What is OPOS?

OPOS or OLEPOS stands for Object Linking and Embedding for Point Of Sale. This is a standard way to interface to a POS printer or other POS devices.

The OPOS printer interface for the PcOS Series printers allows an application programmer access to printer functionality that is otherwise unavailable using normal Operating System API function calls. This allows applications to be built which can utilize the special features of the PcOS series printers.

What is in the download?

1. The drivers: Printer and Cash drawer Service Objects and Control Objects.

2. PcOS OPOS Reference Manual for the PcOS Series Printers (PcOSOPOS.doc).

3. A Visual Basic demonstration application.

4. A setup/configuration utility (installed in the Control Panel).

Which printers do these drivers support?
50Plus, 80 Series,90 Series, 150 Series.

Support for both Serial and Parallel I/O Ports?
Yes with the 80, 90, and 150 Series. 50Plus(serial only).

Note:  It is highly recommended that you read the sections "Printer Configuration for
OPOS" and "Important Guidelines" in the Reference Manual PcOSOPOS.doc. This
information will help you utilize your printer most effectively.

The OPOS printer interface allows Synchronous and Asynchronous modes of operation.
In the Synchronous mode of operation, print methods are called and do not return until
the print operation is completed or an error occurs that prevents printing. This
synchronous mode of operation allows error checking as a return value of the print
method called.

Conversely, in the asynchronous mode of operation, the print method returns
immediately without waiting for the print job to finish. This mode has the advantage of
faster operation, the errors are handled by error event processing.

Transaction Mode

In Transaction Mode print requests are buffered up until transaction mode is exited.
hen the buffered text is printed. This allows a transaction to be built and then sent all at
once.

Events

StatusUpdateEvent: This event notifies the application when a significant event occurs.
These are things like printer cover open, and receipt paper gone.

ErrorEvent: This event notifies the application when an error event occurs.

OutputCompleteEvent: This event notifies the application when an output complete
event occurs in asynchronous mode.
See the Reference Manual(PcOSOPOS.doc in the down load).

Bitmap Functions/Methods

This bitmap print interface is easy to use, all the application needs to supply is the file
name of the bitmap to be printed. There are functions to set/save the bitmap for later
print via OPOS defined escape codes.

OPOS defined Escape codes

There are escape codes defined to feed paper, fire a stamp, print a pre-stored logo, print a
bitmap, select fonts, bold, italic, underline, double size print, justification, and more. See
"Data Characters and Escapes Sequences" in the Appendix of the Reference Manual
(PcOSOPOS.doc in the down load).

Rotated Print

There are four modes of Rotated Print; Normal, 90L, 90R, and 180. These modes are
entered via "RotatePrint" method. The 90L, 90R cause text sent to "PrintNormal" to
be buffered up until the Rotated Print mode is change to Normal. The rotated print uses
"LineHeight" and "LineChars" properties(as normal print does) to set rotated print
height and character pitch.

Properties

Some of the pertinent properties are:
"RecLineChars" number of characters per print line.
"RecLineSpacing" number of map mode units (dots) between top of one line to top
of next line.
"RecLetterQuality" turns on/off enhanced print quality.
"RecNearEnd" near end of receipt paper.
"RecEmpty" end of receipt paper.

See the appendix of the Reference Manual (PcOSOPOS.doc in the down load) for all the
properties and their definitions.

"BeginInsertion" Opens form clamp mechanism for validation.
"EndInsertion" Closes form clamp mechanism for validation.
"BeginRemoval" Opens form clamp mechanism for slip removal.
"EndRemoval" Ends slip removal mode.
"CutPaper" Cuts receipt paper.
"PrintBarCode" Prints a bar code.
"PrintBitmap" Prints a bitmap using a file name.
"PrintImmediate" Prints with out waiting.
"PrintNormal" Normal method of printing text to the printer.
"RotatedPrint" Sets rotation mode.
"SetBitmap" This will store a bitmap for use later via OPOS Escape code.
"SetLogo" This will store a logo for use later via OPOS Escape code. Note: Escape codes
are allowed, including bitmap codes.
"TransactionPrint" Turns on/off transaction print mode.
"ValidateData" Method used to determine whether a data sequence (including escape
codes) is valid for print.

Series 50:

Series 80:

Series 90:

Note: The Settings on the host PC must match the relevant communications interface
settings of the printer. See the programmers guide for the printer you are using.