Install the printer companion

The printer companion is a small app that lets Biller talk to your printers. Install it once on any computer at your outlet -- no terminal, no typing commands.

Tap Download the companion app on a computer and the download starts immediately for that computer's OS (Windows, macOS or Linux) -- no extra click needed. Downloads come from Google Drive. Guessed the wrong OS, or want a different computer's installer? The OS tabs in the same panel switch it any time. On a phone or tablet, the companion app can't run there at all -- open biller.app on the computer connected to your printer instead, or tap Download for another computer if you need an installer link right from your phone.

The Download the printer companion dialog -- OS picker, and what to do after the "unrecognized app" warning

Windows

  1. On Admin -> Printers, tap Connect a computer (or Connect another computer), then Download the companion app -- on a Windows computer this starts the download immediately.
  2. Windows will say the app is unrecognized -- this is expected (we haven't bought a certificate yet). Click More info, then Run anyway.
  3. The app opens on its own after that. Back on Admin -> Printers, tap Show a pairing code to get a one-time 6-digit code, then type it into the companion app.
  4. Done -- it starts automatically every time you turn the computer on, with no console window. Look for its icon near the clock (system tray) -- right-click it any time for Pair / Status or Open logs.

macOS

  1. On Admin -> Printers, tap Connect a computer (or Connect another computer), then Download the companion app -- on a Mac this starts the download immediately.
  2. The first open attempt is blocked -- this is expected. Open System Settings -> Privacy & Security, scroll down to the message "'Biller...pkg' was blocked to protect your Mac", and click Open Anyway.
  3. A confirmation dialog appears with Move to Bin / Open Anyway -- choose Open Anyway again to allow it.
  4. Back on Admin -> Printers, tap Show a pairing code to get a one-time 6-digit code, then type it into the companion app.
  5. Done -- it starts automatically whenever you log in.

The app you just ran is called BillerPrintAgent, and it does NOT open a window or a Dock icon -- that's by design, not a bug. Look for a small "B" icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen (near the clock, wifi, battery icons). Click it any time for Pair / Status or Open logs. It also won't show up the normal way in Spotlight search or Cmd+Tab, since it has no window -- the menu-bar icon is the only place to find it once it's running.

If the "Pair / Status" menu item ever says Not paired, click it -- it opens the pairing page again so you can re-connect with a fresh code.

We're a new developer team and haven't taken the (expensive) Apple Developer Program membership yet. This package only contains the connection to the cloud and local printing logic -- printing will not work without it.

Linux

  1. On Admin -> Printers, tap Connect a computer (or Connect another computer), then Download the companion app -- on a Linux computer this starts the download immediately.
  2. The download is an AppImage -- right-click it, choose Properties -> Permissions, and turn on Allow executing file as program (or run chmod +x from a terminal), then double-click it to run.
  3. Back on Admin -> Printers, tap Show a pairing code to get a one-time 6-digit code, then type it into the companion app.
  4. Done -- it starts automatically whenever you log in.

While you're pairing, add your printer too

The pairing page that opens (Windows/macOS/Linux) also finds any printer already connected to that computer. If it found one, pick it from the list, give it a name, choose what it's used for (bills, kitchen tickets, or both), and pick its paper width -- one submit finishes both pairing AND adding that printer, so there's usually nothing left to do on Admin -> Printers afterward. No printer found yet, or want to add another one later? Choose Set up later and see Printers & printing setup for adding printers from that screen instead.

That same "add a printer" page stays available on that computer for as long as the companion is running -- not just during first-time pairing -- so plugging in a printer later, or adding a second one, doesn't need a re-pair. On that same computer, go directly to http://127.0.0.1:49219/ in a browser. If you reload that page or reopen it later and it looks like it's reconnecting, wait a moment -- it updates itself automatically once the companion is back in touch with Biller.

Stuck on "paired, but not connected"?

If Admin -> Printers still shows a computer as not connected, open the menu on its line in the status card and choose Pair <that computer> again for a fresh 6-digit code, or Unpair <that computer> to remove it and start over with a clean install. Unpairing one computer doesn't affect any others paired to the same outlet.

Picked the wrong printer driver, or a test print does nothing

Some computers list the same physical printer twice, under two different drivers -- picking the wrong one won't show an error, it'll just look like nothing happened. If a test print doesn't come out:

  1. On Admin -> Printers, tap the printer and choose Change driver from the "didn't print?" prompt after a test print, or open the printer's edit screen directly.
  2. Pick the OTHER detected printer for the same device and save, then try a test print again.
  3. Removing a printer works from the same edit screen, or the delete (trash) icon on Admin -> Printers.