Barcode Label Solutions Blog

Why HP PCL is so important for bar code label printers.

1. Ease of integration

A PCL bar code label printer answers the need for seamless integration into a wide range of information systems and eliminates the requirement for a custom integration of proprietary printer languages. 

Most operating systems have PCL drivers already integrated, which makes setup quick and easy.  Because PCL drivers are standardized to the operating system, users can print to a PCL printer from a wide variety of software applications running on the OS.  Because PCL supports scalable fonts, any print job can be easily processed without concerns about font substitutions, such as those from proprietary printers that have fixed font sizes.

2. Lower total cost of ownership

Integration of proprietary bar code label printers, especially with legacy data or systems, often require the effort and expense of (A) writing a custom printer driver or (B) of writing custom programming code to integrate the printer with the system data or (C) the purchase of an expensive middle-ware software application to integrate the printer with the necessary system data or (D) a combination of the above. 

Once these proprietary bar code label printer installations are implemented, they demand down-stream maintenance and support for the life of the solution.  When an operating system is upgraded or when a new hardware platform is imlemented, custom and proprietary solutions typically require recertification, adding to total life cycle costs.  And if the proprietary solution is not upgradeable to the new system, a new solution must be implemented, which negates the original investment and adds incremental cost.

Any and all of the preceding solutions for a proprietary bar code label printer have a comparatively high cost compared to a PCL printer.  Because the PCL bar code label printer uses the worldwide standard HP PCL printer command language, integration is simple and very low cost with no down-stream maintenance and support. Cost savings are realized because there is no disruption or relinquishment of existing software applications or operating systems. PCL bar code printers work across all OS platforms: Windows, Macintosh OSX, UNIX, Linux, OS400 and others.  If a system can print to an HP LaserJet or any other PCL printer, it can print to an HP PCL bar code label printer.