The biggest problem is not using the correct printer driver and not setting the page size correctly.

Printer drivers can be obtained from either Zebra or Seagull Scientific. The Zebra ones are fine for standard paper sizes but you should consider the Seagull one for unusual sizes or use with XP. If your printout goes across the page instead of down then again use the Seagull ones. If you upgrade from the Zebra driver to the Seagull driver then check the printer properties afterwards. If this does not have a banner that says 'Drivers by Seagull' then it has pulled the original Zebra driver back in (and Windows is being over-helpful), resulting in you wasting your time.

If you get blank sheets of paper out of the printer when you try to print, even though the Windows test page printed, then the chances are that you are using the wrong paper size in the printer settings. The default paper size is 2 inches by 4 inches. TPN use a paper size of 101.6mm by 203.2mm (4 inches by 8 inches). Set the paper size in Stock and click on the Advanced button and set the values in this section to the same values.

Most problems that we get calls about occur immediately after the change of a label roll and are due to not performing an 'autosense' procedure (as per the manual. You did read it?) Typical effects are spurious characters on the labels or printing the wrong page length. You may even push some printers into Line Mode instead of Page Mode.

Before you start doing a lot of work try changing the printer cable. It may be faulty!

If connecting the printer via USB you should carefully read the instructions in the manual BEFORE attaching the printer. Failure to do so will result in the need for complicated solutions and you will need to contact your supplier to resolve this.

Zebra GK420D - We recommend that you do not use the driver supplied with the printer but use the ZPL driver obtainable from www.seagullscientific.com - set the paper to portrait and set the orientation to 180 degrees.

Norman
 

You try to import the invoice file from the hub and it doesn't seem to do anything.

Check the file in Notepad. Have a look at the dates in the file. Are they in MM/DD/YYYY format instead of DD/MM/YYYY?

We have reported this to TPN I.T. and they were producing a fix.

Norman
 

Do our systems link with Making Tax Digital?

No. They create export files to import into Accounting systems that deal with MTD.

Our programs calculate charges, create invoices and post to accounting packages.

Programs like Sage and Quickbooks do operate with MTD.

Norman
 

As a security measure we have split our operation between two sites with a different broadband link to both. Each connection is currently at least 80MB.

At each site we run an office system on one Linux server, with 'live' program backups on another Linux server and the bulletin board on a third Linux server.

This should give us a lot of redundancy in the event of any kind of failure or DOS attack.

Norman
 

If your data is stored on a network drive and you have a lot of customers and pricing systems then this may take some time. This is due to the fact that the network must be given time between each write for other computers and programs.

If you want to speed this process up then consider doing the process on a loacl drive instead.

How to do this -

1. Make a new directory on your local C: drive. As an example one called TESTDATA
2. Run TPN Invoicing and note the current data location. This appears on the top of the screen between square brackets e.g. [T:\]
3. Go into Utilities and BACKUP. Alter the destination to the new directory e.g. in my case C:\TESTDATA
4. Now go into Utilities and DATA PATH. Alter this to the new directory.
5. Go into Utilities and RESTORE DATA. Browse for the file BACKUP.ZIP in the directory you are using. Restore the data.
6. Do your pricing alterations. This will be a lot quicker. (Your original data is still in the original location). Check the price changes look OK.
7. Go into Utilities and BACKUP. You can save to your temporary directory again.
8. Go into Utilities and Data Path. Alter this back to the original directory e.g. in my case T:\
9. Go into Utilities and RESTORE. Browse for the file BACKUP.ZIP in the temporary directory. Restore this.

DO NOT ALLOW USERS TO WORK ON THE ORIGINAL DATA UNTIL YOU HAVE FINISHED. ALWAYS CONSIDER SAVING A BACKUP ELSEWHERE BEFORE YOU START SO THAT YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK TO IT IF THINGS GO WRONG.

All done.

Norman
 

All Google API calls are replaced by OpenStreetMap equivalents.

We used the Google API to decode postcodes and create maps. All calls have now been replaced and in most cases exceed the results from Google. The reason for doing this was because Google have started restricting these to a a few calls without payment. Google now charge a minimum of $200 a month for this facility.

We have tried to exceed the previous calls. You can decode postcodes to the associated street address or enter the address and it will return the postcode. In addition, in mapping it will give you the wind direction and the temperature.

We also added two slots for additional people involved in a job i.e. in addition to the collector and deliverer.

THERE ARE FILE STRUCTURE CHANGES IN THIS UPDATE. PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND READ THE SETUP GUIDE ON THE WEBSITE.

Norman
 

 

Copy the four files that start with LOCAL from C:\ProgramData\Zipzap Computers\Loadmaster to C:\ProgramData\Zipzap Computers Limited\Loadmaster

These are -

Local_Parameters.fic
Local_Parameters.mmo
Local_Parameters.ndx
Local.dat

Norman
 

Our latest Pi is a 3B in a Makerhawk case 12.2 x 9 x 5.6 cm with X820 expansion board. 60GB SSD. Complete with 7 inch LCD screen. Not quite a nanocomputer - but getting there.

Cannot see why the X820 wouldn't connect to the Pi Zero.

Might try an Orange Pi or a Beagleboard next!

The aim is to get as much computing power in the smallest possible space.

Norman