Today, we’ll be creating a new format in JMagic. JMagic is a GUI, or graphical user interface, for MarkMagic. Once you’ve opened JMagic, you can create a new format by clicking the New Format button in the top-left corner. You can also use the Format drop-down menu and select New.
This opens the Create a Format window, where you’ll be prompted to select a device and name your format. For this tutorial, we’ll use a PCL5 device so the format can be printed on a laser printer. If you want to use a different device, you can choose from the available options. For example, if you’re printing to a Zebra printer, you would select Zebra and then choose the device specific to your printer.
For this tutorial, we’ll select PCL5+, specifically HP PCL5, and then enter a name for the format. Once you click OK, the New Format window will appear.
The first available option is the Description field. This field is optional, but if you want to add a description for your format, you can do so here. For this tutorial, we’ll enter a description such as Tutorial.
Next is the Unit of Measure, which is preset to inches. If you prefer to work in millimeters, you can simply select the mm option. The Rotation setting is currently set to 0 degrees, meaning the format will be created in portrait orientation. If you want to create a landscape format, you can select the 90-degree rotation option.
The Size section is where you define the size of your stock. For this tutorial, we’re using standard letter-size paper on a PCL printer, so both values will match the paper size: a length of 11 inches and a width of 8.5 inches.
Below that are the Form Settings, where you can configure margins as well as Parts Across and Parts Down. For example, if you’re using a stock that contains multiple labels across the page, you would set the format width and length to match a single label, while the form width and length would represent the entire sheet. You would then specify how many parts appear across and down the stock.
Since we’re using standard letter-size paper for this tutorial, these settings are already filled in correctly. Click OK to continue.
You’ll now see your canvas, where you can begin adding fields to your format. Remember, whenever you’re adding or editing fields, it’s important to save your work. You can save by clicking the Save Format button or by selecting Format > Save from the menu.