JSZPL

Generate ZPL II from JavaScript ^FX No more Printer Commands!

const text = new Text();
label.content.push(text);
text.text = 'Hello World!';
text.fontFamily = new FontFamily(FontFamilyName.D);
text.verticalAlignment = new Alignment(AlignmentValue.Center);
text.horizontalAlignment = new Alignment(AlignmentValue.Center);

const zpl = label.generateZPL();
//^XA
//^FO10,205^AD,N,,
//^FB780,1,0,C,0
//^FDHello World!^FS
//^XZ

Table of Contents

• Installation
• Property Types
  • Size
  • PrintDensity
  • FontFamily
  • Alignment
  • Spacing
  • GridPosition
  • BarcodeType
  • Content
  • GraphicData
• Elements
  • Label
  • Text
  • Grid
  • Box
  • Line
  • Circle
  • Barcode
  • Graphic
  • SerialNumber
  • Raw
• Known Issues
• Roadmap

WARNING: This is not a complete implementation of the ZPL II standard. For all elements not implemented or elements with implementations that do not fit your needs, please make use of the Raw component. If you believe there is a problem with a specific component, feel free to create an issue describing the problem.

Link to ZPL II manual

Installation

In a browser:

<script src="dist/jszpl.bundle.js"></script>

<script type="text/javascript">
  const label = new Label();
  label.printDensity = new PrintDensity(PrintDensityName['8dpmm']);
  label.width = 100;
  label.height = 50;
  label.padding = new Spacing(10);

  const text = new Text();
  label.content.push(text);
  text.fontFamily = new FontFamily(FontFamilyName.D);
  text.text = 'Hello World!';

  const zpl = label.generateZPL();
  //^XA
  //^FO10,10^AD,N,,
  //^FB780,1,0,L,0
  //^FDHello World!^FS
  //^XZ
</script>

Using npm:

$ npm i jszpl

In Node.js:

const { Label, PrintDensity, PrintDensityName, Spacing, Text, FontFamily, FontFamilyName } = require('jszpl');

const label = new Label();
label.printDensity = new PrintDensity(PrintDensityName['8dpmm']);
label.width = 100;
label.height = 50;
label.padding = new Spacing(10);

const text = new Text();
label.content.push(text);
text.fontFamily = new FontFamily(FontFamilyName.D);
text.text = 'Hello World!';

const zpl = label.generateZPL();
//^XA
//^FO10,10^AD,N,,
//^FB780,1,0,L,0
//^FDHello World!^FS
//^XZ

Property Types

Most of the properties are defined in their own object types, which provides the ability to view the property constructor name, instead of just String, Number, or Object.

Size

Size is used by width, height, column definition, and row definition properties. Size takes a number and SizeType as constructor parameters.

SizeType has the following definition:

const SizeType = {
  Absolute : 0, // exact size
  Fraction : 1, // size as fraction of parent
  Relative : 2, // size together with siblings as part of parent
}

Usage examples:

grid.width = new SizeType(250, SizeType.Absolute);
grid.columns.push(new SizeType(1, SizeType.Relative));

Alternatively, if only a number is applied to the width or height properties, or a single value supplied to the constructor, the value is interpreted as being an absolute value.

The lines in the example below have the same effect:

grid.width = 250;
grid.width = new Size(250);
grid.width = new Size(250, SizeType.Absolute);

Using SizeType.Fraction requires input number to be smaller than 1.

PrintDensity

PrintDensity is only used by the Label element. It denotes the dot density of the output label. The Label element is also the only element whose width and height properties are measured in millimeters rather than dots.

PrintDensityName has the following definition:

const PrintDensityName = {
  '6dpmm' : 6,
  '8dpmm' : 8,
  '12dpmm' : 12,
  '24dpmm' : 24,
}

Usage example:

const label = new Label();
label.printDensity = new PrintDensity(PrintDensityName['8dpmm']);

FontFamily

FontFamily is only used by the Text element. It denotes the font matrix to use for the element text. Only fonts A-F are implemented.

FontFamilyName has the following definition:

const FontFamilyName = {
  A : 'A',
  B : 'B',
  D : 'D',
  E : 'E',
  F : 'F',
  //G : 'G',
  //H : 'H',
  //P : 'P',
  //Q : 'Q',
  //U : 'U',
  //V : 'V',
}

Font names G to V are not implemented. Usage will result in an error.

Usage example:

const text = new Text();
text.fontFamily = new FontFamily(FontFamilyName.D);

Alignment

Alignment is only used by the the Text element. It is applied to the horizontalAlignment and verticalAlignment properties to align the text within its parent container.

AlignmentValue has the following definition:

const AlignmentValue = {
  Start: 'Start',
  Center: 'Center',
  End: 'End',
}

Usage example:

const text = new Text();
text.verticalAlignment = new Alignment(AlignmentValue.Center);
text.horizontalAlignment = new Alignment(AlignmentValue.Center);

Spacing

Spacing is used by margin and padding properites. It contains sub-properties for left, top, right, and bottom numeric values.

Spacing constructor supports 0, 1, 2, and 4 parameters.

Usage examples:

// 0 parameters
// default values of 0 for all sides
label.padding = new Spacing();

// 1 parameter
// 10 for all sides
label.padding = new Spacing(10);

// 2 parameters
// 10 for left and right, 20 for top and bottom
label.padding = new Spacing(10, 20);

// 4 parameters
// 10 left, 20 top, 30 right, 40 bottom
label.padding = new Spacing(10, 20, 30, 40);

GridPosition

GridPosition is used by all elements except for the Label. GridPosition has a column and row property which places the component in a specific column and row if its direct parent element is a Grid.

Usage example:

const grid = new Grid();
label.content.push(grid);
grid.columns.push(new Size(1, SizeType.Relative));
grid.columns.push(new Size(1, SizeType.Relative));
grid.rows.push(new Size(1, SizeType.Relative));
grid.rows.push(new Size(1, SizeType.Relative));
grid.columnSpacing = 2;
grid.rowSpacing = 2;
grid.border = 2;
grid.padding = new Spacing(10);

const text00 = new Text();
grid.content.push(text00);
text00.text = '(0, 0)';
text00.fontFamily = new FontFamily(FontFamilyName.D);

const text10 = new Text();
grid.content.push(text10);
text10.text = '(1, 0)';
text10.fontFamily = new FontFamily(FontFamilyName.D);
text10.grid.column = 1;

const text01 = new Text();
grid.content.push(text01);
text01.text = '(0, 1)';
text01.fontFamily = new FontFamily(FontFamilyName.D);
text01.grid.row = 1;

const text11 = new Text();
grid.content.push(text11);
text11.text = '(1, 1)';
text11.fontFamily = new FontFamily(FontFamilyName.D);
text11.grid.column = 1;
text11.grid.row = 1;

BarcodeType

BarcodeType is only used by the Barcode element. It denotes the barcode type to use.

BarcodeTypeName has the following definition:

const BarcodeTypeName = {
  Code11: 'Code11',
  Interleaved25: 'Interleaved25',
  Code39: 'Code39',
  PlanetCode: 'PlanetCode',
  PDF417: 'PDF417',
  EAN8: 'EAN8',
  UPCE: 'UPCE',
  Code93: 'Code93',
  Code128: 'Code128',
  EAN13: 'EAN13',
  Industrial25: 'Industrial25',
  Standard25: 'Standard25',
  ANSICodabar: 'ANSICodabar',
  Logmars: 'Logmars',
  MSI: 'MSI',
  Plessey: 'Plessey',
  QRCode: 'QRCode',
  DataMatrix: 'DataMatrix',
  PostNet: 'PostNet'
}

Usage example:

const barcode = new Barcode();
barcode.type = new BarcodeType(BarcodeTypeName.Code11);

Content

Content is an array property on elements which can contain children. Child elements are positioned relative to their parent, if the parent element is moved, all child elements will also be moved.

Container elements:

• Label
• Box
• Circle
• Grid

Usage example:

const label = new Label();
const text = new Text();
label.content.push(text);

GraphicData

GraphicData is used by Graphic to display image data. GraphicData.data contains the original image binary data. GraphicData.width and GraphicData.height contains the original image width and height.

GraphicData has the following definition:

class GraphicData {
  constructor(width, height, data) {
    this.data = data || [];
    this.width = width || 0;
    this.height = height || 0;
  }
}

An image processor must be defined for each platform. The purpose of an image processor is to convert an image into a black and white array representation (consisting of 1s and 0s). Below is an example of a processor for a web browser:

const graphic = new Graphic();

const image = new Image();
image.onload = function() {
  const canvas = document.createElement('canvas');
  canvas.width = image.width;
  canvas.height = image.height;

  const context = canvas.getContext('2d');
  context.drawImage(image, 0, 0);

  const imageData = context.getImageData(0, 0, canvas.width, canvas.height);

  let index = 0;
  const imageBits = [];

  for (let y = 0; y < imageData.height; y++) {
    for (let x = 0; x < imageData.width; x++) {

      const red = imageData.data[index++];
      const green = imageData.data[index++];
      const blue = imageData.data[index++];
      const opacity = imageData.data[index++];

      let value = 0;

      if (opacity != 0) {
        value = (((red + green + blue) / 3) < 180) ? 1 : 0;
      }

      imageBits.push(value);
    }
  }
  graphic.data = new GraphicData(image.width, image.height, imageBits));
};
image.src = data;

For a usage example within NodeJS, please refer to the unit test labeled 'add image to a label' within the graphic component unit tests (graphics.test.js).

Elements

Label

Label is the base container element within which other elements can be placed.

Properties

Property	Type	Description
printDensity	PrintDensity	Dot density of the label (6 dpmm, 8 dpmm, 12 dpmm, 24 dpmm)
width	Number	Sets the width of the label based on printDensity.value
height	Number	Sets the height of the label based on printDensity.value
padding	Spacing	Sets the padding of the label element, makes child elements consume less space
content	Array	Child elements

Usage example:

The example creates a 100mm x 50mm label with a print density of 8 dpmm. The label has a padding of 10 dots and contains a text field.

const label = new Label();
label.printDensity = new PrintDensity(PrintDensityName['8dpmm']);
label.width = 100;
label.height = 50;
label.padding = new Spacing(10);

const text = new Text();
label.content.push(text);
text.fontFamily = new FontFamily(FontFamilyName.D);
text.text = 'Hello World!';

const zpl = label.generateZPL();
//^XA
//^FO10,10^AD,N,,
//^FB780,1,0,L,0
//^FDHello World!^FS
//^XZ

Text

Text displays characters on the label.

Properties

Property	Type	Description
fontFamily	FontFamily	Font family matrix to use
verticalAlignment	Alignment	Vertical alignment, default AlignmentValue.Start
horizontalAlignment	Alignment	Horizontal alignment, default AlignmentValue.Start
fixed	Boolean	If set, positions the element with relation to the label rather than parent
invert	Boolean	Invert color values
grid	GridPosition	Configure element placement within grid
margin	Spacing	Configure space around element
width	Size / Number	Sets the width of the element, uses parent size if omitted
height	Size / Number	Sets the height of the element, uses parent size if omitted
left	Size / Number	Sets the left offset of the element
top	Size / Number	Sets the top offset of the element
lineSpacing	Number	Sets the vertical space between lines
text	String	Sets the text of the element
characterWidth	Number	Overrides the default character width, uses font family default if omitted
characterHeight	Number	Overrides the default character height, uses font family default if omitted

Usage example:

const text = new Text();
label.content.push(text);
text.fontFamily = new FontFamily(FontFamilyName.D);
text.text = 'Hello World!';

const zpl = label.generateZPL();
//^XA
//^FB780,1,0,L,0
//^FDHello World!^FS
//^XZ

Box

Displays a rectangular shape.

Properties

Property	Type	Description
fill	Boolean	Fill the shape content with a solid color
cornerRadius	Number	Shape corner radius
fixed	Boolean	If set, positions the element with relation to the label rather than parent
invert	Boolean	Invert color values
grid	GridPosition	Configure element placement within grid
margin	Spacing	Configure space around element
padding	Spacing	Configure space inside element
width	Size / Number	Sets the width of the element, uses parent size if omitted
height	Size / Number	Sets the height of the element, uses parent size if omitted
left	Size / Number	Sets the left offset of the element
top	Size / Number	Sets the top offset of the element
border	Number	Sets the border thickness of the element, ignored if fill is set
content	Array	Child elements

Usage example:

const box = new Box();
label.content.push(box);
box.fill = true;
box.width = 150;
box.height = 150;

const zpl = label.generateZPL();
//^XA
//^FO0,0^GB150,150,150,,0^FS
//^XZ

Line

Displays a line.

Properties

Property	Type	Description
fixed	Boolean	If set, positions the element with relation to the label rather than parent
invert	Boolean	Invert color values
grid	GridPosition	Configure element placement within grid
margin	Spacing	Configure space around element
left	Size / Number	Sets the left offset of the element
top	Size / Number	Sets the top offset of the element
x1	Number	X coordinate of first point in line
y1	Number	Y coordinate of first point in line
x2	Number	X coordinate of second point in line
y2	Number	Y coordinate of second point in line
thickness	Number	Thickness of the line to draw

Usage example:

const line1 = new Line();
label.content.push(line1);

line1.x1 = 50;
line1.y1 = 50;
line1.x2 = 150;
line1.y2 = 150;
line1.thickness = 5;

const line2 = new Line();
label.content.push(line2);

line2.x1 = 50;
line2.y1 = 150;
line2.x2 = 150;
line2.y2 = 50;
line2.thickness = 5;

const zpl = label.generateZPL();
//^XA
//^FO50,50^GD100,100,5,B,L^FS
//^FO50,50^GD100,100,5,B,R^FS
//^XZ

Circle

Displays a circular shape.

Properties

Property	Type	Description
fill	Boolean	Fill the shape content with a solid color
fixed	Boolean	If set, positions the element with relation to the label rather than parent
invert	Boolean	Invert color values
grid	GridPosition	Configure element placement within grid
margin	Spacing	Configure space around element
padding	Spacing	Configure space inside element
width	Size / Number	Sets the width of the element, uses parent size if omitted
height	Size / Number	Sets the height of the element, uses parent size if omitted
left	Size / Number	Sets the left offset of the element
top	Size / Number	Sets the top offset of the element
border	Number	Sets the border thickness of the element, ignored if fill is set
content	Array	Child elements

Using a different width and height values, will result in an ellipse.

Usage example:

const circle = new Circle();
label.content.push(circle);
circle.fill = true;
circle.width = 150;
circle.height = 150;

const zpl = label.generateZPL();
//^XA
//^FO10,10^GC150,150,B^FS
//^XZ

Grid

Displays a grid.

Properties

Property	Type	Description
fixed	Boolean	If set, positions the element with relation to the label rather than parent
invert	Boolean	Invert color values
grid	GridPosition	Configure element placement within grid
margin	Spacing	Configure space around element
padding	Spacing	Configure space inside element cells
columnSpacing	Number	Horizontal space between cells
rowSpacing	Number	Vertical space between cells
width	Size / Number	Sets the width of the element, uses parent size if omitted
height	Size / Number	Sets the height of the element, uses parent size if omitted
left	Size / Number	Sets the left offset of the element
top	Size / Number	Sets the top offset of the element
border	Number	Sets the border thickness of the element cells
columns	Array<Size>	Element column definitions
rows	Array<Size>	Element row definitions
content	Array	Child elements

Usage example:

const grid = new Grid();
label.content.push(grid);
grid.columns.push(new Size(150, SizeType.Absolute));
grid.columns.push(new Size(1, SizeType.Relative));
grid.rows.push(new Size(150, SizeType.Absolute));
grid.rows.push(new Size(1, SizeType.Relative));
grid.border = 2;
grid.columnSpacing = 2;
grid.rowSpacing = 2;

const zpl = label.generateZPL();
//^XA
//^FO10,10^GB780,380,2,,0^FS
//^FO14,14^GB152,152,2,,0^FS
//^FO168,14^GB618,152,2,,0^FS
//^FO14,168^GB152,218,2,,0^FS
//^FO168,168^GB618,218,2,,0^FS
//^XZ

Barcode

Displays a barcode.

Properties

Property	Type	Description
fixed	Boolean	If set, positions the element with relation to the label rather than parent
grid	GridPosition	Configure element placement within grid
margin	Spacing	Configure space around element
width	Size / Number	Sets the width of the element, uses parent size if omitted
height	Size / Number	Sets the height of the element, uses parent size if omitted
left	Size / Number	Sets the left offset of the element
top	Size / Number	Sets the top offset of the element
type	BarcodeType	Sets the barcode type to use
data	String	Text to encode into barcode
maxLength	Number	Additional parameter to use for sizing of 2D barcodes. Populate with expected maximum data length.
subset	String	Additional parameter to indicate barcode subset information. Populate with 'A', 'B', or 'C' for Code128 barcodes.
interpretationLine	Boolean	Indicates whether the output barcode should include an interpretation line, defaults to 'true'

Graphic

Displays an image on the label.

Properties

Property	Type	Description
fixed	Boolean	If set, positions the element with relation to the label rather than parent
invert	Boolean	Invert color values
grid	GridPosition	Configure element placement within grid
margin	Spacing	Configure space around element
width	Size / Number	Sets the width of the element, uses parent size if omitted
height	Size / Number	Sets the height of the element, uses parent size if omitted
left	Size / Number	Sets the left offset of the element
top	Size / Number	Sets the top offset of the element
border	Number	Sets the border thickness around the image
data	GraphicData	Image data

Example of image:

Serial Number

Serial Number displays incremental numbers on the label.

Properties

Property	Type	Description
fontFamily	FontFamily	Font family matrix to use
horizontalAlignment	Alignment	Horizontal alignment, default AlignmentValue.Start
grid	GridPosition	Configure element placement within grid
prependText	String	Sets the text that displays before the number
startValue	String	Include any leading zeroes, default "1"
increment	Number	The number to increment for each label, use negative to decrease, default 1
leadingZeroes	Boolean	If leading zeroes should be used, default false
characterWidth	Number	Overrides the default character width, uses font family default if omitted
characterHeight	Number	Overrides the default character height, uses font family default if omitted

Usage example:

const serialNum = new SerialNumber();
label.content.push(serialNum);
serialNum.fontFamily = new FontFamily(FontFamilyName.D);
serialNum.prependText = 'Label ';

const zpl = label.generateZPL();
// ^XA
// ^FO10,10^AD,,,
// ^FB780,1,0,L,0
// ^SNLabel 1,1,N^FS
// ^XZ

Raw

Adds raw ZPL data to the output. Note that Raw inherits from BaseComponent, and thus has no layout options available.

Properties

Property	Type	Description
data	String	Raw ZPL data to add to the label

Usage example:

const raw = new Raw();
label.content.push(raw);
raw.data = `
^FO50,50^GB100,100,100^FS
^FO75,75^FR^GB100,100,100^FS
^FO93,93^GB40,40,40^FS
`;

const zpl = label.generateZpl();
//^XA
//^FO50,50^GB100,100,100^FS
//^FO75,75^FR^GB100,100,100^FS
//^FO93,93^GB40,40,40^FS
//^XZ

Known Issues

Feature	Notes
Invert	Not implemented correctly by all controls
Grid Columnspan	Pending implementation
Grid Rowspan	Pending implementation
Rotation	Pending implementation
Fonts	Fonts A-F are implemented, G-V not implemented
Multi-line text alignment	Text alignment is not implemented to align text that spans multiple lines
Grid border property	The graphical designer does not display the border property for grid components
Text size override	The graphical designer does not support text size overriding. Text layout does not take size override into account when positioning the text.

Roadmap

Feature	Notes
Stack	Stack elements based on set size or minimum size. Direction horizontal or vertical.