Use this guide when you are setting up printers, scales, and direct-print behavior for the first time.
Printers & Scales Setup
Connect a thermal label printer and USB scale to Stallion Express using QZ Tray — covers installation, printer and scale preferences, label formats, packing slip templates, and all five printable document types.
Step 1: Install and run QZ Tray
QZ Tray is the bridge between the browser and your local printers and scales. Before configuring hardware in Settings, make sure QZ Tray is installed and running:
- Windows: After installation, look for the QZ Tray icon in the system tray (bottom-right of the taskbar). If it's not there, launch QZ Tray from the Start menu.
- Mac: Look for the QZ Tray icon in the menu bar (top-right). If it's not there, open QZ Tray from Applications.
- Linux: QZ Tray runs as a background process. Check that it's running with your system's process manager.
Your browser will ask to allow the QZ Tray connection the first time — click Allow. If you accidentally block it, clear the browser's site permissions for Stallion and refresh the page.
Step 2: Configure printers in Settings → Printing & Scales
Open Settings → Printing & Scales in the sidebar. The settings are organized across several tabs:
Printers tab
Select a printer for each document type (labels, packing slips) from the dropdown. Choose the print action mode (Direct, Download, or Prompt) for each. Use the Test Print button to verify the printer is working before using it in production.
Labels tab
- Label format — choose PDF (works on any printer) or ZPL (Zebra thermal printers only)
- Label size — choose 4×6 thermal or letter size
- Auto-open after download — when enabled, downloaded label files open automatically in your default viewer
Packing Slips tab
Configure the packing slip template, paper size, and which printer to use for packing slips. Packing slips can use a different printer than labels.
Step 3: Configure scales in Settings → Printing & Scales → Scales
Use the Scales tab when you want shipment forms to read weight from a connected USB scale. Select your scale from the dropdown, then click Test Scale to confirm the weight reading. Place a known-weight object on the scale to verify accuracy.
After the scale is configured, test it in a shipment workflow by clicking Fetch Weight in the Package step to make sure the weight is being read correctly.
Step 4: Verify the full workflow
After setup:
- Run a test print to confirm the label prints on the correct printer
- Confirm the selected document format matches the printer (PDF for standard printers, ZPL for Zebra)
- Test scale input in a shipment form
- Print a real test label end to end
Common issues
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Printer not in list | QZ Tray not running | Start QZ Tray and refresh the Settings page |
| Label prints as text | ZPL format on non-Zebra printer | Switch to PDF in Settings → Printing & Scales → Labels |
| Scale not reading | USB not connected or wrong protocol | Check USB connection; scale must use HID protocol |
| Browser blocks QZ Tray | Permission not granted | Click Allow in the browser prompt, or clear site permissions and refresh |
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