printer-converter-manual - ipcas

Print Converter 

for serial or parallel connections 

Manual 

ipcas GmbH 

Gundstraße 15 

D-91056 Erlangen 

Germany 

Phone: +49 (0)9131/ 7677-0 

Fax: +49 (0)9131/ 7677-78 

Internet: http://www.ipcas.com 

E-mail: info@ipcas.de

Contents 

Page 

1. Scope of supply................................................................... 3 

2. Important note ..................................................................... 3 

3. Introducing the device ......................................................... 4 

4. Connection and startup ....................................................... 5 

5. Configuring the print converter ............................................ 6 

6. Connecting the hardware .................................................. 14 

7. LED behavior during device startup .................................. 16 

8. Supported printers............................................................. 17 

9. Logging on a USB Stick .................................................... 17 

10. Setting the time of the device via network......................... 17 

11. Network access ................................................................. 17 

12. Compact Flash holder (optionally available) ..................... 18 

13. Data exchange from Compact Flash to USB stick ............ 18 

14. What if …?......................................................................... 19 

15. Interpreting the LEDs ........................................................ 21 

16. Specifications .................................................................... 22 

Subject to change without prior notice State: Okt 07, 2008 

ipcas GmbH Print converter for serial/parallel connections V 2.4 Page 2 of 23

This manual explains how the printer converter of ipcas GmbH is 

connected and installed for the basic operation with serial or parallel data 

output machines or devices. 

A current manual is to be found as PDF or ZIP document on our website: 

http://www.ipcas.de/support/handbuecher.html under 

"RS232 to USB Printer Converter" or, respectively, under 

"Centronics to USB Printer Converter". 

1. Scope of supply 

• Printer converter, desktop version, with serial or 

parallel interface 

• Switching power supply 

Input voltage: 100 – 240 V AV; EU adapter 

Output voltage: 9 V DC; hollow plug 5.5 / 2.1 mm 

• USB Stick 

Parameterizing software 

Manual at hand 

• GNU General Public license terms 

2. Important note 

COPYRIGHT © 2007 ipcas GmbH 

All rights reserved. No part of this document is allowed to be copied, reproduced, 

transcribed or transferred in any other form without the explicit written permission of 

ipcas GmbH. Subject to printing mistakes, errors, or changes without prior notice. 

All brand names or trademarks mentioned in this document serve to identify and may 

belong to respective owners and must, therefore, be treated as such. 

The warranty claim expires immediately if the product is changed, incorrectly used, 

purposely or negligently damaged or impaired by force majeure or operation beyond 

the allowed working conditions. 

CAUTION: 

The warranty claim expires upon removing the serial number. Shipping or 

insurance companies cannot be made liable for damage caused by inadequate 

packing. 



3. Introducing the device 

With the printer converter of ipcas GmbH you can very easily output your 

serial or parallel print data in PCL or ASCII onto a customary 

USB/network printer or USB Stick. These in turn can be connected to 

existing USB or LAN interfaces without effort. 

• The converter behaves like a normal printer and prints the received 

data page by page. 

• The converter is immediately ready to run and prints ASCII logs as 

well as graphics with customary (HP-compatible) USB/network 

printers in black and white or also in color, provided they are 

supported by the connected printer. 

• The PCL (of the company HP) or ASCII can be processed on the 

input side. The data is then collected and output page by page. 

• The print data cannot only be logged on a USB/network printer, but 

also on an off-line USB data carrier or (optionally) on an internal 

Compact Flash card. 



4. Connection and startup 

There are some parameters of the print converter that have to be set 

prior to startup. 

These settings have to be performed only once. 

The parameterization is imported into the print converter through a USB 

Stick. 

The included configuration program has to be run on a Windows computer 

to set these parameters. 

1. 2. 3. 

Set Store Import 

parameters parameters parameters 

The following steps are required for this: 

1. Insert the USB Stick included in the delivery into a PC (Win2000, XP or 

Vista) 

2. Start the program directly from the USB Stick (StartHere.exe). 

3. Set the parameters and save them. 

4. Start up print converter (refer to item A, page 12). 

5. Insert the USB Stick into the converter (refer to item A1, page 12). 

6. The converter adopts the parameterization automatically and stores it 

internally. 

7. Done. 

The delivery USB Stick must be used only to configure. Please also 

make sure that USB Sticks used for logging contain no 

configuration software. 



5. Configuring the print converter 

Please insert the delivery USB Stick into a Windows PC (2000, XP or 

Vista). 

The window below should appear on display. Click "Open folder". 

If the window should not open automatically, please use the Explorer to 

navigate to the removable data carrier of the USB Stick. 



Now click the 

icon to start the configuration program. 

This starts the program, and a display of the last saved configuration or 

the preset default configuration appears. 

You can now set the Input parameters of the device in the mask displayed above. 

Please note that the program requires Microsoft .Net Framework as of at least 

Version 1.1. If the appropriate Framework has not been installed on your 

computer, you will find one in the "Support" folder on the USB Stick. 



Parameter descriptions 

Input / Connectivity / RS232 settings 

Centronics / Parallel 

Selection of Centronics interfaces 

Device 

Baud rate 

Selection of serial interfaces with which the print 

converter should operate. 

/dev/ttyS0……….COM1 

/dev/ttyS1……….COM2 

Note: The setting of COM Interface 1 is 

mandatory for parallel Centronics interfaces. 

Transfer rate to be set for the serial interface. 

Possible range: 300 to 460,800 bauds 

Please note that the counterpart device must operate 

with the same parameter values. 

Note: The baud rate setting of 115,200 is 

mandatory for parallel Centronics interfaces. 

Data bits 

7 or 8 data bits can be used. Normally, 8 is set. 

Parity 

Data parity. Range of choice: 

None no parity check 

Even rounding to even parity 

Odd rounding to odd parity 

Input/Stop transmitter 

…if printer is not ready 

…if USB Stick is not ready 

This setting determines whether the readings from the 

serial/parallel interface should be continued when the 

USB printer is not ready (e.g. in case of no paper). 

If this function is switched on, and the printer 

goes offline, the RTS (request to send) of the 

serial interface is removed and no longer read. 

The control/machine is now no longer permitted to 

send data until the printer is ready and the RTS is set 

back on again. 

This setting determines whether the readings from the 

serial/parallel interface should be continued when the 

USB Stick or, respectively, the USB data carrier is not 

ready (e.g. when unavailable or storage is full). 

Otherwise the function is analogous to 

"…if printer is not ready". 

Input/Add time to print lines 

Printer: 

Files: 

after 

after 

The device offers the option to insert the time in front 

of every print line. For this the format must be set in 

which the line separation should be received. Optional 

settings are: Line separation with CR (carriage return) 

or CR+LF (carriage return + line feed) or just LF. 

If the line separator is received, the time is inserted in 

front of each following line. 

This function can be imported separately, once for the 

file and once for the printer output. 



You can now set the File Output parameters of the device in the mask displayed above. 

File output / Output files 

Path 

Folder name 

File name 

Append milliseconds 

Extension 

Setting of storage location of the received data. Optional 

storage locations are: 

• External USB data carrier 

• Internal Compact Flash 

Here the format of the directories can be selected. 

Possible choices: 

Every day a new directory 

Every month a new directory 

Every year a new directory 

Format setting of the file name 

Dialog whether the current milliseconds should be 

appended to the file name? 

Name extension of the files: 

Possible settings: "txt" or "dat" 

File output / Create new file on 

Separator 

Definition of string prompting new file creation. 

Whenever this string is found in the data flow, a new file 

is opened. 

All printable characters are permitted including special 

characters (e.g. FormFeed). These special characters 

have to be inserted using " " . 

Timeout 

Time value in seconds. Should no characters have been 

received for the duration indicated, the current file is 

closed, and a new file is started upon receiving the next 

character. 



You can now set the Printer Output parameters of the device in the mask displayed 

above. 

Printer output 

Printer 

IP address or name 

Queue name 

Here the print settings of a local USB printer or a 

network printer can be performed. You may select from 

the following three network print protocols: IPP, LPD or 

JetDirect. 

You will find the network protocol that suits your 

network printer in the documentation of your network 

printer. 

IP address or name of the network printer. This is only 

required when a network protocol has been selected 

under "Printer". 

Queue names have to be added for the network printer 

protocols IPP and LPD. You will find the suitable queue 

name in the documentation of your network spooler, 

print server or network printer. 



You can now set the Network parameters of the device in the mask displayed above. 

Network 

Setup LAN interface 

DHCP 

TCP/IP settings 

Setting of LAN interface of the print converter. 

Note: This is a mandatory setting to be performed 

at least once in order to connect the print 

converter to the network. 

Here the IP address and other configuration parameters 

can be assigned dynamically. Thus the manual 

assignments of IP address, subnet mask, default 

gateway, and DNS are no longer required. The host 

name must also be assigned when using DHCP. 

TCP/IP settings. 

Note: Mandatory when connecting to a network 

without DHCP. 



You can now set the Time sync parameters of the device in the mask displayed above. 

Sync Time 

Insert Stick at.. 

The time of the device has to be set manually in order to 

be able to tag log entries with time stamps. 

This is done with the function at hand. The time has to 

be set to when the Stick should be inserted into the 

device. The print converter then adopts this time. 

The time in the device is measured in UTC 

(coordinated world time, similar to GMT). 

The annual deviation amounts to approx. 1 

minute. 

After adapting the settings you save the configuration on the USB Stick 

with the "Apply" button. 



Please do not forget to log out the USB Stick before removing it. 

In Windows XP this is performed in the Explorer under "Eject drive": 

Or, alternatively, log out via "Safely remove hardware". 



6. Connecting the hardware 

(A) Connect the power supply 

included in the delivery 

to the print converter ("Power"). 

Then insert the power supply unit 

into the socket. 

The print converter carries out a short eine kurze 

diagnosis of itself (for approx. ten 

seconds). While this is going on, 

various LEDs light up or blink. 

After startup the following LEDs 

are active: 

LED 

Power 

CPU 

System 

Description 

green (immediately) 

blinks green 

green or orange 

(after approx. 10 

seconds) 

(1) 

(2) 

A1. This task is only required 

once in order to parameterize the 

device. Insert the USB Stick with 

the stored parameterization into 

one of the two USB sockets. The 

device indicates the acceptance of 

the parameterization through four 

orange-blinking LEDs. 

Subsequently, the push-button 

has to be pressed once. 

The USB Stick can then be 

removed. The parameters are now 

permanently saved. 



B. Connect a USB/network 

cable to the switched-on 

printer and print converter. 

C. Connect the print converter and your machine/device with a 

Centronics cable (for parallel interfaces) or the usual null-modem cable 

(for serial interfaces). 

(parallel interface) 

(serial interface) 



7. LED behavior during device startup 

The following conditions are indicated by the status LEDs while printing: 

(LEDs of serial interface) 

(LEDs of parallel interface) 

1. Short lighting up of orange LED "COM1" (serial) or, respectively, 

"Data Input" (parallel): 

• Print data have been received. 

2. Input LED blinks green 

• Data is available in the device memory. The page to be printed is 

not yet complete. 

3. Format LED is on (green) 

• PCL data for HP-compatible printers was received. 

4. Printer LED blinks (green) 

• The print data are being transferred to the printer. 

Please note: 

When pages are not completely printed, the remaining data stay in the 

print converter until a whole page can be printed. 

Therefore, in the case of half-printed pages or single screen masks, apply 

, the "Print page immendiately" push-button. 

Pressing the push-button also has the effect that the USB data 

storage activated for logging is checked out by the print 

converter. 



8. Supported printers 

You will find a list of supported printers at: www.ipcas.com/printers 

Important criteria for the selection of printers not included in the 

supported-by-ipcas list: Compatibility with PCL3, PCL4, PCL5 or ASCII. 

Host-based printers such as GDI, CAPT and PPA are not supported. 

9. Logging on a USB Stick 

Usually the logging of print data onto a USB Stick (or any other USB mass 

data carrier) is performed to archive textual (ASCII) print data. 

In doing so the converter creates a directory (with a time stamp) for 

every datum on the USB Stick, where the print pages are then stored for 

each datum. 

The USB Stick can be inserted any time and is then utilized automatically. 

This is indicated by the system LED. If it lights up orange, then there is 

no USB Stick available. If it lights up green, however, an inserted USB 

Stick has been recognized. To remove the USB Stick the push-button 

has to be pressed first. The system LED then turns orange, and the USB 

Stick can be safely removed. 

10. Setting the time of the device via network 

The device time must be first set either via network or manually in order 

to be able to tag the log entries with time stamps. 

To set the time on the converter automatically via network, please install 

the configuration program for ipcas Ethernet devices. You will find the 

program in the "Support" folder on the USB Stick included in the delivery. 

Connect the converter to your network or connect it to your computer 

with a crossover cable. 

Start the configuration program. The program now synchronizes all 

connected converters in the background. 

11. Network access 

Via network you have access to stored data on the USB Stick / data 

carrier or internal Compact Flash. The standard FTP protocol is used for 

this. As to how the network interface is parameterized please read 

http://www.ipcas.de/lb1 

under -> Startup – "FTP access". 

The configuration program for setting the IP address is located in the 

"Support" folder on the included USB Stick. 



12. Compact Flash holder (optionally available) 

A CF (CompactFlash) card can be 

integrated for permanent storage 

extension. The optional 

CompactFlash holder has to be 

ordered from us and installed into 

the print converter. We use the 

Type I Industrial CF card from 

Silicon. The industrial CF card 

variants offer the advantages of a 

longer life span, more balanced 

wearout, greater temperature 

resistance and shorter access 

times. We have included instructions for the additional installation of CF 

cards on our website: 

http://www.ipcas.de/support/developer/lb1-linux-box-embedded-pc/compact-flash-halter.html 

13. Data exchange from Compact Flash to USB stick 

Attention: This function is available from firmware version 14.12 

If you have specified the Compact Flash card as your main storage 

medium and want to store the recorded data on a USB stick, please 

proceed as follows: 

1. First create a cf_data root directory in the USB stick. Then copy the 

data from the CF card into this directory. Furthermore, a possibly 

available directory called "ipcas" has to be renamed. No data is 

copied onto the USB stick unless these two requirements are 

satisfied. 

2. Next, you insert the USB stick into one of the two USB connections. 

You may continue to print in the printer converter while the data is 

being transferred. 

3. The printer converter then starts to copy the data onto the USB 

stick. During the copying process the four LED's "System", "Input", 

"Printer", and "Format" flash orange. 

4. Once all data has been transferred to the USB stick successfully, the 

respective LED's flash green. The stick may now be removed. 

5. Should the LED's flash red, this indicates an error, e.g. the USB 

stick is full, or the data could not be written without error. In that 

case try it again with another USB stick. 



Notes on the procedure: 

• When you copy to a USB stick, each document is first compared 

with the original after the writing. The document on the CF card is 

not deleted until this test proves successful. This guarantees high 

data security, even when the USB stick is removed by mistake while 

copying or when there is not sufficient memory space available for 

the data to be stored. 

• Since writing on flash media is slow and comparing the copied data 

also takes some time, copying on a rather full CF card can be rather 

time-consuming. However, as the copying proceeds, additional data 

can be printed into the printer converter. 

• To prevent incomplete data from being copied (and subsequently 

deleted) during simultaneous printing and copying to the USB stick, 

the suffix ".tmp" is added to the name while writing. The suffix is 

not removed when renaming until the writing of data has been 

thoroughly completed. On the other hand, documents with the 

suffix ".tmp" are ignored when copying on a USB stick. On account 

of this procedure, the suffix ".tmp" should never be used when 

renaming a created document (in /etc/printserv.conf) with variable 

extension. 

• When the device is taken off the line while data is still being 

printed, some temporary documents may be left behind. To prevent 

the data from getting lost in such cases, the SF card is searched for 

left-behind temporary documents and these are then renamed 

when the system reboots. 

14. What if …? 

Requirements for printing: 

The following conditions must be observed to ensure correct data output 

on a USB/network printer: 

• The printer interface of the machine must be connected to the print converter. 

• The appropriate interface cable must be used. 

• The appropriate interface with the same transfer rate (baud rate) as in the 

machine has to be selected. For parallel interfaces the transfer (baud) rate 

setting of 115,200 is mandatory. 

• An operable USB/network printer (refer to chapter 8) must be connected 

correctly, supplied with paper, switched on and ready to print. 



Whenever you "print" on USB Stick, generate a log file 

For quicker and smoother support observe the following instructions: 

1. An "ipcas" folder should be created on the print USB Stick 

In the "ipcas" in turn a "support" should be created 

2. The printer and print USB Stick must be removed from the print converter 

3. "Print" the data in the print converter 

4. Insert print USB Stick into the print converter Data is transferred 

5. Wait until the print data is written on the print USB Stick (that is when the 

COM1 or COM2 LEDs no longer blink) 

6. Remove USB Stick (Before you do so, "log out" with push-button) 

7. Send the entire "ipcas" folder to our support: 

mailto:ipether-support@ipcas.de 

What if .... 

.... the red printer LED blinks slowly? – The printer is switched off / 

not connected / defective or was not recognized. 

Solution: Unplug the USB / LAN plug from the printer and plug it in 

again after two seconds. 

.... the red format LED blinks fast? – There is print data available to 

HP-compatible printers (PCLs), and it was recognized, however, that 

no compatible printer is connected. 

Solution: Please connect an HP-compatible printer. 

.... the red input LED blinks fast? – A data transer error has occurred. 

Solution: The data transfer rate in the machine control has not been 

correctly set, or the connection cable is attached to the wrong port 

(only with a serial interface). 

.... the USB Stick should be removed or exchanged during operation? 

Solution: If "Wait for USB-Stick" was configured, and the machine 

observes the serial handshaking, you can log out the USB Stick from 

the print converter by applying the push-button (in parallel data 

transfers the handshaking is always observed). The system LED 

should light up orange to indicate that there is no data carrier 

available. The data flow is interrupted until a new data carrier is 

connected via USB. 

If the machine does not support the handshaking or if you do not 

want to hold up the data flow for too long, you can first connect a 

second USB data carrier and then press the push-button shortly 

afterwards. The logging is continued on the new USB Stick 

immediately after checking out the old one. 

Warning: Data losses may occur if the USB Stick is not logged out 

properly prior to removal. 



15. Interpreting the LEDs 

LED Color State Description 

Power green Lights up Operation voltage is on 

CPU green Blinks Firmware is ready to run 

System 

green 

red 

(orange) 

Lights up 

Blinks slowly 

Blinks fast 

Lights up 

Device is ready to operate 

Device is not ready 

Too many buffered files, or insufficient free 

storage space 

No USB data carrier connected or 

recognized 

green Blinks fast Serial/Parallel data is being received 

Input Red Blinks slowly 

Blinks fast 

Serial/Parallel interface cannot be opened. 

Data transfer error (usually wrong transfer 

rate) 

green Blinks fast Data is being sent to the printer 

Printer Red Blinks slowly Printer switched off / not connected / 

defective 

Blinks schnell Printer has no paper 

green Lights up PCL data is being processed 

Format Red Blinks fast Printer does not support PCL, but PCL is 

required for printing 

For two serial interfaces 

green Blinks Serial data is being transferred 

COM1 

orange Blinks Serial data is being received 

COM2 

Green Blinks Serial data is being transferred 

orange Blinks Serial data is being received 

For parallel interfaces 

Data Green Blinks Parallel data is being transferred 

Input orange Blinks Parallel data is being received 



16. Specifications 

RS232 - USB Print 

Converter 

Interfaces 

Real-time clock 

Desktop device 

2 x RS232 SUB D9, male (printer input) 

Baud rate: 300 to 115,200 bauds 

2 x USB 1.1 

(Printer output and storing on USB Stick) 

1 x LAN 10/100 BaseT Ethernet, RJ45 female 

(Network access to print data) 

Battery buffered, TCXO, +-60 sec time freewheeling 

/year (at 0° to 40° C) (for time stamps) 

Function push-button 

1 x page printed from print storage 

Power, System, RX, TX, 

Diagnostics LEDs 

Print data status: Input, Buffer, Print 

Ethernet: Activity and link 

Voltage supply 

+ 9 V DC (+/-10%) 1) 

round socket 

Power input 

9 V DC 160 mA ca. 1.44 W 

(typical value when idling) 12 V DC 118 mA ca. 1.41 W 

Casing 

Measurements 

W/H/D 

Operation/Storage 

temperature 

Relative humidity 

Protection rating 

Standards 

Sope of supply 

Purchase order 

number 

Aluminum casing 

approx. 126/46/81 mm 

5° C to 55° C / -10° C to 70° C 

5 % to 90 %, non-condensing 

IP40 

CE 

RS232 - USB Converter, desktop casing 

Power pack with round socket 

Input: 100 – 240 V AC 

Output: + 9 V DC 

Configuration software for 

Windows (2000, XP, Vista), and 

Manual (English on USB Stick) 

0202035 



Centronics - USB Print 

Converter 

Interfaces 

Real-time clock 

Desktop device 

1x Centronics socket, 36-pin, (printer input) 

Protocol/Mode: SPP (Standard Parallel Port) 

2 x USB 1.1 

(Printer output and storing on USB Stick) 

1 x LAN 10/100 BaseT Ethernet, RJ45 socket 

(Network access to print data) 

Battery buffered, TCXO, +-60 sec time freewheeling 

/year (at 0° to 40° C) (for time stamps) 

Function push-button 

1 x page printed from print storage 

Power, System, Centronics, 

Diagnostics LEDs 

Print data status: Input, Buffer, Print 

Ethernet: Activity and link 

Voltage supply 

+ 9 V DC (+/-10%) 1) 

Round socket 

Power input 

9 V DC 181 mA ca. 1.63 W 

(typical value when idling) 12 V DC 128 mA ca. 1.54 W 

Casing 

Measurements 

W/H/D 

Operation/Storage 

temperature 

Relative humidity 

Protection rating 

Standards 

Sope of supply 

Purchase order 

number 

Aluminum casing 

Approx. 126/46/81 mm 

5° C to 55° C / -10° C to 70° C 

5 % to 90 %, non-condensing 

IP40 

CE 

Centronics - USB Converter, desktop casing 

Power pack with round socket 

Input: 100 – 240 V AC 

Output: + 9 V DC 

Configuration software for 

Windows (2000, XP, Vista) and 

Manual (English on USB Stick) 

0202030 

Contact 

ipcas GmbH Phone: +49 (0)9131/ 7677-0 

Gundstraße 15 Fax: +49 (0)9131/ 7677-78 

D-91056 Erlangen Internet: http://www.ipcas.com 

Germany 

E-mail: info@ipcas.de

printer-converter-manual - ipcas

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