Printers and formats
Ways to reach a printer
| Route | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Print queue (raw) | Sends printer language through the system spooler (CUPS on macOS and Linux, the Windows spooler). |
| Direct USB | Talks to the printer over USB, including DYMO label printers and printers with no queue. |
| Network, port 9100 | Network printers, discovered with mDNS. |
| Serial | RS-232, USB serial and Bluetooth serial links. |
| Office printers: CUPS on macOS and Linux, PDFium on Windows. |
Label formats
The hub never generates printer language. The label bytes come from the website, rendered by the ERD report engine as ZPL, TSPL, EPL2 or DYMO, and the hub delivers them. A DYMO printer needs a two-way session, which the hub holds.
Default routes
On macOS and Linux a label job goes by direct USB, or to port 9100 for a network printer; the raw print queue is a per-printer choice you can make in the hub. On Windows the spooler raw route is the default, with direct USB available.
Job progress
A job reports its state to the page (uploading, queued, waiting for device, rendering, sending, printed) and can be paused when the printer queue is stopped, or cancelled.
Frequently asked questions
Which sites can print through ERD-Hub?
Only sites that ERDesigns has approved. The ERDesigns sites are built in, and users cannot add a site to ERD-Hub themselves. Want your own website to print through ERD-Hub? Contact us: we check your domain and set up the connection with you. Any other page is refused.
Does ERD-Hub send my data anywhere?
No. It listens on your own computer only and sends no telemetry. A crash report is a local file you choose to share.
Is ERD-Hub free?
Yes. ERD-Hub is free to use with the ERD Report Designer and is part of that package. Rendering through ERD Report Cloud is the paid service.
Which printers work?
Label printers using ZPL, TSPL, EPL2 or DYMO, office printers through PDF, network printers on port 9100 and serial printers.
Do I need administrator rights?
No. ERD-Hub installs per user. On Linux a one-time udev rule needs sudo for direct USB access.
Which systems are supported?
macOS (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows (x64) and Linux (x64), all as a beta.
Does it update itself?
Yes. An installed copy checks for a newer, signed release every 24 hours and applies it at the next start.