Malvern is a multi-carrier shipping software solution which outputs labels in Zebra Printer Language (ZPL) format.

Best Practices

Of the four main integration options for eFORMz, virtual printer is the recommended method for capturing Malvern application output. This requires the following:

“Add eFORMz as a new printer in your software application. Your application prints to the eFORMz virtual printer, which captures the print stream as a file. eFORMz combines and formats the file, possibly with data from additional sources for output to a thermal or laser printer.”

Windows

For Malvern users running locally (on Windows), the integration process would require setting up the eFORMz Port Monitor and adding eFORMz as a new printer in Malvern. Since the print jobs are local, no LPD is required. Once this is configured, run the process and use any test files sent from Malvern to the selected input folder.

Necessary Posts To Consult

Configuring the eFORMz Port Monitor

Capturing a Print File / Spoolfile

AS/400 & Unix Environments

For Malvern users running on IBM iSeries, AIX, Unix, Linux or another non-local operating system, the integration process would first require enabling the TCP/IP Print Server for LPD communication. Next, set up the eFORMz Port Monitor and add eFORMz as a new printer in Malvern. Once this is configured, run the process and use any test files sent from Malvern to the selected input folder.

Necessary Posts To Consult

LPD Communication

Configuring the eFORMz Port Monitor

Capturing a Print File / Spoolfile

Sample Process for Merging Data Streams

The eFORMz user processes the order and prints out the packing slip with their third-party WMS, OMS or ERP application. The file (.TXT for this example) goes to C:\Minisoft\eFORMz_6\Input. The customer weighs the package at the weighing station and prints the shipping label with Malvern for shipping with the preferred carrier. The .ZPL file goes to the same directory, C:\Minisoft\eFORMz_6\Input. The eFORMz Director looks for .TXT files to process, copies them to C:\Minisoft\eFORMz_6\Output, and renames the files to begin with the order number so it can be matched up with the order number in the shipping label. For details on how to match up shipping labels and packing slips based on a common reference, consult the videos and sample files at the following page:

https://minisoft.com/support/index.php/creating-a-two-sided-label-w-a-reference-number-parts-i-and-ii/

From there, the eFORMz Director appends .hld to processed files in C:\Minisoft\eFORMz_6\Input, and the eFORMz Director prints the shipping document.