Learn How To Create Zebra ZPL Barcode Labels from NetSuite

This article is relevant if you desire NetSuite to create high-end barcode labels and dynamic graphical outputs for Zebra printers.

Background

In my 2019 article, Learn how to Connect Zebra Printers to NetSuite, I discussed methods to create content generated by NetSuite and send to Zebra printers. In that use case, we were using native NetSuite Advanced PDF technologies to create barcodes.

The built-in NetSuite PDF method works to create barcodes but has some limitations. We found that when barcodes were printed on smaller label formats, the output quality was too low — barcode handguns could not read the labels. However, if we used Zebra’s provided designer software, the same size formats caused no issues for the barcode handguns to read the small-sized (GS128) labels.

Furthermore, our client was spending approximately $50,000 a year for a third-party software subscription (enLabel) to drive all of its manufactured product labels. They worked with us to migrate all of their enLabel documents to instead dynamically generate each of them with NetSuite. Having NetSuite connect directly to Zebra printers was a key part of the overall solution.

How to Produce Zebra ZPL from NetSuite

We needed better capacities to print small labels and get off the relatively high-cost enLabel annual software subscription. Thus it was time to drive the Zebra printer using native Zebra Printer Language (ZPL) tools and not pay an annual program fee.

To do this, Mike I., our Technical Analyst, did the following:

1. Zebra Designer: Zebra offers a free designer software tool that was used to craft a graphical layout. After we were satisfied with the layout, We output the information into a text file. Note, the Zebra software requires you to be hooked up to a real Zebra printer. And each Zebra printer has different capacities.  Thus, under this approach, we targeted a specific Zebra printer.
2. Move File to a Template: Mike I. studied the file output to shortcut the layout efforts and find the data elements that would become dynamic based on data in NetSuite. He had to gain a good grasp of Zebra Printer Language to put the information together intelligently.  Mike then modified the file to make it a template programming it using javascript-based Trimpath (Freemarker can work as well).
3. Integrate Template into the Content Renderer Engine: in this step, the typical approach is to use SuiteScript to dynamically generate a file that will be sent to the printer. But this approach is rigid and will require a lot of ongoing maintenance if you have many printed outputs to manage.  Instead, we have a license-free tool, called the Content Renderer Engine (CRE), designed to make it much easier to use linked saved searches and SuiteQL to drive content — in this case a dynamically generated Zebra program.
4. Send File to the Printer: the output is then sent to a generic print driver (easy to set up on Windows machines) that is hooked up to the Zebra Printer.

Zebra ZPL Printing from NetSuite (5:33)

In the following video, Mike I. demonstrates how he built the label. He then shows how, with a click of a button on a NetSuite business record, he can produce high-quality Zebra bar code labels.

Drive Your Zebra Printer with NetSuite

With this solution, the great news is that no proprietary software is needed to have NetSuite drive great-looking and functional barcode and graphical label output. We were able to migrate all the labels used in the enLabel system and instead dynamically drive them using NetSuite.  Not only did we save our client $50,000 USD a year, but it also became much faster and easier for the staff to produce outputs because of the dynamic nature of the information.

If you found this article relevant, feel free to sign up for notifications to new articles as I post them. If you would like to eliminate third-party printer programs with NetSuite, or you have specialized Zebra ZPL printing requirements from NetSuite, let’s have a conversation.