Some tips for installing POS hardware with PawnShopPro.

• Steps you can do while waiting for the hardware
• Using multiple printers with one computer
• Setup receipt printer
• Connecting the scanning gun
• Connecting the cash drawer
• Using other printers with PawnShopPro

Before the hardware arrives

Our printers do not ship with "parallel printer cables", you will need one parallel printer cable for each printer you ordered from us.  They are available in any office or computer supply store.

If you ordered a receipt printer, you will need to buy receipt paper for the printer - it is not included.  Receipt paper (comes in rolls) is 3" wide and available in most office supply stores.

Connecting multiple printers to one computer

If you are connecting multiple printers to one computer you will need to either:

1) Install an A/B (two printers), A/B/C (three printers), or A/B/C/D (four printers) switchbox on your computer.  Printer switchboxes allow you to switch between printers using a knob on the box and are available in most office/computer supply stores.  You will also need a "25-pin male-to-male" cable to connect the box to your computer and one "parallel printer cable" for each printer you plan to connect.  Make sure that the cables AND the switchbox are "bi-tronics" or "IEEE compliant".  This will ensure trouble-free operation with all types of printers.

OR

2)  Install one "parallel printer card" inside your computer for each additional printer you want to connect.  Your computer comes with a single parallel printer port.  By installing additional printer cards, you will not need to set a switch every time you change printers.  If you wanted to connect 3 printers, you would install 2 additional parallel printer cards.   Make sure your computer has the necessary "slots" available before you purchase the additional printer cards.  These cards are available in most computer/office supply stores.  If you're un-easy about opening your computer and installing new cards, consult a local computer repair shop for this service.

Which method is BEST?  Option 2 is probably the less expensive option although you do need to open up the computer and install the cards.   Option 2 also is easiest once installed because no switches need to be set before printing.  Option 1 does not require opening up the computer or configuring the new cards.

Setting up the printer

Once the printers are connected to your computer, you need to install and configure the correct printer drivers and tell PawnShopPro what printers you are using on our Customize PSP screen (off the Maintain Store screen).  The tips below will help you setup the receipt printer on your system.

Star SP212 receipt printer - Before you use this receipt printer, you must install the "Generic / Text Only" printer driver onto your system.

To install this driver onto your computer:

• Go into your printers folder (Start / Settings / Printers) or (Start / Control Panel / Printers and Faxes) in 2000 or Windows XP.
• Double-click "Add printer" or "Add a printer".
• Click "Next" until you see a list of Manufacturers.
• Click "Generic" in the list, "Text Only" will appear on the right.
• Continue with "Next" until this printer driver is installed. Do NOT rename this printer!

If you can not install this driver, you may wish to download the "generic.exe" file from our support page.   This self-extracting zip file contains the necessary files to install the Generic driver.

After the "Generic / Text Only" driver is installed, go to the PawnShopPro Maintain Store screen, click the Customize PSP button.   Change the "Print receipts on" box to the correct receipt printer.   If you have the cash drawer attached to the receipt printer, also set the "Auto cash drawer" box.

Receipts will print (and the drawer will open) if the printer is online, there is paper in the printer, and any A/B switchbox is set correctly.   Receipts print on the Amount Due screen when you complete a sale.

Connecting the Scanning Gun

The scan gun simply connects to the KEYBOARD port on the back of your PC.  The keyboard then connects to the scan gun Y-adapter.  (Do not connect the scan gun to your MOUSE port by mistake.)

The scan gun should work right out of the box.  No special programming or software is required.  The book that comes with the scan gun is only used if the scanner does not work correctly.  If you are having difficulty getting the scan gun to work, try scanning a barcode.  This will tell you if the scanner is working correctly.

If the scanner does not function, but the light comes on, find a barcode in the scanner booklet which reads "Set to default" or "Reset default".  First scan "Start", then "Set to default", then "End".  The scanner should beep with each read.

Connecting the Cash Drawer

The cash drawer plugs into the small port on the bottom of the receipt printer (pop away the black plastic cover).  You must set the "Auto cash drawer" option on the PawnShopPro Customize PSP screen to say "Attached to receipt printer".

The drawer will open if the receipt printer is turned on AND online and has paper in it.  Any A/B switchbox must also be set correctly.   The "Open Drawer" button on the Main Menu should trigger the drawer and it should open during sales in ConsignPro.  No special software is required.

Using other printers with PawnShopPro

In general, PawnShopPro can print to any printer attached to your computer -- assuming that Windows can print to the printer.  Any printer that you connect requires the correct printer driver software installed into your Printers folder.  After you install any printer (using the Windows Add Printer wizard found in the Printers folder), you should try to print a Test Page from the driver file to ensure that Windows can use the printer.

In general, your report printer should be the "default" printer in Windows and should also be selected in the "My report printer is" box on the Customize PSP screen.