System Configuration Help

When configured correctly, you will be able to easily make and print tape labels. We'll walk you through a standard set of installation instructions. Skip any section which you already have configured.

Step #0 - Quick check to see if your system is configured correctly

We keep a standard label (which looks just like the graphic from the sample page) on-line so that you can check to see if your system is able to view it correctly. This standard label is the same format which will be generated when you make a label. If you are able to view it without problem, you should be ready to go.

To be successfully configured, your system will need to:

Download an output file -- PostScript (PS) or Portable Document Format (PDF)
Launch a Helper Application (e.g. Adobe Acrobat Reader or Ghostview)
Display the Label

Only one of the following methods will need to work (each will take a few seconds to test):

Click here to test your system's ability to display PDF files.

Did your system display a label with no error or warning messages?

If it did, you are ready to begin, and have the minimum configuration necessary to make labels, and can proceed to Learning How to Use The Labeler.

System Configuration Instructions

Note that some of the following steps may require you to restart your computer. If so, you will have to return to this page after restarting to continue with system configuration.

Step #1 - Download Recent Version of Netscape or Internet Explorer). [Will probably require restart]

Step #2 - Download the viewing and printing software [May require restart]

Option #1 - Adobe Acrobat Reader (works well on all systems)
This software will allow you to view and print Portable Document Format, or PDF files, generated by the label maker software on Macs, Windows, and UNIX. This is the recommended option.
Option #2 - Ghostscript (works well only on Windows and UNIX)
This software will allow you to view and print PostScript (PS) files.
However, we recommend that you use acrobat reader if it is available for your system.

Step #3 - Ensure Correct Browser Configuration for Viewer Software

Once you have the necessary browser and viewer software, you just need to ensure that they are configured correctly to make labels. Generally, there are 2 options for downloading graphics files on the Web: viewing them via plug-ins or by launching separate viewer applications.

Acrobat Reader provides a plug-in (PDFViewer) which should have been installed for your Web Browser. Ghostscript has no plug-ins. The basic difference between these options is that using the plug-in will make all downloaded labels ONLY fownload into memory. No files will be saved to disk. We recommend launching an application if you are unsure what to choose.

Configuring Viewers for non-UNIX browsers
These instructions assume you are using Netscape. Similar instructions will configure Internet Explorer.
- Run Browser
- Click on Options Menu, select "General Preferences"
- Click on Helpers
- Look for an entry for "PDF file" or "Portable Document Format" [or Postscript if applicable]
  - If an entry already exists, double click on it or select and click Edit.
    Go on to the next step (Ensuring Correct Plug-in or Application)
  - If there is no entry, click on the NEW button to make one.
    - For description, type "Portable Document Format" [or "PostScript"].
    - For MIME Type, type "application/pdf" [or "application/ps"].
    - For suffixes, type "pdf" [or "ps"].
- Ensure correct Plug-in or Application is Set
  - To use a plug-in, click on Plug-In button and choose PDFviewer
  - To launch, click on Launch Application button, then click Browse.
    - Find the Acrobat Reader or Ghostscript Application on your computer
  - Click OK to close the window and set the values.
You should now be ready to make labels. Go back to Step #0 , then Learn How to Use the Labeler.

Configuring UNIX Browsers

Run Browser
Click on Options Menu, select General Preferences
Verify global or personal .mime.types files

Edit "$HOME/.mime.types" file, if it exists

The information you will need to add to this file is as follows:
    
    application/pdf pdf (if it does not already exist)

(Depending on whether you chose ghostscript or Acrobat).

Edit "$HOME/.mailcap" file, if it exists

The information you will need to add to this file is as follows:

     application/postscript ; ghostview -safer %s
     application/pdf ; xpdf %s

Note: the %s is the filename, and do not forget the ;

You should now be ready to make labels. Go back to Step #0, then Learn How to Use the Labeler.

Go Back to the Home Page

Learn How to Use the Labeller

and let us know what you think!

Steve: steve at scholnick.net
Scott: hsm at cmu.edu

Send us a bug report