White Paper on Cost-effective Label Printing Solution with Oracle

Application

Label Printing Integration

With

Oracle WMS, MSCA, OM, INV, PO Transactions

(How Cost Effectively Print labels from Oracle Applications)

Product: [Oracle WMS] Product: Version: [R: 11.5.10.2]

This document was authored by an Oracle customer and has not been subject to an
independent technical review.

Abstract

The purpose of this case study is to describe how cost effectively integrate label
printing with Oracle EBS in small business systems

Document History

Author: [Sateesh Kumar Polkampally]

Title: [Solution Architect Supply chain Management]
Date Created: [16-Feb-2011]
Company: [Mahindra Satyam Computers ltd.]
White Paper on Cost-effective Label Printing Solution with Oracle
Application

Table of Contents
Page

1. Introduction 4
Purpose 4
Audience 4
Version information 4
2. Integration Overview 5
WMS 5
Third Party 5
Scripting 5
3. Solution Design Approach 10
4. Printer Configuration 11
Pasta Driver Setup 11
Unix and Windows Printer Setup 11
EBS Printer Setup 11
5. Conclusion 12
6. References 13
White Paper on Cost-effective Label Printing Solution with Oracle
Application

Copyright Information

Zebra, Stripe, ZPL, and ZPL II are registered trademarks of Zebra

Technologies Corporation

The word Intermec, the Intermec logo, Norand, ArciTech, CrossBar, Data Collection
Browser, dcBrowser, Duratherm, EasyCoder, EasyLAN, Enterprise Wireless LAN,
EZBuilder, Fingerprint, i-gistics, INCA (under license), InterDriver, Intermec Printer
Network Manager, IRL, JANUS, LabelShop, Mobile Framework, MobileLAN, Nor*Ware,
Pen*Key, Precision Print, PrintSet, RoutePower, TE 2000, Trakker Antares,
UAP,Universal Access Point, and Virtual Wedge are either trademarks or registered
trademarks of Intermec Technologies Corporation.

Other names and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their
respective owners.
White Paper on Cost-effective Label Printing Solution with Oracle
Application

Introduction
Purpose
Oracle Warehouse Management (WMS) and Oracle Mobile Supply Chain
Architecture (MSCA) have provided the ability to perform many traditional
material-handling processes more quickly and efficiently. Both provide
integrated Barcode scanning and label generation to improve material
transactions and advanced shipping process.

This white paper explains the cost effective process of integrating label
generation with EBS through Scripting Languages like ZPL.

Audience

This document is intended for Audience

Small Business generates few Warehouse transaction labels with
specific vendor specific labels printers having scripting
Software developer who can handle Label printers through scripting
languages in Oracle EBS environment (11i, 12).

Problem Statement

WMS and MSCA offer Integration capabilities that allow for automatic label
printing when used with the right external software products like Zebra
Connector, Loptware, Optio software, Bar Tender etc. External Software
receives EBS transaction specific data in XML format and applies this data on
predefined label format and spool to label printers with Native drivers.

Including external Vendor Software in automatic generation of labels for EBS

transactions will cost additional dolor that can be avoided for small business
community maintaining Vendor specific printers and integrating label printers
through scripting languages
White Paper on Cost-effective Label Printing Solution with Oracle
Application

Integration Overview
WMS and Integration with Third party Label print Solution

Oracle EBS (WMS, MSCA) relies on a third-party printing solution by providing

XML output containing all of the information needed to describe a label job.
These applications must be configured to create the desired XML file and
setting up WMS configurations are not part of this white paper.

Oracle WMS generates XML data for below EBS predefined transactions and
XML data can be captured during part of transaction through
inv_sync_print_request. List of supported Warehouse transactions.

1. Purchase Order Receipt

2. Receipt Delivery
3. Ship Confirmation
4. Picking Confirmation
5. WIP Completion
6. Flow Schedule

Here is an example XML file generated by Oracle

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>

<!DOCTYPE labels SYSTEM "label.dtd">
<labels _FORMAT ="Seeded Label Default for LPN" _QUANTITY="1"
_PRINTERNAME="P1" _JOBNAME="LPN">
<label>
<variable name= "lpn">123ABC</variable>
<variable name= "organization">M1</variable>
</label>
</labels>

Loft ware
Third Party
Label
Software
Print S
Label
olution
Print Integration

Loft ware
Services
Transactions

XML Data Label

Third Party Connector
Server
EBS
Windows
Services

Label

Server

Third-party printing solutions like Loptware, Bartender capture the XML data
through generated XML files in defined folders or through API
inv_sync_print_request and apply the XML data to predefined label format and
spools the Label jobs to Label printers through installed native print drivers.
White Paper on Cost-effective Label Printing Solution with Oracle
Application

WMS and Label print Solution with Scripting

Most of the Popular label print manufacturers include Zebra, Intermec and
Sato supports generation of labels through scripting command Language.
Generating Labels through scripting commands will be easy process and can
easily be manageable and supports all the functionalities of the Label
generation

Zebra Printers can be controlled through ZPL

Intermec Printers can be controlled through IPL scripting
SATO printers can be controlled through SBPL scripting

Apart from supporting respective scripting language, Manufacturers releasing

XML Enabled Printers where in XML files can be feed in through TCP/IP to
Printer. But this does not supports old version of firmware.

A Generic Customization program required to be built to capture the XML data

and transform the XML data into respective printer specific scripting
languages as per the label definition and send the RAW text image to the
printer. Custom Program should be triggered during part of transaction either
through inv_sync_print_request or standard custom concurrent Manager.

ZPL
Scripting
LabelLanguages
Print Solution
Label Print Solution

Windows Label
Servi c es
Tra n sa c ti o n s
P ri n te r Q u e u e

Scripting Language
Server
EBS
EBS

This approach will provide direct printing solutions from EBS without the need
for any additional print server hardware and middleware application. The
outcome is an overall printing system infrastructure that improves the
efficiency of time and reduces unnecessary costs that would have otherwise
been used to develop the middleware application.

Wireless printers configured in Network better to be connected to windows

queue to ensure synchronization of printing in offline and online mode.

Sample Scripts

ZPL

Zebra Printer Language (ZPL) is the programming language that has been
developed for use with Zebra printers

^XA
^DFR:SAMPLE_LABEL.GRF^FS
^FO20,30^GB750,1100,4^FS
^FO20,30^GB750,200,4^FS
White Paper on Cost-effective Label Printing Solution with Oracle
Application
^FO20,30^GB750,400,4^FS
^FO20,30^GB750,700,4^FS
^FO20,226^GB325,204,4^FS
^FO30,40^ADN,36,20^FDSubmitter:^FS
^FO30,260^ADN,18,10^FDSubmission #^FS
^FO360,260^ADN,18,10^FDComment:^FS
^FO30,750^ADN,36,20^FDAnalyst:^FS
^FO150,125^ADN,36,20^FN1^FS (submitter)
^FO60,330^ADN,36,20^FN2^FS(submission_number)
^FO400,330^ADN,36,20^FN3^FS(description)
^FO70,480^BY4^B3N,,200^FN4^FS(barcode)
^FO150,800^ADN,36,20^FN5^FS (analyst)
^XZ
^XA
^XFR:SAMPLE_LABEL.GRF
^FN1^FDJane D^FS
^FN2^FD14042^FS
^FN3^FDFollow protocol^FS
^FN4^FD12345678^FS
^FN5^FDTom H^FS
^XZ

IPL

Intermec Printer Language (IPL) is the programming language that has been
developed for use with Intermec printers

<STX><ESC>C0<ETX>
<STX><ESC>P;<ETX>
<STX>E4;F4,DEMO4;<ETX>
<STX>L1;o11,447;f0;l1207;w4;<ETX>
<STX>L2;o11,285;f0;l1207;w4;<ETX>
<STX>W3;o11,0;f0;l1207;h802;w4;<ETX>
<STX>B4;o658,650;f0;h102;w2;c0,0;i1;r1;d0,11;<ETX>
White Paper on Cost-effective Label Printing Solution with Oracle
Application
<STX>I4;o658,752;f0;h1;w1;c20;r0;b0;<ETX>
<STX>B5;o87,650;f0;h102;w2;c0,0;i1;r1;d0,11;<ETX>
<STX>I5;o87,752;f0;h1;w1;c20;r0;b0;<ETX>
<STX>H6;o34,183;f0;h1;w1;c22;r0;b0;d0,17;<ETX>
<STX>H7;o35,143;f0;h1;w1;c21;r0;b0;d3,BASISWT.394838;<ETX>
<STX>H8;o389,305;f0;h1;w1;c21;r0;b0;d3,ROLLS;<ETX>
<STX>H9;o40,305;f0;h1;w1;c21;r0;b0;d3,ROLLWIDTH;<ETX>
<STX>L10;o11,609;f0;l1207;w4;<ETX>
<STX>H12;o1022,508;f0;h1;w1;c22;r0;b0;d0,7;<ETX>
<STX>H13;o1022,467;f0;h1;w1;c21;r0;b0;d3,WEIGHT;<ETX>
<STX>H14;o539,508;f0;h1;w1;c22;r0;b0;d0,11;<ETX>
<STX>H15;o539,467;f0;h1;w1;c21;r0;b0;d3,LOCATION;<ETX>
<STX>H16;o42,508;f0;h1;w1;c22;r0;b0;d0,15;<ETX>
<STX>H17;o43,467;f0;h1;w1;c21;r0;b0;d3,CUSTOMERORDERUMBER;<ETX>
<STX>H18;o840,346;f0;h1;w1;c22;r0;b0;d0,13;<ETX>
<STX>H19;o840,305;f0;h1;w1;c21;r0;b0;d3,ORDERITEMNUMBER;<ETX>
<STX>H20;o389,346;f0;h1;w1;c22;r0;b0;d0,7;<ETX>
<STX>H21;o34,346;f0;h1;w1;c22;r0;b0;d0,11;<ETX>
<STX>H22;o747,183;f0;h1;w1;c22;r0;b0;d0,15;<ETX>
<STX>H23;o743,143;f0;h1;w1;c21;r0;b0;d3,GRADEDESCRIPTION;<ETX>
<STX>H24;o13,0;f0;h51;w34;c25;r0;b3;d3,SHIPPINGLABEL;<ETX>
<STX>R<ETX>
<STX><ESC>E4<CAN><ETX>
<STX><ESC>F4<LF>INTERMEC<ETX>
<STX><ESC>F5<LF>372181192<ETX>
<STX><ESC>F6<LF>38448379237<ETX>
<STX><ESC>F12<LF>230<ETX>
<STX><ESC>F14<LF>3839494<ETX>
<STX><ESC>F16<LF>372181192<ETX>
<STX><ESC>F18<LF>234LOFT<ETX>
<STX><ESC>F20<LF>12<ETX>
<STX><ESC>F21<LF>338438<ETX>
<STX><ESC>F22<LF>APLUSQTY<ETX>
<STX><ETB><FF><ETX>
White Paper on Cost-effective Label Printing Solution with Oracle
Application
White Paper on Cost-effective Label Printing Solution with Oracle
Application

SBPL

Sato Barcode Programming Language (SBPL) is the programming language

that has been developed for use with SATO printers

<A>
<V>100<H>50<FW>1010V800H750
<V>100<H>50<FW>0505V760H710
<V>150<H>100<XB>0MODEL
<&>
<Z>
<A>
</>
<V>200<H>100<P>0<$>B, 100, 100, 6
<$=>SATOPRINTER
<V>720<H>150<B>102100*95000012345*
<Q>1
<Z>
White Paper on Cost-effective Label Printing Solution with Oracle
Application

Solution Design and Approach

As per the below process flow, customization required to be built to generate the
Label through printer specific language or XML

Oracle EBS

WMS Transaction Specific

Analyze XML Data

and Identify the
XML File Printer and its
XML Data capabilities
From Meta
data(FND
Lookups)

Type of Printer

Feed the
Transformed XML Is that XML
Yes
data to Printer Supported
through TCPIP

No

Transform the
XML data to
Printer Specific
Language

ZPL/IPL/SBPL

Spool to Printer
through WINDOW
queue or Direct

RAW test
White Paper on Cost-effective Label Printing Solution with Oracle
Application

Configuration Requirements in EBS

Changes to Pasta Driver
Create a new pasta driver pasta_zebra.cfg where the preprocess line
would be commented

[DEFAULT]

#preprocess=/usr/local/bin/pdf2ps {infile} {outfile}

printCommand=lp -c -d{printername}
errorlogfile=pasta_pdf2.log

Ensure that below command will be invoked through EBS Concurrent

print request with newly created pasta driver

FNDPSTAX -pnZebraPT02 -f/tmp/kanban.zpl -c1 -Fpasta_zebra.cfg

Windows Server Side Printer Setup

Configure the printers in window server if these printers are not DNS
enabled
OS level Printer setups
Configure both wireless and non wireless Label printer at OS level
which are pointing to either Direct IP or Windows Queue
EBS side Printer Setup
Create Printer Driver
a. Driver Name: LBL_PORTRAIT
b. User Driver Name: Driver for Label Print
c. Description: Driver for Label Printers
d. SRW Driver:PSTPL
e. Driver Method :Program
f. Driver Method Parameter: Spool File
g. Program Name: FNDPSTAX
h. ARGUMENTS: -pn$PROFILES$.PRINTER
-f$PROFILES$.FILENAME -c$PROFILES$.CONC_COPIES
-Fpasta_zebra.cfg
Create Printer Style
a. Style NameLBL_PRNT_STYLE
b. User Style LBL_PORTRAIT
c. Layout Columns: 80
d. Layout Rows: 66
Assign printer Style and Printer Driver to Printer
Type LBL_PRNT_TYPE
Connect Printer Type LBL_PRNT_TYPE to all LBL
Printers
White Paper on Cost-effective Label Printing Solution with Oracle
Application

Conclusion

This approach will provide direct printing solutions from EBS without the need for any
additional print server hardware and middleware application. The outcome is an
overall printing system infrastructure that improves the efficiency of time and
reduces unnecessary costs that would have otherwise been used to develop the
middleware application.
White Paper on Cost-effective Label Printing Solution with Oracle
Application

References

More information on Oracle WMS and MSCA is available at Oracles

website:
http://www.oracle.com
http://www.oracle.com/applications/order_mgmt/Warehouse.html
http://www.oracle.com/applications/order_mgmt/MSCA.html

ZPL Scripting
http://www.zebra.com/id/zebra/na/en/documentlibrary/manuals/en/zpl_I
I_program_guide_en.html

IPL Scripting
http://www.intermec.ch/pdf/barcode-software/Handbuch_IPL.pdf

SBPL Scripting
http://www.satoamerica.com/.../GL408e412e_SBPL_Programming_Refer
ence_A_SAI.pdf

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