6a11cf3d8d
- 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
271 lines
6.2 KiB
Markdown
271 lines
6.2 KiB
Markdown
# Label Printing Workflow - Corrected & Restored
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## 📋 Complete Workflow
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### ✅ Correct Process (Now Working)
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```
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1. File Monitoring
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↓
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txt file changes detected (e.g., "COM-2024-002;ART-67890;SN-20260212")
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↓
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2. Parse Data
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↓
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Split by semicolon:
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- Value 1 (Article/Comanda): "COM-2024-002"
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- Value 2 (Nr. Art.): "ART-67890"
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- Value 3 (Serial No.): "SN-20260212"
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↓
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3. Load SVG Template
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↓
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Read: conf/label_template.svg
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↓
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4. Replace Variables in Template
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↓
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{Article} → "COM-2024-002"
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{NrArt} → "ART-67890"
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{Serial} → "SN-20260212"
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↓
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5. Convert SVG → PDF
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↓
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CairoSVG converts to high-quality PDF @ 1200 DPI
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Saves to: pdf_backup/final_label_TIMESTAMP.pdf
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↓
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6. Print PDF
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↓
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SumatraPDF sends to configured printer
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↓
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7. Done! ✓
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```
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---
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## 🎯 Key Features
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### 1. **Customizable Layout** (SVG Template)
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- Location: `conf/label_template.svg`
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- Users can edit this file to change:
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- Position of text fields
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- Font size and style
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- Graphics/images
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- Label dimensions
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- **No code changes needed!**
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### 2. **Variable Placeholders**
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The template uses curly braces for variables:
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- `{Article}` - First value (Nr. Comanda)
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- `{NrArt}` - Second value (Nr. Art.)
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- `{Serial}` - Third value (Serial No.)
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User can move these anywhere in the SVG template.
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### 3. **Automatic File Monitoring**
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- Watches: The configured txt file
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- On change: Automatically reads and prints
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- No manual intervention needed
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---
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## 🔧 What Was Fixed
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### Problem 1: SVG Template Was Disabled ❌
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**Before:** Code was using fallback PDF generation (hardcoded layout)
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**Now:** SVG template is properly enabled and used
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### Problem 2: Poor SVG Rendering ❌
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**Before:** svglib was failing with many errors, causing fragmentedoutput
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**Now:** CairoSVG is used first (better font/rendering support)
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### Problem 3: Extra Conversion Steps ❌
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**Before:** GhostScript was re-converting already good PDFs
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**Now:** Direct SVG → PDF → Print (no extra conversions)
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---
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## 📝 Data Flow Example
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### Input File Content:
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```
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COM-2024-002;ART-67890;SN-20260212
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```
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### Parsing:
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```python
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parts = text.split(';')
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article = parts[0] # "COM-2024-002"
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nr_art = parts[1] # "ART-67890"
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serial = parts[2] # "SN-20260212"
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```
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### Template Before Replacement:
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```xml
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<text>Nr. Comanda:{Article}</text>
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<text>Nr. Art.:{NrArt}</text>
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<text>Serial No.:{Serial}</text>
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```
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### Template After Replacement:
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```xml
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<text>Nr. Comanda:COM-2024-002</text>
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<text>Nr. Art.:ART-67890</text>
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<text>Serial No.:SN-20260212</text>
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```
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### Output:
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- PDF file: `pdf_backup/final_label_20260213_HHMMSS.pdf`
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- Print: Sent to configured printer
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- Log: Entry added to `logs/print_log_20260213.csv`
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---
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## 🎨 How to Customize the Label Layout
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1. **Open the template:**
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```
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conf/label_template.svg
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```
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2. **Edit in any SVG editor:**
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- Inkscape (free)
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- Adobe Illustrator
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- CorelDRAW
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- Or any text editor
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3. **Keep the variable placeholders:**
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- `{Article}`
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- `{NrArt}`
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- `{Serial}`
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4. **Save the file**
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5. **Next print will use the new layout!**
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### Example Changes:
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- Move text to different positions
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- Change font size in the SVG
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- Add company logo
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- Change colors
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- Adjust spacing
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---
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## 🚀 Testing the Workflow
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### Test 1: Verify Template is Used
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```powershell
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.\venv\Scripts\python.exe label_printer_gui.py
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```
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Watch console output - should see:
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```
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Using SVG template: conf\label_template.svg
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Converting SVG to PDF using CairoSVG (high quality)...
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✅ PDF created from SVG template: pdf_backup\final_label_...pdf
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```
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### Test 2: Check the Generated PDF
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```powershell
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# Open latest PDF to verify content
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$latest = Get-ChildItem pdf_backup\*.pdf | Sort-Object LastWriteTime -Desc | Select-Object -First 1
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Start-Process $latest.FullName
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```
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Verify you see:
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- ✅ Three lines of text (Nr. Comanda, Nr. Art., Serial No.)
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- ✅ Values filled in correctly
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- ✅ Checkmark image (if template has it)
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### Test 3: Print Test
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Put sample data in your monitored file:
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```
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COM-TEST-001;ART-7777;SN-20260213
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```
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Should automatically print with correct values.
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---
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## ⚙️ Configuration Files
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### 1. **Label Template** (conf/label_template.svg)
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- **Purpose:** Defines layout, positions, fonts
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- **Editable:** Yes - by user
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- **Format:** SVG (XML-based vector graphics)
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### 2. **App Configuration** (conf/app.conf)
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- **Purpose:** Stores GUI settings
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- **Contains:**
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- File path to monitor
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- Selected printer
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- Preview settings
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### 3. **Images** (conf/*.png)
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- **accepted.png:** Checkmark/approval image (embedded in template)
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- **refused.png:** Rejection image (if needed)
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---
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## 🔄 Complete Print Quality Settings
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The system now maintains quality through:
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1. **SVG Template** → Vector graphics (scalable, sharp)
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2. **CairoSVG Conversion** → Renders @ 1200 DPI
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3. **PDF Output** → Uncompressed, high quality
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4. **Printer Configuration** → Set to 600 DPI minimum
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5. **Direct Printing** → No extra conversions
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---
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## 📊 Workflow States
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| Step | Status | Output |
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|------|--------|--------|
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| File changed | ✅ Working | Triggers processing |
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| Parse data | ✅ Working | Splits by `;` |
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| Load template | ✅ Working | Reads SVG file |
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| Replace variables | ✅ Working | Substitutes `{...}` |
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| SVG→PDF | ✅ Working | CairoSVG @ 1200 DPI |
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| Print | ✅ Working | SumatraPDF direct |
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---
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## 🐛 Troubleshooting
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### Issue: "SVG template not found"
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**Solution:** Check that `conf/label_template.svg` exists
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### Issue: "CairoSVG conversion failed"
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**Solution:**
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```powershell
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.\venv\Scripts\pip.exe install --upgrade cairosvg
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```
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### Issue: Wrong values printed
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**Solution:** Verify data format in txt file: `value1;value2;value3`
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### Issue: Printer prints blank/partial
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**Solution:** Run printer configuration:
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```powershell
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.\configure_label_size.ps1
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```
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---
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## 📖 Summary
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The workflow is now **fully restored** and **working correctly**:
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✅ SVG template enabled for customizable layouts
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✅ Variable replacement working ({Article}, {NrArt}, {Serial})
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✅ High-quality PDF generation via CairoSVG
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✅ Direct printing without extra conversions
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✅ User can modify template without code changes
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**No more hardcoded layouts!**
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---
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**Last Updated:** February 13, 2026
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**Status:** ✅ Workflow Restored & Working
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