/index.php/2009/10/how-to-set-up-a-zebra-desktop-printer/ http://blog.amlabels.co.uk/index.php/2009/10/how-to-set-up-a-zebra-desktop-printer/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:20:49 +0000 Chris.Freeman http://blog.amlabels.co.uk/?p=381 Before you begin setting up your Zebra desktop printer, please ensure you have the following to hand;

• Zebra printer
• Printer power cable (provided with the printer) 2 parts, mains lead and power supply unit (PSU)
• Communications cable (depending on how you wish to connect the printer to your PC, this can be a USB, Parallel or Serial cable or an Ethernet cable) (Purchased separately)
• Roll of Labels (Purchased separately)
• Ribbon (Thermal transfer printers only, Purchased separately)
• Zebra Designer Installation disk (provided with the printer)

If any of the items that should have come with the printer are missing, or you require labels, ribbons or a connection cable, please contact AM Labels technical support using the contact information listed below.

From getting your printer out of the box to printing your first label, this can be completed in 6 easy to follow steps.

Quick Navigate:

Step 1: Loading the labels

Step 2: Loading the ribbon (TLP 2844 and G-Series Thermal Transfer Printers)

Step 3: Connecting the printer to your PC

Step 4: Installing Zebra Designer

Step 5: Installing the printer driver

Step 1: Loading the labels

To load the labels into the printer, have the printer facing towards you. At either side of the printer there are two green clips, simultaneously pull both green clips towards you to open the lid and push the lid upwards. On 2844 series printers, the lid will lock into place using an internal support strut.

At the base of the printer there will be two identical green label spindles, pull these apart and place your label roll onto the provided support. On G-Series printers, please ensure that the media is placed between the guides provided.

On the 2844 series, you will then need to slide the labels in between the adjustable label guide and use the green wheel on the right hand side, to adjust the two guides to sit snugly either side of the media.

Your labels will now be ready to print.

Step 2: Loading the ribbon (TLP 2844 and G-Series Thermal Transfer Printers)

In the thermal transfer printers, there are two separate spindles in the top half of the printer.

On 2844 series printers, place the ribbon on the spindle that is furthest back shiny side up, and a waste core onto the spindle that is closest. Please ensure that the holes in the ribbon and waste cores slide into the notches on their spindle. Pull the ribbon down and underneath the print head and then roll the ribbon around the waste core.

To close the 2844 series printers, press the green support strut to the left and slowly close the lid until an audible click can be heard. On G-Series printers close lid and again, ensure it clicks.
Step 3: Connecting the printer to your PC

Zebra desktop printers have 4 different connectivity options, Serial, Parallel, USB and for local area networking Ethernet.

To connect to your PC, connect the PSU to the mains lead, connect PSU into the printer and connect the relevant connectivity option from the printer to the computer (or network point if using the Ethernet cable)
Step 4: Installing Zebra Designer

Use the installation wizard to install Zebra Designer on your desktop PC. To install the software, do the following:

1. Put the Zebra Designer CD in your CD-ROM drive. An installation window automatically opens.
2. Click Install. A new window opens showing all ZebraDesigner editions.
3. Click on the version of ZebraDesigner that you want to install, and follow the prompts.

To continue installation, do the following:

1. Click the Next button.
2. Specify the program group you want to use for ZebraDesigner Pro.
3. Specify if shortcuts to Zebra Designer should be created on the desktop or in the Quick Launch area.
4. To finish installation, click the Install button.

Step 5: Installing the printer driver

To install the printer driver, please follow the option below for your connectivity type,

Serial, Parallel and Ethernet options

For all of these options,

1. Click the Start button in the bottom right hand corner of the screen, and click the ‘Control Panel’ option. Once open, double click ‘Printers and Faxes’.
2. On the left hand side, click ‘Add a printer’. The ‘Add printer wizard’ should open.
3. Click Next
4. Ensure that ‘Local printer attached to this computer’ is selected and that ‘Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer’ is unchecked. Click Next.
5. When prompted, select the port required from the drop down list provided (in the case of Ethernet connections you may need to create a port, please contact AM Labels support if you require help with this). Click Next.
6. Click the ‘Have Disk’ button. A window entitled ‘Install From Disk’ will open, click the ‘Browse…’ button to browse for our driver.
7. Browse to the following location C:\Program files\ZebraDesigner\Drivers\ZD\0×2000xp. In this folder you should find a file entitled ZD, double click on it, and then click ok on the ‘Install from Disk’ window.
8. You should now see a list of printers. Please select your printer, and click Next.
9. The next couple of options allow you to assign a name to the printer, set it as the default or share the printer. Please select your required option at each stage and click ‘Next’ to continue.
10. When prompted, click Finish. You may receive a prompt informing you that the driver is not digitally signed. If this happens, click the button entitled ‘Continue installation’.
11. Click Finish to complete the driver installation.

USB

For printers connected by USB, upon switching the printer on windows should show a found new hardware wizard box,

1. Select the ‘Install from a specific location’ option and click next.
2. Select the ‘Don’t search. I will choose the driver to install’ option and click next.
3. Click the ‘Have Disk’ button. A window entitled ‘Install From Disk’ will open, click the ‘Browse…’ button to browse for our driver.
4. Browse to the following location C:\Program files\ZebraDesigner\Drivers\ZD\0×2000xp. In this folder you should find a file entitled ZD, double click on it, and then click ok on the ‘Install from Disk’ window.
5. You should now see a list of printers. Please select your printer, and click Next. The driver will now be installed. You may receive a prompt informing you that the driver is not digitally signed. If this happens, click the button entitled ‘Continue installation’.
6. Click the ‘Finish’ button to complete the installation.

Contact Details

If you require any of the ‘purchased separately’ items, please don’t hesitate to contact our sales department on 01536 414222 who will be more than willing to assist you with your requirements.

For technical support please contact the AM Labels Technical Team on 01536 414400 or e-mail support@amlabels.co.uk.