Introduction

Proper configuration allows you to avoid conflicts when interacting with the ST-Mobile Trade printer, as well as prepare reports for printing on the device.
An example of configuring a mobile device, printer, and print server is given in the article Print Settings.

Calling dialog form

> Settings > Technical Settings > Printer
If printer is not configured, you can go to printer settings directly in document printing dialog by clicking  on toolbar.

Printer Class

Setting up printer starts with defining its class.
Go to printer settings, click on line Printer Class and select one of the options:

• Undefined — printer is not connected to device or printer class is unknown. Printing is not possible.
• Matrix printer — matrix printer is used for printing.
• Thermal printer — thermal printer is used for printing.
• HP printers — Hewlett-Packard printer is used for printing.
• Epson printers — Epson printer is used for printing.
• Printing to file — when this option is selected, the document is saved for further printing (by default, in format .jpg, it is possible to use other graphic formats).

HP printers. Settings

1. Click Printer model or family.
2. List of compatible printer models and families opens.
3. Select desired value.
   If there is no name of your printer in list of models, select its submodel, for example, Generic Voip.
4. Click Type of connection and select option by which printer will be connected to mobile device:
   • TPC (Wi-Fi),
   • Bluetooth.
5. Configure connection parameters (they depend on selected connection type and are described in relevant sections).
6. Click Print to print test page.

Epson printers. Settings

Connection Types

Further configuration of printer depends on which type of connection is used: Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Different connection types - different parameters.

Wi-Fi printer. Settings

• Connection type — TPC (Wi-Fi) should be selected.
• Print Server — allows you to select print server from list of available ones.
• IP address — specifies address of printer to which connection is being made.
  Address can be found in instructions of device.
• Port — specifies connection port to printer.
• Connection type settings — connection type is specified:
  • Wi-Fi settings — Ad-Nose mode,
  • Access Point settings — Infrastructure mode.

Bluetooth printer. Settings

• Connection type — Bluetooth should be selected.
• Find and select device — enables Bluetooth on mobile device, searches for available printers.

• Bluetooth connection type — specifies how bluetooth connection will be made.
• MAC address — unique identifier assigned to each piece of computer network equipment.
• Bluetooth status when closing the application — shows whether Bluetooth will remain on after closing application or will be disabled.

Configuring Print Settings

• Paper type (only for matrix printers) — allows you to set paper type: 
  • separate sheets,
  • in a roll (for example, for receipts).
• Page orientation — allows you to set one of two page orientation options: 
  • landscape,
  • portrait
• Type of printed form — allows you to set type of printed form: 
  • narrow,
  • standard,
  • wide.

They differ in formatting settings and should preferably have landscape view on A4 sheets.

• Text encoding — allows you to set text encoding standard.
  By default, the Windows encoding standard is set to 1251 - the most common at present.
• Printer initialization string — allows you to transfer control sequences (ESC/P, PCL) to printer.
  It is necessary to perform certain tasks (for example, to switch printing language).
• Print scale (only for HP and Epson printers) — allows you to set text scale relative to page size.

Checking settings

To check correctness of specified settings, click Print the trial page.
If settings are specified correctly, trial page will be printed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Unable to connect to Wi-Fi printer

1. Check connection to print server
   Go to  > Settings > Technical Settings > Printer > Print Server.
   Make sure that device is selected in the ST-Mobile Trade settings, turned on and configured correctly.
   Detailed information on installing and configuring supported print servers is available at the links: 
   • TRENDnet TEW-P1PG,
   • TP-Link TL-WPS510U,
   • D-Link DIR-320
2. Check access point settings on mobile device itself
   Go to  > Settings > Wireless Networks > USB Modem/Access Point > Router Settings.
   In dialog box that opens, specify:
   • Name of Router (SSID) - AndroidAP,
   • Safety - No.

Unable to connect to Bluetooth printer

• Make sure that both printer and mobile device are connected to Bluetooth.
• Go to  > Settings > Technical Settings > Printer >Find and select device
• As soon as print server is found, pair with device by entering its PIN code (its default value is specified in device manual).
• In event that search and pairing with device do not occur, perform them directly in settings of mobile device: Main Menu > Settings > Bluetooth > Search for devices.

Text is displayed incorrectly when printing ("abracadabra")

To display text correctly, it is necessary that encodings in settings of ST-Mobile Trade and printer are matched.

• Go to  > Settings > Technical Settings > Printer > Text encoding.
• Select required encoding standard. As rule, encoding standards are used for Russian-language texts Windows-1251 and CP866.
• Set the same encoding in printer settings (in most cases, using the parameter Character Table).
  You can get detailed information on setting up your printer model from the User Manual, or on manufacturer's website.

Text is transferred to next line, not displayed on sheet completely, formatting "moves out"

Such problems are caused by text going beyond boundaries of printed sheet and, as rule, are associated with formatting errors.

1. Change print step
   Selected printing step depends on how tightly printed characters will fit together.
   If its value is large enough, text will go beyond boundaries of printed sheet.
   
   • In printer settings, verify Pitch parameter.
   • Set print step value (in cpi, characters per inch) to less than current one.
   • If Pitch parameter is not present in printer settings, use Font parameter.
     It is responsible for font outline when printing.
     
     • Normal - printing standard characters,
     • Condenced - printing narrow characters.
    
2. Change type of printed form
   If printed form was set in printing parameters that does not correspond to format of printed sheet, text will go beyond its boundaries.
   
   • Go to  > Settings > Technical Settings > Printer > Type of printing plate
   • Install narrower printing plate than is currently installed.