Replacement for PRINTTHRU in v7

[Rick Weiser]

Hi All,

In v6 I use PRINTTHRU to print to a receipt printer.  It needs to use escape sequences for various print options, like cut the receipt and print a bar code.

In v7 they removed this option because it doesn't support activex controls.  Has anyone replaced this feature successfully in a cloud environment?

Thanks,

Rick

[David Knight]

Hi Rick,

I'd be curious to see if something is even possible; as my understanding is allowing the browser to control peripherals directly is a security violation.

I appreciate what it is you are trying to achieve; and in a similar sense my app has the same problem.

In my case all printed output falls into one of two broad categories:

1. Reports produced ad-hoc that fit the designbais report-writer paradigm; in which case the standard on-screen preview and print generally works; AND
2. Other 'specialised' output such as complex invoice layouts and labels; OR output which would be ridiculously tedious from a UI perspective to have preview via the browser with selection of the correct printer. In short, users "expect" the application to "know" where to send the output and stop asking each time.

The former I handle [obviously] via db's tools; but the latter has to be centrally output in the traditional server-centric mv print model. To do so, I use Printwizrd which monitors a sever folder, grabs the data from there & sends it via the server's Windows Print spooler to the ultimate destination. I pull some swifties at logon time to allow a user to select their desired printer[s]; which I am happy to discuss further if asked.

Otherwise, I'm not aware of how else to do what you require.

Cheers,

D

[Rick Weiser]

Hi David,

Yes, a solution for someone else would be to setup a database printer and send the output to that printer.  The problem is, the application is cloud based.  Therefore, I can't setup a remote printer on the clients PC as a database printer.

Rick

[David Knight]

Yeah, I dunno how that will even be possible via a Browser unless the operator selects the printer each and every time. Ala a html preview or pdf-type preview. Super-tedious and just not practical.

Mark Pick keeps speaking of cloud-based PICK installs, but the issue for me is still how to get physical printer control; as the browser SUX.

I did a quick Google and found: http://www.starmicronics.com/blog/solutions-for-printing-from-web-browser-based-applications-webprnt/

Maybe???

But looks like it only works with certain printers?

[Dick Thiot]

I know that Pick Cloud is using Cirrus Print (https://cirrusprint.com/).  Their product is specifically for "printing from your cloud accounting or ERP" application.  In other words, the cloud based server prints to a local printer.  Cirrus Print is from SDSI (Synergetic Data Systems, Inc) that has the Unform product and has been an exhibitor at the Spectrum conference for years.

Dick

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[Marcelo Escallon]

Hi Rick,

You can check the Zebra Printers, here you find how to print from HTTP Post just from javascript.

https://developer.zebra.com/community/home/blog/2018/04/13/printing-from-websites-part-1

Marcelo.

Sender notified by Mailtrack 03/27/19, 8:17:10 AM

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[Bill_H]

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but what I did is output my spooler file through PrintWizard's executable to convert a PCL job to a ".pdf".  No more printing problems, ever.

Wrapping PCL on a print job is no more than SP-OPEN, print a beginning PCL code plus orientation and font, print the job, print an ending PCL code then SP-CLOSE.

Pick printing to a printer is so 80's.  Wrap it then convert it to a ".pdf".  That's how we did all of our reports, including forms, checks, statements, invoices, etc.  This was the easiest thing we did in our conversion.

[David Knight]

Hi Bill,
I think there's possibly a problem with your approach in a browser:

How does Printwizard know where to push the pdf? There is no explicit connection I'm aware of between some mv output at the server end and a specific instance of the browser which initiated everything. Secondly, assuming there is a way around that; there is no way I'm aware of for the browser to automatically print said pdf without invoking a Windows print dialog box; or it has to be the Windows 'default' printer as setup on that terminal. That too can get iffy IF the device has more than one printer; and they do not want the docket printer as the default.

Lastly, even if those issues can be solved [& I'm assuming someone, perhaps you has a way around that?] Rick's 'printing' is to send control sequences to a 'printer' which also may trigger the opening of a cash drawer, or to cut the paper roll etc. I imagine users would get seriously pissed-off if they had a UI which required printer selection on each and every sale so that the cash drawer opens, or even tears or part-tears the docket.

It is these 'issues' which Rick is grappling with; and I feel his pain!!

[Bill_H]

You create a spooler entry with PCL code in it.  You run the file through PrintWizard and store in a "virtual" directory.  You send DB back the link to that ".pdf" (in the "virtual" directory) and voi'la.

[David Knight]

I must be thick. Sorry.

I still don't see how...

Printwizard has no idea where the job came from, and to my knowledge cannot be 'called' and thus cannot 'return' anything.

Printwizard runs autonomously, [typically]. Monitoring a folder: "Oh look, there's a file... turn it into a pdf and put it <there>".

So unless you are doing some fancy file naming where the name acts as some kind of semaphore so that db also monitors the output folder waiting for a specific pdf to appear... I'm not getting what you mean.

Academic really; because even if you do all that; Rick's problem still remains:

That means the UI operator will have to preview the pdf, and select a printer. That will be pretty naff if one simply wants to cut a docket. Or open a cash drawer. etc etc

Like I said, maybe I'm thick, and not getting it. I'm not in same league as many people on these forums and so there could well be a gap in my knowledge.