Below  you will find questions which we frequently receive on Logistic and their answers; if you still can not find what you need, write to: szp@zanella-hifi.com.

• EAN and GTIN codes; what is the difference?
• What is the order in which the AIs appear on the EAN 128 barcode printed by Logistic?
• Which printers are reccomended?
• I have problems aligning prints on paper with my thermal transfer printer; any suggestions?
• Why sometimes labels appear partially printed or with artifacts/print errors using my thermal transfer printer?
• Why is label printing so slow?
• Can we buy printing media (labels) together with the software?
• Is it possible to customize the software by changing the fields printed or their size?
• If I buy a licence of Logistic do I have the right of asking to your tech support how to integrate your software within our system?
• How is Logistic protected?

Q: EAN and GTIN codes; what is the difference?
A: In a Logistic label it is stated the number of packages on a pallet or other shipping container. Packages are usually trade units: e.g. 12 water bottle cartons, 10 oil bottle boxes, etc. This package must have its own code, usually an EAN code, that is translated to GTIN by prefixing the digit '0' or another digit (in this case, the resulting GTIN has the chosen prefix, followed by the first 12 digits in the EAN code and by a check digit calculated from the 13 digits before); the digit '9' as a prefix is reserved to variable weight boxes. Sometimes, the GTIN is obtained from the EAN code of the items contained within, even though this is not correct.

Q: What is the order in which the AIs appear on the EAN 128 barcode printed by Logistic?
A: The label created by Logistic includes two distinct EAN128 barcodes; one includes the AI 00 only (SSCC), as reccomended by Indicod; the other include the following AIs (in the specified order): 02 (GTIN), 37 (quantity, variable length), 33 (gross weight), 15 (best before date, if specified), 10 (lot number). This disposition is considered to be optimal, in that only one "end-of-field" character appears (before gross weight).

Q: Which printers are reccomended?
A: Laser printers are very easy to use: they feature high resolutions (600 or 1200 dpi), high speed and lot of memory. Besides, they do not require special settings before being used. Thermal transfer printers are more difficult to use and have lower resolutions.

Q: I have problems aligning prints on paper with my thermal transfer printer; any suggestions?
A: Thermal transfer printers require a specific skill for configuration and use; it is usually better to ask the reseller for suggestions. Logistic uses default document settings for the selected printer; thermal transfer printers usually require to carefully specify paper size and label type. We suggest to use only labels with black mark (preferred) or with gaps: do not rely on printer mechanism for proper alignment, it is never accurate enough.

Q: Why sometimes labels appear partially printed or with artifacts/print errors using my thermal transfer printer?
A: The problem is not with Logistic, but with printer drivers: actually, when using laser or ink-jet printers these problems never arise. We reccomend to change printer drivers; a good source of free thermal printer drivers is: www.seagullscientific.com . Sometimes, it is advisable to increase printer memory or to update printer firmware: ask your local reseller.

Q: Why is label printing so slow?
A: Big labels require a lot of memory, thus the amount of data that need to be transferred to the printer is big. Logistic can generate labels at high speed, the bottleneck is determined by printer speed and the way it is connected to the computer. We reccomend to link the printer in one of these ways (in order of preference): USB, ethernet. Usually, printer speed is also influenced by the amount of memory in the printer: more memory allows to achieve greater speed.

Q: Can we buy printing media (labels) together with the software?
A: SZP only deals in software, requests for printing media are turned to label makers with which we usually work; anyway, it is preferable that the customer directs his requests to a local label maker or typography. On the market there are thousands of printers and hundreds of different layouts; there is no standard for label format and label layout: there are printers using paper in rolls, other using single sheets, other fanfold sheets; label separation can be a gap (of various height) or a black mark on the back (in different positions and heights); the material with which labels are made can be simple paper, PVC or Primax; the ribbon must also be chosen accordingly...

Q: Is it possible to customize the software by changing the fields printed or their size?
A: Logistic allows to customize the label by changing a few settings in the configuration interface (read the manual); label heading can also be changed by simply changing BMP files contained in the installation directory. Other customizations, not specified in the manual, are possible, but they must be requested in detail before buying the software and are subject to charge.

Q: If I buy a licence of Logistic do I have the right of asking to your tech support how to integrate your software within our system?
A: When you buy a licence of Logistic you are paying only for the software, not for services of integration or programming, that are subject to charge; you will get, of course, free full tech support, but only for the functions inside Logistic.

Q: How is Logistic protected?
A: Logistic is protected in different ways: a USB dongle; a software key. Software key is usually offered to foreign customers; this key is generated from the hardware ID of the computer where the software will be installed.

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