Printing Labels

You can use Loftware Spectrum® to print labels on demand or to print labels by using SAP integration, Oracle integration, or File Drop integration. You can print to local or remote devices configured in Spectrum. You can also print a label to multiple destinations using processes and business rules.

When printing on demand, you open a label template to be printed or select a process, and then enter data for the label. You specify the number of labels to print (Quantity The number of times to print a label by using the same data. Each printed label produced is identical except for any incrementing or decrementing field.), the number of times to reprint each label (Duplicates The number of times to reprint a label by using the same data and without changing the value in any incrementing or decrementing field. Each duplicate printed label is identical.), and the number of copies of each layout to print (Pages The number of times to print the content for the labels in a layout. Each page is identical, including the value in any incrementing or decrementing field.).

Before you preview or print a label, you must specify a device. Depending on your user profile, you may be able to configure your preferences to specify a Default Device so that you can bypass device selection at the time of printing.

Printing Copies of a Label

You can print copies of a label that are identical except for an incrementing or decrementing field, or identical copies of a label, identical copies of all of the labels on a particular sheet or row, or multiple labels with the same design but different data.

Example 1: Numbered Labels Using Quantity and an Inc/Dec Data Source

You want to label a set of three items. You want to print three labels using the same design and input data, but you want each printed label to include a counter that shows 1 of 3, 2 of 3, or 3 of 3. This requires only one label template, which includes an Inc/Dec data source. When printing select Quantity: 3, Duplicates: 0, Pages: 1.

Example 2: Adjacent Copies of a Label Using Duplicates

You want to label a set of three items, but each item must be labeled on two sides. As in Example 1, the label template includes a counter. However, you want a duplicate label to be printed immediately after each unique label. That is, two labels showing 1 of 3, two labels showing 2 of 3, and two labels showing 3 of 3. To achieve this, when printing select Quantity: 3, Duplicates: 1, Pages: 1.

Example 3: Collated Copies of a Label Using Pages

You want to have people in two stock rooms label an identical set of three items in each stock room. You are using roll stock for which each row includes three label slots. As in Example 1, the label template includes a counter. However, rather than having each duplicate label immediately follow the original, you want the labels to print as a collated set so that you can hand one set of three labels to each person. To achieve this, you must associate a 1 row by 3 column layout with the label template and when printing select Quantity: 3, Duplicates: 0, Pages: 2.

Example 4: Labels with Unique Input Data Using Quantity and a Layout

You want to print name labels. You have 18 names for which you want to print one label each, and you have stock on which you can print 12 labels per sheet. This requires only one label template that is associated with a layout. When printing the labels, select Quantity: 18, Duplicates: 0, Pages: 1. Enter a name in the input field, and then click Print. The Current Label number and the number of labels queued are incremented. Repeat for each name. After you have entered all 18 names into the queue, click Eject to eject the last page after printing because it is only partially filled.