You can manage the printing orders in the Serialized Manufacturing application:
- You can define the printing job, including the label information, the number of labels, and the printing destination.
- You can execute the printing order right after the creation or later.
- You can resume a suspended printing order.
- You can delete a printing order.
List of Procedures
- Creating a Printing Order
- Searching for a Printing Order
- Updating a Printing Order
- Releasing a Printing Order to Print the Labels
- Resuming a Suspended Printing Order
- Deleting a Printing Order
Creating a Printing Order
Before You Begin
Make sure that:
- You have enough serial numbers available in the pool.
- You have configured a printing destination.
- For Zebra printers, you have configured a ZPL printing template.
If you want to print the order immediately after creation, make sure that the printer belonging to the printing destination is active.
Procedure
1. In the Serialized Manufacturing application, select Labels --> Orders tab. The application displays the list of printing orders and the Create order form.
Note: When viewing the details of a printing order, you can open the Create order form by clicking Create.
2. Fill in the form as described below. The required fields are marked with an asterisk (*) in the form.
Field | Description |
---|---|
Order ID | Enter the order ID. Free-form text field. |
Select product code schema | Select the product code schema. You can only select GTIN. |
Select product | Select a product code. The application displays a searchable drop-down with a prefiltered list of products. You can search for any product registered in the system by entering the product code or the product name in the search field. |
Batch | Select a batch for the product code. The application displays a searchable drop-down with a list of batches released for that product code. You can search for any batch released for the product by entering the batch number (ID) in the search field. |
Expiration Date | The application automatically fills in the expiration date based on the data registered in the system for that batch. It is not possible to manually change the expiration date. |
Quantity | Enter the number of labels you want to print. |
Printing destination | Select the printing destination where the labels are going to be printed. The application provides a list of the previously configured printing destinations. |
Printing template | Select a ZPL label template. The application provides a list of the previously configured ZPL label templates. The template defines the printing format that the Zebra printer has to apply when printing the labels for the order. Note: Only applicable when the selected printing destination is Zebra Cloud Connect. |
3. Click Save. The order is created and added to the list. The application displays a dialog to confirm if you want to print the order.
Example:
4. Click Yes to print the labels immediately. Click No if you want to print the labels later by releasing the order to the printing destination.
After clicking Yes, the application checks the settings and the resources (like serial numbers or printers). The following table provides system response examples and the required action:
System Response Example | Explanation | Action |
---|---|---|
You can see the printing order page and a horizontal, orange progress bar at the top of your browser. | This is the normal case. The printing is started. The order goes to In Progress status (especially in case of printing huge amount), and finally to Done. | Wait for the order to be completed. |
The Zebra printer is not active. It is not possible to print the label. The order goes to Open status. | Activate the Zebra printer on the Zebra Cloud Connect printing channel and then release the order. | |
Not connected to the NiceLabel Automation. The computer hosting the NiceLabel on-premises software is not responding. It is not possible to print the label. The order goes to Open status. | Make sure that you can run the NiceLabel Automation Manager and the triggers are running in the NiceLabel Automation Manager. Then, release the order. | |
The Print the content to file instead of printer option is activated for the Zebra printing destination. The application informs you that the order will be sent to a file instead of the physical printer. | If you want to print to a file, confirm the operation by clicking Yes. If you want to print to a physical printer, click No and deactivate the option for the printer on the Zebra Cloud Connect printing channel. Then, release the order. | |
The Zebra printer is offline. The printing order is suspended, and it goes to Suspended status. | Ensure that the Zebra printer is online and verify the status on the Zebra Cloud Connect printing channel. Then, resume the order (play icon). | |
The application runs out of serials during execution. The order is started but the application cannot complete the order. The printing order is suspended, and it goes to Suspended status. | Ensure that there are enough serials to complete the order (manual request versus auto-replenishment). Then, resume the order (play icon). | |
You want to print the order to a file by using a ZPL template with a layout. The layout can be stored on a physical printer only. The order is started but the application cannot complete the order. The printing order is suspended, and it goes to Suspended status. | Apply a ZPL label template with a blank Layout field. Then, resume the order (play icon). |
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Searching for a Printing Order
Procedure
1. In the Serialized Manufacturing application, select Labels --> Orders tab. The application displays the list of printing orders.
2. Enter the printing order name in the search field and select the status.
- The list of the printing orders is filtered based on the search criteria.
- You can reset the filter by clicking the Reset filters icon.
3. Select the printing order to view its details.
In the following example, we are filtering on orders in Open status and are searching for "Order-002":
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Updating a Printing Order
Procedure
1. In the Serialized Manufacturing application, select Labels --> Orders tab. The application displays the list of printing orders.
2. Find and select the printing order in the list you want to update.
Note: You can update the orders in Open status only.
3. In the Update order form, modify the fields as needed.
Field | Description |
---|---|
Order ID | Enter the order ID. Free-form text field. |
Select product code schema | Select the product code schema. You can only select GTIN. |
Select product | Select a product code. The application displays a searchable drop-down with a prefiltered list of products. You can search for any product registered in the system by entering the product code or the product name in the search field. |
Batch | Select a batch for the product code. The application displays a searchable drop-down with a list of batches released for that product code. You can search for any batch released for the product by entering the batch number (ID) in the search field. |
Expiration Date | The application automatically fills in the expiration date based on the data registered in the system for that batch. It is not possible to manually change the expiration date. |
Quantity | Enter the number of labels you want to print. |
Printing destination | Select the printing destination where the labels are going to be printed. The application provides a list of the previously configured printing destinations. |
Printing template | Select a ZPL label template. The application provides a list of the previously configured ZPL label templates. The template defines the printing format that the Zebra printer has to apply when printing the labels for the order. Note: Only applicable when the selected printing destination is Zebra Cloud Connect. |
4. Click Update.
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Releasing a Printing Order to Print the Labels
When an order is not executed right after the creation, it is added to the list and is in Open status. Also, if the Zebra printer is inactive or the application is not connected to the NiceLabel Automation, the order cannot be executed and the order goes to Open status. To print the labels, you can manually release the order to the printing destination.
Before You Begin
Ensure the following:
- You have enough serial numbers available in the pool.
- When using a Zebra printer, the printer is online and is active on the Zebra Cloud Connect printing channel.
- When using the NiceLabel Label Cloud service, the triggers are running in the NiceLabel Automation Manager.
Procedure
1. In the Serialized Manufacturing application, select Labels --> Orders tab. The application displays the list of printing orders.
2. Find the printing order in the list you want to release to the printing destination.
Example:
3. Under the Action column, click Release order and confirm the action. The order is executed at the printing destination.
System Response Example | Explanation | Action |
---|---|---|
You can see the printing order page and a horizontal, orange progress bar at the top of your browser. | This is the normal case. The printing is started. The order goes to In Progress status (especially in case of printing huge amount), and finally to Done. | Wait for the order to be completed. |
The Zebra printer is not active. It is not possible to print the label. The order goes to Open status. | Activate the Zebra printer on the Zebra Cloud Connect printing channel and then release the order. | |
Not connected to the NiceLabel Automation. The computer hosting the NiceLabel on-premises software is not responding. It is not possible to print the label. The order goes to Open status. | Make sure that you can run the NiceLabel Automation Manager and the triggers are running in the NiceLabel Automation Manager. Then, release the order. | |
The Print the content to file instead of printer option is activated for the Zebra printing destination. The application informs you that the order will be sent to a file instead of the physical printer. | If you want to print to a file, confirm the operation by clicking Yes. If you want to print to a physical printer, click No and deactivate the option for the printer on the Zebra Cloud Connect printing channel. Then, release the order. | |
The Zebra printer is offline. The printing order is suspended, and it goes to Suspended status. | Ensure that the Zebra printer is online and verify the status on the Zebra Cloud Connect printing channel. Then, resume the order (play icon). | |
The application runs out of serials during execution. The order is started but the application cannot complete the order. The printing order is suspended, and it goes to Suspended status. | Ensure that there are enough serials to complete the order (manual request versus auto-replenishment). Then, resume the order (play icon). | |
You want to print the order to a file by using a ZPL template with a layout. The layout can be stored on a physical printer only. The order is started but the application cannot complete the order. The printing order is suspended, and it goes to Suspended status. | Apply a ZPL label template with a blank Layout field. Then, resume the order (play icon). |
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Resuming a Suspended Printing Order
The printing order is suspended if the application cannot complete the order for any reason. For example, the application runs out of serials during execution.
The user can resume the order after the issue has been resolved. For example, there are enough serials again to complete the order, either by manually requesting serials or by automatic replenishment.
Before You Begin
Ensure the following:
- You have enough serial numbers available in the pool.
- When using a Zebra printer, the printer is online and is active on the Zebra Cloud Connect printing channel.
- When using the NiceLabel Label Cloud service, the triggers are running in the NiceLabel Automation Manager.
Procedure
1. In the Serialized Manufacturing application, select Labels --> Orders tab. The application displays the list of printing orders.
2. Find the printing order in the list you want to resume.
Example:
3. Click the Play icon (Resume order). The application displays a window summarizing the original quantity versus the number of remaining labels.
Example:
4. Click Yes.
If you print to a ZPL file, confirm the action.
The application continues executing the printing order. The order is successfully executed and completed when the order goes to Done status.
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Deleting a Printing Order
Procedure
1. In the Serialized Manufacturing application, select Labels --> Orders tab. The application displays the list of printing orders.
2. Find the printing order in the list you want to delete.
Note: You cannot delete orders that are in In Progress status.
Example:
3. Click the delete icon and confirm the deletion by clicking Yes.
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