Configure Windows raw printing with winspool

Use this method when Saleculator is running on Windows and the receipt printer is installed as a Windows printer queue. The winspool mode sends raw ESC/POS bytes through the Windows print spooler, so you do not need to map the printer to LPT1.

Supported version: Saleculator 4.5 Update 2 and later builds that include the winspool printer mode.

When to use this method #

• Use winspool for USB receipt printers installed in Windows.
• Use network for Ethernet/Wi-Fi receipt printers that accept ESC/POS on TCP port 9100.
• Use the older LPT1 mapping method only for older Saleculator builds or older Windows setups where winspool is not available.

Before configuring Saleculator #

1. Install the receipt printer in Windows using the printer driver or vendor setup utility.
2. Open Windows printer settings and confirm the printer queue name. Example: POS-80C.
3. Print a Windows test page once to confirm the printer is installed and online.

The printer queue name must be typed exactly in Saleculator. If Windows shows the printer as POS-80C, use POS-80C in the Saleculator Port field.

Configure raw printing in Saleculator #

1. Open Configuration.
2. Go to Peripherals.
3. For the required receipt printer, select the printer type. For most ESC/POS thermal printers, use epson.
4. Set Mode to winspool.
5. Set Port to the Windows printer queue name. Example: POS-80C.
6. Use the Test Printer selector below Printer 6 to choose Printer 1, Printer 2, and so on.
7. Click Test Print. Saleculator sends a short raw ESC/POS test receipt using the selected printer configuration.
8. Click Save.
9. Restart Saleculator before using the printer in normal billing.

Example configuration #

For a printer queue named POS-80C:

machine.printer=epson:winspool,POS-80C

For Printer 2:

machine.printer.2=epson:winspool,POS-80C

Testing multiple printers #

If you use Printer 1, Printer 2, Printer 3, and other configured printers, select the required printer in the Test Printer dropdown and click Test Print. The test uses the current settings shown in the Peripherals screen, so you can test before saving and restarting.

Troubleshooting #

• If nothing prints, check that the Port value exactly matches the Windows printer queue name.
• If the printer is shared from another Windows computer, make sure the Saleculator Windows user has permission to print to that shared printer.
• If the receipt prints as unreadable characters, verify that the printer type is correct. Most thermal receipt printers use epson.
• If the paper does not cut, confirm that the printer supports the ESC/POS cut command and that the selected printer type is compatible.
• If the Windows print queue is paused or offline, resume the queue in Windows printer settings and test again.

Difference from LPT mapping #

The older Windows fast-printing method maps a shared printer to LPT1 using net use. That still works, but winspool is simpler for current Windows installations because Saleculator can send raw data directly to the Windows printer queue.

Use the LPT mapping article only when you specifically need the legacy file,LPT1 setup.