Zebra Printer Calibration

Question

I'm using Zebra printer model ZQ520 and connecting to it through application in C#.

        string zpl = "^XA^FO20,20^A0N,25,25^FDThis is a ZPL test.^FS^XZ";

        try
        {
            connection.Open();

            string setLang = "! U1 setvar \"device.languages\" \"zpl\"\r\n";
            string calibrate = "~jc^xa^jus^xz\r\n";

            connection.Write(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(setLang));
            connection.Write(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(calibrate));
            connection.Write(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(zpl));
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
            System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("Exception:" + e.Message);
        }

The issue is the printer is printing out an excessive amount of paper. It doesn't print "This is a ZPL test." until I press the line feed button on the printer, and then it printer more excess paper after the desired message.

Any idea what issue might be?

Answer 1

Have you checked the ^LL (Label Length) command. Look it up in your Zebra Programming Language guide.

I also know when I was doing Zebra (and also Intermec), the device itself had machine settings / display using buttons and arrows to change such default settings as page sizes, if thermal, what burn strength 0-30, etc., so you did not have to invoke those on every label submit.

I was also communicating directly with serial port using USB to RS232 connector cable, but it has been a while.

Answer 2

You may try to use the following code to communicate with the printer:

using (var tcpClient = new TcpClient())
{
    try
    {
        var ipAddress = "127.0.0.1";
        var printerPort = 9001;
        tcpClient.Connect(ipAddress, printerPort);

        using (var tcpClientStream = new StreamWriter(tcpClient.GetStream()))
        {
            var deviceLang = "! U1 setvar \"device.languages\" \"zpl\"\r\n");
            tcpClientStream.Write(deviceLang );
            tcpClientStream.Flush();

            var calibrate = "~jc^xa^jus^xz";
            tcpClientStream.Write(calibrate);
            tcpClientStream.Flush();

            Thread.Sleep(500);

            string zpl = "^XA^FO20,20^A0N,25,25^FDThis is a ZPL test.^FS^XZ";
            // with ^LL: string zpl = "^XA^LL400^FO20,20^A0N,25,25^FDThis is a ZPL test.^FS^XZ";
            tcpClientStream.Write(zpl);
            tcpClientStream.Flush();

            tcpClientStream.Close();
        }

        tcpClient.Close();
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        Logger.Error(ex); // replace with your own logger or console
    }
}

This should print the expected text immediately. Other than that, for continuous media (ie no gaps). I'm not familiar with this particular model but according to this:

https://supportcommunity.zebra.com/s/article/Calibrating-Zebra-QLn-Series-Mobile-Printers?language=en_US

You need to send the following command: . U1 setvar "media.type" "journal" . U1 setvar "media.type" "journal" then set the label length somehow, for example ^LL400 . Also you may try to comment the deviceLang and calibrate commands, not 100% sure those are really required (on the ZT610 they're definitely not, as you can calibrate the printer using buttons).