I'm working on a .NET WinForms app that needs to print a FEDEX shipping label. As part of the FedEx api, I can get raw label data for the printer.
I just don't know how to send that data to the printer through .NET (I'm using C#). To be clear, the data is already pre formatted into ZPL (Zebra printer language) I just need to send it to the printer without windows mucking it up.
C# doesn't support raw printing, you'll have to use the win32 spooler, as detailed in this KB article How to send raw data to a printer by using Visual C# .NET.
Hope this helps.
-Adam
I think you just want to send the ZPL (job below) directly to your printer.
private void SendPrintJob(string job)
{
TcpClient client = null;
NetworkStream ns = null;
byte[] bytes;
int bytesRead;
IPEndPoint remoteIP;
Socket sock = null;
try
{
remoteIP = new IPEndPoint( IPAddress.Parse(hostName), portNum );
sock = new Socket(AddressFamily.InterNetwork,
SocketType.Stream,
ProtocolType.Tcp);
sock.Connect(remoteIP);
ns = new NetworkStream(sock);
if (ns.DataAvailable)
{
bytes = new byte[client.ReceiveBufferSize];
bytesRead = ns.Read(bytes, 0, bytes.Length);
}
byte[] toSend = Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(job);
ns.Write(toSend, 0, toSend.Length);
if (ns.DataAvailable)
{
bytes = new byte[client.ReceiveBufferSize];
bytesRead = ns.Read(bytes, 0, bytes.Length);
}
}
finally
{
if( ns != null )
ns.Close();
if( sock != null && sock.Connected )
sock.Close();
if (client != null)
client.Close();
}
}
I've been working with a printer and ZPL for a while now, but with a Ruby app. Sending the ZPL out to the printer via socket works fine.
To check that it works, I often telnet to the printer and type ^XA^PH^XZ to feed a single label. Hope that helps.
A little late, but you can use this CodePlex Project for easy ZPL printing http://sharpzebra.codeplex.com/
Zebra printers don't use a spooler, it isn't raw printing. It's a markup called ZPL. It's text based, not binary.
