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BCSS and Printers
BCSS is compatible with most laser, inkjet, bubble jet and dot matrix printers.
About Printer Drivers
A 'driver' is software that converts data to be printed to a form the printer recognizes. Like any software, drivers sometimes become corrupted or lost and need to be reinstalled.
When basic troubleshooting steps don't resolve printing issues, click on one of these links to locate the printer driver:
With BCSS INTRO Print:
With BCSS Deluxe, Diamond, and Virtual print these additional items:
'Document' Printers
These are typically laser-style printers (inkjet, bubble jet, LaserJet) and dot-matrix printers that print on 8.5" x 11" paper. They are referred to as 'document printers'.
Laser-Style Printers
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Laser-style printers are the most common. They may be used with BCSS to print sales receipts on 8.5" x 11" but that may be a waste of paper and some store owners feel this style of receipt doesn't present a good image. Ink is also expensive so many stores use a special 'receipt printer' to print cheaper and more attractive 3" sales receipts (which may be printed in duplicate). |
Dot Matrix Printers
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A dot matrix printer or impact matrix printer refers to a type of printer with a print head that runs back and forth over the paper and prints by impact, striking an ink-soaked cloth ribbon against the paper, much like a typewriter. Unlike a typewriter or daisy wheel printer, letters are drawn out of a 'dot matrix' allowing varied fonts and arbitrary graphics. Because the printing involves mechanical pressure, these printers can create carbon copies. |
Printing Receipts with Laser and Dot Matrix Printers
Laser and Dot Matrix printers print receipts (sales invoices) on full sheets of 8.5" x 11" paper. This is an example of the upper portion of the BCSS Sales Receipt:
While this method is convenient (no special setup, printers already in place and/or cheaper than thermal printers) and produces a professional-looking receipt, it can be the most costly in the long run because ink cartridges are expensive, more so if 2 copies of invoices are necessary. As seen below, special receipt printers cost more initially but use printing technologies (ink ribbon or thermal) that avoid laser-style ink cartridges.
Is a Dedicated Receipt Printer Necessary?
Patrons of consignment stores know they are purchasing used merchandise. They have the opportunity to inspect items before purchase and they understand that items are being sold 'as is'. They typically accept (if not expect) a 'no-return policy' so in many cases, it is not necessary to print a receipt. Moreover, many customers are satisfied with the credit-card transaction receipt. Of course hand-written receipts would also be acceptable for purchases with few items.
Every edition of BCSS has a built-in receipt that can be printed in the Excel Invoice format with any laser-style printer on a full sheet of paper, which may be sufficient for an occasional receipt, making a costly thermal receipt printer ($284) unnecessary.
In Diamond and Virtual Specials the thermal LABEL printer can be substituted for the thermal RECEIPT printer for $100 more, so money is being invested in a printer that will be used more frequently. The labels will be cheaper (about 1c each). They will be easier to produce and they will look more attractive. (Deluxe does support a thermal RECEIPT printer but not a thermal LABEL printer.)
To substitute the LABEL printer for the RECEIPT printer on the order page, place a 1 in the box named 'Special/Label Printer'.
Receipt Printers
Receipt printers can be dot-matrix (impact with ribbon) or thermal (heat transfer with print head).
A receipt printer prints one or multiple copies of a receipt (on 3" roll paper) showing the details of the sale: date, items, quantity, price, subtotal, tax, total amount.
A dot-matrix-impact printer uses the older technology of ink ribbon and the impact of a printer head against the ribbon to place ink on the paper. The 'impact' does make it possible to use 3-ply paper and multiple ink colors are available. There is some (negligible) noise during printing.
A thermal printer uses thermal heat to apply ink to paper. Printing is silent. Copies of the receipt may be printed by reprinting the sale.
A cash drawer can be connected to a receipt printer. When a receipt is printed, the cash drawer is opened. (The POS-X drawer may be connected directly to the PC for operation without a receipt printer.) A cash drawer and receipt printer emulate a cash register.
BCSS is compatible with these receipt printers (and possibly others): POS-X, EASYSET A9 MiniPrinter (some odd characters possible), Epson TM-U220 and TM-T88IV, Star SP212, TSP600/700, TSP 613 and DP8340, Samsung SRP350, SNBC BTP-2002NP.
The easiest way to determine if a receipt printer (other than those mentioned) will work with BCSS is to install the printer, select the printer in BCSS Program Setup (Printers) and test it. If the printer doesn't work, confirm that the printer works with a test print then contact support to have the printer driver added to BCSS (for $79).
Receipt Printer Setup
Receipt printers are shipped with manuals explaining how to setup them up and use them. They should be used with USB ports for best performance. The cable should be tested with another piece of hardware to assure that it is functional.
In BCSS, go to File, Program Setup, Printers and select the printer to be used for printing receipts.
Font size can be adjusted for Headers and Text by changing the values for Receipt Printer Settings in Program Setup, Printers.
Thermal Price Tag Printers Please see Thermal Printers.
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