Integrating EPSON POS (Model TM-*** ) Printer with your android application

In this blog we will learn how to integrate EPSON POS Printer (Model starting with TM )with your android application.

Integrating this is not at all difficult, if you follow the steps correctly.

First, download the Epson sdk for android. (You can download the sdk from here).
Now from this package, extract the ePOS2.jar file and paste it in your libs folder.

Add this line in your build.gradle file.

compile files('libs/ePOS2.jar')

1	compile files('libs/ePOS2.jar')

Now all you have to do is make an object of the Printer and set the content that you want to print.
Lets have a look on how to do that.

private Printer mPrinter; // Declare a global instance of Printer
mPrinter = new Printer("REPLACE THIS STRING WITH YOUR PRINTER SERIES",
 "REPLACE THIS WITH YOUR PRINTER LANGUAGE", this);// Initialize the printer

/*Add a listener to your printer*/
mPrinter.setReceiveEventListener(new ReceiveListener() {
            @Override
            public void onPtrReceive(Printer printer, int code, PrinterStatusInfo printerStatusInfo, String s) {
                if (code == Epos2CallbackCode.CODE_SUCCESS){
                    createMyData();
                    printMyData();
                }else{
                    Toast.makeText(mContext, "Printer can't be connected. Please try again", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                }
            }
        });

private Printer mPrinter; // Declare a global instance of Printer

mPrinter = new Printer("REPLACE THIS STRING WITH YOUR PRINTER SERIES",

"REPLACE THIS WITH YOUR PRINTER LANGUAGE", this);// Initialize the printer

/*Add a listener to your printer*/

mPrinter.setReceiveEventListener(new ReceiveListener() {

@Override

public void onPtrReceive(Printer printer, int code, PrinterStatusInfo printerStatusInfo, String s) {

if (code == Epos2CallbackCode.CODE_SUCCESS){

createMyData();

printMyData();

}else{

Toast.makeText(mContext, "Printer can't be connected. Please try again", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

}

});

createMyData()

private void CreateMyData() throws Epos2Exception {
        mPrinter.addTextAlign(Printer.ALIGN_CENTER);// by default the alignment is left. 
        mPrinter.addFeedLine(1);// Calling this API causes the printer positioned at "the beginning of the line."
        
        StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder();
        builder.append("test content ");
        builder.append("\n");
        builder.append("test content ");
        builder.append("\n");
        mPrinter.addText(builder.toString());
        /*Adds a sheet cut command "CUT THE SHEET" to the command buffer.*/
        mPrinter.addCut(Printer.CUT_FEED);
    }

private void CreateMyData() throws Epos2Exception {

mPrinter.addTextAlign(Printer.ALIGN_CENTER);// by default the alignment is left.

mPrinter.addFeedLine(1);// Calling this API causes the printer positioned at "the beginning of the line."

StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder();

builder.append("test content ");

builder.append("\n");

builder.append("test content ");

builder.append("\n");

mPrinter.addText(builder.toString());

/*Adds a sheet cut command "CUT THE SHEET" to the command buffer.*/

mPrinter.addCut(Printer.CUT_FEED);

}

printMyData()

private void printMyData() throws Epos2Exception {
        
        mPrinter.connect("REPLACE_THIS_STRING_WITH_THE_PORT_CONNECTION", Printer.PARAM_DEFAULT);
        mPrinter.beginTransaction();
        mPrinter.sendData(Printer.PARAM_DEFAULT);
    }

private void printMyData() throws Epos2Exception {

mPrinter.connect("REPLACE_THIS_STRING_WITH_THE_PORT_CONNECTION", Printer.PARAM_DEFAULT);

mPrinter.beginTransaction();

mPrinter.sendData(Printer.PARAM_DEFAULT);

}

Please note that in printMyData(), you need to replace the first input with the target i.e you need to set the path of the connection or more specifically the port address of your printer.

That’s all
You can connect the printer and test it yourself.

anchit 26 October 2021

. . .

10 comments

Gabriel Savio Nov 28, 2019 at 8:27 pm

How I get “REPLACE_THIS_STRING_WITH_THE_PORT_CONNECTION” ?

anchit (Moderator) Nov 29, 2019 at 11:20 am
Hello Gabriel,

Basically it is the target port of the connected printer.

Before you request to print data you need to save the connected printer information with you and then from that information the value of the target filed needs to be passed in this function.

Reply

Darshan Bhatt Feb 4, 2020 at 5:37 pm

I am getting following error

java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: dalvik.system.PathClassLoader[DexPathList[[zip file “/data/app/com.cmexpertise.instaorder-hogeXAYNRK-s_ihRSPwlBQ==/base.apk”],nativeLibraryDirectories=[/data/app/com.cmexpertise.instaorder-hogeXAYNRK-s_ihRSPwlBQ==/lib/arm64, /system/lib64, /product/lib64]]] couldn’t find “libepos2.so”

anchit (Moderator) Feb 16, 2020 at 3:39 pm
Hello Darshan,

It seems that you have not multidex enabled in your project.

Once you enable the proguard in your project then you will have to do a trick with your code.

In the “jniLibs” directory of your project.

There will be one directory named “armeabi” or some other directory that contains a file named “libepos.so”

When you find this file then you need to take a copy of this file and make five directories under the “jniLibs” directory.

The names of these directories should be exactly :
arm64-v8a
armeabi
armeabi-v7a
x86
x86_64

In each of these directories, paste the “libepos.so” file in each of these directories.

Your final code should look like something like this –> http://i.prntscr.com/3vNb-25ySfKFWgfVWYRGnA.png

Hope this helps you.
If still, you are facing any issue, then please do let me know.

Reply

Zandro Zulueta Feb 27, 2020 at 10:15 pm

I bought an EpsonTMU220-B with a USB port recently. I want my android application to do printing like what you mentioned here. Is it possible to do this with the hardware I bought or should I have an printer with the ethernet at the back instead of the usb port?

anchit (Moderator) Feb 28, 2020 at 3:29 pm
Yes, it is possible to print with the hardware you bought.

You just need to make sure that your android device and the printer are connected via the usb port .
You will need to make sure that the printer and android device are connected and in sync before giving any print command as explained in the blog above.

Reply
- Zandro Zulueta Mar 3, 2020 at 5:37 pm
  hi achit, thanks for the reply. I downloaded the sample Java program which comes form the Epson android sdk which is called ePOS2 Printer sample app. The app makes a sample printout of a receipt.
  I downloaded the Java code to my Mac OS laptop, loaded it in android studio and installed it in my phone. I then connected the TMU220B to the USB port of a router and connected my phone to that router. It will not print..
  So I went to the epson dealer and asked for a TMU220B with an internet port (not USB) and plugged that printer to my router. I then connected my phone to the same router and fixed the router settings to allow 192.168.192.168. This time I was able to print a receipt!
  
  Am I correct to say that this TMU220 USB printer will only work with a Window computer that has the epson hardware driver and will not work if I connect it to a network router
  
  Reply

Zandro Zulueta Mar 3, 2020 at 5:44 pm

Separate question, would you have directions on how to set up for Android studio in Mac? What I have been reading so far online is using Eclipse in Windows

Sunit Jun 8, 2022 at 5:03 pm

Hi, Anchit,
I have integrated above code in my android app but app is not able to detect Epson TM_T82 printer, how can we achieve that please help. Thanks.

anchit (Moderator) Aug 7, 2022 at 11:55 pm

please go through the comments and see if this helps you.

Reply

Integrating EPSON POS (Model TM-*** ) Printer with your android application

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