Printing receipts and labels

Overview

Printing is off by default: ThreadReady works without a printer (see Paperless receipts). Turn on only what your shop uses, in Settings → Kiosk → Printing:

• Print kiosk receipts: a receipt slip printed on the kiosk after each order.
• Receipt footer text: a line at the bottom of that slip.
• Print garment and bag labels: a label with the order number and a barcode, to stick on the garment or bag.

The work order (the sheet for the machine operator) isn't part of this: it is always on the order page and prints on any office printer.

Kiosk receipts

1. In Settings → Kiosk → Printing, tick Print kiosk receipts and press Save kiosk settings.
2. Under Kiosk devices at the top of the page, each tablet now has a Prints receipts switch. Turn it on for every tablet that has a printer. It saves straight away.

A tablet prints only when both are on. So a shop with two tablets and one printer turns on Prints receipts for that tablet only; the other stays paperless and offers Email me my receipt.

With printing on, Print receipt is the main button on that tablet's order screen. The slip shows your shop name, the order number, the total, what will be stitched, the price lines and the same QR code as the screen. Your phone and address are printed at the bottom if you show them to customers (Settings → General → Contact details for customers). After the first print the button says Print again and needs a second tap, so a stray tap doesn't print a copy.

Receipt footer text

Shown only while receipt printing is on. It is printed at the bottom of the slip and shown under the receipt on the kiosk screen, for example "Pay at the register. Most orders are ready in 2–3 days."

How printing works

The kiosk prints through the tablet browser's own print dialog, the same as printing any web page. There is no ThreadReady app or printer driver to install.

• The print dialog. When the customer taps Print receipt, the browser shows its print dialog; pick the receipt printer once and the browser usually remembers it. If the browser blocks the print pop-up, the kiosk prints from the page instead. If it can't print at all, it tells the customer to show the screen or their order number at the register.
• Silent printing (no dialog). Some browsers can print straight to the default printer without a dialog, usually through a kiosk-mode or managed-device setting. This is set up on the tablet, not in ThreadReady, and depends on the browser and device.
• Paper size. The slip is laid out for a narrow receipt roll. Set the paper size in the print dialog (or the printer's settings) to the roll you use, and turn off the browser's headers and footers so the page address isn't printed.

Printers and hardware

Any printer the tablet can print to from its browser should work. We haven't tested any receipt printer, label printer or tablet with ThreadReady yet, so we don't recommend models. Before you rely on one, print a few test orders and check the QR code scans from the paper. A hardware guide (tablets, stands, printers and barcode scanners) is planned; this page will link to it.

Garment and bag labels

Tick Print garment and bag labels in Settings → Kiosk → Printing to add:

• Print receipt label on each order page: one order's label, ready to print.
• Barcodes in Orders: a sheet of labels for every open order (awaiting payment, paid, in production and ready for pickup), up to 96, newest first.

Each label has the order number, status, customer name, design name and a barcode (Code 128) you can scan on any staff page. Stick it on the garment or bag so the order can be found at pickup. Labels are laid out as cards, two to a row, on ordinary paper; sizes for label printers and sticker sheets are planned.

With labels off, both buttons are hidden. An old link or bookmark to the Barcodes page says labels are off and links to the setting.

The two print buttons on an order

• Print receipt label — Label: stick on the garment or bag. Only when labels are on.
• Print work order — Work order: the sheet for the machine operator. The design, each line's text, font, size and thread, the item, setup details, notes and a QR code you can scan to open the order, without prices or the customer's email and phone. Always available, except while a correction is waiting for the customer.

Hover over a button (or tab to it) to see which is which.