How to install a virtual ZPL printer and connect it to D365 SCM

In today’s world of remote implementations and testing, I needed a way to test that my application was printing the correct labels at the correct time. This setup allowed me to test my configuration and label designs early in the implementation. The output can be used for customer sign off and approval of label designs.

Step 1: Set up a local printer with a dedicated port

1. On your local computer, go to Printers & Scanners > Add Device
   
2. Select Add a new device manually
   
3. Choose the Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings option then click Next
   
4. Choose a printer port > Create a new port > type of port > Standard TCP/IP Port and click Next
   
5. Assign IP address 127.0.0.1 and port 127.0.0.1_2. Check the “Query the printer and automatically select the driver to use” box
   
6. Click Next to continue (this may take some time, and Windows will automatically move to the next page when the detection is done)
   
7. On the Additional port information required page, select Custom then click Next. It will take a few seconds to open the next page
   
8. Select Generic > Generic / Text only printer and click Next
   
9. Select Use the driver that is currently installed and click Next
   
10. Name your printer and click Next
    
11. Select Do not share this printer and click Next
12. Click Finish

Step 2: Download the Virtual ZPL Printer

Download and install the Virtual ZPL Printer from github: GitHub - porrey/Virtual-ZPL-Printer: An ethernet based virtual Zebra Label Printer that can be used to test applications that produce bar code labels.

Note: This download requires that your computer has .NET 8.0. Install .NET 8.0 prior to downloading the Virtual ZPL installer.

Step 3: Install document routing agent and register the printer

In D365, navigate to Organization administration > Setup > Network Printer. Choose/select from Action Pane > Application > Download document routing agent installer and choose your language.

Once installed, the Document Routing Agent application will open. From this screen sign in with your D365 user ID.

Click on Settings and provide your Dynamics 365 SCM URL and Azure AD Tenant ID. If you were installing this on a server, you could set this up to run as a Windows Service. (Recommendation: If you are installing this on a laptop, do not install it as a Windows Service. However, you will need to open this application and keep it open to capture printing from D365 and send it to the virtual ZPL printer.)

Click on printer and the following screen will come up. Select the printer which you added in step 1 and click on Register.

Leave this application open so that the virtual printer will work with D365.

Step 4: Activate the printer in Supply Chain Management

In D365, set the printer active status to Yes.

Step 5: Set the Virtual ZPL printer settings and select Start

1. Open the Virtual ZPL Printer application
2. Click the Edit button to select the Active Printer Configuration and click Close
• In my example below, I am using a 6” tall by 4” wide label with 0-degree rotation
3. Click the Start button

To ensure the virtual printer is configured correctly, you can click Print Test Page on the document routing agent printer page to confirm these two applications are talking to each other.

The printer is now configured.

Note: Additional configuration is required in D365 SCM to print the labels. You will need to add your printer to the D365 Document and Container routing configuration as you would with any physical network printer.