"Silent" printing for multiple printers - printing

Well, I have a web-based application (written in Elixir/Phoenix framework). It's kind of POS for the restaurant.
The system runs on the rpi 3 with two accessible printers. One is local via USB, one is a network printer, connected through the WIFI router. Both of the printers were set up with CUPS and work fine, when I need to print something.
I'm using the Chromium browser, and the "--kiosk --kiosk-printing" switches. However this is where it gets tricky.
As I'm using the kiosk-printing, the printing dialog box (to select printer) doesn't come up, and defaults to the default printer, when sending a job. I need to use silent printing, because of automation. So the waiters don't need to select printer every single time.
Within the web-app, I have certain div's that needs to be printed to one printer, and other's to another. I'm using simple JS to print, however I cannot specify purely with JS/HTML which printer to use, for which job. (One printer to print bills, second printer to print orders to the kitchen)
What I need is to send jobs to different printers. Not sure how to make it, but any advise appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Update: Found Jsprintsetup add-on for Firefox that might help. Will test now.
Update 2: Following the suggestion from #tkowal I was able to do what I need. I ended up creating individual tmp files (instead of sending div) and sending them for printing. Here is my code, if you're interested (tested on OSX):
# Generating tmp for printing and sending jobs
for item <- order_items do
file_name = Enum.join([item.order_id, "-", item.id, ".txt"], "")
file_create = Enum.join(["touch", file_name], " ")
file_create |> String.to_char_list |> :os.cmd
file_inject = Enum.join(["echo", item.food.name, item.quantity, ">", file_name], " ")
file_inject |> String.to_char_list |> :os.cmd
# Send to print
print_path = Enum.join(["~/Developer/elixir/myApp/", file_name], "")
file_print = Enum.join(["lp", "-d", "HP_LaserJet_3050", print_path], " ")
file_print |> String.to_char_list |> :os.cmd
# Remove tmp file
file_remove = Enum.join(["rm", file_name], " ")
file_remove |> String.to_char_list |> :os.cmd
end

You can use System.cmd/3 to interact with operating system. It would be good to come up with a command line solution to printing whatever you need and then calling it through controller in your Phoenix application.
Browsers are sandboxes and can't access everything in your operating system, but your server side code should be able to do almost anything.

Related

Print QR-Code with curent EPC-number from RFID label to Printronix T4000

we bought a Printronix RFID printer T4304 with these dates:
FirmwareP301189 V1.21A
Serial NumberT4K431948007
Our wish is
to produce RFID-Labels with an QR-Code which includes the EPC-number
of the label. The QR-Code shall look like this:
http://qr.mycompany.com/epc/E280689123456789012345
We were hoping to use it with the Software Nicelabel. But Nicelabel
is only able to produce a QR-Code with only the EPC-Number but not
with our http://qr.my..../epc/ in front.
I had the idea to save the printjob as file. So I was able to
manipulate the file and send that file as printjob to the Printronix
printer like this:
lpr -S 192.168.1.2 -P raw myprintjob.prn
I found the document PTX_PRM_PGL_P7_253642C.pdf
which describes how the printer language is working. But I cannot
fulfill my destination.
My myprintjob.prn looks like this:
!PTX_SETUP
ENGINE-IMAGE_SHFT_H;0
ENGINE-IMAGE_SHFT_V;0
ENGINE-WIDTH;04146.
PTX_END
~NORMAL
~PIOFF
~DELETE LOGO;*ALL
~PAPER;INTENSITY 8;MEDIA 1;FEED SHIFT 0;CUT 0;PAUSE 0;TYPE 0;LABELS 2;SPEED IPS 6;SLEW IPS 6
~CREATE;FRM;99
SCALE;DOT;300;300
RFRTAG;96;EPC
96;DF511;H
STOP
ISET;0
FONT;FACE 92250
ALPHA
AF511;24;INV;POINT;329;1033;10;10;
STOP
BARCODE
QRCODE;INV;XD9;T2;E0;I1;95;843;
"http://qr.mycompany.com/epc/","EPCCODE"
STOP
END
~EXECUTE;FRM
~REPEAT;1
~AF511;<DF511>
~NORMAL
The result is a QRcode which only includes the first part of the string:
"http://qr.mycompany.com/epc/"
but not the "EPCCODE". I am looking for a hint how to do this.
Maybe I could find out the EPC-code via REST or telnet or so and create a special printjob for every single label?
Thanks for your help,
Richard
Printronix T4000, talk with port 9100 to get info from the printer
Author
Richard Lippmann, Stadt Zirndorf, EDV
Documentinformation
name: talk-with-port9100-to-get-infos-from-printronix-rfid-printer.md
revision: 2021-12-02 - init
What I want to achieve
I want to know the RFID-code from the label which is under the print-head.
With this information I am able to build a printjob with Qrcode which includes
the RFID-EPC.
I was not able to find out how to create a print-job with a qr-code.
I do not want this information in qrcode: ABC1234...567
But I want this information in qrcode: http://qr.mydomain.com/rfid/epc/ABC1234...567
With that I am able to take a picture of the label and go to a web-application
which helps me further with the device the label is on.
Documenation, where to find information
The printer language is described in the document which is easy to google: PTX_PRM_PGL_P7_253642C.pdf
My environment
Printronix T4000 printer with RFID-unit to read the RFID from the current label.
How to get info back from my printer
Usually Port 9100 is used to send a printjob to the Printronix-printer. Send job,
don't receive data. But you can switch the printer to be verbose, to send you
back information over the 9100-connection.
Glossary
EPC = this is the unique number which is in every RFID-label, just like
a MAC-address in a network card
PGL = the printer language. We can send printjobs with it, but also get information
from the printer about Configuration etc.
Human connect to the printer via Linux commandline
ssh me#shell.mydomain.com
export MYPRINTER=192.168.100.3
nc -v $MYPRINTER 9100
Put verbose mode on
The printer usually only receives information, but does not talk back.
You have to switch on the back-communication.
~CONFIG
SNOOP;STATUS
END
Put verbose mode off
I you are programming this interface with a programming
language like python, perl, ... it's a good idea to switch
verbose mode off after you did your job.
~CONFIG
SNOOP;OFF
END
IDENTITY
To see information:
put verbose mode on
send ~IDENTITY command
put verbose mode off
~CONFIG
SNOOP;STATUS
END
~IDENTITY
The result is:
T43040,V1.21A,12,131072KB
STATUS
To see information:
put verbose mode on
send ~IDENTITY command
put verbose mode off
~CONFIG
SNOOP;STATUS
END
~STATUS
The result is:
BUSY;0
PAPER;0
RIBBON;0
PRINT HEAD;0
COUNT;000
GAP;0
HEAD HOT;0
CUT COUNT;000000000
PRINT DIST;000001529
PRCT COMPLETE;000
TOF SYNCED;1
SENSED DIST;00450
END
Read one RFID-EPC-code from current label
These are things mentioned in this command:
~CREATE - start creating a new "form" (or subroutine to execute later)
VERIFY - the name of the subroutine we are creating. Keep it simple,
less than 15 characters, no special signs (see docu PTX_PRM_PGL_P7_253642C
page 60 under "CREATE" and page 29 under "Form Name" for exact informations)
NOMOTION - don't move the label to the next one after executing this job
DF511 = This is a variable-name, there seem to be a lot of variables in the printer
which are called by their numbers: DF1, DF2, ... I don't know which one I am
allowed to use, DF511 seems to work
96 = the RFID-EPC on my labels are 96 Bits long
H = Hexnumbers, the code is 96 Bit long, but I would like to see it like this:
ABC1234...567
VERIFY - a command to send information to the commandline.
~EXECUTE;VERIFY;1 - execute the form 1 time
~CONFIG
SNOOP;STATUS
END
~CREATE;VERIFY;432;NOMOTION
RFRTAG;96;EPC
96;DF511;H
STOP
VERIFY;DF511;H;*STARTEPC=*;*=ENDEPC\n*
END
~EXECUTE;VERIFY;1
~NORMAL
The result is:
STARTEPC=E28068940000501EC931EC87=ENDEPC
Read two RFID-EPC-codes
Reads 2 Barcodes and gives back the EPC-codes. With this command the label get
sent (moved) through the printer.
These are things mentioned in this command:
~CREATE - start creating a new "form" (or subroutine to execute later)
VERIFY - the name of the subroutine we are creating. Keep it simple,
less than 15 characters, no special signs (see docu PTX_PRM_PGL_P7_253642C
page 60 under "CREATE" and page 29 under "Form Name" for exact informations)
NOMOTION - don't move the label to the next one after executing this job
DF511 = This is a variable-name, there seem to be a lot of variables in the printer
which are called by their numbers: DF1, DF2, ... I don't know which one I am
allowed to use, DF511 seems to work
96 = the RFID-EPC on my labels are 96 Bits long
H = Hexnumbers, the code is 96 Bit long, but I would like to see it like this:
ABC1234...567
VERIFY - a command to send information to the commandline.
~EXECUTE;VERIFY;1 - execute the form 1 time
~CONFIG
SNOOP;STATUS
END
~CREATE;VERIFY;432
RFRTAG;96;EPC
96;DF511;H
STOP
VERIFY;DF511;H;*STARTEPC=*;*=ENDEPC\n*
END
~EXECUTE;VERIFY;2
~NORMAL
The result is:
STARTEPC=E28068940000501EC931EC87=ENDEPC
STARTEPC=E28068940000401EC931EC86=ENDEPC

Printing a Crystal Report directly to printer

I am creating a label printing function in a program that needs to create labels for the given information. I have created a label in Crystal Reports 9 but I'm having trouble printing it.
I don't want to save the label, I just want it to print directly after the system has created it.
Dim ap9 As craxdrt.Application
Dim rpt9 As craxdrt.Report
Dim dbt As craxdrt.DatabaseTable
Set ap9 = New craxdrt.Application
On Error GoTo errError2
Set iniFile = New CIniFile
On Error GoTo errError3
Set rpt9 = ap9.OpenReport(iniFile.pathReports & REPORT_LABEL_IN)
On Error GoTo errError4
For Each dbt In rpt9.Database.Tables
dbt.Location = iniFile.pathDbCosmet
If dbt.ConnectionProperties.count <= 5 Then
dbt.ConnectionProperties.Add "Database Password", iniFile.passwordCosmet
End If
Next
rpt9.RecordSelectionFormula = sFormula
rpt9.PrintOut False, CInt(txtPacksReceived.Text)
The following code allows me to select a printer
and after clicking 'Print' at that point I am shown another dialog
However, the code executes fine, there are no errors, but the print queue doesn't show any documents and the report doesn't print.
Is there some reason why I'm not able to print my labels?
I've had problems with Zebra printers in the past that all turned out to be driver related. Have you uninstalled the printer driver and reinstalled it? Otherwise try unplugging and removing the device, plugging it into a different port and trying again?
Most likely your report doesn't contain any data - some logical error in selection/suppression formulas or similar.
If you print to any other printer, does something print out? Tracing SQL (assuming your report is bound to SQL server), can you see issued query? Does it look correct?

What would cause InternetExplorerMedium to work on one machine but not another?

I have a VBA script in Access that logs onto a website and downloads some data, I built it using a laptop and use the code of
Dim objIE As InternetExplorerMedium 'special object variable representing the IE browser
Dim aEle As HTMLLinkElement 'special object variable for an <a> (link) element
Dim element As HTMLLinkElement
Set objIE = New InternetExplorerMedium
On Error GoTo Errorhandler
objIE.Visible = False
DoCmd.Hourglass (True) 'navigate IE to this web page
objIE.navigate www.google.com ' google just for example
Then it inputs the login info into the proper boxes and logs in.
Which works fine, however I installed this front end on another user's PC and it no longer works, it just opens the page but fills in no info.
However, if I change,
Set objIE = New InternetExplorerMedium
to
Set objIE = CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")
then it works on their PC. But this change does not work on my laptop.
What would cause this issue and how could I standardize this so I can install on any windows machine without worry of this occurring.
Notes:
We are both on the company LAN, and both are running windows 10 Home.
It was something incredibly simple, I just had to add the website I was accessing as a trusted site in Internet Explorer.

Run a command in erlang with a parameter

I'm trying to write a erlang module for ejabberd and can't quite work out the syntax.
What I'm trying to do is when a user sends a off-line message, run a script I've written.
on_offline(_From, To, _Packet) ->
?INFO_MSG("recieved offline packet to ~p", [To]),
?INFO_MSG("Got offline message", []),
osReturn = os:cmd("/opt/ejabberd-2.1.10/newmods/handleoffline.py " ++ To),
?INFO_MSG("Send to handler and got return ~s", [osReturn]),
none.
However when I run it, I get a few errors, if I have ++ To there I get the error
E(<0.423.0>:ejabberd_hooks:294) : {function_clause,
However even if I run it without the ++ I get another error telling me Bad Match.
All I'd like to do is run handleoffline.py with the first part of the user ID, anyone got any suggestions?
From the little information you have provided and assuming that your functions is being called with the ejabberd offline_message_hook I can at least find a problem.
In
osReturn = os:cmd("/opt/ejabberd-2.1.10/newmods/handleoffline.py " ++ To)
you are trying to use the ++ to concatenate the list you provided with To. But the major problem is that To isn't a string (list), and that generates your error. Your function is in the form of
on_offline(From, To, Packet) -> ok
where
To = From = #jid (see jlib)
one way to correct that would be to use
on_offline(_From, To=#jid{user = User, server=Server}, _Packet) ->
...
OsReturn = os:cmd("/opt/ejabberd-2.1.10/newmods/handleoffline.py " ++ User),
?INFO_MSG("Send to handler and got return ~s", [OsReturn]),
none.
because the field user on #jid is a string.
Edit: another error is that you need to chang osReturn to OsReturn because the first is an atom and will raise an error on your code, like selle pointed out
Edit your question and add more information if you have more problems, or to make this one clearer.

who/what deletes the print job?

Having a strange problem where a print occasionally is not being printed
The scenario is that we print barcode labels with a barcode printer (Zebra LP2844).
Printer is plugged into the TerminalPC and then shared.
Printer->TerminalPC -> Terminal Server.
Session on TerminalServer is using Printer as \TerminalPC\Printer
When logging print Events we see the following:
Print OK:
1) Print OK (Event 10, User myUser)
2) Print deleted (Event 13, User NT-AUTHORITY\SYSTEM)
Print not OK => only Event 2) appears in the event log
Anybody having a clue about what is happening here?
More information:
This problems occurs about 2 out of 10 times. Only difference is an increasing ID being printed as part af the barcode.
The barcode is the only object being printed. It saves to file (*.emf) every time - and looks fine on file.
The application is developed using Delphi 2010 and works fine in all other ways.
Print jobs are removed from the print spooler by the port monitor. The port monitor "EndDocPort" function calls "SetJob" with JOB_CONTROL_SENT_TO_PRINTER to indicate the the job has finished, and this removes it from the spooler.
If the printer uses a custom port monitor, the problem could be in the printer driver or custom port monitor. If it uses a standard port such as LPT or USB, it's more likely a problem with the application not calling "EndDoc" consistently, or not checking return codes from EndDoc.

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