The ChitChats.com platform is optimized for use with ZPL thermal printers. When setting up to print labels from your ZPL printer, we recommend first installing Java 8 or higher on your computer. This ultimately depends on the version of QZ tray you download, but for more information you can check out the minimum system requirements.


Next, you will need to download the latest 2.x version of QZ Tray. Once downloaded, open the file and follow the default installation steps for the program.


Now you are ready to add your printer. Please follow the correct instructions for your operating system below:


Windows



  1. Open Control Panel > View Devices and Printers > Add Printer.Note: On Windows 8 use "Advanced Printer Setup"



2. Click "Add a local printer." Ignore the USB message.


For Network Printer:



  • Enter the IP address and uncheck "Query the Printer..."

  • DO NOT click "Add a Wireless, Bluetooth or Network Printer." Always use the local port option for Network Printers.


For Serial or Parallel Printer (COM or LPT):



  • Click Use Existing Port. Then, Select the appropriate COM or LPT port.


For USB Printer:



  • Click Use Existing Port. Find the matching USB00x port that was installed with the device driver.

  • If unsure of the port, cancel the Wizard. Right Click the USB Printer > Printer Properties > Port. (Reminder: In Windows 7, it's called "Printer Properties, not "Properties").


Note: For USB to operate properly, the device driver should already be installed. This is automatic in Windows 7 when connected to the internet . Windows XP may need a device driver installed manually. Download from manufacturer if needed.


For Virtual Printer (FILE)



  • Click Use Existing Port. Then, Select FILE:For printer driver, select Generic > Generic/Text Only > Next.



Note: Some print drivers, such as Zebra ZDesigner or CUPS Zebra driver have dual-mode drivers capable of accepting Raw commands as well as PostScript commands. If Raw printing works with the vendor supplied driver, chose that over the Generic/Raw driver.



  • If prompted to replace the current drive, click "Replace the Current Driver."

  • Name the printer (ie. "zebra") > Next.

  • Uncheck "Set as Default Printer" Recommended as to not override default printer settings.


Mac



  1. Open a Terminal window: ⌘(Option)+space > Terminal > Enter

  2. Enable CUPS web interface by entering this into the Terminal:


sudo cupsctl WebInterface=yes


3. Load Safari to the CUPS web interface http://localhost:631 and click the Administration tab > Add Printer



4.If you see your USB raw printer in the listing, DO NOT select it.


5.Click AppSocket/HP JetDirect > Continue



6.You will be prompted for a port.


For USB Printers



  • Type: (example) usb://Zebra/LP2844

  • Get this port by issuing the command: lpinfo -v |grep


Note: You do not need the "?location=1a200000" information.



For Network Printers



  • Type: (example) socket://192.168.254.254:9100

  • The IP address may be configured to use a different address, which is outside the scope of this tutorial.

  • Enter an appropriate Name, Description, and Location for your printer.


Note: If you encounter issues searching for your printer, please see #131







8. Leave the "Share This Printer" box unchecked and hit Continue.


9. Make: Raw > Continue > Add Printer



Note: Some print drivers, such as Zebra ZDesigner or CUPS Zebra driver have dual-mode drivers capable of accepting Raw commands as well as PostScript commands. If Raw printing works with the vendor supplied driver, choose that over the Generic/Raw driver.


10. Starting Banner: None


Ending Banner: None


Click Set Default Options


11. You may now print to your printer. Continue to the next section Adding a Printer Class to make the printer appear in System Preferences, Print & Scan


Optional - Adding a Printer Class


Adding a printer class is purely optional and allows the raw device to be listed in the System Preferences, Print & Scan area of the desktop. Without a printer class, the printer will function properly but will not be listed in the Print & Scan area.



  1. From the CUPS web interface, click Administration > Add Class



2. Enter an appropriate Name, Description, and Location for your class. It must differ from the raw printer name chosen previously.


Note: If you encounter issues searching for your printer, please see #131


3. In Members, select the raw printer name chosen previously > Add Class


4. In System Preferences > Print & Scan, your new printer class will be listed. You may use this to monitor print jobs.



Linux



  1. Open System Settings > Printers



2. Click +Add
3. Set up the printer/port settings:


For USB Printer:


Devices: Enter URI


Enter Device URI: usb://Zebra/LP2844 (example)


Get this port by issuing the command lpinfo -v |grep usb:


Note: You don't need the "? location=1a200000" information.


For Network Printer:


Devices: AppSocket/HP JetDirect


Host: 192.168.254.254 (example)


Port: 9100


The Host IP address may be configured to use a different address, which is outside of the scope of this tutorial. If AppSocket is not listed, close and relaunch the Wizard and it should appear.


For Serial Printer:


Devices: Enter URI


Enter Device URI: serial:/dev/ttyS0 (or serial:/dev/ttyUSB0, etc)


For USB serial, issue the command dmesg |grep tty


Insufficient permissions fix: This command grants the logged in user write permission to all serial ports:


sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER;


Note: 12.04 users may also need to remove ModeManager due to a specific bug, ttylUSB devices don't seem writable by CUPS, so try printToFile('/dev/ttyUSB0'); instead.



  • Click Forward

  • Driver: Select printer from Database > Generic > Forward

  • Models: Raw Queue


Drivers: Generic Raw Queue > Forward



Note: Some print drivers, such as Zebra ZDesigner or CUPS Zebra driver have dual-mode drivers capable of accepting Raw commands as well as PostScript commands. If Raw printing works with the vendor supplied driver, chose that over the Generic/Raw driver.


7. Printer Name: (ie: zebra)
8. Description: Raw Zebra Printer
9. Location: Ubuntu PC


You may now print to your printer.


Note: If you receive a message "Printer 'zebra' not found", completely close and restart your web browser so that Java can see the newly added printer.