Brother Ql550 Owners Manual

							37
z CREATING LABELS
Using P-touch Editor
Printing the LabelWe will now print the label created in the earlier example.
1In the Print properties box, select the number of 
copies to be printed (1) and then click  .
The label is printed.
2Cut off the printed label using the CUT button (QL-550) 
or the CUT lever (QL-500).
„Printing options and label cutting
Click   in the Print properties box to open the Print dialog 
box and select printing options.
zPrint Optionsz
If the Print property box is not displayed in the Property dock 
click   to open it.
When the Auto Cut option is checked in the Print dialog box 
for the QL-550, the printed labels are automatically cut after 
printing.
When using the QL-500, make sure that printing is 
completed before cutting the label with the CUT lever. 
Attempting to cut the label before printing is completed will 
result in an error. If an error occurs, turn the power off and 
then on again to clear the error.
SettingDetails
Auto Cut (QL-550 only) Checked - the printed labels are automatically cut after printing.
Unchecked - to cut the label, press the CUT button. 
Mirror Printing Prints a mirror image of the label. Use this option clear tape to 
create labels that can be applied to the inner surface of glass 
etc. and read from the outside.
Output Directly To Printer Driver Sends the data directly from the application to the printer driver.
We recommend that you leave this box checked when printing 
labels.
Copies Selects the number of copies to be printed.
When printing a label you can select whether priority is given to print quality or print speed.
When Printing Speed over Quality has been checked, some objects may not print or the printed image 
may appear slightly different.
Click   to open the Brother QL-500/550 Properties dialog box and then select one of the 
Quality radio buttons. 
						

							CREATING LABELS
38Using P-touch Editor
Saving the LabelYou can save the label you have created in a file for later use.
1Click   in the Standard toolbar.The Save As dialog box appears.
2Navigate to the folder where you want to save the 
file, enter the file name, and then click  .
The label layout is saved in the location specified.
„About file namesFile names can be up to 255 characters long, and cannot contain the following characters.
• Slash (/). 
• Backslash (\). 
• Greater than or less than symbols (>, 
						

							39
z CREATING LABELS
Using P-touch Editor
Creating Bar Code LabelsYou can create labels with bar codes for use with cash registers, stock control systems or other bar 
code reader systems.
1In the Page properties box, select Normal Format from the pull-down list of label types.The tape length and width settings are automatically set to the size of a standard address label.
2Click the   in the Object dock.
The Bar Code Properties dialog box appears.
3Click the [Protocol] tab to open the Protocol page, and 
then select a bar code protocol from the “Protocol:” 
list box.
4Click the [Setup] tab to open the Setup page, and then 
select any bar code format options for the selected 
protocol.
5Click the [Input] tab to open the Input page, type the 
data for the bar code in the Data text box, and select 
any options that are available for the selected protocol
6Click [OK].The bar code appears on the label in the layout work area.
If the Page property box is not displayed in the Property dock click   to open it.
A description of the selected protocol appears below the 
“Protocol:” list box.
The options that can be chosen may differ depending on the 
protocol selected.
The options that can be chosen may differ depending on the 
protocol selected. 
						

							CREATING LABELS
40Using P-touch Editor
• Brother shall not assume any responsibility for any loss or damage caused by bar code labels being 
misread.
• If the bar code reader is not able to read bar code labels printed using the Give priority to print speed 
option, try using the Give priority to print quality option.
• The bar code reader may not be able to read bar code labels with narrow bar codes.
• The QL-500/550 is not designed exclusively for creating bar code labels. Always check that bar code labels 
can be read by the bar code reader.
• Always use the largest bar code size possible. The bar code reader may not be able to read bar code labels 
with small bar codes.
• Continuously printing a large number of labels with bar codes can overheat the print head, which may 
affect printing quality.
• For best results, print bar code labels in black on a white label. Some bar code readers may not be able to 
read bar code labels created using colored labels. Always check that bar code labels can be read by the bar 
code reader.
• To make changes to an existing bar code in a label, double-click the bar code to open the Bar Code 
Properties dialog box and change the settings.
• You can create bar code labels even more efficiently by connecting to a database and retrieving data for 
several labels. Refer to page 58 or P-touch Editor Help for details.
Brother P-touch label printers are not designed specifically as bar code printers.  The following suggestions 
are recommended when reading/printing bar code labels:
• Please verify the bar code readability with your specific bar code scanner.
• Bar codes should be printed in black on white labels. The bar code reader may not be able to scan labels 
created with other substrate colors.
• The bar code width should be set to the largest dimensions possible. If the bar code size is too small, the 
bar code reader may not be able to scan the bar code.
• The entire bar code image, including left and right margins, must be within the dimensions of the label 
image area.
Please note that the foregoing is solely for your information. This is not a warranty or representation about 
the fitness of P-touch label printers to print bar code labels or the quality or legibility of bar code labels 
printed with your P-touch label printer.  Brother and its affiliates specifically disclaim any and all damage, 
loss and liability arising from the use of bar code labels printed by a P-touch label printer. 
						

							41
z CREATING LABELS
Using P-touch Editor
Creating Other Types of LabelsThe following are examples of the variety of labels that can be created using P-touch Editor and 
some optional features.  Refer to How To in the online P-touch Editor Help for further details.
SampleOptions
1: Making an address 
label with P-touch 
Editor•Printing
• Saving a layout
2: Changing the font of the 
address label created in 
lesson 1• Changing the font
• Adjusting objects
3: Making an address 
label by using an Add-In
• Using Add-In
4: Making a label by using 
the label list
• Using the label list
5: Making a label by using 
a layout style
• Editing and saving a layout 
style
6: Making a label by using 
a database• Linking with an Excel file
• Merging into a layout
7: Making a banner or sign 
with continuous length 
tape• Specifying the label length
• Inserting clip art illustrations
8: Making labels using the 
Numbering function:• Specifying a Numbering 
field and printing
9: Making address labels 
contains a bar code• Selecting a protocol
• Changing the size
10:Making a vertical label 
with continuous length 
tape• Using tape as vertical 
direction
11:Making an address 
label by using the Auto 
Format function• Using the Auto Format 
function
12:Making a label by using 
the P-touch Library
• Using the P-touch Library 
						

							CREATING LABELS
42Using P-touch Editor
Using HelpP-touch Editor has its own Help application that offers further detailed information on the features 
available with P-touch Editor and how to use these features.
„Opening Help
1Start P-touch Editor. Refer to “Starting P-touch Editor” on page 34.The layout window appears.
2Select “P-touch Editor Help” from the Help menu or use F1.The P-touch Editor Help window appears.
1. ToolbarContains quick and easy access icons used in Help.
2. TabsEach tab provides a different search method for finding information about the P-touch Editor.
3. MenuDisplays the information choices for each tab.
4. Topic AreaArea of the screen where information on each of the topics is displayed.
4
1
2
3 
						

							43
z CREATING LABELS
Using P-touch Editor
„Printing HelpThe contents of the Help topics can be printed to a standard printer (not the QL-500/550).
1Select a topic in the Contents tab.
2Click   on the toolbar.
The Print Topics dialog box appears.
3Select the range of topics to be printed, and 
then click  .
The Print dialog box appears.
4Select any options for your standard printer, and then click  .The specified Help topics will be printed. 
						

							CREATING LABELS
44The Label List
The Label List is a built-in database for storing information from previously created labels or for 
potentially new labels.
How the Label List WorksThe Label List is displayed in the Label List window, and works similarly to a Database connection. 
Refer to “Using a Database” on page 58 for a details about conecting to a database. However, with 
the Label List, the database cannot be imported and can only be exported in CSV format, but records 
can be added, deleted, and edited (note that the fields are however fixed).
ViewsThe Label List can be displayed in either Record View or Form View.
To change from one view to the other, right-click in the Database window, and then select either 
“Record View” or “Form View” from the associated menu.
„Record viewDisplays a list of records and their associated data for each record in the Label List.
1. Record selectorClicking the record selector selects the entire record. The record currently selected is indicated 
by the   mark.
2. Field selectorDisplays the field name. Clicking the field selector selects the entire column.
3. CellDisplays the field data for each field in a record.
Once fields are merged into a label layout, the corresponding data appears in the label when a 
record is selected. Simply select a different record to change the contents of the label.
The Label List
1
3
2
• Each row in the list indicates a record.
• The font used in the record view can be changed by changing the settings on the [Database] tab of the 
Options dialog box. From the “Tool” menu, select “Options” to open the Options dialog box.
• The height of a record can be adjusted by dragging the record divider line between records in the record 
selector column. Similarly, the width of a field can be adjusted by dragging the field divider line between 
fields in the field selector row.  
						

							45
z CREATING LABELS
The Label List
„Form viewDisplays the selected record data in a form rather than as a list.
Using the Label ListAs an example we will create a set of address labels using the Label List.
Before beginning, create a new layout and select the label size. Refer to “Creating an Address 
Label” on page 36. The label list would be used when a user wishes to print (reprint) a label 
containing the stored information.
„Opening the Label List
1Click the File menu, point to Database, and then click Label List.The Label List window appears.
„Entering dataIn our example we will use the Label List view, the Title field for the name and the Body field for the 
address on a label.
1Double-click on the Title field to place the cursor in the field, and then type in the name.
2Double-click on the Body field to place the cursor in the field, and then type in the 
address.
3Repeat this for all necessary fields.
Field nameField data
To enter a new line in a cell, hold down the [Ctrl] key and press the [Enter] key. 
						

							CREATING LABELS
46The Label List
4To add the next record, right click in the Label List window, and select “Create New 
Record” from the pull down menu.
A new record appears in the list.
5Enter the name and address, etc., in the new record.
6Repeat steps 4 and 5 to add more records.