Using RS-232 Attached Printers with

IBM Diagnostics POS Systems and Peripherals

 

 

 

May 2009

 

 

 

Introduction

 

The purpose of this article is to instruct you on how to work with an IBM RSS POS receipt printer attached through an RS-232 port on an IBM RSS POS system unit.

 

The starting point is an IBM RSS POS system unit with the 4610 printer attached through a COM port.  The system unit is booted with a memory key installed with the IBM Diagnostics for POS Systems and Peripherals package.  For details on installing the diagnostics package on a USB memory key, go to the Diagnostics area at the RSS Support web site at the IBM RSS hardware support web site at  http://www.ibm.com/solutions/retail/store/support.

 

Before you start this process, you need to get the following RS-232 configuration information from your printer:

 

See the section of this document entitled Obtaining the RS-232 Configuration From Your Printer for details on how to get the information.

 

These instructions are used for the POS Printer Utilities function under the Utilities button and are used for the Printer Test under Point of Sale Devices button from the main diagnostic screen.  For this example, the Point Of Sale Devices path is used.   The screen image below shows the main diagnostics screen from which you choose these options.

 

 

 

 

1.      Point of Sale Devices button is selected.  The screens shown below are the screens you see when this selection is made.   The pop-up boxes are seen with either path: Point of Sale Devices or the Utilities. You need to follow these instructions if you are adding an RS-232 printer to be tested or to use the Utilities for the printer.

 

The 4610 printer has the capability of having a cash drawer attached to it.   The Diagnostics package cannot detect that a cash drawer is attached.  If you have a cash drawer attached directly to your printer, click on the YES button. Otherwise, click on the NO button.

 

 

 

The Loading Devices box shows you that the Diagnostics package is looking for and configuring devices that it can detect.  RS-232 devices are not automatically detectable.  Later, you will be adding the RS-232 device to the list of devices the Diagnostics package can interact with.

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To add your RS-232 printer to the list of devices the Diagnostics package can interact with, click on the Add Device button at the bottom of the screen.  The following screen is seen in response.

 

 

Click on the Add RS-232 Device button.  This starts the process to add a RS-232 device to the list of devices the Diagnostics package can interact with.  The following screen is seen in response.

 

2.      Click on the list box to get a list of RS-232 devices that are possible to add.  The following screen is seen in response.

 

 

3.      Choose POSPrinter and press the enter key.  When it is selected, you will see the following screen.

 

 

Click on OK to finalize your selection of POSPrinter.  The following screen is displayed in response.

 

Click on the box that describes the printer you have on your system.  If you are working with the embedded printer on the SureOne (SurePOS 100) system unit, select the POSPrinterRS232 SureOne/SurePOS 100 button.  If  you are working with a 4610 printer attached to any other RSS POS system unit, select the POSPrinter RS232 4610 TI3/4/5/8/9 TM/F 6/7 1xR 2XR  button.   Please note that 4610 TI1 and 4610 TI2 printers are not supported by the Diagnostics package. The following screen is seen in response.

 

Identify the COM port that your printer is plugged into.  Look at the labels on the tailgate of your system unit to identify the COM port letter.   The following screen is displayed in response.

 

Select the Baud Rate for your printer.  See the section titled Obtaining the RS-232 Configuration from your printer.  You must input the information that matches the printer configuration for the diagnostics package to correctly operate with your printer.  The following screen is shown in response.

 

Select the Flow Control setting for your printer.  See the section titled Obtaining the RS-232 Configuration from your printer.  You must input the information that matches the printer configuration in order for the diagnostics package to correctly operate with your printer.  The following screen is shown in response:

 

 

If incorrect information was entered, the following screen is displayed.

 

 

 

If the RS-232 printer is successfully added, the Diagnostics package will return to the main Diagnostics screen as shown below.

 

 

 

You can proceed with the testing or the use of the utilities for the RS-232 POS printer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obtaining the RS-232 Configuration From Your Printer

 

The IBM POS SureMark printers have a mechanism to print out the current configuration of the printer.  Generally, the mechanism requires you to hold printer buttons down while the printer is powering on and waiting for printing to occur on the printer.   This mechanism is known as Offline Test mode.

 

Go to the RSS support web site at this URL: http://www.ibm.com/solutions/retail/store/support.

Click on IBM SureMark Printer under the Peripherals heading on the web page.    Click on Publications  under the printer type you have.  Look for either the User’s Guide or the Service Guide for the SureMark printer model you have.

 

Offline Test Mode will print the current configuration for the printer.  You need this information to successfully add an RS-232 attached SureMark printer in the IBM Diagnostics for POS Systems and Peripherals environment.