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Product: LABELVIEW and CODESOFT
Version: All Versions

This article explains how to select a printer, install a supported thermal printer driver, and prepare your printer for use in LABELVIEW and CODESOFT. The printer selected determines the available printing options and how labels will be printed.

Select a Printer

Before designing or printing a label, select the printer that will be used. Different printer models support different printing features and capabilities.

1. On the File menu, click Select Printer. You can also click the Select Printer toolbar button or press F5.

2. The Printer dialog opens.

NOTE: The printer icon displayed to the left of the printer name indicates an internal printer driver supplied with LABELVIEW/CODESOFT.

3. Select the printer you want to use from the available list.
4. Click OK to save your printer selection.

Install a Printer Driver

If the printer you want to use does not appear in the Printer dialog, install the appropriate printer driver.

LABELVIEW and CODESOFT include printer drivers for most thermal and thermal-transfer printers. These drivers are installed with the software and are the recommended drivers for printing labels.

NOTE: TEKLYNX recommends using the printer drivers installed with LABELVIEW/CODESOFT. Installing the same printer through Windows, or using both Windows and TEKLYNX printer drivers simultaneously, can result in printing errors.

Follow the steps below to install a supported thermal printer driver.

Install a Printer Driver

1. On the File menu, click Select Printer. You can also click the Select Printer toolbar button or press F5.

2. Click Add. The Add Printer dialog box opens.

3. In the Model list, expand the printer manufacturer and select the printer model you want to install.

4. In the Port list, select the printer port you want to use. If you select a local printer port instead of a network printer, the Direct Access option becomes available.
5. Uncheck the Direct Access checkbox.

NOTE: Using Direct Access allows the printer driver to communicate directly with the printer, preventing the computer from being used for other tasks until printing finishes.

Recommended: Leave Direct Access disabled. This allows Windows to spool the print job, so you can continue using the computer while the label is printing.

Additional Options:

  • Click Network Printers to browse for a shared printer on your network.
  • Click TCP/IP to connect directly to a network printer using its IP address.

Configure Printer Device Settings

Printer device settings control printer-specific features such as print speed, print darkness (temperature), cutter options, media handling, and other hardware settings. The settings available depend on the printer driver you have selected, and many software settings override the printer's hardware configuration.

1. Open the Select Printer dialog from the File menu, click the toolbar button, or press F5.

2. Select the printer you want to configure, then click Settings.

3. Adjust the printer-specific settings as needed. Depending on your printer model, options may include:
  • Print speed
  • Print temperature or darkness
  • Cutter options
  • Paper or media feed settings
  • Other printer-specific features

NOTE: The available settings vary by printer model and driver. Click Help within the Printer Settings dialog or refer to your printer's documentation for descriptions of each option.

Each printer driver includes its own set of configurable properties. The options displayed in your Printer Settings dialog may differ from the example shown above depending on the printer model and installed driver.

Keywords: Printer Settings, Set up, adding, installing , LABELVIEW, CODESOFT