send binary file to serial port

[jonnytabpni]

Hey folks,

I have an Epson POS printer which support printing via my COM port using ESC/POS. This all works well in my c# app. I have used Epson's BMP converter tool to convert a bmp file to a binary file which can be sent directly to the printer.

How would I get my c# app to send this binary file straight to COM1?

I am familiar with the basic sp.Write("lalala") and sp.Writeline("lalala") commands.

The binary file is only 4kb in size so do I really need a binarystreamer? Can I not just do something like fopen(logo.dat,br) ??

Your help is appreciated thanks

[JerryShaw]

When you scrub off all the fluffy help methods like WriteLn etc, you see that all communications through the comport are actually in byte[] format. Your BMP can be placed into a byte array, and sent to the comport.

[Mick Curley]

Most Epson Printers should have onboard memory.
You should ony have to place your image in this memory and call it from the code. Which printer is it?

[jonnytabpni]

Hi guys,

No, this printer doesn't have on-board memory. Its the TM-T88ii (One mark below the version which does have memory).

I don't think I can put the BMP into a byte array as this "binary file" is in special Epson ESC/POS code so need to be sent.

Now, could i put the binary file into a byte array?

Cheers

[jonnytabpni]

this looks like it could do the job for me:
http://kseesharp.blogspot.com/2007/12/read-file-into-byte-array.html

I would have to put the number of byte of the file into the serielpor's Write method though

[jonnytabpni]

by the way, i think I'm using completly wrong terms when I say "binary file". I think what I'm suppoed to say it "file with ESC/POS codes that outputs a bitmap"

[Mick Curley]

Maybe you can send the image data to the printer using the above but I don't know if the desired result can be achieved.. i.e positioning of the image etc..
I have never worked with the TM88II just the TM88III upwards.
Is there no option to get rid of the TM88II as its about 7 years old now and replace it with a nice new TM88III that can handle images nicely :)

[rodiepa26]

Please, I need some example about sending a bitmap to a printer without using OPOS. I connect the printer via an USB/Pararel converter and I have to use Generic / Text Only driver because the driver only lets me assign USB, LPT or COM ports.

I think that I can only use ESC/POS commands to send it.

Maybe you can send the image data to the printer using the above but I don't know if the desired result can be achieved.. i.e positioning of the image etc..
I have never worked with the TM88II just the TM88III upwards.
Is there no option to get rid of the TM88II as its about 7 years old now and replace it with a nice new TM88III that can handle images nicely :)

[sknake]

You can create a named pipe for LPT1 or which ever port the printer is on and send it data:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.IO;
using System.Management;
using System.Net;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo;
using Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.RegisteredServers;
using Microsoft.Win32;
using Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles;


    [DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
    public static extern SafeFileHandle CreateNamedPipe(
       String pipeName,
       uint dwOpenMode,
       uint dwPipeMode,
       uint nMaxInstances,
       uint nOutBufferSize,
       uint nInBufferSize,
       uint nDefaultTimeOut,
       IntPtr lpSecurityAttributes);
    /* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
    [DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
    public static extern int ConnectNamedPipe(
       SafeFileHandle hNamedPipe,
       IntPtr lpOverlapped);
    /* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
    [DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
    public static extern SafeFileHandle CreateFile(
       String pipeName,
       uint dwDesiredAccess,
       uint dwShareMode,
       IntPtr lpSecurityAttributes,
       uint dwCreationDisposition,
       uint dwFlagsAndAttributes,
       IntPtr hTemplate);

//Inside a method:
      try
      {
        uint GENERIC_READ = (0x80000000);
        uint GENERIC_WRITE = (0x40000000);
        uint OPEN_EXISTING = 3;
        uint FILE_FLAG_OVERLAPPED = (0x40000000);

        SafeFileHandle pipeHandle =
           CreateFile(
              "LPT1",
              GENERIC_READ | GENERIC_WRITE,
              0,
              IntPtr.Zero,
              OPEN_EXISTING,
              FILE_FLAG_OVERLAPPED,
              IntPtr.Zero);

        //could not get a handle to the named pipe
        if (pipeHandle.IsInvalid)
          return;

        using (FileStream fStream = new FileStream(pipeHandle, FileAccess.Write))
        {
          char cOp = Convert.ToChar(7);
          byte bOp = Convert.ToByte(cOp);
          fStream.WriteByte(bOp);
          fStream.Flush();
          fStream.Close();
        }
      }
      catch { }