Configure printers

Open Operations Studio → Printers. Use a clear location-based name such as Packaging Line 2 so operators can select the correct physical destination.

Create a printer

1. Add a printer and select its paired Print Bridge.
2. Enter the printer's local IP address and TCP port. The usual raw-print port is 9100; use the value configured on the actual device.
3. Select ZPL or TSPL, the installed printhead DPI, and the stock dimensions in millimetres.
4. Set the gap and, where required, the maximum copies and job lifetime.
5. Save, check the connection and print a test label.

Use a stable address, for example a DHCP reservation agreed with IT. A job selects this printer's registered ID; it cannot override the address.

Setting	Check
Bridge	The host can reach the printer network and belongs to this environment.
Language	Supported by the printer firmware or its enabled emulation.
DPI	Matches the printhead; a different DPI changes physical dimensions.
Width, height and gap	Match the loaded stock and printer calibration.
Copies	Within the configured printer limit and the platform limit of 100.
Job lifetime	Short enough to avoid stale labels after an outage; default 15 minutes.

Interpret the connection

Saving an address does not establish a connection. The bridge must receive the current configuration, permit it under the local policy and report its check.

• Unchecked: the current configuration has not been verified.
• Blocked: the local policy does not permit the destination or connection.
• Reachable: the bridge opened the configured TCP connection.
• Unreachable: the latest attempt could not reach the endpoint.

Reachability is separate from bridge connectivity and physical printer readiness. A socket can be reachable while the printer has no stock or the wrong stock. Refresh after a check and inspect the latest observation.

Validate a real label

Inspect alignment, clipping, orientation, text and codes on the actual stock. Scan QR codes and barcodes with the device used in the workflow. ZPL selects UTF-8 with ^CI28; TSPL selects CODEPAGE UTF-8. The printer firmware and selected font must support the required characters, so include umlauts and other non-ASCII text in physical acceptance.

ZPL supports validated inline bitmap images. Missing, corrupt or remote image sources fail a physical job; preview placeholders are never substituted in production. TSPL image output is not supported by the current text-based adapter and is rejected. Use a compatible template. A transport success does not complete physical acceptance.

Change or retire a printer

Each configuration change creates a new revision. A previous check does not validate a new destination. Jobs created for an older configuration must not silently move to a new printer endpoint; inspect affected jobs and create a reviewed replacement where needed.

If another administrator changes the printer while you edit, saving reports a conflict and keeps your draft. Reload the current configuration before applying the intended changes.

Archive a printer to stop new work. Review jobs already handed to the bridge before physically replacing equipment. Archiving cannot recall bytes already sent. For reconnecting a bridge, see Print Bridge installation.