Printing error 255 & automate journal question

[lsunw]

I'm using Win98, EPSON printer TM-220 with POS ver 6.30 (b4 that i use 6.28).

Ocassionally, the printer will pop up LPT1: your printer may out of papper (but the is whole roll of papper in the printer) at the same time the POS will give me the error of 255 causing me that the cash drawer can't open...any idea why this is happen? Then I have to restart so that everything can work properly.

If this happen every time, then i can understand that may be the printer got problem...but it work well for the few transaction and then the error occur suddenly.

This also happen frequently after I change for YES on the automate the journal at open and close, and after I change a new roll of papper. I keep trying to troubleshoot for the hardware problem but I couldnt find any wrong on the hardware, unless i convince myself that the papper too thick is causing the problem...(is that possible!!??) but that new roll of papper i bought it from the same supplier that sell me the printer.

My second problem for the POS is, when i using ver 6.28 automate the journal at open and close, at the end it will not ask me do I want to REST the Mechandize data. But, after I change to ver 6.30 under same setting, it will ask me whether I want to reset the merchandize data. Why? my setting for the erase and reset the journal at the start of the day is YES...

Anyone can help.

[Dale Harris]

lsunw,

The code (255) that is being displayed is the code that your printer is sending to the program when the program asks the printer if it is ready. Different printers use a different code for "Ready" so you can tell the program what code your printer uses by using the "Program printer" feature of the POSCONFG.EXE program.

Apparently this code is properly set but occasionally your printer for unknown reasons is sending a different code and the POS program then displays the printer error message, as it should. At the bottom of the printer error window there should be three options. What happens if you choose option #"3. Turn off quick printer error trap."?

The "Reset merchandise data" has nothing to do with the journal. Merchandise data is the list of things that you have sold today and it is what is reported when you use the "Reports" feature to create a merchandise report. It is kept in the stock table in the "# Sold" and "Value Sold" columns. You usually reset this data at the end of the day unless you want your merchandise reports to report sales over a time period longer than one day.

There is a bug in version 6.28 that would not allow you to reset the merchandise data, the bug was removed in version 6.30

[lsunw]

OK...#3 is what i choose most of the time...yes you can turn off the trap but the problem is if the printer code not correct will cause the cash drawer not to open as well...

Anyway, I found out that the printer problem happens only when the PC go into Stand by mode and return to normal....so i just set my PC to never standby and turn off the POS screensaver. Any idea why?

I still not yet very confirm about Stand by mode causing the problem but i will let it run for few more day and observe it...so far after i turn off the PC stand by mode...no problem causing me yet until now.

[Andrew]

Well obviously with the computer going into standby affects your printer.

Stop using standby, voila problem solved. The software will only work as well as the input you feed it, and the hardware you run it on.

[lsunw]

How many people have the same problem like me?

Although, It solve my problem, but i feel very uncomfortable with it...

Is this consider a software bug? or hardware problem? or is Windows problem?