DevicesCreate a Pass Through Device Connection

You can configure Loftware Enterprise SP to pass an external file directly to a target device without the need to associate the file with a label template by using a Pass Through device connection. A Pass Though device connection should only be used when the target device supports native printing for the file type.

A Pass Through device can be accessible to the Loftware Application Server via TCP/IP, USB, or remote spooler (LPR). Alternatively, if the device is not accessible to the Loftware Application Server and if a Remote Site has been defined for that computer, then you can configure Loftware Enterprise SP to print to a device that is accessible to the Remote Site via TCP/IP, USB, or LPR protocol.

If you have an existing PCLClosed Printer Command Language, a printer control language from Hewlett-Packard. device configured in Loftware Enterprise SP under the Family Driver, you can configure the device to support pass through files rather than creating a Pass Through device connection. Open the device in Devices Devices, click the Advanced tab, and then select the appropriate file types under Pass Through File Types.

Note: In a multi-site deploymentClosed A configuration of a Loftware environment that includes Loftware instances located at different sites within the same WAN. In a multi-site deployment, each Loftware instance acts as either a headquarters or a facility. of Loftware Enterprise SP, device connections can be created only at headquarters. They can be replicated to facilities by using synchronization, and they can be changed at facilities if allowed by the configuration. Remote Sites can be created at both headquarters and facilities to enable the use of a Loftware NiceLabel driver. For more information, see Using a Loftware NiceLabel Driver at a Facility.

To create a new Pass Through device connection, use this procedure.

  1. In Devices Devices, in the ribbon click Add > Device to create a new device.
  2. In the Device Model dialog box, do the following.
    1. For Family, select Family Driver.
    2. For Model, select Pass Through.
    3. Click OK.
  3. In the Connection tab, for Connection Type select TCP/IP or USB and configure settings. For more information, see User Interface: TCP/IP Connection Type or USB Connection Type.

    Note: If the device is not accessible to the Loftware Application Server via TCP/IP or USB, for Remote Site select the Remote Site from which the device is accessible via TCP/IP or USB. Otherwise, no Remote Site is needed.

  4. In the Options section, under Pass Through File Types, select the type or types of files that the device supports printing natively. You must select at least one file type.
  5. In the Properties pane, enter a Description of the device.
  6. In the ribbon, click SaveSave and then enter a Device Name in the Save dialog box.

    The following characters are permitted in the name: letters, numbers, parentheses, square brackets, ampersands, plus signs, commas, semi-colons, and tildes. Additionally, the following characters are permitted but cannot begin or end the name: spaces, double quotation marks, single quotation marks, hyphens, underscores, periods, and grave accents. For letters, the case that you specify is displayed, but case is ignored when Loftware Enterprise SP interprets a name. If you will be installing the Loftware Enterprise SP application on a computer running Windows Server, and transferring data between Loftware Enterprise SP instances, see the "Transferring Data in a Compressed File" section of the Loftware Enterprise SP Data Transfer Guide.

After you create a Pass Through device connection, to print external files you need a method of specifying the file to print and a method of sending the print job. For more information, see Print External Files.

Important! Whenever you add a new device, data service, integration, or facility, you must ensure that the service is activated on all Loftware Application Servers on which it should be available to run and started on at least one. In an environment with only one Loftware Application Server, these types of services are automatically activated and started when they are created. For more information, see High Availability with Distributed Services.