Printer setup guide · v2.0.1

How to connect a receipt printer to Timeline Restaurants POS

To connect a receipt printer to Timeline Restaurants POS, open Settings, choose the Printer tab, and pick how your printer is connected: a Windows printer, a network thermal printer, or a serial port or shared printer. Then click "Save & send test page". No printer yet? Choose the preview window and save receipts as PDF.

See the stepsWatch the video lesson
Timeline Restaurants POS: settings, Printer tab: receipt printer, kitchen printer and cash drawer
Connect your receipt and kitchen printers
Start here

Which connection should I use?

The app works with almost any receipt printer. Choose the row that matches yours.

ConnectionWhen to use itWhat you need
Windows printer (recommended)Your printer is plugged into a Windows PC by USB, or it already prints from other Windows programs.A Windows PC and the printer’s Windows driver.
Network thermal printerYour thermal printer is on your network by cable or Wi-Fi and has its own IP address.The printer’s IP address and port, for example 192.168.1.50:9100.
Serial port or shared printer (Windows)Your printer is on a serial (COM) port, or it is shared from another Windows computer.The port name, for example COM3, or the shared printer path.
Preview window only (no printer)You have no printer yet, or you want to test the app first.Nothing. Every receipt opens in a preview window.

Thermal printers that use ESC/POS are supported: Epson and compatible brands such as Xprinter, Rongta and Sewoo, plus Star printers. Both 58 mm and 80 mm paper work.

Using a Mac? The steps and screenshots here are from the Windows version. The "Windows printer" choice and COM ports are Windows features. A network thermal printer is set by its IP address in the same Settings screen. To see the screen step by step, watch lesson 16.

Step by step

How do I set up each type of printer?

All four choices are in one place: Settings, then the Printer tab, under Receipt printer connection.

Option 1

Windows printer (recommended)

  1. 1Install your printer’s Windows driver first, so the printer shows up in Windows.
  2. 2Open Timeline Restaurants POS and go to Settings, then the Printer tab.
  3. 3Under "Receipt printer connection", choose "Windows printer (recommended)".
  4. 4Pick your printer from the list.
  5. 5Click "Save & send test page". A test page should come out of the printer.
  • The app can print silently, or show the Windows print dialog each time if you prefer.
  • Paper size can be the printer’s default, the exact receipt length, A4 or Letter.

Option 2

Network thermal printer

  1. 1Find the printer’s IP address. Most thermal printers print it on a self-test page.
  2. 2Open Settings, then the Printer tab.
  3. 3Choose "Network thermal printer".
  4. 4Type the address, for example 192.168.1.50:9100.
  5. 5Click "Save & send test page".
  • The app prints straight to the printer over your network. It does not need the internet.

Option 3

Serial port or shared printer (Windows)

  1. 1Open Settings, then the Printer tab.
  2. 2Choose "Serial port / shared printer".
  3. 3Type the port, for example COM3, or the path of the shared Windows printer.
  4. 4Click "Save & send test page".

Option 4

Preview window only (no printer)

  1. 1Open Settings, then the Printer tab.
  2. 2Choose "Preview window only (no printer)".
  3. 3Take a test order and pay it. The receipt opens in a preview window.
  4. 4In the preview, click Print, or save the receipt as a PDF.
  • This is the best choice for practising. You can switch to a real printer at any time.
Video lessons

Watch the printer and receipt lessons

Two short videos show the real app, step by step, with clear English narration and subtitles.

Lesson 16: Connecting your printer

Windows, network and serial printers; cash drawer. Length 4:43.

Lesson 15: Designing your receipt

Logo, header, footer and paper size. Length 4:00.

There are 18 free lessons in total. See all the video lessons, or open the playlist on YouTube.

How do I connect a cash drawer?

  1. Open Settings, then the Printer tab.
  2. Turn on "Open cash drawer on cash payment".
  3. Click "Open drawer" to test it.

After that, the drawer opens by itself each time you take a cash payment. It works through your receipt printer or a separate port.

How do I print kitchen tickets?

Kitchen tickets can print on your receipt printer, or on a separate kitchen printer with its own settings. You choose this on the same Printer tab.

  1. Open Settings, then the Printer tab.
  2. Find the "Print kitchen tickets on the receipt printer" switch. Leave it on to use one printer for receipts and kitchen tickets. A separate kitchen printer has its own settings.
  3. Click "Save & test kitchen printer".

To print a ticket, tap Kitchen on an order. The ticket shows the order number, table, order type and time, every item with its size, extras and notes, and the order note.

Receipt

How do I set the paper size and design my receipt?

Open Settings, then the Receipt tab. Your changes show on the next receipt you print.

Paper size
Choose 58 mm and 80 mm paper. Pick the width that matches the roll in your printer.
Logo
Show your logo at the top of the receipt, or switch it off.
Header and footer
Add your own header text, for example "Fresh food, made to order", and your own footer, for example "Thank you! See you again soon".
Text size
Small, normal or large text. Bold text is also available and is recommended for thermal printers.

What is printed on the receipt?

  • Your restaurant name, address and phone number.
  • The order number, date, order type and table.
  • Every item with its size, extras and notes.
  • Subtotal, discount, tax, tip and total.
  • The payment method, with cash tendered and change.

The bottom of every receipt shows a short "Powered by Timeline Restaurants POS" line. This line cannot be removed.

Timeline Restaurants POS: settings, Receipt tab: receipt design options
Design your receipt
Timeline Restaurants POS: print preview of a receipt with logo, header, items, totals and footer
A real receipt, with your logo, header and footer
Testing

How do I test the printer, and what if it does not print?

  • Send a test page. In Settings, on the Printer tab, click "Save & send test page". You can send one at any time. The Receipts page also has a button to test your printer.
  • Check the basics for your connection. For a Windows printer, the printer's Windows driver must be installed first. For a network printer, check the IP address against the printer's self-test page.
  • Use the preview window while you fix it. Switch to "Preview window only (no printer)". Receipts open on screen, and you can print them or save them as PDF.
  • Your sale is safe. If the printer fails, the sale is still saved. Reprint the last receipt from the Receipts page, or reprint any of today's paid orders from the Orders page. Reprints are marked "REPRINT".
Timeline Restaurants POS: receipts page with buttons to reprint the last receipt and test the printer
Reprint the last receipt or test your printer

Free download · v2.0.1

Do not have the app yet?

Timeline Restaurants POS is free. It runs on one Windows PC or Mac and works without the internet. No subscription and no account.

Windows (96 MB)Mac, Apple Silicon (116 MB)Mac, Intel (123 MB)

Not sure which file to pick? The download page explains each one.

What the app sends

Your orders, payments, menu, stock, reports and backups are stored only on your computer and are never uploaded. When you finish setting up the app, it sends Timeline Digital your registration details once (restaurant name, type, country and city, owner name, phone or WhatsApp number, email, currency, tax settings and app version) so we know who is using it and can offer support. If you are offline, they are sent the next time the computer is connected. We do not sell or share these details.

Printer questions, answered

Which receipt printers work with Timeline Restaurants POS?

Almost any receipt printer. On Windows you can use any printer installed in Windows, including USB thermal printers. You can also print to a network thermal printer by its IP address, or to a serial (COM) port or a shared Windows printer. ESC/POS printers are supported: Epson and compatible brands such as Xprinter, Rongta and Sewoo, plus Star printers.

Can the app open my cash drawer?

Yes. In Settings, on the Printer tab, turn on "Open cash drawer on cash payment". The drawer then opens by itself each time you take a cash payment. It works through your receipt printer or a separate port, and the "Open drawer" button lets you test it.

I do not have a printer yet. Can I still use the app?

Yes. Choose "Preview window only (no printer)". Every receipt opens in a preview window, where you can print it or save it as a PDF. This is also a good way to test the app before you buy a printer.

Should I choose 58 mm or 80 mm paper?

Choose the width that matches the paper roll your printer takes. The app supports both 58 mm and 80 mm paper. You set it in Settings, on the Receipt tab, together with the text size and bold text.

Can I print kitchen tickets on a separate printer?

Yes. Kitchen tickets can print on your receipt printer, or on a separate kitchen printer with its own settings. Tap Kitchen on an order to print the ticket. It shows the order number, table, order type, time, every item with its size, extras and notes, and the order note.

How do I set up a printer on a Mac?

The steps and screenshots in this guide are from the Windows version. The "Windows printer" choice and COM ports are Windows features. On a Mac, a network thermal printer is set by its IP address in the same Settings screen, on the Printer tab. Watch lesson 16, "Connecting your printer", to see the screen step by step.

What happens if the printer fails during a sale?

The sale is still saved. Fix the printer, then reprint the receipt. You can reprint the last receipt from the Receipts page, or any of today's paid orders from the Orders page. A reprinted receipt is clearly marked "REPRINT".

How do I check that my printer is working?

Send a test page. In Settings, on the Printer tab, click "Save & send test page". You can also test the printer from the Receipts page. If the test page prints, the app and the printer are talking to each other.

More about Timeline Restaurants POS

Timeline Restaurants POSHow to use it: 18 video lessonsEvery feature, explainedDownload page