Print Formatting

RollerBall · Post by **RollerBall** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:55 pm

Hi all, have set up POS to be used in a small Golf Pro shop and I'm very pleased with it. Because of the (old) barcode scanner I'm using, the system is being run in Windows Me and I'm using a new small HP inkjet connected via USB for the time being at least.

Being USB I had to use Aprint to get output and very nice it looks too. The problem is that it takes 25 seconds for the printer to start after pressing the final key in the 'Purchase' screen which is way too long for a customer to wait.

After searching the forums I decided to have a go with Printfile and with a formatted text file the delay was cut a bit but not by very much. However, on experimenting, I found that if I just used the Printfile 'Send To Printer' setting (which uses the 'raw' POS print data) there's practically no delay at all. So the whole problem is to do with formatted printing.

Now I could just live with the raw output but unfortunately the font used is a bit too big for the paper I want to use (A4 portrait split down the middle). So here's the question.

Is there any way to reduce the size of the font POS uses in its 'default' ouput

OR

Is there any way to cut the time down that the sytem needs to output a formatted file in either Printfile or Aprint

Thanks in advance for any suggestions and BTW thanks to Dale for a super little system

ibmsystems · Post by **ibmsystems** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 5:57 pm

Yes you can download the OLD (Good) Aprint At My Site I Will Upload It Shortly http://www.geocities.com/dhposf/aprint.zip

ibmsystems · Post by **ibmsystems** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:03 pm

Ha ha acually the file name will be http://www.geocities.com/dhposf/aprint.zip.zip

Just Download That And Set It Up And You Should Be Good To Go!

RollerBall · Post by **RollerBall** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:56 pm

aha...that got it down to about 20 seconds. Quite an improvement - thanks a lot for that.

On another PC (faster cpu) with a parallel printer there was hardly any delay at all. Is the problem to do with USB dya think? Are other people getting the sort of delay I am?

Hopefully when my pal the Golf Pro has been convinced by the system he'll shell out the cash for a proper receipt printer. Will that sort out the problem?

He (and his wife) have never had a shop before so it's all a bit new for them. Demo'd the system (without printing) last weekend and like me, the person who mattered (ie his wife

) was really impressed. Just hope that this printing thing won't be a problem.

ibmsystems · Post by **ibmsystems** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:49 pm

Yes a recept printer with a USB or parell interface will be much faster letter printers can slow down beacuse the either have to spool slower to line up the lines or beacuse the printer is an older printer

P.S What Type Of Printer Are You Using? And If "Golf Pro" Uses it tell them they should send in a pic to dale (daleharris@prodidgy.net) so it can be posted on the pos photo page http://www.dhpos.com/posphoto.htm

Dale Harris · Post by **Dale Harris** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:55 pm

RollerBall,

Definitely go with a parallel port receipt printer. Getting one with a USB connection may give you the same problem you are having now with the USB page printer. Plus an added benefit is that with a parallel port receipt printer you will not have to mess with APRINT at all, just print directly to the LPT1: port. Quicker, faster, easier.

RollerBall · Post by **RollerBall** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:09 am

Thanks a lot guys.

Yes, it's a brand new HP Deskjet 5740 USB. Not the ideal choice but Mrs Golf Pro wants to be able to create and print little promo brochures for the shop. There's a very nice TM-U220PA on eBay right now but it's a bit too early to go for it until they've used the system for a while and can see what it can do for them.

A Sharp (I think it is) till came with the shop but although it can accommodate 'departments' I don't think it can interface with the POS system in any way. Maybe will be able to use the drawer from it if we get hold of a proper printer but probably best just to put it on eBay and let it go to a good home where it will be appreciated a bit more

Will definitely organise a pic for the web site and let you know how we get on.

Thanks again guys.

ChrisKraus · Post by **ChrisKraus** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:26 pm

For some reason, Aprint isn't doing anything when it's open.
Even when I have setup DHPOS to use Aprint.

- Chris

RollerBall · Post by **RollerBall** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:42 pm

Chris, have you got printer port set to 'File'. Then so long as you have Aprint in the main POS folder, start it up before you start running POS (latest and IBM's versions come up as a small grey window with your default printer showing) and have already CFGd POS to print, it should run with no problems if your printer is on line. Don't forget you might be getting delays like me.

So how are you printing - with Printfile?

ChrisKraus · Post by **ChrisKraus** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:12 pm

RollerBall wrote:Chris, have you got printer port set to 'File'. Then so long as you have Aprint in the main POS folder, start it up before you start running POS (latest and IBM's versions come up as a small grey window with your default printer showing) and have already CFGd POS to print, it should run with no problems if your printer is on line. Don't forget you might be getting delays like me.

So how are you printing - with Printfile?

<HR>
> Printer port is set to FILE:
> Aprint was running
> Printing options were configured.
> Printer was online.

It used to take like 30 seconds in previous versions, but now it doesn't even seem to respond.

- Chris

DHES