Automation

Several labelling software providers have an “automation” component. This is a piece of software that runs unattended on a server or dedicated label printing PC. The software can be configured to monitor a SQL Server database table for “new” records, and when it detects new records it will automatically print labels for those records. Using Automation is an efficient method for label printing because it immediately frees the Dynamics GP client to continue working while the labels are printed in the background by another computer.

There are several tables and views that are used:

• LabelLinkAuto – This is a SQL View based on the physical table W5424001 and is used for all “Item Number” centered labels (i.e. printing labels from Purchase Order Receipts or Manufacturing Orders). The view pulls together a large number of GP tables to minimize the need to figure out the GP table structure, and it right-trims all string fields to remove the trailing spaces used by Dynamics GP. The view (LabelLinkAuto) should be used rather than W5424001 because the physical table contains only a handful of key fields. When the Print button is clicked on the LabelLink window, one record per label is added to the W5424001 table. This table contains a “Printed” flag (true/false) and a file pathname to the label file. Note that the label file is either the label linked to an Item Number (see Item Label Setup), or it is the label selected on the LabelLink window. If there is a label assigned to an Item in Item Label Setup, that label file is used, otherwise the label selected on the window is used. The Automation software should update the W5424001 Printed flag once the label is printed, or, it should delete records from the table. Do NOT use the LabelLink view. This view is based on a temporary table that is cleared when the LabelLink window closes. The LabelLinkAuto view is based on a table that retains the label data (W5424001) after the LabelLink window closes.
• LabelLinkSLAutoView – This is a SQL View based on the physical table W5424003. It right-trims all of the string fields to remove trailing spaces. The physical table contains a File Path to the Smart List Label file, and a Printed flag (true/false). Please review the SmartList Labels chapter. The Automation software should use the view for printing labels, but it needs to update the Printed flag in, or remove records from, the W5424003 physical table. Do NOT use the LabelLinkSLView view. This view is based on a temporary table that is cleared when the LabelLink window closes. The LabelLinkSLAutoView view is based on a table that retains the label data (W5424003) after the LabelLink window closes.