Avery Labels on Laser Printers

INTRODUCTION

In order to successfully create laser-printer labels using Avery brand laser labels, some OpenVMS configuration changes need to be made and special considerations need to be made in using DMS-Plus programs. This document describes how to configure an OpenVMS system and the special steps required to print to Avery Labels on laser printers.

PROCESS

There is nothing special that needs to be done to DMS-Plus to print labels on a laser printer or any other kind of printer.  The LABEL program (or DMS:FORM can be used in some cases) is very flexible and is not dependent on the  printer being used.

The important thing that you need to do is set up your printer properly, and to define the proper FORM type based on the type of labels you are printing.   For example, you could use the following commands to set up some typical FORM types:

$ DEFINE/FORM AVERY_5161 81-

                /DESCRIPTION="Avery 5161 1 x 4 Laser Labels"-

                /LENGTH=62-

                /MARGIN=(TOP=2,BOTTOM=0)-

                /WIDTH=80-

                /TRUNCATE-

                /NOWRAP

... and

$ DEFINE/FORM AVERY_5162 82-

                /DESCRIPTION="Avery 5162 1 1/3 x 4 Laser Labels"-

                /LENGTH=61-

                /MARGIN=(TOP=5,BOTTOM=0)-

                /WIDTH=80-

                /TRUNCATE-

                /NOWRAP

If you are using Avery 5161 labels, you will also need to specify "/WIDTH=42" at the LABEL "Data File Name" prompt. If you are using 5162 labels, specify "/WIDTH=42/LENGTH=8".    If you are using other label types, you may need to adjust these types of parameters based upon their sizes.

With the above examples in mind, you can (and should) type the qualifier  "/FEED"   at the "Print Queue" question prompt in the DMS:LABEL program.   This will override the LABEL programs default setting of "/NOFEED".

Further help can be found in Digital's documentation (and using the HELP command at the OpenVMS "$" prompt)  on the  DEFINE/FORM qualifier.  Other commands that can affect printing  include the START/QUEUE,  INIT/QUEUE,   SET TERMINAL,   SET QUEUE, and others.

Once you start using various types of labels, you may want to create a standard procedure (create a batch or command file) to run the typical LABEL operations.  This would allow you to prevent users from typing any qualifiers (like /FEED or /WIDTH=42, etc.) for easier use. You could also put the various label choices on a menu so people could select a choice more easily.