The first step in setting up your Docket Printer is to establish how it connects to your computer; that is, does it use a Serial (COM), Parallel (LPT) or USB connection? Your computer will have ports laid out in a similar fashion to what is shown below:

Note the connection type of your printer and the port number that it will plug into. If you are using a USB connected Docket Printer, Setting up a USB docket printer in RetailManager may help.

If your docket printer is connected to a Serial (COM) or Parallel (LPT) port, you do not need to install a printer driver; RetailManager will communicate with the printer without it. Printer drivers for these types of printers can often conflict with RetailManager and cause the printer not to work.

1. Go to the Setup menu and choose Hardware.
2. Click the Docket Printer tab. See our example below.
   
3. Select the option Use Docket Printer and select the Model of your Docket Printer and chose the Port which it is connected to. These three options will often be enough to get a response from the printer.
   Note: RetailManager v12 (and later) users will also need to specify whether the printer is a Serial/Parallel printer or a USB printer.
4. Depending on the printer model you select, the Triggers used in the Second Colour, Double Width and Paper Cutter fields will change. These Triggers are simple commands which tell your printer to perform a function. If your printer model is not listed, you can select a model which is similar to your own as it may use the same or similar Triggers. Alternatively select the Other printer model and consult your printer documentation for the correct Triggers.
5. Click Test. If you are using a Parallel (LPT) port printer, you will receive this message:
   
6. Click OK and click Test again.
7. If the printer does not respond or test properly, follow through with the setup tips below:

Printer self-test

You can get your printer to perform a self-test by following a couple of simple steps:

1. Turn the docket printer off then press and hold the printer's paper feed key.
2. While your finger is still on the feed key, switch the docket printer back on. A test page should print.

A successful printer self-test will print the printers specific settings such as the connection type, buffer level and other details. Take note of these details. If the self test did not print or printed unreadable / garbled text, the printer is likely to be faulty; consult your printer vendor for repair or replacement.

Buffer Size

The buffer size option can be set to any number between 1 and 99. The default setting of 4 will work for most printers, but some printers may vary in setting from 1 to much higher buffer levels.

Check your printer's documentation or the printer self-test for the correct buffer size for your printer. It is also safe to try different buffer levels by trial and error if you are unable to find the correct setting within your documentation.

Serial (COM) Port Settings in RetailManager

If your printer is a Serial (COM) Printer, the Settings button will open a small serial docket printer settings window:

1. Match these settings to that which printed on the printer self-test (they are also likely to be specified within your printer's documentation).
2. The last option in this screen; the Flow Control, should be set to Hardware for most printers and the Hardware Control set to DSR. A small number of printers will use the Xon/Xoff Flow Control setting. See your printer's documentation for correct settings for your Docket Printer.
3. Click Apply to return to the Hardware Options window.
4. Test the changes by going to the Tools menu, choosing Reprint then choosing Last Sales Docket.

Serial (COM) Port Settings in Windows Device Manager

A similar set of Serial (COM) port options can be found in your windows Device Manager. These also should match the correct settings for your printer.

1. Open the Device Manager window as follows:

   1. In Windows XP

      1. From the Windows Desktop, right-click My Computer and choose Properties.

      2. Click the Hardwaretab then click Device Manager.

   2. In Windows 7

      1. Click the Windows Start button and choose Control Panel.

      2. Click Device Manager.

2. Locate the Ports (COM & LPT) option, and then double-click the port number your printer is connected to. The Communications Port (COMx) Properties window appears.
   
3. Click the Port Settings tab. The Serial port settings are displayed as shown in the following example.
4. Match the settings to the correct settings for your printer then click OK. The correct Serial Port settings for your printer can be found within your printer's documentation or by performing a printer self-test.
5. Test the printer once again in RetailManager.

Generic Printer Driver Test

Setting up RetailManager on a Windows XP network or Installing a generic text only printer driver (Windows 7) have detailed instructions on setting up and testing with a Generic / Text only printer driver.

In addition to the Docket Printer Hardware options, there are printing options which can also affect what transactions you print and how many copies are printed.

To check these options:

1. Go to the Setup menu and choose Options then choose Printing.
2. To print transaction dockets to your Docket Printer, select 40 col against each respective transaction type.
3. To print additional copies of a transaction docket, increase the multiplier value against that transaction type.
4. To disable printing of a particular transaction type, go to the Settings tab and deselect the option for the respective transaction type.