Printing to network printer using fsockopen

[chronister]

Hello,

 

I have a unique challenge. I need to print to a receipt printer over port 9100. I can manage this part. Here is what I have to do this.

 

<?php
$ipAddress = "192.168.1.150";
$toPut = "I can print this no problem \r\n\r\n This line prints too!";
$f = fsockopen($ipAddress, 9100, $errno, $errstr); 
if (!$f) 
{ 
echo "Connection To Server Failed ($errstr)"; 
}
else 
{
$x = 0;
while($x < 3)
{
	if(fwrite($f, $toPut))
	{
		echo $x.'<br>';
		$x++;
	}
}
fclose($f); 
} 
?> 

 

My challenge here is formatting the text. I am attempting to figure out how to make some text bigger/smaller or print in red (it is a 2 color epson receipt IP-based printer). I have looked at the PostScript Library and it may do what I want it to do, but I am not sure how to push the raw postscript file to the printer and have it print.

 

Anyone have any experience doing this?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Nate

[aschk]

I'm surprised that it lets you just send it a string with it'll print for you. I recommend googling the printer and socket connections and printer headers. Most printers communicate in a similar fashion (probably postscript as you mentioned) and as a result you need to pass postscript over the socket to the printer (this will just be a massive string)...