Brady Command File Interpreter User manual

Brand: Brady

Model: Command File Interpreter

Type: User manual

Brady Command File Interpreter simplifies automated label printing by interpreting simple text files, called command files, and using the data within them to print labels automatically. With the ability to watch a specified folder for command file additions, the interpreter can load a label, fill variable data fields, and print a selected quantity of labels to a specific printer. This flexible solution integrates with your label design software and supports over 1000 thermal/thermal transfer and Windows printers.

Command File Interpreter

Automated Label Printing Made Easy

Braton Groupe Sarl

February 23, 2006

PRODUCT WHITE PAPER

Command File Interpreter White Paper 2

This paper provides an explanation of how the Command File

Interpreter add-on utility works with your label design software to

provide a flexible and easy-to-use solution for printing bar code

labels automatically.

It is not uncommon today for a business to have data going in

and out of a multitude of different systems working on several

different platforms – from accounting software to ERP systems to

warehouse management programs, the amount of data

processed is mind-boggling, and seems to be increasing on a

daily basis. Factor in the added necessity to integrate these data

pieces to automatically print the data on bar coded labels, and

you have a seemingly complex application before you.

The Command File Interpreter utility addresses this very need by

providing a flexible and easy-to-use solution for printing labels

automatically.

Command File Interpreter Overview

The Command File Interpreter (CFI) utility is an add-on to your

top-range label design software (version 7 or higher). The CFI

utility allows a "command file" to be sent from another application

and then it automatically prints labels based on the data within

that file.

The command files can be used to transfer information generated

by other systems or other computers, such as a central server or

a mini-computer. For example, a centralized management

application can control the printing of labels using a command

file, or an invoicing program could pass information into a

command file, which would in turn print a label.

The CFI utility meets the need for a flexible automated label

printing solution that is easy to use and works with your existing

data.

• Works with your label design software – a proven

bar code label design solution that provides a high

level of functionality and integration with an easy-to-

use interface

• Prints from standard ASCII files, allowing you to

import data from virtually any type of system on any

platform

• Provides comprehensive printer support for more

than 1000 thermal/thermal transfer printers or any

Windows printer

Command File Interpreter White Paper 3

What is a Command File?

Command files are simple text files that can be created with any

text editor and can be used to print labels automatically. These

command files (with the extension .cmd) are standard ASCII-type

files that can be generated from almost any third-party software

on various platforms, including AS/400.

Each command file contains commands that identify the name of

the label, the printer to use, and the label quantity. Variable data

can be provided in the command file, or it may be provided in a

separate data file.

How Does the Command File Interpreter Work?

The Command File Interpreter is a command file analysis tool

with which labels can be printed automatically.

In "watch mode", the Command File Interpreter will watch a

specified folder for the addition of any .cmd files. Once interpreted

by the Command File Interpreter, the content of these files makes

it possible to load a label to the labeling software, to fill the

variable data fields (variable label forms) and to print a selected

quantity of labels to a specific printer.

Command File Interpreter Setup

Command File Interpreter Setup Window

Command File Interpreter White Paper 4

Command File Settings

• Watch Directory: Allows you to select the file analysis

directory.

• Default Label: Allows you to define a default label, to

be printed if no label is defined in the command file.

• Default Output Printer: Allows you to define a default

printer, to be used if no printer is defined in the

command file.

Other Options

• Minimize main window - Allows you to minimize the

main window of the labeling software when the

Command File Interpreter is launched.

• Backup incoming files - Usually, all command files

are deleted after printing. Activate this function to save

a backup with the extension .bak in the same

directory. For reasons of disk space, these files will be

stored for just two days.

• Stop processing on error - In the event of a printing

error, the Command File Interpreter will stop

processing.

• Printers - Allows you to select up to three printers that

can be used by the Command File Interpreter.

• Display only selected printers - Allows you to

display only the printers selected, if the list of printers

is very long.

• Start - Allows you to launch Command File

Interpreter. Once launched, the monitor window

appears.

Command File Interpreter White Paper 5

Automatic Label Printing in 3 Easy Steps

In just a few easy steps, the user can configure the Command

File Interpreter to watch a folder for command files, have them

analyzed, and automatically print labels based on the data within

those files.

Step 1: Design a label

Create a label design using your label design software to

be used with the Command File Interpreter.

Step 2: Generate a command file

You must generate a command file for the label design.

Below, you will find an example of a command file for a

label. The label variables are shown in red and the

variables specific to the command file are displayed in

green. The printers designated in the Printer variable are

those associated with the Command File Interpreter.

Command file for a sample label:

LABELNAME = "Palette.Lab"

SSCC = "133333312345678906"

Content = "5412345678908"

Batch = "4512XA"

BestBefore = "01.01.2010"

Quantity = "47"

PRINTER = "Production1"

LABELQUANTITY = "1"

The command file recognizes the label fields and assigns

the appropriate values to them. You can therefore repeat

the variables of a label several times to print each label

with different field content.

Step 3: Launch the Command File Interpreter

Your command file is ready. Now, launch the Command

File Interpreter to process the command files and print

your labels.

Command File Interpreter White Paper 6

Conclusion

The Command File Interpreter utility meets the need for a flexible

automated label printing solution that is easy to use and works

with your existing data.

It does this by allowing you to access data from variable data

sources through standard ASCII files, allowing you to import data

from virtually any type of system on any platform.

The Command File Interpreter utility works with your label design

software – a proven bar code label design solution that provides

a high level of functionality and integration with an easy-to-use

interface. In addition, it provides comprehensive printer support

for more than 1000 thermal/thermal transfer printers or any

Windows printer.

This white paper is for informational purposes only. Product specifications are likely to change.

Command File Interpreter White Paper 7

Appendix A – Command File Commands

LABELNAME

This command selects the name of the label to be printed and it should be located in the first line of a

command file. The command can appear several times in the same command file, to print different

labels. If the same label is to be printed again in a command file, you do not need to repeat this

command every time: the last label printed will be processed again with the new data.

For example:

LABELNAME = "label_file_name.lab"

LABELNAME = "c:\labels\sears.lab"

FIELD_NAME

There should be an assignment line in the command file for each variable field in a label (form field).

The name of the field should be identical to that used in the command file. Spell the label field name

correctly and enter the the value for the variable data after the equals sign in quotes.

If a label field is left empty in a command file containing several labels, the value for this field will be

replaced by the last value used in the command file. To leave a field empty, enter a void character

(empty quotes "") in the string. For example: FIELD = ""

For example:

FIELD_NAME = "field_value"

PART_NUM = "836773"

PRINTER (optional command)

This command specifies the printer to be used. If this command is not included, the default printer will

be used.

For example :

PRINTER = "Printer_name,Port_name:"

(The syntax should be the same as that used in the Print Manager (please check if letters are in upper

or lower case))

PRINTER = "Datamax DMX 430,COM2:"

Command File Interpreter White Paper 8

LABELQUANTITY

This command sets the number of labels to be printed. This command line should be located at the end

of each definition of a label to be printed. The label will be printed automatically once this command is

activated.

For example:

LABELQUANTITY = "quantity_to_print"

LABELQUANTITY = "5"

Note: In a command file, each label starts with the command LABELNAME and ends with the

command LABELQUANTITY. All other commands must come between the two commands mentioned

above. The command LABELQUANTITY should be followed by the LABELNAME command for the

next label.

QUITAPP

This command will immediately terminate the execution of a file and stop the program. It should

therefore appear at the end of a command file. If this command line does not appear in the file, the

program will remain open.

Brady Command File Interpreter User manual

Brady Command File Interpreter User manual

Brady Command File Interpreter User manual

Other documents