Thermal Printer Installation

The steps to install a thermal printer are:

 

  1. Physically connect the printer to your PC using a USB cable.

  2. Install the print driver (see details below)

  3. Windows XP Users: Check that you can print a test label from the printer in the Windows Printers folder

  4. Configure ShipRush by going to the Settings | Printers area:

 

 

There are a few options for label stock.

 

 

Install Printer Driver: Windows XP (32 bit) Users:

 

Install the print driver that came with the printer (download the drivers from www.zebra.com if needed)

 

Install Printer Driver: Windows7, Windows Vista x64, Windows XP x64

(This is the Alternate Printer Driver method for Windows XP as well)

 

(This discussion assumes the printer is attached to an LPT or USB port on the local PC.)

 

Steps:

 

  1. In the Windows Printer folder, select the option to add a new printer

  2. Select Local printer, uncheck the option to have Windows Automatically Detect

  3. Select the port the printer is attached to (usually "LPT1", for USB it is "USB001")
    Note: It may take some experimentation if there are more than one USB00X ports available.

  4. On the list of printers, select as follows

    1. Manufacturer: Generic (if Generic is not available, select Microsoft as the manufacturer)

    2. Printer:  Generic/Text Only

  5. Set the printer name to Shipping Label Printer

  6. Once this printer is installed, go to ShipRush settings, select your printer type from the list (e.g. Zebra ZP450) and select the "Shipping Label Printer."

  7. In ShipRush settings, press the Test Label button to confirm proper operation
    If nothing prints, and if using USB, try changing the port for the printer to one of the other USB ports, e.g. "USB002"

  8. Run a test shipment to confirm proper operation

 

Note, that with this method, you cannot run a test label from the Windows Printers Folder.

 

Built In Label Cutter

 

When using an LP 2844 or other model with a built in cutter, the cutter may not work unless it is enabled in the print driver. (This requires that the Zebra print driver be used, not the Generic driver discussed above.)

 

In the Printers folder, right click on the thermal printer and select Printing Preferences. In the Advanced Setup tab there is a Cutter section. Select the 'Every' label option, and enter a '1' so it reads: Every 1 Label(s)

 

 

Next: Networking a thermal printer.