Zebra Sticker Printers

This article provides a comprehensive guide for configuring Zebra sticker printers for use with the OPSCOM Admin Portal. This process involves setting up a custom layout and system message in OPSCOM, as well as configuring local printer and browser settings, to enable the printing of physical permit stickers. 

Setup & Configuration

This is a one-time, multi-phase setup process. It is recommended to complete all phases in the specified order before attempting to print.

Phase 1: Create the OPSCOM Layout Template

1. Hover over System Config and click Templates & Design.

2. On the Layouts List page, click the Create Layout button.

3. Enter a descriptive Name for the layout (e.g., "Zebra Printing") and click Save Changes.

4. On the next screen, click Toggle Templates and create a Styles section and a Scripts section.

5. Copy the provided styling and script code into the corresponding sections for each language you wish to support.

Phase 2: Create the System Message

1. Navigate to Manage System Messaging and click the Create Page/Message button.

2. Fill in the required fields, ensuring you select the new layout you created in Phase 1 from the Layout drop-down menu.

3. In the content editor box, hover over Tools and click Source Code.

4. Paste the required shortcode HTML into the source code view and click Save.

Phase 3: Configure Windows Printer Drivers

1. Open Windows Settings and navigate to Devices, then Printers & Scanners.

2. Select your Zebra printer and click the Manage button.

3. Click Printer Properties and go to the Stocks tab.

4. Click the New... button to define a new stock that matches your sticker label dimensions.

5. After creating the stock, navigate to Printing Preferences and select the new stock as the default.

Phase 4: Configure Browser Print Settings

Before proceeding, you must temporarily disable the auto-print script. Navigate back to your layout template in OPSCOM (System Config -> Templates & Design) and comment out the code in the Scripts section. This will prevent the sticker from automatically printing and allow you to adjust the browser settings.

• For Chrome: Adjust the print settings to match the required configuration, paying close attention to margins and ensuring headers and footers are disabled.

• For Firefox: Open the print menu and adjust the page properties to match the required configuration, focusing on orientation, scale, and margins.

Using this Feature

Once all configuration steps are complete, administrators can print permit stickers from the Admin Portal.

• Go to Parking Permit Information page for the desired permit.

• Click the green print button located next to the Update Permit button.

• The browser's print dialog will appear, allowing you to print the sticker.

• After confirming the print settings are correct, you can uncomment the code in the Scripts section of your layout template to re-enable automatic printing.

Best Practices & Considerations

• Incorrect Windows driver or browser print settings are the most common cause of printing issues. Double-check that margins, headers/footers, and paper/stock size are configured exactly as required for your specific sticker labels.
• The Layout Template controls the styling and printing action, while the System Message controls the content and data that appears on the sticker. Ensure both are configured correctly for the integration to work.