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Print TTB Compliant Barrel Tags

Distillery steps for printing TTB-compliant barrel tags from the Barrel Management Console: required barrel data, PDF Laser or ZPL printer setup, tag fields and updating barrel notes. Requires v24.01+.

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Written by Bailey Naas-Thornton

Minimum Version Required: 24.01

Pre-Conditions

Barrel Data: Ensure all required barrel data is accurately entered into Encompass, including:

  • Distillery DBA (Location DBA)

  • DSP# (TaxEntity)

  • Fill date (from BarrelAttribute.LastFillDate)

  • Volume in gallons (from BarrelHistory.OriginalFillVolume where TransType = Fill)

  • Proof (from BarrelHistory.OriginalProof where TransType = Fill)

  • Original Proof Gallons (from BarrelHistory.OriginalProofGallons where TransType=Fill)

  • Barrel Type (EquipmentType Name)

  • Barrel Name (Equipment.EquipmentName)

  • Spirit Type (from TTBCategory3.TTBCategoryDescription)

  • Notes (from BarrelAttributes.memo)

Printer Setup:

  • For PDF printing, configure a printer with PrinterType = 1) PDF Laser. This is the recommended type for optimal output.

  • For ZPL printing, configure a printer with PrinterType = 3) ZPL Label.

  • If adding new printers, ensure the APS (Application Print Server) is installed on a PC, and that the Printer.Location in Encompass matches the location in your Barrel Management Console.

Steps

NOTE: You can print barrel tags at various stages of your workflow, including after filling, buying, or transferring barrels, and also on demand.

Printing Barrel Tags from Barrel Management Console
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  1. Navigate to Barrel Management Console (BMC): Access the Barrel Management Console (Dashboard ID: 201339).

  2. Select Barrels: Select one or more barrels for which you want to print tags.

  3. Initiate Print: Click the 'Print Tag' button.

  4. Choose Printer: From the printer selection pop-up, choose your desired printer.

    • If you select a PDF Laser printer, a 'Preview' link will immediately appear in the dialog box. Click this link to open a PDF of the barrel tag(s) in a new browser tab, from which you can print directly.

    • If you select a ZPL Label printer, a print job will be generated directly. (Note: Due to current tool limitations, an in-system preview for ZPL is not always reliable. You may need to use an external ZPL viewer for review, if necessary).
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Workflow Scenarios Supported:

  • After filling a barrel: Print the new tag immediately after the filling process is completed.

  • When buying a filled barrel: Generate a tag for a newly acquired filled barrel.

  • After completing a barrel transfer: Print a new tag for a barrel that has been transferred to another location (e.g., another DSP).

  • Re-Print on demand: Easily reprint lost, damaged, or outdated barrel tags at any time from the BMC.


Updating Barrel Notes (Memo Section on Tag)
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  1. Navigate to Barrel Management Console (BMC): Access the Barrel Management Console.

  2. Select Barrel: Choose the barrel whose notes you wish to update.

  3. Edit Barrel Attributes: Use the Edit tool within Barrel Management to modify the BarrelAttributes.memo field.

  4. Save Changes: Save your changes. The updated notes will appear on subsequently printed barrel tags.

Fields And Definitions

Distillery DBA: The doing-business-as name of your location.

DSP#: Your registered Distilled Spirits Plant number.

Fill Date: The date the barrel was filled, pulled from BarrelAttributes.LastFillDate.

Date Code: A TTB-defined format for the fill date (YYMDD). For example, 22C08 represents March 8, 2022 (Year: 22, Month: C for March, Day: 08).

Months are represented alphabetically: A=January, B=February, C=March, D=April, etc.

Volume: The volume of liquid in the barrel. This will display the BarrelHistory.OriginalFillVolume (e.g., in Gallons) and BarrelHistory.OriginalProofGallons (e.g., in OPG for Original Proof Gallons). For example: 53 WG | 63.60 OPG.

Barrel Type: The type of equipment used as the barrel (e.g., Oak Bourbon Barrel).

Barrel #: The unique identification number or name of the barrel, typically from Equipment.EquipmentName.

Storage: A fixed input on spirits barrel tags indicating that the barrel should be reported in the DRO Storage Report.

Batch: The batch number of the aged liquid in the barrel.

Spirit Type: The classification of the spirit, derived from TTBCategory3.TTBCategoryDescription.

Report Type: A classification of spirits based on their proof, e.g., "Whisky 160° AND UNDER", "Brandy OVER 170°", "Rum", etc.

BSA or OC: These fields are placeholders for potential barrel manufacturing process or material descriptions. Their usage is currently under review; if a clear definition cannot be established, these boxes may be removed.

Notes: Displays information from the BarrelAttributes.memo field.

QR Code: A scannable code that links directly to the specific barrel's Equipment record within Encompass, allowing quick access to detailed barrel information via a mobile WMS application.

Best Practices

Printer Type for Preview: If you want to preview barrel tags before printing, always select a PDF Laser printer type. The system is designed to provide direct PDF previews for this type of printer.

Equipment Naming: For clarity and ease of use, it is recommended to keep your Equipment.EquipmentName and Equipment.Bin name consistent, as users typically identify barrels by their Equipment Name.

ZPL Troubleshooting: If you encounter errors when previewing ZPL commands within Encompass, use an external ZPL viewer tool (e.g., Labelary Online ZPL Viewer) to review the tag layout.

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