Troubleshooting
Problem
This document describes a problem where the Format Prefix in a Zebra bar code printer needed to be changed to match Format Prefix used by the application generating the label spooled files on the IBM System i system.
Resolving The Problem
A PC5250 printer session has been configured for a Zebra bar code printer that is attached to the PC. When the bar code spooled file is printed from the IBM System i system, garbage data is printed out with an at sign (@) at the beginning of each line.
The at sign (@) indicates that the bar code spooled file is set up to use an at sign (@) (X'40' or 40H) as the printer Format Prefix character. This can also be checked by taking Option 5 (Display) on the spooled file from the Work with Spooled Files (WRKSPLF) command or Work with Output Queue (WRKOUTQ) command. The configuration page for the printer shows that the Format Prefix is currently set to a "^" (X'5E' or 5EH). Therefore, the application has to be changed to use a different Format Prefix or the printer hardware must be changed. According to Zebra Support, the Format Prefix can be changed in the printer hardware by doing the following:
| 1. | Bring up an MS DOS or command prompt. |
| 2. | Use the EDIT command to create a file that contains the text "~CC@" to set the Format Prefix to an at sign (@) (X'40' or 40H), or "~CC¬" to set the Format Prefix to a Not "¬" Sign (X'AA' or AAH). |
| 3. | Save the text file with a name, such as SETZEBRA.TXT. |
| 4. | Exit the editor. |
| 5. | Copy the file to the printer port by doing a COPY SETZEBRA.TXT LPTx, where x is the printer port (such as LPT1 or LPT2). |
| 6. | Press the Mode key on the printer 4 times |
Once this is done, the printer configuration can be printed by doing the following:
| 1. | Power off the Zebra printer. |
| 2. | Press and hold the Cancel key. |
| 3. | Power on the printer and hold the Cancel key for approximately 3 seconds. |
Also, the PC5250 printer session must be configured to use Host Print Transform (HPT) with the Printer model set to Other printer and the Customizing object set to QWPDEFAULT in library *LIBL. In addition, it must be set up to use the Generic Text/Only printer driver (after installing the Generic Text/Only printer driver in the Windows Printers folder).
Historical Number
22720153
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Document Information
Modified date:
18 December 2019
UID
nas8N1017462