Virtual Serial Port ToolKit for easy and robust serial port emulation. Virtual Serial Ports - is a software solution that allows you to create virtual com ports and connect them to each other using software-based virtual null-modem cable or connect them to different serial applications and virtual devices via named pipes. Null-modem emulator (com0com) The Null-modem emulator is an open source kernel-mode virtual serial port driver for Windows, available freely under GPL license. The Null-modem emulator allows you to create an unlimited number of virtual COM port pairs and use any pair to connect one COM port based application to another.
Connectingyour Epson USB printer
Within uniCenta there is native support for printerswith serial interfaces. If your computer does not have a serial portyou can install a USB printer then add a virtual serial port inWindows for theprogram to use. This allows you to connect a USB printer and have itfunction as a serial printer in the program.
Printer Interface
These instructions assume your receipt printer has aUSB interface. The Printer connects to the terminal or computerusing a USB printer cable to the USB port on the back of the printer(see arrow).
This TM-T88V printer has both a serial interface and a USB interface(red arrow)
To use a USB printer in Windows you must install a printer driver. For Epson printers,install the standard Advance Printer driver and install the printer as a USBprinter.
After installing the printer driver and the printer, it should appear in theprinters folder in Windows:
The Epson Printer should be shown in the Printers Folder afterInstalling
Test the printer by choosing printer properties and printing a test page.
TM Virtual Port Driver
The TM Virtual Port Driver Utility is available from Epson websiteepson.com (technical resources).
This driver allows you to use an Epson printer with a USB or Ethernetinterface as if it was a printer with a serial port interface.
Features of the Virtual Port driver include:
Application Friendly - You can use a TM printer with a USB or Ethernet interface TM printer without altering existingapplications
that specify the serial / parallel port using ESC/POS commands. Even in an environment ofY-connection/pass-through connection, replacement with a USBinterfaceprinter can be performed without altering the existingapplication. When pass-through connection isused, the connection pattern will be changed to Y-connection.See 'Change from Pass-Through Connectionto Y-Connection. - USB' .Simple Replacements- If a TM printer malfunctions and isreplaced by an identical or compatible model, the communications
module automatically detects and reconfigures settings, sodrivers and applications do not need to
be set-up again.Serial Line Emulation - The virtual portincludes serial port signal line emulation. In cases where the serial signal line is controlledby the application, replacement with a USB interface TM printeror customer display can be performed without altering theapplication.
Compatibility with Ethernet Interfaces - If EpsonNet Config or TMNet WinConfig isinstalled on the computer, the IP address of the TM printer can
be set from the setting screen of Virtual Port Driver.
Next install the Epson TM Virtual port utility. This will allow you to map theUSB printer to a virtual serial port.
After installing the utility you can choose the port number to map the printer to.
The Virtual Port Utility lets you choose which available COM portyou want to map the printer to
After installing the virtual printer driver you will have several new portslisted in the printer properties.
Continue to use the USB port selected you originallyinstalled.
After configuring the port driver, it adds 2 virtualports to the ports list. The checked port is the original nativeport.
uniCenta Printer Configuration
After connecting the printer to the computer you canopen the uniCenta configuration section and configure the printer.In uniCenta the configuration is separate from the main uniCenta POSapplication.
In this example, we are using a TM-T88 printer connected to serialport, COM5. See the settings for 'Printer' below.
It appears that the driver requires that you use the filemode for printing.
Specify the printer type, the mode and the port used for connectingthe printer.
Once configured the receipt should print after each sale or when youpress the 'Receipt Printer' button.
Troubleshooting your printer:
If you have trouble connecting your receipt orkitchen printer to uniCenta, please try these troubleshooting tips:
Com Port Emulator Open Source
Check printer functioning with printer self-test(on Epson printers, turn off power and hold the Feedbutton while turn the power on)
Com Port Emulator Windows 10
If you continue to have trouble, pleasecontactEpson' technical support team or your terminal manufacturer fornext steps.