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Setting up EPOS Hardware


This article describes how to setup and configure EPOS hardware to work with Easify.

While this guide focuses on EPOS hardware that is supplied directly by us, it may also apply to hardware from other vendors.

If using EPOS hardware supplied by a 3rd party vendor please check with them for specific setup instructions.



Setting up the Receipt Printer

The receipt printer connects to your EPOS PC via USB. We recommend the use of the generic text only printer drivers that are built into Microsoft Windows.

The following procedure is illustrated using Windows XP Professional however it will apply to later versions of Microsoft Windows too...

Plug the receipt printer into a free USB port on your PC, and switch it on. Windows will detect the printer and install USB printing support.

Installing your USB EPOS receipt printer...

Open the Printers and Faxes folder on your computer. This can be accessed via the start menu, or the control panel depending on how you have configured Windows. Select Add a printer.

EPOS Printer add new printer wizard

In the Add Printer Wizard click Next.

EPOS Printer select local printer

When prompted to select Local or Network printer, select Local printer attached to this computer, and de-select Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer. Then click Next.

EPOS Printer select printer port

When asked to Select a Printer Port, choose the virtual printer port for USB that has the highest number. In this case the highest numbered virtual printer port is USB002. Then click Next.

EPOS Printer choose driver

In the Install Printer Software dialogue, select the Generic manufacturer and then the Generic / Text Only printer. Click Next.

EPOS Printer name printer

When asked to Name Your Printer, we recommend you keep the default name of Generic / Text Only. But you can change this to something more meaningful if you wish. Click Next.

EPOS Printer share printer

In the Printer Sharing dialogue, choose Do not share this printer. Click Next.

EPOS Printer print test page

And finally when asked whether to print a test page choose No. Click Next and then in the final page of the wizard click Finish to complete the installation of your printer.

 

Next you will need to enable the receipt printer in Easify->Tools->Options->EPOS. Simply tick the box 'Enable Receipt Printer' and select your newly installed printer (Generic / Text Only) from the drop down list of printers.

You will need to customise the header and footer text that prints on receipts by clicking the Receipt Text button.

 

Test that your printer has been installed correctly by launching Easify in demo mode and running a sale through the POS. If the receipt printer fails to print you may need to change its virtual printer port. To change the virtual port of your printer, open the Printers and Faxes folder, right click the printer and select Properties.

EPOS Printer change virtual printer port

On the Ports tab, select a different Virtual printer port for USB and click Ok.

 

Setting up the Pole Display

Easify was designed to communicate with pole displays by means of RS232 (Serial) communications.

 If your pole display connects to your EPOS PC via a serial connection (usually a 9 pin D-Sub connector on the rear of your PC) then you can simply enable the pole display in Easify->Tools->Options->EPOS, and set the appropriate Com Port number in Easify. The Com Port number will vary from computer to computer but is typically 1, 2 or 3. You may need to experiment with different port numbers in Easify->Tools->Options->EPOS until you find the correct port number.

Easify EPOS Options - enabling and setting the pole display

Note: After you have changed the Pole Com Port setting you will need to close and re-open Easify in order for the changes to take effect. You will know when the pole display is working as it will display the Pole Welcome Text when you launch Easify.

 

Newer pole displays connect via USB and use a special serial to USB device driver to communicate.

You can download the serial to USB device driver here . This USB driver will work with Windows XP, 2000, and Vista.

To install the USB pole driver...

1. Extract the files to a folder on your PC.

2. Plug the Pole Display in and Windows should bring up the Add New Hardware Wizard.

3. Select "No, not at this time" Click Next

4. Select "Install from a list or specific location (Advanced) Click Next

5. Make sure the Include this location in the search is checked and click the Browse button and browse to the folder where you extracted the USB driver. Make sure you select the correct folder for you OS. Once the folder is selected Click OK and then click Next on the Wizard screen.

6. Select the Wasp USB to UART and Click Next.

7. If you get a Warning about the Windows Logo Click Continue Anyway.

8. The driver should be install and you can click Finish.

You can look in your Windows Device Manager to see the COM port number the driver has installed...

EPOS pole display com port settings

...and set this as the Com Port number in Easify->Tools->Options->EPOS.



Connecting the Electronic Cash Drawer

The electronic cash drawer connects to your receipt printer, and is triggered to open by commands that Easify sends to the printer when a receipt is printed.

Simply take the lead from the electronic cash drawer and plug it into the socket on the rear of your receipt printer.

In Easify->Tools->Options->EPOS you will need to set the correct till open command in order for the drawer to be kicked open after a receipt prints. For printers and cash drawers supplied by us the correct code is 27,112,0,25,30,27,116,2.

 

Setting up the Label Printer

The label printer connects to your PC via USB, and can be attached to any computer running Easify, it does not need to be physically connected to the EPOS PC.

Before you connect your label printer, download and install the label printer driver. You can download the label printer driver here .

With the label printer installed, go to Easify->Tools->Options->EPOS and select the label printer in the Label Printer drop down list near the bottom of the page.

Note: You should leave the Barcode Font Name set to its default values unless instructed to change it by Easify support.

 

Connecting a Barcode Scanner

These days most barcode scanners connect via USB. To connect a USB barcode scanner to your Easify EPOS PC, simply plug it in. Windows will detect your scanner and install the correct Windows drivers for it.

Older barcode scanners are of the 'Keyboard Wedge' type, and typically connect inline with your PS2 or AT keyboard. Easify is fully compatible with older 'Wedge' type barcode scanners as long as they are capable of sending characters to the keyboard port.



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