Specifications

5
ZPL Commands
Basic ZPL Exercises and Examples
9/15/06 ZPL II Programming Guide 45541L-004 Rev. A
Basic ZPL Exercises and Examples
The purpose of these exercises is to introduce basic ZPL commands to novice ZPL users.
Make sure this checklist is complete:
 Load the printer with labels that are big enough to give you ample space to work with.
 Print a configuration label (CANCEL test).
 Look at the configuration label and make sure that the
LEFT POSITION is set to
000 and LABEL TOP is set to 000.
 Determine the printer’s resolution. It is listed on the configuration label. 8/MM
=
200 dpi, 12/MM
= 300 dpi and 24/MM = 600 dpi.
Tips
These are some tips when using ZPL:
• Use the DOS text editor to write ZPL files.
• Save the file as a .
txt file and copy it to the printer from DOS command line.
Before You Begin
Some things that are important to understand before you begin are:
• 200 dpi means the resolution of the printhead is 200 dots per inch. If you program the
printer to draw a line 100 dots long that equals a half inch. 100 dots on a
300 dpi printer prints a line 1/3 inch long.
• The home position that all your coordinates are referencing is at the left-hand trailing edge
of the label as the label comes out of the printer. (There are some exceptions to this.)
Exercises
The exercises start simple and gradually progress to give you an opportunity to try a variety of
commonly used ZPL commands. Not all commands are covered, but this should be a good
core of commands to learn. Some commands may not be supported due to the firmware
version in your printer.