Cash Drawers Home   Previous   Top   Next   

(This feature is available in BCSS Deluxe, Diamond and Virtual.)

A Cash Register is different from a Cash Drawer.

A Cash Register records sales, prints receipts and provides a printout at the end of the day for balancing the cash drawer. All cash registers have a cash drawer.

A Cash Drawer is a place to securely store money at POS. A cash drawer can be used without a cash register. You can use a computer, BCSS, a cash drawer and a receipt printer to emulate the functions of a cash register.

Cash Drawers and Receipt Printers

A Receipt Printer prints a 3"-wide receipt showing the details of the sale.

 

The information entered in BCSS (Program Setup, General tab) will appear on the sales receipt.

The email-address and website fields can be blank or they can contain any information, like 'All Sales Final', 'Thank you for shopping with us', etc.

Go to Control Panel, Printers. Right click on 'VENDOR THERMAL PRINTER' and select Properties for settings like printing multiple copies of the receipt and making the print lighter/darker, etc. (See the printer manual.)

The drawer key lock has 3 positions. For normal operation the key lock must be in the middle (unlocked) position.

When the receipt is printed, the cash drawer opens. The drawer may also be opened by pressing F12. (This does not work on some HP and Acer computers, or if another program is open (like MSWord) that already has the F12 key captivated.)

BCSS has been configured for the POS-X EVO Receipt Printer and the XCHD Cash Drawer, as well as Epson's TM-U220 Receipt Printer and Logic Controls' CR3000E Cash Drawer. (Other drawers and printers may work with BCSS. The easiest way to find out if other hardware is compatible is to choose the printer in BCSS Program Setup (Printers) and attempt to print a sales receipt.)

The receipt printer attaches to the PC and the cash drawer attaches to the printer. (The POS-X Drawer can connect directly to the PC with a special cable which is included when the cash drawer is ordered without the receipt printer.)

Connecting the Drawer Directly to the PC

A cash drawer usually connects to a receipt printer which connect to the PC's USB port. (When a receipt is printed the cash drawer opens.)

BCSS has been configured to allow the cash drawer to connect directly to the PC (with special $39 cable, part # PXI-EVO-CD-USB).

The cash drawer can be opened in BCSS by pressing the F12 key. (This may not work on some Acer and HP PCs.)

Of course the drawer can also be opened using the key, and a shortcut can be placed on the desktop (and pinned to the Task Bar) for convenience.

Installing the Cash Drawer

  1. Do NOT connect the cash drawer to the PC.
  2. Download the cash-drawer driver (software):
  3. Click on the first driver (prolific.exe) and choose 'Run'. (The .exe extension will not be present if extensions are hidden on your computer.)
  4. Choose 'Run' on the Security-Warning window and follow the prompts to install.
  5. Connect the cash drawer to the PC using the special USB cable (part # PXI-EVO-CD-USB). (Windows will search for and set up drawer.)
  6. Click on Start.
  7. Right click on Computer then click on Properties.
  8. Click on Device Manager.
  9. Click on the + sign (or arrow) next to 'Ports (COM & LPT)'.
  10. Note the COM port for 'Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COMx)'. This is the COM port of the cash drawer adapter.
  11. Open BCSS.
  12. Click on File (upper left) then Program Setup.
  13. Click on the Sales tab.
  14. Check the box and enter the COM port #:


    (Do not enter the number '6' if the com port on your computer shows a different #. Enter the # that your computer displays.)

  15. Click Save/Exit.
  16. Retry opening the drawer in BCSS by pressing the F12 key.

If the drawer does not open, please check the section below on troubleshooting.

Testing the Cash Drawer Outside BCSS

  1. Go to Start and RIGHT click on Computer (or My Computer in XP).
  2. Select Properties and click on Device Manager.
  3. Press the + or arrow to the left of Ports (COM & LPT).
  4. Note the number to the right of 'Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COMx)'. (This is the com port number for the cash drawer adapter.)
  5. Click on Start then Run and type cmd in the Open Field.

  6. Press OK. A black 'DOS Screen' will open.

  7. At the DOS prompt type echo 1>com# where # is the COM port for the drawer. There is a space after echo. (In this example the Com Port # is 6.)

Create a Desktop Shortcut for Opening the Drawer (optional convenience)

  1. Go to Start and RIGHT click on Computer (or My Computer in XP).
  2. Select Properties and click on Device Manager.
  3. Press the + or arrow to the left of Ports (COM & LPT).
  4. Note the number to the right of “Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COMx). (This is the com port number of the cash drawer adapter.)
  5. Right-click on your desktop and choose New then Text Document.
  6. Type "echo 1 > COMx" where 'x' is the com port #. (Omit the quotes.)
  7. Click on File (upper left) then 'Save As'.
  8. Type this for the filename: DRAWER.BAT
  9. On the desktop click on DRAWER.BAT. The drawer should open.

    To change the com port in the future, right click on DRAWER.BAT and select Edit.

Cash Drawer Won't Open When Receipt Prints

Is the drawer plugged into the power outlet and turned on?

Is the drawer connected to the receipt printer, or, if the drawer is connected directly to the PC, is the special adapter in place?

  1. Place the key position in the middle (unlocked) position.
  2. Press F12 in BCSS to see that the drawer will open without printing a receipt. (Function keys don't work properly with some Acer and HP computers. Also, another program (like MSWord) might have precedent over the F12 key. Close as many programs as possible while using BCSS.)
  3. Click on Start then type msconfig and click on the Startup tab. Disable all program startups except those related to anti-virus and wireless Internet. If something doesn't work later, go back and reactivate it.)

Check Receipt Printer Settings for Cash-Drawer Options:

  1. Go to Control Panel, click on Devices and Printers then right click on the receipt printer (VENDOR THERMAL PRINTER).

  2. Select Printer Properties (not 'Properties').
  3. Click on Printer Commands.
  4. Remove any checks in boxes and set 'No Feed' for 'Cut the paper'.

  5. Click on the General tab and press Print Test Page. A test page should print and the drawer should open. Please call 800-790-8657 if it does not.
  6. Click OK.

Reinstall the Drawer Software (Driver)

From time to time a software program (Windows, BCSS, Cash Drawer) must be uninstalled and reinstalled to get a fresh start and clear stubborn issues.

If the drawer still won't open when a receipt is printed:

  1. Check the port for the cash drawer. It should be set to a USB port.
  2. USB 2 must be turned on in CMOS.
  3. A serial cable with adapter connects to the cash drawer. A USB cable connects to the serial cable and the computer.
  4. The COM port assigned to the Prolific driver must be entered in program setup.

POS-X support may be reached at http://www.pos-x.com/request.aspx or 800-790-8657.

 

POS-X XCHD Heavy-Duty Cash Drawer (Connection Guide | USB Driver)

A cash drawer is a safe place to store money at POS and it makes a better impression on customers. The XHCD drawer (16" x 16" or 16" x 19") can mount under the counter top with a mounting kit ($15). Drawers typically connect to the receipt printer. When a receipt prints the drawer opens. The drawer can be connected to the PC with a special adapter ($39). Either way it can be opened in BCSS by pressing F12. (more online)

Email Support (Add the domain name mm.st to your email program's Approved Senders List or White List to lessen the chance that spam filters will block our emails to you. (Instructions) For phone support please contact Joy Archer, enJoy Consigning Services, 972-898-7921