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Setting Up A Raw Printer in Windows

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Tres Finocchiaro edited this page Jan 27, 2017 · 34 revisions

Compatibility

  • ✅ 2.1 | ✅ 2.0 | ✅ 1.9 | ...
  • Windows | Mac | Linux

This tutorial is for raw printers only. If unsure please see What is Raw Printing?

Background

These steps will allow a USB, Network, Serial or Parallel attached printer to receive raw commands through Java on Windows.

Note: This tutorial also applies to Windows XP, Vista, Windows 8, and Windows 10, but some steps will differ slightly.

Steps

  1. Open Control Panel > View Devices and Printers > Add Printer.

Note: On Windows 8 use "Advanced Printer Setup"

![image](https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/12505463/7741529/bdc20d3a-ff4d-11e4-9a2e-15acd60f02d9.png)
  1. Click "Add a local printer." Ignore the USB message.

For Network Printer:

  • Click Create New Port > Standard TCP/IP Port > Next.

  • Enter the IP address and uncheck "Query the Printer..."

    DO NOT click "Add a Wireless, Bluetooth or Network Printer." Always use the local port option for Network Printers.

For Serial or Parallel Printer (COM or LPT):

  • Click Use Existing Port. Then, Select the appropriate COM or LPT port.

For USB Printer:

  • Click Use Existing Port. Find the matching USB00x port that was installed with the device driver.

  • If unsure of the port, cancel the Wizard. Right Click the USB Printer > Printer Properties > Port. (Reminder: In Windows 7, it's called "Printer Properties, not "Properties").

    Note: For USB to operate properly, the device driver should already be installed. This is [automatic in Windows 7 when connected to the internet] (https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/12505463/7741647/d2dd09d4-ff4f-11e4-8c7c-0851d69edbeb.png) . Windows XP may need a device driver installed manually. Download from manufacturer if needed.

For Virtual Printer (FILE)

  • Click Use Existing Port. Then, Select FILE:

  1. For printer driver, select Generic > Generic/Text Only > Next.

    image

    Note: Some print drivers, such as Zebra ZDesigner or CUPS Zebra driver have dual-mode drivers capable of accepting Raw commands as well as PostScript commands. If Raw printing works with the vendor supplied driver, chose that over the Generic/Raw driver.

  2. If prompted to replace the current drive, click "Replace the Current Driver."

  3. Name the printer (ie. "zebra") > Next.

  4. Uncheck "Set as Default Printer" Recommended as to not override default printer settings.

To learn how to print from a webpage continue to:

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