Overview - ION Manual

Barcode format

An ION barcode encodes a JSON payload with the record’s uid (Universal Identification), for example {"uid":"24daeec708d84908af9beba707a5241b"}. When you scan it, ION recognizes characters typed quickly that match the ION ID specification and resolves the uid to its record. Because the payload is compact, an ION QR code stays scannable at small label sizes: with the ZPL magnification factor, a uid QR code prints reliably at 0.25 x 0.25 inches on a 300 DPI printer. Preview a template’s size and density with Labelary.If your material already carries barcodes from another system, you can map those formats to ION records with a regular expression or a JSON field mapping. See Scan barcodes from other systems.

Print paths

ION prints over one of two paths, set once for the org by the Use print server toggle in Settings → Organization → Barcode Labels, not per print:

• Browser (Zebra Browser Print) drives a Zebra printer attached to the operator’s workstation. ION talks to the local service over https://localhost:9101. See Configure Zebra Browser Print.
• Print server (for example, PrintNode) sends jobs to a central service that manages shared printers across the floor. See Configure PrintNode server printing.

The Barcode Label dialog shows the printer picker for whichever path is configured. For printing a label, see Print a label.

Templates

Each label is rendered from a ZPL template scoped to an entity type: inventory, kits, or locations. A template defines the field layout and what the barcode encodes, and you can define many templates per entity type for different purposes, such as a shipping label separate from an internal movement label. Templates inject record data through variables like ${part.partNumber} and ${serialNumber}. For authoring, see Create label templates, and for starting points, see Sample templates.

Templates are defined at the org level in Settings → Organization → Barcode Labels. An admin adds or changes them. See Create label templates.

Scan-to-action workflows

Scanning is enabled on every page in ION. You scan three object types: inventory, locations, and kits. After a scan, ION confirms it occurred and offers actions that fit the scanned object, and an action can chain to another scan or a click. Scanning an inventory then a location moves that inventory; scanning an inventory then a kit kits it. One workflow is page-bound: scanning a part inventory on the run execution page installs it if the part is on the aBOM. For the full set of workflows and scanner setup, see Scanning.