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Epson POS Printers

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    Epson POS Printers

    Anyone out there ever work with Epson POS Printers?

    If so, is there an easy way to send Esc sequences to the printer without Windows interfering?

    Sure hope someone has a simple answer, or I will have to go back to low-level C.

    Thanks

    #2
    RE: Epson POS Printers

    Got 84 hits using the search feature of the board and entering "Epson", many have to do with POS printers.
    There can be only one.

    Comment


      #3
      RE: Epson POS Printers

      I write the information to a file then print it using a batch file.

      Comment


        #4
        RE: Epson POS Printers

        Jim Chapman did an exe file that you can call to perform this function.

        Link here.

        http://msgboard.alphasoftware.com/alphaphorum/files/200201/a5_ver4/98/52898/sendstr.exe
        There can be only one.

        Comment


          #5
          RE: Epson POS Printers

          This is such a common request that I wish Alpha Software would consider including this feature that was so easy to implement in Alpha 4 (Dos). This might even be worth selling. I've tried ever method I've seen suggested on this board. I've never achieved results that were entirely pleasing to me in view of this past experience. It's Friday and I feel like complaining.

          Comment


            #6
            RE: Epson POS Printers

            It appears to me that Alpha incorporated Dr. Wayne's "getmachinename()" function into Version 5. Maybe it's not too late to see this functionality included as well.
            There can be only one.

            Comment


              #7
              RE: Epson POS Printers

              If Alpha Software was consindering doing something about this I would like it to be a function that would access serial and paralell port directly. So that you could bypass windows and send and receive information directly from these ports.

              PS Writing to a file then sending the file to the printer via dos command works fine.

              MP

              Comment


                #8
                RE: Epson POS Printers

                Tom,

                Have you contacted the Epson website or any of their newsgroups to find out how others are driving their POS printers using Windows machines?

                -- tom

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: Epson POS Printers

                  Michael,

                  I think I understand how to build the text file.

                  What does your Alpha Five command look like to call DOS and print the file? Are you copying the file to the PRN device, for example?

                  Thanks.

                  -- tom

                  Comment


                    #10
                    RE: Epson POS Printers

                    Tom;

                    There are many ways to do this.
                    to create a batch file with the following;

                    copy file1.txt lpt1
                    exit

                    Then using sys_shell() run the batch file.
                    The problem with that is you will be left with a black dos command box on your screen. So what I do is in windows I create a shortcut to call the batch file make sure to check the close on exit checkbox then call the shortcut from the sys_shell()

                    Good Luck

                    Comment


                      #11
                      RE: Epson POS Printers

                      Michael,

                      Thanks!

                      Now, a real beginner's question. How do you call the shortcut? Can you give another short example?

                      -- tom

                      Comment


                        #12
                        RE: Epson POS Printers

                        Tom;


                        I create the batch file in c: (root) directory called prnbat.bat.

                        Then on the windows desktop right click select NEW -> SHORTCUT browse to the c:prnbat.bat call it P1.
                        This would create a file called p1.pif in the c:windowsdesktop directory we could move that if we want.
                        The I woud call the p1.pif from my sys_shell()

                        I hope this works its been some time since I reworte this thing

                        Good Luck

                        Comment


                          #13
                          RE: Epson POS Printers

                          Thanks.

                          - tom

                          Comment


                            #14
                            RE: Epson POS Printers

                            Mike,

                            I was curious so I visited the Epson website and they're very aware of the problems one has trying to drive their POS devices through Windows programs. They've developed a custom font solution that may be worth a look.

                            -- tom

                            Comment

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