Application of Star TSP100 futurePRNT Printer with LabVIEW

[Drummer]

I need to get some input form anyone who has applied the STAR TSP100 82mm wide Thermal Printer with LabVIEV , not LabVIEW CVI.

I need to know how to structure the memory buffer and load the printer buffer between text and command data in order for it to print.

I believe I have the USB interface working properly. Using the Visa Read and Write Functions, the printer is responding to reset commands and I can read the Printer Status Return String.

The Report Generation Functions have some fixed parameters that are not giving me the results I am looking for.

The  header / parameter information for accessing the STAR .dll's is not available.

I have tried generating a .txt report and printing using the Report Generation Functions, but cannot get the control I am looking for.   

I am looking to print a ticket in a "point of sale" format. Text only, no logos or pictures.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you.

[JD_war_eagle]

Hi Ron,

Looking around the Star website, I was able to find a driver download containing some software manuals here.  Star also has information on a modular SDK for their printers on their website which might be useful to look into.  If you are unable to find the information you are looking for there, I would recommend contacting Star to inquire about the specifications of using their drivers to communicate with the device.

[Drummer]

Justin,

Thanks for the response. I have been reading the manuals, SDK's, and  communicating with STAR. I was told I need to use their CommandEmulator.dll files. After setting the path for the .dll link configuration, this .dll breaks down into several more functions. I requested the dll header, parameter pass, and description for these functions, and was told it was not available.

So I'm pretty much on my own at this point. This does work LabVIEW CVI and the STAR Virtual Serial Port, but I would really like to like to get this going with labVIEW and VISA functions. That is why I trying to find if anyone has done this.

I feel I should be able to do this, but maybe LabVIEW is not intended for this approach.

Thank You,

Ron Kocol

[Dennis_Knutson]

There is no such thing as LabVIEW CVI. If you really mean LabWindows/CVI then you should be able to do the same thing in LabVIEW. Communicating to a serial device is not much different. Could you post the CVI code and what you have tried in LabVIEW?

[Drummer]

Dennis,

Thank you for responding. Yes it is LabWindows/CVI. Force of habit with in house buzz words.

I believe that my problem is more with the STAR Protocol than with LabVIEW. That is why I am trying to see if anyone else has done this particular configuration.

STAR states that you cannot send raw data or text to the printer and that the printer can only accept raster data. Also, the printer must be in Raster Mode when receiving data to print. The CommandEmulator.dll is used to translate user data into raster data.

I have attached Sample.zip that holds four files.

File 1: Printer Reset Self Print.VI -- This command works. The printer resets and prints a test ticket. I feel this proves that the VISA USB approach is working.

File 2: DllCall.VI --  Trying to use the dll link functions to access the ComandEmulator.dll but cannot get parameter information from STAR needed to complete the definitions.

File 3: Sample.VI. -- Basic concept of how I want to structure the data to print.

File 4: USERIO.C -- This is the CVI code that uses the serial port with the Star Printer set for Virtual Com Port 6. The CVI project was done out of house so I am not that familiar with it.  In this case the printer is in the Windows Registry and set as default printer.  

I believe that I am looking at two things. The first is when to change modes in the printer and the second is how to prep the data for for Raster Mode.

Thank you for your time.

[Dennis_Knutson]

If you want to use the printer with the Report Generation functions, I believe you have to use it as a windows system printer. If you want to use the serial functions as in the c code, you should not use the VISA Wizard to create a USB RAW connection. Leave the virtual serial port driver installed. If you use the USB RAW connection, then you will need information from the vendor as to the correct format of the RAW commands.