Settings – Hardware

Barcode Reader / Access Control

Please see Barcode Scanner Setup and Access Control Setup for information regarding barcode reader and access control setup.

Dual Monitors

Gym Assistant can be used with two monitors, with one monitor for staff and a second monitor turned for members to see as they check in.  The member display shows only information relevant for the member to see.

Note: The dual monitor functionality is controlled by GateKeeper, but you can change settings from within Gym Assistant.

While GateKeeper is idle (no one is checking in) the Member display shows a basic “Welcome” message.

When a member checks in by scanning a card his info will be displayed. 

After a few seconds the “Welcome” screen will again be displayed.  You can control the “Welcome” message and the time period to display the member info.

Dual Monitor Settings

• In Gym Assistant or GateKeeper select Dual Monitors from the Settings menu.

• Check Display Member Info on 2^nd Monitor to activate the dual monitor function.

The Welcome Message appears when a member checks in successfully.

The Swipe Message appears whenever GateKeeper is idle and waiting for a card swipe.

• Click Text Font to change the font for the 2^nd Monitor text.
• Click Background Color to change the background color for the 2^nd Monitor.
• Display Member Info for X seconds determines the delay until a member’s info clears from the display.  If another member checks in before the delay time then the new member’s info will display immediately.
• If Enable screen-save mode on 2^nd monitor is checked then after five minutes of idle time the 2^nd monitor will display the Swipe Message in random locations on a black background.  This will prevent monitor burn-in on older monitors. 

If you have only one monitor but activate the dual monitor function then the member display window will appear on your main (only) monitor.  

If you check Maximize if no 2^nd monitor then the member display window will maximize on the screen.  This is useful if you let members see the main display while the gym is unstaffed.

Receipt Printing Setup

Gym Assistant can print receipts on many different types of printers:

• Standard Windows desktop printer (full-size sheet)
• Windows interface receipt printer
• Serial (RS232) interface receipt printer
• Parallel (LPT) interface receipt printer

Setting up a Windows Printer

To set up Gym Assistant to print on a Windows printer you must first install any required printer drivers and test to ensure that the driver is functioning properly.  You can download drivers for the Star TSP100 printer at: http://www.gymassistant.com/support/installers/utilities/

1. View the Properties for your receipt printer:

Windows XP

• In Windows, click the Start button and select Settings / Printers and Faxes.
• Right-click your receipt printer and select Properties.

Windows 7

• In Windows, click the Start button and select Devices and Printers.
• Right-click the receipt printer and select Printer Properties.

Windows 8

• From the Windows Start screen type “Printers”, then click Settings on the right side of the screen.
• On the left side of the screen click Devices and Printers.

2. Print a test page

In the General tab click Print Test Page.  A test page should print from the receipt printer.

Setting up Gym Assistant to Print to a Windows Printer

1. Select Receipt Printing from the Settings menu.

2. Set the Printer Interface to Windows Printer.
3. Click Print Setup.
4. Select your receipt printer then click OK.
5. Uncheck Print with margins.
6. Click Test to print a test receipt.

Setting up Gym Assistant to Print to a Serial Printer

1. Select Receipt Printing from the Settings menu.
2. Set the Printer Interface to Serial Printer.
3. Select an available serial port.
4. Check Print with margins.
5. Click Test to print a test receipt.

Cash Drawer Setup

Gym Assistant can trigger a cash drawer to open whenever a sale is made.  There are two ways that a cash drawer will connect to your computer:

• Serial (RS232) connection
• Receipt Printer connection

Serial (RS232) Cash Drawer Interface

This type of cash drawer connects directly to your computer using a 9-pin serial (RS232) cable with screws.

1. Select Cash Drawer from the Settings menu.

2. Check Enable Cash Drawer.
3. For Connection select Direct to Computer (Serial).
4. Select an available Serial Port.  Leave the Baud Rate at 9600.
5. Click Test to open the drawer.  If the drawer does not open select another port and try again.

Receipt Printer Interface

This type of cash drawer connects to a receipt printer.  

Note: The cable between the cash drawer and receipt printer looks exactly like a phone cable, but there is one important difference:The receipt printer / cash drawer cable must be connected with the end labeled “Cash Drawer” attached to the cash drawer.  If you connect the cable with the “Cash Drawer” end attached to the receipt printer the drawer will not function properly.

1. Select Cash Drawer from the Settings menu.

2. Check Enable Cash Drawer.
3. For Connection select Through Serial Receipt Printer or Through USB Receipt Printer. 

Through Serial Receipt Printer:

• Select an available Serial Port.  Leave the Baud Rate at 9600.
• Click Test to open the drawer.  If the drawer does not open select another port and try again.

Through USB Receipt Printer:

• Click Test to open the drawer.  If the drawer does not open click OK and see Configuring a USB Receipt Printer below.)

Configuring a USB Receipt Printer

If your cash drawer is connected to a USB receipt printer then you will need to configure the printer to open the cash drawer whenever a receipt prints. 

Note: The instructions below describe the steps to configure a Star Micronics TS100 printer. Your printer may be slightly different, but the general concept is the same.

1. View the Properties for your receipt printer:

Windows XP

• Click the Windows Start button and select Settings / Printers and Faxes.
• Right-click your receipt printer and select Properties.

Windows 7

• Click the Windows Start button and select Devices and Printers.
• Right-click the receipt printer and select Printer Properties.

Windows 8

• From the Windows Start screen type “Printers”, then click Settings on the right side of the screen.
• On the left side of the screen click Devices and Printers.

2. Click the Device Settings tab.

3. Set Peripheral Unit 1 to “Document Top”.
4. Click Apply.
5. Switch to Gym Assistant.
6. Select Open Cash Drawer from the Utilities menu.  A short blank receipt will print, and the cash drawer should open.

Configuring the Star TSP100 USB Printer as a Serial Device

Opening the cash drawer every time you print a receipt is easy to setup, but it does not give Gym Assistant complete control over your cash drawer.  To allow Gym Assistant to control the cash drawer independent of receipt printing you can reconfigure the TSP100 as a serial device.

1. Bring up Properties for your receipt printer.  (See directions above)
2. Click the TSP100 Config tab.

3. Click Launch Configuration Application.

4. Select Star Line Mode (default) and click OK.

5. Click Serial Ports (on the left).
6. Click Add Port.

7. Set the Virtual Serial Port Name to “COMX”, where X is an unused serial port number.  Then click OK.

8. Click on the newly-created port.
9. Set Startup Type to Automatic.
10. Click Start. Status should change to “Running”.
11. Click Apply Changes.
12. Click Check Health.  The utility should report “Check Health Completed Successfully”.

You can now set up the receipt printer as a serial device.  Note the COM port number that you created. 

Setting up TSP100 as Serial Receipt Printer and Cash Drawer

1. In Gym Assistant select Receipt Printing from the Settings menu.
2. Set Printer Interface to Serial Printer.
3. Set the Serial Port to the newly-created Virtual COM port created above.
4. Check the Auto Cut Paper option.
5. Click Test.  A test receipt should print.
6. Click OK.
7. Select Cash Drawer from the Settings menu.
8. Set Connection to Through Serial Receipt Printer.
9. Set the Serial Port to the same serial port as above.
10. Click Test.  The cash drawer should open.
11. Click OK.