Receipt Printout Showing Random Garbage Data

Screenshots are taken from GPoS version 1.66.

If receipt prints are coming out as blocks of random garbage characters, there might be a mismatch between the printer Peripheral settings in GPoS, and the settings on the printer itself.

Receipt Printer Settings

Receipt printers communicate with GPoS using a Serial COM port connection (or a virtual COM port if connected via USB) and there are a number of settings that control how the receipt data is communicated from the POS to the printer. Usually these settings are found by running a test print, which can be done by following the steps below.

1.  Switch the printer power off and then, whilst holding the Feed button, switch the power on again, holding the Feed button down until the test page is printed. Turn printer off and on again without holding the Feed button.
2. Somewhere between halfway through and at the bottom of the test print will be a number of settings like this: Baud Rate Data Bits Parity Handshaking Note these settings down, as these will need to checked/corrected in the GPoS Utility.

GPoS Utility Peripheral Settings

1. Open the GPoS Utility - this can be done in one of two ways: Use the Minimise GPoS function usually found on a Manager or Reports page and then launch the Utility manually Double-tap the Fidelity GPoS icon on the Windows desktop that appears when GPoS is minimised Touch Start > All Programs > Fidelity GPoS > Fidelity GPoS Utility Make sure that the correct Database Server is selected, then touch Continue - this is usually "FidelityECRSystem on (LOCAL)\FIDELITY" Use the Launch Programming Utility function which is usually found on a Manager or Reports page, and launches the Utility from within the regular GPoS application - the Utility will appear full screen until it is closed by touching File > Exit
2. Touch Programming > System Tables > Peripheral Setup
3. Select the Printer peripheral that you are using as your receipt printer and check the following settings against the test print: Baud Rate Data bits Stop bits Parity Flow Control Not all settings will be shown on the test print, so leave these settings as default if you cannot check them
4. Correct any that are different to what's shown on the test print, then touch X in the top-right hand corner, touching Yes when prompted to save Peripherals
5. Close the Utility and restart GPoS - if you have launched the Utility from within GPoS you will be prompted to restart GPoS

Try printing a receipt again - if the error still occurs, contact us or submit a ticket.

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