Clean repository and update .gitignore
- 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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NAME
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old_code/SIMPLE_SETUP_GUIDE.md
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old_code/SIMPLE_SETUP_GUIDE.md
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# Simple Label Printer Setup Guide
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## 🎯 The Correct Workflow
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### How It Works:
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1. **GUI monitors** text file for changes (`C:\Users\Public\Documents\check.txt`)
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2. **When file changes**, reads data: `COMANDA;NR_ART;SERIAL`
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3. **Replaces variables** in SVG template (`conf/label_template.svg`):
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- `{Article}` → COMANDA value
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- `{NrArt}` → NR_ART value
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- `{Serial}` → SERIAL value
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4. **Converts SVG → PDF** at exact 35mm x 25mm size
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5. **Prints PDF** to configured printer
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6. **Saves backup** in `pdf_backup/` folder
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### Template Customization:
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- Edit `conf/label_template.svg` to change label layout
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- Move text positions, add graphics, change fonts
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- Keep placeholders: `{Article}`, `{NrArt}`, `{Serial}`
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- No code changes needed!
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---
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## 🚀 ONE-TIME Setup (5 Minutes)
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### Step 1: Configure Printer (REQUIRED)
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```powershell
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.\setup_printer.ps1
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```
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**What this does:**
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- Opens printer preferences dialog
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- Guides you to set:
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- Paper Size: **35mm x 25mm** (custom)
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- Orientation: **Landscape**
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- Quality: **BEST/600 DPI**
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- Tests printing
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**This is CRITICAL** - without correct paper size, you'll get:
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- ❌ 1 meter roll printing
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- ❌ Wrong label size
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- ❌ Portrait instead of landscape
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---
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## ✅ Daily Use
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### Start the Application:
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```powershell
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python label_printer_gui.py
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```
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### What You'll See:
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1. GUI opens with monitoring controls
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2. Select printer: "Labels"
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3. Click "Start Monitoring" (or auto-starts)
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4. GUI watches the file for changes
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### Trigger Printing:
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- Application writes to `C:\Users\Public\Documents\check.txt`
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- Format: `COM-2024-002;ART-67890;SN-20260212`
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- GUI detects change → Prints label automatically
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- File is cleared after printing
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---
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## 📝 Data Format
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### Input File: `check.txt`
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```
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COM-2024-002;ART-67890;SN-20260212
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```
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### Separator: Semicolon (`;`)
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### Breakdown:
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- **Field 1**: Nr. Comanda (Order Number)
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- **Field 2**: Nr. Art. (Article Number)
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- **Field 3**: Serial No. (Serial Number)
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### Example Data:
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```
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ORDER-123;PART-456;SN-2026-001
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COM-2024-100;ART-55555;SERIAL-123456
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COMANDA-X;ARTICLE-Y;SN-Z
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```
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All fields are printed on the label as entered.
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---
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## 🔧 Troubleshooting
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### Problem: 1 Meter Roll Printing
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**Cause**: Printer paper size not configured
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**Fix**:
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```powershell
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.\setup_printer.ps1
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```
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Set paper size to **35mm x 25mm custom**
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### Problem: Dotted/Pixelated Text
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**Cause**: Print quality too low
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**Fix**:
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1. Open printer preferences
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2. Set quality to **BEST** or **600 DPI**
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3. Disable dithering
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4.Run `.\setup_printer.ps1` again
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### Problem: Label Wrong Orientation
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**Cause**: Orientation not set to landscape
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**Fix**:
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1. Open printer preferences
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2. Set orientation to **LANDSCAPE**
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3. Save and test
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### Problem: Template Not Working
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**Cause**: SVG template issues
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**Check**:
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```powershell
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# Verify template exists
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dir conf\label_template.svg
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# Check console for errors when printing
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# Should see: "Using SVG template: conf\label_template.svg"
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```
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### Problem: Variables Not Replaced
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**Cause**: Template placeholders wrong
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**Fix**:
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- Open `conf\label_template.svg`
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- Verify placeholders are exactly:
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- `{Article}`
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- `{NrArt}`
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- `{Serial}`
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- Case-sensitive!
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---
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## 📊 Quality Settings Summary
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| Setting | Value | Why |
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|---------|-------|-----|
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| PDF DPI | 1200 | Sharp text & images |
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| Paper Size | 35mm x 25mm | Correct label size |
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| Orientation | Landscape | Horizontal layout |
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| Print Quality | 600+ DPI | No dotted text |
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| Font Size | 8pt | Readable at 35mm width |
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| Compression | Disabled | No quality loss |
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---
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## 📁 Important Files
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| File | Purpose |
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|------|---------|
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| `label_printer_gui.py` | Main GUI application |
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| `conf/label_template.svg` | Label layout template |
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| `conf/accepted.png` | Checkmark image |
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| `pdf_backup/` | PDF backups of all labels |
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| `logs/` | Print history logs |
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| `C:\Users\Public\Documents\check.txt` | Monitored input file |
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---
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## 🎨 Customizing Label Layout
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### Edit the Template:
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1. Open `conf\label_template.svg` in:
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- Inkscape (free SVG editor)
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- Adobe Illustrator
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- Any SVG editor
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2. Modify:
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- Text positions
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- Font sizes/colors
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- Add graphics/logos
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- Change layout
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3. Keep placeholders:
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```xml
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<text>{Article}</text>
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<text>{NrArt}</text>
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<text>{Serial}</text>
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```
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4. Save as **35mm x 25mm** document
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5. Test:
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```powershell
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python test_quality.py
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```
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**No code changes needed!** Template is reloaded each time.
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---
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## ✅ Verification Checklist
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After setup, verify:
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- [ ] Printer configured (35mm x 25mm, landscape, high quality)
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- [ ] Test label prints correctly (one label, right size)
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- [ ] Text is sharp (not dotted)
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- [ ] GUI starts without errors
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- [ ] Monitoring detects file changes
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- [ ] Variables are replaced in output
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- [ ] PDF backup is created
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- [ ] Log entry is saved
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If all checked ✅ → **System working correctly!**
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---
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## 🆘 Quick Reference Commands
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```powershell
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# Initial setup
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.\setup_printer.ps1
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# Start application
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python label_printer_gui.py
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# Test print
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python test_quality.py
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# Check printer config
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.\configure_printer_quality.ps1
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# View latest PDF
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cd pdf_backup
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ls | sort LastWriteTime | select -last 1
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```
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---
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## 📞 Support
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If problems persist:
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1. **Check printer driver**: Update from manufacturer website
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2. **Verify label stock**: Correct thermal labels loaded
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3. **Test printer**: Print self-test page
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4. **Review logs**: Check `logs/print_log_*.csv`
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5. **Check PDFs**: Open latest PDF in `pdf_backup/` to verify content
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---
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**Version**: 3.0 - Simplified & Fixed
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**Last Updated**: February 13, 2026
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**Status**: ✅ Ready for Production
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