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POS printer using extra paper 1

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wgechter

MIS
Jul 24, 2002
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We are using a Star SP200 printer (point of sale). We have Windows 2000 and have to use the generic/text driver. All of these are connected to HP jetdirect boxes. The problem is that the printers are printing out 3 to 7 inches more paper after what is printed. Anyone with suggestions? Thanks
 
Change the Paper Source setting from:

Continuous - Page Break

to:

Continuous - No Page Break

in the Paper settings page of the printer Properties.

If that doesn't work, or doesn't remove enough of the blank space for your liking, try setting a Custom page size in the Paper settings for the printer. A smaller page than the default Letter size, 8.5x11, will do. Your mileage may vary...
 
Thanks for the help!! We have tryed everything with the different page settings and then tryed the smaller page size with the different setting. Doesn't seem to work. Any more suggestions?
 
Make sure DIP switch #1 is set to ON - the STAR mode. Check the program and make sure it is not putting in a form feed at the end of the print (ASCI character string 12) or extra line feeds (ASCII string 10).

Connect the unit directly to a parallel port and in DOS mode print something to the port. Try msdos.sys - at the C:\ prompt type:

type msdos.sys>lpt1

and hit <Enter> (if it is indeed connected to LPT1). Check the result. No extra lines?

Now try the same thing from inside a Windows DOS box (remember to use the proper port!). What happens?

Try going into the printer's Properties page and set Print to the following Port: to FILE. Then print a receipt, save file to a location when asked to (remember the location!) and then open it using WordPad. Are there extra lines at the bottom?

Windows' Generic Text printer driver does not put extra lines in by default (double check the Printable area settings in the driver; set all to 0). If the printer is getting extra lines then it is most likely the software sending a form feed to make retrieving the receipt from the printer easier. But double-check the printer anyway. Your mileage may vary...
 
Sorry, forgot you are using 2000. Testing still applies as before but must be modified to take into account no DOS mode - boot to a DOS floppy if need be.

Don't print msdos.sys - get another file to print on the floppy.

type config.sy>lpt1

is there is a config.sys. You need to bypass Windows, for just a few seconds, to try to see what the printer is doing irrespective of the Windows drivers. Then we need to confirm the program output and see if the two meet up.

The JetDirect server doesn't seem to have any interpretive settings so that seems to be out (I could be wrong on this - what model # JetDirect box are you using?)



Your mileage may vary...
 
Thanks for all the help. I printed in DOS and came up with no extra lines, of course. I couldn't print to file b/c of the application that is running. Didn't matter, I realized that it is something in the application and we'll just have to figure it out. Looked at the template and it looks good. Thanks for everything!
 
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