Question: Is it possible to automate the process of printing labels with a batch file, rather than having to open Labeler to print them each time?
Answer: Yes. Once you have your label set up in Labeler and saved, you can create a batch file to initiate the print process without needing to touch Labeler directly.
The available options for the command are:
-P Print (This is required for label printing)
-L # Print # of labels (If this option is omited from your command, it will print 1 label)
-C # Print # of copies of each label (If this option is omited from your command, it will print 1 copy of each label)
The difference between # of labels and # of copies is that copies will be exact duplicates of each other. If you have a serialized barcode object on the label and set it to print 5 labels, it will produce 5 different barcods, e.g., 1000, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004. If you set 5 copies, it will print 5 labels with the same barcode on each, 1000, 1000, 1000, 1000, 1000. You can use both -L # and -C # in the same command if you need multiple copies of each number generated, like 1000, 1000, 1001, 1001, 1002, 1002, etc.
-Q Run Labeler in Quiet mode (Supresses the splash screen and most warning messages)
-U Close the application (Automatically close the program after printing. If this is omited, the program will remain running)
-H, -?, -help Any of these options will have it display the Command Line Help window, explaining these options and showing an example command.
The format for the command string is: [executable] [label file] [options]
[Executable] and [label file] will both accept a path and file name rather than just the file name, allowing you to keep the labels in a different directory from the program, and the batch file on your Windows desktop for quick access. If there are spaces in the folder path or file name, surround it with quotation marks ". If the batch file is in the same directory as either the executable program or the label file, the path can be omitted.
Example: With a label created as BatTest.labx in E:\Labels\ I can use this command to print 5 labels, 2 copies of each:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Wasp Technologies\Wasp Labeler V7\WaspLabelerV7.exe" E:\Labels\BatTest.labx -Q -P -L 5 -C 2 -U
To create the batch file, make sure Windows is set to show file extensions, then right click on your desktop and select New > Text Document. Provide a name for the file but change the extension from .txt to .bat. Edit the file and copy the above command into it, then save it. When you double click the batch, it will load Labeler in quiet mode, print the 10 labels, then close Labeler.
Note 1: The label file specifies the label template's size, but will use the printer's Printing Defaults rather than the Preferences. To set those options, go to Devices and Printers, right click the printer and select Printer Properties, then go to Advanced and click Printing Defaults. Select the correct Stock Name or Page Size and Orientation, then click Apply and OK.
Note 2: Because there is not a way to select the printer in the command-line options, specify the desired printer in Labeler, then save the label file: Print tab, Print button, select printer, Apply, Cancel, Save.