Local Installation - macOS

This guide walks through how to install Allergen Intelligence Print Station locally for offline and/or multiple instance use on macOS only.

TIP: You do not need to install Print Station as an app.  You can use Safari, Chrome, or any other Chromium based browser to use Print Station without installing it as an app. The benefit of installing Print Station is for offline and multi instance use.

Prerequisites.

Chromium Browser:
Print Station works on a Chromium based browser, and so you must download and install an appropriate browser. The two most common Chromium based browsers are Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.

Download Google Chrome: https://www.google.com/chrome
Download Microsoft Edge: https://www.microsoft.com/edge

Add printer to macOS:
If you haven't already, please follow your printer manufacturer's instructions to add your printer to macOS and then return to this guide.

Enable CUPS:
CUPS (formerly known as Common UNIX Printing System), is a network printing system that allows Mac OS devices to connect to various printers locally, and on a network.
As the CUPS Web Interface may be disabled by default on your Mac, you may need to enable it in order to configure your printers for Print Station.

Using your Mac's web browser visit: http://localhost:631/printers/.

A screen will then appear saying Web Interface is Disabled. An indication that CUPS has been disabled on your Mac. If you do not get this message, but instead see the CUPS user interface, please skip to Adding your printer as a RAW printer to CUPS.

Select and copy "cupsctl WebInterface=yes" from the page.
Using Spotlight at the top right of your mac, search for Terminal, and hit enter or click on the Terminal app to open it.

After Terminal has opened, paste (cmd + V) in "cupsctl WebInterface=yes" (without quotes) and hit Enter.
Now, once you go to http://localhost:631/printers/ you will see the CUPS user interface.

Adding your printer as a RAW printer to CUPS:
Access the CUPS web interface using your Mac's web browser by going to: http://localhost:631/printers/.

In the CUPS web interface, click "Administration" on the top navigation menu.

Choose "Add Printer" under the Printers section. You might be prompted here for a username and password. This is the username and password for the administrator account on macOS.

You should see your printer beside "Local Printers". Select it and click continue.

Enter a name such as "Zebra_ZD420_AI_Print_Station" and a description such as "Zebra ZD420 - AI Print Station" and click Continue. Please note that the "Location" entry is meant for descriptive information about the physical location of your printer, like "deli" or "butchery" Both description and location are optional.

In the next window, "Make" should already be chosen. E.g: If you are using a Zebra printer this should say "Make: Zebra". Even tho this is correct, we are going to change it. Click on "Select Another Make/Manufacturer" and choose Raw. Click continue.

Under "Model" select "Raw Queue"

Click "Add Printer" to complete the setup. You might get another window asking to select banners/policies. Select "set default options" if asked.

Your printer has now been successfully added to macOS and ready to be used with Print Station.

Print Station Installation Steps.

• Using a chromium browser, Chrome or Edge, navigate to: https://ai-print.bludotcloud.com/
• Click the following icon (highlighted in orange) at the end of your address bar:
• 
• This will install Print Station as an app on your Mac.
• An Icon will be placed on your desktop. Use this to launch and run Print Station.

NOTE: On first time launch, you will need to login using your App Token.  This can be obtained by logging into the portal ai-portal.bludotcloud.com and clicking on your username on the top right > account.

Initial Setup.

• • Navigate to the "More" tab
  • Scroll down to "Label Templates.
  • Click on the label template that you want to use, and click "Make Default" on the pop up window.
  • Scroll down to "Print & Label Settings"
  • Click on "Connect a printer"
  • On the pop up window click "Search for printers".  This will search and find all printers currently installed on the Windows machine.  If no printers are listed, please ensure that you have followed the Add printer to macOS and Enabled CUPS steps above.
  • Click on the printer that you want to use and then click "confirm printer" on the lower left corner.
  • You are now ready to print.

Additional Installations.

If you require a second instance of Print Station (you may want to setup one instance to be used exclusively with one printer, one label and one set of products) then simply repeat the installation steps using another chromium browser.  E.g: If you used Google Chrome initially, then download Microsoft Edge and follow the installation steps again. This will put a second icon on your desktop.

It is a good idea to rename these in order to distinguish between the 2 instances. E.g: Print Station - Printer A and Print Station - Printer B 

NOTE: If installing multiple instances, you will need to follow the "Adding your printer as a RAW printer to CUPS" steps above for each printer you want to use with Print Station.