Printing to a Zebra label printer in PowerApps

[Anonymous]

Is anyone using a workaround to print files in PowerApps? Here is my current solution:

For those unfamiliar with Zebra thermal printers, there is a language called ZPL that formats the labels which you can send directly to the printer.

I have a Flow that creates a text file in OneDrive with the ZPL using some string injections from PowerApps,

That OneDrive file is saved in a specific directory.

I then have a C# application that watches that OneDrive directory waiting for new files.

The file is dropped there, then the application picks it up, reads the .txt file, and sends the string to the printer from the host computer.

This is nowhere near ideal, but it does work. Anyone have better workarounds?

[v-yutliu-msft]

Hi @Anonymous ,

Do you want to print data in powerapps?

Currently, it's not supported to print data in powerapps directly.

However, flow has printing function.

Usually, we create a flow which generate a pdf/printable form by using the data of powerapps, then print this pdf in flow.

Here are two ways for your reference:

http://www.cleverworkarounds.com/2018/06/30/some-seriously-powerful-and-free-pdf-functionality-in-powerapps-and-flow-part-1/

https://centricconsulting.com/blog/how-to-print-form-powerapps_portal/

What's more, the function of generating pdf and pringing  in PowerApps will be coming soon, please refer this two ideas:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Apps-Ideas/Printing/idi-p/846

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Apps-Ideas/Export-Form-to-PDF/idi-p/1375

Best regards,

[kenwestover1]

Hi Eric,

Did you ever come up with a good solution to this? I'd like to be able to print labels to a networked zebra printer from one of my powerapps, but can't figure out how to set up the power automate flow to send ZPL. 

[Anonymous]

My fastest solution was a print station with an on-premise data gateway running Bartender. I used the file system control in Flow to write a txt file to a folder where Bartender picked it up and processed it from there.

[Anonymous]

**Sorry for the super-brief summary. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions on that.

[kenwestover1]

No worries. The gateway suggestion was helpful. I've not used barTender before. Hoping to make this work with the free version. If not, I may explore a Windows Task Scheduler/PowerShell solution to print ZPL files.

[Mrhole]

How did you get on?
Have a project where I need to print labels

[patrickabel]

@Anonymous thanks for the guidance here! Can you provide some additional information on the use of Bartender? Does it's free version support automated printing from a network location or is this a premium feature?

Feel free to shoot me a DM on twitter (@patrick_abel) if you're free to discuss further!

Thanks,

Patrick

[Anonymous]

@patrickabel 

I believe the free trial is a full-featured trial and does support printing from a network folder.

[Anonymous]

Hi 

I also want to print labels or multiple labels ( Zebra printers ) based on entered data using power apps or power automated desktop or combination but can not findout how. I'm a bit new in these power apps so some guidance would be good.

Also on this label I need to add some signs based on model/produckt of the label.

Currently I have created this label in Excel ,so I could use power automate to fill the data,build the lookups in the label ,but not sure how I could control the signs that need to be on the label.AS I don't know how I could control the signs on the label with power automate.

I also need to have the option that in case some product are selected it would need to print 2 or 3 other labels with information that I need to enter. I saw that Power apps can only print once at the time so not sure if power apps is the best option and only left with power automate