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- Remove build artifacts from git tracking (build/, dist/, __pycache__/, *.spec) - Updated .gitignore to properly exclude generated files - Added old_code/ documentation folder - Updated sample_data.txt to show new 5-field format - Exclude user-specific conf/app.conf from tracking
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old_code/PRINTER_CONFIGURATION.md
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old_code/PRINTER_CONFIGURATION.md
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# Thermal Printer Paper Size Configuration Guide
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## Problem
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When printing labels, the PDF is generated correctly at 35mm x 25mm, but SumatraPDF prints them scaled to the printer's currently configured paper size. This results in incorrectly sized labels.
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## Root Cause
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SumatraPDF's `noscale` mode preserves the PDF content but still uses the **Windows printer's configured paper size**. If the printer is set to A4, Letter, or continuous roll, the label will be scaled to that size.
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## Solution
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Configure your thermal printer in Windows with the correct paper size (35mm x 25mm).
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---
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## Quick Setup
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### Step 1: Run Configuration Helper
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```powershell
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powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File configure_printer_paper_size.ps1
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```
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### Step 2: Manual Configuration
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#### For Citizen CTS-310 Printers:
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1. Open **Control Panel** → **Devices and Printers**
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2. Right-click **Citizen CTS-310II** → **Printing Preferences**
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3. Under **Page Layout** or **Paper Settings**:
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- **Paper Size**: Custom
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- **Width**: 35mm (1.38 inches)
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- **Height**: 25mm (0.98 inches)
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- **Orientation**: Landscape
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4. Click **Apply** → **OK**
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#### For Zebra ZD420/ZD421 Printers:
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1. Open **Zebra Setup Utility** (ZSU) or Settings
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2. Select your printer
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3. Configure **Media**:
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- **Media Type**: Label Stock (NOT Continuous)
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- **Label Width**: 35mm
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- **Label Height**: 25mm
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4. Configure **Print Quality**:
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- **Darkness**: 10-15
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- **Print Speed**: 4 ips
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5. **Send to Printer**
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---
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## Critical Settings
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### ⚠️ Media Type MUST be "Labels" or "Label Stock"
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- **Correct**: Media Type = Labels (enables gap sensor)
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- **Wrong**: Media Type = Continuous (prints entire roll, ignores gaps)
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### Paper Dimensions
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- **Width**: 35mm
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- **Height**: 25mm
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- **Orientation**: Landscape (35mm is width, 25mm is height)
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### Print Quality (Thermal Printers)
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- **Darkness**: 10-15 (NOT DPI - thermal printers use darkness control)
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- **Speed**: Medium (4 ips recommended)
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- **Resolution**: 203-300 DPI (hardware fixed, not configurable)
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---
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## Verification
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### Test Your Configuration:
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1. Start the GUI:
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```bash
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python label_printer_gui.py
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```
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2. Add test data to `C:\Users\Public\Documents\check.txt`:
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```
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COM-001;ART-123;SN-001;0;1
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```
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3. Check the printed label:
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- ✅ Should be exactly 35mm x 25mm
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- ✅ Should fit the label perfectly (no scaling)
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- ✅ Should stop at label gap (not continue on roll)
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### If Labels are Wrong Size:
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- Too large → Printer paper size is too big (check Windows printer settings)
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- Too small → PDF might be generated incorrectly (check pdf_backup/ folder)
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- Continuous printing → Media Type is set to "Continuous" instead of "Labels"
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---
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## Windows Custom Paper Size (Advanced)
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If your printer driver doesn't have 35mm x 25mm preset:
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### Create Custom Form:
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1. Open **Control Panel** → **Devices and Printers**
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2. Select any printer → **Print Server Properties** (top menu)
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3. Check **"Create a new form"**
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4. Form name: **Label35x25**
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5. Width: **3.50 cm** (35mm)
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6. Height: **2.50 cm** (25mm)
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7. Click **Save Form**
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8. Now this form will be available in all printer settings
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### Assign Form to Printer:
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1. Right-click your thermal printer → **Printer Properties** (not Preferences)
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2. **Device Settings** tab
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3. **Form to Tray Assignment** → Select **Label35x25**
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4. Apply → OK
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---
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## Troubleshooting
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### Problem: Labels still wrong size after configuration
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**Solution**:
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- Restart the printer
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- Restart the print spooler: `net stop spooler && net start spooler`
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- Check if driver supports custom sizes (some old drivers don't)
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### Problem: Printer prints continuously without stopping
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**Solution**:
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- Change Media Type from "Continuous" to "Labels"
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- Enable gap sensor in printer settings
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- Calibrate media (Zebra: hold feed button 2 seconds)
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### Problem: Dotted or poor quality text
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**Solution**:
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- Increase darkness setting (10-15 recommended)
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- Clean printhead
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- Check ribbon (thermal transfer) or label quality
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---
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## File Format (check.txt)
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```
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ARTICLE;NR_ART;SERIAL;TEMPLATE_TYPE;COUNT
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```
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Examples:
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- `COM-001;ART-123;SN-001;0;1` = 1 OK label (green checkmark)
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- `COM-002;ART-456;SN-002;1;2` = 2 NOK labels (red text + "NOK")
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Template Types:
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- **0** = OK template (green checkmark, "OK" text)
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- **1** = NOK template (red text, red checkmark, "NOK" text)
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---
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## Technical Details
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### PDF Generation Pipeline:
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1. **SVG Template** (conf/label_template_*.svg)
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- Dimensions: `width="35mm" height="25mm"`
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- Variables: `{Article}`, `{NrArt}`, `{Serial}`
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2. **CairoSVG Conversion**
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- Converts SVG → PDF at 300 DPI
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- Preserves SVG dimensions (35mm x 25mm)
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3. **SumatraPDF Printing**
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- Uses `-print-settings noscale` (no scaling)
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- Sends PDF directly to printer
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- Uses printer's configured paper size
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### Why Paper Size Configuration is Critical:
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SumatraPDF's `noscale` tells it "don't scale the PDF content", but the **printer driver** still needs to know what paper size to use. If the driver thinks it's printing on A4 paper, it will center the 35mm label on an A4 page.
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By configuring the printer with 35mm x 25mm paper, the driver knows to feed labels of that size, and SumatraPDF will print the PDF content unscaled to match.
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---
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## Support
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For issues:
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1. Check printer configuration: `configure_printer_paper_size.ps1`
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2. Verify PDF dimensions: Open file from `pdf_backup/` in Adobe Reader
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3. Check logs: `logs/print_log_YYYYMMDD.csv`
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4. Test with Microsoft Print to PDF first (configure it for 35mm x 25mm)
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