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Aloha POS / WinXP com port problem. 2

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POSITRick

Technical User
Mar 24, 2009
7
US
A customer of mine had a Win2k server, 2 IT2000 w/Win98, 2 TM88 thermal printers and 1 TMU200B kit prt, running Aloha 5.2.34. After several hardware problems with the IT2000s, he decided to purchace 2 ELO 15A2 touchscreen terms and a DELL server, all running XP Pro. I came out and installed the same version (5.2.34) on the terms and the server, and transferred his databases. I used the exsisting cables for the 2 TM88 printers and manufactured one for the kit prt, using ELO's pinouts and aloha's specs. Everything was fine for about 30 min. All the printers worked perfectly. All at once, an error came up on the terms that the KP and the receipt prt on term 1 were down. After checking the cables and printers (which had no errors or problems), I rebooted the terminal. It worked again...for about 2 hours then the same problem. I have switched cables/printers/term #'s/ and checked all programming. The only configuration that works is if I completely remove the KP from the programming on the server and run with 1 receipt prt per term. Somehow, using COM2 on a term intermittantly locks up both com ports on that term...and yes, I have switched terms and the problem always follows the 2 prt configuration. I've been in the biz for several years, and recently got out so I'm not up on the new OS/Aloha/Terms compatibility. If anyone could help, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Rick

 
Post the debout where the com port error is listed.

Match the serial port settings in Windows to match the settings listed in the printer's self test. Also make sure the FIFO buffers are turned OFF in the COM port settings you are using on Windows.

Have you tried a different serial cable?

---
MegabyteCoffee.com
 
Here is the setup and debouts:

OS: XP Pro on both terminals and the server
Aloha ver.: 5.2.34
Com settings (windows):
BPS: 9600
Data Bits: 8
Parity: Even
Stop Bits: 1
Flow Control: Off
FIFO Buffers: Off

2 Epson TM88III thermal printers:
Dip sw1: off on on off on on on off
sw2: off off off off off off off off

1 Epson TM-U200B kitchen printer:
Dip sw1: off on on off on on on off
sw2: off on off on off off off off

Cabling:
Serial RJ45(ELO15A2)to DB25 serial interface
pin 2(RD) to pin 2(TD)
pin 3(CTS)to pin 20(DTR)
pin 4(Sig GND) to pin 7(GND)
pin 5(TD) to pin 3(RD)

Term 2:
1 Epson TM88III on com1
1 Epson TM-U200B on com2
Term 1:
1 Epson TM88III on com1

Notes: If kitchen printer removed from aloha programming, both receipt printers function normally. When KP added back onto Term2 (or Term1, happens both ways), both the receipt and KP go off-line at the same time, sometimes immediately, sometimes after 15 min, 1 or 2 hours hours whether used or not. The receipt printer on the opposite term will continue to operate normally, and makes itself the back up KP.

Debouts:
Term1:
Mar 28, 14:37:56 IBER started (robust mode)... version 5.234i
Mar 28, 14:37:56 Begin initializing network...
Mar 28, 14:37:56 Initializing network...
Mar 28, 14:37:56 Node = 1 String = 'B'
Mar 28, 14:37:56 NBInit()-> Before NBAddName()-> StationName = "IBERB "
Mar 28, 14:37:59 NBInit()-> After NBAddName()-> StationNumber = 2
Mar 28, 14:37:59 NBInit()-> Before NBAddGroupName()-> SessionName = "IBERLINK"
Mar 28, 14:38:02 NBInit()-> After NBAddGroupName()-> SessionNumber = 3
Mar 28, 14:38:02 Station number 2, session 3
Mar 28, 14:38:02 Network initialization complete.
Mar 28, 14:38:02 Done initializing network.
Mar 28, 14:38:02 Determining Master And Fileserver
Mar 28, 14:38:02 Local DOB is 3/28/2009 in C:\Aloha\DATA\ALOHA.INI (03 28 2009)
Mar 28, 14:38:04 Creating terminal status for 2
Mar 28, 14:38:04 Local Terminal 1 asserts it is master since there are no others
Mar 28, 14:38:04 Create MultiSync flag 'C:\Aloha\DATA\MSYNC'
Mar 28, 14:38:04 Master terminal is 1. Now determining fileserver...
Mar 28, 14:38:04 Attempting to connect to server 'ALOHABOH'...
Mar 28, 14:38:04 Successfully connected Z: to \\ALOHABOH\BOOTDRV
Mar 28, 14:38:05 Ignoring file on server with long filename: Z:\Aloha\BIN\CalcEditField.tlb
Mar 28, 14:38:05 Ignoring file on server with long filename: Z:\Aloha\BIN\UserTools.tlb
Mar 28, 14:38:05 Master terminal re-connected to 'ALOHABOH' OK
Mar 28, 14:38:05 Found fileserver. Updating DOWNTIME.INI...
Mar 28, 14:38:05 Delete MultiSync flag 'C:\Aloha\DATA\MSYNC'
Mar 28, 14:38:05 Beginning synchronize data...
Mar 28, 14:38:05 Iberdir: Z:\Aloha Localdir: C:\Aloha Target: C:\Aloha\DATA
Mar 28, 14:38:07 SYNC: Copied Z:\Aloha\DATA\MIRROR.LOG to C:\Aloha\DATA\MIRROR.LOG
Mar 28, 14:38:08 SYNC: Copied Z:\Aloha\DATA\PRT.CDX to C:\Aloha\DATA\PRT.CDX
Mar 28, 14:38:08 SYNC: Copied Z:\Aloha\DATA\PRT.DBF to C:\Aloha\DATA\PRT.DBF
Mar 28, 14:38:09 SYNC: Copied Z:\Aloha\DATA\TRANS.LOG to C:\Aloha\DATA\TRANS.LOG
Mar 28, 14:38:22 End synchronize data (total 980 files)...
Mar 28, 14:38:22 Synchronize Data Local DOB is 3/28/2009 in C:\Aloha\DATA\ALOHA.INI (03 28 2009)
Mar 28, 14:38:28 TIMEZONE=NO DST - setting TZ to prevent spring forward or fall back
Mar 28, 14:38:28 WARNING: This computer's Time Zone has non-zero values for StandardStart and DaylightStart dates.
Mar 28, 14:38:28 Either select the correct time zone which does not honor DST or
Mar 28, 14:38:28 remove 'TIMEZONE=NO DST' from Aloha.ini to have Aloha software use US DST.
Mar 28, 14:38:28 Begin reading data...
Mar 28, 14:38:29 Check For Unregistered applications...
Mar 28, 14:38:29 ConvertTransLog(): Analysing TRANS.LOG for conversion...
Mar 28, 14:38:29 Iber(): No log conversion required.
Mar 28, 14:38:29 Unable to read data file (1124):
Z:\Aloha\DATA\20090322.SCH
File does not exist.
Mar 28, 14:38:29 Done reading data.
Mar 28, 14:38:29 Begin reading transaction log...
Mar 28, 14:38:29 Done reading transaction log.
Mar 28, 14:38:29 Node = 1 String = 'B'
Mar 28, 14:38:29 Node = 2 String = 'C'
Mar 28, 14:38:29 Begin reading printer logs...
Mar 28, 14:38:29 Done reading printer logs.
Mar 28, 14:38:29 Terminal up...
Mar 28, 14:38:35 LISTEN: CONNECTED TO NODE 2! (1)
Mar 28, 14:38:41 Printer 11 error status 80
Mar 28, 14:39:14 Printer 11 OK
Mar 28, 14:39:59 Creating Z:\Aloha\DATA\PRT12.LOG...
Mar 28, 14:40:01 Creating Z:\Aloha\DATA\PRT11.LOG...
Mar 28, 14:40:13 Creating Z:\Aloha\DATA\PRT21.LOG...
Mar 28, 14:55:08 RECEIVE failure: node 2 code 0A command 95
Mar 28, 14:55:49 LISTEN: CONNECTED TO NODE 2! (2)
Mar 28, 15:13:55 Printer 11 error status A0
Mar 28, 15:23:09 Printer 11 OK
Mar 28, 15:23:59 Printer 11 OK

Term2:
Mar 28, 14:37:33 IBER started (robust mode)... version 5.234i
Mar 28, 14:37:34 Begin initializing network...
Mar 28, 14:37:34 Initializing network...
Mar 28, 14:37:34 Node = 2 String = 'C'
Mar 28, 14:37:34 NBInit()-> Before NBAddName()-> StationName = "IBERC "
Mar 28, 14:37:37 NBInit()-> After NBAddName()-> StationNumber = 2
Mar 28, 14:37:37 NBInit()-> Before NBAddGroupName()-> SessionName = "IBERLINK"
Mar 28, 14:37:40 NBInit()-> After NBAddGroupName()-> SessionNumber = 3
Mar 28, 14:37:40 Station number 2, session 3
Mar 28, 14:37:40 Network initialization complete.
Mar 28, 14:37:40 Done initializing network.
Mar 28, 14:37:40 Determining Master And Fileserver
Mar 28, 14:37:40 Local DOB is 3/28/2009 in C:\Aloha\DATA\ALOHA.INI (03 28 2009)
Mar 28, 14:38:05 Creating terminal status for 1
Mar 28, 14:38:07 Terminal 1 asserts 1 is master
Mar 28, 14:38:07 Master terminal is 1. Now determining fileserver...
Mar 28, 14:38:09 Master Terminal 1 asserts fileserver is 'ALOHABOH'
Mar 28, 14:38:09 Attempting to connect to server 'ALOHABOH'...
Mar 28, 14:38:10 Successfully connected Z: to \\ALOHABOH\BOOTDRV
Mar 28, 14:38:18 Ignoring file on server with long filename: Z:\Aloha\BIN\CalcEditField.tlb
Mar 28, 14:38:18 Ignoring file on server with long filename: Z:\Aloha\BIN\UserTools.tlb
Mar 28, 14:38:18 Found fileserver. Updating DOWNTIME.INI...
Mar 28, 14:38:18 Delete MultiSync flag 'C:\Aloha\DATA\MSYNC'
Mar 28, 14:38:18 Beginning synchronize data...
Mar 28, 14:38:18 Iberdir: Z:\Aloha Localdir: C:\Aloha Target: C:\Aloha\DATA
Mar 28, 14:38:21 SYNC: Copied Z:\Aloha\DATA\MIRROR.LOG to C:\Aloha\DATA\MIRROR.LOG
Mar 28, 14:38:21 SYNC: Copied Z:\Aloha\DATA\PRT.CDX to C:\Aloha\DATA\PRT.CDX
Mar 28, 14:38:21 SYNC: Copied Z:\Aloha\DATA\PRT.DBF to C:\Aloha\DATA\PRT.DBF
Mar 28, 14:38:22 SYNC: Copied Z:\Aloha\DATA\TRANS.LOG to C:\Aloha\DATA\TRANS.LOG
Mar 28, 14:38:35 End synchronize data (total 980 files)...
Mar 28, 14:38:35 Synchronize Data Local DOB is 3/28/2009 in C:\Aloha\DATA\ALOHA.INI (03 28 2009)
Mar 28, 14:38:37 TIMEZONE=NO DST - setting TZ to prevent spring forward or fall back
Mar 28, 14:38:37 WARNING: This computer's Time Zone has non-zero values for StandardStart and DaylightStart dates.
Mar 28, 14:38:37 Either select the correct time zone which does not honor DST or
Mar 28, 14:38:37 remove 'TIMEZONE=NO DST' from Aloha.ini to have Aloha software use US DST.
Mar 28, 14:38:37 Begin reading data...
Mar 28, 14:38:38 Check For Unregistered applications...
Mar 28, 14:38:38 ConvertTransLog(): Analysing TRANS.LOG for conversion...
Mar 28, 14:38:38 Iber(): No log conversion required.
Mar 28, 14:38:38 Unable to read data file (1124):
Z:\Aloha\DATA\20090322.SCH
File does not exist.
Mar 28, 14:38:38 Done reading data.
Mar 28, 14:38:38 Begin reading transaction log...
Mar 28, 14:38:38 Done reading transaction log.
Mar 28, 14:38:38 Node = 1 String = 'B'
Mar 28, 14:38:38 Node = 2 String = 'C'
Mar 28, 14:38:38 Begin reading printer logs...
Mar 28, 14:38:38 Done reading printer logs.
Mar 28, 14:38:38 Terminal up...
Mar 28, 14:38:38 CALL: CONNECTED TO NODE 1! (1)
Mar 28, 14:55:11 net shutdown!
Mar 28, 14:55:11 HANGUP: return code 08
Mar 28, 14:55:11 Canceling datagrams...
Mar 28, 14:55:11 Canceling datagrams second time...
Mar 28, 14:55:11 Dropping names...
Mar 28, 14:55:25
Mar 28, 14:55:25 ................................................................
Mar 28, 14:55:25 IBER started (robust mode)... version 5.234i
Mar 28, 14:55:25 Begin initializing network...
Mar 28, 14:55:25 Initializing network...
Mar 28, 14:55:25 Node = 2 String = 'C'
Mar 28, 14:55:25 NBInit()-> Before NBAddName()-> StationName = "IBERC "
Mar 28, 14:55:28 NBInit()-> After NBAddName()-> StationNumber = 2
Mar 28, 14:55:28 NBInit()-> Before NBAddGroupName()-> SessionName = "IBERLINK"
Mar 28, 14:55:31 NBInit()-> After NBAddGroupName()-> SessionNumber = 3
Mar 28, 14:55:31 Station number 2, session 3
Mar 28, 14:55:31 Network initialization complete.
Mar 28, 14:55:31 Done initializing network.
Mar 28, 14:55:31 Determining Master And Fileserver
Mar 28, 14:55:31 Local DOB is 3/28/2009 in C:\Aloha\DATA\ALOHA.INI (03 28 2009)
Mar 28, 14:55:33 Creating terminal status for 1
Mar 28, 14:55:33 Terminal 1 asserts 1 is master
Mar 28, 14:55:33 Master terminal is 1. Now determining fileserver...
Mar 28, 14:55:33 Master Terminal 1 asserts fileserver is 'ALOHABOH'
Mar 28, 14:55:33 Attempting to connect to server 'ALOHABOH'...
Mar 28, 14:55:33 Drop connection of Z: to \\ALOHABOH\BOOTDRV returns 0
Mar 28, 14:55:33 Successfully connected Z: to \\ALOHABOH\BOOTDRV
Mar 28, 14:55:33 Ignoring file on server with long filename: Z:\Aloha\BIN\CalcEditField.tlb
Mar 28, 14:55:34 Ignoring file on server with long filename: Z:\Aloha\BIN\UserTools.tlb
Mar 28, 14:55:34 Found fileserver. Updating DOWNTIME.INI...
Mar 28, 14:55:34 Delete MultiSync flag 'C:\Aloha\DATA\MSYNC'
Mar 28, 14:55:34 Beginning synchronize data...
Mar 28, 14:55:34 Iberdir: Z:\Aloha Localdir: C:\Aloha Target: C:\Aloha\DATA
Mar 28, 14:55:36 SYNC: Copied Z:\Aloha\DATA\MIRROR.LOG to C:\Aloha\DATA\MIRROR.LOG
Mar 28, 14:55:37 SYNC: Copied Z:\Aloha\DATA\PRT11.LOG to C:\Aloha\DATA\PRT11.LOG
Mar 28, 14:55:37 SYNC: Copied Z:\Aloha\DATA\PRT12.LOG to C:\Aloha\DATA\PRT12.LOG
Mar 28, 14:55:37 SYNC: Copied Z:\Aloha\DATA\PRT21.LOG to C:\Aloha\DATA\PRT21.LOG
Mar 28, 14:55:37 SYNC: Copied Z:\Aloha\DATA\TRANS.LOG to C:\Aloha\DATA\TRANS.LOG
Mar 28, 14:55:49 End synchronize data (total 983 files)...
Mar 28, 14:55:49 Synchronize Data Local DOB is 3/28/2009 in C:\Aloha\DATA\ALOHA.INI (03 28 2009)
Mar 28, 14:55:51 TIMEZONE=NO DST - setting TZ to prevent spring forward or fall back
Mar 28, 14:55:51 WARNING: This computer's Time Zone has non-zero values for StandardStart and DaylightStart dates.
Mar 28, 14:55:51 Either select the correct time zone which does not honor DST or
Mar 28, 14:55:51 remove 'TIMEZONE=NO DST' from Aloha.ini to have Aloha software use US DST.
Mar 28, 14:55:51 Begin reading data...
Mar 28, 14:55:52 Check For Unregistered applications...
Mar 28, 14:55:52 ConvertTransLog(): Analysing TRANS.LOG for conversion...
Mar 28, 14:55:52 Iber(): No log conversion required.
Mar 28, 14:55:52 Unable to read data file (1124):
Z:\Aloha\DATA\20090322.SCH
File does not exist.
Mar 28, 14:55:52 Done reading data.
Mar 28, 14:55:52 Begin reading transaction log...
Mar 28, 14:55:52 Done reading transaction log.
Mar 28, 14:55:52 Node = 1 String = 'B'
Mar 28, 14:55:52 Node = 2 String = 'C'
Mar 28, 14:55:52 Begin reading printer logs...
Mar 28, 14:55:52 Done reading printer logs.
Mar 28, 14:55:52 Terminal up...
Mar 28, 14:55:52 CALL: CONNECTED TO NODE 1! (1)
Mar 28, 14:56:58 Printer 21 error status A0
Mar 28, 14:57:08 Printer 12 error status A0
Mar 28, 15:23:57 Printer 21 OK
Mar 28, 15:24:30 Printer 12 OK

Had Errors occur at 2:40pm, 2:57pm, 3:29pm. I can just stop and restart iber.exe on the termial and all the tickets produced while the printer was down will print at the appropriate printers and the errors will go away for random periods of time.

All cables have been ohm'd out and double checked for correct pinout (as shown at top of this post)

Questions I have: How does Aloha know when a printer is off-line? Is it looking for a signal from the printer or does it send some command and look for a return? What is the wiring for epson TM88III and TM-U200B printers with an XP operating system? And finally: Can anyone help???? LOL Thanks for all your help. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks again, Rick.

 
Sorry, forgot to mention that the windows port settings are identical to the self-test printout from the printers. Thanks, Rick.
 
I am confused on how the TM200 printer is working at all?? Dip switch 7 on bank 1 is set to on sets the baud rate to 4800 but the thermal printers are set to 9600. The default universal setting in aloha is 9600, (check this in aloha.ini).

Dip switch 4 on bank 2 (tm200) is set to on? This sets the printer for a reset signal on pin 6 or 25 I think? I would turn that off.

Also I would turn off dip switch 2 on bank 1 on all printers to increase the buffer size.

 
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