Setting up a printer in the system

Use these instructions to set up printers in the system. You must set up printers before you can run reports or print journals.

If you set up a new printer that is similar to an existing printer in the system, you can copy the record for the existing printer to a create a new printer record. Select the printer you want to copy, click Copy, modify the record as needed, and then click Save.

  1. Select System Administrator > Setup > Printer.
  2. Click New.
  3. Specify the name of the printer, and then click Save.
  4. Specify this information:
    Description
    Specify an expanded version of the printer name. If you use a numbering scheme for printer names, the description should describe the actual printer name or location of the printer.
    Width
    Specify the width of the printer. You can enter 80 or 132 column printers. The system automatically condenses a report to fit a smaller width printer if the correct code strings are specified on the Settings view.
    Type
    Select the type of device.
    Device or Command
    Specify the device or command associated with this printer name. This is an operating system command that the system uses to direct reports to a specific file or output device.
    Swap Printer
    Specify the printer to use when the operator enters the incorrect type of printer. If you enter the incorrect type, and this field has a value, the swap printer is automatically loaded. If this field is blank and you enter the incorrect printer type, an error message appears
    Group
    Specify the name of the printer group to which you want to assign this printer.
  5. Click Settings.
  6. Specify values in the Initialization, Close, Compressed, and Normal section. The values in the fields contain strings of decimal codes required for the correct use of the printer or device. You must obtain the decimal strings from the individual device’s operating manuals. All of the strings may not be required. The most common strings are for compressed print and normal print.
  7. If you use Integrated Barcode, specify this information:
    1. Specify the label file names in the appropriate fields.
    2. Indicate if the printer prints small or large labels.
    3. Specify an alternate printer that prints labels that are the opposite size of the label you selected in the previous step. For example, if you selected small labels for the printer you are setting up, your alternate printer should print large labels.
  8. Click Save.
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