These instructions are for laser-style and dot matrix printers. Please see Epson Troubleshooting for the Epson Receipt Printer (supported by BCSS Deluxe, Diamond and Virtual).
Please go through this check list when experiencing a printing problem. See error messages for specific problems.
For document printers (LaserJet and dot matrix), make sure your printer is functioning correctly by printing this page. Hold the Control Key down and press P. If the page doesn't print, go through these steps:
- Make sure the printer is connected, turned on, has paper, ink and no paper jams.
- Verify that the green light is on (if you printer has one) and run a test print. (See the printer's manual.)
- Go to Start, Control Panel, Printers. Click on your printer. If any documents are pending for print, right click in the large white box and select Cancel All Documents. While there, right click on the printer listing and select Properties. Make sure the port setting matches the port that the printer is plugged into. Also click on (something like) Self Test to make sure the printer is functioning properly.
- If the self test fails, test the cable (which connects the printer to the PC) with another piece of hardware that is known to work, or try another cable then self test again. If there's continued failure at this point, the printer could be defective but before the delay of returning it or having it shipped for warranty repair, have a local technician test the printer. Often some minor this is overlooked, even simple things like having the printer connected properly and having correct paper, ribbon (if used) and no jams. Disconnecting and reconnecting in another location often clears these matters.
- In Control Panel, Printers, delete any printers that aren't being used.
- In the Control Panel, click on Device Manager and verify that there are no conflicts (yellow circles with black exclamation points). If there are, click on Start then Help and Support. Search Windows Help for 'conflicts'.
- If your printer is not listed in Control Panel/Printers, see the printer's manual for installing the printer.
- Designate your document printer (not the receipt printer, if you have one) as the default printer if it isn't the default printer, and attempt to print again. (A 'document printer' is the printer used to print on full sheets of paper or labels.)
Perform the following steps only after it has been confirmed that the printer is in working order:
- In BCSS, click on File, Program Setup, Printers and make sure your printer has been selected in the Print Documents field. (If a receipt printer is being used, 'Receipt Printer' should be checked and the printer should be appearing in the Receipt Printer field.)
- While on this page, in the 'Price-Tag-Print Adjustment' section, check 'Wide format' for laser-style printers, 'Narrow format' for dot matrix.
- If bar codes are not printing on labels, remember that bar codes must be assigned for bar code labels to print.
- If printing price tags, labels will not be printed for items not in stock if 'Quantity Greater Than 0' is checked (Main Menu, Labels, Inventory).
- Invalid characters in the Consignor ID have been known to misalign label print. Don't use punctuation in Consignor IDs.
BCSS won't run when the printer is connected.
It was discovered that the HP printer model D4360 would prevent BCSS from running. The solution was to designate another printer as the default printer, set the HP as the Document Printer in BCSS Program Setup, disconnect the default printer and run BCSS using the HP printer. (Thanks Barb!)
BCSS won't print more than one page.
See Update BCSS.
Error 1429 is a common Windows problem sometimes caused by a corrupted computer registry.
- Use CheckIt Registry Cleaner
for registry cleaning. Download and run the free demo. You'll be surprised at the number of errors in the Windows database (the 'Registry') where Windows and programs store their information.
- If the problem persists, reinstall your printer's driver.
- Lastly, update BCSS.
"The resource file is not valid. Overwrite it with a new one yes or no?" - It is safe to answer 'Yes'. The message should go away and no damage will be done to data files.
Receipt Printer Problems - Please see Epson Troubleshooting.
If you did not purchase telephone support, please email support for help. (Add mm.st to your email program's Approved Senders List or White List to lessen the chance that spam filters will block our emails to you. Instructions)