XML Printing Using SATO Printers

Information in XML format provides greater flexibility as it can directly integrate with various systems.
XML format offers flexibility as it is not confined to limited preset tags, which is contrasting to other
markup languages with preset tags such as HTML. In other words, XML allows each vendor in a
specified industry to create its own set of tags to cater to that industry without much sacrifice of
compatibility issues. Comparing stored information is the traditional approach, where for example, a
third-party software, typically the middleware, is required to store the data in an acceptable format into
the database.

Now, large scale database systems, such as Oracle Warehouse Management System (WMS), can store
information in XML format.

1. A label is designed and created in XML format using the NiceLabel Designer Pro software.

2. The XML label format is exported to the SATO XML-enabled printer’s memory by the means of the NiceLabel Designer Pro software.

3. The host sends a print job in XML format to the SATO XML-enabled printer over a network using an interface such as TCP/IP or by other means of connection. The data sent from the host system to the SATO XML-enabled printer is analyzed by the printer's firmware to see if it is SBPL or XML data stream.

4. The SATO XML-enabled printer parses the XML print job data stream for the format attribute, label quantity, and variable field data. When the XML data stream follows the Document Type Definition (DTD) semantics, it contains a or element with a _FORMAT attribute.

5. The SATO XML-enabled printer will search for the label format number from its memory. The variable data field name is then inserted accordingly, where the format is recalled and print job begins (Merging the Format and XML variable data).

When the SATO XML-enabled printer has the requested format (stored in the memory), it recalls the format by interpreting the SBPL in the format. This will define the layout of the format (that is static text), and defines which fields are variables. The SATO XML-enabled printer then applies the variable field data from the XML data stream to the label format. When end-of-label is detected in the XML data stream, the label is printed.

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