What it does
- Receipt printing — prints to thermal printers using ESC/POS (Epson) or StarPRNT (Star Micronics) protocols, with support for logos, barcodes, and QR codes
- Label printing — prints delivery labels with recipient name, address, order number, and QR code using Zebra (ZPL), Brother, or DYMO printers
- Cash drawer control — opens your cash drawer instantly when a POS payment is confirmed, without waiting for print jobs
- Automatic printer discovery — scans your network and USB ports to find compatible printers automatically
- Relay integration — connects to Interflora Florist Hub and eFlorist Portal to pull in relay orders, upload makeup sheets, and sync delivery statuses
- Auto-updates — checks for updates every 6 hours and at startup, so you’re always running the latest version
Setting up Connect
Download Connect
Go to Settings > Integrations > Connect on your dashboard. You’ll see a download link and your access token — you’ll need this in a moment.
Install and open
Install Connect like any other app. When you first open it, you’ll see a welcome screen. Click Get Started to begin the setup wizard.
Log in with your access token
Copy the access token from your dashboard (Settings > Integrations > Connect) and paste it into the login screen. This links Connect to your shop so it can receive print jobs and communicate with your dashboard.
The access token contains your shop’s URL and API key in a single code. You don’t need to enter them separately.
Set up your receipt printer
Connect scans for printers on your network and USB ports. It shows each printer it finds with its name, connection type, and model.Select your receipt printer from the list and click Test Print to check it works. If your printer doesn’t appear automatically, you can:
- Click Discover Printers to scan again
- Use Manual Entry to type your printer’s IP address (for network printers on port 9100)
- On Windows, use the Star Port Emulator option if you have a Star printer connected via USB
Test your cash drawer
If your cash drawer is connected to your receipt printer via the RJ12 cable (the wide phone-style cable on the back of your printer), you can test it here. Click Test Drawer to open it.
The cash drawer opens independently from printing. When a payment is confirmed at the POS, the drawer opens instantly — it doesn’t wait for any print jobs in the queue.
Set up a label printer (optional)
If you use a label printer for delivery labels, select it from the discovered printers list. This step is optional — you can skip it and add a label printer later in Connect’s settings.
How printing works
When you click Print in the dashboard or POS, the print job reaches Connect in one of two ways:- Local server — Connect runs a small server on your computer (port 3000 by default). Your browser sends the print job to this local server, and Connect sends it to the printer. This is the primary method and handles all printing from the dashboard and POS.
-
Deep links — Some print buttons use a special
df-connect://link that opens Connect directly. This works as a backup if the local server isn’t responding, and is used for one-click printing from order pages.
The print queue
Every print job goes into a queue and is processed one at a time. If a job fails (for example, the printer is busy or temporarily offline), Connect retries automatically — up to 6 times with increasing delays. Jobs are saved to disk, so even if Connect restarts, pending jobs aren’t lost. You can see your recent print history (the last 50 jobs) in Connect’s Application Logs section.Supported hardware
Receipt printers
Connect works with thermal receipt printers that support ESC/POS (Epson and generic) or StarPRNT (Star Micronics) protocols. Both 58mm (narrow) and 80mm (standard) paper widths are supported. Certified receipt printers:| Brand | Models |
|---|---|
| Star Micronics | TSP143III series, TSP100 series, mC-Print3, mC-Print2 |
| Epson | TM-T20 series, TM-T88 V/VI/VII, TM-m30 series |
Label printers
Connect prints delivery labels with the recipient’s name, address, order number, a QR code, and a fulfilment badge. Three label printer protocols are supported:| Brand | Protocol | Models |
|---|---|---|
| Zebra | ZPL | ZD420, ZD620, GK420d/t |
| Brother | HTML (via system driver) | QL-820NWB, QL-810W, QL-1110NWB |
| DYMO | DYMO XML | LabelWriter 450, LabelWriter 4XL, LabelWriter 550 |
Cash drawers
Cash drawers connect to your receipt printer via the RJ12 cable (the wider phone-style connector on the back of the printer), not directly to your computer. When the system needs to open the drawer, it sends a signal through the printer. Most standard cash drawers with an RJ12 port will work. Connect supports both Star and Epson drawer protocols.How printers connect
Connect can talk to your printers in several ways:| Method | Platform | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Network (TCP/IP) | All | Printers connected via Ethernet or Wi-Fi (port 9100) |
| mDNS / Bonjour | All | Auto-discovering network printers |
| System driver | All | Printers installed through Windows or macOS (CUPS) — used for Brother label printers |
| USB direct | Windows only | Star printers connected via USB (requires WinUSB driver) |
| Star Port Emulator | Windows only | Star printers using the Star Port Emulator COM port software |
| Bluetooth | Windows only | Printers paired via Bluetooth (prints through the Windows print queue) |
Relay integration
If you receive orders from Interflora or eFlorist, Connect can automate the process of pulling those orders into your dashboard.How it works
Connect opens the relay portal in a background window and periodically checks for new orders (every 2 minutes by default). When it finds a new order:- It downloads the makeup sheet PDF from the relay portal
- It uploads the PDF to your Digital Florists dashboard, where it’s attached to the order
- It syncs delivery statuses back to the portal when you mark orders as delivered
Setting up relay integration
- Open Connect’s Relay Settings
- Enable the relay portals you use (Interflora, eFlorist, or both)
- Log in to each portal when prompted — Connect saves the session so you only need to do this once
- Set how often Connect checks for new orders (default: every 2 minutes)
You can clear a relay portal session at any time from Connect’s settings or from the system tray menu. This is useful if you need to log in with a different account.
Settings
After setup, click Connect’s icon in the system tray or menu bar to access settings:| Section | What you can do |
|---|---|
| Login | View or change your access token |
| Printers | Change your receipt or label printer, adjust logo and font settings, run test prints |
| Relay Settings | Enable relay portal automations, set the check interval, clear portal sessions |
| Advanced Settings | Change the local server port, toggle hardware acceleration, enable launch at login, export or import your settings |
| Application Logs | View print job history, filter by level, and search for specific events |
| Updates | Check for and install Connect updates |
| About | View your current version, connection status, and file paths |
Auto-start
Enable Launch at Login in Connect’s Advanced Settings so it starts automatically when you turn on your computer. On Windows, you can also enable Hidden Launch so Connect starts in the background without showing a window.Troubleshooting
Connect can't find my printer
Connect can't find my printer
Check that the printer is powered on and connected (USB or network). Click Discover Printers in Connect to scan again. For network printers, make sure the printer is on the same network as your computer. If it still doesn’t appear, try Manual Entry and type the printer’s IP address and port (usually 9100).
Receipts aren't printing
Receipts aren't printing
Check that Connect is running (look for the icon in your system tray or menu bar). If it’s running but not printing, open Connect’s settings and try Test Print. If the test fails, check your printer connection. If the test works but dashboard prints don’t, try refreshing your browser.You can also check the Application Logs in Connect to see if jobs are failing and why.
The cash drawer won't open
The cash drawer won't open
Make sure the drawer is connected to the printer’s RJ12 port (not the computer). Open Connect’s settings, make sure Cash Drawer is enabled, and try the Test Drawer button. If the test doesn’t work, check the RJ12 cable connection on both ends.
Labels aren't printing
Labels aren't printing
Make sure a label printer is selected in Connect’s printer settings. Try a test print from the label printer section. For Zebra printers, check that the printer is in ZPL mode (not EPL). For Brother printers, make sure the Brother driver is installed on your computer.
Connect isn't starting automatically
Connect isn't starting automatically
Open Connect’s Advanced Settings and enable Launch at Login. On Mac, you may need to allow Connect in System Settings > Login Items.
Relay orders aren't coming through
Relay orders aren't coming through
Open Connect’s Relay Settings and check that the relay portal is enabled. Try clearing the portal session and logging in again. Check the Application Logs for any errors related to relay scraping.
I'm getting a connection error in the dashboard
I'm getting a connection error in the dashboard
This usually means the dashboard can’t reach Connect’s local server. Check that Connect is running, and that the port number in Connect’s settings matches the port configured on your device in Settings > Devices on the dashboard. The default port is 3000.
Common questions
Does Connect work on iPad?
Does Connect work on iPad?
No. Connect is a desktop app for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It’s not available for iPad or tablets.
Can I use a regular office printer with Connect?
Can I use a regular office printer with Connect?
Connect is designed for thermal receipt printers, label printers, and cash drawers. Worksheets and other documents are printed through your browser’s built-in print function, which works with any printer — you don’t need Connect for that.
Does Connect need the internet?
Does Connect need the internet?
Printing works locally between Connect and your printer, even if your internet drops temporarily. However, your dashboard needs an internet connection to send print jobs to Connect, and relay integration requires internet access to reach the relay portals.
Can I use Connect on multiple computers?
Can I use Connect on multiple computers?
Yes. Each computer gets its own Connect installation linked to the printers connected to that machine. Each installation is set up as a separate device in your dashboard.
How do I update Connect?
How do I update Connect?
Connect checks for updates automatically every 6 hours and when it starts. You can also check manually in Settings > Updates. Updates download in the background and install when you restart Connect.
What platforms does Connect support?
What platforms does Connect support?
Windows (64-bit and 32-bit), Mac (Apple Silicon), and Linux (AppImage, DEB, RPM). The Mac version is code-signed and notarised.
Can I change the port Connect uses?
Can I change the port Connect uses?
Yes. Open Connect’s Advanced Settings and change the port number. Make sure the same port is set on your device in the dashboard under Settings > Devices. The default is 3000.
What’s next?
Point of Sale
Use Connect with the POS for walk-in sales and receipt printing.
Delivery Runs
Print delivery manifests and labels from Connect.
Your Dashboard
Print worksheets and order cards from the dashboard.
Devices
Manage your Connect installations and hardware settings.