= rdpl

Rdpl is a simple gem that abstracts some of the DPL (Datamax Programming Language)(TM) concepts. Its main purpose is to simplify the creation of labels to be printed using the Datamax(TM) series of printers.

It uses a very simple approach to send jobs to the printer. Basically, the printer has to be configured inside CUPS (Rdpl will use <tt>lpr</tt> to print), so it won't work on systems where CUPS is absent.

== Jobs

Print jobs are represented through instances of <tt>Rdpl::Job</tt>. A job may contain several labels to be printed and must receive the printer's cups id.

job = Rdpl::Job.new :printer => "some_printer_id" job.print

Take a look at the project's rdoc for available options.

== Labels

Labels are represented through instances of <tt>Rdpl::Label</tt>. A label may contain several elements, which may be text, barcodes, lines, boxes or other graphical elements.

job = Rdpl::Job.new :printer => "some_printer_id" label = Rdpl::Label.new(:quantity => 3, :dot_size => 12) label << "some text" label << Rdpl::Barcode.new :data => "123456" job << label job.print

Labels also accept a block when adding new lines, barcodes, boxes or bitmapped text:

label = Label.new label.add_line do |line| line.horizontal_width = 12.2 line.vertical_width = 14.3 line.row_position = 23.4 line.column_position = 24.5 end

It'll always yield a new instance of the given element to the block, so you can specify the element's properties. The other available methods to add new elements to the label are <tt>add_barcode</tt>, <tt>add_box</tt> and <tt>add_bitmapped_text</tt>.

All labels must be closed before printing, so the printer knows where the printing must end and where another label is started.

label.end!

Take a look at the project's rdoc for available options.

== Elements

You can add elements to the labels. Elements may be text, barcodes, lines, boxes or text printed with internal bitmapped fonts. Elements may have a rotation angle, row and column positions and so on. Each kind of element may have specific options, check the docs.

== Barcodes

Barcodes may be created through the <tt>Rdpl::Element::Barcode</tt> class.

barcode = Rdpl::Barcode.new( :rotation => 4, :font_id => Rdpl::Barcode::CODE_128, :data => 'SOME DATA 12345', :height => 123, :wide_bar_multiplier => 3, :narrow_bar_multiplier => 4, :row_position => 123, :column_position => 234 )

Take a look at the project's rdoc for available options.

== Boxes

Boxes may be created through the <tt>Rdpl::Element::Box</tt> class.

box = Rdpl::Box.new( :horizontal_width => 12.2, :vertical_width => 14.3, :row_position => 23.4, :column_position => 24.5, :bottom_and_top_thickness => 34.6, :sides_thickness => 45.6 )

Take a look at the project's rdoc for available options.

== Lines

Lines may be created through the <tt>Rdpl::Element::Line</tt> class.

line = Rdpl::Line.new( :horizontal_width => 12.2, :vertical_width => 14.3, :row_position => 23.4, :column_position => 24.5 )

Take a look at the project's rdoc for available options.

== Text in Bitmapped fonts

Text elements printed using internal bitmapped fonts may be created through the <tt>Rdpl::Element::BitmappedText</tt> class.

text = Rdpl::BitmappedText.new( :font_id => 2, :width_multiplier => 2, :height_multiplier => 3, :row_position => 20, :column_position => 30, :data => 'HEY LOOK AT ME' )

Take a look at the project's rdoc for available options.

== Note on Patches/Pull Requests

Fork the project.
Make your feature addition or bug fix.
Add tests for it. This is important so I don't break it in a future version unintentionally.
Commit, do not mess with rakefile, version, or history. (if you want to have your own version, that is fine but bump version in a commit by itself I can ignore when I pull)
Send me a pull request. Bonus points for topic branches.

Rdpl

Install / Use

README