Label Printing Guide¶

Overview¶

The Datacenter Inventory Management System system includes comprehensive label printing functionality optimized for the Brother PT-E550W label printer. You can print professional labels with QR codes for assets and storage containers, making physical identification and tracking simple and efficient.

Features¶

Print labels for any asset (servers, switches, cables, cards, NICs, DPUs, transceivers, etc.)
Print labels for storage containers (boxes, bins, shelves, cabinets, etc.)
Brother PT-E550W optimization with support for standard tape widths
QR code integration - each label includes a scannable QR code
Browser-based printing - works immediately without additional setup
Optional direct printer support - send jobs directly to network printers
Professional label design - compact, readable format optimized for label tape

Where to Print Labels¶

1. Assets Table (All Asset Types)¶

Location: Assets page → Any row in the table

Navigate to the Assets page
Find the asset you want to label
Click the 🏷️ Label button in the Actions column
Label preview modal opens

Available for: All asset types including cables, cards, servers, switches, NICs, DPUs, transceivers, and more.

2. Asset Detail Page¶

Location: Individual asset detail page → Header

Navigate to any asset detail page
Click 🏷️ Print Label button in the page header
Label preview modal opens

3. Storage Containers Table¶

Location: Storage Containers page → Any row in the table

Navigate to the Storage Containers page
Find the container you want to label
Click the 🏷️ Label button in the Actions column
Label preview modal opens

Available for: All storage container types (box, bin, shelf, cabinet, drawer, rack, pallet).

Label Sizes¶

The Brother PT-E550W supports two tape widths. Our label templates are optimized for:

12mm (0.47") Tape¶

Label Dimensions: Variable length × 12mm
QR Code Size: 10mm × 10mm
Font Sizes: 4-5pt
Best For: Small items, compact labels, cables, cards

24mm (0.94") Tape¶

Label Dimensions: Variable length × 24mm
QR Code Size: 18mm × 18mm
Font Sizes: 6-7pt
Best For: Standard labels, servers, switches, storage containers

Note: The PT-E550W supports 12mm and 24mm tape only. 36mm tape is not supported by this model.

Label Contents¶

Asset Labels Include:¶

QR Code with asset data (ID, asset tag, serial number, type, manufacturer, model)
Asset Tag (bold, prominent)
Manufacturer & Model
Serial Number
Hostname (if available)

Storage Container Labels Include:¶

QR Code with container data (ID, name, type, barcode, location)
Container Name (bold, prominent)
Container Type (box, bin, shelf, etc.)
Barcode (if set)
Location (if set)

How to Print Labels¶

Method 1: Print via Browser (Recommended)¶

This method works immediately without any setup and is compatible with all printers.

Click the 🏷️ Label or 🏷️ Print Label button
Review the label preview
Select your tape size:

- ☑️ 12mm (0.47") - ☑️ 24mm (0.94")

Click Print via Browser
In the print dialog:

- Select your Brother PT-E550W printer - Ensure paper size matches tape width - Print!

Method 2: Send to Printer Directly (Optional)¶

For network-connected Brother PT-E550W printers, you can configure direct printing.

Setup:

Ensure your Brother PT-E550W is connected to your network
Find your printer's IP address:

- On printer LCD: Menu → Network → IP Address

In the label print dialog:

- Expand "Direct Printer Setup (Optional)" - Enter printer IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.100) - IP is saved in your browser for future use

Click Send to Printer Directly

Note: Direct printing requires additional Brother SDK integration on the backend server. The browser printing method is recommended for most users.

Brother PT-E550W Setup¶

Printer Configuration¶

Install Tape:

- Use Brother TZe laminated tape cassettes - Recommended widths: 12mm or 24mm - Supports various colors (white on black, black on white, etc.)

Connect to Network (for direct printing):

- Menu → Network → Wireless LAN → Setup - Follow on-screen instructions to connect to WiFi - Note the assigned IP address

USB Connection (alternative):

- Connect printer to computer via USB - Install Brother P-touch Editor drivers - Use browser printing method

Recommended Settings¶

Print Quality: Best
Tape Width: Match your installed tape (12mm or 24mm)
Auto Cut: ON (for individual labels)
Chain Print: OFF (for individual labels)

QR Code Scanning¶

Each label includes a QR code that can be scanned to quickly identify and locate items in the system.

What's in the QR Code?¶

Asset QR Codes contain:

{
  "id": 123,
  "asset_tag": "SRV-001",
  "serial_number": "ABC123XYZ",
  "asset_type": "server",
  "manufacturer": "Dell",
  "model": "PowerEdge R740"
}

Container QR Codes contain:

{
  "type": "container",
  "id": 45,
  "name": "Box A-12",
  "container_type": "box",
  "barcode": "BOX-A-12",
  "location": "Aisle 3, Bay 5"
}

Scanning Labels¶

Use the built-in barcode scanner feature:

Go to Assets page
Click the 📷 Scan button
Point camera at QR code
System automatically identifies and opens the item

Label Design Specifications¶

Layout¶

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│  ┌────┐                             │
│  │ QR │  Asset Tag / Container Name │
│  │Code│  Manufacturer & Model       │
│  └────┘  Serial Number / Details    │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘

Design Features¶

High contrast black text on white background
Monospace font for serial numbers and barcodes
Text overflow handling with ellipsis
Optimized spacing for label printer output
Print-friendly CSS with proper margins

Troubleshooting¶

Label Not Printing¶

Problem: Nothing happens when clicking "Print via Browser"

Solution:

Check that printer is powered on and connected
Verify correct printer is selected in print dialog
Try printing a test page from printer settings
Ensure browser has printer access permissions

QR Code Not Scanning¶

Problem: QR code on label won't scan

Solution:

Ensure adequate lighting
Hold camera 6-12 inches from label
Try different angles
Clean camera lens
Verify printer quality settings are set to "Best"

Label Size Incorrect¶

Problem: Label prints too large or too small

Solution:

In print dialog, set page size to match tape width
For 12mm tape: Select "12mm" or "0.47 inch"
For 24mm tape: Select "24mm" or "0.94 inch"
Disable "Fit to page" or "Scale to fit" options

Text Cut Off on Label¶

Problem: Text is truncated or missing

Solution:

Text automatically truncates if too long
Use shorter asset tags or names
Try larger tape size (24mm vs 12mm)
Verify printer margins are set to minimum

Direct Printing Not Working¶

Problem: "Send to Printer Directly" fails

Solution:

Verify printer IP address is correct
Ensure printer is on same network as server
Check firewall settings (allow port 9100)
Use "Print via Browser" as alternative
Consider installing Brother P-touch SDK on print server

Best Practices¶

Labeling Strategy¶

Print labels in batches for new equipment
Apply labels to visible locations :

- Servers: Front bezel or top - Switches: Front panel or side - Cables: Both ends (use smaller 24mm tape) - Storage boxes: Multiple sides for visibility

Use protective label covers for high-wear areas
Keep backup labels for critical assets
Update labels when asset information changes

Label Placement¶

Servers:

Front bezel (primary)
Top cover (secondary)
Avoid blocking ventilation

Switches:

Front panel above ports
Side panel if front is crowded

Cables:

Both connectors (use small labels)
Cable management tags

Storage Containers:

Front panel (primary)
Side panels (for shelf visibility)
Top (for stacked containers)

Tape Selection¶

White on Black: High visibility, professional
Black on White: Standard, good for most uses
Black on Clear: Discrete, blends with surfaces
Fluorescent: High-visibility for critical items

Advanced Features¶

Custom Label Data¶

QR codes can be scanned by external apps and systems. The JSON data format is standard and can be parsed by:

Mobile barcode scanner apps
Asset tracking systems
Inventory management software
Custom integration scripts

API Integration¶

Labels can be generated programmatically via API:

Generate QR Code for Asset:

GET /api/v1/barcodes/generate/{asset_id}

Generate QR Code for Container:

GET /api/v1/barcodes/generate-container/{container_id}

Print Label (Direct):

POST /api/v1/barcodes/print-label/{asset_id}
POST /api/v1/barcodes/print-container-label/{container_id}

Body: {
  "label_size": "24mm",
  "printer_ip": "192.168.1.100"
}

Accessibility¶

No login required - Anyone can print labels
Keyboard navigation - All buttons accessible via keyboard
Screen reader compatible - Proper ARIA labels
Color blind friendly - High contrast, not reliant on color

Support¶

For additional help:

Check printer status on Brother PT-E550W LCD
Review Brother P-touch Editor documentation
Verify tape cassette is installed correctly
Test with simple text label before printing QR codes

Technical Details¶

Printer Specifications¶

Model: Brother PT-E550W
Type: Label printer with thermal transfer
Connectivity: USB, WiFi, Ethernet (via adapter)
Tape Types: TZe laminated tape (12mm and 24mm supported)
Resolution: 180 dpi
Max Print Speed: 30mm/sec

Supported Brother Printers¶

The system uses the labelprinterkit library which supports multiple Brother P-Touch printer models:

PT-E500 - Entry-level model
PT-E550W - Current model (supports 12mm and 24mm tape)
PT-H500 - High-end model
PT-P700 - Professional model
PT-P750W - Professional wireless model

Note: The current implementation is configured for PT-E550W. To use other models, the printer class in brother_printer.py would need to be updated to use the appropriate printer class (E500, H500, P700, or P750W) from labelprinterkit.printers.

Supported Browsers¶

Chrome/Edge (recommended)
Firefox
Safari
Any modern browser with print support

Requirements¶

Brother PT-E550W label printer
TZe tape cassettes (12mm or 24mm)
Web browser with printer access
Network connection (for direct printing)

Last Updated: 2025-01-17 Version: 1.0 Compatible with: Datacenter Inventory Management System v1.0+