Upgrade to CR 2008 broke report - Can't correct page orientation

[Former Member]

We created a simple label report in Crystal Reports 9. When we upgraded to Crystal Reports 2008, it broke the report. I can no longer get it to print in the correct orientation. Today - I can still print a single label in CR 9, but not in CR2008 or the linked Peachtree Quantum 2009. I have worked extensively with the label mfg (Zebra TLP-2844-Z) and with Peachtree. Everything looks correct on the screen - just won't print. Alos. we "converted the CR9 report to CR2008. No joy.

At the end of the day - all I want to do is print a simple 3" x 1" label using the inventory from Peachtree. It just shouldn't be this hard.

Frustrated in NJ. Dave

Edited by: David Spatz on Oct 21, 2008 4:52 AM

[former_member11696]

Get Peachtree to log the case and we'll look after the problem.

[Former Member]

I worked with the label printer mfg - Zebra. They looked at the output file and are seeing nothing wrong. Their suggestion might help someone else struggling with the same issue - so I have posted for your reference.

Solution 15152: Tips for Printing to Zebra printers from Crystal Reports

Fact

Tips for Printing to Zebra printers from Crystal Reports with the ZebraDesigner

Driver

Using the ZebraDesigner Driver

1. Define the page size in Crystal Reports as the correct Zebra printer label size.

2. In Crystal Reports define the Zebra printer and Zebra driver as being used by the u201CReport.u201D

3. Once printing successfully in a test environment, make certain that this same environment with the exact same driver and setup are used in the production environment.

4. Make sure you are using the most current version of Crystal Reports. There was a known Crystal Reports issue in previous versions that could cause the program to lose its knowledge of the printer settings. This was true for all printers not just Zebra printers.

5. If all else fails, consider Zebra label design software and a direct connection to your database. Unlike Zebra label design software, Crystal Reports was primarily designed to print to sheets of paper and not to individual labels.

Note: If you are printing successfully but the barcodes printed on your labels will not scan, here are two possible suggestions.

1. You may be able to correct the issue by resizing your barcodes before sending to the printer. This is because the barcodes generated when printing from Crystal Reports are rendered as graphics. If the size of the barcode is not an exact multiple of the print head dpi for your Zebra printer it can print but may not be scannable. This will take some trial and error to find a larger or smaller version of the barcode that will scan.

2. The ZebraDesigner Driver includes a Command Font feature that allows you to pass commands directly through to the printer. The following link provides detail on how to use this feature.

This link explains how to use the Command Font feature:

Click here for detailed information

Programming Language Guides are available for download from www.zebra.com.

Limitations with .NET should also be considered if you developing n the .NET environment.

The .NET framework does not allow the use of printer fonts, you can only use True Type and Open Type fonts. Customers using Crystal Reports in .NET are affected by this restriction of the .NET framework.

This .NET restriction has been shown to affect both barcodes and text. In one instance a customer reported that a non-Zebra True Type Code 39 font was splitting the printed barcode even with valid data.

Conclusion, was to try a different True Type barcode font which is not available from Zebra.

In applications where it is necessary to use Crystal Report viewer to print Labels, .NET does not recognize Zebra Fonts. It is necessary to use True Type fonts to print labels.

[Former Member]

When I change the label size from 3" width x 1" height - to 3" x 3" or wider - it will keep the requested orientation. This does not fix the problem - but it points to the "SMART" enhancement as the culprit. HOW DO I TURN THAT FEATURE OFF or OVERRIDE??