Managing order printing in restaurants can be a complex process, especially when multiple orders need to be printed on the same kitchen printer. To address this situation, virtual printers have been created, allowing multiple items to be printed on the same printer but in separate prints.
This new option enables greater customization in printing, as it's possible to assign different virtual printers to different printer groups, categories, products, registers, etc. By creating a virtual printer, each order/invoice, etc. can be printed on its own print, but all will be printed from the same physical printer.
This solution is particularly useful in kitchen environments, where customers may order different items, and we want to separate the tickets sent to the same printer.
Note: Virtual printers adopt the configuration of physical printers, including the IP address, type or driver, and name, with "virtual" added at the end. Additionally, if we modify the "parent" printer, it automatically updates the virtual printer.
HOW TO SET UP A VIRTUAL PRINTER
1. Access the back-office of XEF.
2. Go to Configuration / PRINTERS.
3. Select the printer or printers you want to duplicate as a virtual printer.
4. Click on the Actions button, then select the Duplicate printer to virtual option.
You have now created your first virtual printer. To find all virtual printers, go to Configuration / VIRTUAL PRINTERS.
In VIRTUAL PRINTERS, you can edit the names of the added printers or delete them.
Now you just need to configure the virtual printers based on your methodology or desired prints.
PRACTICAL EXAMPLE
For example, in our restaurant, we want all drinks to be printed on the bar printer, but we want all cocktail drinks to be printed separately from the rest (soft drinks, beers, etc.).
1. Access the back-office of XEF.
2. Go to Configuration / PRINTERS.
3. Select the bar printer and click on the Actions button, then select the Duplicate printer to virtual option.
4. Go to Configuration / VIRTUAL PRINTERS and you will find the virtual printer there with the same configuration as the parent printer.
5. Now, go to the Catalog / GROUPS and click on the in cocktails and modify the printer, selecting from the dropdown list the Virtual Bar printer and for soft drinks, select the Bar printer.
From now on, when you have a soft drink and a cocktail in the same order, they will print on the same printer but on two separate tickets.
