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Setting Up A Raw Printer in Windows

Compatibility

  • ✅ 2.2 | ✅ 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 on Windows. Note: Many printer drivers do NOT need these additional steps and will work fine with both raw and pixel API calls.

Note: This tutorial also applies broadly to all versions of Windows, but some steps may vary slightly.

Steps

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

    Note: Also available under Settings > Bluetooth and Devices > Printers and Scanners > Add device > Add manually

    image

  2. 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. 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:

  3. 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.

  4. If prompted to replace the current driver, click "Replace the Current Driver."

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

  6. Uncheck "Set as Default Printer" unless instructed otherwise.

To learn how to print from a webpage continue to Getting Started

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