Before the hardware arrives

If you ordered a Star thermal receipt printer (TSP600), you will need to buy receipt paper for the printer - it is not included.  Thermal receipt paper (comes in rolls) is 3 1/8" wide and available in most office supply stores.  Be sure it is "thermal" paper.

If you ordered our Zebra thermal tag printer, call Forms Plus Inc. to order 2-across thermal tags - product code LBTH (tag) or LBTHLBL (sticker).  Their number is 800.241.2319.  Tags are not shipped with the thermal tag printer.  Forms Plus also sells tags or labels for your InkJet or LaserJet printer and they both come 20 per sheet.

Setting up the special printers

Once the printers are connected to your computer, you need to install and configure the correct printer drivers and tell ConsignPro what printers you are using on our Customize CP screen (off the Maintain Store screen).  The instructions below will help you setup the receipt printer and/or the thermal tag printer on your system.

Star Receipt Printers (SP200, SP2000, TSP600)

The Star receipt printer can be plugged into an open USB port on the front or back of your computer.

Step 1 – Connect the Star receipt printer:

1. Using the included USB cable, connect the Star receipt printer to the desired port on your computer.
2. Plug the power cable that comes with the printer into the wall.
3. Open the printer and insert a roll of paper into the printer (see above for specs).
4. The green power light should appear. If you are using a TSP600 and the paper roll is low, the red error light will blink warning you the roll is low - but it will still work fine.

All Star receipt printers require that the "Generic / Text Only" printer driver to be installed in the Windows printers folder. You do NOT need to install any Star drivers to use this printer with ConsignPro.

1. In Windows, click Start / Control Panel / Printers and Other Hardware (or Devices and Printers) / View installed printers.
2. Click "Add a printer" to open the "Add printer wizard".
3. You're adding a Local Printer if prompted.
4. If you're prompted for a Port, select a USB option that may say "Virtual printer port for USB" next to it.
5. Click "Next" until you see a list of Manufacturers.
6. Click "Generic" in the list and select "Generic / Text Only".
7. Select the USB port if prompted.
8. Continue with "Next" until this printer driver is installed. Do NOT rename this printer when prompted!

Note: If Windows cannot find the Generic / Text Only driver file, you can download it from our Support web page. The name of the file you need is "generic.exe". It contains all the files necessary to install the Generic printer driver.

Step 3 – Configure ConsignPro:

1. On the Main Menu, go to Maintain Store and click "CustomizeCP".
2. Change the "Print receipts on" box to your specific printer model.
3. Click Update, then Menu.

You can test this printer by printing a sales receipt from the Make Sale screen when you complete a sale. If you do not get a receipt, make sure the printer is "online" and the "Print sales receipt" box is checked on the Amount Due screen.

If you are using the SP200 or SP2000, purchase 3" paper rolls from any office supply store. If you are using the TSP600, purchase 3 1/8" thermal paper rolls from any office supply store. If you have trouble finding receipt paper, try www.staples.com or www.officemax.com  

Connecting the electronic cash drawer

The electronic cash drawer simply connects to the bottom of the Star receipt printer using the cable provided by the manufacturer. You may need to remove a small piece of plastic on the bottom of the receipt printer to expose the cash drawer port. The drawer will open automatically when the "Open drawer" button on the Main Menu is clicked OR whenever you complete a sale.

Keys are included with every cash drawer shipped and are often taped to the Styrofoam that the drawer ships in. Inspect all packaging carefully before discarding.

Once the drawer is connected, go into the Maintain Store screen in ConsignPro and then into Customize CP. Change the "Auto cash drawer" selection box to "Attached to receipt printer". An "Open drawer" button will appear back on the Main Menu.

Note: The Star receipt printer must be turned on, online, and have paper in it for the cash drawer to work correctly!

Zebra Ticket Printers (2622, 2722, 2824, 2443)

The Zebra thermal tag/label printer can connect to any available USB port on your computer. A USB cable is included from our distributor.

Step 1 – Connect the Zebra ticket printer:

1. Using the included parallel or USB printer cable, connect the ticket printer to an open port on your computer.
2. Plug the power cable that comes with the printer into the wall.
3. Open the printer and insert a roll of tags or labels into the printer. Thread the tags according to the instructions that accompany the printer.  Close the lid securely.
4. Turn the printer on using the power switch on the side of the printer.

All Zebra tag printers require the appropriate printer driver to be installed in the Windows Printers folder.  The driver may install itself automatically - depending on how new your computer is.  If it does, skip to Step 3. If not, do this:

Using the included CD, install the "ZDesigner LP2824" printer driver onto your computer.  This is typically done by inserting the CD and following the on-screen wizard that should automatically come up.

If it does not, or if you have trouble, please contact Zebra at (847) 913-2259 and they will help you install their printer driver software.  Once the printer appears in your Windows Printers folder, follow the next steps to set the paper size and configure ConsignPro.

Note: If you do not have the Zebra printer driver CD, you can download the necessary driver file from www.zebra.com.

After the "ZDesigner" printer driver is installed, you need to set the paper size correctly so that the printer knows what size tags or labels you have in it. To set the paper size:

Double-wide tags or labels (LBTH or LBTHLBL):

1. In the Windows Printers folder, right-click the "ZDesigner LP2824" printer.  Click Printing Preferences.
2. Under the Options tab, Paper Format, click Landscape.
3. Under Size, make the Width = 2.38, Length = 3.19, Right = .19
4. Click OK to save your changes.

Single thread tags or labels (LBTH-ONE):

1. In the Windows Printers folder, right-click the "ZDesigner LP2824" printer.  Click Printing Preferences.
2. Under the Options tab, Paper Format, click Portrait.
3. Under Size, make the Width = 2.25, Length = 1.38
4. Click OK to save your changes.

Step 4 – Configure ConsignPro to use the Zebra ticket printer:

1. On the Main Menu go to Maintain Store then Customize CP screen.
2. Set the "My ticket printer is" box to the Zebra printer you installed (ex. ZDesigner LP2824).
3. Set the Tag / Label Style box to either "Zebra Tags, Liberty style, barcode" (or markdown, or combo) if you are using the double-wide tags.  If you are using the single tags, "Zebra tags, 2.25" x 1 3/8".
4. Click Update, then Menu. Tags are printed from the Reports page.

Resetting the thermal tag printer:

This is sometimes required when the printer does not print correctly.

1. Turn the printer off using the switch on the side.
2. Hold down the green button on top and turn the printer back on.
3. When the light appears, immediately release the green button.

The printer should do a self-test and print a test page. Press and release the green button again when it is completed to exit dump mode. The test page should say, "Page mode" and NOT "Line mode" somewhere on the print out.

Using other printers with ConsignPro

In general, ConsignPro can print to any printer attached to your computer -- assuming that Windows can print to the printer.  Any printer that you connect requires the correct printer driver software installed into your Printers folder.  After you install any printer (using the Windows Add Printer wizard found in the Printers folder), you should try to print a Test Page from the driver file to ensure that Windows can use the printer.

In general, your report printer should be the "default" printer in Windows and should also be selected in the "My report printer is" box on the Customize CP screen.

Connecting the scanning gun

The scanning gun plugs into a free USB port on your PC.

The scan gun should make a beeping tone as your computer starts. No special driver files or configuration is required with the scanner, it should work right out of the box. You can test the scan gun by going into the ConsignPro "Make Sale" screen and scanning any of the barcodes pictured in the back of the ConsignPro User Guide. The barcode should scan and the item number should appear on the screen (along with a "not found on database" message).

If the scan gun does not read the barcode:

• Press the "trigger" on the scan gun to get the red scan light to appear.
• Look in the booklet that came with the scan gun and find a barcode in the configuration section that reads, "Reset default" or "Set default". Scan the "Start" barcode, then the Default barcode, and then the "End" barcode. Re-test.
• If the barcodes in the back of the User Guide scan but the ones that you print do not, the issue is print quality. Try to improve the print quality or density by looking at the options in your printers driver file in the Printers folder.

Note: The scan gun does not work with some wireless keyboards and laptop computers.

Turning on barcodes

If you do not have barcodes on your inventory tickets but have selected a tag style that has a barcode, do the following:

1. Click on the Windows "Start" button located at the bottom left hand corner of your computer screen.
2. Choose Settings / Control Panel (or just Control Panel if WinXP).
3. Double click on the Fonts folder. If you do not see the Fonts folder, you may need to first click "Switch to classic view".
4. Up top, click File, and then choose "Install New Font".
5. Double-click on the top folder in the lower left corner (C:\). Then find the Windows folder and double-click that. Then find the Fonts folder and double-click that.
6. Two Skandata barcode fonts should appear in the top window.  The fonts are in alphabetical order, scroll WAY down.
7. Click either of the two font files once with your mouse a single time to select it. Hold the "Ctrl" key down on your keyboard and single click the second file. Both will appear selected. Let the "Ctrl" key up and click the OK button.
8. Click OK on the two warning messages that appear and close all open windows.

Barcodes will now appear when you print inventory labels or tags to either the screen or printer. If the barcodes do not appear, try repeating the steps above and then restarting your computer. If they still do not appear, try restarting the computer a few more times – in time they will appear (as if by magic!).

Connecting the MagTek credit card swipe

The card swipe simply connects to a free USB port (rectangular) on your PC.  The card swipe should work right out of the box.  No special programming or software is required.

Connecting the pole display: 

1. Insert the CD.
2. Browse the CD using My Computer.
3. Go into te “USB Driver” folder.
4. Go into the Windows folder.
5. Double-click Setup.
6. Click “Virtual COM port driver” and click Install.
7. Plug in the USB cable.
8. When Add New Hardware wizard appears, allow it to install the driver, click “Continue anyway”.
9. When done, go into Control Panel, System, Hardware tab, Device Manager.
10. Locate Ports, double-click. Find “LCI USB Line Display PD3000 Comm Port”
11. Right click on it, go to Properties.
12. Click the Port Settings tab.
13. Click Advanced.
14. Change the “COM Port Number” to COM1.
15. Click OK a few times.
16. Unplug the USB cable, wait 10 seconds, plug it back in.
17. Change the setting in ConsignPro to COM1.

Configuring special 1 1/8" by 1" thermal labels with ConsignPro

The thermal 1 1/8" by 1" stickers that are used with ConsignPro are available from Forms Plus at (800) 241-2319.  The product code is JEWEL-S.

Once you have the labels, you must install another copy of the Zebra printer driver that you installed above.  To do this, follow these instructions exactly:

1. In your Windows printers folder, click Add Printer.
2. Select Local Printer, and then the correct USB Port.
3. On the screen that asks for a Manufacturer, select ZDesigner and then ZDesigner LP2824.
4. Click Next until prompted for the Printer Name.
5. Name the printer "Zebra Small".
6. Finish the wizard.

After the new "Zebra Small" printer appears in your Printers folder, right-click on it and select Printing Preferences.

Under SIZE, make the Width = 2.25 and the Height 1.12.  Click OK to save your changes to the "Zebra Small" driver.

On the ConsignPro Main Menu, click Maintain Store, CustomizeCP. In the lower right, check "Also using 1" by 1" thermal labels".  Click Update, then Menu.  The next time you print tags/labels from the Reports page, you can check the box "Use 1" by 1" thermal labels" when that roll is in the thermal printer.

Configuring special thermal jewelry labels with ConsignPro

The butterfly style thermal jewelry labels that are used with ConsignPro are available from Forms Plus at (800) 241-2319.  The product code is JEWEL-R.

Once you have the labels, you must install another copy of the Zebra printer driver that you installed above.  To do this, follow these instructions exactly:

1. In your Windows printers folder, click Add Printer.
2. Select Local Printer, and then the correct USB Port.
3. On the screen that asks for a Manufacturer, select ZDesigner and then ZDesigner LP2824.
4. Click Next until prompted for the Printer Name.
5. Name the printer "Zebra Jewelry".
6. Finish the wizard.

After the new "Zebra Jewelry" printer appears in your Printers folder, right-click on it and select Printing Preferences.

Under SIZE, make the Width = 2.20 and the Height .50.  Click OK to save your changes to the "Zebra Jewelry" driver.

On the ConsignPro Main Menu, click Maintain Store, CustomizeCP. In the lower right, check "Also using thermal jewelry labels".  Click Update, then Menu.  The next time you print tags/labels from the Reports page, you can check the box "Use thermal jewelry labels" when that roll is in the thermal printer.