DOCUMENTATION FOR SHOPDATA.EVC ============================== Many of the requests for registrations came with incomplete info on printer codes or mentioned that they using a normal printer. So I changed the set-up, that yourself can change or rectify the look of the docket. I include a number of SHOPDATA.* files with the print codes for most of the 40 or 80 column printers. Look for files with the *.PRN extension, and change the name to SHOPDATA.EVC . It is essential, that the set up file is written so it matches your equipment and POSAT3.3 . Here is an example and explanation line by line. ---------------- Top of file ------- Start at the first line ------------------ YYvonne < SALES PERSON 1 (FIRST THE SALES PERSON CODE IN SSue < SALES PERSON 2 CAPITAL LETTERS, FOLLOWED WITHOUT BSam < SALES PERSON 3 A SPACE BY THE NAME 9 CHARACTERS PPaul < SALES PERSON 4 MAXIMUM) XXXXX < SALES PERSON 5 If not used, then a few X, Y or Z is ok. SERIAL1 < CASH REGISTER IS CONNECTED TO. (SERIAL0, SERIAL1 or SERIAL2) $ 7 0.00 < See the explanation at the end. In line 8, type the printer control codes for the first docket line and the shop name. In line 9, type the printer release codes for above if any. In line 10, type the printer control codes for the address line and the shop address. In line 11, type the printer release codes for above if any. In line 12, type the printer control codes for the Tel./ Fax No line, and the telephone/fax number. In line 13, type the printer release codes for above if any. In line 14, type the printer control codes for article description, No of items, price, dotted line and total price lines. Use semi-compressed (15 cpi) for those lines. In line 15, type the printer release codes for above if any. In line 16, type the printer control codes for cash, cheque change line In line 17, type the printer release codes for above if any. In line 18, type the printer control codes for SERVED BY line. In line 19, type the printer release codes for above if any. In line 20, type the printer control codes for THANK YOU FOR line. In line 21, type the printer release codes for above if any. In line 22, type the printer control codes for shop name on bottom and the shop name. In line 23, type the printer release codes for above if any. In line 24, type the printer control codes for PLEASE CALL AGAIN line In line 25, type the printer release codes for above if any. =========================== END OF FILE ================================= I recommend to make a back-up copy of the file SHOPDATA.EVC and then overwrite the data (here shown left of the arrows) with the data of your shop and then clear each line from the end of the data by pressing the F6 key (in Qedit) and then press ENTER. The printer out-put is set up, that you can alter the docket to suit you and your printer. To change the font, you only change the code for that line. To push the print out-put more to the right you add spaces between the print code and the shop name or address. To push line 14 (this is the article description) lets say 5 spaces more to the right. Place the cursor right behind the printer code, press F6 (Qedit) press 4 times the space bar and then the full stop. Test it and when OK, then replace the full stop with the character No.255. Place the cursor onto the full stop, hold down the ALT key press the number 255 on the numeric number pad and release the ALT key. The character 255 looks like a space, but is in fact a character. --------------------------------------------------------------- Line 1 to 5. If your shop employees less than 5 sales persons including your self, then give those lines some dummy names like X, Y or Z as you see in line No 5. On line 6 goes SERIAL0, SERIAL1, or SERIAL2 depending if or where the cash drawer is connected to. SERIAL0 = no cash register SERIAL1 = cash drawer is connected to COM1 aso. Before you can use a serial port COM1,COM2,COM3 or COM4 to run a cash register or a serial printer on it you may have to initialize that port first by the command: MODE COM1:96,N,8,1 if it should not work right try MODE COM1:48,N,8,1 or MODE COM1:96,E,7,1 or MODE COM1:48,E,7,1 or refer to the DOS manual. POSAT3.2 will sent all printer output to LPT1 . Should you have a serial printer you MUST redirect the output from POSAT3.2 to the printer from LPT1 to COM1. (To COM2 when the cash drawer is connected to COM1). This is done by the simple command : MODE LPT1:=COM1: Write necessary set up commands in the BATCH file (before the POSAT... lines) you are using to run POSAT3.3 . On line 7. At the front or the second column goes the denomination like $, œ, DM and so on. Second, after 3 to 4 spaces you write the number of how many line feeds the finished docket should be pushed out of the printer. Third, after a few spaces you write the tax rate which you have to add to the sale. Lets say the tax rat is 12%, the you can write this figure as: 12 or 12.0 or 12.00 . If no tax rat applies, then write 0 . When you order POSAT3.3 with inventory control, then the low stock warning is triggered by the number you write after the tax rate. Here to you leaf a few spaces between. The file SHOPDATA.EVC will contain the printer codes for EPSON printers. If this does not work with your printer, then rename one of the other *.PRN files (the one bearing the name of your printer) to SHOPDATA.EVC. Line 8 to line 25 are to set up your printer and shop name / address. A word on printer codes. In most printer manuals you will find a section called: CHARACTER PITCH SELECTION. ( or similar ). You would see some thing like the following. Name: ESC+w+n Code: 27,119,n (dec) 1B,77,n (hex) n=0,48,128 10CPI (this is PICA) n=1,49,129 12CPI (this is ELITE) n=2,50,130 15CPI (this is SEMI COMPRESSED) n=3,51,131 17CPI (this is COMPRESSED) or similar. Example for PICA> w0 for COMPRESSED> w3 for italic use 128 - 131. Most printer control codes will start with a ESC character '', and you will not find it on any keyboard. Not directly any how, but there is a way: Hold down the ALT key and type on the numeric key pad 27 (or 027) and release the ALT key. Then type the next letter which is a w ( you get the same if you hold down the ALT key and type 119 ) and then replace the n with the number representing the fond style you want. Well your printer codes may be some what different. If release codes apply, then they must be placed in the next line. If no release code does apply, then leave this line empty. IF POSAT3.3 OR POSATO3.3 DOES NOT WORK ====================================== If you experience a problem when running POSAT3.3, then it is to 99% caused by missing files, files not on the PATH, or the set up is not correct. Computers have no intelligence what so ever. While human can think and compensate, a computer will stubbornly try to read for example a number when instructed so, even you and me can clearly see there is a character on this place. A computer would in this case not know what to do and spit the dummy. It is important to stick to the description and the form in the sample files, when you write your own *.EVC files or make changes to them. The other 1% faults occurring in setting up the printer and cash drawer. This is most times cause by not initialize the COM ports or, if the printer is a serial printer, not swapping the LPT1 port to COM1 and use COM2 for the cash drawer. The tax can only switched on or off in this evaluation copy. This is not quite correct for some european countries, where the tax is included but not shown on the docket. How ever, in the registered copy for those countries, the tax function will be switched off in POSAT3.3 and can be switched on for POSATO3.3 . This would give you in the file daybyday.* the total (incl. tax), the tax, and the total (minus tax). Using the evaluation copy you can run POSAT3.3 with the tax set to 0.00, and run POSATO3.3 with another file SHOPDATA.EVC setting the tax to what ever it is. The resulting file daybyday would give you then a total (tax incl.) and the amount of tax.