The printer definition table defines the name and characteristics of each printer. There are 16 possible printer definitions. The reason that this routine is called "printer definitions" is that one physical printer can be defined / used in multiple ways. For example a printer used for reports can have two definitions one with 66 and one with 88 lines per page (lpp). A printer PQI file must be created in the ASHCFG: folder that specifies a LPP = 88. That way the 88 lpp can be used for long reports.
A minimum of two printer definitions should be defined: 1) the point of sale printer with two part receipt paper for the customers, 2) is the printer used for reports. They may be the same physical printer, but defined with different lines per page.
Notes:
•Use the selection L, Attach Jobs to Printers, to "connect" a physical workstation to a printer.
•The special forms printers: TICKET, STOCK & JEWELRY LABELS, and the 4473s are not listed here in that there is only one of each type of special form.
•Once the printers have been defined, use H. Print all store parameters or enter "P" to print just the printer definitions.
Column Name |
Description |
|---|---|
PRINTER NO. |
The printer numbers are from 1 through 16. This number is used in the "Attach Jobs to Printers" selection. The 17th printer definition is the designated printer number to be used for printing a report to “disk”. When a report is “printed” to disk the name of the print file will be displayed at the bottom of the screen when the report finishes. |
SPOOL PRINTER |
Possible values are: Y, N, D or F. Y is the normal mode for spooled reports. N is rarely used, but can be used in case the report is very long and there isn't enough disk space to store the report D is used to "send" the report to disk and not print it. This is used when the report is to be transferred by modem or the report is to be pulled into another program. Use the D value when a Display / Print is creating a report with a Raw format. F is used when reports are printed on a laser. A form feed is inserted at the end of each page. |
PRINTER NAME |
Enter the name of the printer where all reports for this job are to be printed. If the spool printer field is a "D" then this field is disregarded. |
START CODE |
Use this field to designate what printer control characters are to be sent to the printer before the report is printed. The field is twelve characters, subdivided into four fields of three characters each. Enter each field as a number with leading zeros. For example, to set the Okidata Microline printer to 12 characters per inch, the start code should be "028000000000" ( See appendix K). On a Windows or Linux system this field is not recognized. |
STOP CODE |
This field is used to reset the printer back to the standard print default. To set the characters per inch to 10 CPI, the stop code should be "030000000000". On a Windows or Linux system this field is not recognized. |
PRINT SWITCH |
This field overrides and sets various printer options. Normally the value is always set to 136 (8 No Delete + 128 No Form Feed). The options are displayed on the bottom of the screen, a value is the sum of selected options. |
LINES |
Enter the total printable lines on the paper in the printer. If the vertical height of the paper is 5.5" and the printer is printing 6 lines per inch, then enter 33 for lines. |
COPIES |
Enter the total number of copies that should be printed each time there is a report or sales slip printed. Normally the number should be 1. |
Line 17 |
This designates which printer definition is to be used when a report is “sent” to disk, instead of a printer. The values for the definition number, should be set to: Spool option a “D”, lines typically is set to 60, and copies is 1. |
