ng:serializationData

ng:serializationData

The built-in function, ng:serializationData can help you if you want to print multiple labels on a ZPL compatible printer, that are all identical apart from a number, which is increased/descreased for each label.

 

You can use this to reduce the size of the print data stream and increase print performance.

Prerequisites/limitations: This function only works for ZPL output. It is also only supported for a single page output, that is printed in multiple copies. This function should be the main XPath function used in a text element. If you want to use similar functionality for a barcode, then you should use the ng:serializationBarcode function, which was added in version 4.2.0.


The function injects the ^SF serilization field into the barcode in ZPL. The field will inject the values directly, which means we strongly recommend reading the ^SF section in the 
Zebra Programming Guide. At writing time available at https://www.zebra.com/content/dam/support-dam/en/documentation/unrestricted/guide/software/zpl-zbi2-pg-en.pdf on page 334

The ng:serializationData can e.g. be called with this command: ng:serializationData('00001','3','y') and here are descriptions of the 3 parameters:

 

First parameter: Starting value

  • This can be any numeric value with up to 12 digits. It can also be an alphanumeric text that ends with a number.

Second parameter: Increment (up to 12 digits).

  • This can be any numeric value with up to 12 digits. This can also be negative e.g. '-1' to reduce the value with one for each new label.

Third parameter: Keep leading zeroes

  • Allowed values are: "y" and "n". A "y" indicates, that leading zeroes should be included in the output and with "n" any leading zeroes are removed in the output.

 

Examples of use:

ng:serializationData('00001','3','y') = Number on the labels will be 00001, 00004, 00007…
ng:serializationData('00001','3','n') = Number on the labels will be 1,4,7…
ng:serializationData('5','1','n') = Number on the labels will be 5,6,7…
ng:serializationData('PartNo005','-1','y') = Labels will output PartNo005, PartNo004, PartNo003…

Here you can find an example of printing three labels with the numbers:
The built-in function, ng:serializationData can help you if you want to print multiple label on a ZPL compatible printer, that are all identical apart from a number, which is increased for each label.

Here you can find an example of printing three labels with the numbers:
img1

This prints out the number: 00001 and prepares the printer to increment the value with 1 for each copy.

 

If this template is used in a workflow, which prints multiple copies like below, then the output in this case will be 3 labels with the values 00001, 00002 and 00003:

img2
  
The advantage is, that only a single page element is sent to the printer, so the print speed will be as fast as the printer can print at all – with the selected print speed.

Example: Generic template prints out variable data from the workflow

Here is a generic template, that prints out dynamic data, that is setup in the workflow. The template looks like this:

Here three workflow variables has been defined: LeadingZeroes, Step and Start.
They are all expected to be set in the workflow before this template is used for printing ZPL. 

The matching workflow looks like this:

The workflow sets the required workflow variables and the predefined variable, interform.destination.printer.copies before printing.
The result is two labels with the text: PartNo005 (on the first label) and PartNo004 (on the second label).

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