# Adaptronic Label Printer

Thermal label printing application with customizable SVG templates for 35mm x 25mm labels.

## Features

- 🎨 **Customizable Layouts** - SVG template system for flexible label design
- 📄 **High-Quality PDFs** - 1200 DPI output with automatic backup
- 🖨️ **Silent Printing** - SumatraPDF integration for automatic printing
- 📊 **Variable Support** - Dynamic text replacement ({Article}, {NrArt}, {Serial})
- 💾 **Automatic Backup** - All labels saved to pdf_backup/ with timestamps
- 🔍 **File Monitoring** - Watches check.txt for automatic label generation

## Quick Start

### Install Dependencies

```powershell
# Activate virtual environment
venv\Scripts\activate

# Install requirements
pip install -r requirements_gui.txt
```

### Run the Application

```powershell
python label_printer_gui.py
```

## Label Specifications

- **Size**: 35mm × 25mm (landscape)
- **Format**: Thermal labels (Citizen CTS-310, Zebra ZD420/ZD421)
- **Template**: `conf/label_template.svg`
- **Data Format**: Semicolon-separated (COMANDA;NR_ART;SERIAL)

## File Structure

```
adaptronic_label-printer/
├── label_printer_gui.py       # Main GUI application
├── print_label.py              # Printing logic
├── print_label_pdf.py          # PDF generation with SVG support
├── requirements_gui.txt        # Dependencies
├── conf/
│   ├── label_template.svg      # Customizable label layout
│   └── app.conf                # Application settings
├── pdf_backup/                 # Auto-saved label PDFs
├── logs/                       # Print logs
└── old_code/                   # Legacy scripts (archived)
```

## Customizing Labels

Edit `conf/label_template.svg` to change the layout. Use these variables:
- `{Article}` - Article/Command number
- `{NrArt}` - Article number
- `{Serial}` - Serial number

After editing the SVG, labels will automatically use the new layout.

## Printing

### Silent Printing (Recommended)

Labels print automatically using SumatraPDF. No dialogs or manual steps required.

**SumatraPDF Locations Checked:**
1. Bundled with exe (for deployments)
2. `SumatraPDF/` folder in project directory
3. System installations (`C:\Program Files\SumatraPDF\`)

### PDF Printer Testing

Select "Microsoft Print to PDF" or similar PDF printer to test label generation without physical printing.

### Printer Configuration

For thermal printers, configure in Windows Printer Preferences:
- **Media Type**: LABELS (enables gap sensor)
- **Paper Size**: 35mm x 25mm or Custom
- **Orientation**: Landscape
- **Darkness**: 10-15 (medium)
- **Speed**: Medium (4-6 in/sec)

## Dependencies

Core:
- `reportlab` - PDF generation
- `svglib` - SVG to PDF conversion
- `cairosvg` - Alternative SVG renderer
- `watchdog` - File monitoring

GUI:
- `kivy` - Cross-platform interface

Optional:
- `pywin32` - Windows printer enumeration
- `pycups` - Linux printing support

## Troubleshooting

### Labels Print on Continuous Roll

**Cause**: Printer Media Type set to "Continuous" instead of "LABELS"  
**Fix**: Change to "LABELS" in printer preferences

### Dotted or Pixelated Text

**Cause**: Low darkness setting or draft mode  
**Fix**: Increase darkness to 12-15, ensure quality mode enabled

### PDF Not Printing Automatically

**Cause**: SumatraPDF not found  
**Fix**: Install SumatraPDF or place in project folder

## Technical Details

### PDF Generation
- **Resolution**: 1200 DPI
- **Compression**: None (maximum quality)
- **Font Size**: 8pt (optimized for 35mm labels)
- **Format**: ReportLab with SVG embedding

### Print Workflow
1. Monitor `C:\Users\Public\Documents\check.txt` for changes
2. Parse semicolon-separated data
3. Replace variables in SVG template
4. Convert to high-quality PDF (35mm × 25mm)
5. Auto-save to `pdf_backup/`
6. Silent print via SumatraPDF

## Building Executable

```powershell
python build_exe.py
```

Output: `dist/LabelPrinter.exe`

## Support

- Tested on Windows 10/11
- Compatible with Citizen CTS-310, Zebra ZD420/ZD421
- Based on proven label printer architecture

---

**Status**: Production Ready ✅  
**Last Updated**: February 2026