This feature is currently in public beta. To enable it, go to Settings > Beta Features and turn on Label Templates.
Creating a Label Template
Step 1: Open the Label Template Editor
Go to Settings > Label Templates and click New Template, https://www.wholecell.io/settings/inventory_label_templates.
This opens the label editor, which has two main areas: a sidebar on the left for settings and draggable elements, and a canvas on the right where you design your label.
Step 2: Name Your Template and Set the Label Size
Enter a Template Name at the top of the sidebar (e.g., "Standard Asset Tag" or "Shipping Shelf Label").
Next, choose your label size. You can select a Label Size Preset from the dropdown, which includes common sizes for Dymo and Zebra printers:
Dymo: 30252 (3.5" x 1.125"), 30334 (2.25" x 1.25"), 30336 (2.125" x 1.0"), 30330 (2.0" x 0.75")
Zebra: 2" x 1", 2.25" x 1.25", 3" x 1", 3" x 2", 4" x 2", 4" x 6"
You can also enter custom Width and Height values in inches if your label size isn't listed.
Step 3: Add Elements to Your Label
The sidebar lists two types of items you can drag onto the canvas:
Elements — the building blocks of your label:
Text — a text box you can type into directly. Use this for static text like your company name.
Barcode — a Code128 barcode. The barcode content is set using a data field variable (see below).
QR Code — a QR code. Like barcodes, the content is set using a data field variable.
Line — a horizontal line for separating sections of your label.
Rectangle — an outlined box for grouping or framing content.
Data Fields — dynamic values that are pulled from each inventory item when the label is printed:
Inventory: esn, hex_id, location, status, warehouse
Device: manufacturer, model, variant, network, capacity, color
SKU: grade, condition_initials, condition_names, sku
Custom Fields: any custom field labels you've created also appear here
Drag any element or data field from the sidebar and drop it onto the canvas. Data fields appear as blue-highlighted text boxes on the canvas so you can easily distinguish them from static text.
Step 4: Position and Style Your Elements
Click and drag elements on the canvas to position them. Resize elements by dragging their corners or edges. Elements automatically snap to a grid as you move or resize them, making it easy to align elements precisely without manual measurement.
When you select a text or data field element, the toolbar above the canvas becomes active with formatting options:
Font Size — adjustable from 6pt to 72pt
Bold (B), Italic (I), Underline (U) — toggle text styles
Align — left, center, or right text alignment
When you select a barcode element, an Unbleed slider appears in the toolbar. This controls the spacing between barcode stripes. The default of 0.1 works for most printers. If your barcodes are hard to scan because the lines look smudged or too close together, try increasing this value.
Step 5: Combine Data Fields in a Single Text Box
You can combine multiple data fields into one text element. Double-click a data field on the canvas to edit its content, then type additional variables using the {{field_name}} syntax. For example:
{{manufacturer}} {{model}} {{capacity}}
This would render as something like "Apple iPhone 15 128GB" on the printed label.
Step 6: Preview and Save
Click Preview in the toolbar to generate a PDF preview using your 10 most recent inventory items. This lets you see exactly how your labels will look before committing.
When you're happy with the design, click Save. Use the Reset button to undo all unsaved changes.
Setting a Default Template
Check the Set as default template checkbox in the sidebar to make a template your default. The default template is used automatically whenever you print inventory labels — whether printing a single label from an inventory page or bulk printing from the inventory list.
You can create multiple templates but only one can be set as default at a time.
Managing Your Templates
Go to Settings > Label Templates to see all your templates. From this page you can:
Click a template name to edit it
Click Preview PDF to generate a sample using recent inventory
Click Delete to remove a template
The table shows each template's name, label size, whether it's the default, and when it was created.
Printing with Your Template
Once you have a default template set, your labels are generated using that template wherever you print in WholeCell:
Single inventory: Click the Label button on any inventory detail page.
Bulk printing: Select multiple inventory items, open the Bulk Actions modal, and choose Print Labels.
If you also have PrintNode set up, labels print directly to your printer. Otherwise, they open as a PDF in your browser.
Tips
Text boxes can include multiple data fields and other text elements or characters. A common use case is adding the full description of a device like so:
{{manufacturer}} {{model}} {{variant}} {{capacity}} {{color}} | {{grade}}Use the Preview button often while designing — it's the best way to check that your layout, font sizes, and barcode scanning work well on your specific label stock.
Barcodes using the ESN field are the most common choice for asset tag labels.
If your barcodes aren't scanning reliably, increase the Unbleed value in small increments (e.g., from 0.1 to 0.15).
Keep text short on smaller labels — long values like full SKU titles may get clipped.