Lesson5:Command File Interpreter

[Pages:13]Lesson 5: Command File Interpreter

W HAT YOU WILL LEAR N In this lesson you will learn about: n Command files n Command file format and commands n Configuring and executing command files to print labels

automatically

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Command Files

Overview

The Command File Interpreter is a command file analysis tool, with which labels can be printed automatically. These command files (with a .cmd extension) are ASCII-type files. Once interpreted by the Command File Interpreter, the content of these files makes it possible to load a label in CODESOFT, fill the variable data fields (variable label form), and print a specific number of labels.

Command files can be used to transfer information generated by other systems or other computers, such as a central server or a mini-computer. For example, a centralized management application can control the printing of labels using a command file.

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Command File Format

Guidelines

There are many commands that can be issued in command files. Follow these guidelines when writing the command file: n Be careful to include the spaces. n Using quotation marks (" ") around field names is optional, unless

you are adding spaces in the fields. n Command files are NOT case sensitive.

Sequence of commands

In a command file, each batch normally begins with the LABELNAME command and finishes with LABELQUANTITY. All other commands for that label should be between these two commands. After the LABELQUANTITY command, you may add the LABELNAME command for the next label to be printed.

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Command File Commands

LABELNAME

This command selects the name of the label to be printed and it should be located in the first line of a command file. The command can appear several times in the same command file, to print different labels. If the same label is to be printed again in a command file, you do not need to repeat this command every time: the last label printed will be processed again with the new data. For example:

LABELNAME = "label_file_name.lab" LABELNAME = "c:\labels\sears.lab"

FIELD_NAME

There should be an assignment line in the command file for each variable field in a label (form field). The name of the field should be identical to that used in the command file. Spell the label field name correctly and enter the value for the variable data after the equals sign in quotes.

If a label field is left empty in a command file containing several labels, the value for this field will be replaced by the last value used in the command file. To leave a field empty, enter a void character (empty quotes "") in the string. For example: FIELD = "" For example:

FIELD_NAME = "field_value" PART_NUM = "836773"

PRINTER (optional command)

This command specifies the printer to be used. If this command is not included, the default printer will be used. For example:

PRINTER = "Printer_name,Port_name:" (The syntax should be the same as that used in the Print Manager; check if letters are in upper or lower case.)

PRINTER = "Datamax DMX 430,COM2:"

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Command File Commands continued

LABELQUANTITY

This command sets the number of labels to be printed. This command line should be located at the end of each definition of a label to be printed. The label will be printed automatically once this command is activated. For example:

LABELQUANTITY = "quantity_to_print" LABELQUANTITY = "5"

QUITAPP

This command will immediately terminate the execution of a file and stop the program. It should therefore appear at the end of a command file. If this command line does not appear in the file, the program will remain open.

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Creating Label Models

Overview

We will first create two label models in CODESOFT: Odette.lab and Palette.lab.

Procedure: Create label models

n Create the Odette.lab and Palette.lab labels using the following form variables.

Odette.lab Receiver1 Receiver2 Receiver3

NetWt NumBox Description LotNum PartNum GrossWt LabNum ModLevel SupplPartNum SupplierAdd DeliveryAdd Supplier DocNum Quantity

Date

Palette.lab sscc

Content Batch BestBefore Quantity

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Generating Command Files

Overview

You must generate command files for each of the two label models in order to be able to print them later.

Procedure: Generate command files

n Below, you will find an example of a command file for each label. The printers designated in the Printer variable are those associated with the Command File Interpreter.

NOTE: The variables specific to the command file are displayed in all capital letters.

Command file for the label Odette.lab:

LABELNAME = "Odette.Lab" Receiver1 = "General Motors" Receiver2 = "3434 Washington Blvd." Receiver3 = "Chicago" NetWt = "240" NumBox = "5" Description = "ACV N22 C G" LotNum = "AQP" PartNum = "9563244580" GrossWt = "12" LabNum = "72351" ModLevel = "M04" SupplPartNum = "254467NO" SupplierAdd = "Delphi Detroit" DeliveryAdd = "2Z69A54" Supplier = "13646H" DocNum = "123456" Quantity = "5" Date = "127" PRINTER = "Production2" LABELQUANTITY = "1"

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Generating Command Files continued

Command file for the label Palette.lab: LABELNAME = "Palette.Lab" SSCC = "133333312345678906" Content = "5412345678908" Batch = "4512XA" BestBefore = "01.01.2010" Quantity = "47" PRINTER = "Production1" LABELQUANTITY = "1"

The command file recognizes the label fields and assigns the appropriate value to them. You can therefore repeat the variables of a label several times to print each label with different field content.

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