Arduino Uno and Mini Thermal Printer with C# windows application

Projects Programming
1

Hi,

As you can see in attachment, I tried to making a mini thermal printer application using the adafruit github thermal printer (GitHub - adafruit/Adafruit-Thermal-Printer-Library: Arduino Library for Small Thermal Printers) example and my project a little bit as differently( my project working with windows application). These projects works as well but I wonder, how do I use "printer.printBarcode" (code128 or any other barcode types) value replacing to "printer.println" for alphabetical character( as string or char etc. ) in arduino side? As be clearly when I send a text message from windows application to arduino, it giving output as barcode format on thermal printer.

Thanks.

AdaFruit.zip (49.4 KB)

2

You will have to post your code here if you want me to look at it. I don't want to clutter my PC with unknown ZIP files.

If your question is about the internals of the Adafruit library you should probably be asking Adafruit for advice.

Is this a problem with an Arduino program?

Or can you do things OK with the Arduino but the problem is sending data from C#?

...R

3

Fristly, thanks for your reply :slight_smile:

C# side works well . I guess, my issue from arduino side. How do I taking barcode output from thermal printer like code128 or similar (which one is best) for character values.

printer Mini Thermal Receipt Printer : ID 597 : $49.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits

//c# side
using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.IO.Ports;
namespace AdaFruit
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        SerialPort port;
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();

            port = new SerialPort();
            port.PortName = "COM4"; 
            port.BaudRate = 9600; 
            port.Open(); 
        }

        private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            if (textBox1.Text.Replace(" ", "") != "")
            { 
                port.Write(textBox1.Text);
            }

        }


    }
}

arduino.ino

#include "Adafruit_Thermal.h"
#include "SoftwareSerial.h"
#define TX_PIN 6 
#define RX_PIN 5 

SoftwareSerial mySerial(RX_PIN, TX_PIN); 
Adafruit_Thermal printer(&mySerial); 
void setup() {

  Serial.begin(9600); 
  
  mySerial.begin(19200); 
 
  printer.begin();      
 
}

void loop() {
  String incomingText;
     while(Serial.available()) {
      incomingText = Serial.readString();
      printer.println(incomingText);
   
        }
}
4

recepkirman:
C# side works well . I guess, my issue from arduino side. How do I taking barcode output from thermal printer like code128 or similar (which one is best) for character values.

I don't understand this at all.

How is the printer sending barcode values? I thought you wanted to print the barcode?

I have no idea what code128 means

Is the printer connected to the Arduino or to the PC?

If it is connected to the Arduino have you tried a simple program to print stuff without taking input from the PC?

Have a look at Serial Input Basics

Using the String (capital S) class can cause problems in the small memory of an Arduino. Use C strings (small s) which are char[] arrays terminated by 0.

...R

5

Sorry for my english.

Yes, I want print barcode and code128 is just a simple example for giving a barcode type. Printer connected arduino uno. I tried only adafruit's github example. I'm reading your serial input basics topic :slight_smile:

thanks.

6

I have never tried printing barcodes.

I'm guessing you need a library that can take input characters and produce the output to print a barcode - or is that capability already included in the printer?

I suspect that producing raster data for a printer would be hard work for an Arduino.

What does the adafruit example program do?

...R