Zebra Printer Configuration

The Zebra Printer Configuration process allows administrators to set up and connect Zebra mobile printers to Android or iOS devices for use with the OPS-COM Enforce app. Its primary purpose is to streamline parking operations by enabling the direct printing of violation tickets from handheld units. This article is intended for OPS-COM administrators and field enforcement personnel. 

 Setup and Configuration 

 Configuring a Zebra printer requires a one-time setup involving the official Zebra utility and the Enforce application to ensure consistent communication between the hardware and software. 

 Printer Discovery and Utility Setup 

 

 

 Power on the Zebra printer. 

 

 

 Uninstall and re-install the OPS-COM Enforce app on your handheld device to ensure a clean configuration environment. 

 

 

 Download and install the Zebra Printer Setup Utility from the app store. 

 

 

 Open the Zebra Printer Setup Uti lity . 

 

 

 Tap Discover Printers . 

 

 

 Tap and Hold the Feed button on the physical printer until the Bluetooth symbol appears on the printer display, then release. 

 

 

 Tap the printer once it appears in the Discovered list. 

 

 

 Wait for the utility to retrieve settings; the printer is ready when the status displa ys R eady at the top of the screen. 

 

 

 Connectivity and Media Settings 

 

 

 Tap Connectivity Settings , then tap Bluetooth . 

 

 

 Confirm that the Bluetooth and Discoverable switches are enabled. 

 

 

 Verify the Friendly Name (defaults to the serial number) and tap Next . 

 

 

 Tap Next on the second screen to keep default sett ings, then tap Apply . 

 

 

 Tap Media Settings and tap Media Settings again on the following page. 

 

 

 Follow the prompts to set the corre ct paper size for your rolls and tap Apply . 

 

 

 Tap Print a Test Label from the main Media Settings page to verify the hardware configuration. 

 

 

 Using this Feature 

 After the printer is configured in the Zebra utility, it must be linked directly to the Enforce app to be used for ticketing in the field. 

 Connecting in the Enforce App 

 

 

 Open the OPS-COM Enforce app and log in. 

 

 

 Tap the Menu icon at the top left and tap Ap p Settings . 

 

 

 Scroll to the Printer Settings section. 

 

 

 Tap the Printer Driver drop-down menu and choose Zebra . 

 

 

 Tap Saved Bluetooth Printer to scan for the device. 

 

 

 Tap your printer name or serial number when it appears in the list. 

 

 

 Tap Save when prompted with Save Printer? . 

 

 

 Tap th e Menu icon and tap Home to begin using the application. 

 

 

 

 Best Practices and Considerations 

 

 

 Clean Installa tion: It is highly recommended to uninstall and re-install the Enforce app before setting up a new Zebra printer to prevent legacy configuration conflicts. 

 

 

 Bluetooth Visibility: If the printer does not appear during discovery, ensure you Tap and Hold the Feed button until the Bluetooth icon is visibly displayed on the printer's LCD. 

 

 

 Naming Conventions: Consider changing the Fri endly Name in the Zebra utility to a unit number (e.g., "Enforcement Unit 01") to make it easier for officers to identify their specific printer in the app. 

 

 

 Media Calibration: If the printer skips labels or alignment is off, return to Media Settings in the Zebra utility to re-run the calibration process. 

 

 

 Misprint Issue: If the printer outputs code (such as ^XA, ^FO, etc.) instead of the rendered label, it means the printer i s receiving raw ZPL (Zebra Programming Language) data and treating it as text. Toggling the setting for "Line Mode" or setting another language (like EPL or XML) instead of ZPL should quickly fix this issue. 

 

 

 [!WARNING] Ensure the printer remains powered on and within close proximity to the handheld device during the "Applying Settings" phase to avoid corrup ting the printer firmware.