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The Label connector generates Zebra Programming Language (ZPL) labels based on a template, which is filled in at runtime using XML as input.

Key Capabilities

  • ZPL label generation from XML input with template-based customization
  • Compatible with XML Map connector for automated label creation workflows
  • Dynamic field substitution using ${...} syntax for thermal printer output

Overview

The Label connector converts input XML into ZPL files based on a predefined XML template, which enables automated and consistent label creation for printing on Zebra thermal printers. It is compatible with the XML Map connector as well as raw XML input. However, the primary use case is for XML to be mapped to the ZPL structure represented in XML using a flow that goes from an XML Map to a Label connector.

Connector Configuration

This section contains all of the configurable connector properties.

Settings Tab

Configuration

Settings related to establishing the connection.

Template Tab

The ZPL file to use as a template. When you create a Label connector, pre-fills this field with a ZPL template to use as a starting point. See Generating a ZPL Document for details.

Advanced Tab

Advanced Settings

Settings not included in the previous categories.
SettingDescription
Local File SchemeA scheme for assigning filenames to messages that are output by the connector. You can use macros in your filenames dynamically to include information such as identifiers and timestamps. For more information, see Macros.

Message

Logging

Miscellaneous

Automation Tab

Automation Settings

Settings related to the automatic processing of files by the connector.
SettingDescription
SendCheck this to have the connector automatically send files when they are ready.

Performance

Alerts Tab

SLAs Tab

Generating a ZPL Document

The Label connector reads an XML input file into the ZPL template specified on the Template tab, and uses the data from the template to generate ZPL labels.

Default ZPL Template

pre-fills the Template field with a ZPL template to use as a starting point. This documentation does not go into detail on how to use the ZPL language: you need to learn that outside of . You can modify other aspects and dynamic fields of the ZPL template as necessary, but here is the default content:
^XA
^FX Top section with logo, name and address.
^CF0,60
^FO50,50^GB100,100,100^FS
^FO75,75^FR^GB100,100,100^FS
^FO93,93^GB40,40,40^FS
^FO220,50^FDIntershipping, Inc.^FS
^CF0,30
^FO220,115^FD1000 Shipping Lane^FS
^FO220,155^FDShelbyville TN 38102^FS
^FO220,195^FDUnited States (USA)^FS
^FO50,250^GB700,3,3^FS
^FX Second section with recipient address and permit information.
^CFA,30
^FO50,280^FD${name}^FS
^FO50,320^FD${address}^FS
^FO50,360^FD${address2}^FS
^FO50,400^FD${city}^FS
^FO175,400^FD${state}^FS
^FO225,400^FD${zip}^FS
^FO50,440^FD${country}^FS
^CFA,15
^FO600,300^GB150,150,3^FS
^FO638,340^FDPermit^FS
^FO638,390^FD123456^FS
^FO50,500^GB700,3,3^FS
^FX Third section with barcode.
^BY5,2,270
^FO100,550^BC^FD${barcode}^FS
^FX Fourth section (the two boxes on the bottom).
^FO50,900^GB700,250,3^FS
^FO400,900^GB3,250,3^FS
^CF0,40
^FO100,960^FDCtr. X34B-1^FS
^FO100,1010^FDREF1 F00B47^FS
^FO100,1060^FDREF2 BL4H8^FS
^CF0,190
^FO470,955^FDCA^FS
^XZ
The elements using the ${...} syntax (such as ${name} in the content above) are what pulls from the input XML passed into the connector. When you put an XML Map connector in front of a Label connector in a flow, the destination side of the mapping shows these fields, as shown in the following image. If you map XML to these elements and feed it through the flow, the Label connector output (when viewed with a tool that reads .zpl files) contains the same ZPL data with the values filled in:
^FO50,280^FDCharlie^FS
^FO50,320^FD123 Address Street^FS
^FO50,360^FDUnit 2^FS
^FO50,400^FDGotham^FS
^FO175,400^FDNY^FS
^FO225,400^FD12345^FS
^FO50,440^FDUnited States^FS
...
^FO100,550^BC^FD02271994^FS
Finally, when you run the ZPL through a reader to make the label, it looks like this:

Macros

Examples