NAME

Printer::ESCPOS::Manual - Manual for Printing POS Receipts using Printer::ESCPOS

VERSION

version 1.005

SYNOPSIS

BASIC USAGE

    use Printer::ESCPOS;

    # Create a Printer object, Initialize the printer.
    my $device = Printer::ESCPOS->new(
        driverType     => 'Serial'
        deviceFilePath => '/dev/ttyACM0'
    );

    # All Printers have their own initialization
    # recommendations(Cleaning buffers etc.). Run
    # this command to let the module do this for you.
    $device->printer->init();


    # Prepare some data to send to the printer using
    # formatting and text commands
    $device->printer->bold(1);
    $device->printer->text("Heading text\n");
    $device->printer->bold(0);
    $device->printer->text("Content here\n");
    $device->printer->text(". . .\n");


    # Add a cut paper command at the end to cut the receipt
    # This command will be ignored by your printer if it
    # doesn't have a paper cutter on it
    $device->printer->cutPaper();


    # Send the Prepared data to the printer.
    $device->printer->print();

PRINTING TO YOUR PRINTER IN THREE STEPS

Printer::ESCPOS uses a three step mechanism for sending the data to the Printer i.e initialization, preparation of data to send to the printer, and finally sending the prepared data to the printer. Separation of preparation and printing steps allows Printer::ESCPOS to deal with communication speed and buffer limitations found in most common ESCPOS printers.

INITIALIZATION

USB PRINTER

The USB driverType allows you to talk to a printer using its vendorId and productId as params.

my $device = Printer::ESCPOS->new(
    driverType => 'USB',
    vendorId   => 0x1504,
    productId  => 0x0006,
);

Optional parameters:

The driver uses a default endPoint value of 0x01. To get valid values for endPoint for your printer use the following command:

shantanu@shantanu-G41M-ES2L:~$ sudo lsusb -vvv -d 1504:0006 | grep bEndpointAddress | grep OUT
        bEndpointAddress     0x01  EP 1 OUT

Replace 1504:0006 with your own printer's vendor id and product id in the above command

my $device = Printer::ESCPOS->new(
    driverType => 'USB',
    vendorId   => 0x1504,
    productId  => 0x0006,
    endPoint   => 0x01,
);

You may also specify USB device timeout, although default value(1000 ms) should be sufficient in most cases:

my $device = Printer::ESCPOS->new(
    driverType => 'USB',
    vendorId   => 0x1504,
    productId  => 0x0006,
    endPoint   => 0x01,
    timeout    => 500,
);

SERIAL PRINTER

The Mandatory parameters for a Serial driverType are driverType( Serial ) and deviceFilePath This is the preferred driverType for connecting to a printer. This connection type is valid for printers connected over serial ports or for printers connected on physical USB ports but showing up as Serial devices(check syslog when you connect the printer). Note that not all printers show up as Serial devices when connected on USB port.

my $device = Printer::ESCPOS->new(
    driverType     => 'Serial',
    deviceFilePath => '/dev/ttyACM0',
);

Optional parameters:

the driver uses 38400 as default baudrate. If necessary you can change this value by providing a baudrate parameter.

my $device = Printer::ESCPOS->new(
    driverType     => 'Serial',
    deviceFilePath => '/dev/ttyACM0',
    baudrate       => 9600,
);

If your printer is not printing properly when connected on physical serial port try setting the flag serialOverUSB to 0 to tell Printer::ESCPOS to use special buffer management optimizations for physical serial ports

my $device = Printer::ESCPOS->new(
    driverType     => 'Serial',
    deviceFilePath => '/dev/ttyACM0',
    baudrate       => 9600,
    serialOverUSB  => 0
);

NETWORK PRINTER

The Mandatory parameters for a Network driverType are driverType( Network ), deviceIP and devicePort This is a driverType for printers connected over a network.

my $device = Printer::ESCPOS->new(
    driverType => 'Network',
    deviceIP   => '10.0.13.108',
    devicePort => '9100',
);

BASIC DEVICE FILE Driver

The Mandatory parameters for a File driverType are driverType( File ) and deviceFilePath This Driver is included for those instances when your printing needs are simple(You don't want to check the printer for printer status etc. and are only interested in pushing data to the printer for printing) and Serial driver type is just refusing to work altogether. In this driverType the data is written directly to the printer device file and from there sent to the printer. This is the basic text method for ESCPOS printers and it almost always works but it doesn't allow you to read Printer Status which might not be a deal breaker for most people. This driverType can also be used for Printers which connect on USB ports but don't show up as Serial devices in syslog

my $device = Printer::ESCPOS->new(
    driverType     => 'File',
    deviceFilePath => '/dev/usb/lp0',
);

PREPARING FORMATTED TEXT FOR PRINTER

In all the methods described below its assumed that variable $device has been initialized using the appropriate connection to the printer with one of the driverTypes mentioned above. The following methods prepare the text and text formatting data to be sent to the printer.

qr

Prints a qr code to the printer. In Generic profile, this creates a QR Code image using L<GD::Barcode::QRcode>. A native implementation may be created using a printer model specific profile.

$device->printer->qr('Print this QR Code');
$device->printer->qr('WIFI:T:WPA;S:ShantanusWifi;P:wifipasswordhere;;')  # Create a QR code for connecting to a Wifi

You may also pass in optional QR Code format parameters like Ecc, Version and moduleSize. Read more about these params at http://www.qrcode.com/en/about/version.html.

my $ecc = 'L'; # Default value
my $version = 5; # Default value
my $moduleSize = 3; # Default value
$device->printer->qr("Don't Panic!", $ecc, $version, $moduleSize);

You may also call align() before calling qr() to set alignment on the page.

utf8ImagedText

    use utf8;

    $device->printer->utf8ImagedText("Hello World",
      fontFamily => "Rubik",
      fontStyle => "Normal",
      fontSize => 25,
      lineHeight => 40
    );

This method uses native fonts to print utf8 compatible characters including international wide characters. This method is slower than direct text printing but it allows exceptional styling options allowing you to print text using system fonts in a wide range of font sizes and styles with many more choices than what a thermal printer otherwise provides.

In the background this function uses Pango and Cairo libraries to create a one line image from a given font styles, font family in a given font size. Note that you must not use this method to print more than a single line at a time. When you want to print the next line call this method again to print to the next line.

string: String to be printed in the line.

fontFamily (optional, default 'Purisa'): Font family to use. On linux systems with font config installed use the following command to choose from the list of available fonts:

fc-list | sed 's/.*:\(.*,\|\s\)\(.*\):.*/\2/'

You may also install more fonts from https://fonts.google.com/ to your system fonts( copy the font to /usr/share/fonts )

fontStyle (optional, default 'Normal'): Font style like Bold, Normal, Italic etc.

fontSize (optional, default 20): Font size

lineHeight (optional, default 42): Line Height in pixels, make sure this is bigger than the font height in pixels for your chosen font size.

paperWidth (optional, default 500): This is set to 500 pixels by default as this is the most common width for receipt printers. Change this as per your printer specs.

image

Prints a GD image object to the printer

    use GD;

    my $img = newFromGif GD::Image('header.gif') || die "Error $!";
    $device->printer->image($img);

text

Sends raw text to the printer.

$device->printer->text("Hello Printer::ESCPOS\n")

printAreaWidth

Sets the Print area width specified by width which is a int between 0 to 65535

$device->printer->printAreaWidth( 255 );

Note: If you are using Printer::ESCPOS version prior to v1.* Please check documentation for older version of this module the nL and nH syntax for this method.

tabPositions

Sets horizontal tab positions for tab stops. Upto 32 tab positions can be set in most receipt printers.

$device->printer->tabPositions( 5, 9, 13 );

Default tab positions are usually in intervals of 8 chars (9, 17, 25) etc.

tab

moves the cursor to next horizontal tab position like a "\t". This command is ignored unless the next horizontal tab position has been set. You may substitute this command with a "\t" as well.

This

$device->printer->text("blah blah");
$device->printer->tab();
$device->printer->text("blah2 blah2");

is same as this

$device->printer->text("blah blah\tblah2 blah2");

lf

line feed. Moves to the next line. You can substitute this method with "\n" in your print or text method e.g. :

This

$device->printer->text("blah blah");
$device->printer->lf();
$device->printer->text("blah2 blah2");

is same as this

$device->printer->text("blah blah\nblah2 blah2");

font

Set Font style, you can pass a, b or c. Many printers don't support style c and only have two supported styles.

$device->printer->font('a');
$device->printer->text('Writing in Font A');
$device->printer->font('b');
$device->printer->text('Writing in Font B');

bold

Set bold mode 0 for off and 1 for on. Also called emphasized mode in some printer manuals

$device->printer->bold(1);
$device->printer->text("This is Bold Text\n");
$device->printer->bold(0);
$device->printer->text("This is not Bold Text\n");

doubleStrike

Set double-strike mode 0 for off and 1 for on

$device->printer->doubleStrike(1);
$device->printer->text("This is Double Striked Text\n");
$device->printer->doubleStrike(0);
$device->printer->text("This is not Double Striked  Text\n");

underline

set underline, 0 for off, 1 for on and 2 for double thickness

$device->printer->underline(1);
$device->printer->text("This is Underlined Text\n");
$device->printer->underline(2);
$device->printer->text("This is Underlined Text with thicker underline\n");
$device->printer->underline(0);
$device->printer->text("This is not Underlined Text\n");

invert

Reverse white/black printing mode pass 0 for off and 1 for on

$device->printer->invert(1);
$device->printer->text("This is Inverted Text\n");
$device->printer->invert(0);
$device->printer->text("This is not Inverted Text\n");

color

Most thermal printers support just one color, black. Some ESCPOS printers(especially dot matrix) also support a second color, usually red. In many models, this only works when the color is set at the beginning of a new line before any text is printed. Pass 0 or 1 to switch between the two colors.

$device->printer->lf();
$device->printer->color(0); #black
$device->printer->text("black");
$device->printer->lf();
$device->printer->color(1); #red
$device->printer->text("Red");
$device->printer->print();

justify

Set Justification. Options left, right and center

$device->printer->justify( 'right' );
$device->printer->text("This is right justified");

upsideDown

Sets Upside Down Printing on/off (pass 0 or 1)

$device->printer->upsideDownPrinting(1);
$device->printer->text("This text is upside down");

fontHeight

Set font height. Only supports 0 or 1 for printmode set to 1, supports values 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 for non-printmode state (default)

$device->printer->fontHeight(1);
$device->printer->text("double height\n");
$device->printer->fontHeight(2);
$device->printer->text("triple height\n");
$device->printer->fontHeight(3);
$device->printer->text("quadruple height\n");
. . .

fontWidth

Set font width. Only supports 0 or 1 for printmode set to 1, supports values 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 for non-printmode state (default)

$device->printer->fontWidth(1);
$device->printer->text("double width\n");
$device->printer->fontWidth(2);
$device->printer->text("triple width\n");
$device->printer->fontWidth(3);
$device->printer->text("quadruple width\n");
. . .

charSpacing

Sets character spacing. Takes a value between 0 and 255

$device->printer->charSpacing(5);
$device->printer->text("Blah Blah Blah\n");
$device->printer->print();

lineSpacing

Sets the line spacing i.e the spacing between each line of printout.

$device->printer->lineSpacing($spacing);

0 <= $spacing <= 255

selectDefaultLineSpacing

Reverts to default line spacing for the printer

$device->printer->selectDefaultLineSpacing();

printPosition

Sets the distance from the beginning of the line to the position at which characters are to be printed.

$device->printer->printPosition( $length, $height );

0 <= $length <= 255
0 <= $height <= 255

leftMargin

Sets the left margin for printing. Set the left margin at the beginning of a line. The printer ignores any data preceding this command on the same line in the buffer.

In page mode sets the left margin to leftMargin x (horizontal motion unit) from the left edge of the printable area

Left Margin, range: 0 to 65535. If the margin exceeds the printable area, the left margin is automatically set to the maximum value of the printable area.

$device->printer->leftMargin($leftMargin);

rot90

Rotate printout by 90 degrees

$device->printer->rot90(1);
$device->printer->text("This is rotated 90 degrees\n");
$device->printer->rot90(0);
$device->printer->text("This is not rotated 90 degrees\n");

barcode

This method prints a barcode to the printer. This can be bundled with other text formatting commands at the appropriate point where you would like to print a barcode on your print out. takes argument barcode as the barcode value.

In the simplest form you can use this command as follows:

#Default barcode printed in code93 system with a width of 2 and HRI Chars printed below the barcode
$device->printer->barcode(
    barcode     => 'SHANTANU BHADORIA',
);

However there are several customizations available including barcode system, font, height etc.

my $hripos = 'above';
my $font   = 'a';
my $height = 100;
my $system = 'UPC-A';
$device->printer->barcode(
    HRIPosition => $hripos,        # Position of Human Readable characters
                                   # 'none','above','below','aboveandbelow'
    font        => $font,          # Font for HRI characters. 'a' or 'b'
    height      => $height,        # no of dots in vertical direction
    system      => $system,        # Barcode system
    width       => 2               # 2:0.25mm, 3:0.375mm, 4:0.5mm, 5:0.625mm, 6:0.75mm
    barcode     => '123456789012', # Check barcode system you are using for allowed
                                   # characters in barcode
);
$device->printer->barcode(
    system      => 'CODE39',
    HRIPosition => 'above',
    barcode     => '*1-I.I/ $IA*',
);
$device->printer->barcode(
    system      => 'CODE93',
    HRIPosition => 'above',
    barcode     => 'Shan',
);

Available barcode systems:

UPC-A
UPC-C
JAN13
JAN8
CODE39
ITF
CODABAR
CODE93
CODE128

printNVImage

Prints bit image stored in Non-Volatile (NV) memory of the printer.

$device->printer->printNVImage($flag);

$flag = 0 # Normal width and Normal Height
$flag = 1 # Double width and Normal Height
$flag = 2 # Normal width and Double Height
$flag = 3 # Double width and Double Height

printImage

Prints bit image stored in Volatile memory of the printer. This image gets erased when printer is reset.

$device->printer->printImage($flag);

$flag = 0 # Normal width and Normal Height
$flag = 1 # Double width and Normal Height
$flag = 2 # Normal width and Double Height
$flag = 3 # Double width and Double Height

cutPaper

Cuts the paper, if feed is set to 0 then printer doesnt feed paper to cutting position before cutting it. The default behavior is that the printer doesn't feed paper to cutting position before cutting. One pre-requisite line feed is automatically executed before paper cut though.

$device->printer->cutPaper( feed => 0 )

While not strictly a text formatting option, in receipt printer the cut paper instruction is sent along with the rest of the text and text formatting data and the printer cuts the paper at the appropriate points wherever this command is used.

drawerKickPulse

Trigger drawer kick. Used to open cash drawer connected to the printer. In some use cases it may be used to trigger other devices by close contact.

$device->printer->drawerKickPulse( $pin, $time );

$pin is either 0( for pin 2 ) and 1( for pin5 ) default value is 0
$time is a value between 1 to 8 and the pulse duration in multiples of 100ms. default value is 8

For default values use without any params to kick drawer pin 2 with a 800ms pulse

$device->printer->drawerKickPulse();

Again like cutPaper command this is obviously not a text formatting command but this command is sent along with the rest of the text and text formatting data and the printer sends the pulse at the appropriate points wherever this command is used. While originally designed for triggering a cash drawer to open, in practice this port can be used for all sorts of devices like pulsing light, or sound alarm etc.

PRINTING

print

Once Initialization is done and the formatted text for printing is prepared using the above commands, its time to send these commands to printer. This is a single easy step.

$device->printer->print();

Why an extra print step to send this data to the printer? This is necessary because many printers have difficulty handling large amount of print data sent across in a single large stream. Separating the preparation of data from transmission of data to the printer allows Printer::ESCPOS to do some buffer management and optimization in the way the entire data is sent to the printer with tiny timed breaks between chunks of data for a reliable printer output.

GETTING PRINTER HEALTH STATUS

The Serial driverType allows reading of printer health, paper and other status parameters from the printer. At the moment there are following commands available for getting printer status.

printerStatus

Returns printer status in a hashref.

return {
    drawer_pin3_high            => $flags[5],
    offline                     => $flags[4],
    waiting_for_online_recovery => $flags[2],
    feed_button_pressed         => $flags[1],
};

offlineStatus

Returns a hashref for paper cover closed status, feed button pressed status, paper end stop status, and a aggregate error status either of which will prevent the printer from processing a printing request.

return {
    cover_is_closed     => $flags[5],
    feed_button_pressed => $flags[4],
    paper_end           => $flags[2],
    error               => $flags[1],
};

errorStatus

Returns hashref with error flags for auto_cutter_error, unrecoverable error and auto-recoverable error

return {
    auto_cutter_error     => $flags[4],
    unrecoverable_error   => $flags[2],
    autorecoverable_error => $flags[1],
};

paperSensorStatus

Gets printer paper Sensor status. Returns a hashref with four sensor statuses. Two paper near end sensors and two paper end sensors for printers supporting this feature. The exact returned status might differ based on the make of your printer. If any of the flags is set to 1 it implies that the paper is out or near end.

return {
    paper_roll_near_end_sensor_1 => $flags[5],
    paper_roll_near_end_sensor_2 => $flags[4],
    paper_roll_status_sensor_1 => $flags[2],
    paper_roll_status_sensor_2 => $flags[1],
};

inkStatusA

Only available for dot-matrix and other ink consuming printers. Gets printer ink status for inkA(usually black ink). Returns a hashref with ink statuses.

return {
    ink_near_end          => $flags[5],
    ink_end               => $flags[4],
    ink_cartridge_missing => $flags[2],
    cleaning_in_progress  => $flags[1],
};

inkStatusB

Only available for dot-matrix and other ink consuming printers. Gets printer ink status for inkB(usually red ink). Returns a hashref with ink statuses.

return {
    ink_near_end          => $flags[5],
    ink_end               => $flags[4],
    ink_cartridge_missing => $flags[2],
};

AUTHOR

Shantanu Bhadoria <shantanu@cpan.org> https://www.shantanubhadoria.com

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

This is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as the Perl 5 programming language system itself.

To install Printer::ESCPOS, copy and paste the appropriate command in to your terminal.

cpanm

cpanm Printer::ESCPOS

CPAN shell

perl -MCPAN -e shell
install Printer::ESCPOS

For more information on module installation, please visit the detailed CPAN module installation guide.

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