This article describes how to connect a label printer to your ShipHawk account using PrintNode.

PrintNode software is necessary because web-based applications like ShipHawk are not authorized to make automatic connections (such as print jobs) to physically installed hardware or client machines. PrintNode is a connector software program that allows ShipHawk to seamlessly communicate print jobs (labels, packing slips, pick tickets, and so on) to your locally or server-installed printers.

After successful setup, you can print labels and documents through ShipHawk from any supported browser.

Introduction

This document walks through the process of installing PrintNode to support thermal label printing from any supported browser.

System Requirements

Windows PC or Mac OSX

Prerequisites

A  printer installed on the target workstation. This can be any kind of printer, including PDF and label printers.

Supported Browsers

• Google Chrome

• Mozilla FireFox

• Opera

• Safari

• IE 11 and up

Overview

This document walks through the process of installing PrintNode to support printing from a connected printer through a supported browser.

To successfully use your printer, you must complete the setup tasks in the following order:

1. Download and install PrintNode.

2. Connect your printer to your computer.

3. Connect PrintNode to ShipHawk.

4. Select your printer in ShipHawk.

5. This article is intended for your system administrator or warehouse manager.

Printer Setup

The following section provides instructions on the setup of your scale using PrintNode in ShipHawk.

Installing and Enabling PrintNode

PrintNode allows you to print shipping labels, packing slips, and other documents automatically from the ShipHawk platform without having to click through multiple windows. This software is available for free.

(NOTE: ShipHawk uses PrintNode to connect to scales. Before you can use your scale with ShipHawk, you must set up PrintNode first.)

1. Go to https://printnode.com/download.
   

   

   
   

2. Identify the appropriate download for your operating system (Windows or MacOS):
   

   

   
   

3. Click DOWNLOAD to download PrintNode.
   

4. Once you have downloaded PrintNode, open the download and follow the prompts to install PrintNode.

Enable PrintNode in ShipHawk

1. Log into ShipHawk. The ShipHawk dashboard appears.

2. In the upper right corner, select ⚙️ > Settings > Printer Settings. The Printer Settings screen is displayed:
   

   

   
   

3. Click the Print With dropdown field and select the PrintNode option.
   

   

   
   

4. Your PrintNode credentials automatically populate.
   

   

   
   

5. Open PrintNode and fill in with the credentials found on the Printer Settings screen.
   

   

   
   

6. You can now access the icon for PrintNode:
   
   On Mac OS, a PrintNode icon appears in your OS toolbar:
   

   

   
   
   On Windows, a PrintNode icon appears in the system tray in the bottom right-hand corner of your taskbar:
   

   

   
   

7. Right-click on the icon and select the OPEN Print Node option.
   

8. Navigate to the Printers tab in the PrintNode Client window. Ensure that the printer you are going to use is populated in the print node field.
   

   

   
   

9. Return to your ShipHawk window on your web browser, and refresh your browser.
   
   Your accounts are now connected.
   
   Now that the PrintNode software and your ShipHawk platform are connected, you can set up your printers. PDF printers are printers used to print 8.5 x 11-inch documents. These documents include packing slips, pick tickets, bills of lading, and commercial invoices.
   

10. From your ShipHawk dashboard, select ⚙️ > Settings > Printer Settings. The Printer Settings screen is displayed.
    

11. In the Label Printer Settings section, select your printer from the PDF Printer drop-down field.
    

    

12. Click the Print Test PDF Label button to test and verify your connection. A PDF should download to your computer.
    

    

13. Select your thermal label printer from the ZPL Printer drop-down field.

    

14. Click the Print Test ZPL Label button to test and verify your connection. A test label should print to your selected printer.

    

Troubleshooting

Error getting printers: Request failed with status code 422

This indicates the user registered an account with PrintNode directly rather than through the link on ShipHawk. 

To resolve this issue, open the PrintNode app and delete your account. Then re-register through the link provided by ShipHawk.

To re-register with PrintNode:

1. Open the PrintNode app. The PrintNode Client window is displayed:

2. Navigate to the Accounts tab in your PrintNode Client window. The Accounts screen is dislplayed:

3. Click on the Logout button. You are now logged out of PrintNode.

4. Once you log out of your PrintNode account, log into your ShipHawk account. The ShipHawk dashboard appears.

5. Select ⚙️ > Settings > Printing. The Printer Settings screen is displayed:

6. Verify that the PrintNode option is selected from the Print With drop-down field. 

7. If PrintNode is selected, ShipHawk automatically populates the section below with account information. You must use this account information to access your PrintNode account.

8. If you have not already downloaded the PrintNode client, click on the green Download PrintNode Client link. This link takes you to PrintNode’s Downloads page.

9. If you already have the PrintNode Client installed on your computer, navigate back to the PrintNode Client and log in with the credentials provided by ShipHawk.

Printing TEST ZPL label results in 3 pages of “nonsensical” data

Confirm that your printer is on the list of supported PrintNode printers. These can be found here: PrintNode Supported Printers.

If you locate your printer, try creating a new test shipment. Does the label print successfully? If not, reach out to your Shiphawk Support Representative.