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What is IPL?

IPL (Intermec Printer Language) is the command language of Intermec label printers: the EasyCoder line and the Honeywell PM, PF, and PX series that replaced it. IPL works in two modes. In Program mode, a job defines a format, a template of numbered fields, and stores it on the printer. In Print mode, the job sends data for those fields and prints the label.

Example

Section titled “Example”
<STX><ESC>P<ETX>
<STX>E1;F1;<ETX>
<STX>H0;o50,50;f0;c21;h1;w1;d3,LabelZoom;<ETX>
<STX>B1;o50,120;f0;c0,0;h100;w2;d3,12345678;<ETX>
<STX>R<ETX>
<STX><ESC>E1<ETX>
<STX><ETB><ETX>

Every command sits between <STX> and <ETX>. A file can contain the real control bytes or these readable forms, so many IPL files open cleanly in a text editor.

Command What it does
<ESC>P Enters Program mode
E1;F1; Erases format 1 and creates it again
H0;… Defines text field 0
B1;… Defines barcode field 1
R Returns to Print mode
<ESC>E1 Selects format 1
<ETB> Prints the label

Inside a field, o sets the origin, f the direction, c the font or symbology, and d3, fixed data. IPL barcodes include linear symbologies, PDF417, MaxiCode, Data Matrix, and QR Code.

IPL vs ZPL

Section titled “IPL vs ZPL”
Aspect IPL ZPL
Printers Intermec EasyCoder; Honeywell PM, PF, and PX Zebra, and other printers that emulate ZPL
Structure Commands framed by <STX> and <ETX> A stream of ^-prefixed commands
Label data Format stored on the printer, data merged at print time Layout and data sent together in one stream

Convert IPL files

Section titled “Convert IPL files”

These free tools run in your browser:

The LabelZoom API converts IPL to and from ZPL, PDF, and images. For example, POST /api/v2/convert/ipl/to/pdf renders IPL as a PDF, and POST /api/v2/convert/zpl/to/ipl converts ZPL to IPL. Save IPL output as bytes, not text; see Binary output.

What’s next

Section titled “What’s next”